MAS: Congrats to Gylepomp, beaming in all the way from Reutlingen, Germany to take the January 2011 Instrumental Song contest with the rocking guitar piece "Speed". First off, tell us how it feels to have won. Are you happy, surprised, relieved?
Gylepomp: I was really surprised!
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a composer and how your recording career began.
Gylepomp: My first recordings were in the 70s with a tape-machine.
MAS: What attracted you to recording instrumental music instead of other styles?
Gylepomp: I can not sing...lol
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Gylepomp: It´s a biker song and I composed it while biking.
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Gylepomp: I´m just working on collaborations with different other artists.
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Gylepomp: I was always a rocker. Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Cream and Wishbone Ash were and are my favorites. My first album was Blind Faith.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Gylepomp: Music makes fun!
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Gylepomp: It´s the same like in other industries...mass production for the recycler.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Gylepomp: MakeAStar is a game and you need some luck to win, I found some new musical friends here, that´s nice!
MAS: Congrats again on your win and thank you for taking the time to answer our interview questions, especially since English is not your native language. Now one final question - tell us something completely random!
Gylepomp: I appreciate your engagement for indie artists very much and hope you will not leave this way like other websites did. Thank You!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Interview with January 2011 Female Solo Artist winner CARRIE DAVIS
MAS: Congrats to Carrie Davis! A Nashville, Tennessee singer who has reached the top of the January 2011 Female Solo Artist charts with her song "Going Back to Me". First off, tell us how it feels to have won. Are you happy, surprised, relieved?
Carrie: I am very happy and excited; also very grateful that I won the January 2011 Female Solo Artist competition.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began.
Carrie: I starting singing for a publishing company. I would study an artist’s style, and would sing the song that the company wanted to present to the artist, giving them a hint of their own style, so they could “picture” themselves performing it.
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Carrie: The “sound” that I have was developed by singing with various groups. The original music that I sing, is provided for me. At this point, I have collaborated on some songs.
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Carrie: It is the story of a person that has done everything that everyone else wanted in her life … now has chosen to walk away from that lifestyle and back to being her “real” self … she is ‘Going Back To Me’.
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Carrie: I have been told that I have an “original sound” (whatever that means).
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Carrie: There are so many really great female artists in country music these days. I guess you just have to hope you are different enough, so that when your music comes across the radio, listeners know who is singing without having it announced. Hopefully, I am one of those artists.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Carrie: Inspiration comes from everything and everyone in your life, on a daily basis; But I get inspiration from the people that surround me. My family and close friends give me all the emotional inspiration that I need!
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Carrie: I am just hoping that my career will move forward and I will continue to reach more people. I am planning on doing some more recording in the near future; and of course, MAS will hear it first!
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Carrie: Typically, I liked up-beat songs. I don’t know that I had any ONE artist that I liked the best. As a kid, anything that made me want to dance was a winner in my book! My first performance was in upstate New York. I was so scared I just knew everyone could see/hear my knees shaking! We were well received and it was the beginning of a great ride.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Carrie: I think being out on the road and away from your family and friends for long periods of time might be the worst part. Like everything else in life, you have to make sacrifices in order to obtain whatever success you desire. If you think about it, you can usually find a solution. I enjoy having songs that make people smile.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Carrie: I think that there are a lot of new and innovative artists today, which is a good thing. I also see different types of music crossing over and combining, which is also a good thing. The worst part is, it has become such a “business”. I think sometimes the artistry gets lost because you have to be involved in the business end of it too.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Carrie: MakeAStar.com is the first online competition that I have been involved with. It certainly is a great experience, and the fans were wonderful to me. You can’t beat that!
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Carrie: When I’m not singing, I can usually be found horsing around with my American Saddlebred mare, Freckles.
Carrie: I am very happy and excited; also very grateful that I won the January 2011 Female Solo Artist competition.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began.
Carrie: I starting singing for a publishing company. I would study an artist’s style, and would sing the song that the company wanted to present to the artist, giving them a hint of their own style, so they could “picture” themselves performing it.
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Carrie: The “sound” that I have was developed by singing with various groups. The original music that I sing, is provided for me. At this point, I have collaborated on some songs.
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Carrie: It is the story of a person that has done everything that everyone else wanted in her life … now has chosen to walk away from that lifestyle and back to being her “real” self … she is ‘Going Back To Me’.
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Carrie: I have been told that I have an “original sound” (whatever that means).
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Carrie: There are so many really great female artists in country music these days. I guess you just have to hope you are different enough, so that when your music comes across the radio, listeners know who is singing without having it announced. Hopefully, I am one of those artists.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Carrie: Inspiration comes from everything and everyone in your life, on a daily basis; But I get inspiration from the people that surround me. My family and close friends give me all the emotional inspiration that I need!
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Carrie: I am just hoping that my career will move forward and I will continue to reach more people. I am planning on doing some more recording in the near future; and of course, MAS will hear it first!
