The Smashed Idols Q&A

Your name:

G Blue.

Where are you from?

Houston, Texas.

Name of band: 

The Smashed Idols.

How would you describe yourselves?

Music is quirky alternative punk with a few screamed lyrics and heavy guitars.

Who are your main influences musically?

Main influences are bands like the Pixies and The Cure, also always dug the Rolling Stones, anything with hooks and driving lyrics. Another big influence is ZZ Topp, but you don't hear that so much on the recorded stuff.. some old school punk like the Dead Boys.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Just wanna tour around and have a good time. Make people smile and have a good time.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Playing South Padre Island. It's gorgeous and people are happy to be in paradise.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

A gig at a seedy club where the neon lights on the circuit were messing up our sound (lesson learned). A dude even tried to steal our bass guitar after the gig and it didn't end well for him in the parking lot.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Well, I've always been partial to Alien Song. It isn't as musically complex as some of our other jams, but it is funny and has a message.

Where can we listen to it?

https://soundcloud.com/the-smashed-idols/alien-song-m

Where can we find out more about your music? 

https://www.facebook.com/thesmashedidols/

https://twitter.com/TheSmashedIdols

Jess and the Bandits Q&A

Your name: 

Jess Clemmons.

Where are you from? 

Houston, Texas, and London, UK.

Name of band: 

Jess and the Bandits.

Who else is in your band?

Ricci Riccardi, Louis Riccardi, Dave Troke, and Steve Williams.

How would you describe yourselves? 

We are a contemporary country band.

Who are your main influences musically? 

Everyone from Stevie Wonder to Dolly Parton.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

Our hope is to continue making albums, touring, and taking the world by storm!

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

There have been many highlights, but our highlight as a band was probably playing the Country to Country Festival and finding out that we filled the Brooklyn Bowl to capacity on both days and had a huge queue of people waiting to get in!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

It's hard to choose just one but it would probably be the new single 'You Can't Stop Me'. It gives you a really good idea of what the whole album is going to sound like.

Where can we listen to it?

www.jessandthebandits.com
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1w7EOev
iTunes: http://apple.co/1BKWKuO



Where can we find out more about your music?
www.jessandthebandits.com
www.twitter.com/jessthebandits
www.facebook.com/jessandthebandits
www.youtube.com/jessandthebandits
www.soundcloud.com/jessandthebandits
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1w7EOev
iTunes: http://apple.co/1BKWKuO

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask? 
Our debut album 'Here We Go Again' is out now! Check our website for festivals and tour dates.

Like Monroe Q&A

Your name:

Christopher Cody Deckard.

Where are you from?

Houston Texas, 3rd Coast Born and Texas Raised!

Name of band:

Like Monroe.

Who else is in your band?

Tyree Johnson is the lead vocalist - he goes by Ty though. Wade Thomas - aka Wade Concienne - on guitar and vocals. BK - aka Alexander Lofton - on the funky four-string. And Jacob making noise one the drums. =) …. Oh and I play guitar!

How would you describe yourselves?

Very serious and  passionate about music and never serious about anything else. We are five friends that get to play shows for people. Honestly when were are together we forget that we are in a band sometimes.

Who are your main influences musically? 

We all listen to pretty much the same stuff, Underoath, Saosin, Anberlin, TDWP, and my biggest is THRICE, but honestly we have been jamming a lot of The Color Morale's album Know Hope and also Like Moths To Flames. Those two bands are on fire right now. The thing they both have in common is the honesty, and pure emotion behind their lyrics and delivery.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Honestly I just want to be able to have this be my only job and source of income. I don't want a big house or anything. I just want to play music for people and be that escape for them. 

I used to feel like I had to live up to my grandpa's legacy and then one day I realized that would 1. Be impossible 2. Would never be truly be fulfilling and I will never be truly happy. 

He calls me his "star".  And I realized as long as he and my family are proud that's all that matters. That's my true measure of success.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Probably the past times I have played Warped Tour and this one show in particular that I got to play with my previous band. It was like a dream. It was my band, Emarosa, Sky Eats Airplane, A Day To Remember and The Devil Wears Prada. I look back now and I seriously can't believe it. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

The time in-between bands. Super dark. But music allows me to channel all of my energy into positive actions.

If you had to choose just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

I would have to say this song called Black Lungs because its a journey emotionally and every riff,chug, or power chord is placed with a purpose to help you along that trip. Sometimes people don't even know how to feel, so we more or less tell them how to feel through our music.

Where can we find out more about your music?

https://www.facebook.com/likemonroeband

http://www.reverbnation.com/likemonroeband

https://twitter.com/likemonroeband

https://www.youtube.com/LikeMonroeband

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?

Just get ready for the ride because the inception is coming!

Sell music on itunes at ReverbNation.com

A Candle Lit City Q&A

Your name: 

Ty Johnson.

Where are you from? 

Houston, Texas.

Name of band:

A Candle Lit City.

Who else is in your band?

