For an entire year WEATNU has been building a large group of artists on it’s label WEATNU Records. You’ve heard many of them throughout the months. Now you can hear them all together on the same album. Showcasing 74 amazing electronic artists, including punk and post-punk, dream-pop, nu jazz swing. You can buy this great piece of underground history for 9.80 USD. Complete with a wide variety of styles from all over the world. WEATNU Records continues to take in the greatest of hidden talent. All artists receive 70% per sale. WEATNU believes in fair pay to the artist.
Purchase on Bandcamp
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Culture is an important part to music, as it dictates the direction of future music generations. Groups of people form together to make micro-scenes, one side you have Vaporwave, the other you have experimental / avant-garde, Synthwave, Synthpop and Dreampop. We’re living in a time where we no longer need to be fed music to find what we like; instead we search on the net. Indie music has always been the entrance to the underground. But the underground is far larger than the mainstream. Punk, Electronica, Techno, DnB, IDM. Have all come from the underground scene. There is a paradigm shift happening now, the Internet, social media and musicians can now form as one to share, over-share and saturate the virtual music scene. A flood of musicians pour into groups, forums, facebook, twitter and of course Tumblr at every moment. WEATNU is part of that culture, instead of filling it with confusing noise, it is filling the music world with an identity and culture #WEATNU culture. After nearly two decades we are seeing what Electronic music is becoming. The DIY scene + Electronic, is bringing to our ears, for the first time soloists in droves. Many of us who are in our 30s grew up listening to Grunge music and then later we broke away to find something different, thus the Electronic / DIY community began in our homes, apt’s, bedrooms and garages. Artists have to find ways to share their art, and WEATNU took that opportunity in doing so. Solo Electronic music is the future of music itself. The idea of the band is now a guy/girl on stage with a monome, ableton live, laptop and a small MIDI Controller.
But culture also encompasses the vibe itself, the DIY musician or band is elevated off the ground through their own promotion. Twitter becomes the manager, Facebook becomes the way to show others what you do and the list goes on. DIY culture is important because it tells another side of music history. What was born from the Internet after the year 2000 was this culture and it’s here to stay. WEATNU continues to discover and bring forth the greatest of these artists, their voices are heard from a great distance through the talent they display; whereas other publications and radio might dismiss their existence. WEATNU is a culture all its own. An audience of fans waiting to hear something new and unique. The community of listeners become the culture and WEATNU is slowly becoming a hidden part of pop culture itself. In time it will be noticed by more and the artists who are both band and solo alike will have a platform to stand on and show their music to the world.
But there is more to the world of Electronic than DIY solo artists. WEATNU progresses through its search of the hidden artist, now pushing its way into the dance community. Holding together the experimentalist, producer, composer and finally DJ. Such a movement of avid artists creates avid fans. With the likes of labels such-as WARP Records and Ninja Tune, WEATNU is just as important as not only a movement but a record label as well. Net-radio continues to play the artists 24/7. For every new act that the DIY scene discovers, the music world continues to progress. And unlike the world of the mainstream, underground culture is always changing, always trying new ideas. Never holding to one thing for too long. It’s a raw, uncharted world that a person could never completely wade through and find every piece of music ever created. The Internet has become that world, now with endless artists doing something somewhere in any part of the world. Culture itself through the pop craze, or pop culture has always shaped a generation. The 80’s generation was shaped by MTV and British Pop, which later became more corp driven and started to lose its way well into the 2000’s. Experimental culture is once again showing up in the world of music. But the artists of tomorrow, the pioneers who are the next Gary Numan will come through the doors of WEATNU, or have already, and one more important part of underground culture will be noted in the history of music. These DIY artists are important to music and the scene itself. We are seeing a new punk era forming right before our eyes. Thanks to the greatness of modern technology, and the Internet’s social media. Pop culture creates itself, naturally and WEATNU takes in the acts that are unnoticed and talented.
#WEATNU began with one Internet radio, in 2014, WEATNU [OUR] but lately thought it best to expand to other stations, called portals. These portals each have music playing 24/7. Below they will be explained.
