Miguelito is a young Urban and teen pop artist that has previously been nominated for four separate Grammy awards, and is the youngest person to ever win a Latin Grammy Award. Miguelito has not only won a Latin Grammy Award, but has been making music since he was seven years old. This pop star is quite impressive, and below you can learn quite a bit about him, and his journey as a young musician.
1. So, what inspired you to cover "Sugar, Sugar?" Well what inspired me was that it's a really great song that I think everyone knows. Not only adults, but also kids know this song and it makes it easier to reach more fans in a new industry, you know because I'm coming from the Latin side crossing over to the American side. I think we chose the right song - it can be like my symbol or something, then fans can remember me and say "Miguelito yeah, he started with the song 'Suga Suga'" - haha! I also think it brings whole families together because you have a song that everyone knows, not just kids and teenagers! So that's why we kinda picked this song, because I want to grab as many fans as I can, the whole family if its possible! 2. Also, what inspired the music video for "Suga, Suga"? Well we did the music video with Nayip Ramos, and the idea for the video was kind of like a 1960s look to go with the song, and to have everything really colorful like The Archie’s! So that's what we kind of wanted in the video and I think we got it you know? I think the whole concept and video came out pretty well. 3. I read on your Wikipedia page that you are currently enrolled in a private school in California, what do people at school think of your career? I'm actually homeschooled but before when I was back in Puerto Rico, I used to be in a private school and all my friends were really supportive of my career. But now that I moved to California with all the events and everything that I have going on, I can’t go to a normal school, so I have to be homeschooled. 4. Going along with that question, how do you balance going to school, and your music career? Well every time I have any free time I just try to do as much work as I can, since I’m homeschooled I can do my work advanced. So it helps me because in my free time I finish everything and if I’m done with one lesson I can just move on to the next one! So yeah, I just try to do as much work as I can every time I’m free. 5. Who are some inspirations on your music? My brother is a big time inspiration. So is Daddy Yankee, Michael Jackson, and Justin Timberlake. 6. You released your first album when you were just seven years old, do you remember how that came about or much about the process of recording when you were so young? I kind of do! It was so fun seeing grown ups, and all these experienced industry people working with me, and doing what I say... it’s really fun and interesting you know? And it was fun because I was a kid, so it was like a really big experience for me. 7. Have you gotten to tour much? If so, do you have any stories that stand out to you that you'd be willing to share? Well once at one of my concerts I was doing a spin on stage and my microphone fell and it was so funny, because you saw all these of dancers and a little kid in a white suit running around stage looking for his microphone. 8. Out of all the songs you have written, which are your favorite and least favorites? (And why?) My favorite is “Face to Face,” which is a song that I wrote recently and is going in my new album. It is a love song, about long-distanced relationship, and it is my favorite because it happened to me in real life when I came to Cali and is just a really personal song. I actually don’t have a least favorite! I love all my songs! 9. Name something that you listen to that nobody would expect. Well I listen to Lil Wayne and Drake, a lot of rap music but I think everyone knows that. I guess some music that maybe people don’t expect me to listen to is JB's music, or Austin Mahone but after all, you know they are amazing musicians, and I have to admire their music. 10. What would your dream tour be? (To be part of the lineup, that is.) My dream tour would be a tour in every country but like all together! Day by day by day! Working! Every day! That would be cool! Oh, and to be performing with Justin Timberlake on that whole tour! JT is a singer that I really like and look up to, so it would be an honor for me to do a tour with him and be on stage with him! 11. Anything you'd like to add? Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram as: @MiguelitoMTO And go listen to my new song and watch the music video on Vevo: Suga Suga (feat. Shawn Stockman) Miguelito covered it all basically, so there's no much left to be said! Please be sure to go check him out at all his social media website which are linked below. Immortal Music would like to thank Miguelito for doing this interview, and his press people for setting it up! Keep up the good work!
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You may not know who Remedy X is yet, but give it some time, you certainly will get to know them. Perhaps this semi impromptu interview might just help. Something that was not mentioned in this interview was that they are trying to play the 2014 Vans Warped tour. If you'd like to help them out, you can vote by clicking here.
