I really enjoy it when an artist creates their own buzz in the blogosphere. Derek Jordan did just that with his last release Identity and is getting ready to release his newest psychological rock beast entitled Humanist. By taking one look at him, you’d never guess what intellectual and existential discussions were taking place beneath the surface. Luckily, Humanist is that one porthole into the soul that is Derek Jordan.

What was the moment when you decided you wanted to make a career out of music?

I decided I wanted to make a career out of music pretty much the second I stumbled across an old guitar in my grandparents’ attic.  I was fascinated by it.  I fell in love with it.  Sure it started as a boyhood dream, but that dream never left.  Music has always been on my mind 24/7 ever since.  I love it and your career should be what you love.  There’s nothing more to it.

You are currently finishing up your second EP Humanist how have you grown since you last release Identity?

Identity was very raw and had a lot of space.  In Humanist I’m putting together songs that are more orchestrated and with less cut-and-paste structures.  I love to solo on guitar, but Humanist only has one solo.  I’m branching out from predictable song structures.  It’s very important for artists to grow with every recording.  Art is expression through a medium and must not be contained or become stagnant.

Some have referred to you as “the king of individuality.” Do you agree with this and why?

I’m on a mission to promote individualism, to wake people up from society running their lives.  It’s so important to grasp life and squeeze everything out of it.  Much of society has lost its individualism and has now become just one big protocol.  You shouldn’t live how you’re told but decide for yourself.  The catch is, many have forgotten or never learned how to decide for themselves.

Who are some of your influences, both musical and non-musical? Where do your ideals come from?

I have lots of influences.  Most of my musical influences come from non-musical sources.  I’m inspired by stories in history, personal tales, social psychology, desperation and triumph.  These non-musical influences consist of Winston Churchill, Napoleon, Geronimo, Achilles, and Einstein.

I’m very influenced by some athletes too, like Sidney Crosby, who became such a talented hockey player at such a young age. It wasn’t due to his talent. It was because of the mentality, attitude, and work ethic that developed so early in his life.  He leads by example and is actually my biggest inspiration in the world.

As for music!  Led Zeppelin, Chris Cornell, Stone Temple Pilots, Eddie Vedder, MUSE!  I also like film score composers like Hans Zimmer.  I grew up on a lot of classic rock but I think we are SO fortunate that there is so much good music coming out right now, more than ever.  In the early 2000’s, people were starting to wonder if new music had lost its creative and artistic edge.  That’s not the case now!  I love discovering new music.

Can you explain the concept behind the red handprint?

The red handprint originates from my individualistic mindset.  No two handprints are the same.  So no matter how society has shaped you, your handprint remains unique.  I wear my handprint on my chest because it is my identity.  Everyone should strive to leave their mark in history.

You talk about social psychology, how has that shaped you as an artist?

Most of my songs are about social psychology.  I’m fascinated with how society thinks and moves as a whole and the psychology behind it.  It goes back to individualism and identity.  We are raised on these agreements of how to live because it is what we are taught from our parents and society.  They didn’t decide on these agreements, they were taught from those before them.  So in reality, no one decides on their own philosophy unless they are aware of social psychology.  Instead, mostly everyone just does what they are told.  And that is flat out wrong.  There is a book called, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  If you haven’t read it yet, it will open your mind and change your life.

What are you looking forward to most in 2010?

It’s mid March right now and Humanist is weeks from being released.  The CD release party will be at the Joint at 10pm on April 15th. I’m looking forward to doing more touring.  I went to Germany as part of the Tryxo Indie Invasion Tour last June.  I’d love to go back again soon.  Yet, the thing I’m looking forward to MOST of all, is becoming a full-time musician. I believe this transition will occur this year because that’s what I’m working towards and that’s what I’m determined to do.

I encourage you to listen to his music on MySpace and become a fan on Facebook. Oh, and Derek was kind enough to answer these questions and more in a video on YouTube. Go check it out.

–Sheena

I’m starting to see that musicians in other countries truly see the United States as a land of opportunity and feel that the US is more accepting of their art. I suppose there are a lot of goats in the US that are willing to give any kind a music a listen and that’s a wonderful thing. This time around, Josh Lewan a.k.a. Whiplash explains why rap remains in the Australian underground, desribes what it is like working with Lil Wayne and reveals which character from the movie Grease he is most like. Listen to his three part release, Losing Control.

