Photo courtesy of Peter Wise
Not many up-and-coming performers can say they've opened for the Eagles at a venue like the Beacon Theatre in NYC – but singer-songwriter Peter Wise can. Like the Eagles, the recent NYU graduate effortlessly mixes folk, pop, and rock in his music, which he's been actively performing in NYC for the last four years. With a lot of talent and a little help from Sonicbids, Peter was chosen to perform at Musikfest 2014 back in August, and had one of his songs featured on the television show Bring Your Own Board. We talked to Wise about where his musical inspiration started, why he became a Sonicbids artist, and where he's headed.
You started playing guitar when you were five. Do you come from a musical family?
My parents both were musicians – never at a professional level, but they always made music a priority in my family. I have two sisters, both of whom are very musical, and we would always be singing around the house.
How would you define your style of music?
My favorite description of my music I’ve gotten would be folk/soul, which I think is accurate. I would define my style as guitar-centered pop/rock, combining the production of modern pop and indie rock with the lyricism of early '70s folk. But I pride myself on being influenced by a wide variety of styles and genres, including classical, jazz, blues, hip-hop, R&B, and country.
Your talent led you to attend NYU. What was your college experience like in New York?
I think going to school in NYC is pretty similar to anyone’s experience living in NYC as a teenager or young adult. It’s an incredibly eye-opening experience. I was exposed to so much music and so much life in general that greatly shaped my sound. I think trying to be a musician in the city really brings about a lot of self-analysis – who you want to be as an artist, what you're trying to say, and what your strengths and weaknesses are, which in turn help mold and solidify one's sound.
What’s the best part about performing in the city?
I think you really feel the full gamut of emotions when performing in NYC. When you have a bad show or a bad turnout, it’s not a great feeling – to put it mildly. But conversely, having a great show is incredible. You’re in a city full of the best of everything: artists, entertainers, businessmen, and the feeling of having a successful show is both rewarding and humbling. You find great satisfaction in the accomplishment and understanding of all the work that went into the performance, but also a profound gratitude to the people who interacted with your music and gave you their time and money.
When and why did you start using Sonicbids?
I started using Sonicbids about a year ago. I had some friends who were using it, and I'd just put out my debut album, which I was looking to further promote. The ease of setting up an account was refreshing, and I got started from there.
What are some of the most memorable Sonicbids gigs you’ve gotten so far?
Some of my most memorable Sonicbids gigs have been being a featured performer at Musikfest 2014 in Bethlehem, PA, which happened to be my first festival. I also just had my music licensed to a TV show called Bring Your Own Board, including an artist spotlight, which has been a great opportunity for exposure. Finally, I’m working with a publishing company on licensing opportunities for some potential major cable TV shows. But I think what has been of almost equal value for me has been the knowledge I’ve gained through various Sonicbids opportunities, talking to various publishing, licensing, and promotion companies about how they work, and how they can work together with artists.
What advice do you have for artists trying to make the most out of their Sonicbids EPK?
What’s nice about Sonicbids is that it works. Your music will be heard for the gigs you apply for, and you'll connect with people. As artists, sometimes it can be frustrating to work on the business side of our careers, but Sonicbids gives us the middleman to help facilitate the relationship between artist and opportunity. My advice would be, first and foremost, to make a complete profile stuffed with all your media and info, and then set aside a little time every day to go on the website and search for performance opportunities. I think what has helped me is that I have a thoroughly detailed profile, all my info is up there, and I’m very active in applying for gigs, which has lead me to get a lot of opportunities – including this interview!
What’s next for you?
I will be putting out a new single called "Quiet" in mid- to late-October, which I’ll have up on my website. I'm also playing two shows in NYC: Pianos on October 12 and Rockwood Music Hall on October 28.
