It's been a great month of music with so many good songs and videos to enjoy.
But only one can survive at the end to reach the top of the charts and claim the $100 cash prizes in each of this month's 7 categories.
Voting ends Sunday, August 29th at noon pacific. Vote daily to help your favorite win!
Music Video 1 - Chelsea Automatic "Sunday" vs Sergeant Fu "Vuvuzela"
Music Video 2 - Brogan Kelby "Rescue Me" vs The Maneken "These Lines"
Female Solo Artist - Vanessa Littrell "If I Should Fall" vs Tamara Miller "You Made Me See The Light"
Male Solo Artist - Nick Storey "Heal and Bind" vs Iceman "Nightwalker"
Favorite Duo or Band - S-1 Operations "Annies Song" vs LilLuLu & Mellowman "Lil Baby Girl"
Instrumental Song - Joy@Play "Come, Run Away" vs LilLuLu "Queen of the Seven Seas"
Stand Up Comic - Kenny Klein vs Guy Copland
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Make A Star Interview with Music Video winner Connekt
MAS: Congratualations on your winning music video ‘Kiss’! How does it feel to take home the win and the $100 cash?
Connekt: I am really excited that I won this month’s contest! Not so long ago I was a stay at home mom working on her style alone in her studio, so winning that contest really is great!
Watch the Music Video for Connekt 'Kiss' on MakeAStar.com
MAS: How did the concept for the music video come together?
Connekt: Last December, I was finishing up the mixing of Kiss and was still searching for a stage name. Plus I knew I wanted to produce a music video to help promote myself online and my friends kept telling me "You are so lucky to have the talent to express your emotions through music, I wish I could do it too". So I thought that it would be great if someone would invent a computer that could connect to your feelings and create a song and maybe a video of how you feel. Like a futuristic personal jukebox. That’s basically how it all started. I actually did a “making-of” the video that explains how we did the video shoot and post-production at home. You can watch it on Youtube:
Making the Music Video : Connekt 'Kiss'
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Connekt: I don’t compare myself too much. I love to do pop/electronic music without falling in the usual sets of beats you hear all the time on the radio. Plus I think I’ve got a vibe of my own. To my understanding, we all have different kinds of lives and inspirations that help us create our music. I am still very new to that industry and I am just hoping that many people will feel attracted to what I do, so I can keep doing it.
MAS: What are you or your musical plans for the year ahead?
Connekt: At the moment I am working hard at finishing up a few other songs that follow the same genre as Kiss, to put on a demo and go on the hunt for a record deal. I am also trying to reach for other artists who are in need of good original songs. I might also have a new idea for a second music video for my next release. We will see how it goes. Wish me luck!
MAS: We do wish you luck, though it seems you hardly need it. =)
Connekt: I am really excited that I won this month’s contest! Not so long ago I was a stay at home mom working on her style alone in her studio, so winning that contest really is great!
Watch the Music Video for Connekt 'Kiss' on MakeAStar.com
MAS: How did the concept for the music video come together?
Connekt: Last December, I was finishing up the mixing of Kiss and was still searching for a stage name. Plus I knew I wanted to produce a music video to help promote myself online and my friends kept telling me "You are so lucky to have the talent to express your emotions through music, I wish I could do it too". So I thought that it would be great if someone would invent a computer that could connect to your feelings and create a song and maybe a video of how you feel. Like a futuristic personal jukebox. That’s basically how it all started. I actually did a “making-of” the video that explains how we did the video shoot and post-production at home. You can watch it on Youtube:
Making the Music Video : Connekt 'Kiss'
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Connekt: I don’t compare myself too much. I love to do pop/electronic music without falling in the usual sets of beats you hear all the time on the radio. Plus I think I’ve got a vibe of my own. To my understanding, we all have different kinds of lives and inspirations that help us create our music. I am still very new to that industry and I am just hoping that many people will feel attracted to what I do, so I can keep doing it.
MAS: What are you or your musical plans for the year ahead?
Connekt: At the moment I am working hard at finishing up a few other songs that follow the same genre as Kiss, to put on a demo and go on the hunt for a record deal. I am also trying to reach for other artists who are in need of good original songs. I might also have a new idea for a second music video for my next release. We will see how it goes. Wish me luck!
MAS: We do wish you luck, though it seems you hardly need it. =)
Make A Star Interview with Music Video winners Dark Every Day
MAS: Dark Every Day - winner of the July Music Video Contest, how does it feel to take home the win for your video ‘Burning’?
DED: We are extremely happy and a little surprised to have had as much support as we did!
Watch the Music Video for Dark Every Day 'Burning' on MakeAStar.com
MAS: The video has a great story behind it and was beautifully executed; is there an interesting story behind your band’s name?
DED: We actually got our name from a good friend of ours. None of us could agree on a name and we came to the agreement on Dark Every Day.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a band and how everyone became a part of it.
DED: The band started as a few friends playing music together then grew to become what it is today. Tony and Manuel Razo are brothers and founded the band in 2008. Patrick Pressgrove joined soon after on drums from a word-of-mouth recommendation, and Dustin Johnson joined in early 2010 on rhythm when he was contacted through Craigslist.
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Is there a primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
DED: We try to make sure our sound is a mix of all of our influences. Some of our members write more than others but in the end all ideas are brought to the table and it is a collaborative effort when the song is being finished.
MAS: Whatever you guys are doing it’s working. What’s the story behind the video you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
DED: Our record label (Rat Pak Records) recommended Ross Wells of ZenFilms out of Houston, TX to do our video for "Burning". He was a great guy to work with and we are very pleased with his vision and the outcome of the video.
MAS: How did the concept for the music video come together?
DED: The concept was to play in a gritty, old, run-down spot in Houston and Ross found the perfect spot. It was to be laid-back and fun as if we were in rehearsal but also have a certain edge to reflect the meaning and message of our song "Burning".
MAS: What other video work has the music video’s director done in the past?