How did you get the nickname Whiplash?

One of my best friends called me Whiplash because I was a bit of a deviant and I had a devil-like laugh. I really took the name to the extreme and really became Whiplash in my own way years later. My life experiences and mentality brought more meaning to the name later on. It describes my personality and train wreck type of lifestyle I lived around the world.

What is it like being a rap artist from Australia?

It has been tough for me for years because Hip-Hop has only recently made its way into the mainstream and become legitimate in the culture. For years it was hard to break in as a rapper.

Since rappers are discriminated against by a predominantly pop music culture, labels and older generations didn’t understand it, so I could not get music deals with Australian companies or publicists, booking agents etc. I had to get all my music opportunities overseas. Every record company in Australia rejected my demo.

My album was banned in Australia 2009 for its explicit content. Australia is very conservative yet it has such a hard-core underbelly. Every country needs strong individual artists to make a genre powerful over a long period of time or it will be over saturated and lose its appeal.

Tell us about your albums?

The first album is the beginning of it all. The second album goes up a level to the first, yet the second album features fewer samples and other artists. I try to mix everything up so I don’t get bored or bore the listener. I naturally change or progress on each album. The third album features more artists on it compared to the first album.

Overall all the lyrics are from the same story that is my life so every song connects in the end. All the lyrics are from the same books of lyrics I wrote from 2004 to 2009.

What song is the most fun for you to perform?

I enjoy doing one of my songs that has a good balance of singing and rapping so I can attract the people that like my singing voice and attract people that like my rapping. I enjoy doing my best songs that have power or good lyrics, the ones where people clap or cheer during the middle of song not just when it is over.

You recently did a track with Lil Wayne; can you tell us how this came about?

I recorded an album called Rapanease and the label I am signed to ‘Dasvibes Jamaica’ released it worldwide. One of the tracks on the album called “Ghetto Surfer” was sent to Lil Wayne and their crew was feeling it so Lil Wayne recorded over that music.

You sample a song from the movie Grease in one of your tracks, which member of the T Birds are you most like?

I would say I am most like Danny (John Travolta) because he pursues a girl and has a romance on the beach. That sounds familiar. He meets Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and I would be keen on a girl like that too, also because I sing pretty well along side John on that hook.

Who are your biggest influences?

Eminem is my biggest influence. To hear someone that good makes you want to do what they do as well or better and to take an interest in their lyrics, their music and their story.

It is great to have artists like him there to push us, motivate us and make us go up to the next level for our own music. A living legend like Eminem is my biggest influence; someone like that you can feed off for ten years growing up.

Singers like Justin Timberlake influence me. Rappers and producers like Dr Dre, 50 Cent, 2pac, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, D12 and more influenced me also.

If you could tour with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?

I would tour with Eminem, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Justin Timberlake, Lil Wayne, 2pac, Xzibit, D12, Notorious B.I.G and more.

If it were your last day on earth, what CD would you listen to?

I would listen to a mix CD of all of my favorite artists hit songs. I would sing and rap along to it until I die. Love Hip-Hop, love music.

Now go on and become his friend on MySpace or Facebook.

–Sheena

Hi I am Shayne Locke, CEO of Cowbell Digital Music.

I count it an absolute honour to be asked to write for Music Goat, which has been a great source of information on indie artists and the side of the music industry that isn’t often talked about. The Goat has asked me to provide a bit of a background about me, and what I do before I start the whole blogging process. So here goes.

Twelve months ago we started a record label – which is rather ironic since we release everything digitally or on cd! On starting the label, we asked ourselves what we would want if we were artists. The number 1 answer was – To Own Our Music. Not give the rights to our music away.

A big inspiration to our company setup was Terry McBride of Nettwerk Music in Canada. His philosophies answer the question of Copyright Control that we posed so we decided to run with the model that has been so effective for Terry. Cowbell Digital Music was born and the big point of difference was Collapsible Copyright (artists owning their music).

Everything about the label was different. Focus on digital, multiple service agreements and helping artists connect with fans by encouraging the use of social networking.

