Such Cool Stuff!

Where I've been

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:06:00 +0000

Just wanted to check in. Due to various things (work, family situation, other life stuff) posting has been intermittent lately and will be for awhile.

If you're waiting to hear from me about scheduling your feature or about...well..pretty much anything, I'm not ignoring you! It's just going to take awhile for me to get back to everyone.

Thanks y'all!

FP

Shayna Zaid & The Catch

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:12:00 +0000

Shayna Zaid & The Catch

Blending elements of folk, jazz, indie pop and cabaret, Shayna Zaid's melodically-inclined lyrical work leaves traces of solace, reflection and affection. The combination of Zaid's dynamic stage presence, her powerful smokey voice and her playful jazzy swagger lends an enchanting display.
Shayna Zaid & The Catch's live shows have been packing crowds in NYC, Southeast Asia, as well as colleges and festivals throughout the U.S. East Coast and MidWest. Recently awarded first place in the Performance category of the International Songwiriting Competition; having shared the stage with Norah Jones' 'Puss & Boots', Emily King, the Kin and most recenty G-Love at this year's Summerfest; with a brand new self-titled EP ready to be released; Shayna Zaid & The Catch will be ones to watch out for in the months to come.

How do you describe your music to people?
Blending elements of acoustic folk, jazz, indie pop, and cabaret

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I've been singing for as long as I can remember- performed in dance, theater, and music productions since I was a child, was always very active in the arts. Started writing when I was 13 after picking up the guitar and decided to audition for a Southeast Asian talent show called Asia Bagus and was chosen as one of the youngest contestants to participate. Played my first original song on the show, did pretty well and soon after, the appearance lead to a number of great opportunities and interest within the entertainment world. My mom used to sneak me into a Jazz/Blues club when I was 14 so I could jam with the house band - I loved it. From then on, I knew this was a path I wanted to continue to pursue passionately.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Traveling

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Needing more time in a day

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
A singer, or a pilot. I wanted to take people to different places. I guess I gravitated more towards the emotional and psychological space. Now if I answered the question of WHO I wanted to be like.. hands down - Jem, from Jem and the Holograms. She is truly outrageous.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
My mother always exposed my sisters and I to all kinds of creative outlets, whether they were music/dance/art/theater classes or simply going out to see shows - we were always encouraged to explore our artistic urges in these communities. They taught us a lot - an abundance of great experiences with amazing groups of people. Being surrounded by all kinds of music growing up in Malaysia was also very enriching, both stylistically and instrumentally. I think the boys feel the same way, we have quite a mesh of different cultural backgrounds which influences us a musicians in many ways.

What other artists out there do you love?
It varies, I enjoy listening to all kinds of music- ones I particularly love: Carol King, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Tracy Chapman, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Fleetwood Mac, Miles Davis, Charlie Christian, Eva Cassidy, TLC, Lauryn Hill, M. Ward, MGMT, Coldplay, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Brett Dennan, DMB, India.Arie, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Grant Green, Prince, Queen, the list goes on.

What does your future hold?
Exciting adventures, discoveries and lots of avocados on my rider requirements.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

The Blue Seeds

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:56:00 +0000

The Blue Seeds

Formed by the association of singer Amélie Laflamme and musician/songwriter François Dufault, The Blue Seeds is completed by Simon Blouin on drums, Martin Farmer on bass and Roger Miron on lead guitar.

In the fall of 2004, shortly after its creation, the band released a limited edition demo-EP in order to promote its music and create a platform from which to launch its new full length album. The demo-EP was very well received by both the public and the press in Quebec, Canada, the USA and Europe: it was voted one of the best CD of 2004 in Le Journal de Montréal, The Montreal Gazette and Voir, and was also nominated for best EP of the year at the 2005 MIMI Awards.

Produced by François Dufault, the new album was recorded in Montreal (Canada) at Masterkut Studio and in Faenza (Italy) with the collaboration of Dustin O'Halloran (Marie-Antoinette Soundtrack, Sofia Coppola) from the American band The Devics.

Recorded with an "indie" sensibility, the 11 songs comprised on the record reveal rich arrangements that include a wide variety of instruments ranging from electric guitars to analog keyboards, mellotron and vibraphone. The result is one that is unique and original. Cinematic and very evocative, each song leads the listeners into a reverie as if they were part of a fictional road movie. On stage, the band delivers an outstanding performance, pushing the songs to their fullest while leaving the audience into a daydream and sometimes stunned by the energy displayed by the musicians.

How do you describe your music to people, Francois?
... cinematic soundscapes, sultry vocals and sweet melodies...

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
Tired of watching me playing air guitar on a shovel as a teenager, my parents bought me my first guitar. After that, well it is as simple as the love for music and the need for creation.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Listening to a good song.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
To keep up with the ongoing changes in the music industry.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
A man with a beard.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Being born and raised in Montreal brought me so many different influences, which I think are reflected in our music. Montreal is some sort of bridge between Europe and America. I also lived for a while in the US and spent quite a bit of time in Europe. I think that songs like "That Night in Amsterdam", "Barcelona" or "A Quick Killing in Art" (about Jean-Michel Basquiat, NYC), are a good reflection of that journey.

What other artists out there do you love?
From Erik Satie to Leonard Cohen, Carlo Buti to The Velvet Underground, there are so many.

What does your future hold?
Well, we're in the middle of writing and composing our next album. So 2010 will be a year of creation for us.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Joshua Stedman

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:27:00 +0000

Joshua Stedman

The music of Joshua Stedman resonates as a sonic cocktail of Sting, Stevie Wonder, Seal, Jamiroquai, and the Beatles.

Joshua’s NYC, SF and Miami based soulful, story-telling music sculptures poeticize the impact of the relationships personal to him, but familiar to all of us. He shares life's observations and experiences that tend to illicit that, “Yep, I've been there, too...” reaction in each of us.

He weaves a clever web of funk/soul/rock roots, winding chord arrangements, elusive guitar riffs and deep organic bass lines around subtle rhythmic shifts.

Joshua’s addictive melodies are fueled by a distinct bright-breathy vocal that pours out an honesty that has been said to seduce the ear from fade-in to fade-out.

