Born and raised in the Motor City, distilled1, member of the inimitable band Empire Day, spent his teen years between that rauckus city and the hot desert sun of Mesa, AZ. in the American Southwest. He grew upplaying piano taking his cue from his mother and grandmother and a variety of Aunts on his mother's side. He says "There was always one (a piano) in someone's living room." He started taking lessons at age 5 and
didn't stop until he was 12 years old. He was already writing and playing his own music by then and he finally switched to guitar at age 14. His guitar genes come from his father who played folk guitar from the time distilled1 was a baby. He leapt into the world of the electric playing every school boy's rock and roll dream - the music of Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath. From the ages of 16 to 25 he says he played in many, manybands.
Empire Day was formed when distilled1 moved to Illinois and started jamming with Marv, another band member and his ex's cousin. Marv introduced him to Eric and Kim. This first incarnation of Empire Day wrote a few songs but eventually fell apart. Later, Eric, Marv and distilled1 gotback together, worked on a full CD of songs and started playing live.
You would be hard pressed to find anyone more dedicated to supportingthe independent musician than distilled1. He, along with ebarbarella of PopDolls, have created and sustained over the years the amazing gothNights Radio. He's also had a Friday night stream of indie music for at least a year now on which he has featured many DM artists. Recently, he has taken the realm of that program into Second Life establishing the amazing virtual DM Swank Lounge complete with a pole for dancing and the much maligned ficus. Within the SL world, distilled1 has made it possible for artists to appear "live" and perform on the Swank Lounge stage.
I recently forayed into the SL world and I was amazed at what he has created. It was also not lost on me that the set up he has made has no boundaries in what it can offer DM artists and listeners or how innovative the connection between Second Life and DMusic can be.
1. Let's talk about Empire Day. Tell us some of the best moments you've had as a band and then what were some of the worst?
Well there have been many, I would say one of the best was the first gig in Chicago, not out in our regular Suburban bars/clubs. Although the night was bad, and the crowd small and we had to lug all the equipment up a skinny flight of stairs that was a blast. Oh, and playing Morseland in Chicago on a triple bill with Project44 and Terminal Bliss that was a great night - had Scary Lady Sara from American Gothic Productions there to see Terminal Bliss, but we stole the show from them.
Other good times, the night OUR first CD came in and we went to pick them up at the cave and just the hanging out practicing/ recording and being goofs. Yeah those are some great times.
Worst? How about worst gig? A place (no longer there) called the Fuzzy Navel in Addison, IL. ...ugh, this was a dive dive bar in an old house, but they had live bands (mostly metal and cover) nightly. Well, we got booked, went over the contract, it was the typical fodder but had please bring own sound and lighting. We had the sound and decided to go get some par 64s and a controller to at least have a little color to the stage. Well, we were opening so we set up, plugged the lights in and blew the fuses in the place...have you ever seen a 'lil Greek man that looks like Mario run around throwing a fit that we were not supposed to plug anything in? LOL ...it was bad and our music didn't go over too well.
And, of course, there is the usual bad stuff arguments in the studio about levels and such but they are easily over come.
2. What advice do you have for people who are looking for other's to play with?
Be prepared to marry them. And you will go through off and ons, As you age, your priorities are not always the band and this happens at diffrent times. Empire Day has existed with The 3 - myself, Marv and Eric in some fashion since... wow ...like the early 90's man! And we have had bassists and drummers and second guitarists come and go. And even when we are on hiatus for a year or more we always seem to get back to it and get something done. You have to separate the band from Friendship, from dating (our off and on Bassist is Marv's wife) and you have to respect each other. It's hard but it can be most rewarding.
3. What do you consider when writing a song?
I write from the heart when I do lyrics. Most have never been put to a song yet some are from 1981! When I write music, I just take a basic riff and do what feels right at the time. There is much I wish I had recorded that I have sat and improvised. I guess I consider the overall outcome of my parts with other parts - vocals drums keys sounds .. and as solo its "Can I sing to this?" ... laughing...
4. Is it difficult juggling your family life with your music life? If you're kids wanted to follow in your musical foot steps?
It is, very. My Son wants to play every instrument but doesn't have the patience for any of it. But he sings and sings and rejoined Chorus this year in School, tossing the band instrument. That is the biggest thing that holds me, as well as Empire Day back, family - we all are married with children. Hell! Marv has 3 and they are young. Eric has a son thats starting to get up in age and mine - he's getting to the pubescent stage, ugggh! Something I do recommend, if you are truly wanting to do music full time as a career, do that and forget about falling in love and making babies. You really need to push and play out on the road non- stop and still then you may tire of it. I have watched many and know many musicians that are now so tired of the road and want the house and wife and kids.
