Mid Tenn Listens

In this episode of our Mid Tenn Listens podcast, we chat with Dunlap, Tennessee based electronic songwriter Chance McDaniel about The Rainy Season, influences, motviations, the digital age and more.

Stream the full interview below or scroll down just a little further to find all our podcast subscription options.

Vanessa Silberman is a Los Angeles based Singer, Guitarist, Songwriter and was the founding member of the LA band Diamonds Under Fire. She also is a Record Producer / Engineer, an independent A&R and has an Artist Development Label called A Diamond Heart Production.

In this episode of Mid Tenn Listens, we chat with Los Angeles based singer/songwriter and musician Vanessa Silberman about her newest project, her influences and much more.

You can stream the podcast below or on iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play.

Connect with Vanessa directly on FB.

New York-based singer-songwriter Lesley Barth is a master of fusion. Since releasing her debut EP “Good Like This” in 2015, she continues to hone her signature blend. Elements from disco, folk, country, blues, and retro pop have been woven together by themes of longing and young love in her first full-length album, crowdfunded by her loyal and growing fanbase, “Green Hearts,” released on January 27th, 2017.

Green Hearts by Lesley Barth

While the instrumental style she presents covers a range of genres, her lyrical voice is something listeners cling to as un-changing throughout. AXS recognizes her “deeply personal and honest lyrics reflecting life, in the form of relationships, disappointments, and many things in-between.” Fleetwood Mac enthusiasts and Springsteen die-hards alike will appreciate the variety and depth of sounds granted on her track list.

Tune into our exclusive interview with singer/songwriter @LesleyBarth #np #nowplaying #podcast
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In this Mid Tenn Listens podcast interview, we chat with Lesley about her influences, what keeps her going, advantages of technology and more.

Connect with her directly on her website.

Kyle Shortman and Adam Reckseit started off their music careers as separate acts. After deciding to work on a collaboration together, they realized that their individual strengths complimented each other in a way that could not be ignored. Adam having been DJ’ing for years and Kyle doing the same with production, they banded together, using their respective strengths to create Out of State.

Out of State’s purpose in making music is simple. It is to make great dance music and play stunning live shows that everyone can enjoy. Their dreams are to travel the world and play their music for crowds of people everywhere. Out of State wants to continue their steady progression towards becoming a Globally recognizable act in dance music.

In this exclusive podcast interview, we chat with Out of State about the new project, surviving in a digital world and more.

Full Q&A audio along with transcription available below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

Well first we just wanted to say thanks for the opportunity. it really means a lot as an artist trying to make a name for yourself in such a saturated market place these days. it really does mean a lot so we really appreciate it.

So myself and my partner Adam are both from North Jersey (just west of New York City) but we actually didn’t meet until a few years ago at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where we both go to school for audio production.

I think our style of music is very unique just because we pull from so many different genres of electronic music. I think a lot of times you’ll see a lot of genre blending with electronic music whether it be future bass with progressive house or trap with dubstep and I think thats being done a lot these days but something that we do thats unique and something thats unique about our style of music that we create is that we don’t just pull from two or three genres, I think we pull from as many different genres as we can in each one of our productions to really just create this new blended sound of electronic music.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?

So I think what got Adam and I started making electronic music and ultimately creating this project Out Of State was the fact that we were introduced to dance music at really young ages like 11, 12, early teenage years. We both just talk about how amazed we were by the sound from it, and how it instantly became our favorite type of music. Back then whether it be 10 years ago or so, dance music was nothing like it is today and not even close to as popular. We really just fell in love with it and then we had this desire to make that kind of music. we were both very musical people growing up and I remember we sometimes talk about the first time we opened up a DAW (We’re logic users) and the first time we opened up logic it just seemed like the possibilities were endless.

Well as far as what keeps us motivated and what keeps us working hard with Out Of State is that I think Adam and I just talk about a lot how we just have this desire to strive for something great. Its as simple was that, we really aren’t 9-5 workday kind of guys, thats just not appealing to us. Also, I think a really important part of it for both of us is that we started Out Of State and our entire musical journey from the ground up. We really came into it knowing nothing and we’re learning more and more each day. We want to make a name for ourselves because we want to show other up and coming musicians and musicians that are just getting started on their journey that this is something that you can do with your life; this is a possibility for you if you work really hard and you give it your all and I think thats a message that we really want to spread to peo...