How do you describe your music to people, Joshua?
Rock-Soul/Singer-Songwriter combining the genre elusive tendencies of Sting, Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Jamiroquai, and Seal.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
One story that sort of jump started me into music: I came home one day and nonchalantly told my Mom that I was in a school play in the sixth grade. She said, "That's great. What play?" I said Pirates of Penzance. She asked what role I would be playing (assuming it would be a minor supporting role being that there were older 7th and 8th graders in it). I said, "Major General Stanley." Her jaw dropped. And then it dropped even further when I said the play was in two days. I was obviously more concerned about riding my bike, being 11 years old, but I got selected for the role nonetheless.

Best part was that I incidentally sang for Stevie Wonder that night. He also sang for me as it turns out. He was in the audience because his daughter Aisha was in the play as one of my daughters (ironically). He sang Isn't She Lovely after the play to wish Aisha a happy birthday. Inspiring was an understatement.

I started my first band later that same year.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
I get goosebumps and chills from three things: when I see the silhouette of elegant beauty in the woman I love from a distance, launching off a 20 foot cliff into 10 feet of fresh skiing powder, and hitting the apex of the best part of a song with the entire band in perfect harmony. I live for these moments.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Considering music to BE a business in the first place is a big challenge. I happen to come from the business world, so it's not foreign, but unadulterated creative space is delicate and sparse enough without the distractions and stresses of monitoring a business simultaneously. I'm sure I'm not alone in that. Art is art.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
An Astronaut. I loved the idea of reaching the farthest distance man has even touched and seeing the vastness of our planet in one direction and our infinite universe in the other. Climbing into a rocket ship to get there wasn't so bad either.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Growing up in the northeast US exposes a child to many sounds. At home, my family listened to classical music every night at dinner. I played classical piano as a child. Then the guitar along with rock and pop became popular in my peer surroundings in middle school. Jazz, Acid Jazz and Funk got the best of me in college. And finally Soul entered the picture when I learned to open up my heart and myself to the music. I began to find that no matter what city or culture I was in, however, I leaned towards friends and lovers that dug deep for true purpose. Honesty was too powerful to ignore and started to become the core of my lyric composition and sound.

What other artists out there do you love?
The Police, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Jamiroquai, Seal, The Beatles, Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, Fleetwood Mac, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Herbie Hancock, James Brown, Jimi, The Cure, Led Zeppelin, Midnight Oil, Radiohead, Groove Collective, Bruce Hornsby, Trey Anastasio (Phish), J. Giles Band, Talking Heads, Chuck Berry, Vivaldi, U2, Zero 7

What does your future hold?
Progress, more enlightened creativity and a stronger connection with the incredibly talented musicians I share the stage with and the dedicated fans I open my heart and soul to.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Static Summer

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:16:00 +0000

Static Summer

Static Summer is an alternative rock band from the New York City area. The band is made up of 5 friends with the common ambition to write timeless hard driving songs with huge hooks to go along with their edgy guitar lines & dynamic rhythm section. The band recently played to a sold out crowd at the Blender theatre and pride themselves on their captivating live show.

How do you describe your music to people, Rene?
Static Summer is music to turn up your radio in your car, sing loud & drive fast.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I wanted to play music since I can remember going to school in the 5th grade watching Mtv all day. Thats when they actually still played videos then.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
My favorite thing to do is spend time with my wife daughter & my family.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
I guess the biggest challenge in music is balancing my life with my ambitions on where we wanna be with the band. I don't think anyone really knows what kind of sacrifice it is to balance family, jobs, Music. I don't sleep & we have to battle for every inch we get.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
A singer in a rock band.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
We'll we all pretty much grew up in a working middle class families. So we pretty much were raised on the "if you want something you have to work for it" ethic.

What other artists out there do you love?
I love so much music that's a hard question. You'd understand if you saw my cd collection & how much music I have on my hard drive. I actually still buy music too. So let's see I love The Cure, Depeche Mode, Helmet, Alice in Chains, Guns&Roses, Fugazi, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Joy Division, Zepplin, The Who, The Beatles, The Clash, Bon Jovi (yeah i said that), Quicksand, Drive Like Jehu, Glassjaw, some of the newer bands I love are The Bravery, My Chemical Romance, Rise Against, The Killers, Phoenix, Queens of the Stone Age, Jimmy Eat World, Gaslight Anthem, Jesse Malin, Interpol, Papa Roach, Muse.
I got to hang with Springsteen over the Summer & it made me love his music so much more to know he's such a nice guy. I've also gotten to hang with another guy I grew up looking up to & he was such a not nice guy. I can't listen to his band like I used to.

What does your future hold?
Making a living doing what I love which is making & playing music with my friends in my band.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Rhythm Child

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:03:00 +0000

Rhythm Child

Rhythm Child is not just a band, it’s a movement. Formed in 2003 by husband and wife team Norman and Heather Jones, Rhythm Child’s mission is to encourage children to create soulful music and percussion, while also building their self confidence. Eat a Bowl of Cherries the group’s latest release, proves that not all children’s music needs to be hyperactive and saccharin sweet. In fact, it can be naturally, genuinely sweet—just like a real life bowl of cherries. Style-wise, Rhythm Child sounds more like Otis Redding than Alvin and the Chipmunks, an innovation that will delight children and parents alike.

How do you describe your music to people, Norman?
I like to call it Parent's Music for Kids! Imagine if Otis Redding, John Lennon & Bob Marley held a music festival on Sesame Street.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I've been a touring musician since the mid 80's and my passion for music and entertainment has not changed in the least. My early days as a college radio DJ hosting the only Reggae Music Show in Northwestern Ohio gave me the opportunity to be right in the middle of the developing alternative music scene and gave me access to a variety of talented musicians. So with the radio station as my research lab and the band as my experiment I pursued a life long career of creating positive music. The birth of my son in 2000 introduced me to the parent culture that existed at the time and I fealt that there was a real void in the vibe of most of the music that was geared towards kids. It seemed that parents really wanted to share meaningful musical experiences with their children but it was hard to find CD's or events that were accessible to the whole family. That is the need that I feel I can fullfill.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Sit & Think

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Finding time to just be a Dad.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
My life growing up was consumed with sports and fitness so I always thought that I would naturally be a coach and motivate young athletes to follow their dreams.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
I learn everything that I know from my surroundings so I am constantly listening and watching the way that people interact and try to incorporate those ideas into the language and rhythms of my music. Fortunately I am blessed to live in a community that is filled with happiness and a sense of hope so it is definitely easier to keep the songs that I write feeling upbeat and positive.

