Nick Ryan Q&A

Your name: 

Nick Ryan

Where are you from? 

Virginia, USA.

How would you describe yourselves and your music? 

I am an alternative pop/rock singer-songwriter. I like to blend different genres and have also dabbled in folk, country, Celtic, and R&B with my songs.

Who are your main influences musically? 

Sheryl Crow, The Corrs, and Alanis Morissette would probably be my top three. Well, add Fleetwood Mac and Lissie to that list. Probably also Garbage and Liz Phair. I love a great song, great musicians, and an honest female vocalist. I also grew up listening to Amy Grant, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, and James Taylor.  For the album, I also tapped into Michael Jackson, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Halestorm, Seal, Paramore, Matchbox Twenty, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'm all over the place! I've opened up my ears as I have gotten older, which isn't usually the case for most people.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

I hope that I can be an artist that can live off of being an artist. It's harder now with all of the competition, but it's also made it easier for people to get their careers started. Anyone can do it now. I want to tour and be able to afford to create new music regularly and work with honest musicians.

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

Probably my performances this past weekend (Ed's note - this was written in June)! It was great hearing people resonate with my original music. Even better than being played on SiriusXM!

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

The recording process was a nightmare. I was working with people that were trying to change my artistic vision. And I was paying for it. I was being used. Consequently, we aren't speaking.

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

Probably You Are Not My Friend. I think it encapsulates all of my influences in on song. It was also one of the first songs I wrote for the record. King of Excuses is a close second.  The chorus is my favorite lyric.

Where can we listen to it? 

https://itunes.apple.com/lu/album/lone-wolf/id1069040589

Where can we find out more about your music?

Facebook.com/NickRyanOfficial
twitter.com/nickryanmusic
instagram.com/nickryanofficial
Youtube.com/nickryanofficial
soundcloud.com/nickryanofficial
Reverbnation.com/nickryanproject

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

I write songs from personal experiences. I don't write hits, but I think I have songs that can become hits. I believe in being true to yourself and the success with follow after.

Jimmy Binks and the Shakehorns Q&A

Your name:

Sam, singer and guitarist.

Where are you from?

We're from the UK, the US, Canada, and Japan, but we all live in Tokyo, Japan!

Name of band:

Jimmy Binks and the Shakehorns.

Who else is in your band?

We are 

Sam – vocals, guitar (Sheffield, UK)

Ju Ju – vocals, guitar (Cambridge, UK)

Yuuki – bass (Kanagawa, Japan)

Erin – trumpet, vocals (Newfoundland, Canada)

Dan – drums (Virginia, USA)

Jonny Barefoot – banjo, mandolin, vocals (ON, Canada)

How would you describe yourselves?

We always struggle with this! We've been variously described as alt-country, Americana, folk, roots, bluegrass, and acoustic rock. Recently little bits of ska and 1920s have been creeping in, too...

Who are your main influences musically?

Classics like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. More recently fun stuff like Pokey Lafarge, Lumineers, Milk Carton Kids, Avett Brothers, Tallest Man on Earth. 

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Above all, we like to play live, and among the live show, the festival live show is king. Based in Japan, our number one target would be playing at the Fuji Rock Festival, which is huge. 

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

We played at the Asagiri Jam festival a few years ago, which is a bit like Fuji Rock's younger cousin. We also played at Happy Farm Music festival up in the mountains of Nagano in Japan. It was a beautiful weekend. We've also been lucky enough to have had our tracks played regularly on BBC radio, and placed in NBC and CNN TV shows, and even in a couple of movies! 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Perhaps not a rock n roll answer, but nothing really! Will let you know if something happens in the future! 

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

I'm going to go with Cabin Fever. Although we have changed a lot over the last few years, at heart we're an alt-country band, and this song sort of shows what we're trying to make: a kind of danceable alt-country. 

Where can we listen to it?

https://soundcloud.com/jimmybinks/jimmy-binks-and-the-shakehorns-cabin-fever

Where can we find out more about your music?

