Category: Awards

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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Rod Melancon

Our next feature on the winners of the 2016 LA Music Critic Awards is on Americana artist Rod Melancon, who won for Best Video (official) Male for “Perry” and Best EP Male for LA 14.  Originally from Louisiana, Melancon currently resides in the Silverlake section of Los Angeles, California.

Grab a cold one, sit back and learn things about this future Americana superstar.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

RM:  I first picked up the guitar when I was 19.  I had moved to Los Angeles when I was 18 and received the guitar for Christmas.  I really got into learning the guitar, but waited a year before I starting writing sons.  I had grown up in the theater and been around playwriting all my life, and considered myself more of a theater and film guy.  I did my first show when I was 20 after being encouraged by my buddy CJ.  He had heard some of my material and said I needed to pursue songwriting as a career.  I’ve always loved story songs, so I decided to write those kinds of songs and have been doing it for the past nine years.  My songs are based on the country music theory that all songs spring from three chords and a truth.   Now that I’ve been doing it for awhile, I am learning some fingerpicking techniques as well as learning to play the electric guitar.

IVB:   Who are your influences?

RM:  The most influential musician for me has to be Bruce Springsteen, and his album The Ghost of Tom Joad, which was the folk sequel to his album Nebraska, in particular.  I also loved artists like  Tom Van Zant, John Prine, and Kris Kristoferson, especially how they chose to get their stories across.   They were not afraid to put humor in the songs.  Lately, I’ve been digging on Tom Waitts.  I also love to read southern Gothics books from writers like Larry Brown, and plays from Sam Shepherd, like The Motel Chronicles.  The material is easily relatable for me as I have a similar story, growing up in the rural area of southern Louisiana.  They have an elegant way of saying very poetic things very simply.

IVB:  Where does the title of your latest EP come from?

RM:  LA 14 is a long stretch of highway that crosses the state of Louisiana.

IVB:   What made you decide to DIY?

RM:  Basically when I started playing music, I realized that I was in charge of everything.  I had management and an agent, but the arrangement wasn’t really doing things for me.  I learned that I was responsible for where my career was going and that’s what got me on this path.

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

RM:  Not really.  If it happens, that’s fine, but it’s not my goal.  I’m getting confirmation from my old stomping grounds that this is the best path for me.   I don’t answer to anyone when it comes to my songs.  I’m doing things on my own terms and it’s apparent to my fans through my songs.   But if it did happen, I could pay all my bills and turn my internet back on.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

RM:  I want to keep being on the road.  I’m shooting two music videos next month in Kansas City with the same director from “Perry,” but with a bigger budget.  (Shooting these videos) is a dream come true for me because I get to act in them, and perform the song.  We will probably go back on tour in late October and November.  Like the famous journalist Jack Kerouac, I love being on the road.  It is truly my vision and I love meeting people.   Motel rooms are great settings for just about anything.

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

RM:  As you can imagine, when you’re touring in the south, we ate at a lot of Cracker Barrel and Waffle House restaurants.    One time at a Cracker Barrell in southern GA or MS, I came into the restaurant after my band was already seated.  I was wearing a Black Sabbath t-shirt.  The hostess told me my friends were in the back – she just knew who were my friends because of the way I was dressed.  Another time we stopped into a Waffle House in Birmingham, Alabama about 4 .m.  We sat down at the counter and waited for about 10 minutes, but nobody waited on us.  I got up to walk around and found the entire crew passed out on a bench in the back.  Needless to say, we headed off to another restaurant about a mile away.

I have to give props to my current record label (Blue E’lan), who has given us great tour support and made the whole process so enjoyable.

IVB:  What about social media?

RM:  Besides my website and Facebook pages, I have Twitter, Instagram and a YouTube channel.  For the best info, definitely follow the Instagram account.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award Winners – The Spider Accomplice

Photo courtesy of Norm Tallant

We have now completed 11 of our 17 interviews with the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards, and have published seven.  Let’s get back to our next winners, an up and coming rock band out of Los Angeles who go by the name The Spider Accomplice.  They were the winners of the Best Video (Webseries) for their very creative Indiegogo crowd funding campaign The Abduction, as well as Best Rock Band.

The band is composed of VK Lynne on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Arno Numisto on lead guitar and backing vocals and Justin Lee Dixon on drums and percussion.  Sit back, grab a whiskey and learn things about this amazing trio of musicians who are taking their audiences captive.  Let me warn you – it’s a long way cause these guys had a lot to say.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

VK:  My first time on stage was at the age of 12.  The first time I met you was at The Gig on Melrose at a Music Connection showcase back in 2005.  Basically, I’m always performing.  I’ve done musical theater, pop/rock, country rock, blues, metal, prog, goth/glam and now modern rock.  I even got the chance recently to direct theater again.  I like to do things simultaneously, otherwise nothing would get done.  I stared directing about 20 years ago.  My first directing gig was a web series.

