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How did you get started?
I have always loved music. By the age of 4, I was constantly playing my 45s. Eventually, my parents bought me a full-blown adult stereo when I was 8 because I was already starting to be really finicky about people borrowing my records, which were starting to take over my bedroom. That has grown to a healthy collection today that still encompasses an entire bedroom! At age 12, I wanted to play guitar, but my parents worried that I would become one of those 'rock and roll degenerate musicians', so they started me on piano lessons to steer me away from that lifestyle. Boy did that backfire! I soon found out that keyboard players were much more in demand than guitar players. And my parents were chagrined to find out that keyboards were more expensive than guitars!
What kind of music can we expect to hear from you or your groups?
Triprocket has been equated to Garbage or Republica on more than one occasion and you can't help but hear some similarities because they were influential. What makes Triprocket powerful to me is the musicianship and Kaila's writing. I'm conceptualizing Triprocket's next album to be more of a fun romp, and less heavy-handed musically and lyrically, but we'll see...
Now fruitCake-superBeing is perhaps a bit more unique. They have a base of Texas-rock and blues, but with a definite electronica influence. Yet, their sound is built around solid pop songs. Seriously, I've never heard anything like them.
As for myself, I've had no desire to define my own musical style yet. I'm still enjoying dabbling in all styles.
Any advice for an upcoming artist on how to get their music licensed by the film/TV industry?
It's really a crapshoot - you just need the right person at the right time to hear it. I was really lucky with Triprocket. When Dave Stone at Bunim-Murray heard the first album, he immediately wanted to license the whole thing. And then before "Romeo's Ex" was finished, an acquaintance that was a longtime friend of Jimmy Page, played him our cover of "Immigrant Song" and he flipped! That landed our Dragon Ball Z gig.
Try to avoid as many middle-men as possible. My advice is to hook up with someone that already has a track record of successful shopping to the industry. If their viable they won't ask for any money up front, they'll only want a reasonable percentage of the license fee (10-20%), and they won't ask for your publishing! Nickhits and NOMA music are two good examples.
Who/what inspires you musically and why?
What? Depression and frustration are my best inspiration, but so is listening to thump of an energetic dancefloor. Who? Any artist who's always pushing the boundaries.
I really like Basement Jaxx. Their use of sounds and looseness of their tracks is a refreshing departure from the norm. Besides, they're so much freakin' fun!
Bjork is also a huge favorite. I was totally in awe when I first saw her with the Sugarcubes in '87. I mean that voice - totally unique and powerful! I also like that she insists upon re-singing on all her remix tracks.
BT gets my award for the most growth. I really like how he has developed as an artist. The past two albums have been phenomenal.
Other influences and favorites include Crystal Method, Fatboy Slim, Fischerspooner, Daft Punk, FC Kahuna, Lo Fidelity Allstars, Groove Armada, Nikka Costa, Weekend Players, Massive Attack, U.N.K.L.E, and Felix da Housecat.
Do you listen to any non electronic dance music? If so, what do you listen to?
I love Brit-Pop, or anyone emulating it. I've also always had an affinity for 70's prog-rock and 60's psychedelia.
Name your top two tunes.
Of all time? Impossible! Here's my top two of the past six months
BT's "Knowledge of Self (vinyl extended mix)" and Liz Phair's "Extraordinary"
What is the best thing about producing?
Contributing to the style of the artist, while maintaining an invisibility as not to over-define their sound. Sometimes an artist will come in with an incomplete song and want me to finish it, and that's fun because I get to treat it like it's my song to a degree. But the most satisfying results happen if my involvement is in the middle somewhere. When the artist has a vision for the direction of the song, they usually just need me to provide the proper nudges here and there to make it what they envisioned.
Where can we buy your music?
At the 10th Planet online store here. And just about any other online major music store (CD Baby, CD Street, Amazon, Tower, Best Buy, etc.). Also locally at most Dallas indie record stores (CD World, Good Records, etc.).
What was your favorite event to play at? And why?
Triprocket gig at the NEMO conference in Boston because of the crowd response.
- Any upcoming gigs you'd like to list?
Triprocket at the Deep Ellum Artsfest on April 3 at 3:30. Fruitcake-superBeing at the Galaxy Club on April 1.
What do you think of the current state of the Dallas scene? And what do you think we can do to improve it?
Let's just say that concerning the party and rave scene, it appears the biggest problem is external. The local governments are throwing their weight around more than ever it seems, and it's making it tough on everybody. DDM has excellent resources for making your voice heard right here on their website and everyone should use them. I know it's time consuming, but what's the cost of freedom?
As far as the local live music scene, it's been lame for a while. I know several really good bands that hardly ever get the stage time they deserve from the top venues because they don't fit the "hard-edged" mold that these clubs seem to want to conform to. However, I'm starting to see and hear things that tell me the live scene might be on an upswing. I certainly hope so, but if not, I'll just start a tribute band to get gigs!
What do you see that other music artists do that annoys you?
#1 - Genre bashing! Music is a very subjective medium, so deal with it. That's why there are my 'faves' and 'guilty pleasures'? Unless you're around me, you don't have to listen to my music, so why care? I have enough of a sense of humor to take a 'good ribbing' from someone about my tastes, but don't let it become your life's work to insult me and go on and on and on about it.
And let's be honest, you're not spinning or performing just to impress your friends or competition. You like the rush of the crowd response, right? That's what it's all about!
Do you want to thank anyone?
My peeps (you know who you are) for putting up with my idiosyncrasies!
Do you have anything else to add?
Only that I hope your readers enjoy the mixset I created for this interview. It features some of my favorite remixes as well as some good friends deserving an audience.
MIXSET TRACKS
Verbal Kint - See To Yourself
Baby Jane Hudson - Erogenous (honey mix)*
Triprocket - En Route (juliet's mix)*
Year Of The Robot - Black Space Port (darkstar mix)*
Triprocket - Wild Life (electro-cusion edit)*
Nympho Nomads - Bhigi Angiya
fruitCake-superBeing - Bugnuddin' (the more the malaria mix)*
Reflection Theory - Chance (rt-datguy's $20 remix)
Felix Furlow - Blood Bath (serum mix)
Snukafly - Body-Mind-Soul (centurion mix)*
Triprocket - Dark Angel (rememberance mix)*
* Snukafly remix
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