Interview with Music Video Winner Spiral Trance

MAS: Spiral Trance, you won the coveted MakeAStar.com Music Video Contest for June 2010. Are you happy, surprised or relieved?

Spiral Trance: It feels amazing to say the least! We knew we had a good product going into this contest, but there were so many great videos online, it was definitely a pleasure to go head to head with some real reputable videos. Not to mention the ability to share the win with our record label Rat Pak Records is beyond stellar!

MAS: There was certainly some tough competition making your victory and that of Rat Pak Records much sweeter. Is there an interesting story behind your band’s name?

Spiral Trance: When we first started there were a lot of “singular” band names floating around out there. You could pretty much tell what type of music they played just by hearing their name, so we just wanted to stick out a little bit more. We wanted to make people have to listen to us first before they could decide what we sounded like.

MAS: Very clever and wise, tell us how you got started as a band and how everyone became a part of it.

Spiral Trance: Like most bands, a few of us knew each other and all had similar musical interests. We were tired of what was out there on the radio and just wanted to do something completely different. Hopefully it’s working!

MAS: So far so good. How did you develop your sound and is there a primary songwriter or is it collaborative?

Spiral Trance: Well we only play what we know we can play. We’re not trying to be anything crazy and over the top so maybe that’s where our sound comes from. Our lead vocalist Paul has the ability to record at home so he’ll usually come down with a more completed idea based off of riffs that we’ve been working on. After that we all collaborate and put our flavor on it to make it something better!

MAS: How did the concept for the music video come together?

Spiral Trance: It was a lot of brainstorming sessions with the director after listening to the track itself. The overall lyrical theme of the song was the basis behind it all.

MAS: What other video work has the music video’s director done in the past?

Spiral Trance: Jimmy Sammarco has done a lot of video work such as short films, other music videos and all the way to full blown national award winning film documentaries. He’s a very creative guy and one hell of a director. He definitely knows how to bring all the pieces together from concept to final edit. Check him out at jimmymakesmovies.com

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

Spiral Trance: It’s a great site in the sense that it’s laid out real well for music lovers and fans of all genres. You don’t have to work real hard to find what you’re looking for and in the competition categories- it’s very fair compared to other sites where there is little or no filter on content submitted.

MAS: We are very much music lovers ourselves and truly value all the talent here. Which musical influences have other people compared you to?

Spiral Trance: We’ve always been compared to an array of artists, even some outside of our own heavier sound. I think because of our not wanting to pigeonhole ourselves into one particular category and the conscious thought of writing outside the box, most people haven’t been able to categorize us strictly as one thing or another.

MAS: Well said. What would you say sets you apart from other artists in your genre?

Spiral Trance: Like the previous answer, we aren’t trying to jump on anyone else’s band wagon. We’ve always followed our own path. We’re consciously trying to do something different, hard, heavy, light, mellow, and everything in between.

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

Spiral Trance: Our inspiration comes from everyone, every place and everywhere. Nothing in particular is responsible for what we do. We’re just trying to do something good that moves people and gives them an outlet on the day to day monotony of life in general. One of the things we say every night from the stage is that this band is for all of you, and we truly mean that.

MAS: What are your thoughts on music videos? The ideas, the production, working with directors, how they add to the song, etc…

Spiral Trance: I think that music videos, if done right, can be such a huge marketing tool for any band struggling to find an audience. Sometimes people don’t get a band or their message by just listening to them alone. The visual element is a great way for the story to be told and put an image behind the music. “A face to the name” I guess you could say… The right director will work with a band to achieve that perception, and vice versa.

MAS: What are you or your band’s plans for the year ahead?

Spiral Trance: Right now, we’re set to release a song in the worldwide popular game Rock Band which is pretty exciting. We’ll be able to tap into a market that we’ve never been able to hit before. At the same time, we’re in writing mode and set to record and release an EP in the fall. After that, we’ll hit the road again and bring the music to the masses so to speak!

MAS: That’s awesome! Shows what hard work and dedication can bring about. Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?

Spiral Trance: Growing up I was big into and still am big into Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth etc. and some of the old school metal greats. A lot of that music was handed over to me when my older brother moved out of the house. I inherited his music collection, which was excellent with me! My first concert ever was seeing David Lee Roth on his Sky Scraper tour right after he left Van Halen. He was playing all the outdoor sheds at the time and had a killer backing band. I just remember a great LOUD show and a lot of “strange” sights in the audience!

MAS: I can safely bet that’s true. What is the best and worst part about being a musician?

Spiral Trance: The best parts are the shows. That’s the icing on the cake after you’ve done all the hard work like promo, rehearsals, etc. That’s all the stuff that leads up to it. Sometimes the shows can also be the worst part as well! Like AC/DC has said, “Getting ripped off and underpaid, it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n roll!” And that’s no joke, it takes time and a lot of patience. You’ve got to have good business sense nowadays and keep an eye on what’s going on around you.

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

Spiral Trance: I think we all have our own opinions on things, but it certainly has changed considerably. There are so many avenues and outlets to showcase your music today that it can be a little overwhelming at times. Major labels are becoming a thing of the past and independent artists are taking control of their own destinies. By doing simple research and not “shot gunning” material out to every known outlet, you can be quite effective. That’s why Make A Star is so cool. It has allowed us an avenue to showcase our music video to folks that we may never have been able to reach before. It’s easy to use, legitimate, and has been very effective for us.

MAS: Tell us something completely random.

Spiral Trance: Rat Pak Records Rules… Lookout world!

MAS: Thank you Spiral Trance and we wish you many blessings on your journey.