Portal #1WEATNU [OUR]: or WEATNU (main) playing Electronic, Avant-Garde and Beyond.
Portal #3 Abstract Alpha: This station plays abstract, electronic, IDM, experimental, Ambient, field recordings 24/7. The station comes from the show on WEATNU [OUR] (main)
“Buffalo, NY, native, Bufinjer, Dave Bulera grew up to the Big Beat sound of the 90s. His music takes you back to the days of The Chemical Bros, NIN, The Crystal Method, The Prodigy and Pitchshifter. #WEATNU DM was fortunate to get a moment with him in his busy schedule.”
Corbin: First and foremost I would like to say thank you for giving us at WEATNU an opportunity to give back a little to someone who has done some writing for our digital magazine and has contributed to the “gears of WEATNU”.
Listening to your album Synical takes me back to the 90’s. The sounds used and the style of its progressions especially. What are some of your influences that inspired you to create this album?
Dave: It’s funny that the album takes you back to the 90’s because a lot of my inspiration is from the 90’s. I am strongly influenced by Nine Inch Nails, Filter, The Crystal Method, The Prodigy, and The Chemical Brothers. All of which were at their peaks in the 90s and early 2000s. Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine was a huge influence in the direction of my music interest, and as I switched gears from listening to music, to making music in 1999, I was heavily into the electronic music genre, or Electronica as it was referred to at that time.
Corbin: With all the music projects you take on how often do you get a chance to sit down and write music for yourself?
Dave: I try to focus on my music first. Unless there is a deadline (which has been the case lately…), Sometimes when I am working on a project for others, and I get stuck, or frustrated with how things are going, I take a break from the project and work on my own music. This can be a double edged sword though because when things seem to be coming along good, I focus on it until it’s done, so this can put me behind on my projects. I have been working on my new album for over a year now, and my projects have pushed my release date back a bunch of times. At this point my new album is scheduled to be released in June.
Corbin: We’re looking forward to your new album. What is the name of the album and how different will it be from your last one?
Dave: Thanks. I’m excited about my new album. It will be called “Electrolysis”. This album has been work in progress for over a year. The songs will be similar in style to most of my songs in “Synical” but show how my my techniques in laying out the songs has grown. I don’t focus on one genre in my songs. I like to use a combination of new and old to make things unique. Effects have been used a lot more in my newer songs to keep things sounding fresh and different.
Corbin: Will this be released as a WEATNU exclusive?
Dave: Yes, I plan on releasing it exclusively on WEATNU Records, then in July I will release it again through Music Kickup to get it up on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Deezer, MixRadio,Rdio, and Xbox Music.
Corbin: With only about a month left do see anything else getting in the way of the release of “Electrolysis”? Besides promoting the album where will Bufinjer be moving from here?
Dave: I still have 2 songs yet to be completed for a remix album that are due within two weeks. If I can get these done soon, I can get back to my music and complete the songs for “Electrolysis”. If these remix songs take longer, I will have less time to finish things up for my album. I have already pushed this off 3 times, so hopefully this won’t be the case again. Originally I wanted to release it in January, but I did not have things ready, then I wanted to release it in March, but other projects pushed it further away. Then I was gearing up for May. I’m giving it another month to finish all things up. Because of my busy schedule, between working, and family, I do not get as much time as I would like to devote to my music projects.
At this point I don’t have any specific plans once I release “Electrolysis” as far as what is next. I would like to make some new videos for the songs from “Electrolysis”. I have one for “Deep Under” but that was done 6 months ago, so I need to get back into the video groove again. I make all of my own videos. I also would like to continue my series of The History of Electronic Music for WEATNU Digital Magazine. It’s fun to learn more about the history, and share it with others as well. Of course, I will work on music, and start preparing for my next album as well. Some day I’d like to re-master and release my older songs, I have well over 80 songs that I’ve made prior to “Synical” that I have not released. That will be a major task for two reasons, it’s a lot of songs to work on, and I only have the MP3s to work with because I had a computer hard drive loss a while back, and lost all of my original project files.
