Interview with Con and the Mongols

So I know I've been incredibly stingy with updating this but I've been super busy with school and stuff, I've hardly had anytime to do anything. But I've figured out how to manage my time a bit better so I'm back and I have a few bands already lined up.



Con and the Mongols is a four-piece band from Medina, Ohio. I've been trying to get an interview out of them for some time now but their college and recording schedules have been pretty hectic but horray for them for managing to fit me in. They're song Doves on Fire is my most played on my iTunes at the moment and they're way worth a listen. They list Mogwai, Interpol and Modest Mouse as some of their influences and they're good for those who like those bands.


E-Minor: Who am I talking to?

Drew,….

And Sam!

Ben.


E-Minor: So you guys are working on your first album. Where does the recording process start?

Ben: There are three easy steps to recording an album. First, you must write songs. Second, you must sit on them for about three years while being semi-serious about being a band. Third, you must realize that recording in a studio can be relatively inexpensive. Fourth, you postpone the release date of your album for half a year when you realize how long the recording process actually takes (especially with one guitarist studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland while everyone else is in Ohio). Fifth, you write new songs when everyone gets back and put those on the album as well. And sixth, make sure you don’t overplay your own songs looking to improve them to the point where you question whether or not anyone else would even want to hear them. There’s probably some other steps in there, but that’s my definitive guide to making an album.

Drew: Well, after practicing the songs with and without singing numerous times we pretty much dive right in by recording the music once in the studio (we practice the song without singing so that we can lay instruments down as a full band and then overdub the vocals). Despite all the practice, we have on occasion changed things around and added or dropped parts while recording.

Sam: After recording, we sit around in the studio and listen to the same song over and over again until we’re at each other’s throats.


E-Minor: Your myspace says that you change your instrument line up from song to song. Does that mean your all multi-talented?

Drew: I mean we are all kind of a big deal…

Sam: It really just means we like to experiment with different sounds and genres. Whether we’re a big deal or not, the way that I play guitar is different from the way that Ben plays guitar, and each has its place in different songs.

Ben: We play various instruments on various occasions, on the album you will hear mandolin and recorder in addition to the standard four-piece rock setup of bass, drums, guitar, and three vocalists. Our live shows have generally been limited with regards to the number of instruments we’re able to use just based on the quality of sound systems of the venues in the area, how well each sound guy knows the sound systems at the venue he’s working, the fact that more microphones increase the problem of feedback (additional microphones are quite necessary for acoustic instruments), and the fact we have to lug everything around ourselves doesn’t help either (it’s not fun lugging around a bunch of band equipment and then a bunch of other instruments you’ll only use once or twice in a show). You will see various instruments from us in future songs because we’re never satisfied with sticking to a particular genre or sound and we just make music as we hear it.


E-Minor: In a no holds barred battle to the death, who would be victorious: Simon or Garfunkel?

Drew: Garfunkel-his wily shape will be the deciding factor.

Sam: After recounting Paul Simon’s successful solo career, Garfunkel will burst into a fit of jealous rage that will lead him victorious.

Ben: I could only hope that they would stop, and put on another reunion show.


E-Minor: Who is Con, why does he have Mongols and is he single?

Sam: We all would like to think we’re Con, but really each of us is just another Mongol.

Ben: I haven’t been keeping up on my Mongolian politics, but Con is actually an intentional misspelling of the word Khan (meaning ruler, as in Ghengis Khan) which is meant to imply a rather un-clever play on words when you say “Con and the Mongols” fast. So... I cannot tell you if the current Khan is single or if there is even a current Khan, but perhaps some lucky lady out there is in for a surprise.


E-Minor: Jason has a pretty sweet Jar-Jar action figure. Where'd he get it?

Drew: It is actually my little brother’s.

Ben: Our practice space has been Drew’s basement for the past two years. Up until we did some remodeling this past summer, there were a bunch of old toys from Drew and his little brothers in cluttering up the room. Jar-Jar just happened to become one of Jason’s favorite toys to play with while he wasn’t raiding Drew’s family’s cabinets for food.

Sam: I came down the steps one day to find Jason with it, but never any explanation as to where it came from…


E-Minor: So whats up with 'A Lazy Sway' and why did you decide to do it?

Sam: I used to write songs with parts just for my guitar and vocals and then I’d bring them to the band for them to fill in everything else. Mongol songs are still made that way occasionally. I guess ‘A Lazy Sway’ was my outlet for those naked songs- before they evolved with the rest of the Mongols. Langston Hughes coined the phrase ‘A Lazy Sway’ in one of his poems about a lonely blues player; I thought it was apt.


E-Minor: I know you guys keep pushing back the album release date, but as of now, when should we expect it?

