KickActs interviews “Holly Elle”!
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All new set of questions too!!
Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and where you can be found online.
Well alright then. I’m a Canadian pop artist currently based in Nashville TN. My favorite color is pink and my favorite food is pizza. My website is www.hearholly.com and from there you can find links to my Facebook page and Youtube channel and my Twitter is @hearholly. Follow me!
Who are your musical heroes and influences? Why?
Hmm let’s see. Well to start, my Father, because he’s a self-trained musician with an amazing ear. Thanks for that musician gene Dad! My brother, Freddy because he paved the way for me by first taking the leap of being an independent artist. The Beatles, because they are the best band of all time, end of discussion. Mariah Carey because of her outstanding vocal chops and unique vocal style, and her staying power.
Links: Website- http://hearholly.com/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Holly-Elle/177891678905141 Twitter- https://twitter.com/hearholly iTunes- http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/holly-elle/id417522549
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in the music business?
There’s obviously no instruction manual, no hard and fast rules, which is what makes it exciting and terrifying all at once. I’d say do it as long as you love it, you can’t be in it for any other reason. Develop a tough skin. Get ready for a roller coaster ride, or a walk through a maze where most corners you turn end in a big wall that says “NO”!
Out of all the advice I’ve ever got about the music business, the best I ever heard was this: it’s all bullshit. Not in a negative way, but in the way that no one has all the answers, nobody knows exactly what they’re doing. If we did, everyone would be churning out hits 100% of the time forever. Is there a certain amount of talent and experience that determines success in the industry? Yes. But it also requires a perfect storm, which includes those things mixed in with timing, luck, and a big dollop of who the fuck knows. I dunno man, just do you and if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. Follow your dreams kids!
What piece of advice did you ignore that you wish you hadn’t?
I don’t do regrets, and I take all advice with a grain of salt. I appreciate advice, and I take it into consideration. But then I follow my heart and determine what’s right for me, at the time, to the best of my knowledge, and that course can never be wrong.
Do you have a greatest gig story or worst gig horror story you’d like to share?
There was a recent summer here in Nashville where we had the hottest day on record, ever. Did I mention ever? And I had a 3-hour gig out on a patio in the middle of the afternoon, no shade, no fan, no breaks. There are few things I hate worse in life than being hot. #First world problems.
Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of peckers or boobs? Make sock puppets? Sit in the dark and eat Cheetos?
You’re giving me some really good ideas. And I’m also feeling like my hobbies are boring now comparatively. I like to play Texas Holdem poker. I actually like games in general, card games, board games. It drives my family crazy I think, it seems no one ever wants to play games as much as me 🙁
What do you think about the current music scene or lack of? Care to address that?
I’m not a get-on-my-soapbox music scene analyzer and criticizer. It’s the same as it’s always been and always will be; ever-changing, diverse, with some shit and some good shit. Each generation has their time with music, and then when that time is over you get to go “in MY day music was music, not this crap you hear today and blah blah blah” whatever.
Do you think reality shows like American Idol, X Factor and The Voice have helped or hurt the music industry as a whole?
I’m sure it’s both, who cares. I hate it when people get all high and mighty about music. Saying what’s good for the industry and what’s not, declaring who’s a sellout or who’s not worthy to be where they are. Judgey wudgey was a bear. Music is a come-one-come-all expression fest. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it, turn the channel, and let others get on with their lives. My personal opinion? I still watch American Idol. Although they are too mean in the way they produce the show and depict contestants during the audition process, and then too easy on them later during the judging process. They’ve got it backwards. As for The Voice, I wish they would make it so that the judges don’t see the contestants until the end of the season, maybe the final 3, now that would be a show!
What is your opinion of unauthorized music downloads?