What other artists out there do you love?
I'm just now getting back into listening to new artists since I have been so focused for the last year while working on Eat A Bowl Of Cherries. There were however, a few projects that came out this year that helped motivate me to put out a better record. I love the relaxed vibe of Jason Mraz's songs and Ziggy Marley put out a children's record that was a joy to share with my family. The truth is that I mostly listen to the music that I grew up with. Artists like Sam Cooke, Etta James, or Jimmy Cliff are constant companions because they provide me with a connection to the real roots of popular music.

What does your future hold?
I am working on developing young artists and encouraging their song writing. There will definitely be more CD's being recorded and there are plenty of concerts to be played. My main goal is to reach as many families as possible through my music in order to inspire a coming together of parents raising conscious children.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

every boy

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:48:00 +0000

every boy

Every Boy is a New York based singer/songwriter who crafts catchy, alternative pop-folk tunes with a deeply conscious message, clearly a disciple of the Dylan school, and follower of the Harrison way. His debut CD, The Last Lalas, brings you along on a spiritual journey addressing life, love and our place in the Universe.

How do you describe your music to people, eb?
Indie groove is the easiest way but I also tend to say it's got east coast grit with west coast vibe.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I began performing on stage when I was two years old. I acted and sang on stage, in chorus, and a cappella all the way through college. I started writing songs while I was very young too, one time even writing a song I thought was missing from the Broadway production of Dracula.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
To be totally absorbed in the moment while playing music with the band. It's an out-of-body experience that's like surfing on a cloud of sound when all goes right.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Money and time. Never enough of either to get done all that needs to get done.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
When I was really young I wanted to be one of three things. I didn't really like school so I wanted to be a teacher, but only a teacher of go-home-time or of recess. I also wanted to be a fire engine, not a fireman, but the big red engine that makes all that noise.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
I am a New Yorker but I have lived for extended periods away from my hometown. My community has often been far from me geographically but never far from my true inner being. No matter where in the world I have live, I always remain a New Yorker (for good and bad). It's the lens through which I experience the world.

What other artists out there do you love?
I love and respect and admire so many other artists, be they musicians or otherwise. To name just a few I love the genius of Bob Dylan and The Band, The Beatles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Marley and the Wailers, and Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground. I am a huge fan of painters like Picasso, Matisse, Klee, Leger and of poets like Wallace Stevens, Dylan Thomas, Basho, Issa, and Rilke to name just a few.

What does your future hold?
Ideally, my future holds thousands of more performances for fans who relate so much to my work as a singer/songwriter that they know all the words and can't wait to hear more from every boy.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Mary Jennings

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:27:00 +0000

www.jennings-music.com

Jennings is the one-name moniker of NYC based siren Mary Jennings. Standing five feet, one inch tall Jennings is small in stature, her music however, is anything but. Drawing influences from artists like Imogen Heap, Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan and Moby, Jennings’ music reflects an enormous strength and drive that is uniquely hers.

How do you describe your music to people, Jennings?
My music is pop with a touch of electronica and rock in the same vain as Imogen Heap or Sarah McLachlan with a bit more edge. My lyrics are honest and straightforward.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
My dad's side of the family is very musical so I got into from them I would say. My dad was a bassist in a band growing up, my grandfather is a singer and my grandmother is a wonderful pianist. I spent many car rides harmonizing to songs with my granddad so I guess I got the bug then and it stuck.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Well, other than all things music? THRIFT STORE SHOPPING!! It is amazing therapy to me. It is truly one of my favorite things to do.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Covering all of the bases in the music business is the most difficult thing for me. Allocating time for writing, performing out, sending press kits, working on social networking sites, having meetings, traveling. It is hard to feel like you have done everything you are supposed in a day.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
I always knew I wanted to do entertainment in some way. I have wanted to be a singer for as long as I can remember. I knew there were other jobs I would do, but what I wanted was to be a performer.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Well I grew up in the south and partially in Nashville so I learned a lot from living there and meeting so many musicians. Now in New York, I have met all kinds of people that have influenced my music. I go to 2 open mics a week and am surrounded by talent which makes you want to be better. I feel like I have been lucky to spend so much time in two very different but both extremely interesting places; Nashville and New York.

What other artists out there do you love?
OH MAN! Too many to list. I listen to a lot of indie artists like Rachel Epp, Dave Felipe and the Lunatic Fringe, Denitia Odigie, Reese Browning, and all my friends from open mic. But I also listen to celtic music, Imogen Heap, Tori Amos, Mute Math, Passion Pit, Jem, and so many others. We would be here forever if I tried to list them all.

What does your future hold?
I hope that I will be able to continue to write and perform music in such a way that I can keep it as my full time profession. I don't need much, but to be able to travel around and play to rooms of 150 or more and sell my music then I will be set. Anything after that is just icing on the cake.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Kelly Richey

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:06:00 +0000

Kelly Richey

Kelly Richey has been described as “Stevie Ray Vaughan trapped in a woman’s body with Janis Joplin screaming to get out.” That’s an apt appraisal of the Lexington, Kentucky native who’s been based in Cincinnati for many years. Richey has often been compared to such greats as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan because of her ability to capture and entertain an audience with ripping guitar leads that both sing and astonish.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft, Kelly.
I grew up playing music, I was playing piano as soon as I could reach the keys, singing in my bedroom with the door locked while performing in front of the mirror, banging on drums that my neighbor had until he gave them to me so I'd play them at home instead of in his basement, and then came my guitar. It was a Sears special, a 3 watt amp and a Les Paul style guitar. When I hit a power chord, the amp bounced across the floor and I went through three of these guitars in three months because I played them until they fell apart, literally!

It was the late 70's and girls didn't play guitar so the harder they laughed, the more I practiced. The guitar gave me a voice that I'd never had and with each babysitting job, my amps grew bigger and louder. I felt empowered, I felt safe and I felt for the first time, heard.