Drew: Depending on how quickly the turnaround time is on the physical production of the CDs, we should have our first 1000 done by mid-February.


E-Minor: And how can people listen to your music?

Our myspace (www.myspace.com/conandthemongols), concerts, and of course our upcoming debut album.

Interview with Mel Martinez.

Mel Martinez is a young, singer/guitarist combo thats definitely well worth a listen. He requested me this morning, we got to talking and he agreed to answer my rediculous questions. He mixes acoustics and raw talent vocals into catchy pop songs. The Florida native is definitely a myspace favorite for me and if you live in the area, go see him live.

E-Minor: Where do you draw inspiration for songs from?

Mel: All my songs are really honest and they all come from things I've deal with in the past. I think singing out what you really wanna say is the best way of expressing your true feelings wether it's about a relationship or things going on in your head.


E-Minor: All the ladies on myspace, proclaiming their love for you: Annoying or flattering?

Mel: haha it's great! what boy doesn't want that?


E-Minor: How do you decide you want to record a new song?

Mel: Once I have the full idea of the song and how I want it to sound like I just wait for a night when I feel inspired to start recording.


E-Minor: In a no hold barred battle to the death, would Tony Little or John Basedow be victorious?

Mel: Tony Little for sure haha he cracks me up.


E-Minor: So you take your guitar every where with you. Where do you find you get the most use out of it other then in your home?

Mel: Probably in school, in my band class, I go in the soundproof room everyday with it and just come up with new ideas, I also use it plenty of times doing shows.


E-Minor: What should your fans expect from you in the next few months?

Mel: There's a few new songs I'll be recording very soon, I'm sure they will like them, and a lot of shows!


E-Minor: And where can those who have never heard your music listen to it?

Mel: visit myspace.com/melmartinezmusic or purevolume.com/melmartinez

Interview with Sergio from Thieves and Villains.

Double whammy today. So if you talk to me on a regular basis you probably know I've been passing out left and right for the past two days. But I managed to get an interview late last night from Sergio, singer/guitarist of Thieves And Villians. He was really a super sweet guy and we were able to work around the fact that I was losing conciousness every once in a while. Thieves And Villians are generating a HUGE buzz on the internet. Its almost impossible to listen to their music and not want to get up and dance. Their music is incredibly infectious and its great for those who like All Time Low and Jimmy Eat World.

E-Minor: How long have you been playing in Thieves And Villians?

Sergio: Since we started in late February 2007. I sing and play guitar.


E-Minor: Wheres your favorite place to play shows?

Sergio: I really love The Element in Colorado Springs CO. The venue is so awesome and the kids are sick, its a whole community of music lovers. and warped tour in detroit was crazy.


E-Minor: Describe your worst show.

Sergio: We've actually had a lot so its hard to narrow down just one. but really any night that theres no energy in the room, im really sick, or equipment malfunctions is a nightmare.


E-Minor: Since you guys seem to be cereal fans, in a no holds barred battle to the death, who would win: Count Chocula or Toucan Sam?

Sergio: Count chocula would choke out that bitchy tucan anyday of the week.


E-Minor: So you guys are playing in the Man Whores and Open Sores tour [with All Time Low] unless something went horribly wrong as of five minutes ago. How do you prepare for tours?

Sergio: Make sure merch is fully stoked, make sure all guitars and gear is in top shape and be stacked with excess cables and strings and such, get the van all inspected and checked out, pack our bags, and muchh more.


E-Minor: Easy Cheese: Unconventional delicacy or distaster in a can?

Sergio: Delicious!


E-Minor: I know theres a lot but what should we be expecting from you this year?

Sergio: We will most def be doing an insane amount of touring with really cool bands and signing with a cool label and putting out an official release this year. just a lot of fun and good music!


E-Minor:Whats the best way for someone to hear your music?
Sergio: Myspace [www.myspace.com/thievesandvillains] without a doubt but you can find it on purevolume [www.purevolume.com/thievesandvillains], limewire, and a lot of other creepy places.

Interview with Aaron Green.

Aaron Green is a Tasmanian Singer/Songwriter who requested me on myspace a few days ago. Later that night, my cousin called me and said I HAD to listen to him. I was immediately drawn in by his meaningful lyrics and amazing piano skills. He was awarded third place in the Urban category at the National MusicOz Awards 2006 for his song 'The Game (Pointless Affair)'. He has an EP out now entitled 'Live at Martian's Law'. Definitely for those who like Ben Folds and Thom Yorke.


E- Minor: How long have you been playing music?

Aaron Green: I've been playing the piano since the age of 6. Starting with classical piano and moving to contemporary. I've been songwriting and singing for about 6 years now which has become my true passion in the music playing field.