I only download music that I’ve paid for, but I’m in the business so I’m close enough to know and feel the effects. It’s human nature, you may have one opinion, until it directly affects you, then suddenly that opinion changes. Is it wrong? Yes. But it’s too easily accessible and tempting for people. I have close friends that do it with music and movies too. You can debate about it until you’re blue in the face but the fact is, too late, what now?
It’s the job of artists and industry people to now figure out a new business model. Yes it creates hardship but it also creates opportunity.
Tell us something about you/each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear.
I really wish I had band members right now just so I could dish on them and tell you all their secrets. Like Billy’s an alcoholic (which fucks with our road schedule, he’s so unreliable) and everyone knows Brittany and I never got along but we pull it together just enough to record and then go our separate ways until the next tour. It would be so much more interesting…
Hypothetical situation. You’re on Gilligan’s Island and you get to hook up with only one of the survivors… Which one and why?
Dude, I love you but your references are way outdated. I’ve never seen that show. I know vaguely of the main character and the movie star lady, but if I chose I’d have to reveal my sexual orientation. We can’t have that.
If we were doing old shows we should have done Golden Girls. Oooh let’s do a “Fuck, Marry, Kill”! Okay hm, that’s a tough one. I guess I’d have to kill Blanche, because even though Sophia is close to the grave I’d miss her witty remarks. I’d fuck Rose for shock value and because she’s probably secretly a freak, and I’d marry Dorothy just for the challenge, and for the fact that she always knows the right thing to do. Okay now you go!
Do you know what a vinyl album is and have your ever purchased one? If so, what was it?
Oh my goodness what do you take me for? Yes and yes. I have a few let me check and see what I have here… Wings of Sound, that’s a good one. The Beatles, obvi. My Fair Lady, some classical stuff. Future goals: expand my collection by leaps and bounds, and release a vinyl album myself.
You’re marooned on an island with Justin Bieber. Do you choke him out the first night in his sleep or what?
Absolutely not! He’s my fellow Canadian and he’s adorable. I might slap him and say “what’s your problem? Pull it together. Don’t lose your shit now!” But seriously, when people say he isn’t talented I want to punch them in the face. Say what you want about the guy, you might not like his music, but don’t be fucking ridiculous. He can sing. He can dance. And he’s spanking most people’s asses in album sales.
But since we are on an island and we have time, I may teach him a new face to make for pictures. It’s always the same one, check it out, you’ll see.
What is your opinion of Miley Cyrus?
She or somebody in her camp is a marketing and PR genius. One day they sat in a room and said okay, what can we do to boost album sales and make everyone talk about you? Then they did it. Then you fell for it. The end. I don’t hate on Miley man. I got “We Can’t Stop” on my playlist just like I had “The Climb”. Whoever’s picking her songs is spot on. I do miss her long hair though can we convince her to grow it back out?
Which would you rather hear in concert? Lip-synching or real vocals?
REAL VOCALS. Are you kidding me? I can’t even.
Who, or what, is the next big thing?
If I knew that do you think I’d be here talking to you? I’d be all over that shit.
One artist you can’t get enough of and can’t live without is… Why?
Ugh don’t make me choose. I will say this, there is an interesting phenomenon with Rihanna. She seems like the only artist that can stay in our faces year after year without anyone getting sick of her. Has anyone else noticed this? Why is that? Think about it. I love Rihanna by the way.
Confession time. Share a secret about yourself.
Nah.
Favorite movie of all time and why?
I’m not good at narrowing down to just one thing. As you have seen I just go on and on and on. Let me say a couple: Dirty Dancing, because my Mom and I watch it every time we get together and it makes my Dad really mad. The Mummy, I don’t know why. Bring it On, delicious cheesiness. Okay how about this, favorite Disney cartoon: Hercules. Unless we’re talking old Disney movies in which case Sleeping Beauty. Okay I’m done now.
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”!