Arno:  I first started at the age of 10 (or 8 years ago).   I’ve been in quite a few different kinds of bands and had a few influences.  I mostly play guitar and bass and started playing mandolin a few weeks ago.  I think that songwriting is fun.

Justin:  I have been playing drums since I was eight.  As a side fact, Arno and I were born on the same day but nine years apart – that makes us very competitive.

IVB:   Who are your influences?

Arno:  I love great songwriting, regardless of genre – it’s  all about the feeling the song creates:  My favorites are Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Metallica, Jimi Hendrix – classic rock in general.

Justin:  I also grew up on classic rock acts like Metallica, Iron Maiden, KISS, and Megadeth.  Their Countdown to Extinction and Rest in Peace albums especially made a mark on me.  I made mix tapes of their music.   I studied music in grade school and learned about classical and jazz music.  I loved the music of Buddy Rich and Alvin Jones, Miles Davis and John Coltraine and Thelonious Monk.  In high school I started listening to progressive metal and rock – bands like Dream Theater and the like.  I was also heavily influenced by Korn’s original drummer, David Silveria.

VK:  For me it was artists like Patsy Cline, Melissa Ethridge, and Beth Hart – they put every emotion into their music.  As a result I am very transparent in my songwriting and all my emotions come out in my music.  I also loved the honesty of Emily Dickinson in her writing.

IVB:   What made you decide to DIY?

VK:  A lack of funds.  We really didn’t have any money so we learned to improvise.   We all have very strong opinions and a very strong vision of where we want to go and we didn’t want to have anyone telling us what to do.

IVB:  Who came up with the idea for The Abduction?

VK:  Justin came up with the idea while brainstorming on cannabis.  But seriously, we all try to contribute – one thing leads to another.  Since it’s so corrupt in the (music) business these days, the only way to truly find funding is through crowdfunding platforms.  And since basically they are holding us hostage, why don’t we frame it like we need to pay a ransom to make a new CD.

Arno:  We decided VK would be the face of the campaign.  We wanted (the campaign) to be campy and different so it would stand out from the pack.  So we created a storyline to get people involved.

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

Arno:  We do have a desire to be in the mainstream market, but we all have vastly different experience in the business.  We want to do what WE want to do, and DIY offers that as opposed to mainstream.  Our music is very marketable and accessible to everyone, but we don’t want to give up our soul, our brains and our talents for the benefit of someone else.  It (a label deal) would have to be so awesome as to make us change our mind.   We’re sick of hearing the horror stories of friends who have label deals.   Honestly, you can do so much on your own now, why should you give that up to be a mainstream artist?

IVB:  What are your future plans?

VK:  We will be completing the new album, and plan to release it at the end of September.  It’s called Los Angeles:  the Abduction, and it contains six tracks.  We are trying to take one thing at a time.  At t his point, touring is an expensive proposition.  We’ve been spending all the money we raised on Indiegogo to complete the album and promote it.    Right now there are no plans to tour in the near future.

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

VK:  Honestly, most of them are unprintable, but there was this time . . . We were so devastated and at the same time so angry when the van break down while we were on tour.  It began making such a horrible noise and then it just died in front of a Catholic church near the Arch in St. Louis at 10:30 pm.  It truly was a POS and a rolling death trap.  A guy on a bike came up and asked how he could help.  He called a tow truck for us.  We convinced the driver to let us ride in the van on the flatbed.  We had to stay out of sight so the cops wouldn’t see us.   We finally got back to our hotel in St. Louis where our guitarist was crying like a baby.  I got a message on Facebook from one of our fans that it was her husband that helped us.  We just sat around the room, sang acoustic songs and drank beer, and decided everything would look better in the morning.   The van was demolished but we got through it because we never give up.

  1. Any social media?

VK:  The usual sources – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and ReverbNation, to name a few.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Brian Whelan

We are having such a blast interviewing the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016.  Today’s feature is on Brian Whelan, former sideman for Dwight Yoakum and the winner of Best Country/Americana album for Sugarland.  Thanks to Melissa Dragich-Cordero of MAD Ink PR for the nomination.

Sit back, enjoy the interview and learn things about one of Americana’s new generation of amazing artists.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

BW:  Basically my whole life.  When I was in kindergarten I first got up on stage at an Assembly.  I convinced them to let me do three songs with a Karaoke machine.  I got the music bug early on and just wanted to be on stage.   I first learned piano at the age of 8, followed by electric bass and electric guitar in my early teens, as well as singing all along.  I consider my as my main instrument.   When I was working with Dwight, I learned pedal steel, mandolin and accordion, but don’t consider myself an expert on those instruments.  These days I prefer to play piano and guitar.

IVB:   Who are your influences?

BW:  My first influences were the stars of 50’s rock and roll, like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, and Eddie Cochran.  As I grew up, I was influenced by the British Invasion bands and then country and bluegrass during my 20’s.  Since I attended high school in the 90’s, I also love the bands from that era.

