Interview with Beau Austin

Hey guys so this week I was joined by Los Angeles native, and now residing in Cincinnati Beau Austin.  He was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule (between, writing, recording, and playing shows) and was able to do an interview with me. Beau is a folk singer/songwriter who writes and records all his own instruments and material. He is a very talented musician who lets his music do the talking. He has played with numerous bands in the US (which we will get to) and now is doing his own thing, enjoying every step of the way. Because if you don't enjoy doing something you love, then why do it right? So lets get to know Beau.

ITS - What was your inspiration in pursuing a career in music?

 

Beau - "It's been my passion since I was 8-9 years old & through all the phases kids go through it was the only constant thing that never left me. After a good yet very unconventional childhood & thinking only "rockstars" have careers I discovered punk rock & DIY ethos. learning that you can literally make your own destiny regardless of what anyone says encouraged me to pursue it as a career no matter what happened & a lot has but I've never looked back."

ITS - Originally you are from LA, now in Cincinnati, talk about the differences and challenges in the music scene

Beau - "The absolute biggest difference is cost of living, I have a historic house in a beautiful historic neighborhood for barely a quarter of what I paid for a Tiny bachelor apt w/ no kitchen in a rough neighborhood in LA. In LA it's hard to live & truly dedicate 100% to your art, you always have 3 different jobs just to make rent, buy a few groceries & maybe car insurance & no time for creating all while competing for shows with 9 bands on the bill that's all pay to play. Living in Cincinnati has afforded me the time to spend on my craft more than anything else, I can also relax a little from time to time as your not always worried about parking tickets & rent. The music scene however in Cincinnati from what I've discovered is mostly cover bands however I'm sure there's some amazing scenes here I just haven't found them yet. Cincinnati also has a beautiful real "city vibe" to it you feel like your in a city vs. LA when a lot of the time you feel like your in a giant suburban wasteland, not knocking on Los Angeles in any way though, it's where I'm born & raised, my friends & family are there & my heart will always belong there, I'm sure l find my way back eventually. As far as music scenes it's obviously without a doubt LA has an amazing scene it's just bands need to get out of the city to gain exposure, seems like a lot of bands just think you play the whiskey & labels are gunna start knocking, more bands just gotta tour. As far as Cincinnati's scene as I mentioned earlier I haven't discovered much as of yet as the biggest reason for living & staying here is the proximity to most of the country, west coast as amazing as it is has very few markets compared to the east coast/ mid west, in LA you have to tour for a couple months to hit everywhere & make it worthwhile, on this side of the country I can hit the road for a few days maybe a week in any direction & be home for a couple days before heading out again which is pretty cool when you have loved ones at home."

 

ITS - What plans do you have for 2014?

 

Beau - "I'm currently recording my first solo full length record. I'll be releasing a couple songs as a digital EP in nov/oct on iTunes & such with the full length coming out in jan available digitally & physical copies. Other than that I'll be doing shows all around the east coast/ mid west to get ready for a full US tour in Feb/March of 2015"

 

ITS -  What bands have you played guitar in, and have toured with?

 

Beau - "Hmm a few people may know & a few they probably won't, I'll go from first to present haha, The Tipplers, the riots, Cheap sex, frisky ammo, the scuffs, the ignorant (best band & time of my life) cutting back (very fun short lived band) Revolutions pride (amazing band that's still around, some of

My best friends & singer Diego was singer of the ignorant)

 

ITS- Talk a little about your song "Crazy" what exactly does that song mean to you?

 

Beau - "This song means a lot as it talks about the state of the world we live in, the overwhelming greed, lack of gratitude for the simplest things we take for granted everyday, just kind of how most of us just turn a blind eye to what's really happening & the judging too many do without knowing what it's like in the world. An eye opener of sorts I guess."

ITS - Final question- a fun question I like to throw in, if you could choose one type of food to live off of, what would it be, and why?


Beau - "I'm gunna say pizza haha, so many different varieties/ styles, you can eat hot or cold & it'll never suck, you can have it for any meal of the day, any occasion hahaha from little Caesars to fancy high end Italian restaurant pies, I've even worked at pizzerias, the BEST pizza in LA is actually Papis pizzeria in downtown LA where I worked for a bit. I'll just say with New York style cheese pizza you'll never go wrong :)"

If you want to find out what is going on with Beau you can check out all his social media info on his website, www.BeauAustinMusic.com

Check out his newer single called "Crazy" here https://soundcloud.com/beauaustin/crazy and if you enjoy it head to http://beauaustin.bandcamp.com/track/crazy and purchase the track. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Review for Chase Your Words single "Right Here"

