Ten Questions with Aaron Childree!

Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your music and where you can be found on the web.

My name is Aaron Childree and I’m a pop, singer/songwriter based in Atlanta, GA. My goal is to use music as a way to instill hope and inspire action. My new album is called “Above the Norm” and you can find it on iTunes or any other digital music store. You can also follow me at facebook.com/aaronchildreemusic or on Twitter @aaronchildree.

Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?

Two of my biggest musical heroes are Bob Dylan and Bob Marley. They were both able to create great music and also use their songs to make a positive impact on society. Some other artists that have influenced my sound are One Republic, Coldplay, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, and Jason Mraz.

Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?

The advice that I would give is to take every opportunity you get and to enjoy the journey. Not only is this good career advice, but also it can be beneficial in all areas of life. The biggest pitfall that I’ve seen (and had trouble with myself) is getting so worried about success that you become creatively stifled. Create the kind of music that you love and don’t worry too much about how it is received. People will often be hesitant to accept something that is original and different but that’s not your problem. Keep making music that you love!

Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?

I had the opportunity to perform for the GATE convention this past February and it was an amazing experience. The Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (GATE) is an organization that brings together musicians, artists, writers, etc. who are all seeking to make the world better through their art. Jim Carrey and Eckhart Tolle are two of the organization’s founders. It was such an honor to be able to share the stage with so many amazing artists.

And in the same token as the above question. How about a “worst gig” ever story.

The first one that comes to mind is last year when I was scheduled to play a show on the same night as the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. I didn’t realize this scheduling conflict until it was too late to back out or reschedule, so I ended up playing a set for just a few friends and the other musicians. I’ve learned that whenever attendance is low you can make it sound more positive by saying that it was an “intimate” show. So that was a very intimate show. You live and you learn.

Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of boobs?

I try my best to stay healthy so I love to jog and practice yoga. I’ve done some P90X and Insanity as well. I’m also a little bit of a nerd so I really enjoy reading and watching documentaries on NetFlix.

What do you think about the present music scene or lack of?

I think all the new technology and means of distribution that we have today make it a very exciting time to be a musician. On the other side of it all, the innovation is that it can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. I’ve been blessed with lots of amazing people in my life to help me find my way and in my opinion that is a very important thing to have. I would love to see pop music move towards a direction of more lyrical substance and I think we’re already seeing that happen. Music has a unique power to bring people together and my opinion is that we should use that power to share a message of love and hope.

Tell us something about each of you that we wouldn’t expect to hear… (Like hobbies or something like that)

When I was in 5th grade I did an Elvis impersonation for the Christmas play at my church. I had an Elvis costume and even researched the role by watching one of his movies. It went well but I just remember being extremely nervous for days.

Hypothetical situation. You’re stranded on Gilligan’s island and you get to hook up with only one of the girls. Is it Ginger, Mary Ann or Mrs. Howell and why?

It’s a close call between Mary Ann and Ginger but I’m going to go with Mary Ann. I’m a fan of the “girl next door” look she has going on. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Gilligan’s Island though!

Our last question is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s where you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”

I’m always looking for ways to use my music as a vehicle to raise awareness for different causes and charitable organizations. The music video for my new single “Above the Norm” features four charities and I would love for everyone to check out the video as well as the organizations. You can find the video at youtube.com/aaronchildree and there are links to all the charities in the video. Thanks so much for having me!