Wade Concienne, Alex Lofton, Jacob Cardinal and Chris Deckard.

How would you describe yourselves? 

We would describe ourselves as an alternative/metal band.

Who are your main influences musically? 

Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada and Bring Me The Horizon.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

I personally hope that the music we write can help or inspire people just like some bands have done for me.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

There have been several but I think my favorite was winning the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands last year and getting a chance to play at Vans Warped Tour. We never expected to win, honestly. So it was very exciting for all of us when we got the news.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

I think it might have been our second or third show. Wade and I were about 15 years old and new to the scene. Right before a breakdown in one of our songs I yelled out 'Somebody call a tow truck because there’s been a break down'. I remember some people in the crowd just laughing at that but hey I was really young and it was all new for me.

If you could choose just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

I would have to, at the moment, pick Atlas. It's of our first E.P ‘A Light in the Dark’.

Where can we listen to it? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8oT3-HjTHM

Where can we find out more about your music?

Official Website : http://www.acandlelitcity.com/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/acandlelitcitytx

Twitter : @acandlelitcity

Instagram @acandlelitcity

Official Website : www.acandlelitcity.com

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask? 

We have a lot of exciting news that we will release at the end of the month so stay tuned!

K Jazz Q&A

Your name:

Katina.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, USA, where I currently reside.

Name of band:

I am a solo artist, who goes by the name K Jazz.

How would you describe yourselves?

I am an R&B artist with a background of gospel and soul which I incorporate into my music vocally. I have been singing since the age of five and have been musically inclined professionally since high school, some people have presumed me to be the girl with a light speaking voice that comes across shy or reserved, but when I sing, the power and vocal abilities brought forth are way beyond people’s expectations. I have a true passion for music, and though every experience is energetic, fun and joyful, I take my music career very seriously. It is my belief that if a person does not see themselves and their talent as professional and valued no one else will either.

Who are your main influences musically?

My main influences are some of the greats of R&B and soul music like, Aretha Franklin, Patty Labelle, Gladys Knight, Isley Brothers, the late Whitney Houston among others, as well as some of the new school like Mary J. Blige, Kelly Price and others. These artists have influences my in many ways from vocal abilities to soulful persona.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

My goal in the music industry is to become among some of these great artists one to remember for talent, creativity, professionalism and music/messages that will last a lifetime. With all these things in place, all the other blessings will follow.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

The highlight of my career so far has been to be able to make music for my fans to enjoy; and though stumbling blocks have and will always cross the path, as long as I can do that, while continuing to build a rapport with my fans, I am good.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

So far I do not have a moment that I just want to forget. I have had issues that have come about during my journey in my music career, but I take those moments as lessons learned. In order to excel at something, we must first overcome some things; and as we all know being an artist, not everyone in the music industry has our best interest at heart, but continuing to be true to ourselves, is the utmost importance in any situation.

If you could choose just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

To choose just one of my songs to represent my music, I would have to say "Southern Comfort Lover", my newest single. This song reflects my southern background, with a mix of soulful, blues and gospel feel.

Where can we listen to it?

You can listen to my single at www.kasinobrownmusic.net

Where can we find out more about your music?

You can also find out more about my music on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Amazon, Youtube, and KasinoBrownMusic.net

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?

My goal is to continue putting out good music for my fans, so make sure to stay tuned to more upcoming shows, events, and music in the near future.

Twelve Years Driven Q&A

Your name: 

Larry Gilstrap (Guitar).

Where are you from? 

Houston, Texas.

Name of band: 

Twelve Years Driven.

Who else is in your band: 

Adam Simmons (Guitar), Mark Powell (Bass), Mark Sebren (Drums), Robert Rice (Vocals).

How would you describe yourselves? 

Twelve Years Driven is an aggressive rock/metal band that incorporates diverse song writing by layering intricate textures, varying mood elements, and keeping the intensity high.

Who are your main influences musically? 

Sevendust, Disturbed, Deftones, Alice In Chains.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

That's not for us to decide. Music is for the people. They ultimately decide the fate of any artist. We've achieved our goals to date....which were to have FUN, record, and play some shows.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

Just finished playing the "We Are Metal" festival at SXSW in Austin. It's SXSW!! Need we say more?!?! LOL!!

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

Can't say we've had one of those...YET! Hopefully we won't.

If you could choose just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

Great question. We like to believe that our songs are different in the respect that they each offer something unique to that song or subject. It's like trying to decide between your own children! But since we are waiting for our latest five tracks to be mixed and posted, I will pick "Cancer" from the three we have.

Where can we listen to it? 

www.reverbnation.com/twelveyearsdriven

Free EPK from ReverbNation.com

Where can we find out more about your music?

www.facebook.com/12yearsdriven, www.twelveyearsdriven.com, www.twitter.com/12yearsdriven,www.youtube.com/twelveyearsdriven, www.thebuzz.com/new2/artists/twelveyearsdriven.

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask? 

We have new music coming out in April. Please check back often! You won't be disappointed!