Artist Interview: Quincy Wiegert

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DJ/Producer Quincy Weigert has been heavily involved in EDM for over a decade. Quincy’s unique progressive selection is designed to elevate the awareness of his listeners while guiding them on an unprecedented journey. Quincy has successfully developed a blend of new age sounds that capture arenas and clubs while staying true to his melodic/progressive roots. With years of spinning under his belt, Quincy's technical ability to create an experience and tell a story show with each set he plays. To Quincy, every track should play the part of a chapter in a book and create a tale that can be appreciated by all EDM listeners. Quincy has an intense dedication to studio production and is set for releases coming 2012. Quincy Weigert maintains a vision of exclusively spinning his own original productions and remixes while resurrecting vinyl and bringing back the real art of DJing.

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1. How long have you been making music?

10 years.

2.  Do you find it easier to get your music out there with the introduction of the Internet? Do you think it’s more successful to post your music free on the Internet or to try to sign with a record label?

yes, record label

3. How do you feel about illegal downloading?

It’s a broad topic since you can download radio shows or podcast for free. Its good for publicity but financially damaging to the artist

4. How do you feel about giving out free music?

Don’t Like it. Free distribution creates a lot of noise in that theres no real quality assurance with all the tracks that are thrown out there.

5. Do you think sharing music is wrong? (hulkshare, mediafire, zippy)

Yeah

6. What websites do you use?

Itunes, Any non-files-haring website, legitimate vendors that are credible

7. Do you think it’s easier now or ten years ago to make it in the music business?

It depends on your definition of making it, its pretty much the same game as it was but it allows for a lot of independent artist to “make it” in a smaller way

8. What do you think the Internet’s impact on the music industry is?

Major exposure of the 1% of real musicians, it’s also a gateway and a host for a-lot of smaller less legitimate artists to kind of make a lot of useless noise with lower quality music.


Interview by: Damon Steele

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Artist Interview: Jeff Tedtaotao, Drummer

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Jeff Tedtaotao is a drummer from southern California.  Jeff has been making music for over seven years.  He has most recently toured with the band Forever Came Calling, but now is currently taking a break from music and working on an education.






1. How long have you been making music?


I've been a drummer for about 7 years. Will be 8 years next month. I actually started digging into dj recently. Been into this for about month.


2. 2. Do you find it easier to get your music out there with the introduction of the Internet? Do you think it’s more successful to post your music free on the Internet or to try to sign with a record label?


Honestly, with music, you have to be DIY (do it yourself) first. To grasp a hold of the feeling of putting yourself out there. Doing something as rash as sign right away is not smart. Do the work first.


3. How do you feel about illegal downloading?


Honestly, everyone does it. It's common. Trying to stop it would be pointless. That's less publicity, in a sense.


4. How do you feel about giving out free music?


I'm okay with it. Publicity, that's what music needs. For it to get out. 


5. Do you think sharing music is wrong? (hulkshare, mediafire, zippy)


It isn't. It's an inevitability. If someone has your stuff on these sharing sites, that means you're probably doing something right. Someone's paying attention to you - music thrives off of attention. Music won't go anywhere if people don't care.


6. What websites do you use?


Rather not say lol.


7. Do you think it’s easier now or ten years ago to make it in the music business?


Honestly, it's hard to judge. More so, our generation intertwines music with fashion harshly. Everyone in a sense falls victim. You can have a kid that gets his music illegally, but full show support for seeing them in concert and picking up their merch. Support is support no matter how you look at it. Some politics are just different back then than it is now. People are concerned with band shirts, back in the day it was bragging rights to have their CD. Some people still collect vinyl, even bands in present time push vinyl and even tape cassettes. A time frame really doesn't set the stone for making it and breaking it. Mainly the artist's determination. 


8. What do you think the Internet’s impact on the music industry is?


I personally think it has an amazing impact really. There are so many negative depictions, especially with the recent shut down of megaupload and even jailing the guy for 50 years. Wether the internet kills the "profit" of an artist, they should be grateful people are paying attention and people do bother to care. If successful artists have problems with their music being shared, that's probably a moral issue. Artists shouldn't see money as the issue, mainly there self worth. Personally, if I knew my music was being shared illegally, I would be flattered. People buy my music AND go out of their way to share it rapidly. I know it's not a 110% great feeling, but the internet is getting everyone famous. Obviously, the internet is the tool to find about unknown artists. Then their music spreads. You're doing your part for someone that supports music.




Interview by: Ashley Norquist

How do you buy music?