Hey guys so a little local Vancouver band by the name of Chase Your Words just released their newest single called "Right Here". If you are a fan of All Time Low and 5 Seconds Of Summer, you will enjoy this little number. CYW have come along way in the past year from when they released their first single "Under Attack". By having a sharper sound, and with Chris the lead singer tightening up his vocals (and no I'm not knocking his vocals at all so please don't hate, every singer admits that their vocals always need work, it's how you become the best.) I asked Chris what lyrics of this song meant the most to him, he replied
"I wore my heart on my sleeve hoping to believe that we would never fall apart", and when I asked why he again replied with "The reason behind it is just because sometimes we give our all to the person we love, and to him/her, it just isn't good enough. Wearing your heart on your sleeve, the way I see it, is to allow yourself to be vulnerable and open. I wrote this song a couple of years ago with James, but we recently revived it and rewrote it since it ties in with the story surrounding the EP. The song is about wanting to fix what was broken, and wanting to simply hear what you want to hear from the one you love. I wasn't good enough for "her", and I guess that's the main background story behind most of the EP. Not saying the EP is going to be a downer, but I feel that a lot of people will be able to relate to it, feel the emotions behind each song, and also grow from it." So with that being said check out their single here with a great introduction from Charles Tippy of We The Kings

 

Review for "House In The Hills" by Tom MacDonald

"Head in the clouds, house in the hills, bitch" the hook from Tom MacDonald's second single off his EP "LeeAnn's Son" "House In The Hills". Fresh off the first release "Wannabe" this track shows that if you haven't been with him from the beginning, you wont be getting in, with the lyric "My team is not recruiting now or never, memberships exclusive". When asked what his favorite lyrics were from this track Tom replied "We don't care, we all here, no job fairs in our futures, We look forward to retiring still young enough to be stupid." And his reasoning why was, "Pretty much encompasses what this is all about. Getting this music thing to a level where I can take care of my family and still be young enough to enjoy ourselves, you know?" If you haven't had a chance to check out this track I urge you to do so. Also head on over to http://whoismrmac.com and pick up his EP as well. Help support this amazing Vancouver artist, while he is working day and night in LA pumping out music for the fans to listen to.

Interview with Delhi 2 Dublin

Bhangra, Celtic, Electronica.... Tabla, Sitar, Violin, Dhol, Dholak, Guitar.... Not usually genres, or instruments that you see in the same phrase, or even on the same stage. But for Vancouver band Delhi 2 Dublin, this is an all to real reality. And an amazing reality at that. I first heard of D2D this year actually, playing at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, and the immediate thought that came to my mind was, "Well this is an interesting mix......BUT IT WORKS. I have to interview these guys." Well here we are a couple weeks later and what do you know a D2D interview. D2D is comprised of 3 core members, Tarun Nayar (Tabla, Electronics), Sanjay Seran (Vocals), and Ravi Binning (Dhol, Dholak). And then they have their live performers, Andrew Kim (Electric Sitar, Guitar), James Hussain (Guitar), Serena Eades (Violin), and Jaron Freeman-Fox (Violin, Guitar). IF you haven't been to a live D2D show, I strongly urge you to go if they come to your city. They are so full of energy, and give an amazing show.

ITS - How did you guys form as a band and where did the name come from?

 

Sanjay - "Happy accident... we came together in 2006 for a collaboration at Celtic Fest. The name? Well we mash up Irish and Indian stuff... so... :)"

 

ITS - Who have been your biggest inspirations as a band, and personally? 

 

Sanjay - "We're inspired by anyone blazing their own trail - we kinda do our own thing, and respect others who do as well. Particularly when it comes to radical new forms of global bass music. Peeps like Die Antwoord, Das Racist, Manu Chao, Nitin Sawhney, Buraka Som Sistema, Bomba Estereo. Lots of electronic music, from the mainstream (chase and status) to the esoteric (four tet, burial, breakage). And lots of old 80s and 90s stuff. Personally, I'm inspired by people who manage to navigate this world with strength and kindness :)"

 

ITS - You just finished off a massive summer tour at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, BC, what were some highlights, and where was your favorite place to play and why?

 

Sanjay - "Hmmm... the theme of this summer for us was 'way the fuck out there'. We played Haida Gwaii for the Edge of the World fest. That was awesome. Roeland, the director, took us out on his boat for some salmon fishing the day before we played. That was radical! We caught and ate so much good seafood. We also played Yellowknife, Folk on the Rocks, and got to see the midnight sun. Way cool."