DED: Ross has done work for Ronny Munroe of Metal Church, as well as multiple videos for another great band who are also our friends, the Southern Backtones.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
DED: MakeAStar.com is a great site! It's very easy to use and is super, super supportive of the artists it promotes!
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
DED: Our work has been compared Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, as well as other bands in the Punk and Hardcore genres.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
DED: We have a tremendous work ethic and are beyond motivated to do the best we can and keep doing what we love.
MAS: It shows. Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
DED: We all have different musical influences which come out in our songs. We draw inspiration from countless different artists from all genres. We do hold our families dear to us and take a lot of our views and life experiences into our songs as well.
MAS: What are your thoughts on music videos? The ideas, the production, working with directors, how they add to the song, etc…
DED: Music videos are great! Everyone in the band grew up watching videos on TV and we were very excited to have one of our own. They are a great way to promote your songs or albums and with the presence of the internet in the music industry it's a great way to spread the word and get people hearing your music even faster than ever before, as well as put faces behind the songs and the instruments.
MAS: What are you or your band’s plans for the year ahead?
DED: We will be finishing up our new album as well as planning out a tour in Texas and a few neighboring states.
MAS: Sounds like a productive year ahead. Who were your favorite musicians as children and what was your first album or concert?
DED: We all have numerous favorite musicians. Some of ours range from classic metal, to prog rock, to hip-hop. It's hard for us to remember our first CDs which we purchased. A few of our first concerts were small, local band shows, the rest of us had our first concerts at festivals or big tours (South by Southwest or the Family Values Tour).
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
DED: The best part is being able to do what you love and having the ability to share it with others. It seems at times the worst part is not being able to get all of our ideas out fast enough and some of them slip away before we have a chance to work on them.
MAS: Unique response, well said. What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
DED: For up-and-coming musicians the worst part would be how hard it is to sell albums and become noticed with so many other artists in the same place and position you are in. The best part is seeing all of the fans at your shows and knowing that this is what we're doing it for.
MAS: Now tell us something completely random.
DED: It's a bad idea to put the four of us in the same hotel room. Unspeakable things can and do happen. Our tour is going to be an experience!
MAS: So will the hotel industry apparently, we wish you an amazing tour!
DED: We are extremely happy and a little surprised to have had as much support as we did!
Watch the Music Video for Dark Every Day 'Burning' on MakeAStar.com
MAS: The video has a great story behind it and was beautifully executed; is there an interesting story behind your band’s name?
DED: We actually got our name from a good friend of ours. None of us could agree on a name and we came to the agreement on Dark Every Day.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a band and how everyone became a part of it.
DED: The band started as a few friends playing music together then grew to become what it is today. Tony and Manuel Razo are brothers and founded the band in 2008. Patrick Pressgrove joined soon after on drums from a word-of-mouth recommendation, and Dustin Johnson joined in early 2010 on rhythm when he was contacted through Craigslist.
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Is there a primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
DED: We try to make sure our sound is a mix of all of our influences. Some of our members write more than others but in the end all ideas are brought to the table and it is a collaborative effort when the song is being finished.
MAS: Whatever you guys are doing it’s working. What’s the story behind the video you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
DED: Our record label (Rat Pak Records) recommended Ross Wells of ZenFilms out of Houston, TX to do our video for "Burning". He was a great guy to work with and we are very pleased with his vision and the outcome of the video.
MAS: How did the concept for the music video come together?
DED: The concept was to play in a gritty, old, run-down spot in Houston and Ross found the perfect spot. It was to be laid-back and fun as if we were in rehearsal but also have a certain edge to reflect the meaning and message of our song "Burning".
MAS: What other video work has the music video’s director done in the past?
DED: Ross has done work for Ronny Munroe of Metal Church, as well as multiple videos for another great band who are also our friends, the Southern Backtones.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
DED: MakeAStar.com is a great site! It's very easy to use and is super, super supportive of the artists it promotes!
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
DED: Our work has been compared Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, as well as other bands in the Punk and Hardcore genres.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
DED: We have a tremendous work ethic and are beyond motivated to do the best we can and keep doing what we love.
MAS: It shows. Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
DED: We all have different musical influences which come out in our songs. We draw inspiration from countless different artists from all genres. We do hold our families dear to us and take a lot of our views and life experiences into our songs as well.
MAS: What are your thoughts on music videos? The ideas, the production, working with directors, how they add to the song, etc…
DED: Music videos are great! Everyone in the band grew up watching videos on TV and we were very excited to have one of our own. They are a great way to promote your songs or albums and with the presence of the internet in the music industry it's a great way to spread the word and get people hearing your music even faster than ever before, as well as put faces behind the songs and the instruments.
MAS: What are you or your band’s plans for the year ahead?
DED: We will be finishing up our new album as well as planning out a tour in Texas and a few neighboring states.
MAS: Sounds like a productive year ahead. Who were your favorite musicians as children and what was your first album or concert?
DED: We all have numerous favorite musicians. Some of ours range from classic metal, to prog rock, to hip-hop. It's hard for us to remember our first CDs which we purchased. A few of our first concerts were small, local band shows, the rest of us had our first concerts at festivals or big tours (South by Southwest or the Family Values Tour).
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
DED: The best part is being able to do what you love and having the ability to share it with others. It seems at times the worst part is not being able to get all of our ideas out fast enough and some of them slip away before we have a chance to work on them.
MAS: Unique response, well said. What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
DED: For up-and-coming musicians the worst part would be how hard it is to sell albums and become noticed with so many other artists in the same place and position you are in. The best part is seeing all of the fans at your shows and knowing that this is what we're doing it for.
MAS: Now tell us something completely random.
DED: It's a bad idea to put the four of us in the same hotel room. Unspeakable things can and do happen. Our tour is going to be an experience!
MAS: So will the hotel industry apparently, we wish you an amazing tour!
Interview with July Music Video 2 Winner Ejay Ivan Lac
Watch the Ejay Ivan Lac music video 'You Are Not Alone'
MAS: First off, tell us how it feels to have won…..again.