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Carrie: Typically, I liked up-beat songs. I don’t know that I had any ONE artist that I liked the best. As a kid, anything that made me want to dance was a winner in my book! My first performance was in upstate New York. I was so scared I just knew everyone could see/hear my knees shaking! We were well received and it was the beginning of a great ride.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Carrie: I think being out on the road and away from your family and friends for long periods of time might be the worst part. Like everything else in life, you have to make sacrifices in order to obtain whatever success you desire. If you think about it, you can usually find a solution. I enjoy having songs that make people smile.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Carrie: I think that there are a lot of new and innovative artists today, which is a good thing. I also see different types of music crossing over and combining, which is also a good thing. The worst part is, it has become such a “business”. I think sometimes the artistry gets lost because you have to be involved in the business end of it too.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Carrie: MakeAStar.com is the first online competition that I have been involved with. It certainly is a great experience, and the fans were wonderful to me. You can’t beat that!
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Carrie: When I’m not singing, I can usually be found horsing around with my American Saddlebred mare, Freckles.
Interview with January 2011 Male Solo Artist winner ALEX CAMPO
MAS: Congrats to Alex Campo of Heath, Texas! Alex's song "Popcorn Yellow" is his first upload on MakeAStar and it took him all the way to the top of the January Male Solo Artist charts! Tell us how it feels to have won. Are you happy, surprised, relieved?
Alex: I am pleasantly surprised, I might say. I don't like contests very much. To me, music is not about "winning". Everybody should just follow their own beat. No rights, no wrongs. But having said that, I'm happy to have won.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began.
Alex: I started as a guitar player in a hard-rock band a couple of decades ago, then became their lead singer. Then went on a 8+ year hiatus until I started writing music again around 2005.
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Alex: I am still looking for my sound. And yes, I am the primary songwriter. Hence, the title of January SOLO artist of the Month. LOL!
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Alex: Not much of a story. One of the most recent songs I've written. It's basically about talking life easy and painting your day or moment with a bright color that sends out good vibes.
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Alex: This particular song, might have a blend of U2 with a dash of Coldplay? I dunno.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Alex: I would like to think it's my "epic" approach to melodies and arrangements. My songs end up being very melodic and musical.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Alex: So many people have admirable attributes. Why would one want to emulate just a single person. I say, pick the best features of everyone you know, and that should chart it out for ya.
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Alex: Make more songs. Don't stop. Possibly master several songs and assemble an album.
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Alex: Anybody that could play the electric guitar. Can't remember my first concert. There weren't many concerts where I grew up.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Alex: Best part, to me, is being able to write your own material. Worst part is having to earn your income from other sources. LOL.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Alex: I don't know. I honestly ignore where the music industry (if any) stands in this day and age. And I for sure don't know where it'll be heading.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Alex: I didn't know (until after having won) that the competitions were actually based more on judges' votes than votes from the public. That makes the competition much more interesting. Its something you don't find elsewhere.
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Alex: Favorite color is purple. But popcorn ain't purple.
Alex: I am pleasantly surprised, I might say. I don't like contests very much. To me, music is not about "winning". Everybody should just follow their own beat. No rights, no wrongs. But having said that, I'm happy to have won.
MAS: Tell us how you got started as a singer and how your recording career began.
Alex: I started as a guitar player in a hard-rock band a couple of decades ago, then became their lead singer. Then went on a 8+ year hiatus until I started writing music again around 2005.
MAS: How did you develop your sound? Are you the primary songwriter, or is it collaborative?
Alex: I am still looking for my sound. And yes, I am the primary songwriter. Hence, the title of January SOLO artist of the Month. LOL!
MAS: What’s the story behind the song you’ve entered in the Make A Star contest?
Alex: Not much of a story. One of the most recent songs I've written. It's basically about talking life easy and painting your day or moment with a bright color that sends out good vibes.
MAS: Which musical influences have other people compared you to?
Alex: This particular song, might have a blend of U2 with a dash of Coldplay? I dunno.
MAS: What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?
Alex: I would like to think it's my "epic" approach to melodies and arrangements. My songs end up being very melodic and musical.
MAS: Who do you get inspiration from or wish to emulate in music and life?
Alex: So many people have admirable attributes. Why would one want to emulate just a single person. I say, pick the best features of everyone you know, and that should chart it out for ya.
MAS: What are your musical plans for the year ahead?
Alex: Make more songs. Don't stop. Possibly master several songs and assemble an album.
MAS: Who were your favorite musicians as a child? What was your first album or concert?
Alex: Anybody that could play the electric guitar. Can't remember my first concert. There weren't many concerts where I grew up.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about being a musician?
Alex: Best part, to me, is being able to write your own material. Worst part is having to earn your income from other sources. LOL.
MAS: What is the best and worst part about the music industry today?
Alex: I don't know. I honestly ignore where the music industry (if any) stands in this day and age. And I for sure don't know where it'll be heading.
MAS: How does MakeAStar.com compare with other websites for music fans and musicians?
Alex: I didn't know (until after having won) that the competitions were actually based more on judges' votes than votes from the public. That makes the competition much more interesting. Its something you don't find elsewhere.
MAS: Tell us something completely random.
Alex: Favorite color is purple. But popcorn ain't purple.
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