As a teenager, I practiced guitar 12 hours a day. I never set it down. I took it to school, I took it to the kitchen table and if I took a walk it was strapped on.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
More than anything in the world, I love to learn...ie...to expand my mind, my world view, to expand my abilities as an artist and as a thinker.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
As an independent artist, the biggest challenge has been the constant pressure to keep things moving forward. Maintaining a full time band means maintaining a full time tour schedule. If you're going to tour year after year, records must be written, recorded, released, and promoted...etc. Shows must be booked, advanced, played and re-booked. Websites and mailing lists built and maintained. Press and radio interviews must be established and fulfilled. In short, I front the band, book the band, own the record label, record and release the CDs, own and maintain the van...etc. I've done this on my own for 19 years and I'm exhausted. After awhile, It's hard to remain enthusiastic when the crushing weight of expectation rests squarely upon your shoulders, hence, I'm taking a break. It's time to regain my creative nature and fall in love with my art once again...from there, possibilities are abundant!

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a rock star or a preacher.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
I've toured so much that I have yet to establish much of a relationship to the music community in my area. I look forward to being off the road for awhile and embracing what's around me!

What other artists out there do you love?
John Mayer, Mary Gauthier, The Frames, David Gray

What does your future hold?
I've just announced that I will be taking a year off from touring... I have been touring non-stop for over 25 years and would very much enjoy a full time break, enjoying the freedom to write, gain new perspective and allow a new musical experience to emerge...I simply can not do this while continuing to tour non-stop.

My plan is to remain active with my music and I will be keeping a journal of events via my blog that will consist of both video blogging as well as an outlet for writing and journaling. I feel a deep need to integrate my music, coaching and teaching as I emerge from this experience. I am excited for this opportunity and intend to embrace each and every possibility it will bring. Newsletters will continue twice per month and they will include not just updates, but newly recorded material, videos and links to new and exciting discoveries!!!

I will be playing an handful of select shows as a solo artist throughout the year so stay tuned for updates!

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

The New Fidelity

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:45:00 +0000

The New Fidelity

The New Fidelity is a mod power pop band from Long Beach, CA whose music has been featured on ABC, NBC, The CW and Fuel TV. The band performs regularly up and down the west coast from Vancouver to San Diego and is receiving repeated airplay on KROQ’s Rodney on The ROQ show and the leading podacst in their genre Mr Suave’s Mod Mod World.

The New Fidelity takes the stage in sharp suits to play well-tailored songs that capture moments of everyday life. The New Fi’s unique brand of 60's-influenced Mod Power Pop shines through the smog of Southern California’s indie rock sprawl.

The New Fi just made its first movie appearance in a dance club scene in the independent film We Are The Mods that debuted at the Director’s Guild of America Theater in Hollywood this summer ‘09. More performances on the silver screen are planned for 2009 and beyond, including music to a Vespa scooter chase scene in an independent film featuring Henry Winkler to be released on The Independent Film Channel.

The Los Angeles area band performs regularly at clubs, festivals, and scooter rallies up and down the west coast from Vancouver to Vegas to San Diego, where they seamlessly mix their original songs with covers of mod and soul classics.

The New Fidelity's Daniel Perkins agreed to do a little interview for us.

How do you describe your music to people, Dan?
The New Fidelity is a 60's power pop band, maybe a 21st century version of that since we have listened to and like music since then, but anyone who has seen us live would surely agree.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I've been playing in bands since I was 14, I would consider my craft to be pop songwriting in the realm of The Beatles or Buddy Holly, both of whom I got into much later in life as a musician. They helped me realize how much a love a well-written lyric and song in a classic sense so I guess their music and similar music got me into my craft.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
My favorite thing to do in the whole wide world is work on a brand new song. The feeling of walking around all day with it in your head as you fine tune the beat or the melody or the words- as the song comes from idea to completion is the best and it's what I live for.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
The biggest challenge is dealing with the lag between creating a song, arranging and performing it as a band, and eventually recording it. Whatever you release tends to reflect where you were at 6 months 1 year or even 2 years back. I guess that's not really business though, from a business perspective, the biggest challenge is the dealing with the randomness of "big news," like we might get 3 tv placements in a 3 weeks, and then nothing for 8 months where you're just gigging around waiting for something to happen. It always does, you just never know when, so tempering your excitement can be rough.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
Since I was 14 I always wanted to be in a band. I've grown up, now I suppose and all I do is write record and perform music and work my day job as a designer and manufacturer of guitar straps, so I suppose I'm lucky in that regard.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
We live in Long Beach, which is part of greater Los Angeles. Our song Native Son and video (Directed by Vince Duque of The Alpha Company, who is also currently an assistant producer on the television show House MD) is about Los Angeles and the need to accept the massively different people and cultures who come together to live and work here. The video takes place on an old English double decker bus as it cruises through the good and bad parts of LA where we visit some of the areas I frequent daily for my day job at Couch Guitar Straps. I was going into these areas: South Central, East LA, Vernon, Downtown etc, the not-so-good parts of town, and I was realizing that here, this is where everything is made, this is where all our city's "dirty work" is done that keeps this place going--by people we rely on to get it done, and yet we draft policies to kick them out. When you're there everyday, you really realize that if all these people were ever forced to leave, the part of the city where things get done wouldn't have any people in it!

Anyway, Native Son is about that, or just general acceptance of diversity which is required here, and the video is fun and cool. Plus if you watch carefully the guy who cameos in the yellow jacket is Eddie Munoz from the great 80's power pop band The Plimsouls who had the huge hit A Million Miles Away. It was cool that he came out to shoot the video with us.

What other artists out there do you love?
Today I was listening to the first Albert Hammond Jr. record, Aztec Camera who are a great 80's new wave pop band, and Donovan. I love the early Beatles, early Who, Television, Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers, Elvis Costello, Otis Redding, The Kinks, Raphael Saddiq, T Rex, The Zombies, The Sonics, Belle and Sebastian, The Jam.....

I also love industrial design, functional beautiful stuff like a Knoll chair or my Rickenbacker 330.

What does your future hold?
I would like to be a master of classic pop songwriting and record and perform the songs on stage around the world. I feel I've gotten a start at all of this, so I hope for the good fortune to continue. Move on up!