Another major point to our label has been the establishment of Cowbell China. As of last month, we are the first independent label to be officially on the ground in China with an office in Shandong province and the support of an official government run website. No other indie label has managed to get to this point so we consider it a privilege to be able to take our artists into China.

With all the massive leaps that we are taking as a label, we are also establishing a second platform to help new emerging artists find a voice. With a focus on the music community it totality, it will cover all genres, all styles and give artists a sense of belonging while also allowing an artist’s growing fan base to buy their music at a price set by the artist.

So please keep an eye out for my posts as I shed a bit of light on what is happening in the industry and maybe even provide a few options for the struggling artist in all of us.

For more information about us, head over to www.cowbell.com.au

Shayne Locke
Cowbell Digital Music – It’s Your Choice.

I’m always interested in speaking with musicians that consider themselves artists. I’ve found that these artists are bolder and don’t restrict themselves to one genre. They usually have a repertoire that is colored with different intriguing  inspirations. This is the case with Juliet Annerino. Juliet has gone everywhere in pursuit of her art and has toured throughout Europe and beyond. Juliet has also ventured into risque territory with some of her work, especially with her muti-media cabaret show “The Lord’s Lover.” But who doesn’t love a little controversy with their art? I know I do, so I give you Juliet Annerino…

Your music is very unique, who are your biggest influences?

I’m influenced by so many great composers and performers. From the classic jazz composers like Cole Porter and George Gershwin, to jazz singers like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, to more contemporary pop/composers like Sting, Annie Lennox, Bjork, and Portishead. I can appreciate the trendy, the quirky, all the fluff de jour.

You have toured all over  the world. What has been your favorite place so far and why?

Ah! I can’t play favorites like that. Every place I’ve performed has been special and precious in its own way. People do seem warmer personality-wise in warmer climates. And I’ve never had a problem with anyone being snobbish. The French were so sweet and very friendly. The most friendly people might be the Egyptians. Lebanese people are amazing given their history of wars and destruction. They’re so brave and proud and they sure know how to enjoy life!

Did you grow up studying music?

Well, I never really grew up–but that’s a story for another time. I took some piano lessons  in grade school, but I was undisciplined and just wanted to make up my own melodies. Then I took some free guitar lessons in the 7th grade and really started to use the guitar to write songs. Later, another musician friend of mine suggested that I get away from the guitar when I was writing songs because the guitar was more of a crutch than a tool for me.

I wasn’t a very good guitarist, and the limited vocabulary I had in guitar chords was keeping my melody in a pretty tight frame. I did find that if I wrote a melody without the aid of the guitar first, I’d write much more creative songs. I was freed. This is how I write now, without the use of any instruments first. Then I go to the piano and write charts for my musicians.

What charities or organizations do you affiliate yourself with?

I’m a member of We Are Change LA, The Hollywood Freedom Activists and Code Pink: Women for Peace. I’m a big fan of Anti-war.com and the Iraq Veterans Against the War, too. A percentage of the proceeds from all my records sales as well as my shows always go to wonderful charity called, Mercy Corps or to Code Pink.

Your album has a lot of instrumentation, which ones do you play?

I sang all the vocals except that very deep “Dance!” on “Dance Between the Raindrops” which was my engineer, John X. I programmed all the virtual drums and played all the virtual (as in synth) bass, keys and strings, and I played the acoustic guitar on “Drowning” and “Just for Fun.” And of course, I played the dog toy on “Cigarette.”

Who is you favorite person that you have worked with so far?

The dog toy. Oh, you said “person” I love them all, of course! Well I have to say I really loved working with the late, great Jamie Tisdale, who played guitar on “Save Yourself.” He really understood what I was going for with that cut and he put all of his creative energy and his passion into that performance, as he did with everything he did. His talents will be missed, always.

What is the best prank you ever played?

That would have to be the prank I played on my little brother when we were kids. My sister and I were a few years older than him and he was always trying to get us in trouble, so we decided to try something…

I pretended to call him a “swear word” that we’d agreed on previously that was just a made up word. I told her I’d call him a “little blanchard” and then my sister would act really shocked that I’d used a bad word. When it happened, he went to tell my Dad. Of course, he was  confused  and then amused. My little brother was so embarrassed. We thought it was hilarious at the time.

