Can you share your musical journey with us, from when you first discovered your passion for music to where you are today as an independent musician?
Well, when I was 12 years old, I saw a band practicing in a neighborhood garage and the sound and the feel of the guitars and drums really inspired me in a big way. From then on, I started playing in cover bands several years later, while still in school. And I learned a lot from that experience. I soon realized I wanted to write and perform my own songs so I started writing and recording and releasing my own albums. I have gone on to release five albums, one EP, and several singles, many which have charted on Billboard in the US and Canada. I have filmed many music videos and performed in toward in North America.
What motivates you to create music, and how do you stay inspired to continue making new and unique music?
There’s no easy answer for that – staying inspired, especially in the last few years has been a challenge for sure. Normally, I am very interested in observing the human condition. I consider myself a keen observer of the people and places around me, and that’s usually where my initial inspiration for writing a song comes from. These days, I find I have to dig a little bit deeper and take breaks from the creative process. I find when I come back, I usually have some new ideas that have been stirring around in my head and heart, and try to translate that as best I can, into Melody and lyric.
As an independent musician, you wear many hats – from composing to marketing. How do you balance these different aspects of your career, and what challenges do you face in the process?
Again, that is a tough challenge and balance is the key. I find the longer I have been doing this, the more I have to balance these activities. It’s very easy to get burned out marketing and promoting music, and all the social media activity as well. It can really drain your inspiration and creativity so you have to have a regular time to take breaks from it.
Could you tell us about your creative process? How do you come up with new ideas for songs, and how do you go about turning those ideas into finished tracks?
Usually, my songs starts from a melody idea that I have on my Voice Memos, sometimes I record these at all different times of the day. Once I find a melody that I think has potential to be something special, I develop the song with a chord structure and start with some lyrical ideas. I often cowrite so once that process is complete, and the song is ready to record, I will do most of the pre-production in my small studio at home then I work with different producers in different parts of the world, where we share files and mix and master the tracks once they are recorded.
Independent musicians often face financial challenges. How do you manage your finances to sustain your music career while also covering your personal expenses?
The way the industry is today, it’s a matter of having several forms of revenue streams from music that are diverse in nature. I have successfully done that for quite a long time now, however, the sources continually change and go up and down. It’s something you need to stay on top of.
Can you share a particularly memorable or challenging experience from your journey as a musician that has had a significant impact on your career and personal growth?
One of the most memorable is when I had my song, My New American Girl hit the Billboard hot AC chart at number 32 in the US – that changed my life in a significant way, the fact that it brought me down to the states to tour for the first time and eventually ended up living there. That opened a lot of doors.
With the rise of digital platforms, the music industry has changed significantly. How do you navigate the digital landscape, including streaming services and social media, to promote your music and connect with your audience?
You can’t do them all, so I think it’s a matter of focus. I don’t try to promote my music on all forms of social media, I cherry pick a few and focus on those ones primarily Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Collaboration is a key part of the music industry. Have you worked with other musicians or producers, and how have these collaborations influenced your sound and career?
I’ve consistently cowritten with many great songwriters and producers. The end result of any creative project always benefits from these type of collaborations. My most recent single Walking Away, was written with hit songwriter Michael Jay in Hollywood a few years ago. That collaboration really influenced and inspired me to become a better writer and I believe it has.
Your music likely reflects your unique style and perspective. Could you describe your musical identity and what makes your sound stand out in a crowded industry?
My style is best described as melodic rock with pop melodies. These days, I would say that stands out quite a bit as a lot of the industry has moved towards urban and country sounds.
What role does live performance play in your music career, and how do you approach planning and executing your live shows, especially in light of recent challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic?
I love performing live, as that’s where it all started for me playing cover tunes in bars. I always have a great five or six piece band when I play and as we are in post pandemic, it seems there are many more performance and tour opportunities going on these days. I work with an agent, tour manager, and book some shows myself. Since the pandemic, I’ve focused mostly on regional shows, but plan on expanding beyond that again soon.
Many fans are interested in the stories behind the songs. Could you share the backstory or inspiration behind one of your recent tracks that holds special meaning to you?
My song Born Beautiful was inspired by a social media post. A very attractive Facebook friend wrote one day, I wish I was not attractive on the outside, so people would love me for who I am in the inside. That sentiment really touched me, so I wrote a song about how it’s much more important to focus on who you are and love yourself for you are, as opposed to so much focus on physical appearance, which has really been promiment in the last 10 years od Social media. The song essentially is about self empowerment.
Looking ahead, what are your future goals and aspirations as an independent musician?
Are there any upcoming projects or exciting developments in your career that you’d like to share with your fans and the audience?
I’m currently working on some new songs, and intending on releasing a new single at some point this year. I released a summer single last year and will be re-releasing it this year and be playing the summer festival circuit in Atlantic Canada. The music video for The Sun in the Summertime just won an award for Best Male Solo Artist at the 2024 California Music Video Awards. The video is on my YouTube channel.
In the late Fall, I will be again promoting my Christmas album which I released in 2021 on my Feels Like Christmas tour at the end of the year.