Don't forget to check them out on Reverbnation, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also get the album, Ephemeral on iTunes. On April 7, 2014, Virginian alternative rock band, ELISIUM graced Yabo’s in Fort Myers, Florida with an incredible acoustic set. This set, and the band’s own personal charm, stood as the perfect first impression to Southwest, Florida. Nate Crompton, front man of Elisium is here to provide some more insight to their music, their lives, and their world. Surely, you, much like all of those who have been them live, will not be disappointed.
1. So, how did you come up with your band name? Early on, I was a big fan of Nirvana. When I was first thinking about a band name, I wanted something that would be a subtle nod to that, so the idea of "Elysium" sounded intriguing - a place where heroes went after a valiant death. Seemed similar to Nirvana in meaning, so we went with it. Then changed it to ELISIUM and applied for the trademark, which we now own! 2. Who would you love to tour with but have yet to? We would love to tour with SO many bands. I think a tour with another 3 piece band would be pretty epic. Chevelle comes to mind. But some of our favorite bands are from Australia, Karnivool and Twelve Foot Ninja. We want to tour with a band that challenges us to step up our game every night. 3. Name something on your iPod that nobody would expect? I actually have quite a few Winston Churchill speeches on there. We use excerpts from one as the intro to our electric show. Something about the way that guy spoke was mesmerizing... 4. What would you say about yourselves to those who have never heard your music? I usually ask people to give us a chance, and promise to surprise them. I don't think people expect us to sound the way we do... we are different, and yet familiar. 5. You've said that Tool and Chevelle are two big influences on your music, who else inspires you as a musician? The most inspiring things are the events that happen around you, and the experiences you live through. My parents gave me so many awesome opportunities to experience things growing up, and quite a bit of life has happened to me over the years... It's the stuff that goes round and round in your head, sometimes you find a way to express it that makes total sense. And when you do, you'd better write it down. :) 6. How does it feel knowing that your music can inspire people in their every day lives? It's the reason we do this. There is truly nothing better than hearing people sing your music back at you. We've been fortunate enough to experience this on a level where a hundred or so voices are shouting our lyrics back at us. I hope it grows to thousands. The most rewarding compliments are the ones that go something like "your music helped me through this really tough time..." or "your music inspired me to take a major step in my life..." It's amazing. And terrifying. 7. Out of all of your songs, which are you favorite and least favorites? Two of my favorite songs that we still play are "Surface" and "Phoenix". Sometimes as a writer you struggle to capture a feeling, and fall short for one reason or another. With both of those songs, I was able to really get down to it. And the feelings are fresh every time we play them, which is sometimes good and sometimes bad. But it's real, and that's what counts. Least favorites.. hmm.. we played the song "Silence is an Open Road" from our last album about 5000 times hahaha. Closed every show with it for a long time, I am not sure we'll ever play it again. Great song... total burnout. :) 8. Is there anyone you wish to collaborate with one day? Roger Waters is my songwriting hero. I would give years of my life for a chance to collaborate with Waters. Even if no one but me ever got to hear it. Secondly to that, Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl top my list. Nothing but respect for those two fine gentlemen. 9. What would you be doing if you were not a musician? My last job was a video editor for the US Gov't. I liked it, but I knew it wasn't where I was supposed to be. I think if this doesn't work out I'm gonna fly planes. 10. You said on stage at Yabo's that you have had many crazy tour stories, including one involving El Paso? What happened there? El Paso was intense. It was the ride OUT of El Paso that was the problem... we got stopped by border patrol and they suspected we were up to no good. They pulled us all out, the dog went all through our van, I was grilled extensively about "how many drugs are you carrying??", even though we were not doing anything illegal at all. It was crazy though, we had to sit in this little isolation room while they searched through our stuff. Rough stuff. So, we probably won't be going back that way any time soon... 11. Is that your craziest tour story? (If no, what is? -If you're willing/ able to tell, that is.) Yeah, El Paso is up there. We've seen some wild stuff though. 12. Is there anything you'd like to add? Just a thank you, to you and everyone who's given us a chance. Thanks for listening, and for spreading the word. We left our jobs and regular lives behind 10 months ago to chase a dream that we all believe in. With no guarantee of success, and no kind of back up plan. And so far, it seems to be working. Please keep in touch! Thank you so much, Nate, for doing this interview! It was truly a pleasure, and I look forward to seeing ELISIUM back in town. Please be sure to check ELISIUM out on Facebook, YouTube, and Reverbnation, and their official website. This may be the first time you’ve heard of ELISIUM, but rest assured, it is far from the last time. On the evening of April 7, 2014 Zach Myers and Justin Moore played a show along with ELISIUM and Dolt at Yabo in Fort Myers, Florida. Along with this amazing event, came an amazing opportunity. Not only did I get to cover the entire show, but I also got to interview Zach and Justin. It was a great time, and I appreciate them taking the time to do this with me so much. Please watch it below, and I do hope you guys enjoy it! Thank you very much to Zach and Justin both for doing this interview, Yabo for putting on the event, and for ELISIUM and Dolt for joining the show and making it that much better.