5. Where would you like to see the independent music scene go in the future? Is indie radio the way to go?
I really would like to see a more level playing field. One of the big issues with p2p and even many other OMD sites is that people still search and do the spoon fed pop/rock/hip-hop that the majors are choking us with. Napster was a great place to get indie music heard outside your locale, as well as OMDs well with all the RIAA stuff uploaded and searched and downloaded - its pointless now. But the radio the web, Radio and Creative Commons, I believe is the way to go. As most of you know I do indie podcast/streams and as well have recently received help from Stepen Davies. I think that when they overcharge to webcast the RIAA controlled music, we indies will have a better shot at getting heard. I think everyone should Creative Commons their works or at the minimum provide webcasters and podcaster with permission to play and promote their art. We can take over the air waves! We can stop the mass produced caka!
I also think that the live music scene in most citys now is becoming a pay to play mentality for original music. Here in Chicago, even the shows promoted and sponsord by Red Bull or the local radio stations require you to sell X amounts of tix and or pay and even if you sell x amount your not even making beer or gas money most the time.
6. How did the idea of GothNights come about?
Well I love Goth goth stuff music gurls lol ... I'm a goth in a way... well e.barbarella and I started throwing a playlist together and I was at the time doing my live radio broadcast, so on Halloween one year we went live with it. I then discovered podcast could be easier and started doing shows that way. It was really to share some of the darker music on DMusic that may get over looked by the masses. And as a podcast and live show, its out there on the net and goth is a bit underground... well the people have found it this years Halloween Show has been downloaded to an I pod or something 7,458 times as of today! And I receive e-mails daily asking for the next show. People do want to hear indie music. They just don't always know where to look.
7. You've created quite the empire (forgive the pun) in Second Life. What do you see as the biggest contribution to independent music that Second Life could offer artists?
There are many, but the biggest I feel is the ability to play live from any location. As well for musicians that maybe can't play out due to restraints etc. you can play in your bedroom with a laptop in your underwear! Maybe you're a great musician but live in a small town and can't find a place to play to showcase.
Another great thing is the in world interaction, you can get done with a set, talk and chat to fans sell CDs (Real world stuff) build a fan base, get them to your web sites, and the like. There is a whole movement in SL and its wonderful.
8. How would you like to see Second Life and Dmusic connect?
Well I started making a connection. There are many great things I believe we can do even for those that have no interest in SL or can not run the platform on their computer - they can be involved I have a CD store/mp3 store on my land with links to a few DMusic artist pages and/or CDs and I can do every artist if I have the time. And if you can record vocals and guitar or keys or beats at the same time they could play live. I could even have an avatar for those that could not get into SL. I would love to see more of the Dmusic users and Artists that are using SL to actually use the land I have for DMusic and themselves to promote indie. There are other spots besides my land. I have a deal to sell our Real life products in a mall for a commission but the details have yet to be worked out. So get in if you can and if you can't - get the free promo I am offering DMusic
9. Let me ask you about DMusic, what attracted you to the site and what makes you stay?
Well, to be honest I started on Dmusic when mp3.com fell. George Zimerman had posted a link to DMusic in the forums there. I came and signed up. I figured "well its another place on the web to have a presence". I used to go to all the sites we are on...a lot that is. I haven't updated any others. I live here at DMusic now. Attraction? The great people and comeraderie, the great music and the interaction. I stay as I have made many Friends here, and I love the music I can experience.
10. If you could give some advice to people just joining DM, what would you tell them in terms of getting heard and becoming a part of the community there?
Don't be pushy, but interact! If you post your songs and post a forum and shout once your not going to get any interaction or plays. Really explore others music and cross genres. Don't think "I only like beats, thats all there is" go listen, comment and ,heck, leave criticisms in a decent way, or just don't say anything.
You start with a built in friends list chat them up (*in there shoutbox they will answer on your page and go back to theres) have fun on the silly stuff in the forums. If you have great knowledge on something - share it. Read the news and comment on stuff. And smile and take most of us here with a grain of salt - remember behind the text is another human.
Thats it? ... humph I want more!
Great big hugs to DMusic.com, and a special Thank you to e.barberella for showing me around that first confusing week or so here! Its that extra effort some put in to help newbies here that makes it great!
~Rich
The Distilled1 Out.
