MAS: Congratulations Shovelman on winning the Music Video category for the month of October!! What is your reaction to winning? Are you happy, relieved or surprised?
Shovelman: Well to be honest the filmmaker entered us in the competition so I was surprised to know that we had even been entered. But everyone loves a winner.
MAS: I bet there an interesting story behind your band’s name, isn’t there?
Shovelman: Well I play a guitar that is made out of a shovel so I’m the Shovelman. Uh huh.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a band and how everyone became a part of it.
Shovelman: Well, I was doing some diggin’ up in Northern California and after a long day’s work I turned in early. The next morning I woke up and . . . my shovel had turned into a guitar over night....... The air in Northern California can do some strange things. I defiantly don’t leave anything outside for too long anymore. So anyway I decided right then and there to do the band thing. And now I’m a musician and it’s a blast although it doesn’t pay as well as digging holes.
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Is there a primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Shovelman: Well it’s a collaboration between my shovel and I. I mostly just bang it around and see what happens.
MAS: What’s the story behind the video you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Shovelman: Well, Jason the filmmaker and I were just kind of driving around and we picked up this hobo girl who was hitchhiking and then we just started filming.
MAS: How did the concept for the music video come together?
Shovelman: A bit of gas in the tank, some light drinking and then we aimed the camera at the sky.
MAS: What other video work has the music video’s director done in the past?
Shovelman: He has some amazing video compilations of his experiences at Burning Man.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Shovelman: I’m not sure.
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Shovelman: I get Tom Waits, Les Claypool and Beck sometimes.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Shovelman: I play it all on farm equipment.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Shovelman: I’m usually just inspired turning mother earth but I can list just one or two other inspirations if you like: scrap metal, circus clowns, dogs, spaceships, moldy bread, coffee, urinals, power tools, a sunny morning street, telephone polls, newspapers, ashtrays, light from my beer mug, bikes, bridges, giant floating heads, cactus, cobwebs, snapshots of slingshot highways at sunrise.
MAS: What are your thoughts on music videos? The ideas, the production, working with directors, how they add to the song, etc…
Shovelman: I had a great time working with Jason. We had a blast. I love how accessible technology is these days. It’s making it possible for all kinds of independent musicians to make pretty professional looking videos on shoe- string budgets.
MAS: What are you or your band’s plans for the year ahead?
Shovelman: I’d like to start touring more. I’m also going to be digging a few holes to lay a foundation for a house in a few weeks.
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Shovelman: When I was kid maybe Michael Jackson. I use to love his Pepsi commercials.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Shovelman: Free drinks are the best and worst part about being a musician.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Shovelman: Everything about the music industry today is freaking awesome! That’s why there are so many talented artists in the main stream.
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Shovelman: I was playing a gig in San Francisco at this venue that had recently been a Chinese grocery store. The sign outside was still flashing “Beef, Fish, Poultry”. And in the middle of a song this drunken Russian woman stumbles in and starts banging on the piano right in the middle of my song. Well I played along and when I was done I found out that she was the pianist for the San Francisco symphony. So I had my set crashed by the San Francisco symphony pianist!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Make A Star Interview with Female Solo Artist winner Vanessa Littrell
MAS: I think a double congratulations is in order Vanessa, because you won the October Female Solo Artist AND Music Video categories!! I don’t think that’s been done before. First off, tell us how it feels to be a double winner? Are you surprised, relieved and happy?
Vanessa: Very excited. It’s been a busy year performing locally, and winning this contest affirms, affirms, affirms.
MAS: Tell us what the inspiration was for the song and the video.
Vanessa: Sanctuary is a song about leaving behind the expectations of your family and creating your own story. In the video we chose symbols of strength and transition. The key on a ribbon literally represents opening up the door to your potential. The suitcase represents the baggage that people try to weigh you down with. As the main character (or myself) gets closer to the river, the case becomes heavier and heavier, until finally everything is emptied into the water.
MAS: What musical influences have other people compared you to?
Vanessa: Generally people from my generation will draw comparisons to Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan. However, I find that most listeners of my parent’s era will immediately compare my work to Carol King.
MAS: What sets you apart from the other artists in your genre?
Vanessa: What sets me apart as a musician is that I don’t really see an end or beginning to all this. Many people rate their career on whether they’ve “made it big” or not. But how can you possibly measure your life on that scale? For me music is an everyday thing . . . I play, I write, I sing.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Vanessa: I am inspired by any musician who is passionate. But, if I have to choose I would say Peter Gabriel, for his artistic use of imagery; Willie Nelson, for his radiant smile; Bono, for always speaking his mind; Tracy Chapman, for bringing folk music back to the pop scene; Tori Amos, for being unselfconscious; and Joni Mitchell, for knowing that the musician on the corner is only one degree separated from the one on stage.
