What do you hope listeners will get from your music?
Some peace of mind, however they find it, I just hope people take what they want from my music and it helps them smile or cry or whatever they need at the time. That's where it comes from and I hope that's where it goes.
What’s the best gig you ever played?
I've played too many great shows to single out one as the "best", one of the most amazing things that's happened to me on stage occurred in Austria in 2009 on my birthday. I happened to mention it was my birthday because it felt rather odd to be so far away from my friends and family on a date I almost always spent with those people. After letting it slip the crowd just started singing Happy Birthday to me in English and I just stood there and smiled. It's a truly awesome feeling having the audience sing you a song and I will never ever forget it.
How has social media affected the way you market/promote your music?
Basically, I owe it all to sites like MySpace, Facebook, Sonicbids, etc. Those sites enabled me to get my music out to people directly from the very beginning when I don't think any record labels would have given me a chance. Social media ultimately got me fans and the support I needed to get to where I am. It got me my first record contract and continues to be an invaluable way for me to communicate and reach out to people who like my music and those who have yet to hear it. It's truly the most important part of the story of how my career went from just a bedroom recording project to what it is now.
What’s a creative way that you interact with your fans? Live? Online?
I don't do anything too crazy, but I often request my fans and listeners to submit artwork and other ideas for my projects, and I will use submitted material when it's right. I've made a t-shirt and an album cover from submitted material and I love the closeness that comes from being directly in touch with my fan base.
What’s your next big gig coming up? When/Where?
I have a residency coming up at Piano's Upstairs Lounge in September. Every Thursday night starting on the 15th at 7pm, I'll be playing with 2 of my favorite artists from New York and showcasing my new full band and the songs from my upcoming album, Bound for Glory, due out early next year.
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