Dave Grohl on File-sharing Music

Artist Interview: Amarionette

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Like most bands that have weathered through multiple years together Amarionette has gone through a couple of line-up changes. The core of the band consist of Quin White (Lead Vocals) and Paul Lancaster (Guitar/backing vocals) who have both been with the band since it's inception in 2007. Between Quin's very distinct vocal style and Paul's ambient guitar chords and intricate song writing the band crafted the sound of early Amarionette and released the bands first EP "Goodbye Explosions" in 2008. Between the EP and playing frequently the band made quite a name for themselves leaving fans eagerly awaiting new material and more shows. In 2010 Amarionette went through a major line-up change with the addition of Ron Wells (Bass), Nick Raya (Guitar) and Justin Brooklyn (Drums). The regroup has brought a surge of new life and creativity to the band and they are picking things up right where they left off.

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1. How long have you been making music?


Individually, I believe some of us have been at it for different times. Amarionette originally formed with a nearly completely different lineup (Quin is the only original member of that lineup still in the band) in 2008. The current lineup has been around for about a year, with myself (Brandon) recently joining last June to replace Paul (who was the only other original member besides Quin until that point.) So the Amarionette name has been around for a while now, just with different incarnations.


2. Do you find it easier to get your music out there with the introduction of the Internet? Do you think it’s more successful to post your music free on the Internet or to try to sign with a record label?


It is absolutely easier to promote music over the internet. We are able to reach well over a thousand people at the click of a mouse, and that's a powerful tool considering all the outlets that are available for promotion online (web forums, facebook, blogs, twitter, etc.). That doesn't go to say that all promotion should be on the internet. Personal time with fans and potential is vital, if not more important, as it shows the fan you care about what they think and appreciate the fact that they are allowing you to continue the path you want with their support. I find grassroots promotion does reach less people in sheer volume compared to the internet, but the value of getting personal time with the band reinforces a good image in the fans' minds and those people are also more hyped to tell their friends about the band, so there's merit in both approaches.


Second part of this question. It depends on what you define as success. If you seek validation and validation only, then offering a free album is a great way to do that and to share your music as well as start getting your name out there. There are plenty of people who get a great level of contentment from simply sharing their music with others, regardless of the monetary gain. However, if you wish to make a career out of this, that does mean at some point you are going to want to get in contact with labels. These organizations have more promotion power than any of us individually, and even if most of our work is done at home, you are going to want to get a disc available on as many online outlets and in as many stores as possible, and the minimum of doing that would be a distribution deal. We are looking to get attention at the national stage, so something like this would be critical for us, that we are in contact with the right labels who are going to help us, but also respect the integrity of our music to a degree. It does start to get a bit sticky there, since we are all new at approaching the industry part of being in this band, but we are learning as we go with this.


3. How do you feel about illegal downloading?


Illegal downloading is going to happen, regardless if we like it or not. Unfortunately, strict legislation meant to protect the rights of musicians has gone a bit too far overboard and left a bitter taste in everyone's mouths, and now we are left clueless as to how we approach this. Due to pirating, it is no longer viable to make a living (even a very modest one at that) off of record sales. We've heard many anecdotes from bands that on tour, they pretty much have to be a clothing company, that the music takes a near back seat to the merchandise. That being said, you can't take a hard stance on pirating because it can be a valuable tool to help music go viral. Obviously, if our music is in demand that much, it will be pirated, I don't doubt that. However, we appreciate every purchase because it shows that you want us to keep going. I guess the short answer would be, we can't stop you, but please purchase our music if you like it in order to help us continue making music.


4. How do you feel about giving out free music?


I think it is a great tool to give out a small release or single for free. We have done it before and have found that it helps build excitement when you are a little charitable in that sense. It's kind of saying to the listener, "Here is a song off the new album for free, have it! If you like it, the buy the rest too!" It encourages a reciprocal action back to the band. Of course this isn't sustainable in the long run, so I would definitely use discretion when considering giving out a piece of hard work for free.


5. Do you think sharing music is wrong? (hulkshare, mediafire, zippy)


Not necessarily. Like I said before, it is helpful when something goes viral, it focuses a lot of attention on the band. When friends share music with friends, that's how a true following gets built up. However, we just ask if you like the music, that you consider purchasing the music, come out and see and support us at a show, or buy a shirt (or all of them). People have to understand that although these actions help us get the word out faster, they also are not reasonable if they want us to keep making music, we'd all be broke if we just endlessly threw money into the band without earning some back for how much we do to make this band function on even the very basic levels.


6. What websites do you use?


Facebook is a huge tool social media wise, as well as twitter. We tend to like bandcamp as well, since it gives the buyer a bit more say in the quality of the file they're pulling from the internet. It's of course an advantage to have available on iTunes as well as Amazon, so we got our stuff up there too. I personally use soundcloud to showcase my own recordings and songs, just to keep people interested in new material while the band has down time between shows and releases. Basically, you want to use as many websites as possible to have your EP available as well as to promote the disc. Web forums are also a great way to get the word out there.