Ejay: Won 3 times and I have almost always gone in the final, feels good, because I know that my music is liked, even if it is different from the usual!
MAS: Is there an interesting story behind your band’s name?
Ejay: Ejay was my first music program, I used the computer to compose my first songs that were really ugly! So, I decided to put it as the name of art Ejay. Ejay Ivan Lac!
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a band and how everyone became a part of it.
Ejay: I began making music since I was in the rave. I liked that strange music, electronics, came into my head as a signal, a sound that made me fly. I left home and went into the discovery of the hidden, where they made electronic music, the sounds came from my heart, and slipped inside me!
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Is there a primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Ejay: My songs come from my soul, I think my electronic music is different from everything around me, or everything you hear about, everything that is broadcast on music channels like Mtv or Fuse tv I am different in my compositions, there is a basic rule to create my songs. Every sound, every single noise is created according to my moods, depending on what happens to me, I feel what is around me. I do not write the lyrics of my songs when someone works with me, I let the singer write the lyrics!
MAS: What’s the story behind the video you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Ejay: I wanted to create something different from usual, I wanted people to remain shocked by what they see, accompanied by a sad song and air, the pieces that went into making this video are commercial spots, drugs are the enemy of humans. Humans use it when they think they can not manage or cope with life, when they feel alone and when they feel disappointed by everything and everyone.
MAS: How did the concept for the music video come together?
Ejay: My videos are born with the intent to upset listeners and viewers. I like to create videos with direct messages and heavy as my video (suicide) who speaks of death caused by road accidents! Purpose and psychology merge, brain stimulation reasons and to make people think, human beings are influenced by music and videos are a great way to make the person think, my purpose is to send messages and then for all to think!
MAS: What other video work has the music video’s director done in the past?
Ejay: The only videos I have directed are (chemistry) and (Hot Blood) the rest of the videos are all collaborations and have worked out wonderfully well!
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Ejay: I think Makeastar.com is one of the best sites for artists. You should also make the music categories, like pop, electronica, DJ, or even a selection of music like (best remix):)
MAS: We are always open to suggestions. Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Ejay: I’m compared to the Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, or Fat Boy Slim, but I think that mine is a genre without a clear label, I have a style that comes from me!
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Ejay: As I said before, my music is different from the usual, I create sounds and rhythms that are distinct from all over the musical world. There was created a new genre when she was born electronic music, not everyone played, there were only 2 or 3 artists that played ... and then gradually evolved and all are taken! My goal is to be able to create a particular sound, able to travel with the soul and body at that time people listen to it!
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Ejay: I take inspiration from everything, I take and feel all the situations, events and words, turning everything into music, if I'm in love I create something exciting, if I'm angry I create something bad, every moment of my life I create my songs ...it is not simply my electronic music!
MAS: What are your thoughts on music videos? The ideas, the production, working with directors, how they add to the song, etc…
Ejay: I am working with various directors on the web, I like doing these collaborations! I think music videos should not be done only to advertise a song; I must give something, psychologically and morally. I do not like videos where you see t*ts and asses, stupid videos that do not teach anything in the world that the world and humans need to learn, like to learn that there are things perfect, but there are several things that are beautiful in their own way! When you create a music video, you should be very careful about what you create!
MAS: What are you or your band’s plans for the year ahead?
Ejay: I think my third album released in December will enclose various musical genres and I will like listening to them on the radio, a trip, I’m really curious!
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Ejay: I listened to Michael Jackson when I was a kid, I lived with the music of Michael not stop and even now I listen to his works, musically I approach like him in that he created rhythms that took you away, and I do the same! But my first concert was the Chemical Brothers!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Ejay: The best part is definitely being known, when people give you compliments and when you want to know the girls ahaha! Also being able to create things that even you can make feel pensavidi realized on paper, there are so many factors to be a good musician. The drawbacks are the continual disappointments, negative comments, the fact that sometimes you can’t always get what you wanted! Another positive side to being an artist is being able to escape from this life of sh*t that has accompanied you all this time!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Ejay: I can be bad, but I think in the music industry there is nothing good. Everything revolves around being cool and singers singing songs in a trivial place and it’s already heard, transforming the listener into superficial people ... I think the music that is wonderful and ingenious is that of the 80’s and 90’s!
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Ejay: I wish to use this space to tell everyone that the world needs to change, and that if we all love and live intelligently and we can have so much more!
MAS: First off, tell us how it feels to have won…..again.
Ejay: Won 3 times and I have almost always gone in the final, feels good, because I know that my music is liked, even if it is different from the usual!
MAS: Is there an interesting story behind your band’s name?
Ejay: Ejay was my first music program, I used the computer to compose my first songs that were really ugly! So, I decided to put it as the name of art Ejay. Ejay Ivan Lac!
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a band and how everyone became a part of it.
Ejay: I began making music since I was in the rave. I liked that strange music, electronics, came into my head as a signal, a sound that made me fly. I left home and went into the discovery of the hidden, where they made electronic music, the sounds came from my heart, and slipped inside me!
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Is there a primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Ejay: My songs come from my soul, I think my electronic music is different from everything around me, or everything you hear about, everything that is broadcast on music channels like Mtv or Fuse tv I am different in my compositions, there is a basic rule to create my songs. Every sound, every single noise is created according to my moods, depending on what happens to me, I feel what is around me. I do not write the lyrics of my songs when someone works with me, I let the singer write the lyrics!
MAS: What’s the story behind the video you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Ejay: I wanted to create something different from usual, I wanted people to remain shocked by what they see, accompanied by a sad song and air, the pieces that went into making this video are commercial spots, drugs are the enemy of humans. Humans use it when they think they can not manage or cope with life, when they feel alone and when they feel disappointed by everything and everyone.
MAS: How did the concept for the music video come together?