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Vanessa: John Denver, without a doubt. My first album was “Grease.” My first concert was Depeche Mode. You can see what a wide range that makes. I guess that makes me a country, techno musical !!!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Vanessa: The best part about being a musician is getting paid for what I love to do. The worst part used to be the unpredictability of the audience. However, I’ve learned to just roll with it. Sometimes the best connecting moment with your audience is right after you thought you couldn’t possibly finish the night. You’ve got to just break on through.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Vanessa: The best and worst part of today’s industry is the opportunity to be independent. On the one hand you can represent yourself. On the other hand, the “sale” end of representation can get tiring. The thing is, a good artist is already selling his or herself. You start by selling a story, then an album, then your image. At least as an independent, you get to decide just what it is you are selling. And, if you’re lucky, it isn’t your soul!
MAS: You music and talent is huge, now tell us something completely random.
Vanessa: I was Snoopy in the 8th grade.
Vanessa: Very excited. It’s been a busy year performing locally, and winning this contest affirms, affirms, affirms.
MAS: Tell us what the inspiration was for the song and the video.
Vanessa: Sanctuary is a song about leaving behind the expectations of your family and creating your own story. In the video we chose symbols of strength and transition. The key on a ribbon literally represents opening up the door to your potential. The suitcase represents the baggage that people try to weigh you down with. As the main character (or myself) gets closer to the river, the case becomes heavier and heavier, until finally everything is emptied into the water.
MAS: What musical influences have other people compared you to?
Vanessa: Generally people from my generation will draw comparisons to Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan. However, I find that most listeners of my parent’s era will immediately compare my work to Carol King.
MAS: What sets you apart from the other artists in your genre?
Vanessa: What sets me apart as a musician is that I don’t really see an end or beginning to all this. Many people rate their career on whether they’ve “made it big” or not. But how can you possibly measure your life on that scale? For me music is an everyday thing . . . I play, I write, I sing.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Vanessa: I am inspired by any musician who is passionate. But, if I have to choose I would say Peter Gabriel, for his artistic use of imagery; Willie Nelson, for his radiant smile; Bono, for always speaking his mind; Tracy Chapman, for bringing folk music back to the pop scene; Tori Amos, for being unselfconscious; and Joni Mitchell, for knowing that the musician on the corner is only one degree separated from the one on stage.
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Vanessa: John Denver, without a doubt. My first album was “Grease.” My first concert was Depeche Mode. You can see what a wide range that makes. I guess that makes me a country, techno musical !!!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Vanessa: The best part about being a musician is getting paid for what I love to do. The worst part used to be the unpredictability of the audience. However, I’ve learned to just roll with it. Sometimes the best connecting moment with your audience is right after you thought you couldn’t possibly finish the night. You’ve got to just break on through.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Vanessa: The best and worst part of today’s industry is the opportunity to be independent. On the one hand you can represent yourself. On the other hand, the “sale” end of representation can get tiring. The thing is, a good artist is already selling his or herself. You start by selling a story, then an album, then your image. At least as an independent, you get to decide just what it is you are selling. And, if you’re lucky, it isn’t your soul!
MAS: You music and talent is huge, now tell us something completely random.
Vanessa: I was Snoopy in the 8th grade.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Make A Star Interview with Male Solo Artist winner Cliff Gundersen
MAS: Huge congrats Cliff Gundersen for the take all in the October Male Solo Contest! Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began.
Cliff: I started singing about the same time I started playing guitar around age 13. Started recording about 15yrs ago on a Tascam 4 track tape machine.
MAS: It’s clear your love of music shines through. How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative venture?
Cliff: My sound has been influenced by too many artists to list, but I think if I could play like Joe Satriani and sing like Michael Buble that would be sweet. My guitar is mostly the result of playing in cover bands listening to bands like SACH, AC/DC and a lot of southern rock like ZZTOP, SKYNYRD, MOLLY HATCHET and of course I really like bands like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance. I am a solo artist. So yep the whole production is just me. Guitars, vocals the works.