 

ITS - What does the rest of 2014 hold for D2D

 

Sanjay - "We're playing Canadian dates until late Oct, when it looks like we'll be traveling to Bali and Malaysia for some festivals over there. In Nov we're in California, and Dec we head to Australia. We're working on our 4th studio album at the moment, so somewhere in there we have to, erm, finish our album."

 

ITS - Let's get a little personal, what do you guys do for day jobs?

 

Sanjay - "We play music in this band called Delhi 2 Dublin"

 

ITS - Final question- a fun question I like to throw in, what do you guys do to get pumped up for a show?

 

Sanjay - "Coke. Lots of coke. Jokes. We're actually pretty clean. Our pre-show ritual is secret tho. Can't tell you all our secrets."

 

If you want to follow D2D on social media, and find out about upcoming shows you can check them out the following ways

 

facebook.com/delhi2dublin

twitter.com/delhi2dublin

instagram.com/delhi2dublin

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCib-on0fYmN9M89xkpW-kMA

 

And you can check out their live performance of "Our House" here

 

 

Interview with Message To Venus

Welcome to a newer and improved version of Inside The Scene. This is the start of a new era and this week I got a chance to talk to a band who are native to Peurto-Rico, now based out of Florida 21st century rock band Message To Venus. M2V bust into the scene in 2011, with their song "Universal You" off their EP "The Envelope", and have received praises from Godsmack and Halestorm. M2V is composed of four members, Jandre Nadal: Vocals & Guitar, John Feliciano: Guitar, Edgar Ramos: Bass, and JuanMa Font: Drums. John Feliciano has been quoted as saying “Puerto Rico is beautiful… it’s our home. We play there as often as we can, but in order to expand globally we want to be planted on soil where touring opportunities are more frequent.” Recently M2V premiered their newest track "Hollow" and was featured in Revolver Magazine. They recently finished up their Indygogo campaign to finish their album and received an overwhelming response from fans, completing their goal. So with that I'll let the voice of M2V Jandre take over.

ITS - Who are your biggest inspirations personally and as a band?

Jandre - "Definitely my dad, Jimi and for the band I guess bands like Deftones, Tool, Led Zeppelin and Soundgarden."

ITS - Being a band from Puerto Rico, how is the music scene there, and what would you like to see change in the next 5 years?

Jandre -  "The music scene in Puerto Rico sucks, it's all Latin flavor or electronics. Rock music festivals don't have good turn outs even if they are for free. I can't answer the second question because, in my opinion, it is not possible to see the island flourish in what is not culture."

ITS - How did you guys form as a band, and how did you come up with the name Message To Venus?

Jandre - "We are all friends from our previous bands back 10+ years. The name originally was a song that did not work out. We always wanted a rock band that girls could enjoy. So the names works well for us."

ITS - You guys just recently finished up an indygogo campaign, can you talk a little about that and did you meet your goal?

Jandre - "This was so difficult to archive. But once again we achieved it!!!!! We had some great perks such as a new tee, dog tag, new album, poster, and a comic book with the option of having you name the characters."

ITS - What plans do you have for 2014 and when can we expect your next album to be released?

Jandre - "The album should be available soon and if you got the digital download perk from our Indiegogo then you will have it in a few days."

ITS - What present day bands would you want to tour with, and why?

Jandre - "Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, Deftones, Soundgarden. I love Australian rock bands and I would love to go there."

ITS - Final question- a fun question I like to throw in, if you could choose one type of food to survive off of what would it be?

Jandre - "Bananas and coconut water."

If you would like to follow M2V on social media you can the following ways


http://messagetovenus.com
http://facebook.com/messagetovenus
http://youtube.com/messagetovenus
http://twitter.com/messagetovenus

Check out their track "Hollow" from their upcoming album "VICTIMS &VILLAINS" here https://soundcloud.com/messagetovenus/hollow

Interview with new Fighting For Ithaca drummer Sheldon Stenning

Hey guys welcome to another wonderful week in the independent music scene. In case you didn't notice, I have restructured the premise of this blog. While the local Vancouver music scene aspect will be there, you will notice a bit more international artist interviews. After all we love all music right? Anyways this week I was joined by former SHARKS! On Fire! frontman Sheldon Stenning, and newly named drummer for Fighting For Ithaca, taking the place of original drummer Phil Maloney (who I caught up with last week for his final interview). Sheldon in originally from Kamloops, BC where he studied digital art and design at Thompson Rivers University, and now juggling being a musician and a graphic designer (which we will get into further).

ITS - Who are your biggest influences in your life personally and musically?

Sheldon - "Same answer for both: My biggest influences are easily my bandmates, past and present as well as the bands we tour with. You spend a lot of time with these people and they can really impact you with their insights - and taste in music. Creative people really drive me to work harder and keep expanding what I do conceptually."