Ejay: My videos are born with the intent to upset listeners and viewers. I like to create videos with direct messages and heavy as my video (suicide) who speaks of death caused by road accidents! Purpose and psychology merge, brain stimulation reasons and to make people think, human beings are influenced by music and videos are a great way to make the person think, my purpose is to send messages and then for all to think!
MAS: What other video work has the music video’s director done in the past?
Ejay: The only videos I have directed are (chemistry) and (Hot Blood) the rest of the videos are all collaborations and have worked out wonderfully well!
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Ejay: I think Makeastar.com is one of the best sites for artists. You should also make the music categories, like pop, electronica, DJ, or even a selection of music like (best remix):)
MAS: We are always open to suggestions. Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Ejay: I’m compared to the Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, or Fat Boy Slim, but I think that mine is a genre without a clear label, I have a style that comes from me!
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Ejay: As I said before, my music is different from the usual, I create sounds and rhythms that are distinct from all over the musical world. There was created a new genre when she was born electronic music, not everyone played, there were only 2 or 3 artists that played ... and then gradually evolved and all are taken! My goal is to be able to create a particular sound, able to travel with the soul and body at that time people listen to it!
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Ejay: I take inspiration from everything, I take and feel all the situations, events and words, turning everything into music, if I'm in love I create something exciting, if I'm angry I create something bad, every moment of my life I create my songs ...it is not simply my electronic music!
MAS: What are your thoughts on music videos? The ideas, the production, working with directors, how they add to the song, etc…
Ejay: I am working with various directors on the web, I like doing these collaborations! I think music videos should not be done only to advertise a song; I must give something, psychologically and morally. I do not like videos where you see t*ts and asses, stupid videos that do not teach anything in the world that the world and humans need to learn, like to learn that there are things perfect, but there are several things that are beautiful in their own way! When you create a music video, you should be very careful about what you create!
MAS: What are you or your band’s plans for the year ahead?
Ejay: I think my third album released in December will enclose various musical genres and I will like listening to them on the radio, a trip, I’m really curious!
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Ejay: I listened to Michael Jackson when I was a kid, I lived with the music of Michael not stop and even now I listen to his works, musically I approach like him in that he created rhythms that took you away, and I do the same! But my first concert was the Chemical Brothers!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Ejay: The best part is definitely being known, when people give you compliments and when you want to know the girls ahaha! Also being able to create things that even you can make feel pensavidi realized on paper, there are so many factors to be a good musician. The drawbacks are the continual disappointments, negative comments, the fact that sometimes you can’t always get what you wanted! Another positive side to being an artist is being able to escape from this life of sh*t that has accompanied you all this time!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Ejay: I can be bad, but I think in the music industry there is nothing good. Everything revolves around being cool and singers singing songs in a trivial place and it’s already heard, transforming the listener into superficial people ... I think the music that is wonderful and ingenious is that of the 80’s and 90’s!
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Ejay: I wish to use this space to tell everyone that the world needs to change, and that if we all love and live intelligently and we can have so much more!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Interview with Atmospheric Electronic Producer Lewell
Listen to Lewell "Stay Close to Me" on MakeAStar.com
MAS: Lewell, you are the winner for the July Song- Duo or Band Contest with your amazing entry ‘Stay Close to Me’. Is there an interesting story behind your bands name?
Lewell: Lowell/Lewell is a family name: It is of Old French origin, and the meaning of Lowell is "young wolf".
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a band and how everyone became a part of it.
Lewell: I have always thought of music as the number-one love in my life. As a kid I taught myself some basic piano from listening to classical music while on holidays at my grandma's. I guess it was at that stage I realized I had a natural ear for music, and from then on I was always either secretly writing songs during my childhood or mucking around with tunes on my Dad's guitar. In 2000, I began to use a computer in my home and discovered computer-based production, as well as the network of resources available via the Internet. I worked with quite a few artists around the world.
MAS: Your love of music definitely shows. How did you develop your sound? Is there a primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Lewell: I mostly write my own songs but also love to collab with other artists.
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Lewell: "Stay close to me" is very personal actually...had to express my feelings towards someone else so I did it in a song.
MAS: The song is very relatable; you won by judge and fan votes so you definitely have a great song on your hands. How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Lewell: MakeAStar.com is really a great website and not like any other music website I have ever seen, not only gives its artists the opportunity to get heard but also to win cash so yeps MakeAStar you rock !!!
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Lewell: Jean Michel Jarre, Sally/Mike Oldfield, Michael Cretu and a few others.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Lewell: I have been called the master of full atmospheres, I love spacy textures with pulsating synth bass and rising strings and haunting vocals . My music is mood music and great to listen when you just wanna escape. I love expressing my feelings in this way.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Lewell: I get my inspiration from love, life and things that happen to me on a daily basis.
MAS: What are you or your band’s plans for the year ahead?
Lewell: I am currently working on a few projects..I am also involved in The Global Conspiracy Project, a group of over 40 independent musicians, designers, artists, animators, translators and film makers from 19 Countries Worldwide composing and singing songs to raise money for orphaned children. (SOS children's villages)
MAS: Wow, that is very honorable; what a great charity to be involved with. Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Lewell: Mmm definitely Madonna ...still love her work. Roxette, Duran Duran, U2, Enigma, Cher, Juice Newton…haha yeah loved her as well.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Lewell: The best part of being a musician is I get to do what I love and that is making music. The worst part is I don`t get much sleep.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Lewell:The best part is being able to get your work heard...a few years back it wasn`t this easy to get your songs out there for other people to listen. The Internet helped independent musicians in a big way.
MAS: Tell us something completely random. Lewell: Umm yeah I don`t talk a lot ....listen to my music ...come on ...you know you want to :))
MAS: We certainly do and $100 says the fans love it too! Congratulations Lewell!
MAS: Lewell, you are the winner for the July Song- Duo or Band Contest with your amazing entry ‘Stay Close to Me’. Is there an interesting story behind your bands name?
Lewell: Lowell/Lewell is a family name: It is of Old French origin, and the meaning of Lowell is "young wolf".
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a band and how everyone became a part of it.