7. Do you think it’s easier now or ten years ago to make it in the music business?


It's easier now to gain recognition in the industry due to the plain fact that websites like YouTube exist. The idea of something going viral is astounding when you think of what promotional tools bands had even ten years ago. To make it in the music industry is a completely different topic. Labels are more focused on what is guaranteed going to make them money due to pirating, and are less willing to take risks on bands that fall out of that paradigm. I would say unless you already have a strong following that's been built up over years, that it would be more difficult to access the same luxury that bands of the past did. It is easier now to make an excellent home recording, but people still need to rely on many different types of promotion to make it. Some are free, such as posting things all over the internet, others, such as touring and selling merch and putting stickers everywhere, cost a lot of personal dollars, sometimes which in order to grow, is not feasible for one person or even five people to finance.


8. What do you think the Internet’s impact on the music industry is?


The best thing that ever happened and detrimental all at the same time. The self made star is on the rise due to the internet, but any hope of earning a decent living without being a super star like Katy Perry have basically been destroyed. Luckily we love what we do, and will do anything to do it for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, that is also taken for granted, and the devaluing of musicians has been on the rise just because kids want to get out and play, which people like a certain promoter in town (note that he is the exception in this town, most if not all the other promoters are great people) continually profit from and take advantage of. Essentially, a level of respect in the industry for the musicians needs to be built back up, because it can be great to you if you know and meet the right people. The hard part is just making people give a shit in the first place, so bands need to be insanely good salesmen as well.


--Interview by Trenton

Artist Interview: Amoride

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Amoride is a pop-punk band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Greyson Cervantes founded the group in 2009. After going through numerous lineup changes, steady success was achieved late 2010. Friendship and a passion for music is what has kept this band on the incline. With more shows, new dance moves, and a debut EP on the way, Amoride is ready to party!




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1. How long have you been making music?

 -Our band has been making music since fall of 2009. It’s been a long
road with numerous line up changes, styles, and shows; however, our love
and passion to write music and play it for fans has yet to falter in
those two years.

2. Do you find it easier to get your music out there with the introduction
of the Internet? Do you think it’s more successful to post your music
free on the Internet or to try to sign with a record label?

 -Personally, I think how easy it is to share and spread music now is a
double edged sword. On one hand, you don’t need the backing of a label
to get your music out there. The internet makes spreading your music so
much easier, and I love that because you can find fans anywhere on
multiple sites (youtube, facebook, reverbnation... etc.). However, with
the numerous outlets you can share your music, there is a rise in people
playing and trying to get their name out there. The industry is being
flooded with bands and artists from every corner of the world. For
example, in the 60s, there were only a couple of outlets to be heard; on
a record, on a radio show, or a TV broadcast. That’s how the Beatles
took over the world in just a couple of years. Absolutely EVERYONE heard
or saw them. Now, it’s hard to get that mass exposure.

3. How do you feel about illegal downloading?

 -Honestly, I don’t see the problem of illegal downloading or sharing
music. From what I understand (and I could be wrong), is that most of
the money bands and artist make are not from album sales. The royalties
a band makes from album sales are a small percentage of their income.
Radio time, TV spots, a spot on a soundtrack, tours, and merchandise are
larger sources of income for the artist. I think the fact that so many
people want to download or share someones music is amazing. At that
point, it’s just more exposure. It’s more people who want to buy
your merch or come to your shows. These bands’ fan bases are growing
because of this.

 4. How do you feel about giving out free music?

 -Power to the people man. It shows that you’re doing this (writing
music) because you love it and you want to share your views, opinions,
and emotions with others in the form of music.

 5. Do you think sharing music is wrong? (hulkshare, mediafire, zippy)

 -Not at all. Like I said, if you want to put your music out there and
give it to others, then go right ahead and make your fans. However, I do
strongly protest sharing other’s music if you do not have their
permission. I know I’ve said I don’t think downloading music is
wrong, but I only say that because I feel artist shouldn’t have a
problem or issue with the fact that people are trying to listen to their
music. I think artists should share their music on their terms rather
than watching others share it for them.

 6. What websites do you use?

 The main sites we use to promote our music are Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, Reverbnation, and PureVolume.

 7. Do you think it’s easier now or ten years ago to make it in the music
business?

 -It’s hard to say. I was only 9 ten years ago, so I didn’t know
what it took to make it. All I know is that constant work, undying
dedication, and passion are all necessary. Just because there are more
outlets to get your music out to the world, doesn’t mean it’s easier
to make it. You still have to get recognized, you still need the effort
and desire for everything. And not many bands/artist have those traits
anymore.

 8. What do you think the Internet’s impact on the music industry is?

 -It’s helped it out. Everyone thinks the music industry is dying. I
think that’s false. The industry isn’t dying, it’s only changing.
We no longer need these major labels and large format recording studios.
Sure, it’s nice to stay with what worked, but where we’re headed
isn’t failing either. Music has spread to almost everyone now. It’s
still thriving. Artists are still making albums and putting on shows.
Everything is just a little more spread out now, rather than being
localized to major labels. But music in itself is just as strong as
ever.

--Interview By: Trenton Jean