ITS - What has life brought you after Sharks On Fire!?

Sheldon - "Mostly a lot of depression. Even though it was the right move for us to split (we had gone too far with a lot of issues), after eight years of the band being a core part of my identity it has left me feeling pretty empty. With that said, I’m proud of our accomplishments as a band, we’re all still good friends and I’m excited for what possibilities I might have with Fighting For Ithaca. (Although if anyone is in need of a front man, you give me a call.) I’ve also stated a few times that I’m ready for S!OF to regroup whenever the time is right. But that’s not up to me."

ITS - With being introduced as Fighting For Ithaca's new drummer, what are you bringing to the table with you?

Sheldon - "I think they were really excited to have me for my graphic design ability - I’m a professional graphic designer by trade - but mostly I’m just excied to bring my writing style into the band. I plan to give FFI’s lyrics a bit of a kick in the pants, and my drumming style is a little more on the punk side than Phil’s. Also, I’m a good helping hand as a show promoter and booking agent. I’ve been putting on shows since I was 17."

ITS - Do you have any words for your predecessor Phil Maloney?

Sheldon - "Nothing that hasn’t already been said: Phil, you’re a charismatic, hard working musician and I have a lot of respect for you. You had a good run, and I’m super happy for you and your family that you’ve decided to put your career-band days behind you. Hopefully I can do you proud buddy."

ITS - What song are you looking forward to playing the most and why?

Sheldon - "Better Off. It’s got amazing energy, I love the subject matter and the lyrics are pretty close to something I’d write - positive and bitter at the same time - plus it’s got some cool double kick in it."

ITS - Final question- a fun one I like to throw in, if you could choose one kind of food to live off of what would it be?

Sheldon - "Well, to be honest, I mostly live off of coffee and ramen. But if I had to upgrade, I would probably pick butter chicken and some nice wine."

Thank you again Sheldon for taking some time out of your busy schedule to do this interview.

If you want to follow Sheldon on social media you can here

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheldonstenning
Twitter: https://twitter.com/halftones
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldonstenning
Website: http://www.capturingmoods.com/


FFI: https://www.facebook.com/FightingForIthaca
Sharks On Fire: http://sharksonfire.ca/

If you want to see Sheldon perform you can check out one of the last SHARKS! On Fire! videos here

And also check out Fighting For Ithaca's single Better Off here

 

Interview with Phil Maloney and David Fox

This weeks interview is a little bittersweet for me, I have the final interviews with Phil Maloney and David Fox that may ever be done with them again. Phil from Fighting For Ithaca and David from The Faceplants. Both drummers for their respective bands and who have both recently left their bands. Not for selfish reasons mind you, but for reasons that are respectable beyond belief, and I will let them explain to you their reasons. Drummers are usually the most underrated member of a band being behind all the action, HOWEVER if you know Phil and David they are probably 2 of the most respected and loved drummers in the Vancouver music scene. If you were at Olympia Pizza in Surrey on August 8th, you saw the end of an era. and the beginnings of a new era with FFI. It was Phil's last show with the band and the evolution from Phil to Sheldon took place. Yes Sheldon Stenning formerly of SHARKS! On Fire! now of FFI (Who I'll have next week being interviewed so stay tuned for that). And also the debut of FFI's newest guitarist, Justin Mattock (Who I interview a few weeks ago, check that out). Hell enough of my rambling, time to let Phil and David say their final words.

ITS - For those that don't know the reasons you guys are leaving your bands could you briefly explain why?

David - " Family. At the level our bands were at, it was impossible to do what needed to be done. Any serious band needs ALL members to be 100% dedicated, motivated and extremely active. For myself, i couldn't financially support my family and be a member of a band that has high aspirations. I could have stayed but it would not have been fair to my band."

Phil - "While I have really enjoyed my time in the Fighting For Ithaca, I felt it was really time to focus on my sweet bostaff skillz. I think there is a big market for someone who is able to twirl a big stick thingy, and I also think it's a good way to tell people "Stop touching my sandwiches (I make REALLY good sandwiches. And people keep touching them). Also, there wasn't enough room for both me AND Curtis's biceps in the same band, so something had to go. We took a band vote, and unfortunately I lost. Oh, and also, I have a beautiful, wonderful wife and two young kids who I love more than anybody has ever loved anything (including delicious, delicious pizza), and I kind of want to be around more for them. But mostly the first stuff I said."

ITS - What are some of your fondest memories with your respective bands?