IVB:  What made you decide to DIY?

BW:  Watching Dwight perform was such an inspiring experience that I decided to quit the band and do my own stuff.   I found it hard to juggle being a side man with being my own front man.   I finally realized that at one time Dwight had to do the same thing to get started, so I went out and did it too.

Working with Melissa (my publicist) has been a blast.   I love that she represents so many great guitarists, like  John Fogerty, Joe Satriani, and Jeff Beck, to name a few.  It is so cool to be a part of her team.

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

BW:  The short answer is yes, but probably not.   I think most indie artists want it but think that it would be too much trouble to have someone else dictating where your career is heading.  I want to be able to do what I want without limit and make enough money doing it to be able to live comfortably.  Studio work, side man work and the like have helped pay the bills lately, but I still want to be able to tour more on my own without losing control (of my career) by being a mainstream artist.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

BW:  The big news is that I’m heading out during the month of September on tour.  I’m planning 15-20 shows during the month.  I’ll be visiting places I’ve been a few times before, plus a few new places including AmericanaFest 16, where 200-250 acts are scheduled to perform.  It seems like most of the acts are relatively new, but there are some more experienced legacy acts performing, including Dwight, Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.  Another one of Melissa’s clients, Alice Wallace is performing.  Not sure why Rod Melancon (also Melissa’s client) isn’t.  He would be a great addition.

I do want to do a tour through Seattle, Montana and the Northwest.  I played Salt Lake City last year – the audience was great, very polite and attentive to the music.  It was a special show.

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

BW:  Once I was the voice of an actor in an episode of Mad Men.  The cast was at a show for a Lenny Bruce like comedian, which was followed by a Bob Dylan like singer.  I was his voice.

I do have quite a few stories from the road, but most of them can’t be published.  My favorite one is getting to play piano for Chuck Berry at a casino show on April Fool’s Day.  My friend was playing the drums for him, and got me the gig.  I thought it was a joke because I never heard from the Casino or from Chuck’s band, but it was real and it happened, fulfilling a childhood dream.

IVB:  How can your fans keep up with you?

BW:  Well, the best places are my website and Facebook pages.  I also have Twitter and Instagram accounts.  Although I don’t yet have a YouTube channel, some of my performance videos have been posted by other people.

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Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Alice Wallace

Photo courtesy of Jeff Fasano Photography

Welcome back to our continuing series on the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016.  Today we are featuring an interview with an artist who is rapidly rising to the top of her genre and was also a previous winner in 2015, Alice Wallace.  Wallace won the award for Best Video (Official) Female for “I Just Don’t Care Anymore” as well as for Best Country/Americana Artist, which she also won in 2015.

I first met Wallace when she attended a show I had booked at The Derby in Los Feliz a few years back.  It was nice to reconnect and talk with her about her career and future plans during our interview.  Sit back, enjoy and learn things about one of the top rising stars in Americana music.

IVB:   How long have you been performing?

AW:  My family was very much musically inclined.  When I was five, our family got a video camera, so I started learning songs so I could perform on camera.  It’s always been easy for me to pick up songs and share them with other people.  It wasn’t until I was 16 that I picked up the guitar and started writing songs.  Within six months, I was signing up for talent shows and have been performing ever since.  I remember playing a Borders Book show when I was still in high school.  I didn’t do musical theater, but I was in the band, and learned music theory there.  I wasn’t really confident in my vocal abilities, and never took any voice lessons.  I’ve learned mostly by observing others perform, which helped me to develop my own style.

IVB:  Who are your influences?

AW:  I’ve always said that I grew up with Gram Parsons and Emilylou Harris, since my parents always listened to them and we sang along.  Through the years I was also influenced heavily by 1990’s singer-songwriters like Jewel and Alanis Morrisette, as well as country, blues and Americana artists like Bonnie Raitt, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Patsy Cline, all of which were really strong female voices.  I’ve always been drawn to the voices.  Oh, and Patti Griffin – I love her style.  I try to learn as much as I can about these types of women.

IVB:  What made you decide to DIY?

AW:  In my early days, I released a couple of albums, but it was difficult to do it on my own.  Then I got lucky and was signed to California Country Records about a year ago.  California Country is an artist owned label, founded by Calico the Band members Manda Mosher and Kirsten Proffit.  I had previously opened for them.  While attending the California Roots Festival, I was approached by Kirsten, who told me that they liked my stuff and wanted to sign me to their new label.  I was so happy because a label run by artists brings a lot to the table.  They had great connections already, and they provided great help in all facets of the process.  I am very proud of the finished product, which we released last October.  They connected me to their publicist, Melissa Dragich-Cordero of MadInk PR, as well as to a radio promoter who got my music out on the airwaves.  We even hit #83 on the charts.