Listen to her music on MySpace and Facebook

–Sheena Felix

Since yesterday was March 4th, lets talk about an artist that is marching forth into uncharted territory, Marlen a.k.a. Malicious. Marlen is a Norwegian female rapper making waves and burning down houses and asking the music industry if they can handle her loud mouth. She just had a show with Yo Yo and released her album Can You Handle This!? that introduces her alter ego Malicious.

You’re new album is called Can U Handle This? do you feel that you are difficult to handle?

Sometimes, yes! hahaha!!! Sometimes, what I say can shock people, or make them feel Read the rest of this entry

Image via Wikipedia

After experiencing the Indie Bible from a blogger/podcaster perspective for a few years now, I  laid down the cash and read it as a musician who’s looking to promote his music.

I have been digesting this bad boy for about a few months now and I can’t believe the info in here. For the indie artist, the Indie Bible is the Swiss Army knife of music promotion. In other words, it is pretty damn handy!

The book is a great resource which provides over 9000 resources in a variety of ways: Radio Stations, journalists, labels, publicists, managers as well as providing a healthy dose of articles from industry guru’s to help you use the resources to the best advantage.

Here’s the breakdown.

The whole thing is divided up by genre, label, radio, publication, region, etc. This is a huge time saver. You are able to really hone in on your the resources that are specific to both your style of music and region of promotion. You do not have to spend hours sifting through a ton of non-related info to find the resources you need to tap. Read the rest of this entry

Do you like talking about and sharing thoughts on “anything” music related? If so, I am opening up the pages of Musicgoat to anyone interested in blogging (writing or via video).

You can write about any music related topic. You can share videos. Do CD reviews, live show reviews on video or written. You could share your own music or favorite artist with the world. You could write about instruments, music tech, music websites. Whatever! The sky is the limit.

This is a great way to get your feet wet in the world of blogging if you are just beginning. Or a great way to pimp your own music passion or music endeavor – whatever that might be.

Also, I have many artists who submit work to be reviewed. You would get a chance to hear and comment on a variety of new music.

If you are interested, contact me now and let me know what you are thinking.

How I love Dark New Wave. Lately, or more precisely, in the last 20 some years I haven’t heard of anyone to bring the sound back with vigor and passion and make it sound brand new and resonate like it did back in the 80’s. That is, until I heard Paul Nagi. I can’t get enough of his style and quite gorgeous voice.

What has been the most monumental point in your career so far?

Playing live and having people whom I’ve never met, know my music; Selling out the Viper Room; Recording at Motown Studios where greats like Ray Charles recorded; Flying to New York and playing a show at Sin-E; Seeing 1000 of my first EP in my hands; Recording and licensing a pixies song; Playing live on college radio, there have been so many.

Who are you influences?

I really like 80’s new wave and Joy Division. U2’s early stuff really stuck with me because of the emotion. Jeff Buckley (althought I’ve only started to listen to him recently), the Killers, David Bowie, Weezer, Radiohead, the Pixies. At one point, I also listened to Billy Joel, Kenny Rogers, some opera, Guns and Roses, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi.

I grew up listening to mainstream radio so most commercial music of the 80’s and 90’s has seeped into my  music. In the end, what I’ve learned from this random melange of music is: I like big and emotional choruses that could be sung by hundreds of screaming fans with a twist of the unusual musical change in there.

At what point in your life did you decide to make music a career?

When I got tired of hearing the same stuff on the radio, about five years ago. I had just moved to LA and I was regularly going to open mics. People started to really respond to my music and suggested that I record it. So I did, and after a year, I got a band together and recorded my first EP Auto Repair at the old Motown Records Hollywood Studio. We were playing and I realized I could really do this as a profession.

What song do you most like to play live?

“Matter of Time” because it makes me want to dance.

You have already accomplished a lot this year including being nominated for an LA music award as well as being featured on Music Connection’s top 100 hottest unsigned artists list. What do you think is in store for the future?

Well, I’m sure the hard work is only just beginning. Hopefully I’ll be able to get an opening spot for some established bands. I’ve learned to never plan too far ahead but in the short term, I just finished my music video for “Erase This From Our Blood” (which you can see on my MySpace page at www.MySpace.com/PaulNagi79) and I am putting the finishing touches on my new single “Quite Gorgeous.” It’s a sort of a Franz Ferdinand meets the Strokes and the Doors.  It’s a dancy and fun song.