Corbin: Wow Dave! Your story sounds almost exactly like mine only most of my old stuff is backed up on mini-disc and it’s becoming increasingly harder to find a MD player that actually works anymore. What programs do you use for your music and then for your videos? What about live instruments?
Dave: Wow, mini disks huh? Yea I bet it would be hard to find players for them! Haha. I just got a new 1Tb external hard drive, so I plan on copying my music there, and I’d like to find a cloud storage big and reasonable enough to store all of my music too for safe keeping. I have many different programs I use for my music, Ableton Live 9, FL Studios 10, Studio One, and Sony Acid Pro 7.
I feel most comfortable with Sony Acid Pro 7, so mostly I use that, my Novation Launchpad, and my iPad and my Novation app. Acid is what started my journey into making music, and I’ve used it for so long I know all the tricks and features well. I also use VSTs quite often. I have somewhere around 100 of them that I use for effects, tweaking, and mastering. For my videos I use mainly After Effects and Movie Maker. I use a mix of video clips and after effect projects to make my videos. As for live instruments, sadly I do not play any. I was always interested in the drums. When I was young I got a drum set for kids for Christmas. I was maybe 6 or 7. They were not quality drums, and I was a bit rough with them, and eventually I broke them. So there went any shot at the drums for me. I have also played around with guitar and bass, but never was able to focus on them and learn to play. That is why I love electronic music, and being able to make music on my computer. I feel I have a good ear for music, but not being able to play any instruments, I would never be able to make music, without a computer.
Corbin: Your music seems to really fit well with songs I have heard on all the most famous video game platforms and new game releases. I don’t have time for video games any more but it is becoming more and more a demand to have incredible music on these games. Have you ever thought of trying to get a licensing deal with any of the large console companies?
Dave: Thanks I appreciate that. I also don’t have much time for video games anymore, although I do spend some time playing video games with my kids when I can. I’ve always wanted to get my music in video games, commercials, or movies. Years ago I tried to deal directly with EA Games, but that went nowhere. I do have my music with two licensing groups now, but unfortunately no placements at this time. I’ll be honest, time usually hinders me to promote and get my music to licensing placements. I know I should be better at that, maybe once things calm down a bit, and I get my new album out, I will look into more licensing companies.
Corbin: Ah yes, TIME the greatest thief!! There are only so many hours in a day and we must all use them wisely. Please take into consideration all that you do musically and I will ask you this, if you only had 1 hour per day to do anything you needed to in your musical endeavors what would it be and why?
Dave: That is a great question. Since I normally jump all over the place (I get easily distracted sometimes) that is a hard one to answer. I think I would spend the time to work on re-mastering my older songs. The reason why is so I can compile albums showing the progression of my music over the years.
Corbin: I was really expecting you to say what others might say, make music! You are very unique in your craft, in that you would choose to have the records of your legacy in a form that best represents your aim for a quality product that others may enjoy. So as far as live music, this is the furthest thing from your mind?
Dave: I thought making music was too easy of an answer. I just want to share my music with others. All I can do is hope they can enjoy it as much as I do. As for live music, I really am not cut out for that. I’m not an outgoing person when it comes to strangers. Once you get to know me that changes, but I’m not one to be the center of attention. Plus, the music I make isn’t cut out for live sets. I cut and chop and move things around to make it work for me. Yes I could use my computer and press play, or program my Launchpad to do it, but I’m more about production than live sets.
Corbin: I see you share a lot of other artists music across the Facebook WEATNU “Artists and Fans Movement” page and on Twitter. Being an advocate for other artists music is very time consuming but a necessary part of our movement. How do you think we can get others within the movement to do the same?
Dave: I believe that is something people do by choice. I have always been an advocate for my friends and fellow musicians. That’s why I started my website , to help as many other artists as I can. All we can do is keep encouraging others to share and promote fellow WEATNU members. I don’t really know of a way to get others to do this other than to keep stressing how important it is to help. It can be time consuming, but if you just did a little bit every day or two, it would benefit everyone.
Corbin: Dave you literally just blew my mind! I had no idea you were responsible for Connect4Artists and I have been posting and promoting others across it and Facebook and Twitter for a while now. How well do you find artists across Connect4Artists help to promote each other?