I love being an indie artist, and with California Country, I got the best of both worlds – indie and mainstream.  I got to stay indie while having a group of fellow musicians on a label that gave me the support and connections I needed to take my music to the masses.  California Country is really more of a partnership than an artist/label relationship.  I have always been scared of a label taking and owning my music.  Now I have a label that lets me do what I love to do and supports me in the process.

IVB:  Well that pretty much answers our next question.  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

AW:  Not really – I would love the recognition that comes from being mainstream, but strongly want to do what I do without losing my identity.  I think the Americana genre itself is becoming mainstream in its own way and indie artists are at the front of the pack.  As long as I can make the kind of music I want, pay my bills and get to perform, I’m happy.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

AW:  I want to keep touring and making music.  Don’t really have any long term plans at the moment.  I’m spending my time booking tours and performing.  I think the best way to be successful is to keep putting my music in front of people.  I’m writing new songs for my next project, whenever that may happen.

I’ve now been a full-time musician for three years, and it’s getting better all the time.  Doors are continually opening and it’s getting easier every day.  I am always making connections and going forward, allowing each day to present new opportunities.  I think I’ll just gonna ride this wave and see where it goes.

Next week I’m playing some local shows with my friend Brian Ashley Jones from Nashville.  He hosted me when I was there, and I’m returning the favor.  He got me a chance to perform at the world famous Bluebird Café.

In September, I am heading to Nashville for the Americana festival, followed by a trip to Austin for the Southwest Folk Alliance Conference the next week.

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

AW:  One of my best stories is contained in my song “Luck, Texas.”  I’ll always remember the time we were playing a show in Oklahoma, and it sounded like bombs were going off over our heads.  I was amazed that the audience seemed unconcerned.  I asked them what was going on, and they told me it was just a hail storm.  Oh, and by the way there’s a tornado about a mile away.  Another time I was touring through Texas and my car air conditioner broke and I had to endure that Texas heat.

IVB:  How can your fans keep up with you?

AW:  Of course I have a website and Facebook.  I have a Twitter account, but I really use Instagram more.  And don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

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Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Riddle & the Stars

Our next featured LA Music Critic Award winning artist is one I have personally known for about 15 years, well, two-thirds of them that is.  Beginning with having them in the competitive mix of both the Orange County Music Awards and later the SoCal Music Live Awards, the Fallen Stars have grown to become one of the best loved Americana bands, both in California and across America and Europe.  Their latest project, Riddle & the Stars, is a boutique band formed when Australian singer-songwriter Ben Riddle joined this Orange County, California based husband and wife duo, which is composed of Bobbo & Tracy Byrnes. They were the winners of the Best Americana/Country Band category.

Sit back and learn things about this amazing band.  Thanks to Bobbo for the enlightening interview.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

RATS:   We met Riddle when we were touring in Germany back in late 2013.   Riddle was from Australia, and he came out to spend 17 days with us in California.  During that time, we wrote the entire first album, This is Happening, which debuted in 2014.  We used a couple of original songs we had previously written, and Riddle contributed a couple more to the mix.  We found that we were very productive in the short time we had together.  When it came time to record our second album, New Coastline, we did the entire collaboration through sessions on Skype and online, and released it in May 2016.

IVB:  Who are your influences?

RATS:  They are all over the map – Riddle introduced us to some Australian artists like Paul Kelly and Kurt Vile, while we introduced him to some of our favorites like Kathleen Edwards, Blue Rodeo, and the Stone Roses.  There really are too many to name.  We love listening to Stone Roses when we’re on tour.

IVB:  What made you decide to DIY?

RATS:  When we (the Fallen Stars) first started, we were always waiting for a label to come in and wow us, but we got tired of waiting for that to happen.   Ben was also an indie artist.  The funny thing is that while we were “waiting,” we ended up getting signed to a German label, which also signed me (Bobbo) as a solo artist.  They aren’t throwing heaps of money at us, but they are helping us book our tours and are managing our catalog.   Now when we go to Europe we have places to play and fans who know our music.    But at the heart of it all, we are so DIY that we did our own silk screening of our t-shirts in the kitchen between gigs.

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

RATS:  Isn’t everyone?   But in today’s new music business, other local bands aren’t our competition anymore.  We’re now competing with mainstream artists like Katy Perry and the like.  The playing field is more level, and everyone is “competing” with us for fans and website clicks.  This has created more of a worldwide audience.   In fact, we (the Fallen Stars) even had a song that ended up at #43 on the German charts.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

RATS:  We have a European tour coming up in October after my solo tour in September, where I’m playing 25 shows in 23 days.  Then I get two days off before Ben and Tracy come over and we start the tour for RATS.  Our future goal is to continue making great music, to travel the world, meet new people and enjoy some wine.