MAS: How did you go about picking the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Cliff: The idea was built around the theme of someone just thinking about writing music, but not really doing anything to make it happen. The opening verse kinda sets it up: “Spend the day lying on the couch and watch re-runs of where they now” This is a reference to me lying on the couch watching VH1’s “Where Are They Now” and thinking why am I wasting my time doing this…when I should be in my studio writing a new tune.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Cliff: Well so far it has beat all of them hands down. A lot of great talent and great prizes…which I will be using to buy more gear.
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Cliff: Ya know that’s funny, because my style has been compared to everyone from Ozzie to Bryan Adams and from the Beach Boys to ELO. I never really hear that in my music, but if that’s what they hear I guess it’s better to sound like someone than to sound like no one. Who do you think I sound like?
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Cliff: Well I believe I have strong guitar and vocal skills along with a good sense of rhythm all in the same package.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Cliff: I don’t know about emulating anyone because I feel that I’m pretty well grounded about my purpose in life…which is to help as many people as I can before I leave this earth. As far as inspiration I get that all the time when I hear a song that moves me and that can come from anyone such as Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” to Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You”. A few weeks ago I was driving to California and a song came on the radio from “The Men” called “The Church of Logic Sin and Love” I hadn’t heard that in years..I just had to go look for it and found it on YouTube…the chorus is just right up my alley.
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Cliff: To finish this damn album I started this summer…2 songs down and 8 to go.
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Cliff: I loved the Beatles - had my hair cut like Paul’s. My first concert was Led Zeppelin.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Cliff: Realizing that I wasted too many years in cover bands…while it helped me become a better musician/singer… I feel I should have spent more time writing my own songs.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Cliff: I love the fact that my music is now out there for thousands of people to hear on places like Make A Star, MySpace, Facebook, Amazon and iTunes. I’m kinda bummed about the radio thing. A few years ago I paid a promoter $$$$$ to get my songs on the radio. He did what he promised he got me national airplay and both songs even made the New Music Weekly top 40 chart of over 3 month each.. I was the only unsigned artist on the chart. Problem was I didn’t realize that I needed to have CD’s or downloads ready to go. I found out it wasn’t the promoter’s job to tell how to get things lined up before I spent the money for the airplay….listeners were calling the stations trying to find out where to buy my song…big lesson learned.
MAS: Very nicely put, tell us something completely random.
Cliff: When I was 9yrs old I got separated from my family around noon on the 4th of July on the beach in Long Beach Ca. (not to far from where the Queen Mary is now) it wasn’t there then. We were living in San Pedro so I started walking home through the Port of Long Beach…There was a big tower on a hill in San Pedro with blinking lights that I kept walking towards. Every time I came to the water I would just go to the right inland and I finally made it home around 10pm…of course by then the police and hospitals were looking for me.
Cliff: I started singing about the same time I started playing guitar around age 13. Started recording about 15yrs ago on a Tascam 4 track tape machine.
MAS: It’s clear your love of music shines through. How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative venture?
Cliff: My sound has been influenced by too many artists to list, but I think if I could play like Joe Satriani and sing like Michael Buble that would be sweet. My guitar is mostly the result of playing in cover bands listening to bands like SACH, AC/DC and a lot of southern rock like ZZTOP, SKYNYRD, MOLLY HATCHET and of course I really like bands like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance. I am a solo artist. So yep the whole production is just me. Guitars, vocals the works.
MAS: How did you go about picking the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Cliff: The idea was built around the theme of someone just thinking about writing music, but not really doing anything to make it happen. The opening verse kinda sets it up: “Spend the day lying on the couch and watch re-runs of where they now” This is a reference to me lying on the couch watching VH1’s “Where Are They Now” and thinking why am I wasting my time doing this…when I should be in my studio writing a new tune.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Cliff: Well so far it has beat all of them hands down. A lot of great talent and great prizes…which I will be using to buy more gear.
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Cliff: Ya know that’s funny, because my style has been compared to everyone from Ozzie to Bryan Adams and from the Beach Boys to ELO. I never really hear that in my music, but if that’s what they hear I guess it’s better to sound like someone than to sound like no one. Who do you think I sound like?
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Cliff: Well I believe I have strong guitar and vocal skills along with a good sense of rhythm all in the same package.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Cliff: I don’t know about emulating anyone because I feel that I’m pretty well grounded about my purpose in life…which is to help as many people as I can before I leave this earth. As far as inspiration I get that all the time when I hear a song that moves me and that can come from anyone such as Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” to Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You”. A few weeks ago I was driving to California and a song came on the radio from “The Men” called “The Church of Logic Sin and Love” I hadn’t heard that in years..I just had to go look for it and found it on YouTube…the chorus is just right up my alley.