Sunshine & Bullets are an alternative rock trio from Saint Petersburg, Florida. You may not have heard of them before, but rest assured you will continue to hear about them. This trio is the talk of Southwest Florida, and is some of the most enthusiastic people you will ever meet. To learn more about this group, read on!
1. What inspired the name of the new album? Amanda: All our albums are named after galaxies, Triangulum Mechanism, Fight for Andromeda, and the next album will include a galaxy, too. Rich: It was a concept about coping mechanisms, but as we started writing more, we forgot the idea, and kept coming up with different lyrics. At the end we discovered that they're all still coping mechanisms and it worked lol. Triangulum is the third closest galaxy to the Milky Way, and Andromeda is the second. That's where that came from. 2. If you could choose a dream concert to take part in, who all would you play with? Kyle: My dream lineup to play with would include Karnivool, Tesseract, Protest the Hero,J Roddy Walston and the Business, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews Band,Snoop Dogg, andJay Z. In no particular order. Rich: Hmm, bands like Muse, Incubus, Tool, Deftones and Metallica, and at the end of it all we'd all join the stage and we'd beat Phish's record of the longest jam session ever. Amanda: Even though Dave Brockie just died, I’d want to be in an impossible Gwar/Gaga lineup... There’s be so much fake blood and glitter and weird stuff on stage, I’d just love it! 3. Out of all of your songs, which has the most meaning to you and which ones are your favorites? Rich: Vilify, a lot of people in my life tend to think of me as the villain, or try to make me out to be as one. Whereas they end up discovering that I've been fighting for them the whole time. You can't confront them, or call them out, you just have to carry on and keep fighting for the good. Amanda: The End holds the most meaning for me, and I still have a hard time singing it without getting choked up, but Heartbeat is probably my favorite to play live because of all the weird sound effects Rich makes with his guitar. Kyle: They all mean a lot and I cannot see that 1 have that is more significant to me than all of the others, but my favorites to play include Truth Is, Don't Fade Away, Believe, and If from Fight for Andromeda. 4. Can you explain your video for "Go"? Like what inspired it, etc.? Kyle: We wanted a sci-fi feel for the video. Rich: The inspiration was the first episode of the X-Files. Leaving the viewer not really sure what happened, and thinking about it later. Amanda: (holds arms out) “Aliens.” 5. Are you going to make more videos for other songs on this album? If so, which songs do you have in mind? Rich: Yes, we want to make one for every song. The next one we're brainstorming is "Believe." Think Harry Potter on steroids. 6. Name something that's in your music collection that no one would expect? Amanda: You’re gonna find a lot of pop/dance music. Right now, I can’t get enough of Katy Perry’s Dark Horse, and Gaga’s whole Artpop album. Rich: The Crystal Method, Prodigy, Collective Soul, and Dave Matthews Band. Kyle: I own Fleetwood Mac's Rumors album, also a couple of Jason Mraz's albums. Alanis Morisette and Tori Amos from years back. 7. Generic question time, how'd you guys come up with your band name? Amanda: At that point of time, I was so sick of trying to come up with the perfect band name, so when Rich suggested that one, I liked how weird it was, so we went for it! Rich: It was originally Bullets and Sunshine, but we flipped it because it sounded too much like Bullet for my Valentine. The meaning behind it was a juxtaposition of two different things that means a lot when it comes to life in general. You have to keep smiling despite the rain of bullets coming your way. