ABSOLUT BLOG

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Tuesday, March 15

Talentless, but connected I am.

These guys are fairly entertaining. Their music is peppy and well, they love doing what they're doing. For the little interview I did with the band Hello Dave, check out the Fresh Tracks Music website.

Posted by Bella at 7:53 PM#
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Friday, January 28

Band Interview: The Fray

Funny funny thing happened once I submitted this interview to Fresh Tracks Music... the artist/music director quit due to circumstances at the company, FTM. So. This just might be the last interview. Anyways, these guys are actually a super good band. I would highly recommend hearing them out on the FTM site... and then buying their record... and then sending them fan mail that they can post up in the studio while they are recording their first REAL record. Really really- do it.

Their addy is: The Fray - PO Box 29056, Denver Colorado, 80229, USA.

In the meantime, read this superstar interview:

The Fray's drummer, Ben Wysocki's, answers:

FTM: So Epic just signs you. You're off to the studios to be locked up until April laying your souls out on a new record. You have to tell me just how excited you are about this.

BW: Oh my gosh! You have no idea, it's very exciting! When something that big happens to you it makes you feel pretty small sometimes. A scout/ a&r guy from Epic came across an article online about us winning "Best Rock Band" at a showcase here in Denver. So he came out a couple times and then we flew to New York to play for the rest of the company. They liked us, so then came a couple months of negotiations and now here we are. Its all happened really fast, and still is, so we've had to do a lot of re-adjusting to this sort of pace. But we'd have it no other way, and feel very blessed with the opportunities given to us.

FTM: Must be one of those craziest years of your life.

BW: Yeah, for sure the craziest year of my life... so far.

FTM: Besides this, any highlight of musical career so far?

BW: No one in particular, but overall I've been really blessed to be able to play music with some of my best friends over my 20 years of life. It's a cool thing to share with a friend... or three.

FTM: Any lowlights so far?

BW: Working myself physically sick from the busy schedule. I just don't know how balance all this and take care of myself yet.

FTM: What have you learned about yourself since being in The Fray?

BW: I always speak to soon. I don't think before I speak, and I should. The guys are helping me learn.

FTM: Describe your year to me in 5 words:

BW: Wow- fianc�, life changing, and busy.

FTM: What would you say to the world if you were on a soap box right now?

BW: Start loving the people close to you RIGHT NOW. And love and make art.

FTM: Who have you met that just knocked your socks off?

BW: A lot of people impress me I can't think of one for you right now. But I will say, without sounding sentimental, or maybe sentimental is ok, anyways... the other three guys in this band impress me a lot.

They go through a lot putting up with me, and I learn from them everyday. So they impress me.

FTM: Most surreal moment so far?

BW: Playing to a sold out crowd of 1,104 people last week. It's hard to understand that over a thousand people would want to come and listen to us make music. It's an amazing thing. I'll just have to get used to it, or maybe I never will.

FTM: Sounds like your Denver fans love you. So how did you get recognized?

BW: We made some good friends at a local publication called, Westword. They helped us out a lot. It kind of all started there and then we were asked to come do local shows at the radio stations, and more and more opportunities rolled in.

FTM: Tell me about your best gig of 2004.

BW: It has to have been our signing party show at the Fox Theater in Boulder, Colorado. It was a sold out room packed with people who wanted to support us, and that feels amazing.

FTM: Do you go to many concerts of other artists? Who was the best?

BW: Wilco. I didn't go to many shows this year, but I just love this band.

FTM: You must have a favorite album. Who?

BW: I don't have only one. Damien Rice? Did that come out this year or last, I don't know, but it's amazing.

FTM: Your music has a very unique sound to it. Your lyrics are deep and thought-provoking. What is the story behind "Vienna"?

BW: You'd have to get the full story from Isaac. But it's definitely a 'lost love' sort of song. A lot of what he writes comes from that department, but now he's found love, she's awesome, and the songs are going to sound a little different.

FTM: On your website, (www.thefray.net), you mentioned a benefit show for the Tsunami Relief Effort. How did that go?

BW: It was all put together by the local rock radio station, here in Denver, KTCL 93.3fm. They did an awesome job, and we raised a ton of money. It was a very cool thing.