Describe your most memorable show moment?

Playing to a packed at the Viper Room and almost no one turned to the bar to buy a drink during one of my slow songs “Always On My Mind.” They were all just staring at me almost mesmerized.

How do you feel about the changing state of the music industry?

You gotta roll with it. Everything changes, you just need to be flexible. If artists are smart, they realize that they hold the power, if they are willing to sweat and bleed. With that said, record labels are still very important. It’s like a tree with heavy branches. If the weight from the limbs gets too far away from the trunk, then the limbs fall off.I think that’s what happened to the record labels. Labels have lost a lot of their dominance and have spread too far from their original purpose. The strongest part still remains, but it will be some time before the labels get back to their previous form, if they ever do.

Your EP is called Auto Repair how many cars broke down on you before you decided to name your EP that?

It is short for autonomous repair. It refers to the idea that the body heals itself from all the damage that you do to it, psychological and physical, and your heart is at the center of that process. I wanted to call my band that, but most of the guys i play with told me that everyone would ask the question that you just asked. That stuff never bothered me. I think people who listen to my music are smarter and look for a deeper meaning.

Coincidentally, Paul is also playing a show tonight February 25th at the Whisky a Go-Go for the LA Music Awards Showcase. If you’re in LA, check it out.

–Sheena Felix

You know, what started out as a few simple interviews is now an exploration of what it means to be an artist. When people think of a musician, most people think of the stereotypical rock star type covered in tattoos or something along those lines. What I’ve discovered it that artists are very diverse and each one has their own obstacles to overcome,  their own unique audience, and a different experience as a musician.

My most recent interview is with Thomas King who developed a whole universe to organize and better communicate his values. I’m in love with his latest single “One Nite Stand” very GaGa-esque. Listen to it at  www.thomaskingmusic.com and look out  for his new album coming out soon.

How is being a musician in the United States different from being a musician in Austria?

The main difference is the amount of opportunities. I always say “For every single opportunity in Austria, you get a thousand in the States.” Austria is a country with a great classical music background, and all the world-famous classical musicians come to Austria.

In contemporary music, you reach a plateau pretty quickly and there is no where to go, especially if you are doing original music. Another difference is that Americans are a lot more excitable and supportive when it comes to music and new ideas.

Your Kingtom ideology is very unique, can you tell us what it is?

The Kingtom is my universe in space—my kingdom of high-energy pop music. It consists of six planets brought together by and gravitating toward logical center, LOVE. I call this center the ‘Great Uniting Star’. I invite my audience to enter my universe and through my music, experience  the power of freedom, excitement, beauty, passion, joy, peace and love.

Which element of the Kingtom is the most important to you?

The Great Uniting Star because it is an expression for what I stand for as an artist. I believe that music has the great potential to unite people and bring out love, excitement and happiness in them. This is why I chose the yin yang at the center of my logo that is partially rotated to form a heart. This powerful body then sparks a fire, which reflects the passion I have for music, generating a majestic light and energy needed to keep my universe in rhythm and the audience dancing.

Who are your musical influences?

My two role models that I adore musically are Michael Jackson and Prince. Both are phenomenal entertainers and performers, who in my perception, have always focused on the artistry and music rather than on making money.

Do you have a musical family?

I must have inherited my creative side from my mum because my dad is a businessman. I have played music and have been on stage pretty much all my life. At the age of four, I got my first drum set and started playing drums. At the age of nine, I had become a child actor for  theatre, and in high school, I joined a ballroom band as a singer and toured all over Austria.

You are a very high energy entertainer, have you studied dance or theatre?

I have never studied dance or theatre, but as I mentioned above, being a child actor made me failiar with the at age at a young age. I haven’t abandoned the stage since and probably never will. I guess my high-energy nature comes from my passion for what I am doing. On top of that, I love to dance. so you will rarely see me stand still when you watch me perform.

Tell me what your newest release is going to be about.