Lewell: I have always thought of music as the number-one love in my life. As a kid I taught myself some basic piano from listening to classical music while on holidays at my grandma's. I guess it was at that stage I realized I had a natural ear for music, and from then on I was always either secretly writing songs during my childhood or mucking around with tunes on my Dad's guitar. In 2000, I began to use a computer in my home and discovered computer-based production, as well as the network of resources available via the Internet. I worked with quite a few artists around the world.
MAS: Your love of music definitely shows. How did you develop your sound? Is there a primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Lewell: I mostly write my own songs but also love to collab with other artists.
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Lewell: "Stay close to me" is very personal actually...had to express my feelings towards someone else so I did it in a song.
MAS: The song is very relatable; you won by judge and fan votes so you definitely have a great song on your hands. How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Lewell: MakeAStar.com is really a great website and not like any other music website I have ever seen, not only gives its artists the opportunity to get heard but also to win cash so yeps MakeAStar you rock !!!
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Lewell: Jean Michel Jarre, Sally/Mike Oldfield, Michael Cretu and a few others.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Lewell: I have been called the master of full atmospheres, I love spacy textures with pulsating synth bass and rising strings and haunting vocals . My music is mood music and great to listen when you just wanna escape. I love expressing my feelings in this way.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Lewell: I get my inspiration from love, life and things that happen to me on a daily basis.
MAS: What are you or your band’s plans for the year ahead?
Lewell: I am currently working on a few projects..I am also involved in The Global Conspiracy Project, a group of over 40 independent musicians, designers, artists, animators, translators and film makers from 19 Countries Worldwide composing and singing songs to raise money for orphaned children. (SOS children's villages)
MAS: Wow, that is very honorable; what a great charity to be involved with. Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Lewell: Mmm definitely Madonna ...still love her work. Roxette, Duran Duran, U2, Enigma, Cher, Juice Newton…haha yeah loved her as well.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Lewell: The best part of being a musician is I get to do what I love and that is making music. The worst part is I don`t get much sleep.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Lewell:The best part is being able to get your work heard...a few years back it wasn`t this easy to get your songs out there for other people to listen. The Internet helped independent musicians in a big way.
MAS: Tell us something completely random. Lewell: Umm yeah I don`t talk a lot ....listen to my music ...come on ...you know you want to :))
MAS: We certainly do and $100 says the fans love it too! Congratulations Lewell!
Female Solo Artist Tamara Miller Interview
Listen to Tamara Miller '60 Seconds' on MakeAStar.com
MAS: Congratulations Tamara Miller for your song ’60 Seconds’ and the win in the July Female Solo Artist Contest! Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began.
Tamara: I began playing taking classical piano lessons at six. I loved playing classical music, but I was always more interested in composing and playing contemporary music. I also loved composing pieces for piano and voice and loved to sing! I continued my musical studies at York University in Toronto, where I was awarded an entrance scholarship to attend the Faculty of Fine Arts at the age of 18. I enrolled in a songwriting course that allowed me to experiment. For the final assignment, we had to compose an original piece of music and perform the song for the class. It was such a wonderful experience and it was at that point during my studies that the light bulb went off; this was something that I wanted to do. I began performing my music in various live shows, released my EP – 60 Seconds in 2008, produced by Juno Award winner Ron Lopata (Jacksoul, Simon Wilcox). The CD has been featured on CBC Radio and on community-campus radio stations across Canada. I was also very excited to have my song “60 Seconds” featured on the hit teen drama series, Degrassi: The Next Generation - airing across Canada, US and worldwide.
MAS: That is a stunning accomplishment and well deserved. How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Tamara: I am often the primary songwriter, but I also really enjoy collaborating with other musicians. I think it’s a fantastic way to see what other people are doing, how other people write, and find different ways of saying the same thing. Sometimes I think artists can get stuck in the same “style of writing” if you are always writing by yourself in the same environment. Co-writing is an excellent way to find new inspiration. I think I developed my sound along the way of studying classical music and finding what inspires me to write (from traveling, to walking by a large open lake, to watching a film etc..). I write and play what comes naturally to me and go from there! I have found that it’s really important to stick to my instincts and stay true to what I want to express.
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Tamara: The song that I entered into the Make A Star contest is entitled “60 Seconds” - the title track to my latest CD “60 Seconds,” This is a song about making it on your own, leaving the past behind, and moving forward. I believe 60 Seconds is a journey that all of us at some point in our lives have taken.
MAS: Beautifully expressed- you won by judge and fan votes. How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Tamara: MakeAStar.com is a fantastic medium for artists to learn about each others' work and for fans from all around the world to become involved in their success! It’s great exposure for artists and for fans to find new music. It just goes to show the amazing impact of the internet and its importance in the music industry. There are so many music sites out there, but I think MakeAStar.com stands out in that it really supports the independent artist and I just love the incentives of points/gift cards for voting for your favorite artist!
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Tamara: I have often been compared to Natalie Merchant and Chantal Kreviazuk.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Tamara: I believe I have a unique soft-pop sound both in my music and voice. Sometimes I get “your song can go country” or ... “you remind me of this teen pop star” or... “I can hear your song in a Disney film.” It’s so flattering to hear that so many different age groups/ people feel that my music can be marketed in various ways. It’s such a wonderful compliment, and I am just so thankful to be able to share my music. I really enjoy chatting with fans on Facebook and Myspace, so be sure to look me up!
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Tamara: My inspiration can come from anywhere at any time! Just last week I picked up a beautiful art book called “Great Escapes Italy.” Immediately, I melted with so many beautiful pictures of Tuscany. I taught music in Italy one summer and it was so nostalgic to look at these photographs. Seeing these beautiful wooden benches, giant fig trees, fresh basil (I love basil :) -- I immediately got flashbacks to my time back in Italy that I forgot about until I saw the picture. I was immediately inspired with these delicious photographs and uplifted from these pages - It’s almost like seeing an old diary you haven’t picked up in a long time. Anything from watching a film, attending a concert, photography -- all these things inspire me to think.. and then I simply need to write. I love exploring and the curiosity in that inspiration makes me want to play music and express what I’m feeling. I simply have to get it out! :)
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Tamara: I am excited to announce that I will be releasing my new CD in the fall! The journey has certainly evolved and so has the music. Think 10,000 maniacs mixed with an indie pop/folk vibe. I recorded the CD in Toronto and there are some fantastic talents accompanying me on the record. I am really looking forward to the CD Release -- be sure to stay tuned for upcoming details VERY shortly...!