Dave: I mention the site once in a while, but I kind of keep that separate from my music stuff. When I first started it, I devoted a lot of time to it, but as time went on, I had to spend less and less time on it. I still offer free promoting on the site. If artists share their links with me I post to the site, then share across twitter, facebook, google, and sometimes Youtube if the link is for Youtube. I have been able to connect with some artists there, and have thousands of likes and followers between all the social media sites. Unfortunately it really hasn’t had much attention on the website lately.
The Facebook account tends to have the most action, twitter next. I often wonder how many people realize there is a website. I think most think it’s a Facebook page and that’s it. I really don’t see too many artists promote each other there. It seems just as with WEATNU, artists are just too busy to promote others, and share with others. I try to share as much as I can, but time is always a challenge, so I don’t share as much as I would like. If I had the time, I would post as much as I could on my own to the website, especially for WEATNU artists, and share all of the great stuff, but I don’t have the time, so I have to only post when the artist gives me the links to post for them. If only there were more hours in a day!
Corbin: I had no idea that it was a website either…I never looked that deep into it. I’m wondering now if it is that same attitude towards WEATNU that people don’t understand. The many avenues that our movement provides and using each one to its fullest is the most beneficial way to gain exposure. Most importantly sharing the gift of this movement and all it is encompasses is the key to making artists successful through WEATNU. Why did you create Connect4Artists?
Dave: I believe that is part of the attitude. Not knowing is a big factor I’m sure. Being busy is also a factor, because people are in a hurry, and don’t pay full attention. I find myself doing that sometimes. I think this is good feedback for me though, because maybe I need to add the web address to the cover photo, and maybe pin info on the page to show the website info. I know this isn’t the case for WEATNU though. Almark has made many posts to explain what WEATNU is all about, and sent info to explain things. But to ask for help so often that everyone sees it, often seems like begging. As for why I created Connect4Artists, here is the story… I was on a website called Beat100. Some may know of it, but if you don’t, it’s a website where you post your video (and now audio) into the “Charts”. You get votes to move up the charts with the intention to get to number one. To get the most exposure, you connect with others, and swap votes, and hope for the best. Well it turned out that the site manipulates the charts by giving “Artist of the day” awards which gives votes, and there are bonus votes that the site gives too. Plus you could “Buy” votes by “Promoting yourself” to move up the charts. Through the site I made many good friends, but we quickly discovered the site was fixed.
It favored certain artists, and pushed the ones that paid to the top. All very unfair. I even made it to first place, and was excited until I found out there was no cash prize anymore, and the “Worldwide Press Release” and “Exposure to officials in the industry” were all a big joke. I gained no new followers after winning, and had no interest whatsoever from getting to number 1. Then there was Artistsignal, with the vote bots, and and artists coming out of nowhere to win. And the hours spent to make and get votes. Also there was Citizen.tv (Now closed) with vote bots and favorite artist treatment. It all got to be too much. Contest sites are a joke. They provide false hope in boosting your career if you win.
A good friend of mine, and myself started talking about this. We know the whole reason for joining these sites was for exposure, and to meet fellow artists. But why deal with the cheats, and get nothing for all the trouble? We started saying we should make a site to help artists. Help them get exposure through promotion, help them meet other artists with similar interests. Provide helpful info, and maybe even help someone’s career. So Connect4Artists was born. It’s a great idea, great concept, but getting people to notice it has been a challenge. My original goal was to eventually get A&R and Record Labels to notice, and maybe be able to help artists with the right connections to boost their career. It’s still in its infancy, but it never took off like I envisioned. I still hope to grow the site, and hopefully make it a great tool for artists.
Corbin: Do you have any links to some of the newest material going on the “Electrolysis” album that you would like to share?
Dave: I have released a few of the songs that will be on “Electrolysis” on Soundcloud already. This has been a long process to put this album together, some of the songs have been out for a while. One in particular, “Josh’s Part” has been out for a year already. I’ve even had some of the songs playing on WEATNU OUR already. Punch Down, and Deep Under are currently in the rotation, and Altered Axis has played in the past. Here are the links to a few songs that will be on the album that I’ve already posted.