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Cliff: To finish this damn album I started this summer…2 songs down and 8 to go.
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Cliff: I loved the Beatles - had my hair cut like Paul’s. My first concert was Led Zeppelin.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Cliff: Realizing that I wasted too many years in cover bands…while it helped me become a better musician/singer… I feel I should have spent more time writing my own songs.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Cliff: I love the fact that my music is now out there for thousands of people to hear on places like Make A Star, MySpace, Facebook, Amazon and iTunes. I’m kinda bummed about the radio thing. A few years ago I paid a promoter $$$$$ to get my songs on the radio. He did what he promised he got me national airplay and both songs even made the New Music Weekly top 40 chart of over 3 month each.. I was the only unsigned artist on the chart. Problem was I didn’t realize that I needed to have CD’s or downloads ready to go. I found out it wasn’t the promoter’s job to tell how to get things lined up before I spent the money for the airplay….listeners were calling the stations trying to find out where to buy my song…big lesson learned.
MAS: Very nicely put, tell us something completely random.
Cliff: When I was 9yrs old I got separated from my family around noon on the 4th of July on the beach in Long Beach Ca. (not to far from where the Queen Mary is now) it wasn’t there then. We were living in San Pedro so I started walking home through the Port of Long Beach…There was a big tower on a hill in San Pedro with blinking lights that I kept walking towards. Every time I came to the water I would just go to the right inland and I finally made it home around 10pm…of course by then the police and hospitals were looking for me.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Make A Star Interview with Stand Up Comic Winner Robby Millsap
MAS: What’s the story behind the video clip you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Robby: My comedy is really just an exposition of my life and how I see the world. I always find the truth or a perspective on the truth to be funnier than any one-liner. This particular performance was filmed in front of a large crowd in Mission Viejo, California last August.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a stand-up comic.
Robby: I took a class taught by my comedy mentor Tom Riehl. It was something I had always wanted to do but wasn’t sure how to get started. If your readers are in the southern California area, they should check out ComedyInTheOC.com to sign up for his class. It was informative and super safe.
MAS: How do you feel when you are on stage as a comedian?
Robby: Exhilarated...or frustrated. Depending on how prepared I am and how well this specific crowd is responding to my material. When it’s good it’s GREAT and when it’s not good...well, you can guess. You can’t put your guard down for a second. I’ve started strong and lost them in the middle because I got too confident.
MAS: How do you write your jokes and put together a routine?
Robby: I could write a book about this. First off, I write about something that really has emotion for me. It’s hard to fake that you actually think “cheese is funny” if you don’t really think cheese is funny. Then I freeform into a recorder a few times while I’m driving around or sitting at a computer. Then I’ll sit down and transcribe the mess I recorded and try and see the story I want to tell.
Next I try and punch it up. I “bold” the spots I anticipate laughter. Then I step back. Is there enough bolded stuff? Tom taught us you want to have 4-6 laughs per minute. If I think I’m ready, I take it to an open mic (any comic can tell you these are the hardest crowds to please) and try out the material. It’s not a very glamorous practice. I video and audio record every performance. Then I take the tape back and check the laughs against what I thought and give myself a grade based on some criteria (material, confidence, performance). Makes changes, rinse and repeat.
MAS: Have other people compared you to any other comics?
Robby: No, not really. But you can learn a lot based on what the big boys say about you. I performed with a big headliner and he said my act was “cute.” The word I wanted, of course, was “funny.” So I went back and reviewed my material. He was right. I was as adorable as a bucket of fluffy kittens.
MAS: Who are your comedy heroes that have influenced your style? Robby: Too many to name. I like the storytellers though: Louis CK is the gold standard, Patton Oswalt, David Cross. I think these guys are the ones I find myself trying to emulate the most. I love the nuts too like Steve Martin and Zach Galifiankis, but I can’t do what they do. I don’t have the courage. And the observationalists are great too: Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan.
MAS: What are your career plans for the year ahead?
Robby: I recently heard comedian Chris Hardwick say, “You have to take control of your own career.” That has dramatically affected my view as a comedian. The pre-defined routes of do this show, then you get to do this show and so on kind of wear me down. I have some ideas to do some really new and interesting stuff with new media and social networking. I’m too old (30) to grind it out in comedy clubs for the next 10 years. Stay tuned to RobbyMillsap.com for more!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a stand-up comic?
Robby: Best part - is telling a great joke and having a great set. I love when people tell me that I was “too soon” in the order, meaning I should have been closer to the headliner. That fires me up. Worst part - drunks, silence, regret.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the industry for comics today?