In this episode of Mid Tenn Listens, we chat with The Great Musical about his newest project, his influences and more.

Full transcript of the audio Q&A can be found below along with a stream of Old Man Kyle and links to connect with The Great Musical.

Old Man Kyle by The Great Musical

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

Hello, I’m from a comic book that was written in 1969. So, no specific state or city. The type of music I create is a mix of hip-hop, rap, pop, rock, jazz, Broadway and funk. I do some rappity rap over beats I created in those sounds. You don’t have to like rap to enjoy my music though, you can like Aretha Franklin and Toby Keith.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?

I just like making stuff and I enjoy music, so why not make some. I’m constantly freestyling in my mind, so I better be turning these bars! into something. I’ve been doing it a while. I stay motivated because it’s fun activity I like to do.

Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?

My biggest influences are between either me, as in I, the person or probably Ray J. People do say I’m a mix of Avril Lavigne and Mystikal. I also like Eminem, Donald Glover, going out with a 60 point game, and Send Me On My Way by The Rusted Root.

How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?

This new album is different because its better. We took more time on it and I was more free with my lyrics. I set out to make more lyrical songs and songs old people would like. I want my stuff played in clubs they say groovy in.

Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?

Well, I’m new to this so my stuff has only been digital. I did make a literal tape a long time ago; back when I wore big fitted hats and 3 XL tall tees.

How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?

I’m good with streaming services. Old Man Kyle by The Great Musical on Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music. I do collect vinyl’s and I will still buy cds by certain artist. Like Aaron Carter.

Where can we follow you online and hear more music?

Where can we follow you sounds like you’re speaking on the behalf of a group of stalkers but It’s @thegreatmusical on twitter, instagram, snapchat. TheGreatMusical.tumblr.com. For my first EP, freestyles, and podcasts go to soundcloud.com/thegreatmusical. I’m also on a movie podcast called “The Leo B. Gyllenhaal Podcast”, you can find it on iseemovies.wordpress.com.

Finally, the new album entitled “Old Man Kyle” by The Great Musical can be found on your favorite music services. Itunes, Apple Music, Tidal, Youtube Red, Spotify, etc. Also you can get it on CD Baby and thegreatmusical.bandcamp.com.

Anything else before we sign off?

Before we sign off, I should have wrote and co-starred in the new power rangers movie but I do have a movie I’m making and listen to my stuff, it’s actually good. I can end with a couple bars.

I say um, Old Man Kyle is a hit, that no one listened to/ it’s cool because I pulled up in a fictional coup listening to a song by some rnb group/ maybe tgt,

Dieter van der Westen was born and raised in Netherlands. He works as a musician with his North African group Kasba with which he internationally worked in Africa, South America and Europe. In The Netherlands he worked with artists like Thé Lau, Blof, Paul de Leeuw, Frank Boeijen, Ali B, Eric Vloeimans, Gerard van Maasakkers, Astrid Nijgh, The Metropole orchestra and Fouradi. www.kasba.nl

He also works as a composer and songwriter for his own music. Inspired by various artists, he began to compose his own songs. The album “Save my memories’ was released in 2008 and it was his first solo album. Dieter has a strong preference for using acoustic instruments in his music. The lyrics are associative and partly autobiographical, the melodies are basic, pure and simple. His second solo album will be released in the autumn of 2015. www.dietervanderwesten.com

Old oak tree by Dieter van der Westen

In 2015 Dieter initiated a new acoustic band together with fellow musicians Samira Dainan, Khalid Jahklal, Sami el Ghousli and Joris van Beek, the name of the group 5amsa. This group plays acoustic North African songs written, composed and arranged by the members of the group. A mixture of traditional and modern North African acoustic music. www.5amsa.nl

In this video podcast interview, we speak with Dieter about his influences, the new album Old Oak Tree, surviving as an indie musician in the digital age and more.

Full Q&A video along with links to subscribe to Mid Tenn Listens podcast below. You can also subscribe on YouTube.