I tried to incorporate different elements of my personality into the songs. “The King Lives On” is about spreading my message to the world. In “One Nite Stand” I show that I am not afraid to  show my feminine side. “Do You Believe” portrays my theatrical side in which I am seducing a girl to join my Kingtom. “In the Dark” is an intimate ballad about feelings that have been left in the dark for a long time, and finally “Make It Loud” is a straight up feel good rock tune.

If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Madison Square Garden in New York City. That place is magical. And the big soccer stadium in Vienna, Austria, because it is always great to come home.

Your stage performance is very theatrical, what do you plan on doing on stage for this new album?

The stage show will be a spectacle. A blend between a traditional show and a musical, with dancers, animation, and explosions. When the beat fires up, I’m in the zone and hopefully my audience will join me on this ride.

Check out his music at www.MySpace.com/ThomasKingOnline or www.ThomasKingMusic.com

-Sheena Felix

Suffice it to say that I was wrong. I used to think that people should stick to what they do. Actors should stick to acting and singers should stick to singing. Well every once in a while a truly creative individual comes along that is blessed with the ability to channel their creative energy into everything that they do. Maggie Baird is one of these people. Her touching interview is inspiring and befits a person with such a charming demeanor.

You are both an actress and a musician, which role do you like playing best?

I really love acting and have been lucky enough to work on some great roles, but music has been on my mind more lately. I really need a creative life and the hard part about being an actor is you can’t just “act” whenever you feel like it, other people have to cast you. With music, if you are compelled to write a song in the middle of the night or play guitar or sing…you can just do it. You may not have control over who eventually hears it or cares about it, but the part you do for yourself is almost always available to you.

What song on We Sail is most personal to you?

I would have to say “The Sun Came Up Today” because it is a sentiment that I have faced fairly often in my life. My mother died when I was in my mid-twenties and my father died 9 years ago. Over the years, many of my friends have died too. When a close friend’s father died a couple of years ago, I was so sad about it and concerned for him and his family. I was deeply in the space of knowing what it is like when someone you love dies—you can’t believe that the whole world is just going on as if nothing has happened when your life is completely changed. I wrote “The Sun Came Up Today” for my friend, but it came from my personal experiences.

How did you get involved with writing music for Groundlings Comedy and Improv Company?

The Groundlings is a company that you find yourself in after rising through the many levels of the school.  In The Groundlings everyone writes their material and performs in pieces other people write. Each show usually needs some musical pieces too, for variety and entertainment value, so I often wrote something for those occasions. I wrote mock musicals about various scandals and newsworthy events etc. I once did a musical playing Martha Stewart in embroidered Denim shirt and fishnets for example. That was long enough ago, the director of the show at that time actually said that she didn’t think enough people knew who Martha Stewart was.

I wrote a lot of songs into my character bits when they were appropriate and I did a lot of improvisation. It was really fun and was kind of a breakthrough for me in terms of singing for an audience. When the audience labels you as an “opera singer” or a “country singer” and you have to not only instantly sing like one, but make up the song at the same time, that is truly a good time.

What has been your favorite role that you’ve played as an actress?

As far as television is concerned, I had a pretty fantastic part on Six Feet Under which was especially fun because I was one of the opening death sequences. On stage, I’ve played some really nice parts. I loved playing Brooke in Noises Off which was a really funny role and I did a play called And a Nightingale Sang playing the main character Helen, which I really loved.

What are your biggest song inspirations?

Ever since I was a teenager, my way of coping with my feelings was to write songs about them. I wrote a song to sing to my husband at our wedding; I wrote lullabies when my babies cried; I wrote a song when I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and didn’t know who the hell it was. It is how I cope with things, good and bad. Everyday kind of things that everyone experiences are primarily what I write about. Of course, sometimes I just write a song because I get a funny idea in my head.

Who is your greatest musical influence?

I have thought a lot about this and if I had to pick only one, I would have to say Joni Mitchell. When I was young I wore her albums out playing them and I think every songwriter today is indebted to her.

Since your album is called We Sail, where would you sail to and who would you go with?

I use sailing as a metaphor of course, and given that, I guess I am happiest voyaging through life with my beautiful family. I love to travel, but the people I want by my side the most are right here in my home. I guess I live in a houseboat after all.

You can listen to her music at www.MaggieBaird.com or www.myspace.com/MaggieBairdMusic.

Cheers,

Sheena