When you were growing up, was there ever that kid in your class that was good at everything? Good at school, good at sports, good with the other kids, and good looking? Well, if that kid grew up to be a musician, he’d probably be like Julian Shah-Tayler who switches from songwriter to producer to performer to DJ with the greatest of ease, talent unwavering.

Already Julian has worked directly with Joaquin Phoenix, JC Chasez, and Violet Flames to name a few.  As a sonwriter, he co-wrote the smash hit “Wrap It Up” which has been featured in Whip It, GTA 4, Sopranos, Kyle XY and CSI Miami. He has also remixed a number of artists and DJed in clubs worldwide from the from The Razzmatazz in Barcelona, the Maria in Berlin, Death Disco/Kill All Hippies/Transmission/The Queen is Dead/The Secret Door in London, Happy Endings in New York, and Standard Hotels in Los Angeles. Do you see what I mean? Julian Shah-Tayler is an artist to watch for his versatility,musical integrity and sophisticated artistry.

You have been in a number of bands over the years, how you feel about having a solo project?

It feels great. I have been writing with a solo project in mind before, during and after the time I was in bands. It would be fair to say that in a lot of the bands, the songs were tantamount to solo efforts anyway. Finally because I play all the instruments and produce the songs as well as sing them, I get to do exactly what I want with them now.

What inspired the lyrics to the song “Wetter”?

Ha ha. Strangely I wrote the backing track for JC Chasez (*NSYNC) because I was working with him on some other projects. When I thought of the “naughty” lyric, it just stuck, and I decided to finish the song myself. I read a lot about Prince in my youth, as I was a huge fan. I think that using provocative lyrics does not necessarily denote a lack of subtlety across the board with the rest of the oeuvre. It was only ever intended to be a fun song, and it has certainly proved itself a favourite with my live audiences and radio stations.

You have a full length coming out at the end of the year entitled Coito Ergo Sum, what does that mean and can you expand on it?

Coito ergo sum is a corruption of the Descartes maxim: “cogito ergo sum” which means “I think therefore I am”
Coito, however means “I procreate”…….. The idea is that the use of latin is a little highbrow, but the message is quite cheeky really. I think that meeting of highbrow and lowbrow culture and intent reflects the content of my music nicely. I am quite serious, but irreverent and silly at the same time. Think perhaps of CNN presented by Monty Python…..

How does making music in the UK differ from making music in the United States?

My methods do not differ in the slightest bit between the US and the UK. I think the way it is perceived is the chief difference. Los Angeles is obviously a far cry from London, but my process is the same. Filter life through art and make it sound as interesting as possible….. Repeat.

You have collaborated and/or produced a number of other acts including JC Chasez, Joaquin Phoenix, and Whitey, who was your favorite to work with?

My favourite collaboration is the ongoing one I have with Scott Fairbrother in “adamandevil”, although the experience of working with Joaquin was the most “unusual” as he is a self-confessed non-musician, articulating himself most often in sensate terms. He’s quite brilliant as a producer actually, as he could take the musicians out of their comfort zone into a non-musical paradigm. This creates a very specific mood which helps create an idiosyncratic sound.

What role do you prefer, producer, songwriter, or DJ?

I am most definitely in my element as a singer/songwriter which comprises certain production things as well.

I read somewhere that you write between 50-70 songs a year and put out a new EP every few months, where do you get all this inspiration?

The songs are cathartic. I guess I am writing my diary/autobiography in song form, I guess you could say. Any emotional baggage can be offloaded in musical form.

You were once in a band called Drink Me, so if you were a vampire and could blend any 3 celebrities’ blood into a drink who would they be?

Shannyn Sossamon, Prince, (it would be purple) and Sigourney Weaver (for that added zing).

Find him on Facebook and keep an eye out for his label Impossible Things Records.

Don’t you love it when things just work out the way they should? When everything falls into place and every problem that arises solves itself, magic happens. Well in this story about a little band called Applepolish (as in shoe polish not polish hot dog), two brothers decided that they wanted to try their hand at music and learned that they didn’t need to hire a producer or someone to design the album art or someone to create a music video, they could do it all themselves. Let me just say, they’ve done a superb job. They put a lot of the D.I.Y. bands out there to shame.

How did you guys come up with your name?

It was some years ago my brother and I needed a name for our musical group. We couldn’t come up with a name. Then we picked up a dictionary and decided to go with the first word we came across. I came across the word Applepolish. I liked the sound of that word and felt that it went well with the music we were making.

Do you find it difficult to be in a band with a sibling or is it a bonus?