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. 8. If you could collaborate with any other musician, who would you choose? Rich: The Crystal Method, Skrillex, Trent Reznor, and Marilyn Manson. Kyle: I think it would be great to collaborate with Dave Grohl, or even see what something with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis would sound like. Amanda: I’m gonna partially steal from Rich and Kyle here. Will.i.am for vocals, Trent Reznor for cool sound effects, and Dave Grohl for making it rock. 9. If you went on a tour, where would be your dream place to perform? Kyle: A dream place to perform would have to be Lollapalooza in my hometown of Chicago. An Australian tour would be nice too. Rich: Everywhere, but Australia has always had a special place for me. Amanda: When I lived in Hawaii, all my favorite bands skipped that state on their tours, so I would definitely want to go there, and then probably hop over to Japan. 10. What would you tell new fans about yourselves and your music? Kyle: We are just three friends trying to write creative new music like nothing else you here out there. Something that moves more than just bodies. Rich: We try to experiment with different sounds, limiting ourselves to what we can create with effect pedals, and sounds you can make with them. However, the next album will take a different path with synth and etc... but we'll run it through the effect pedals to give it a new sound. We use two vocalists so that you can hear two sides of every song. Amanda: We always say “it’s not about the music” and a lot of people don’t get why a band would say that, but music helps connect us to each other, makes emotions stronger, and the music doesn’t do that by itself, the people do. So when you listen to music, don’t listen to the way it sounds, listen to the way it makes you feel. 11. Is there anything else you'd like to add? Kyle: CD release show? Setting up a tour? Thanks to Ariel? Thanks to the fans? Amanda: Triangulum Mechanism is going to be released on April Fool’s Day 2014! (no joke) We have a CD Release Party on First Friday, April 4th 2014 at the Local 662 in downtown St Pete, FL with our friends Yoshi Gish, From This Fire, and Anyone’s Guess. More info about the show, the music, and our music video is on our website, www.sunshineandbullets.com Rich: Ham… that is all. So there you have it, you learned some about Sunshine & Bullets! You can check out Sunshine & Bullets on Facebook, YouTube, sunshineandbullets.com, Reverbnation, SoundCloud and Twitter. However, Rich will not share his ham with you, unless you are really nice to him and give them some attention on their social media websites. Then you might stand a chance of getting some ham, if you are lucky. Don’t forget that their album Triangulum Mechanism will be available on iTunes April 1, 2014 and you can listen to them now on their Facebook, and purchase it via iTunes! Thank you to Sunshine & Bullets for doing this interview! In October 2013, Ballyhoo! Contacted me with an invite to a show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the show, but they were still more than willing to do an interview with me over email. Feel free to check out everything their lead singer, Howi Spangler had to say, along with their latest music video “No Good.”