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

RATS:  The world is becoming so small.  During one of our early visits to Germany, we did a house concert in Germany for about 25 people, including the mayor of the town.  The next time we came around, there were 75 people.  By the time we came back for the third time, the town had to build us a stage and we played forseveral hundred.  They even threw us a Fourth of July party, where everyone at the show sang the National Anthem to us.  I’m not the most patriotic person, but that gesture really brought me to tears.  We have also played to about 600 people in a 1,000 year old cathedral, as well as playing to 700 people in a tent at a festival.  Whenever we play in the small town of Achim, Germany, we end up on the front page of their newspaper.  This has always been our goal from the early days of OCMA.   It is what I dreamt about, but wasn’t exactly sure how we would get there.  Those early competitions were great springboards for us to get known outside of California.    It’s been a great ride.

IVB:  What about social media?

RATS:  Besides the website, we have a Facebook page.

IVB:  What, no Instagram or Twitter?

RATS:   Gonna set up an Instagram page right now!

 

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Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Un5gettable

Our next feature on one of the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016 is on the comedy quintet Un5gettable, nominated by Jennifer Lyneis of Ue3 Promotions.   The boys won the award for Best Video (Comedy) for “Honest Singing Telegrams.”

As you can probably imagine, getting a straight answer out of these clowns was nearly impossible.  Just laugh out loud to their zany responses to our interview questions.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

UN5: Since 2002…or since Brendan hit puberty basically. 

IVB:  Who are your influences?

UN5: Electronic Mayhem really resonated with us all.

IVB:  What made you decide to DIY?

UN5: We started doing this during the last breath of late 90s/early 2000s boyband era and we wanted in on that!  We did a couple of shows but soon after we all moved away from Indiana to pursue other things.  A few years ago we wanted to have a reunion and record some brand new songs just for ourselves. We basically shot the video for “Sorry” just so we’d have a funny memory to look back on.  But after we posted it on Funny or Die it immediately hit the “Most Buzz” list and this thing started blowing up.  Since then we haven’t wanted to mess with our DIY formula.  We have a really good, fun relationship with our fans and we want to remain as close to them as possible.

Plus we all really love HGTV’s “Fixer Upper!”

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

UN5: I think what you’re trying to ask us is “do dreams ever die?” And the answer is “yes.” They died a long time ago. 

We also don’t like to be boxed in by terms like “mainstream,” or “money-generating,” or “good.”

IVB:  What are your future plans?

UN5: Well, it’s kinda hush hush, but right now we’re spending most of our time and effort building our own proprietary Virtual Reality experience for our fans called Virtually 5gettable.  We’re shooting for a launch date of 2024.  But in the meantime, we are busy creating more content in the form of music videos and sketch videos.  We’re also working on our live show and plan to record a full-length comedy music album later this year.  We’re most excited about playing in a city near you very, very soon!

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

UN5: There have been a few times when some ladies threw their underwear up on the stage while we were performing, but one time, in the name of gender equality, we threw our underwear back at them. We were asked not to come back. 

Most recently we showed up to a gig and there were only 4 microphones, no mixing board, no air conditioning and they had cut their serving staff because they didn’t think people would come to the show apparently.  We sold the place out…but we still had to pay for our own drinks. Awesome.

IVB:  Do you use social media?

UN5:  YES! We’re big on social media!  Which reminds us, we’ve been putting it off lately but we really need to get around to updating our Top 8 on Myspace…

You can connect with us directly on the following platforms to stay up to date with us:  Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and our website.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube and Spotify channels.

 

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Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Kaylee Keller

We are back with our next feature on one of the LA Music Critic Award winners of the first half of 2016.  Today’s featured artist is the amazingly talented 18 year old phenom Kaylee Keller, who won for her VIP video remix collaboration with the VinylJackers of her hit song “Diamond.”

Sit back, enjoy the ride and learn things about Ms. Keller.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

KK:  All my life, really, from talent shows and competitions to  performing for my family and friends.  I really love to jam with my family.  I learned to play guitar about a year ago.  I have also tinkered with the snare drum and keyboards.    I once bedazzled my guitar for a couple of years before learning how to play it.  At the time I was taking acting lessons and not into pursuing my music.

IVB:  Who are your influences?

KK:  Definitely Shirley Temple when I was younger, but around middle school I fell in love with the music of Jamie Grace, Shania Twain, ABBA and the Go Gos.  I also started to check out other artists like Hanna Montana (Miley Cyrus), Hillary Duff, and High School Musical.  Lately, I’ve been grooving on Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Adele and Ellie Golding.   Glee made a big impact on me as well because it was so creative and featured top notch acting.  But I had to stop watching because the content was too mature for me.

IVB:   What made you decide to go the DIY route?

KK:  Well, my mom has been with me every step of the way.  I felt inspired by God since the age of 6 and never really wanted to do anything else but music.   I did musical theater as well as acting in film and TV in New York City.  The opportunity opened up when I graduated two years early (at age 16) and since then the connections have all been coming together.  I simply love being an Indie artist and although I have been offered things by the labels, I’m not ready for that yet.   I want to make sure I have the right team together before I sign with anybody.