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child?
Tamara: I attended camp for many years and I always loved the sing-songs (sitting around a campfire and singing a bunch of classic songs from -- If I had a Hammer,Dreamer, to James Taylor...I loved all the classics! I also loved listening to music from plays such as “Little Shop of Horrors” “Les Miserables” “Phantom of the Opera” - and played with various sounds on my keyboard to arrange the pieces - loved to explore with the synthesizer!
What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Tamara: I think the best part about being a musician is being able to sit down at a piano or pick up a guitar and just relax and play. I love where the music takes me. It’s so nice to be able to share my music with others. Another great part about being a musician is being able to create something from scratch, watch it develop, and take it outside the “creation room” where it first began and play it for others- that’s the greatest feeling in the world. Being able to create something that no one else has created is itself very rewarding. I love seeing where the music will take me next! It is a tough business, but I think if you have the drive, love, and will to keep going, there’s really nothing that anyone can do to get in your way - just stay focused!
MAS: Thank you Tamara Miller for your eloquent words and music. Now tell us something completely random.
Tamara: I love melting chocolate in the microwave and dipping it in fruit!
**60 SECONDS AVAILABLE ON ITUNES, AMAZON
FIND ME ONLINE @
MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/tamaramiller
MAS: Congratulations Tamara Miller for your song ’60 Seconds’ and the win in the July Female Solo Artist Contest! Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began.
Tamara: I began playing taking classical piano lessons at six. I loved playing classical music, but I was always more interested in composing and playing contemporary music. I also loved composing pieces for piano and voice and loved to sing! I continued my musical studies at York University in Toronto, where I was awarded an entrance scholarship to attend the Faculty of Fine Arts at the age of 18. I enrolled in a songwriting course that allowed me to experiment. For the final assignment, we had to compose an original piece of music and perform the song for the class. It was such a wonderful experience and it was at that point during my studies that the light bulb went off; this was something that I wanted to do. I began performing my music in various live shows, released my EP – 60 Seconds in 2008, produced by Juno Award winner Ron Lopata (Jacksoul, Simon Wilcox). The CD has been featured on CBC Radio and on community-campus radio stations across Canada. I was also very excited to have my song “60 Seconds” featured on the hit teen drama series, Degrassi: The Next Generation - airing across Canada, US and worldwide.
MAS: That is a stunning accomplishment and well deserved. How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Tamara: I am often the primary songwriter, but I also really enjoy collaborating with other musicians. I think it’s a fantastic way to see what other people are doing, how other people write, and find different ways of saying the same thing. Sometimes I think artists can get stuck in the same “style of writing” if you are always writing by yourself in the same environment. Co-writing is an excellent way to find new inspiration. I think I developed my sound along the way of studying classical music and finding what inspires me to write (from traveling, to walking by a large open lake, to watching a film etc..). I write and play what comes naturally to me and go from there! I have found that it’s really important to stick to my instincts and stay true to what I want to express.
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Tamara: The song that I entered into the Make A Star contest is entitled “60 Seconds” - the title track to my latest CD “60 Seconds,” This is a song about making it on your own, leaving the past behind, and moving forward. I believe 60 Seconds is a journey that all of us at some point in our lives have taken.
MAS: Beautifully expressed- you won by judge and fan votes. How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Tamara: MakeAStar.com is a fantastic medium for artists to learn about each others' work and for fans from all around the world to become involved in their success! It’s great exposure for artists and for fans to find new music. It just goes to show the amazing impact of the internet and its importance in the music industry. There are so many music sites out there, but I think MakeAStar.com stands out in that it really supports the independent artist and I just love the incentives of points/gift cards for voting for your favorite artist!
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Tamara: I have often been compared to Natalie Merchant and Chantal Kreviazuk.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Tamara: I believe I have a unique soft-pop sound both in my music and voice. Sometimes I get “your song can go country” or ... “you remind me of this teen pop star” or... “I can hear your song in a Disney film.” It’s so flattering to hear that so many different age groups/ people feel that my music can be marketed in various ways. It’s such a wonderful compliment, and I am just so thankful to be able to share my music. I really enjoy chatting with fans on Facebook and Myspace, so be sure to look me up!
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Tamara: My inspiration can come from anywhere at any time! Just last week I picked up a beautiful art book called “Great Escapes Italy.” Immediately, I melted with so many beautiful pictures of Tuscany. I taught music in Italy one summer and it was so nostalgic to look at these photographs. Seeing these beautiful wooden benches, giant fig trees, fresh basil (I love basil :) -- I immediately got flashbacks to my time back in Italy that I forgot about until I saw the picture. I was immediately inspired with these delicious photographs and uplifted from these pages - It’s almost like seeing an old diary you haven’t picked up in a long time. Anything from watching a film, attending a concert, photography -- all these things inspire me to think.. and then I simply need to write. I love exploring and the curiosity in that inspiration makes me want to play music and express what I’m feeling. I simply have to get it out! :)
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Tamara: I am excited to announce that I will be releasing my new CD in the fall! The journey has certainly evolved and so has the music. Think 10,000 maniacs mixed with an indie pop/folk vibe. I recorded the CD in Toronto and there are some fantastic talents accompanying me on the record. I am really looking forward to the CD Release -- be sure to stay tuned for upcoming details VERY shortly...!
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child?