1. What was your inspiration for the song Ricochet off of Daydreams? It started with the music. I didn’t have lyrics when we recorded it. I knew that it had to be a positive, uplifting song by the way the music made me feel. I just started thinking about life and the things it throws at us. I wanted people to feel like they had a friend in this crazy world we live in. 2. Was it difficult to establish a firm standing in the music scene, what with the genre and all? If you’re not signed to a big label that cares and has money for marketing, you have your work cut out for you…no matter what genre you’re in. We’ve done it all by ourselves, save for our time with LAW Records. They gave us money for videos and radio campaigns, so we’re thankful for that. We also have great management with Fly South. They have cool ideas that we may have otherwise not thought of on our own. We’ve definitely had our eyes opened. We say all the time that we’ve everything the hard way. No one ever told us, “Hey, you’re gonna lose a lot of money doing it that way!”, ha ha. As for the genre, I think when most people think of this "reggae-rock” thing, we show up on that list. We’ve been cutting out our own spot for years and I think we have something different going on to help us stand on our own. 3. Are you hoping to get further or are smaller venues with close knit people more your style? Since day one it’s been “ride it till the wheels fall off”. In the basement, I used to pretend I was performing on SNL, I’d even say “Ladies and Gentlemen, BALLYHOO!”. And then rock out. That’s still a big dream of mine. We want this to last forever and we feel that if we ever get there, we will have earned it. It’s been a hard road. If we ever make it to big theaters and arenas, I know that we would still want to do small venues from time to time. It really is a good feeling when people are right there vibing off of you. 4. What are your favorite tour memories? Not my favorite, but most memorable for sure is when the van caught on fire on our first tour. We were halfway through a 6 week run with transmission fluid spraying all over our exhaust which had big hole it in. In the middle of the night, we had to pull over fast and jump out, flames were shooting out from under the van. It was fucking scary. The whole undercarriage was on fire. Luckily, we keep an extinguisher with us at all times. If it ever feels like a low point, I just think about those days. Sleeping in the van, no money for hotels. We were a mess. 5. What is one thing on your iPod that nobody would expect? Kimbra. Love her voice. And TLC’s Greatest Hits. 6.What is one band you'd love to tour with but have yet to get the chance to? Green Day. Bucket list right there. 7. How did you come up with your band name? (Also, did you know it is a kind of fish bait, and also means 'a noisy attention getting demonstration or talk' according to Google.) That’s exactly where it came from. A friend of ours pitched it to us and I really liked it because it was different and full of color in my mind. I felt like we were a loud, disturbing noise in my mom’s basement. But she was cool with it most of the time. She did restrict us for a few months because of bad grades though. 8. What are your favorite and least favorite songs that you have ever written? They’re all my children but I like Ricochet, She Wants to Destroy Me and Last Night off the top of my head. Least favorite is probably Rt 40 Ho, ha ha. 9.Where in the world would you like to perform that you haven't gotten to yet? Would be nice to go to Australia. And I want to sell out Madison Square Garden. ;) 10.Did you originally start the band with plans to get bigger or was it just for fun? Yeah, it was always about that for us. I wanted people to hear my songs, know my world. I also didn’t want to work some job that I hated. I wanted to start a band since i was 5 or 6 I think. My dad was in a band around that time and I went to some rehearsals and thought it was so great. 11. What would you be doing if you weren't in a band? I would definitely still be producing or doing film. Something on the art side. That’s just what I love to do. Create. 12. What is your porn star name? (Just so you know, this question actually comes from Bryan Stars, just in case he never gets the chance to ask you himself.) Hugh Jackman 13. Do you ever regret not living an "average" lifestyle? Not really. Sometimes I have thoughts of what it would be like working in a cubicle somewhere, getting home at 5 every day, having dinner with my family, going out with friends on the weekends and going to the movies and shit. But I can’t imagine a life without the road and our own albums and chart success. I know I would feel incomplete. 14. What's your most valuable life lesson you've learned while on the road? Nothing is free. 15. What's one thing you miss while on the road? My son, my family. Its hard to leave these days. But I know that I’m out there doing what I’ve always wanted and working towards something that could change the way we live forever. 16. What's one piece of advice you can give aspiring bands? Practice, practice! Make a good record that sounds great. Give it away for free. Don’t play the hometown more than 4 times a year. Get a van and play everywhere else. There you have it! From tour stories, to advice and porn star names, you heard it all! Big thanks to Howi himself for taking the time to answer my question, and Becky from Big Picture Media for setting all of this up and being incredibly wonderful! Don’t forget to check out Ballyhoo!’s video for “No Good”, like them on Facebook, and get their album Pineapple Grenade on iTunes! You can also catch them live with bands such as Passafire, Eastbourne, Under Fire, and more on various tour dates now through the end of February 2014. At the 2012 Uproar Festival, I got the opportunity to sit down with Chris Dow of Within Reason for an interview. Underneath their merch tent, with the sounds of Fozzy playing in the background, we talked about several things, and here is everything that was said. I even got to speak a bit with their bassist, David Koonce some.