Phil - "I have made far too many memories with far too many people over the years to even begin listing them. But they all involve the guys I have played with and interactions with fans. Usually both at the same time. There is nothing quite like the feeling of realizing that you've "made it" with your best friends."

David - "Touring was always my favourite part. I love the guys in the faceplants and we always had a great time. To name some specific shows; Inlet Theatre (multiple tour kick offs), Vanier Hall (Prince George/Largest Crowd), Park Theatre (Winnipeg/ great night), Tom Lee music hall (first all ages show with the band). To me nothing will beat my 12 hour marathon drives, hopped up on BurrBull (blueberry redbull) with the top gun sound track CRANKED."

ITS - Do you guys have any regrets about anything you have done or didn't get a chance to do?

David - "I do and I don't. I do because I wish I had toured all the way to Newfoundland/toured other continents and I wish I'd seen more commercial success. I don't because i still accomplished goals and have the fantastic memories that go along with it. I've always said that I can live with failure.. I can't live with regret. I can rest at night knowing I went for it."

 

Phil - "The only regret I have is that I was too busy loving what I was doing to make time to do things I would regret later in life."

 

ITS - You guys have touched many hearts across the country, what final messages do you have for the fans?

 

Phil - "The biggest message I have for the fans is "thank you." You have meant the world to me. No matter how many of you I've met, I have always been blown away by how amazing you are. YOU. For your own unique abilities, quirks, and spirits. Keep shining."

 

David - "Appreciation, respect, and happiness. If I made one person want to play drums, or made someone's day better, then I'm happy. The love, appreciation and gifts that were shown and shared with me touched my heart beyond measure. I'm a musician, to be validated in such ways made me incredibly happy and was very humbling. I thank you all. Support your indie scene, it is the only way it will stay alive."

"Cezar White and Spencer Paul - your efforts were very appreciated, glad to call you both friends. Tommy - I know you won't read this, but your guidance and advice were always bang on. Thank you for the support"

 

ITS - Do you have any messages you want to pass on to the drummers that will be taking over for you?

 

David - "The Faceplants are the most driven band that i have been apart of. Don't waste that; it is much more than just playing your instrument well. Don't try to fill my shoes, make your own."

 

Phil - "Sheldon- hold onto your butt. FFI fans are the most effed up group of people you will ever encounter. In a totally hilarious, fun, and heartwarming way. And in a little bit of a scary way. Don't ever try to bring back the alternate definition of "Banff." Your parts will regret it."

 

ITS - And finally any final words for your band mates?

 

Phil - "Curtis, Tommy, Jonny, Adamm, Justin, and Patty- We've shared some of the best times of our lives together. I hope you all perish in a dumpster fire so that those remain the best times of our lives. <3"

 

David - "I love these guys. I have the highest respect and admiration for all of them. They took a chance when they asked me to join the band, I didn't fit the image and was definitely a bit older. 

They looked past it and took me based on skill set and drive. People always seemed to think that I mentored them, and although I was able to bring forth my past experiences, in reality it was the other way around. They restored my faith in the abilities of an unsigned band, they are an example of what grit, determination and ability can accomplish.

 

Dan - we clicked instantly, you made me incredibly welcome and allowed me to create my own parts and mold the rhythms into my flavour. You are a beast on stage and i enjoyed our conversations on the complexities of life.

Gward - your pursuit of perfect tone makes me wet. no one will ever tetris a trailer better than us. my fellow gear head, always a true beauty and down for whatever. forever the best back tracks.

MattyG - my other half (musicly speaking, of course) i wouldn't have had this experience if it wasn't for you. you are a prime example of "It's not how much you play, it's what you play." thank you for grooving with me.

Gmack - Baby Face, my Co-pilot, Ivory tickler. thank you for staying up with me those many late night drives. you are a fantastic musician and are only getting better. don't be lazy, load the trailer. sexy sax forever.

abbrev's for life boys.. don't let the Dave-isms die.

thanks for the memories. Success is in your futures. stay the path."

 

Once again guys I just want to say thank you for all you have done for the Vancouver music scene. If it wasn't for people like you, this blog would not exist. The appreciation I have for the two of you and what you have done for the Vancouver music scene cannot be described in words. I am proud to be able to call you both friends. But more importantly, I'm proud to be able to call you my brothers.

 

If you want to contact these wonderful gentlemen, you can on social media if you havn't already been following them on twitter hit up

 

David - https://twitter.com/FPDFox

Phil - https://twitter.com/PhilthyFFI

 

And on Facebook

 

David- https://www.facebook.com/david.fox.5851127?fref=ts

Phil - https://www.facebook.com/philipmaloney?fref=ts