We get along very well and are used to working together. We have worked together consistently and successfully for a while now.

If you were put in a dance-off contest with fellow Colombian, Shakira what song would you dance to in order to show her up?

If it’s a Latin song, then En Barranquilla Me Quedo by Joe Arroyo, another fellow Colombian, because we’re both from the city of Barranquilla and we can have a Salsa dance off.

If it’s one of her songs, I’d dance to Hips Don’t Lie and we can see who moves their hips the best.

If it’s one of our songs, I’d have her dance to Bandwagon and see if she can help us create a special dance for that song.

You guys write, produce, record and engineer your own music as well as videos, is this something you guys went to school for?

We have been self-developing these skills on our own for years. First we started with keyboards, then to bass, and eventually to guitar. The recording process also developed over time with each demo and song that we recorded. Eventually we felt ready to record Spirit Threads and are currently working on a new EP for the fall and a new CD for early 2011.

What are your individual strengths when it comes to making music?

Our best strengths are in the production and artistic qualities of the music and songwriting.

If someone were to make a movie about Applepolish, whom would you want to play both of you?

David Blaine would play Johan Palacio and Marc Antony would play Richard Palacio, hehe.

Good choices!

Find them on MySpace and Facebook-go on, support the D.I.Y. goodness

Oh, the sonic joys of youth! When laughter was crisper and songs weren’t transient, but left deep lasting impressions on our souls. Doesn’t it feel as if some of the best memories in you life were enhanced by a subtle song playing in the background? Or perhaps, the music was the main attraction–driving around in the the car with your high schools friends and singing your favorite chorus to the cars beside you. Those were the days. For my latest interview, I got to speak with Frederico (see pic below) from the band Youth Sounds. By the end of the interview, I was reminiscing, hopefully you’ll recall fond memories as well. Enjoy!

What inspired the name Youth Sounds?

I was thinking about band names and what would go well with our sound and Youth Sounds just seemed to fit with what we were doing. Our music is really driven by a sense of nostalgia.  I feel that as we get older our memories are intermingled with a handful of pop songs and albums that really meant something significant to us during the time the memory was being created. I want Youth Sounds to have that affect on people. So, hopefully in a couple of years when people think back on what they were listening to, maybe one of our songs will be tied to one of their memories.

Is it harder or easier to be in a band with your sibling?

I would have to say that it’s a lot easier being in a band with my sibling. We’ve been working together for so long that we’ve reached an understanding with one another. We respect each other’s form of artistic expression and trust each other’s ideas and opinions completely. I trust that any decision she makes will be made for the betterment of the band and that the end result would be a positive one and not at all detrimental. I believe that she shares this point of view as well, and the confidence we have in one another really affects all our musical endeavors.

As brother and sister, what is the worst argument you’ve gotten into?

I can’t really recall any intense arguments we’ve had in recent years. We’re actually really close so we don’t get into it when we disagree about something, but believe me, as kids we had some genuinely ridiculous arguments to say the least. There’s one minor spat that comes to mind that ends with Erika’s foot in a wall, lol. I will spare the long details on how she got her foot in the wall but let’s just say that the result of that argument was the both of us getting into some major trouble, hahaha.

Who are your influences and do they differ between the two of you?

They definitely vary between the both of us. We’re a very musical family and we’ve been surrounded by music all our lives, so our appreciation for different genres started very early. Our grandparents and parents have been a huge influence, introducing us to so many artists with varying styles and sounds.  So we’re very open in our selection of music and I believe that has really helped us find our bands sound. Erika is really into soulful artist with unique voices and will freely admit that she’s a sucker for some good ol’ R&B. My music selection changes daily whether I’m listening to all of David Bowie’s albums or Broken Social Scene, Ryan Adams, or Billy Holliday. It all depends on what I’m in the mood for.

You’ve just finished recording your new EP The Bit Parts what song are you most excited to show other people?

Honestly, we’re very excited about all the songs on this EP. We’re ready to get them out there and into people’s hands so that they can hopefully enjoy the music we’re making. This EP has been a long time coming and we want to share it with whomever is willing to listen. And if not, we’re just gonna have to hit the streets with our instruments and harass passersby with our obnoxious singing, hahaha.

Was it always a party growing up in the capital of Mardi Gras?

Yeah it’s definitely always a party down here in the big easy. No joke, this is the city that will turn anything into a party no matter what it is. It could be something arbitrary, like ending your shift at work, or important, like your kid graduating from kindergarten. You’ll have all these kids together on a space walk and all the adults getting plastered, partying it up. For all the locals, Mardi Gras has become something you learn to survive. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a really beautiful and a unique experience but it is in no way convenient for the locals. Basically, the whole city shuts down, so you can imagine how difficult it can be getting from one point to the other. But growing up in a city with so much culture and life is absolutely a plus, no doubt about it.