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

KK:   I do want to be signed to a label and go on tour, but more importantly I want to see what doors God opens for me.  I also would love to have what Meaghan (Trainor) has.  I’m happy learning songwriting and am open to all opportunities.  I want to try them all.

IVB:  How did the collaboration with VinylJackers come about?

KK:  My song “Diamond” was submitted to Radio Diego in the Netherlands and it kept popping up in the Top 5.  The VinylJackers worked alongside of them and reached out to do something with me.  They used the original video I made for “Diamond” to create the VIP remix.  They are two guys who won the title of Best Producers in the Netherlands in 2015.  At the time they were the youngest to win that title.  They have also worked with Chris Willis on his song “Blood in my Veins,” as well as working with Star Beats and performing at big dance parties.  I believe there will be more collaborations in the future.

IVB:  Did you write “Diamonds?”

KK:  My mom and Jeff Pardo wrote it with me, as well as three other songs.

IVB:   What are your future plans?

KK:  I’m going back to Nashville in August to work with Nathan Meckel.  We’ll be writing more music at the Cowboy Clinic Studio over the course of a couple of weeks.  I love working with Jen (Lyneis of Ue3 Promotions) – she has such a good heart and is one of the few people that I can trust.   So many cool things keep coming up because she believes in me.

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

KK:  Once, I was performing on stage in a musical.  It was a really rough performance.  Early in the play, I was supposed to walk off the stage but instead I walked into the side of the house set piece.  I was talking to the audience and not paying attention to where I was on the stage.    I also broke a plate backstage to create a breaking sound and one of the techs got cut.  I also poured an entire plate of spaghetti on another actor.

IVB:  What type of social media presence do you have?

KK:  I have the usual, including my website and Facebook pages, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

Thanks to Jennifer Lyneis for the nomination.

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Awards

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Gabe Dixon

Continuing on with our introductions of the winners from the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016, our featured artist today is Gabe Dixon, the winner of “Best single” for his hit song “Crave,” as well as Best Pop/Rock Male Artist.

When we reviewed his album Turns to Gold back in May, the comparison was made to Dixon’s music being akin to that of Bruce Hornsby and Phil Vassar.  Come to find out during our almost one-hour interview that Dixon has connections with both of these superstars.  The Gabe Dixon Band once opened a concert for Bruce Hornsby, while Dixon and Vassar are friends, having shared the stage at a huge gala in their native Nashville.

Ready to learn more about Dixon and his music?  Sit back, dig in and learn things.  Let me warn you – this is a long one (I did mention the interview ran an hour, right?)

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

GD:  I started performing pretty young, around the age of 12.  I had started learning piano at the age of 7, and got into the music of Elton John, Ray Charles and the Beatles.  I grew up in Nashville, and my mom encouraged me to audition for a teen band.  I did and was selected to be a part of the band Six Shooter, signed to Curb Records.  We were basically a country version of a boy band.  I wasn’t a big fan of the music, but they did keep us on tour a lot, with weekends during the school year and then all summer long.  The touring gave me a lot of experience and the ride lasted about four or five years.  It also gave me the confidence to start writing my own stuff, which I did around age 15.  It also gave me the confidence to start playing whenever I could, mostly keyboards in other people’s band.  By the time I got to college at the University of Miami, I was doing my own stuff.  After graduation, I moved to New York City, and I have been playing off and on ever since.

IVB:  Who are your influences?

GD:  My early influences were blues and songwriter based musicians like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elton John, The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as stuff my parents listened to, late 60s and early 70s artists like Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson and U2.  Their music gave me a sense of songwriting and the basics.  That style was planted deep within me.  Everything I do now springs from that.  As I matured I got into my own stuff and loved jam band and improvisation stuff, and artists like the Dave Matthews Band and Phish, which led to Jeff Buckley and Radiohead.   Since those early days there have been so many influences that I can’t identify a single source.

IVB: What made you decide to DIY?

GD:  I’d never done it before and many of my friends had done it their whole careers.  I had previously signed with both Warner Brothers and Conchord Records, and had shopped my stuff around and gotten offers.  I just didn’t feel there was strong interest anywhere, so I decided to sever ties and try it as an indie.  I have never owned my own masters before so that’s a different experience.  Basically, I just wanted to try it all out and wanted to take charge of what I was doing.  I was intrigued by the whole crowd funding model of working directly with my fans.  I raised the funds I needed and got to become closer to my fans.  It was a good learning experience for me, allowing me to be more extroverted and interact with my fans.  When I was signed to a label, I never had this much say in who was working for me, so this is a great new experience.  I even left my old management firm after 10 years.  Doing it DIY has allowed me learn to trust myself and my intuition.  When it came time to get a publicist, I interviewed a bunch of them but never felt that connection until I met Laura (Goldfarb of Red Boot PR).   I want those who represent me to all be good people.  I never understood this before when the label did everything for me.

IVB:  Do you want to go back to being a mainstream artist?

