Interview with Male Solo Artist winner Lionel Deguzman

MAS: Lionel Deguzman - winner of the MakeAStar.com Male Solo Artist for June 2010- it was a will deserved win. Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began.

LD: Well, I first picked up the guitar when I was twelve and haven’t been able to put it down since. I was going through a whole middle school punk-rock stage at the time so I was heavily drawn to the likes of Blink 182, Green Day, stuff like that, tryin to start little rock bands with my friends and whatnot. Eventually I grew up, decided what kind of music I was really into, traded in for an acoustic guitar and here I am now. After that things kind of just happened. A youth leader at my church heard some of my songs and invited me into the studio to try and lay some tunes down. Aaaand voila, here we are.

MAS: You definitely own it, having picked up the guitar at 12 and being influenced by the music of the time- how did you develop your own sound? Are you the primary songwriter?

LD: I write all my songs, only because I’m solo. But, when I had first begun this musical journey of mine I was not alone. Had a good friend of mine jamming along side with a little drum that we could take everywhere. I guess the sound just developed itself really, just natural songs.

MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?

LD: No story really. I think it’s pretty self explanatory. I wrote it in a time where love songs just kept coming to me. Of course there was a girl to inspire and to draw feelings from but other than that it’s just a song for the ladies.

MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?

LD: I’m not too sure really. I don’t go on many music sites or fan pages, mostly just to find the jams.

MAS: We are happy to have such talented musicians on our site. Which musical influences have other people compared you to?

LD: I’ve heard a few different ones. Matt Costa, Jack Johnson this Michael Buble guy. I don’t know. I guess it all just depends on how you hear it.

MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?

LD: I’m not really sure what genre I’m in to begin with, but if I were in one I’d have to classify it as indie/love. It’s whatever I want it to be ya know? Haha. It’s just music. Doesn’t need a label.

MAS: Agreed. Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?

LD: I get most of my inspiration from all the music I listen to. Just hearing other people do and sing about what they’re into, I dig it. It’s what I’m doing to. I guess anyone who’s going for what they want is inspiring to me.

MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?

LD: In a year? I think I’d have grown as a musician at the least. I’m hoping to just keep writing songs, hopefully get a chance to jam with other artists like myself. I’m in this for the experience really. Waiting to see where it takes me.

MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?

LD: As a child I listened to Jack Johnson a lot. Growing up on the Northshore, I can remember hearing about him when he first started getting big. It was rad. The concert thing I’m not too sure on though, I’ve been to lots of little shows here and there in different venues. BUT the first big concert I’ve been to actually would be Kokua festival ’10 haha and that just happened.

MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?

LD: The best part is the music making of course; being able to create something that never was. The chance to be truly original is enough to get me hooked. But there’s always a downside. I guess writers block can be frustrating. Sometimes there are long periods of time where I’m stuck playing the same songs and can’t seem to come up with anything new at all.

MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?

LD: I have no beef with the industry. I don’t feel like it’s affecting me at all. But I do think the downloading is a bummer though.

MAS: Tell us something completely random.

LD: Do what you wanna do. Have fun, take it slow and jam that rock’n roll pizza.

MAS: Congrats man, do your thing.