E-Minor: You list everyone from MUSE to Mariah Carey as your influences. How do they fit into your song writing?

Aaron: From artist's like Mariah Carey, they influence me in the way they manipulate a simple melody into something amazing. Alot of the gospel chord progressions used in Mariah Carey's music has influenced me in trying to broaden my writing. With artist's like Muse, I am influenced greatly in the way the piano is used as a feature component of a song and not just a background instrument. So when it comes to melody, chords and singing techniques, I am influenced greatly by a deverse range of artists.


E-Minor: In a no holds barred battle to the death, who would win: Mariah Carey or Matthew Bellamy of Muse?

Aaron: Well in this instance I believe Matthew Bellamy would give Mariah a run for her money by winging and complaining her to death, but Mariah Carey would destroy Matthew's ear drums with her high pitched dog notes leaving him for dead....
So i think they would both equally defeat each other, but then Matthew would complain about his ears and Mariah would get her servants to clean up the mess...... or something... hehe.


E-Minor: I think my favorite song from you has to be Rather Be Cold. What went into making that song?

Aaron: Rather Be Cold was written at the end of one of my relationships. It's a simple song conveying that I would rather be sad and miserable alone than sad and miserable with 'you'. It's about discovering that you cannot gain happiness from another individual, you have to find it within yourself. Like most of my songs, it was written in about a day, I wanted to write something that swaped from my false-setto to my chest voice quickly. I also started experimenting with different sound effects and noises which is limited with my equipment, but I hope I kind of pulled it off.


E-Minor: You definitely did. Its pretty amazing in my opinion and very relatable. Is that what you go for when your writing songs?

Aaron: First and foremost I try to tell my story. I 'spew' out everything I'm feeling and try to organise it into some kind of story. Then if it's getting a bit too personal or way too abstract I will rework it so that it can be more relatable to the listeners, maybe so that the message is easier to understand without destroying the original 'feeling' I'm trying to express in the first place. At other times I try to be as abstract and vague as possible so that listeners can create their own story from my lyrics. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.


E-Minor: How has the whole "Australian Scene" been to you? Do you find you have more fans in other countries?

Aaron: I think it's hard anywhere. It's easy to find people that 'love' your music, but there's always a huge leap between someone that's really really into your music and someone that will actually be willing to buy it, or support it, or anything like that.
I tend to search for fans all over the world because I just want people to listen to my music. I often offer free downloads of my music so that it gets out there more and more. I'm not worried about trying to make a name in Australia, I just want anyone in the world to take some time out of their day and take a listen to some of my music.


E-Minor: What should fans look for from you soon?

Aaron: Well at the moment I'm currently on holiday, writing new songs but I have no recording facilities at the moment. So when I am back at Uni studying I will be able to record my new songs I have written. So my fans should stay tuned and hopefully in a few months time I will have a bunch of new songs for everyone to check out. Stay tuned!!!


E-Minor: And for those who have never heard you before and are just reading the site, where can they listen to your music?

Aaron: The best place to check out my music is at www.myspace.com/metaza. This is where all my latest songs will be uploaded to, anyone can contact me there, listen and buy my music and add me and become my friend!

Interview with The Score.

So this is my very first interview on this site.
So of course, I was super stoked and knew I had to get a fantastic band to answer my ridiculous questions!



The Score is a band based in Watertown, New York with a kickass sound and catchy choruses. They requested me as a friend on myspace yesterday morning and I couldn't be happier. Immensely friendly and down to earth, these guys are definitely a breath of fresh air from today's internet bands. They released 'Steady Fingers! Steady Fight!' EP in November and is available for download on iTunes. I don't know about you, but I know I can't wait to hear more from them. Definitely for those who like bands like Say Anything and Presidents of the United States of America.



E-Minor: So what are your names and instruments you play?

Arison Cain: My name is Arison Cain and I play guitar and sing lead vocals.

Leo Lemay: Leo LeMay - Guitar and Back-up Vocals.

Brett Ramus: Johnny cash on the lead guitar and lead vocals, Rick James on bass guitar backing vocals, The Blue Man Group on drums and an eighties hair metal band on backing guitar and backing vocals.

Mike DeMarco: ............Mike. Drum-ohs.


E-Minor: How long have you been playing together as a band?

Arison: We first started jamming almost exactly a year ago, on New Years Eve, right before the beginning of 2007. Brett and I started playing with our friend Don Robinson on the drums. It felt like something really special, like the records we listened to growing up. As time progressed, and the lineup changed and solidified into what we have now, it kept feeling more and more special like that. We knew we were in for an incredible ride from the very beginning.

Leo: I joined The Score in October 2007.

Brett: About a year.

Mike: I've been with the band since mid summer '07.