Oh my gosh yay! Anything in the whole world? Let’s talk about me! Oh I know, I’ll practice for when I do Us Magazine’s “25 Things You Don’t Know About Me.” But don’t get mad or tell anyone when I reuse them later K? Here goes:
1. My Chihuahua Chickadee is the love of my life
2. Pizza is my favorite food (you may want to insert a “spoiler alert!” in the first question now)
3. I hate running. So much. I always have.
4. I love going to the movies. No really, I go and see like every movie that comes out
5. I have a phobia of birds
6. I had a near death experience when I almost drowned as a child
7. I’m extremely close with my family and they drive me insane!
8. I believe in aliens
9. My worst guilty pleasure reality TV indulgence is Love and Hip Hop
10. I’ve always been a night owl so I wasn’t allowed to nap like the other kids in
preschool
11. I started a club in elementary school called “The Cool Cats”
12. I’ve dyed my hair every possible color there is
13. My favorite southern expression is “Bless their little hearts”
14. I’ve been guilty of gossip in my day but I’m working on it (oops there’s that confession you were looking for)
15. My favorite comics are Dane Cook (screw the haters) and Eddie Izzard
16.I try to find humor in everything and usually do
17. I’m obsessed with makeup
18. My current celebrity crush is Tom Hiddleston. Yeah Loki, work it.
19. My favorite season is winter
20. I prefer to stay out of the ocean
21. I once played Dorothy in a school production of The Wizard of Oz
22. Coming up with 25 things is harder than you think
23. Maybe 10 or even 15 things would be more reasonable
24.I really enjoyed talking with you, it was so much fun!
25. Thanks!
Categories: General Tags: Canadian pop artist, facbook, Holly Elle, interview, itunes, kickacts, LaFamos PR, Nashville TN, twitter, youtube
Ten Questions with “Tan”!
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Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and where you can be found at on the web.
Thanks for having me! My name is TAN, and I’m a Los Angeles based vocalist and songwriter, originally from Malaysia. I just released my debut single “Heat Wave“ which I collaborated with producer Mario Marchetti (Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lopez ) and Grammy winning engineer Evren Göknar (The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mariah Carey) and it’s now on iTunes and Amazon. You can find me on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tanofficialmusic, Twitter – https://twitter.com/tanrealmusic and I also love posting random stuff on my Instagram – http://instagram.com/tanofficial
Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?
I’ve always been a huge fan of pop and rock music. Simple Plan was my favorite band during my high school years; they inspired me to pick up my guitar and write a song whenever I needed to express myself.
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?
Learn about music business because I think it is just as important as music theory. Always stay humble no matter what.
Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?
Well I had my debut TV appearance when I was 10 on Astro Kids Talent Quest, (Season 1) which is Malaysia’s version of Star Search. I’ll never forget the attention I got from my friends and teachers at school at that time haha
On the same token as the above question. How about a “worst gig” ever story.
One time there were a lot of drunk people and some of them were showing me how to sing while I was performing. So… I never went back to that venue again lol
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 really like to collect guitar picks because I know for a fact that they wouldn’t cost me a fortune haha
What do you think about the present music scene or lack of?
I don’t think that the present music scene is lacking anything. Music is art and there’s really no right and wrong.
Tell us something about you that we wouldn’t expect to hear… (Like their hobbies or something like that)
Mmm I don’t know…Well I guess I should tell you guys about my guilty pleasure, which is eating before going to bed every night haha
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?
Well I don’t really want to imagine myself stranded on an island but the answer is Mary Ann. lol
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”
Thanks guys for having me! Be sure to download “Heat Wave” on iTunes and be on the look out for the music video coming soon.
Keep rocking!
Follow me, my music and my random lifestyle on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tanofficialmusic, Twitter – https://twitter.com/tanrealmusic and I also love posting random stuffs on my Instagram – http://instagram.com/tanofficial
Categories: General Tags: interview, kickacts, LaFamos PR, Malaysia, pop and rock music, tan
KickActs Interviews “Cable Car”!
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Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and where you can be found at on the web.