GD:  I’m not sure at this time.  Just released my last album (Turns to Gold) in April.  (Going back) will depend on who the label is and what type of services they provide.  Their business models have all changed.  Right now my managers also own a publishing company and everything is more centered around me.  I’m transitioning more to being a songwriter, and I like not having to be on the road all the time.  I’ll never stop being an artist.  If it makes sense next time around, then I’ll probably go with them.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

GD:  I’m going on tour with David Ryan Harris (Twobadours) around most of the US.  I’m planning to take some time in late fall/early winter to do more songwriting and then maybe another short run in December.  I’m also hoping to go overseas next spring to Europe and the UK.  I want to work this album as long as I can.  I am doing a show with my friend Kenny Loggins.  I spent two tours opening for Loggins & Messina.  Someone is doing a documentary retrospective on the band and I was asked to be part of the taping in Chicago this weekend (July 29-30).  Other than that, my main focus right now is writing songs for my own project.  I will probably do something else in the next couple of years.

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

GD:  I have lots of embarrassing stories, but we won’t go there.  I never can come up with these on the spot.  I’ve spent so much time on the road.  There was this one time in high school when I was playing in a blues band and we had a regular gig on Tuesday nights.  One night we were playing along and we heard that The Black Crowes would come by.  They showed up on our last song so we decided to continue playing.  They watched us and clapped and then got up and sat in with us for a “shake your money maker” jam session.  I was 16, and never thought they would remember me.  Many years later I was performing at SunFest in West Palm Beach.  We were coming off the stage when they showed up.  I went up and introduced myself and they totally remembered me.  They said I was a legend in their band and they kept telling people about this young kid who was killing to on blues piano.  Today, my son and the son of their drummer go to the same school.

IVB:  Where can your fans find out more about you?

GD:  I have the usual social media.  They can follow me on Twitter and Instagram, like my fan page on Facebook, and check out my website.  I love hearing from my fans.  They can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Awards

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Diana Rein

Welcome to our new series on Indie Voice Blog.  Now that the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016 have been announced, we decided to help you get to know the winning artists through a series of interviews/stories about them.  Our first featured artist is three-time winner Diana Rein.

Rein won “Best CD – Female” for Long Road, “Best Blues Artist” and was the overwhelming selection for “Fan Favorite,” getting almost twice the votes of her nearest competitor.

All of these articles will follow the same format, so dig it and learn things about Ms. Rein and her music.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

DR:  I officially started performing in 2007, although I have always loved music.  Unfortunately, those early performing years took a toll on my vocal cords and I developed polyps, forcing me to take a break in 2011 for vocal surgery.  I was doing an exercise during acting class where the teacher had me screaming.  After the class, I couldn’t talk for three weeks.  I realized I needed help, so I consulted a doctor, who scheduled me for the surgery.  After taking time to heal, I started learning to play guitar in 2013, culminating in the recording of my album in 2015.

IVB:  Who are your influences?

DR:  I break down my influences into two categories.  For my vocals, they would be Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.  As a child I was also influenced by the music of Prince as a child.  My uncle was a drummer in a band.  When I was 8, I was at the Back Room in Chicago where he was performing and I invited to perform.  The vocalist in the band taught me the blues signature and I got to improvise on stage.  For my guitar playing, it would definitely be Stevie Ray Vaughan, although I was also heavily influenced as a child by the playing of Tom Kefer of Cinderella.  Other contemporary influences are the blues legends, like BB King and Buddy Guy.

IVB:  What made you decide to DIY?

DR:  I just wanted to send it (my music) out into the universe and see what happened.  At the time my son was only two, and I was with him almost 24/7, so I couldn’t leave him to go off to a studio and record.  Doing my stuff the DIY way allowed me to work around my schedule and record when I was free without feeling guilty about it.  I had the tools and the room to do it.  I taught myself how to play bass and program the drum machine.  I also reached out to friends and fellow musicians for advice on how to do it.

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

DR:  Right now I am very happy being an indie but would love to be more involved in the mainstream blues world.  I love how Bonnie Raitt’s career has taken shape because she is a household name, but is also very revered in the Blues world.  I truly love being surrounded by blues-loving people.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

DR:  I recently joined up with Kenny “Big Daddy” Williams and his band the Papermoon Gypsys.  We will be performing at some upcoming blues festivals and charity events.  We are also competing in the Temecula Valley Music Awards showcases.  We are performing at the Real Blues Festival at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on August 14 at 4 p.m.  Our set is just before James Harmon Band and KK Martin Band play.  We are also playing at the Long Beach New Blues Festival in September.  With the Papermoon Gypsys, we are working on a new album of more traditional blues.

IVB:  Do you have any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

DR:  I haven’t done any touring yet, but have recently learned not to wear leather at a hot outdoor venue.  We recently played the Orange County Fair on a hot sweltering day and learned that (wearing leather) was a mistake.

IVB:  Where can your fans find out more about you?