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David Homyk

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:37:00 +0000

David Homyk

Singer, writer, and producer all in one, David Homyk’s music can be described as a blend of Maroon 5 and James Blunt, often mixed with a Timbaland style production. David is known to put on high energy live performances, juggling piano, guitar, and various instruments on stage. His repertoire of catchy songs and first class showmanship dazzle audiences who find themselves dancing and singing along, transfixed by his touching, reflective music which ranges from fun and exciting to downright heart wrenching. A producer by trade, David has made recordings for many well known artists including Beyoncé and her sister Solange.

Canadian born, Virginia bred, David lived with a heart full of music from an early age. At only eight years old he began composing songs at the piano, inspired by Scott Joplin and early Ragtime jazz musicians. As he grew, so too did the songs that consumed him. Relief came only when he put pen to paper to write the music that would eventually shape his creative sound and distinct style. David spent his early school years obsessively arranging and rearranging his compositions during classes. Spacing out in class and composing full songs on the back of math homework was a daily affair. After school he began picking up other instruments; guitar, bass guitar, and saxophone and recording himself singing and playing all of them.

Despite his academic indifference, the power of David’s writing got him into the University of Virginia. Here, he refined his sound as a record producer. He began incorporating his signature drum tracks and style into Beyoncé songs. The remixes were a hit and the sound caught on. Before he knew it, David was sitting in front of Beyoncé’s father, music industry mogul Matthew Knowles, CEO of Music World Entertainment. After hearing David’s original material and songwriting the company took full interest in him as a writer as well as a record producer. David graduated and relocated to New York City where he has been writing songs and producing tracks for a wide variety of artists. He tours and performs regularly, having shared stages with artists ranging from American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis to the hip-hop legend & Hall of Fame inductee, Doug E. Fresh. David’s debut album, True Story, can be purchased on Amazon.com and on iTunes in the US, Canada, UK/European Union, Australia/N.Z. and Japan.

Apart from music, David appears regularly on the daytime soap opera, “All My Children,” and has made several appearances on “The Tyra Banks Show,” “Sex and the City,” and “One Life to Live.” He has also modeled in many campaigns for clothing companies such as Club Monaco and Burlington Coat Factory, and has appeared in many commercial print advertisements. He was the first ever commercial model for the familiar fruit juice drink, Capri Sun, and appears in commercial spots for Anheuser-Busch as the official mixologist for the popular beverage, Bud Light Lime.

How do you describe your music to people, David?
I simply tell people who I get compared to most often: Jason Mraz, One Republic, Maroon 5, James Blunt, Gavin DeGraw, and a few other names I hear all the time.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
On Christmas day, when I was three years old, my dad recorded an "interview" between us just for fun. When I listened to the tape play back I remember hating the way I sounded. I asked to try it again, since I knew the second time I could make it flow better. This was just us speaking into a microphone of course, but it was the dawn of my obsession with recording. Around the same time I was falling in love with the piano and began lessons. I starting writing and scoring my own songs once I knew how to read sheet music. I eventually picked up the saxophone in school band, and the guitar, and started singing. For every instrument I picked up my recording skills became more advanced because, in order for me to manifest my compositions in any tangible recorded form, I had to multitrack and play all the instruments at different times. By the time I had devised my own live drum sequencing and production techniques I had become quite a sound engineer. I had a bevy of original recordings which I had single-handedly written, arranged, performed all the instruments for, sang, produced, engineered and mastered.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
There is this "eureka" moment in songwriting where you know you have something, or rather, have "been given" something that has it's own life. The experience is powerful enough to dissolve the burden of all the extraneous circumstances that comprise your life's situation, whatever that may be. At this moment you are free. It is as if you have woken from a nightmare that could have been going on for months. You are awake now, finally, and you are creating something holy.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
I've been following mainstream radio my whole life and have a deep grasp on the underlying nuances that constitute a "hit" song; a universally relateable, inevitably and highly catchy, socially and culturally relevant-to-the-era, song which you are propelled to replay again and again, almost as if the song itself were some kind of magic spell. The songs I write are the few concepts and melodies of the millions floating around in the stratosphere of my mind and spirit which actually caught my attention with such force and fury, which were so relevant and so poignant, that I would not rest until I had brought them to life. I know objectively that if everyone in the world heard my songs I'd be "world famous." But in order for this to happen outside the realm of hypothetical there are mechanics which no longer depend solely on my ironic musical autonomy. It takes the cooperation of so many outside forces. Will the Universe cooperate? Facing this is a daunting challenge, I guess for any musician.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
My work and current lifestyle is and always has been woven into my destiny. Without any attachment to the details as to how it would unfold, I have always somehow known I would be where I am today.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
I grew up in a very unique artistic town which promotes unrestrained creativity of all the arts, with special attention to music. Dave Matthews emerged in my home town of Charlottesville, VA and almost every kid grows up playing a little guitar. You would have to visit Charlottesville in order to really experience what I'm talking about. Music is part of the culture and identity of the town to such a degree I have not been able to find elsewhere in this country accept a few places.

What other artists out there do you love?
Nirvana, Souljah Boy, Struan Shields, Colbie Caillat, Lady Gaga, Mat Kearney, Parachute, Ne-Yo, John Coltrane, Pink Floyd, Keyshia Cole, Paramore, Soundgarden, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Sean Paul, The Beatles, The All-American Rejects, Birdman, Keri Hilson, Gwen Stefani, Beyonce, Elliott Smith, JoJo, Led Zeppelin, Jason Mraz, Janis Joplin, Pearl Jam, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Alicia Keys, The Doors, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Evanescence, Flyleaf and Yael Meyer.

What does your future hold?
My music has garnered a lot of attention very quickly, which I'm very grateful about. I feel like it's almost enough attention to sustain consistent touring enough to generate both enough income and enough new fans at a rate at which it would pay for itself and keep me on the road ad infinitum. There is a critical mass where this will take place and it's close. Once I strike that tipping point I'll live on the road.