Firstly, let us apologize. Ryan was unavailable for comments do to his summer “Intro to Drumming” courses he’s been taking.
Nate: If you just type cable car into google, as much as I’d love to think that we would pop right up what you actually get are ACTUAL cable cars. Although majestic and useful vehicles. You’d be better off finding us at www.wearecablecar.com or facebook.com/wearecablecar. There are also some great Youtube videos of us up at youtube.com/wearecablecar. As for about us, Ryan and I came from Rhode Island with a wicked smallest state in the union complex and decided to prove ourselves in LA. Go big or go home I suppose. We met Jack Turner out here and Cable Car was our love child.
Jack: What Nate said. If you can remember ‘we are cable car’ or ‘wearecablecar’ it will get you what you need on the social networks.
Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?
Nate: I’ve never been able to answer this question without mentioning Jeff Buckley and Ben Harper. It’s the passion behind the vocals that gets me every time.
Jack: My main influence has always been blues and jazz, with a bit of R&B thrown in. I love the guitaring of John Mayer, John Scofield, Matt Schofield. Basically, anyone with the name John or Schofield. The contemporary fusion (not of the names, but the musical styles) gets me every time.
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?
Nate: I wish someone had told me when I started out that there was so much more than writing and playing to the music industry. I’d tell them to follow their passion while also learning how people do business. It has to be a balance.
Jack: Create – even if you want to learn to play like or imitate a great. Just start creating and you’ll learn so much more as you incorporate all your influences.
Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?
Nate: The first one that comes to mind isn’t PG it involves the back of a car and a lady so I’ll skip to the second. I had a moment just recently on stage where I could feel something happening that was special. The audible experience melded a bit with the tactile feeling of the instruments. I remember feeling like I was in some kind of sonic soup and it tasted good! I think that it was just a moment when everything hit a hard moment of synergy. We all could do no wrong even if we tried. I’d love to say that happens all the time but it doesn’t so I cherish the moments it does.
Jack: I played once with these guys from this band Cable Car….I don’t think I can imagine playing with anyone else now…
On the same token as the above question. How about a “worse gig” ever story.
Nate: Ever drive 5 hours and forget your instruments….yah me neither.
Jack: Literally a worst nightmare experience. Knew I was going to be playing solo in front of about 1500 people. Didn’t know much about live sound at the time, so I said to the sound guy ‘just please make it sound good’. He cockily replied: ‘we’ll press the sound good button’. He was not true to his word….feedback, muting, no monitors, the lot. Ouch. The only saving grace was I couldn’t hear myself at all, so other than in my imagination, I don’t know quite how bad it was.
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?
Nate: I love to Cook, like music the right combination of ingredients paired with personal preference can make for something special. You know like Spam and Maple syrup….
Jack: I like to look out the window with my telescope into Ryan’s room.
What do you think about the present music scene or lack of?
Nate: Honestly I think people are doing this wonderful backward reach for things they know and love but combining it with an urge to create it anew. I don’t think this is new for the industry I just think people are paying more attention to it. A great example of classic but new (besides us), Miguel.
Jack: I think it’s great! I’ve been listening to a lot of pop recently, for the first time. And I actually have a huge amount of respect for the genre. You have to be so precise and non linear with your songs – it’s almost like writing 3 songs at once to get one good one!
Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear… (Like their hobbies or something like that)
Nate: Nate is so tall he bends at the knees for every photo shoot.
Jack: Ryan can do a 1000 pushups in one go. To a metronome.
Nate can rip an electric guitar solo. I don’t like to give him my guitar because it feels like the guitar doesn’t want to come back to me afterwards.
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?
Nate: I don’t accept that I’d have to only hook up with only one. I choose all three and I don’t want to hear another word about it.
Jack: Haven’t seen it, is that awful? A US show I guess…if Nate’s going with all three I’m not going near any of them.
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
Nate: (Neep)
Jack: I always like free reign to talk about politics and religion….