Tamara: I attended camp for many years and I always loved the sing-songs (sitting around a campfire and singing a bunch of classic songs from -- If I had a Hammer,Dreamer, to James Taylor...I loved all the classics! I also loved listening to music from plays such as “Little Shop of Horrors” “Les Miserables” “Phantom of the Opera” - and played with various sounds on my keyboard to arrange the pieces - loved to explore with the synthesizer!
What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Tamara: I think the best part about being a musician is being able to sit down at a piano or pick up a guitar and just relax and play. I love where the music takes me. It’s so nice to be able to share my music with others. Another great part about being a musician is being able to create something from scratch, watch it develop, and take it outside the “creation room” where it first began and play it for others- that’s the greatest feeling in the world. Being able to create something that no one else has created is itself very rewarding. I love seeing where the music will take me next! It is a tough business, but I think if you have the drive, love, and will to keep going, there’s really nothing that anyone can do to get in your way - just stay focused!
MAS: Thank you Tamara Miller for your eloquent words and music. Now tell us something completely random.
Tamara: I love melting chocolate in the microwave and dipping it in fruit!
**60 SECONDS AVAILABLE ON ITUNES, AMAZON
FIND ME ONLINE @
MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/tamaramiller
Monday, August 2, 2010
Interview with Stand Up Comic winner Michael Tocci
Watch Michael Tocci perform his winning stand up comedy
MAS: What’s the story behind the video clip you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Tocci: When I was booked for this show, I didn't realize I'd end up being in a contest. I was just responding to a craigslist post about a show in the Belly Room of the Comedy Store. It had been a while since I performed there, so I responded and got booked. It wasn't until the actual night I was given the option of submitting my performance to Make A Star. Though I'm still not sure why the video was cut off. I promise, I had a good 3 or so minutes left!
MAS: Perhaps you were too funny for the camera and it needed a laughing break. Tell us how you got started as a stand-up comic.
Tocci: Always wanted to try it. Didn't think I had what it took. Eventually, I became good friends with a stand-up. I went to see one of his shows. He was fantastic, but the majority of the other comics made me stare and say - and I hate to sound conceited - "Well I can do better than that." Then I just started calling up the clubs/bookers and asking for slots.
MAS: How do you feel when you are on stage as a comedian?
Tocci: Pretty comfortable - sometimes too comfortable. I usually can't tell if I'm doing well cuz I'm too busy being lost in my weird head. Also, I've yet to deal with a heckler. It's just gotta happen eventually. I've seen incredible comedians get heckled. There's no reason I should get away forever.
MAS: Point noted, I am sure all of your fans here may be willing to comply- just for the fun of it. How do you write your jokes and put together a routine?
Tocci: I find that the best stuff comes when I'm not trying to write material. If I ever sat down to write jokes, I would fail. Inspiration for me comes from weird and random places. A billboard. A TV ad. A conversation I'm eavesdropping on. Oh, and I've done a lot of writing while driving. I mean, not with a pen. I'm in LA, so I drive a lot. It's a great time to say material out loud, then say, "well, that's no good," and try it again in a different way. And again. And again until I can tolerate it. And an entire bit is written with each word in place, and I didn't have to fall back on that wrist-killing crucible of writing crap down.
MAS: Have other people compared you to any other comics?
Tocci: [after 10 minutes of thinking] Nope!
MAS: Who are your comedy heroes that have influenced your style?
Tocci: I'd like to say Carlin and Pryor and Cosby, but stylistically, I'm nothing like them. That is, I just don't think I'm as deep as them. Some of my current faves are Patton Oswalt, Louis C.K., Jim Gaffigan, and Brian Regan, just to name a few. Since, so far, I've just performed at clubs where anyone gets stage time, and I do mean "anyone" as a pejorative, I've lately been pursuing more clean, PG-rated comedy. Not that I don't love edgy and raunchy. But when you're at clubs like this, that's all there is for 2 to 5 hours! Except it's usually edgy and raunchy minus the funny. It's comics who think that if they keep up the f-bombs, compare the female genitalia of different ethnicities, and cap it off with something about AIDS, it must be funny! Cuz it's EDGY! In that kind of environment, it's almost more daring, and definitely more stimulating, to forget about crudeness and just try to look at something in a strange, hopefully clever way. I listed those 4 comics above because (though Oswalt and C.K. in particular have given us great moments in vulgarity) they're very much about looking at something in an interesting way, and that's where their comedy comes from, whether or not they say "poop."
MAS: Very well said, you definitely have an interesting spin on things- enough to win the $100 cash prize. What are your career plans for the year ahead?
Tocci: Career plans? Wow. I should try to have one someday. I still think I'm a writer at heart, but that's feeling very stagnant. I suppose what I need to start doing, especially as a stand-up, is aggressively put myself out there. That's just something I've never been good at, the whole letting-the-world-know-I-exist thing. That's a skill in itself. Also… I should experience more. My stand-up is still in its infancy cuz my life is kinda in its infancy. I need to have some serious relationships… ooh…. and maybe father a bastard child. Then I'll be a real comic with hard sh** to talk about. (I mean, sure my brother had a kid on accident, but the only joke I got outta that was that society doesn't seem to care when relatives play tickle games with their 1-year old's bare butt). So, if any single ladies out there want a guy with $100 dollars in his Paypal account, and can allegedly make them laugh, let me know. We will need to break up after a while to help with my on-stage angst, so even though it won't be a long-term relationship, maybe I'll drop your name in my set, and you just might meet Bill Dwyer in a parking lot!
Does that answer the career question?
MAS: Hahahaha! Indeed it does. What is the best and worst part about being a stand-up comic?
Tocci: BEST: That it's all mine. I mean, I write it, speak it, and I know it all came from me. I didn't need permission to say anything, nor was I given notes to follow. There's so much freedom.
WORST: Asking friends to come, especially when they're poor and there's a drink minimum. Heck, tuna no longer being a $5 foot-long at Subway was a huge financial blow for me.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the industry for comics today?