Corbin: Where do you believe the independent artist will stand as far as exposure in the next 5 to 10 years?
Dave: I think it’s a very interesting time for independent artists. It’s hard to tell what direction things will go. Places like Spotify and Tidal help and hurt the independent artists at the same time. Offering streaming pay is nice, but the pay is so low unless you get tons of plays, you don’t get any money. But they are helping a bit with exposure. I do fear how the music industry shuts down sites that are more listener based, and for the independents, like Grooveshark. Sites like these, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, etc., now have to make deals with record labels, and if the big labels pull their music, it can be a good and bad thing. Bad because it will pull listeners, but good, because it will allow more room for the independents. I believe over the next 5 to 10 years, that the large record labels will dwindle, and smaller labels will take over the market. If this happens, the independent artist will prosper. And with the advancement of technology, it will become easier for independents to produce and distribute their own music. This will be good for individual exposure, but will make it even harder to get noticed because the market will be saturated. Time will tell, and as we all well know, things can change in an instant.
Corbin: As always Dave I just want to thank you for all that you have done for the WEATNU movement. Looking forward to the release of your “Electrolysis” album.
Dave: Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me. I really appreciate it!
Norwich, Experimental artist Catnip and Claws brings to #WEATNU her latest single/EP Halcyon Days. Her music has been heard on BBC and featured in local magazines around the UK. She draws from artists such as Aphex Twin, creating a meld of IDM/DnB, in the tone of experimental electronic. This one is a free download for all.
It isn’t everyday that you hear clear and precise quality, pop-related music. But this is experimental mind you. Ashleigh Antolini is soulful, her strong but trained style of singing is combined with R&B and experimental all in one. Do You Know, Vicious Cycle EP – Produced by Shark Anthony is Witchhouse/Dreampop in modern day with a hint of jazz, classical and DnB. This is good music, the rest of the EP will not disappoint. She has been slowly showing her music to #WEATNU, this of course won’t be the last time.
‘Poughkeepsie, NY, native, Comfort Within Noise has been writing music for many years. His flavour of music includes, hiphop, electronic, DnB, Dubstep, and other experiments in sound. #WEATNU DM had the pleasure to speak with him on music and future projects.’
How are things going at this time?
Ian: Pretty good I must say… Doing a lot of stuff and keeping myself pretty busy with music…
You’ve been very active these last 2 years on your many styles of electronic. Would you like to talk about those projects?
Ian: Well the first release I did was Melodic Noise… At that point in my electronic music I felt it was time to start releasing pieces of work as an album or EP, rather then just random songs…
Your music combines many sub-genres, even influences by hiphop and a deep urban sound, would you say that this is your own personal style?
Ian: I had just started working in Logic at this time and was learning that program. I just got vst’s and wave plug ins. So that album was me learning Massive and stutter!
Those songs are pushing the envelope among experimental sounds, would you say you’ve learned a lot from this journey you’ve been on?
Ian: Yeah, I don’t really go for any one particular sound as in a genre… I’ll know if I want to use a breakbeat or something with a dub groove to it. But I started out in production making Hiphop beats for friends and made a few albums with them.
I personally have been listening to your music for about 2 years and find it impressive and unique. How is your work received both at home and on the net?
Ian: People seem pretty interested… I have performed a few live sets with tracks of my album “Late Nights and Mystics” and “Static Along the Brain Stem” and got a really good response each time I have played live.
Late Nights and Mystics has become my favourite so far.
Ian: And then my second release was “Static Along the Brain Stem” it’s on the D&B spectrum of music.
Yes, another fav of mine, great work, precise and honest music.
Ian: People on Soundcloud seem to be really interested in my NIN remixes. I get lots of DLs from them. Which to me is funny. I made them all in my bed with the guitar plugged right into my MacBook with no interface of any kind… and just used headphones to mix.
People like familiarity. Would you rather them hear your body of work over this?
Ian: I would always rather them see my body of work over a remix…
Now I understand you’re an accomplished musician as well as producer?