Categories: General Tags: Amanda Blide, artists, cable car, LaFamos PR, youtube
Ten Questions with Belmont Lights!
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1. Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself, your band, and where you can be found on the web.
Hello Kick Acts, we are Belmont Lights, (Casey Peek, Isaiah Blas, Jed Peek, Oscar Gonzalez), an Alt/Pop/Rock band hailing from San Diego, CA. We’ve been together for about 2 years now and have been under the name Belmont Lights since June 2012 [originally The Pennant]. We can be found at our band website www.BelmontLightsMusic.com <http://www.BelmontLightsMusic.com> as well as on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BelmontLightsMusic <http://www.Facebook.com/BelmontLightsMusic> .
2. Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?
Our influences change constantly, but a constant influence of ours is definitely Coldplay because they are always exploring new sounds and new ways to make great music, which keeps them relevant and inspiring. Casey: “Right now I am really into OneRepublic; they infuse great songwriting and production into to great pop songs – there are so many new influences everyday, though.”
Check out this super hot track called “Halfway”
3. Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?
Play to a live crowd as much as possible and start with open mics, it’s the only way to get real feedback from your songs. And in your song writing, be as real and transparent as possible, people connect with authentic passion. Be sure to study the business side of music just as much as the art of songwriting and instrumentation – the more you know, the less someone can lie to you. And lastly, not only do you need to have a strong presence on the web, but be sure to have solid recordings of your songs so when someone is interested they can easily take you home with them.
4. Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?
We’ve had some really awesome gigs, along with some not so awesome ones, but I think our favorite one so far has been the first time we played the Main Stage at the House of Blues San Diego. It was our first show together and I don’t think any of us have ever been more nervous and more excited all at once. Not to mention the show was packed out with people, so that was awesome for our first gig.
5. On the same token as the above question. How about a “worse gig” ever story.
We’d hate to call any gig “worse” or “terrible”, but we’ve had shows where we couldn’t hear ourselves or even where only 2 people were in the crowd, but even those shows can end up being fun. The only time a show is terrible is when we don’t play the way we expect ourselves to play. The shows where we didn’t kill it on stage or connect to the audience would be our worst shows thus far.
6. 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?
Isaiah: “I love sports and video games. Casey and I have been playing sports together for about 10 years. I also really enjoy watching stand up comedy. If I didn’t have such a beautiful voice, I’d be a comic (laugh).” Casey: “Other hobbies lets see…. most of us in the band enjoy playing basketball, soccer, and stickball”
7. What do you think about the present music scene or lack of?
€(Isaiah): “Music is constantly changing and evolving and that¹s what makes music so amazing. One year the scene could be totally electronic and the next year completely stripped down acoustic songs are popular. It’s all a matter of being inspired and how you interpret that inspiration to recreate your approach on music, so we love the music scene. We are really digging some of the bands that are hitting right now, for example, Imagine Dragons is an awesome band!
8. Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear… (Like their hobbies or something like that)
Casey enjoys sports a lot and being outside. He played college soccer and didn¹t pick up a guitar until his Sophomore year in college when he was laid up with an injury. Isaiah finished high school with a 4.5 GPA and has only 11 units left for his degree in Psychology. He went to beauty school and cuts everyone in the band’s hair. Jed is an Anthropology major at UCLA and knows every lyric to every Kanye West song. Oscar use to be in metal bands until he was 18 and loves the ABC Family show Pretty Little Liars.
9. 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?
Mary Ann – love the dark hair and light eyes.
10. # 10 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”!
We want to take this opportunity to “Shout It Out Loud” about our recently released debut EP by the name of Telegraphs the album is available on both iTunes and in hard copy at our shows. We need EVERYONE to go get it and spread the word about us, Belmont Lights.
Categories: General Tags: belmont lights, CA, halfway, hot trax, indy, LaFamos PR, San Diego, youtube