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Stars Go Dim

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Stars Go Dim

Since their inception in late 2007, Tulsa-based pop-rocker-foursome Stars Go Dim [Chris Cleveland (vocals, piano, and guitar), Joey Avalos (guitar), Michael Wittig (bass), and Lester Estelle (drums)] has captured the attention of a devoted fan base as well as music critics; they took the crown in a series of both fan and industry voted music contests nationwide, including the Country Music Television’s Listener’s Choice Award. In mid-2008, The Urban Tulsa named Stars Go Dim the “best unsigned pop band in Oklahoma.” Their popularity is only strengthened by opening act performances for Switchfoot, Daughtry, Paramore, All American Rejects, The Roots, and John Mayer. Stars Go Dim boasts two Grammy-nominated musicians with a musical style that blends pop, rock and smooth soul and feature engaging lyrics held together with captivating melodies. The group recently recorded a self-titled debut EP in anticipation of the first single, Come Around. The full-length album, Love Gone Mad, was released August 4, 2009.

How do you describe your music to people, Michael?
Stars Go Dim plays soulful, pop/rock music. We are not trying to be cool, but just write the best song that we possibly can.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I saw Bill and Ted's excellent adventure when I was a kid and wanted to learn to play guitar. My youth pastor taught me how to play guitar, and I soon switched over to bass. The jazz band at school needed a bass player and the hottest girl in school was in the band. The rest is history.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
My favorite thing in the whole world is to snuggle up with my two sons. I am the only one with kids in the band. I love to see them smile. Second to that I love playing and writing music. Meeting new people all across the world is pretty cool too.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Our challenge is different than most bands. We have members in Tulsa, OK (myself and our singer Chris), Kansas City (Lester our drummer), and Phoenix, AZ (Joey our guitar player). So we have lots of expenses before we even jump into the RV for a show. But we've been able to make it work. We played 140 shows in 2009.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
Well first I wanted to be super man, then a pro wrestler, and at about the age of 15 I wanted to do music the rest of my life. I've been blessed enough to be a full-time musician for the last 11 years.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Although our members live all over the place we are based out of Tulsa. That is where the majority of us live and our RV is parked. The community of Tulsa has been awesome. Its a perfect place to build a band. Its central in location. Its big enough that we have radio stations, newspaper, Morning news programs, an arena, and many legit venues. But its small enough that we have personal relationships with ALL those people and they support us. If we lived in a bigger city like NY or LA the chances of that happening would be slim.

What other artists out there do you love?
I really dig John Mayer, Robin Thicke, and just good music. All styles.

What does your future hold?
BIG THINGS! World-wide success. Millions of records sold. A life playing music and doing what we LOVE!

Thanks so much for the interview. We appreciate it.

Peace, Michael and Stars Go Dim

Catch up with Stars Go Dim at starsgodim.com, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Originals by Lynnette

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:29:00 +0000

Bridal Headpiece - Feather Crystal and Vintage Baubles

Originals by Lynnette offers an ecclectic mix of mostly one of a kind bridal and special occasion jewels and accessories, specializing in revitalizing and incorporating nostalgic charm into jewelry for this generation.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft, Lynette.
I've been crafting since I can remember. I've always hoarded scraps of paper from school projects, old bits and pieces collected throughout the years. All through my younger years, I created most of my playthings; dolls out of clothespins, a dollhouse out of a cardboard box, pillows out of satin scraps from a seamstress neighbor...

I got my first inspiration for my hairpins from another etsy colleague. I was simply selling a pair of sparkling vintage earrings. She asked if they were hair pins, and the rest was, as they say, history.

Of course, as with any online forum, original ideas are soon copied, so I began to explore additional ways to embellish hair accessories while still incorporating vintage elegance. Half the challenge of maintaining my shop is keeping it fresh.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?

Gothic Poppy

That's a tough one... I like doing too many things so much that it's difficult to select just one. That being said, I guess I could cull it down to this: I love to create, I love to craft. I love the giddy feeling of waking in the middle of the night with a startlingly clear picture of my next project in my head.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
My biggest challenge is balancing my family with my business. Because I love to craft almost everything I can, it's difficult sometimes to maintain focus on one type of thing (not to mention paying attention during dinner when I'm mulling over a new design). I've hopped around from folksey crafts to sewing; from beading to home design. Each time I learn something new, I have that much more information at my fingertips for inspiration. I find myself working in bursts of energy. One week, it's all about creating something new, the next week I have to focus on my family, and then the never-ending task of keeping my home and craft suppies organized. To that, add shipping supplies and an ample space for packaging orders, and I find myself inundated with glorious, and sometimes frustrating mountains of clutter.

What item in your shop would you most like to receive as a gift if someone were shopping for you?
I absolutely love the opulent glamour of these earrings

And this reclaimed smoky crystal pendant assemblage ranks a close second

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a teacher. I used to force my brothers to play school with me ad nauseum.

"Real Life" thrust me into a teaching position of sorts, I trained computer skills and technology for about 8 years with a recruiting firm. Now I teach every day, with my preschool children. Whether it's crafts, manners, or basic home care, I feel like I never quite relinquish the role of instructor.

Vintage Key and Dainty Pink Rose and Jet Black Crystal Pendant

What other shops or artists out there do you love?
There are so many fabulous artists that I found via etsy. I am inspired daily by the unique vision and skill available in this venue.

One of my favorite shops is Jsandquist - I did a room redesign project with another etsy member, and purchased two of her paintings. They are absolutely fabulous and well worth the investment.

I've also recently discovered this pottery shop and am in love: redhotpottery

For fabulous photography, I love the dreamy quality of this shop: irenesuchocki
[See the SCS interview with Irene Suchocki here - Ed]

And don't get me started on vintage... I'm a self-proclaimed vintage love and regularly browse the fabulous items availble on etsy.

What does your future hold?
Every day holds such promise of beauty and creativity, everything around me holds a promise of newness and a breath of inspiration.

I see years ahead of creating new thing, of honing my craft and hopefully for sharing my love of creating with my children. Each year, I look at the ornaments that hang on our Christmas tree, and I see the progression of our family's art. I look around the house and enjoy the end product of some sometimes absolutely harrowing project endeavors.

My future is a work of art, every day being added to: a little drop of glue here, a huge dallop of love there, inspiration everywhere, and the never-ending warmth of my children's smiles. I see the world in their eyes, and learn about living and creating by simply watching them.

SEVENFALL

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:55:00 +0000

Sevenfall - A Mind Awakened

Sevenfall’s unique brand of rock fuses driving riffs, soaring melodies, and musing lyrics together with progressive elements that showcase the band’s musicianship. They are currently promoting their debut album, A Mind Awakened (released 12/2009).