Use the links above to discover more great music from Dieter van der Westen.

We recently ran our exclusive video interview with Katie Ferrara.

This is the same interview but 1)  instead of 4 parts, this is the full length and 2) we have created an audio version to run as the 99th episode of our Mid Tenn Listens podcast.

Katie goes all in on this interview sharing some really great advice on using social media, busking, and walking the fine line of offline and online marketing. She also shares her influences, talks about each song on her Dreamcatcher EP as well as telling us about her experience using live streaming plus crowdfunding to make this EP happen…in style!

Below you will find the full length video as well as the audio.

Connect with Katie on her website.

 

In this interview, we chat with Rob Carroll about his debut album Room Without A View, his progression as a songwriter, navigating the digital music world and much more.

You can listen to the podcast or read the full interview below the video.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

I’m from Long Island, New York. I often have a hard time defining what genre of music I write because I draw from so many influences. The album I’m releasing is pretty eclectic in terms of styles. I guess what I do can be considered pop rock but there are definitely a bunch of heavier moments on this CD. I hate to call it “pop rock” though because I feel it’s come to have such a negative connotation. There are tons of great pop rock bands but I feel as if people often associate a lack of musicianship with pop rock and that is often not the case. I guess I’d go with singer-songwriter above all else because that is pretty ambiguous. It’s also closer to the truth since I’m basically the only musician performing on this album and wrote all of the music.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?

The Beatles. I know it’s cliche but for so long they were my favorite band and they completely changed the way I thought about music. I used to be a total metalhead but after listening to Abbey Road for the first time everything I ever thought about music went out the window. Up until that point if a song didn’t have a guitar solo in it or a tempo over 160 I just wasn’t interested. Never even gave it a chance. But after listening to The Beatles, almost instantly, all I wanted to do was write pop music. I still love metal and heavier music, and I do try to incorporate some aspects of those genres into my music, but to me there’s something special about pop. I think anyone who gives my album a listen will be able to tell how big of a Beatles fan I am.. for better or worse.

Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?

I could go on forever about creative and musical influences but I’ll keep this somewhat short. I’d say for music, above all else, it would have to be The Beatles. You can learn almost everything you need to know about songwriting by listening to The Beatles discography. I try to listen to as many different genres of music as I can and am pretty open minded. Some other current favorites include: Weezer, Prince, Jeff Buckley, Faith No More, Frank Zappa, Brand New, Jack White, Panic at the Disco and Fountains of Wayne.

As far as creativity I’d have to say Donald Glover and Louis C.K. They have completely different styles but they’re both so ambitious and have worked on so many different kinds of projects. I really admire their work ethic and the sheer volume of work they’ve put out. Between writing stand up specials, t.v. shows, (and in Glover’s case music) I don’t know how they continue to produce content at such a high level.

How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?

‘Room Without a View‘ is actually my debut album. I’ve been writing songs for a long time now but I finally made the move to record them within the past two years or so. Initially I thought of this as an opportunity to record my best songs but as I began to take a closer look at my music, I realized that many of my songs were about relationships (both romantic and platonic) and how they change over time. I started to think that since so much of my material was built around similar themes, I could incorporate the music I already had into some kind of loosely connected narrative.

We recently featured Zachary’s new album Malfunction along with a text interview.

In this podcast, we get Zachary on the phone to discuss the creative process behind his new album as well as past and future projects.

Links to Zachary’s website and more of his music below.

Links

* Zachary Sticker’s Website

* I Got Smiles For Miles (previous album)

* Facebook

* Soundcloud

* Bandcamp

* CD Baby

I’m tuned into Mid Tenn Listens #podcast with @bunksmuzak and Zachary Sticker.
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Malfunction by Zachary Sticker

We recently featured Tricky Mandrake’s new single “Over & Under“. In today’s podcast, I got Tricky on the phone to talk about the music scene in Wyoming, his forthcoming album, and the tools he uses as a producer and musician.

Links

* Tricky’s website

* Facebook

* Twitter

* YouTube

I’m tuned into Mid Tenn Listens #podcast with @bunksmuzak and @TrickyMandrake.
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