Twitter - @Jimmy_Binks

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jimmybinksandtheshakehorns

Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/jimmybinks

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

Nope, but we love meeting new people. If you or any of your readers are ever in Tokyo, get in touch on Facebook or Twitter and we'll show you some great live spots! Cheers for the chat!

Lou Dominguez Q&A

Your name:

Lou Dominguez.

Where are you from?

Vienna, Virginia, USA.

How would you describe yourselves and your music?  

Folk/Americana.

Who are your main influences musically?  

Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, Leonard Cohen, U2, REM, Warren Zevon.

What do you hope to achieve in music?  

My goal is to get my songs heard by as many people as possible.

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

Working with Producer John Jennings whose producing and playing credits include but are not limited to Mary Chapin Carpenter, Indigo Girls, John Gorka, Tracy Grammar. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?  

LOL, Too many to list here. I once had a journalist come to a CD release party. She missed the show but asked if I could do a number as the house thinned out. I had done a bit too much celebrating after the set. I walked off the stage in the middle of the song like I was Axl Rose because I kept screwing up the song. 

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

Record Store. It's got a connection to the past, it's about music, it's straight forward, it's a good representation, although I hate having to pick one song :-)

Where can we listen to it? 

www.loudominguez.com

Email newsletters for bands at ReverbNation.com

Where can we find out more about your music? 

www.loudominguez.com   

www.facebook.com/loudominguezmusic?ref=hl    

twitter.com/LouDominguezwtp  

itunes.apple.com/us/artist/lou-dominguez/id726493678

www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00FYI657A?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Lou%20Dominguez&index=digital-music&search-type=ss 

Feral Conservatives Q&A

Band name:

Feral Conservatives.

Where are you from?

Virginia Beach, USA.

Who is in your band?

Rashie Rosenfarb (vocals, mandolin, bass)
Matt Francis (drums, pedal noise and feedback)

How would you describe yourselves?

We're a mandolin/drums duo who think they're a garage rock band. We're a band of oxymorons (right down to the name) flirting with equal parts beauty and melancholy, folk and punk, and minimalist songwriting and rock and roll bombast. 

Who are your main influences musically?

We definitely draw a lot from DIY and the college rock and indie scenes of the 80s and 90s...Some of our musical heroes include Paul Westerberg (The Replacements, solo) Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses), and Superchunk and their impeccable Merge Records label.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

We really hope to bring back a sense of danger to indie. We want to return it to the initial qualifier, sprung from punk, before "cute" and "quirky" became the norm for the genre, and honor some of the powerful female voices of the movement. We hope to carve out a niche with our inventive take on the genre and be the best mandolin-indie-rock band in the conversation. We also hope to provide an honest form of expression for darkness, depression, and failure and in turn provide some hope or camaraderie for people struggling. 

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

There was this moment on our first tour where we were onstage and the show was so poorly attended, the other bands just jumped onstage with us and started rocking out--dancing, yelling, grabbing drum sticks and pounding the kit. It was a beautiful moment, one that cuts through the haze of PBR and whiskey and snap you to attention, saying "this is it, this is what it's about." For all the time we carefully craft our recordings and count YouTube plays and Bandcamp downloads, those are the moments I live for. Unscripted; cathartic and beautiful, united by song, by rhythm, and making new friends in strange cities.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Great question...I'd like to forget the traffic and tolls touring in and through New York. Maybe I just don't get the appeal of the city (when driving and parking). I'm trying to think of a misstep in one of our releases thus far, but I really believe in albums being a snapshot of a time and place for a band, as well as a statement on their career thus far. Hopefully we represent ourselves better and better as we continue, but our newest single series is the best we've done so far! 

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

Our new single Little Pieces is a good starting point. It showcases our dualties through beauty--of violin with airy female vocals, introspective and melancholic lyrics, and noise--crunchy guitar, feedback, and a touch of aggression. 

Where can we listen to it?

Grab the single:
http://feralconservatives.bandcamp.com/album/the-light-in-the-hall

Where can we find out more about your music?

www.feralconservatives.com
feralconservatives.tumblr.com
facebook.com/feralconservatives
twitter.com/feralconservtiv
soundcloud.com/feralconservatives
feralconservatives.bandcamp.com

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

We have a new full-length coming out later this year, with US touring to follow. Stay tuned!