Robby: Best part - is there are so many opportunities now. There are comedy clubs, open mics, and classes held in every major area. Worst part - there are so many opportunities now. There are comedy clubs, open mics, and classes held in every major area. You get my point? You are nobody and nobody cares. There are a million comics out there funnier than me and I’ve got to somehow trick the producers into booking me instead of the really funny ones so I can get stage time. It’s a grind. The first year is just constant humility.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare (good or bad) with other talent websites?
Robby: I haven’t used any but I won so obviously you guys are geniuses!
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Robby: Everybody should check out RobbyMillsap.com for my YouTube videos and some of my new projects coming soon. And if you become my friend on Facebook I’ll give you a kidney. Peace, love and the consumption of many delicious burritos!!
Robby: My comedy is really just an exposition of my life and how I see the world. I always find the truth or a perspective on the truth to be funnier than any one-liner. This particular performance was filmed in front of a large crowd in Mission Viejo, California last August.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a stand-up comic.
Robby: I took a class taught by my comedy mentor Tom Riehl. It was something I had always wanted to do but wasn’t sure how to get started. If your readers are in the southern California area, they should check out ComedyInTheOC.com to sign up for his class. It was informative and super safe.
MAS: How do you feel when you are on stage as a comedian?
Robby: Exhilarated...or frustrated. Depending on how prepared I am and how well this specific crowd is responding to my material. When it’s good it’s GREAT and when it’s not good...well, you can guess. You can’t put your guard down for a second. I’ve started strong and lost them in the middle because I got too confident.
MAS: How do you write your jokes and put together a routine?
Robby: I could write a book about this. First off, I write about something that really has emotion for me. It’s hard to fake that you actually think “cheese is funny” if you don’t really think cheese is funny. Then I freeform into a recorder a few times while I’m driving around or sitting at a computer. Then I’ll sit down and transcribe the mess I recorded and try and see the story I want to tell.
Next I try and punch it up. I “bold” the spots I anticipate laughter. Then I step back. Is there enough bolded stuff? Tom taught us you want to have 4-6 laughs per minute. If I think I’m ready, I take it to an open mic (any comic can tell you these are the hardest crowds to please) and try out the material. It’s not a very glamorous practice. I video and audio record every performance. Then I take the tape back and check the laughs against what I thought and give myself a grade based on some criteria (material, confidence, performance). Makes changes, rinse and repeat.
MAS: Have other people compared you to any other comics?
Robby: No, not really. But you can learn a lot based on what the big boys say about you. I performed with a big headliner and he said my act was “cute.” The word I wanted, of course, was “funny.” So I went back and reviewed my material. He was right. I was as adorable as a bucket of fluffy kittens.
MAS: Who are your comedy heroes that have influenced your style? Robby: Too many to name. I like the storytellers though: Louis CK is the gold standard, Patton Oswalt, David Cross. I think these guys are the ones I find myself trying to emulate the most. I love the nuts too like Steve Martin and Zach Galifiankis, but I can’t do what they do. I don’t have the courage. And the observationalists are great too: Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan.
MAS: What are your career plans for the year ahead?
Robby: I recently heard comedian Chris Hardwick say, “You have to take control of your own career.” That has dramatically affected my view as a comedian. The pre-defined routes of do this show, then you get to do this show and so on kind of wear me down. I have some ideas to do some really new and interesting stuff with new media and social networking. I’m too old (30) to grind it out in comedy clubs for the next 10 years. Stay tuned to RobbyMillsap.com for more!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a stand-up comic?
Robby: Best part - is telling a great joke and having a great set. I love when people tell me that I was “too soon” in the order, meaning I should have been closer to the headliner. That fires me up. Worst part - drunks, silence, regret.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the industry for comics today?
Robby: Best part - is there are so many opportunities now. There are comedy clubs, open mics, and classes held in every major area. Worst part - there are so many opportunities now. There are comedy clubs, open mics, and classes held in every major area. You get my point? You are nobody and nobody cares. There are a million comics out there funnier than me and I’ve got to somehow trick the producers into booking me instead of the really funny ones so I can get stage time. It’s a grind. The first year is just constant humility.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare (good or bad) with other talent websites?
Robby: I haven’t used any but I won so obviously you guys are geniuses!
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Robby: Everybody should check out RobbyMillsap.com for my YouTube videos and some of my new projects coming soon. And if you become my friend on Facebook I’ll give you a kidney. Peace, love and the consumption of many delicious burritos!!
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