Tocci: I still know nothing about anything. So I'll just go with the obvious for "worst" and say making a name for yourself. That's the obvious cuz it's something that every kind of artist needs to do. But the best? We have the internet now. And I don't just mean we can post our videos online; my Facebook invites played a significant role in my victory in this contest!
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare (good or bad) with other talent websites?
Tocci: Don't really know about any others… except that they never gave me $100. Yeah, MakeAStar is better.
MAS: We’ll take it. Tell us something completely random.
Tocci: No matter how old and overweight she gets, I will always be cool with doing Carrie Fisher.
MAS: You are off to a blazing start and we definitely hope to see more of you . Congratulations Michael Tocci for winning the July Stand Up Comedy Contest!
MAS: What’s the story behind the video clip you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Tocci: When I was booked for this show, I didn't realize I'd end up being in a contest. I was just responding to a craigslist post about a show in the Belly Room of the Comedy Store. It had been a while since I performed there, so I responded and got booked. It wasn't until the actual night I was given the option of submitting my performance to Make A Star. Though I'm still not sure why the video was cut off. I promise, I had a good 3 or so minutes left!
MAS: Perhaps you were too funny for the camera and it needed a laughing break. Tell us how you got started as a stand-up comic.
Tocci: Always wanted to try it. Didn't think I had what it took. Eventually, I became good friends with a stand-up. I went to see one of his shows. He was fantastic, but the majority of the other comics made me stare and say - and I hate to sound conceited - "Well I can do better than that." Then I just started calling up the clubs/bookers and asking for slots.
MAS: How do you feel when you are on stage as a comedian?
Tocci: Pretty comfortable - sometimes too comfortable. I usually can't tell if I'm doing well cuz I'm too busy being lost in my weird head. Also, I've yet to deal with a heckler. It's just gotta happen eventually. I've seen incredible comedians get heckled. There's no reason I should get away forever.
MAS: Point noted, I am sure all of your fans here may be willing to comply- just for the fun of it. How do you write your jokes and put together a routine?
Tocci: I find that the best stuff comes when I'm not trying to write material. If I ever sat down to write jokes, I would fail. Inspiration for me comes from weird and random places. A billboard. A TV ad. A conversation I'm eavesdropping on. Oh, and I've done a lot of writing while driving. I mean, not with a pen. I'm in LA, so I drive a lot. It's a great time to say material out loud, then say, "well, that's no good," and try it again in a different way. And again. And again until I can tolerate it. And an entire bit is written with each word in place, and I didn't have to fall back on that wrist-killing crucible of writing crap down.
MAS: Have other people compared you to any other comics?
Tocci: [after 10 minutes of thinking] Nope!
MAS: Who are your comedy heroes that have influenced your style?
Tocci: I'd like to say Carlin and Pryor and Cosby, but stylistically, I'm nothing like them. That is, I just don't think I'm as deep as them. Some of my current faves are Patton Oswalt, Louis C.K., Jim Gaffigan, and Brian Regan, just to name a few. Since, so far, I've just performed at clubs where anyone gets stage time, and I do mean "anyone" as a pejorative, I've lately been pursuing more clean, PG-rated comedy. Not that I don't love edgy and raunchy. But when you're at clubs like this, that's all there is for 2 to 5 hours! Except it's usually edgy and raunchy minus the funny. It's comics who think that if they keep up the f-bombs, compare the female genitalia of different ethnicities, and cap it off with something about AIDS, it must be funny! Cuz it's EDGY! In that kind of environment, it's almost more daring, and definitely more stimulating, to forget about crudeness and just try to look at something in a strange, hopefully clever way. I listed those 4 comics above because (though Oswalt and C.K. in particular have given us great moments in vulgarity) they're very much about looking at something in an interesting way, and that's where their comedy comes from, whether or not they say "poop."
MAS: Very well said, you definitely have an interesting spin on things- enough to win the $100 cash prize. What are your career plans for the year ahead?
Tocci: Career plans? Wow. I should try to have one someday. I still think I'm a writer at heart, but that's feeling very stagnant. I suppose what I need to start doing, especially as a stand-up, is aggressively put myself out there. That's just something I've never been good at, the whole letting-the-world-know-I-exist thing. That's a skill in itself. Also… I should experience more. My stand-up is still in its infancy cuz my life is kinda in its infancy. I need to have some serious relationships… ooh…. and maybe father a bastard child. Then I'll be a real comic with hard sh** to talk about. (I mean, sure my brother had a kid on accident, but the only joke I got outta that was that society doesn't seem to care when relatives play tickle games with their 1-year old's bare butt). So, if any single ladies out there want a guy with $100 dollars in his Paypal account, and can allegedly make them laugh, let me know. We will need to break up after a while to help with my on-stage angst, so even though it won't be a long-term relationship, maybe I'll drop your name in my set, and you just might meet Bill Dwyer in a parking lot!
Does that answer the career question?
MAS: Hahahaha! Indeed it does. What is the best and worst part about being a stand-up comic?
Tocci: BEST: That it's all mine. I mean, I write it, speak it, and I know it all came from me. I didn't need permission to say anything, nor was I given notes to follow. There's so much freedom.
WORST: Asking friends to come, especially when they're poor and there's a drink minimum. Heck, tuna no longer being a $5 foot-long at Subway was a huge financial blow for me.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the industry for comics today?
Tocci: I still know nothing about anything. So I'll just go with the obvious for "worst" and say making a name for yourself. That's the obvious cuz it's something that every kind of artist needs to do. But the best? We have the internet now. And I don't just mean we can post our videos online; my Facebook invites played a significant role in my victory in this contest!
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare (good or bad) with other talent websites?
Tocci: Don't really know about any others… except that they never gave me $100. Yeah, MakeAStar is better.
MAS: We’ll take it. Tell us something completely random.
Tocci: No matter how old and overweight she gets, I will always be cool with doing Carrie Fisher.
MAS: You are off to a blazing start and we definitely hope to see more of you . Congratulations Michael Tocci for winning the July Stand Up Comedy Contest!
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