One of the tracks on The Bit Parts is called “As Strangers Would,” which leads me to the question have you ever taken candy from a stranger?

No, I can’t say that I’ve ever taken candy from a stranger. I wonder if anyone does that any more?

From what I understand, the members of Youth Sounds have been in the music game for a long time. This is just their latest project. So go on, become a friend on MySpace why don’t ya.

Today’s the day. We are finally gonna do it. You and I are going to tell the boss to take a freakin hike. We are gonna play hooky.

Yep, we are going to the beach or the bar or wherever and we are gonna have couple….and just chill!

Hold that thought, press play and check out my latest offering…

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Have you ever heard of Jack LaLanne? You know the juice guy, the guy that takes every freakin kind of fruit or vegetable and throws it in a blender to make some super healthy, nutrient rich liquid concoction?

Well todays episode is the music equivalent to one of his creations, but, instead of fruits and vegetables, I used classic rock, crunk, downtempo, rap, indie pop, and a few others styles to make you one earlicious dose of music goodness.

Press play now and indulge (for best results, use headphones).

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Spanning the globe to bring you music with no boundaries. Where the niche is not having the niche, I give you eight great songs by eight great artists.

Please your ears by pressing play now.

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Did you ever think you would hear Nine Inch Nails, Buckcherry, Bob Mould and Ice T on the same radio show podcast? Me neither but the pieces fit.

See how the pieces all fit together by pressing play now.

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Here are the songs heard on this podcast and links to each artists website;
Last November – “Sunday After Noon”(get it free on eMusic)
Nine Inch Nails – Discipline (Download Free at NIN.com)
The Crash Moderns – “Where’d All the Scene Girls Go”(get it free on eMusic)
Buckcherry – “Sorry”
Bob Mould – “The Silence Between Us”
Hot Rod Circuit - “Gin and Juice”
Black Ice (featuring Ice T and Black Silver) – “So Fly”
Three Miles Out – “Knock Me Down”

Stop by my iTunes page now, tell me what you think by posting a comment and then subscribe.

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

Dip your mood into this mellow but upbeat, chicken soup for the soul music offering. This is the kinda of music that grabs you and says “everything is gonna be alright.”

See if you agree by pressing play now.

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Here are the songs heard on this podcast and links to each artists website;
James King – “Gold”
LouLou – “Sunday State of Mind”
Sean Costello – “Can’t Let Go” (get it free on eMusic)
Candy Butchers – “What To Do With Micheal”
Justin Hopkins – “Why Would God Ever Come to L.A.” (discover his older stuff free on eMusic)
Lo/Fi Pioneer – “Got To Know”
Jaik Miller – “Movin”
City and Colour – “Waiting” (discover his older stuff free on eMusic)

Other links mentioned in the show:
Experience what it’s like to be truly free. Watch the Into the Wild movie and be very glad you did.

Stop by my iTunes page now, tell me what you think by posting a comment and then subscribe.

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. Nooo, it’s the stress rising from your body as the soothing sounds of this podcast flood your senses.

Yep, it is time once again to mellow out and get loose. Press play, and get away.

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Here are the songs heard on this podcast and links to each artists website.
Supersuckers – “I don’t Wanna Know”
Jim Armstrong and the Sonic Deli Band - “Gypsy”
Pugslee -”Freewheelin”
Tim Young Band – “Unemployment Line”
Mama’s Cookin – “Aquarius Skies”
Mama’s Cookin – “What I Am”
Black Crowes – “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution”

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

I’ve collect a few covers over the last few months and, simply put, it is time to share them with you. As far as style goes, I have a little bit of everything in this one; pop, rock, and metal are all represented.

Press play and see how well these artists

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NEW! Have a comment, request or review of your own that you would like played on the show? Call (206)202-7672 now and leave a message.

Here are the songs heard on this podcast and links to each artists website. Check them out.
Blake Morgan – “Maybe I’m Amazed” (Paul McCartney and Wings cover)
Clark Datchler – “Shattered Dreams” (Johnny Hates Jazz cover)
Joe Colledge – “American Girl” (Tom Petty cover)
Echo of Souls – “Games Without Frontiers (peter gabriel cover)”
Wensday – “Only Women Bleed” (Alice Cooper cover)

Website mentioned in this podcast.
Coverville

These and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network