Ian: I guess you could say that… I have been playing guitar for years and have been in a few bands. First band was “A Dying Vision” and we played a lot of shows sold about 70/80 CDs at our shows. We would play every Friday and just about 2/3 Saturdays a month for two years. We played with “Mindless Self Indulgence” at the Chance Theater in my hometown Poughkeepsie NY, and bands like Shadows Fall, Dry Kill Logic, Bury Your Dead, Nora… The list goes on… After that band dispensed is when I got into making music on my computer. Myself and the singer from that band started writing rock songs on garageband. Which you can find on myspace The Cahill and Laffin extravaganza… Then me and my friend Brett started our band Cove Road.
All acts played were played in venues?
Ian: We played many places both bands… The Chance Theater Club Cranel (?), The Loft, Don Hills.
Let’s talk about your solo work for a moment. What goes through your head when writing your music?
Ian: Man that’s a hard one to answer.. I just don’t want to sound like something already done by others. And I want it to sound organic and allow you to dream as you listen to it.
I think you’ve accomplished that.
Ian: I like to make the music move so you can sit back close your eyes and let it take you somewhere. And with the more upbeat songs to let you dance. But I usually have making love in mind when making a beat and bassline because, it’s gotta be sexy.
Do you feel that these songs are truly unique sounding?
Ian: I do… They have elements of similarity but they don’t come from the places one would look for similarity for instance, I don’t listen to too much electronic music and listen to more rock bands. And I try to fuse that with the electronic.
Just like some of your videos on YouTube.
Ian: Yes my one video “Tripped” which is from my album Melodic Noise, has footage from a movie… Not sure if they can sue me hahahaha but it’s for promotion use only. But the scenes are from the movie “Enter the Void” which is about death and the soul. They hear something new but something they might be able to identify with…
What has changed since your latest work has been created (but unreleased)? I hear things are more relaxed, more controlled and guitar driven.
Ian: Most of my arrangements are arranged like a pop song. I give you an intro then a verse chorus bridge verse… Just don’t give you lyrics
Lyrics are not always needed, so that’s appreciated.
Ian: But my new project I am trying to get out of that arrangement style and go with a more growing arrangement to let the songs move you
A hint of Industrial on some of the new work?
Ian: Yeah… Industrial has always been in my life. Growing up with NIN, Manson, Ministry… So I have that dark heavy side a lot and love distortion.
Yet this album is more laid back, almost like listening to a Joe Satrini album from way back, even a post rock, prog rock sound.
Ian: With this album I have come more into my own, and have brought my guitar playing into it a lot more. I started it with keeping the idea of performing live.
To the average listener they would hear even Tool influences in a song. And you are a huge Tool fan as you’ve said before.
Ian: Well the first track on it is titled “You Lied” which is a Tool remix… Well it’s a remix of a song they covered from their bass players first band. The Timothy Leary quote in the beginning is from the loaning(?) track of the live version if their song Third Eye.
Send that one off to Maynard, maybe he’ll take notice!
Ian: Oh I plan on it! I joined Tool groups on fb and got some fans from there. The group has a lot of followers and has been said to be looked at by members of Tool from time to time so I plan on posting it there… I also made a video to go with it. Actually with this album I plan on making a video for each song and releasing it as a YouTube movie.
What DAW are you using these days?
Ian: I’m using Ableton Live. I started with Garage Band then Reason then Logic now Ableton. With my new album I am also trying to spread a message of higher conciseness and unity.
As in the song People are Like Flowers?
Ian: And All One.
And we can expect a full album from Pieces?
Ian: It will be 6 tracks but over 30 minutes of music. Most of the tracks are around 7 minutes long. Right now I have 6 tracks but I may add a few more… I am going to be adding live drums into all these tracks as well.
And we have one of your tracks playing now on #WEATNU [OUR] any feedback from that?
Ian: I don’t get to much feedback but I get listeners… People are strange…
That they are.
Ian: I don’t get comments often, I have a feeling I have gotten a few listens from the Weatnu radio I know a few members have told me good things about a few tracks had I had a random review on my video “Late Night and Mystics” that I am sure came out of a #Weatnu tag…
So you feel WEATNU is helping you not only discover others but others to discover you?