FTM: Looking ahead, what are your plans for 2005?

BW: My year looks like this, record our first album for a major record company. Play a lot of shows in cities we've never played music in before. Plan my wedding, play some more shows, plan some more of my wedding, get married, release out first album every on a major record company, do a lot of press for the album, be with my wife, Christmas then bam 2006!

Posted by Bella at 2:25 PM#
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Wednesday, January 26

Band Interview: The Argument

Take a minute (or two) and check out my latest interview with the band The Argument. These guys are super fun and the lead singer, Scott Simmons is one cheeky little bastard when he answered some of my questions.

When I asked him what their plans for 2005 were- he responded, "... touring and we plan to build churches in the Amazon out of Legos..." Check out their full interview at the Fresh Tracks Music website.

Posted by Bella at 3:56 PM#
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Monday, January 17

I love the Sleep button on my stereo.

One might think that while laying in a nice warm cozy bed that they might be able to just hunker down and sleep for the night, catching up on all the beauty sleep they need to make it through til the next day. Well, not I.

For the past hour I have been tossing and turning contemplating the meaning of my existence. No, I am not losing it but yes, I am wondering what I am doing. Why am I doing the things I am doing? Who are the people who meander into my life? Are they going to have a purpose? Are they using me for something or vice versa? Questions which may never be answered but are thought-provoking when considered.

I am sure if Aaron was here, he would have something deep and Deepak Chopraish to tell me. Man I miss those.

So I am doing a bunch of gigs for the Herald as you may know about. The blog which is updated whenever I get around to it, the car review which is going to be published in the Herald every Friday, potential pieces in Swerve Magazine, Neighbors, Life section, etc. Looks like I am going places. I am a writer for Fresh Tracks Music interviewing and reviewing bands- what the heck do I know about music?! I have this job at this place I enjoy which, by the way, just informed me that they like me enough to want to keep me on permanent and not just contract. But then that scares me.

Being contract was a bitter sweet experience. I was hourly, did my own thing, really wasn't held accountable for too much there as I was kind of a disposable employee, and no benefits. Well this is all about to change after January 31. A real employee somewhere. Wow.

Man, Joseph Arthur is a fantastic artist.

With all this writing that I am getting involved in, it sparked the light in my head. I need an assistant. I would love to be able to have someone who would follow me around and be everywhere, well almost everywhere, that I am. When I have something to say which I think would be a good piece somewhere, that assistant would write it down so I don't lose the thought. I hate losing the good thoughts.

I think I need to do something radical. Nothing like lose 50lbs or cut all my hair off or quit my job or anything, something else. Spontaneous trip somewhere. Quick. I thought my trip to Victoria/Vancouver at New Years was the ticket but it has left something of a bitter taste in my mouth which isn't being acquired very well. Whatever it is, it needs to happen soon.

Maybe it will be as simple as the satisfaction I have within myself once I receive the Project Management certificate, leave the hotel on Wednesday after a successful project completion and close the book which I have been secretly interested in reading for quite sometime now. Whatever it is, you will be with me on the journey and will find out about it once I reach the destination.

Nighty night.

Posted by Bella at 1:47 AM#
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Friday, January 14

Band Interview: In Flight Safety

Just going to inform you all of a new place where you can see my work... a little website which I have told you about before- Fresh Tracks Music.

I recently interviewed a Canadian band by the name of In Flight Safety - check out their interview.

Posted by Bella at 11:18 AM#
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Wednesday, December 15

FTM.

This is just a little pusher piece to get ya'll to check out Fresh Tracks Music.

How to:
Sign in, become a freebie registered member, listen to some free music and then realize that you want to support these dudes who run it so for only roughly $5us, you can download all the music you could ever imagine!

Now, these bands aren't mainstream and that is what is great about them. Horray for bands such as The Low Life, Megan Slankard, Zox, etc.

And plus- I was recruited by FTM to do some interviews/reviews of some up and coming Canadian bands. If you have any bands which you know about who are just getting out there and are trying to get recognized, let me know and I will see what I can do about profiling them on this site.

Enjoy.

Posted by Bella at 10:20 PM#
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