Though the band is newly formed, its members are no strangers to music. Matthew Balch, who played guitar, bass, and keys on the album, has been playing music for over 15 years. While playing guitar with Tinman Jones from 2002 to 2003, the band released the Christian rock album, Poetic, on CrossDriven Records. He independently released an instrumental rock album, Balancing Insanity, in 2007. In addition to playing all the instruments on that album, he also engineered, mixed, and mastered the project. In 2008, Matthew teamed up with Alfons Kettner (co-writer of What You Won't Do for Love by Bobby Caldwell), Ed Greene, and Bob Marinelli on the instrumental jazz album, Stripped, which he engineered, mixed, and mastered for the trio.

Ryan O’Hern, who sings lead vocals and plays additional keys on the album, has been singing for as long as he can remember. Ryan leads worship and composes music for an ongoing film series at HopePark Church. He also has composed music for several short films, including Legacy of the East and The Ruse. Ryan recently released a worship album, Light Up, featuring nine original songs designed for children’s ministry. Matthew and Ryan collaborated on that album, with Matthew mastering this project and providing additional mixing and engineering.

How do you describe your music to people, Matthew?
Musically I would describe the album as hard rock with some elements of progressive rock/metal as well as some classical influences packaged in a fairly standard, accesible musical sound. Lyrically, it is an exploration of all the questions I've had had about life, religion, the past and the future. The overall message of the album is to keep questioning and growing as a person and not get discouraged by life's problems and failures.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old. I played mostly in churches, youth groups and church camps in high school. Early in college I played in a band called Triune and released the album "The Kingdom Torn." After that ended in 2002, I joined a band called Tinman Jones and played with them for a year. During that time we recorded the album "Poetic" on CrossDriven Records, had some radio success, and toured to support the album. From 2004 - 2006, I worked on learning audio engineering and production. In 2007, I self-released an Instrumental CD called "Balancing Insanity." From there I did studio work for other people and started putting together songs that ended up being the songs for the "A Mind Awakened" album by my current band, Sevenfall.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
My favorite thing to do in the world may be to play hockey. I absolutely love it! I don't think I'd ever choose that over music, but hockey games are some of my favorite parts of my week.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
I am not a good self-promoter. I'm not one of those people that likes to go around saying "check out my band, we're awesome!" I just can't ever bring myself to do that, so I think that I will have to find someone to take on that role at some point or it will be hard to keep growing.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
The very standard policeman, fireman, etc... when I was very little. From 8-11 I really wanted to be a professional hockey player, but it just wasn't possible. When I couldn't continue down that path, I took up music, and I have been playing ever since.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Not sure exactly... People that I've been close to have been the biggest influences on me as a musician. The music that they have introduced me to has inevitably changed the way I think about music and the way I play.

What other artists out there do you love?
My favorite artist is Dream Theater. Their creativity and musicianship is unparralleled. I'm also a big fan of Skillet, Tool, Blindside, Rush, A Perfect Circle, Liquid Tension Experiment, Evanescence and many others.

What does your future hold?
I hope to really start playing out more around Nashville and the surrounding area (as far as we can) in support of this new record (A Mind Awakened). I would like to be able to tour full time and have a great team of people helping and sharing in our future success. For now, I'm trying to take it one day at a time and make a little progress every day.

If you're in the Nashville area be sure to catch Sevenfall at one of their upcoming shows:

February 5th @ Rock Bar

March 27th @ Hard Rock Cafe

April 24th @ The Rutledge

May 22nd (21st night) @ 2am @ Nashville Shores - Acoustic Set

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Powderburn

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:27:00 +0000

Powderburn

Powderburn, a hard rock foursome that calls Austin, Texas home, formed in November of 1999 in a tiny apartment in Austin, TX. To get the right sound, vocalist/guitarist Ken Lockman enlisted a pair of childhood friends, and former East Coasters, drummer Patrick Swift and bassist Greg Enkler. Now all they needed was a guitarist with hypersonic chops and precision execution. They found their man with lead guitarist Eric Anthony.

Powderburn released their debut full-length album, A New Sin in December of 2000. Their sophomore self-titled album came out in December of 2003 and in January of 2007, they put out an EP/DVD entitled Echoed in Red. Fall 2009 saw the release of their latest effort One Fix.

Powderburn has played over 300 clubs in 11 states spanning half of the U.S. They’ve shared the stage with some of the biggest names in metal and hard rock including, Slayer, Slipknot, Disturbed, Machine Head, Three Days Grace, and Staind. They’ve played at Austin’s world famous South by Southwest festival for the past 5 years in a row, and they show no signs of slowing down.

Now that the latest record is ready to unleash on the world, the band has chosen to follow in the footsteps of luminaries such as Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails. The entire record is available as a free digital download on ReverbNation. All the band asks in exchange for an entire record of free songs is for the user to submit their email address to the mailing list, and One Fix is absolutely free.

Patrick explains the rationale behind the decision, "We really had to take a step back and decide how we were going to make our mark in an age with little label support, and when you have the whole internet at your disposal it really lets you take some risks and get your music into the hands of whoever wants it. I think that's even more valuable to us right now than any money we'd make selling this online with no help from a label.

Patrick threw on his bathrobe, put a little liquor in his coffee, and sat down to tell us a bit more about the band.