Who’s the biggest influence on your music? Chris: “Everyone in the band is different. As the singer, I say Linkin Park, our drummer, Griffin says Muse, Our bassist, David would say KISS and Motely Crue, and our guitarist, Matt would say Foo Fighters, as they’re his favorite band.” I saw you were giving fans your EP for free on Facebook, what made you decide to do that? Chris: “With the industry how it is now, the radio is too cooperate. We feel it’s a great way to get our music to our fans.” What would you say to new people to get them to check out your music? Chris: “That its really different. If I was to share a band with you right now, I’d probably only do it because it was different and stood out to me.” What are your favorite songs to play live? Chris: “Control off the new record. Enemy too.” How would you describe your new album? Chris: “We’re a rock band, but if I put it into one word, I’d have to say ‘rock-tronic’ because its rock with an electric feel to it.” Who’s been your favorite to tour with so far? Chris: “Probably P.O.D, or Staind.” What song of yours has the most meaning to you, and why? Chris: “’We’ll Have It All”, it’s the ballad on the record, and I was writing it when my grandma passed away. She pretty much raised me. It actually makes me tear up just thinking about it. What’s your least favorite song you’ve ever written? Chris: “That’s hard. I have no idea. I guess the ones that didn’t make it onto the record. ‘Cause obviously if we weren’t really feeling them, we aren’t going to put them out there for the fans.” How’d you decide that music is what you wanted to do as your career? Chris: “I was 14 and went to the beach one day. I saw this guy playing a guitar, and he had all the girls. I’ve always loved music, but that was really what started it. After that I started learning guitar, and it just went from there.” What was it like getting to perform on One Tree Hill? Chris: “It was cool. Everyone involved was really laid back and cool. It really jump started the band in other countries and on iTunes.” Are there any bands you’d like to tour or collaborate with? Chris: “I wanna collab with Mike from Linkin Park, Aaron Luis, P.O.D -specifically Sonny, and I want to tour with Linkin Park.” Name something on your iPod nobody would expect. Chris: “There’s a lot of stuff. Let me think. I’m trying to think. We’ll come back to that one, I want to think of a good answer.” Any crazy tour stories? Chris: *laughing a bit* Oh, I could tell you about last night…but I don’t think I’m allowed. David, she asked about crazy tour stories. David: “There hasn’t been that many really…there was Aaron Luis telling us about being in a VIP box at the Daytona 500 with Bill Clinton and Gene Simmons. Just hanging out with him even.” Had you ever met anyone on Uproar before? Chris: “Yeah, a bunch of them. P.O.D, Staind, and a couple others. It seems like a huge industry, but its really small, actually.” How did you get your name? Chris: “When we first started, we practiced in our drummer’s house, and he always said we could practice there ‘Within Reason’, so we decided to go with that.” So there you have it, that is what Within Reason’s Chris, and David has to say about their music, and experiences. Thank you very much for this opportunity, for talking with me. Check them out on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and iTunes! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWithinReason Website: http://www.withinreasonmusic.com/fr_home.cfm YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/officialwithinreason?feature=CAgQwRs%3D Twitter: @Within__Reason,@DavidKoonce,@GriffinZarbough, @CapnMattBarno, @ChrisDowWR On September 13, 2012 at the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheater in Tampa, Florida, I got to go on Candlelight Red/ Redlight Kings' tour bus and interview Jeremy Edge and Ryan Hoke of Candlelight Red.
That was the first time I had ever gotten to go on a real tour bus, and the first time I had ever met Candlelight Red. It was a true honor, and I really enjoyed getting to interview them. They, and everyone else on the bus were really cool guys. While you're at it, don't forget to check out the other interviews I did at Uproar 2012, along with my complete report about Uproar Festival. On the day of September 13, 2012, I got feel like a true VIP, and interview Deuce on his RV at the 2012 Rock Star Energy Uproar Festival. I'll let the video do the talking, so please watch.
After a very long day at Warped tour, filled with running around in the heat, and stressing over my interviews, I got to sit down with Alex and Linsday of Mighty Mongo. They were a delight to get to interview, and I am happy to say this is the first interview I ever got to film! So, sit back and enjoy it!
Also, if you would like to hear about my experience at the 2012 Vans Warped tour, yo |
InformationThese are interview that I myself have done. They have not been found anywhere, they have not been done for me. They are my work. Archives
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