E-Minor: On your myspace, you list "a monster gnashing it's teeth on Anna Nicole's corpse" as what your music sounds like. In a no holds barred battle to the death [under different circumstances of course] would the monster or Anna Nicole win?

Arison: I think it ultimately comes down what type of monster it is and what the circumstances are. If it's a giant kind of stone golem, Zombie Anna’s probably in for a slamming.

Leo: Anna Nicole! Bitch is crazy!

Brett: Anna Nicole only because of her amazing skills with large things often referred to as “monsters”.

Mike: Probably Anna, based solely on the amount of titties that corpse had to battle with.


E-Minor: If all you need is love, what are five things you'd like to have around just incase your wrong?

Arison: An acoustic guitar, cheeseburgers, some kind of knife or blade fashioned from a strange animal’s bones, the Ultimate Ric Flair DVD set and a Johnny Cash discography.

Leo: MUSIC! - Friends - Musical Instruments - Video Games - The internet

Mike: Dark Chocolate, sex, impulse comedy, drums, and Arison.


E-Minor: Who did the cover art work for the 'Steady Fingers! Steady Fight!' EP and why did you decide on half naked wrestlers?

Arison: The cover was drawn by my good friend Kat "Kaboom!" Freeman, who is just incredibly awesome. She takes all of my retarded ideas and just runs with them so well. I've been a fan of wrestling since I was very little. This first record just felt like we were coming off the top rope and about to drop an elbow, to me. I felt it appropriate.

Leo: A friend of Arison’s. If you didn’t know, Arison is a HUGE wrestling fan so naturally the artwork for the EP would have something involving that. He also posed for the drawings, so the triumphant wrestler and the dude on his ass were both Arison.

Brett: Some well known artist from France or Paris or something. Your mom goes to college.

Mike: A girl with powers comparable to wonder boy.


E-Minor: What do you prefer: live shows or recording new music?

Arison: I love both equally. That's a lame and totally bullshit answer, but it's absolutely true. They are two completely different ladies that I love equally and often.

Leo: Live shows! The energy you can get off of the crowd and your nerves make the experience that much greater. It’s such an adrenaline rush for me and I love to entertain.

Brett: Live shows, only because in the studio you can't see the look on the other bands’ faces when they realize you are better then they are.

Mike: Live shows for sure.


E-Minor: You have incredibly catchy songs. I caught myself singing along to 'You've Got a Midlife Crisis' in the shower. How do you go about writing songs?

Arison: I wrote that song in the shower. I write a lot of songs in the shower.

Leo: Arison writes most of the songs, and you can tell he has a great new idea because he comes out of the bathroom naked (I live with Arison) and just starts ranting off these lyrics he came up with in the shower.

Brett: Well you have the first part right, they start in the shower, then they move with Arison out of the shower and into the living room. (Without a towel most of the time) Then, after a lot of snickering and giggles, and some wardrobe changes, they go to paper and then to the bassist, guitarist and drummer for instrumental tweaking. After this they go to you, the adoring fans, and then you find yourself naked in the living room singing "You've Got a Midlife Crisis".

Mike: Arison makes us robots. Arison with have a riff or and entire song mostly structured out, he then hands it over to us in rehearsal and magic is worked out.


E-Minor: How do you feel about being my very first interview on the site?

Arison: It really is an honor. Save the best for first, I always say.

Leo: That rules! It feels like an honor and a pleasure to be your first

Brett: Opportunities like these only come around every few seconds. Embrace them.

Mike: Actually really stoked.


E-Minor: What should we expect from you guys in the new year?

Arison: Look for our very first full-length record of all brand new material this year. We’re planning a whole ton of touring. This is going to be the busiest year of our young adult lives, for sure.

Leo: A ton of shows, and the new record. We should be recording soon!

Brett: I am sorry. I don't speak Spanish. But, if you were asking, “What should we expect from you guys in the new year?” We would reply with "You should expect a number one hit on the R&B charts".

Mike: You should expect a new album that will not dwarf the previous one, but a new one that will show the maturity and dynamic of the band that NOW is The Score.


E-Minor: How can people listen to your music and get in touch with you?

Arison: You can check us out on myspace.com/rockthescore. Our EP, “Steady Fingers! Steady Fight!” is available on iTunes right now, too.



The Score's "Steady Fingers! Steady Fight!" EP is well worth the five bucks. Its full of toe-tapping rhythms and humorous lyrics [and even a spoof of 'I Love Lucy'] I can almost guarantee that you'll want to get up and dance. There isn't a song on there that I don't know every word to now. The EP is full of charisma and energy which definitely rubs off on their listeners.

Hello!

Brand new site.
Brand new ideas.
I plan to interview bands so their fans get to know them better.
If your band would like to give an interview, my contact information is on the right.