Ian: Yes definitely… I’ll watch my play count sometimes when I post with the tag, to see if it’s helping. And I believe it is. I get more plays and more likes. Just need more feedback and reviews.
Instead of the past 2 or 3 you get maybe 5 or 6, and it’s strange but those 3 more hits are gold to a artist in a starving world of indie music.
Ian: I’m hoping with my new release that’s what will happen. I put my self out there with the last three and now this one I feel is more personal and will get more listeners and also feel now with WEATNU it will get more promotion.
And I’m sure #WEATNU Records will help you on that road.
Ian: Yea… It’s sad but true… 14 listens in a day is a good day… I know it’s not because my music is bad because I have never received hate mail haha, but I know most people go for the top plays rather than the unknown.
The world of the indie is a hard one, that’s why things must change.
Ian: If you have 100,000 plays then more will go to listen to you than if you have 1,000 plays.
We’d like to hear about your latest project, your next band project that you’ve just started up again
Ian: Ah, well I just started back up my rock band Goodbye January and we are going to update the sound, but first record the songs as is and release them so we can play shows and sell albums. But in the meantime I’m going to remix all the songs and then we will perform them like that. To bring a newer sound to a 90s style rock band.
So you guys are playing in Poughkeepsie?
Ian: Yea Poughkeepsie and New Paltz.
We played our first gig in New Paltz this Tuesday and we had our second gig in Poughkeepsie on Feb 27 at the Pickwick. The show on the 27th was a benefit show for the singers old childhood friend who isn’t doing so well and is staying at a hospice. So we’re playing the show to help the family out with medical funds.
I have nothing set up yet for my solo act, I do go and practice my live performance almost weekly at a open mic night in New Paltz and Snug Harbor. I get a good response from the people there… If I’m the last one to go up I am usually asked to stay up there and go for an hour or more.
Live performance is where my heart is… I need it, it’s my therapy. That and creating music. I also have three Hiphop albums on my reverbnation page. Two of these are with the artist Underground who is a local Hiphop mc. The album Harsh Reality has no profanity and is about the struggles of growing to be a man and a good hearted person in a harsh world.
Sounds like a life full of music, which is good, music keeps the heart healthy!
Ian: The second album “Archer” is about striving to be your best.
The other Hiphop album is with a Poughkeepsie artist Danny Boy who went with the name “29 Boy” for that album. It’s pretty dark album and about the struggle of the hard life and making the wrong decisions.
Life is music and I submerge my self into it. It’s what I am best at and love the most. I would chose performing over a night with a women and would chose time to create music over having a high paying job that I hate. Still don’t make money off my music but I started a little recording studio last year and had a few bumps along the way but I am working on building that up more.
What plans do you have for the future?
Ian: I just want people to hear what I create and to be inspired by it in someway. In my immediate future I plan on building up my studio and getting more clients but focusing on my solo work and booking live gigs and hopefully get some out of state gigs, along with working on the band GoodBye January and crafting the new sound. My solo show will be just my new album, Pieces. And I plan on having a projector to project the videos I make as I play.
Final thoughts?
Ian: I feel the world is changing in many ways and it’s important for people to be awoken to the possibilities to come, that we are capable of so much more and that we are all connected. There are other ways than war and violence to solve issues… So I try to give that in my music like my songs “Violence” and “What’s wrong with the world.”
In the song “long lost” that’s currently on Weatnu, where I chop up a girl saying “please god” and someone one saying “the devil in the flesh” the idea I had was to show how the devil is here and is destroying us and we need to reconnect with God. And in my song All One on my newest album I have Bill Hicks saying “We are one with god and we are all one and God loves us” meaning we are all God and we need to not allow these demons to take control over all of us. Because with all that’s going on in the world it’s all down to one thing and that’s controlling the people.
Thank you Ian for telling us about your passions, songcraft and future projects, it was good to hear how you feel.
Ian: You’re welcome, thank you for asking me.
We will showcase Comfort Within Noise’ album pieces once released.