Mandolin-based indie rock - enough said

IT'S not very often you hear from a mandolin-based indie rock duo - but today is one of those days.

Feral Conservatives have just released a double a-side The Light In The Hall on BandCamp, iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

It was produced for the Virginia Beach duo by Mark Padgett.

Matt from the band told RealSoundsOK: "It marks new territory for us. Encompassing both the beauty of violin with airy female vocals, versus walls of feedback over aggressive beats, this release truly showcases our duality between the mandolin/folk singer-songwriter craft and and the chaos of 90's-inspired noise rock."

You can check out the video for Little Pieces below and for more visit feralconservatives.bandcamp.com

Erika Lloyd Q&A

Your name:
Erika Lloyd, previously known as Little Grey Girlfriend.

Where are you from?
I was born in Virgina USA, but because I come from a military family I have also lived in Heidelberg and Geoppingen Germany, Kansas, and North Carolina, and studied in Indiana and Vienna, Austria.  I currently live in Brooklyn, NY.

How would you describe yourself?
Experimental pop.

Who are your main influences musically?

Kate Bush, Jane Siberry, David Bowie, Goldfrapp, Cocteau Twins, Depeche Mode, and Joni Mitchell.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Communication in a deeply emotional and direct way: illuminating beauty, while telling of experiences and observations.

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

Being in the audience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for Chanticleer's performance of a choral arrangement of my song "Cells Planets." It felt like a fantastic dream.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

There are quite a few small moments I wish I didn't have to deal with on such a regular basis: mainly dealing with people who make a living trying to take advantage of eager musicians like booking agents who don't care about music, people with press relations or licensing scams, club owners, etc.

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

"Time Pops Bubbles" because it is dark, but upbeat. 

Where can we listen to it?

http://littlegreygirlfriend.com/albums/little-grey-girlfriend/time-pops-bubbles-lyrics/


Where can we find out more about your music? 

http://www.erikalloydmusic.com/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/little-grey-girlfriend/id216067956

https://twitter.com/erikalloydmusic

https://www.facebook.com/erikalloydmusic

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

I am currently transitioning into performing and recording as Erika Lloyd rather than Little Grey Girlfriend. I will be performing a few solo shows this spring, just vocals and piano, and then will add band members back in and record a new album. Upcoming solo shows: Thurs May 22, 7:30p at Caffe Vivaldi NY,NY and Fri June 13, 9p at The Hive Art Space Bushwick, Brooklyn NY.

New album from Tideland

GRUNGEY rockers Tideland have released their album Lull.

The bands hail from the sleepy town of Sterling, Virginia, and "create angular, dissonant, guitar-driven, grungey rock with pop sensibilities.

Sounds good to me and you can judge for yourself by listening below or visiting tideland.bandcamp.com

You can also find out more by visiting tidelandmusic.com or facebook.com/tidelandva

Free single from new Velvet Ants album

Ian Margolycz - or is it Gerry Rafferty?

THE Velvet Ants have released their new album Solt Olio and first single Cardigan's Fable can be downloaded for free.

The album makes the culmination of a long period of change for Ian Margolycz, vocalist and soul remaining member of the band started out in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 2006.

He told RealSoundsOK: "The Velvet Ants started out very much as a band, but before it was always one guy does this, one guy does that. On Solt Olio things changed. 

"As I began to write and prepare our third album I found myself working alone. I informally started working with producer Jordon Zadorozny on some b-sides, which sparked even more interest for another album. After recruiting bassist Eric Sakmar things were off and running. I was fortunate that both guys immediately understood the songs and what I was going for. 

"In the past it had always been: Work with what you got and keep the complaints to a minimum. This time I was lucky enough to have people inspiring each other, instead of convincing each other. We kept performances real with minimal editing, and no artifice.

"If you listen to those great albums from yesteryear you find all sorts of human elements. And the songs are better for it."

You can check out the album at velvet-ants.com where you can also find other links to discover more about the band.