DR:  I have the usual social media.  They can follow me on Twitter and Instagram, like my fan page on Facebook, and check out my website.  I love hearing from my fans.  They can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.  Also check out my publicist, Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, if you need a great one.

Categories
Awards

LA Music Critic Award winners announced for first half of 2016

Wow.  What an impressive group of musicians and music were nominated for awards during the first half of 2016, and what amazing stuff is waiting to be announced for the second half.  Again, thanks to all the fans for your support of these awards, and for your input.  Thanks also to our amazing panel of Jen Lyneis, Steve Belkin, Laura Goldfarb, Doug Deutsch, Melissa Dragich-Cordero, Kim Grant, Michelle King, Heather Jacks and Patrick O’Heffernan for your valuable suggestions and votes.

Without further ado, here are the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016.  Winners are indicated in bold:

Best EP Female: Rooted Clarity (Katie Garibaldi),  Heartbreak is Contagious (Kris Angelis), Endless Road (Alexis Keegan)

Best EP Male:  Royal Blue (Lasers Lasers Birmingham), LA 14 (Rod Melancon)

Best EP Band:  29:11 (One From Many)

Best CD Female: Dressed up for Goodbye (Corinne Cook), Blow (Emily Clibourn), Cure for Dreaming (Jenny Gillespie), Hold Fast Open Palm (Sarah Ault), Long Road (Diana Rein), Popular Songs for Wholesome Families (Rae Fitzgerald)

Best CD Male: Northeastsouthwest (Mike Jacoby), Sugarland (Brian Whelan), Turns to Gold (Gabe Dixon), Let me in (Chi McClean), Blood Moon (Morgan Washam)

Best CD Band: … and friends (Jason Adamo Band), Love & Rent (The BGP), New Coastline (Riddle & the Stars), II (Lovers & Poets), Gung Ho (Freddy & Francine)

Best Single:  “Jackal II” (Rae Fitzgerald), “Big Man” (Jenni Alpert), “Crave” (Gabe Dixon), “Desire (Lo Que Vale La Pena)” (Halo Circus), “Diamond” (Kaylee Keller), “The Machine” (The Daybreaks)

Best Video (cover):  “Better When I’m Dancing” (Redhead Express), “Love Yourself” (Redhead Express), “Blue” (Alice Wallace), “I Knew I Loved You” (Redhead Express), “Cruel Summer” (The Daybreaks)

Best Video (live):  “Headrush” (Jamey Geston), “I am” (Katie Garibaldi), “Beautiful Forever” (Marina V), “Trespassing” (McKail Seely ft Jesse McLeod)

Best Video (comedy):  “Honest Singing Telegrams” (Un5gettable), “Sorry” (Un5gettable)

Best Video (lyrical):  “Pregunto” (Sin Color), “Diamonds (Vip mix)” (Kaylee Keller x VinylJackers), “Pieces of April” (Jerad Finck),  “Holding Her Freedom” (Gabe Dixon), “Blood in the Water” (Jerad Finck)

Best Video (official) Female:   “Lonely Love” (Ryal), “Last One” (McKail Seely), “Jackal II” (Rae Fitzgerald), “Paper Bag” (Anni Piper), “Diamond” (Kaylee Keller), “I Just Don’t Care Anymore” (Alice Wallace)

Best Video (official) Male:   “Crave” (Gabe Dixon), “Perry” (Rod Melancon), “Evergreen” (Shane Alexander)

Best Video (official) Band:   “Desire (Lo Que Vale La Pena)” (Halo Circus), “You + Me in the Summer” (Lovers & Poets), “Calico Concrete” (The Spider Accomplice), “These Three Words” (One From Many)

Best Video (series):  “Los Angeles:  The Abduction” (The Spider Accomplice)

Best Rock Band:  Halo Circus, The Spider Accomplice

Best Pop Band:  the BGP, Freddy & Francine, Lovers & Poets, One From Many

Best Country/Americana Band:  Riddle & the Stars, Jason Adamo Band, Junk Parlor

Best Pop/Rock Male Artist: Gabe Dixon

Best Pop/Rock Female Artist:  Kris Angeles, Sarah Ault, Allison Iraheta, Alexis Keegan

Best Blues Artist:  Anni Piper, Diana Rein

Best Country/Americana Artist:  Brian Whelan, Rod Melancon, Lasers Lasers Birmingham, Alice Wallace

Icon Award:  Ronnie Mack, Dave Yaden, Shane Alexander, Darwin Johnson

Best Live Residency Series:  Dave Yaden & Mike Rossi – Super Tuesdays Live at Butter’d Up

Fan Favorite – It was another wild year as 13 different artists were nominated for fan favorite.  When the dust settled, the artists with the most votes included Kris Angeles, Junk Parlor, Halo Circus, Alice Wallace, Diana Rein, Kaylee Keller and Jason Adamo.  After all the votes were counted, Diana Rein came out on top, with Halo Circus her closest competitor.  Who will it be for the second half?  Only the fans know for sure.