How do you describe your music to people, Patrick?
I used to hate this question, because I never wanted to pigeon-hole our music, but then I realized how important this is to people that don't have such artistic arrogance. I think our music is a modern take on the classic hard rock and thrash we grew up with. I remember that crazy feeling I had in the pit of my stomach when I heard Sad But True for the first time, and we're all about finding new ways to do that.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I think all of us got into music in largely the same way - we all watched a lot of MTV as kids and wanted to be larger than life. I think the one common thread we have in terms of inspiration was Metallica's Black Album. My first band, just before high school, actually included my current bassist Greg. We've pretty much always either been playing together or wished we were.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Play live. I know that seems like a knee-jerk, totally lame, cliche thing to say, but unless you've done it at a certain level, you just don't know. We played the Rockstar Mayhem Fest second stage, with Machine Head, Slipknot, Disturbed, Dragonforce, etc., and when you're facing down 8000 kids who are actually digging your music, to the point where they pick up a kid in a 200 lb. electric wheelchair and CROWDSURF him during your set, the feeling you have is indescribable. Better than sex, better than drugs, better than ANYTHING.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
The utter tanking of the record industry in general. You don't have thousands of kids stealing milk from the grocery store on bit-torrent sites. I think it's a pretty unique problem faced by the arts (music, movies, etc.), and it's taken a lot of the capital away from the businesses that would make my business easier. It's cool for NIN or Radiohead to give away a record, because everyone knows who they are. Getting into the national consciousness is probably one of the hardest job-related tasks of any industry, ever.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
When I was very small, I thought I was going to be a Jedi Knight. When I realized that wasn't a viable job option, I wanted to be a priest. True story. Of course, Metallica and Guns 'N' Roses came along and pretty much put the smack down on that vocation, too. I chose drums, and have been doing it ever since.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Originally being from New York City, I was exposed through countless friends to all kinds of music. I got into everything from industrial to Bolivian folk music to Nusret Fateh Ali Khan. I think it's informed my drumming, in particular, to not be locked into the same patterns my favorite thrash bands from the Eighties made famous.

After moving to Austin, I was struck by the sheer LOVE of music here. In NYC, there is a very cutthroat, snarky, "I'm way too cool to jump up and down and let this music visually affect me" type of vibe, and here in Austin, it's a lot more honest. People really get into your band and connect with the lyrics, music, and you as people. It's probably one of the more inspiring places to be a musician in all of America, in that regard.

What other artists out there do you love?
Wow. I could literally spend all day just typing the bands I love, but I'll try to keep it short and representative. The big ones when I was young and carry to this day are Metallica, Guns 'N' Roses, Alice In Chains, Testament,and Iron Maiden. Today, I would add Depeche Mode, Ani DiFranco, VNV Nation, The Cure, Rammstein, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Covenant, In Flames, David Bowie, Tool/A Perfect Circle, NIN, My Chemical Romance, Queen, Nightwish, Led Zeppelin . . okay, I'm doing it. I'm sorry. I'll stop.

What does your future hold?
Success in this industry, in some way. Powderburn will be a household name. It's not a matter of being a psychic, it's a matter of accepting nothing less. Fortune favors the bold, and we in Powderburn don't see closed doors as a deterrent, we see them as something to smash down on the way to our first platinum record. That might seem arrogant to someone else, but we are just very, VERY determined.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

1,000 Beautiful Things

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Tia Bailey of 1,000 Beautiful Things is a fine arts & portrait photographer located in the Oklahoma City area. Her work has been seen in All Things Girl, Photo Focus, MatisseColor, ShrimpSaladCircus, Wadsworth Noll Studio, 9 1/2 Design, and adorns the walls of several office buildings and cafes in Oklahoma.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
Although I was given my first camera at the age of 6, it was not until just 2 years ago that I became serious. I have always looked at nature and old buildings and felt some sort of odd connection. When I began seeing them through the lens, it opened up a whole new world. Combining my photography with my digital design background allowed me to create what I saw in my minds eye with the photograph that I captured.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Considering the fact that my camera is stuck to my face 90% of the time, I would definitely have to say taking pictures. I am always on the lookout for something new and interesting to shoot whether it be a run down barn, an old abandoned building, alleyways, or still life. I have become a terrible driver since I started "looking" all over the place.

Swingin II

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
My biggest challenge is probably seeing what others see. When someone compliments my work, I still blush. It is hard for me to see what they see, to accept their compliments. I have had people tell me, "Yeah I can say I knew her when." But for me, it is just an honor to be doing what I love. I am just taking each day as it comes and enjoying the ride.

What item in your shop would you most like to receive as a gift if someone were shopping for you?
It would probably have to be Tree of Life. This was one of the first pieces I had printed and it has been my best seller to date. It gives me a feeling of peace and tranquility.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
I grew up in a very small town on the border of Mexico & Texas. All I knew was that I wanted to get out of there and explore the world. I grew up loving music and writing poetry as well as performing in theater. I always thought I would go to New York and follow in Madonna's footsteps or go to Hollywood and become the next Lucille Ball. All of the "placement tests" said I should do something related to the arts. I always wondered where that would lead me. Little did I know then...

Strawberry Shortcake Catching Light Series Umbrella

What other shops or artists out there do you love?
There are so many artists on Etsy & some that I have met on Flickr whose work I am just in awe of. I would have to say that my biggest inspiration comes from

Lars Van De Goor
Andrea Barrett
and of course Mother Nature herself inspires me daily.

What does your future hold?
My future? I am taking it one step at a time right now. I am working on a book of poetry and images. And at the top of my list for the upcoming year is seeking licensing for my images. All I know is that I am in a happy place right now and am looking forward to seeing what's around the bend.

See more from Tia at 1000beautifulthings.com, Etsy, and 1000beautifulthings.wordpress.com

Minster Hill

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:28:00 +0000

Howard Herrick

Ten years is a long time to wait for anything. But that’s exactly how long fans of New Jersey based rock outfit Minster Hill have been clamoring for a follow up to their critically acclaimed self titled debut.
Just released this fall, "Capturing Clouds in a Bottle", Minster Hill's sophomore disc features a completely different sound than what fans are used to. The surreal imagery and insightfully sarcastic lyrics remain but the folk-influenced sound that dominated their debut has been replaced by a decidedly more polished power pop/rock sound.

Though there has been a decade long space between albums, Minster Hill front man Howard Herrick has not been idle. “I spent most of the last few years honing my skills, just basically starting from scratch again.” In that time he recorded over 100 songs and acted as the Executive Music Producer on the Renee Zelwegger and Kevin Bacon movie My One and Only.

At 44 years old Herrick is not your typical musician. He’s a father and husband who is much more concerned with making good music than with touring and enjoying the lifestyle that comes with it, and that mind state is reflected in his writing.“ As you get older you really do mellow out. I’ve actually watched and noticed how I’ve changed as a writer, I started out not following any rules at all and as I’ve gotten older I realized how much structure means and realized how much you really need to have elements to make that song stick in the listeners head.”

Aside from Herrick’s improved songwriting skills he also had to deal with the change in how to market and sell music since he last released an album. “I look at the internet as a whole new world and I feel like I had to completely start over and figure out how to reach my listeners.” The solution to this problem was creating a one stop shop of sorts in howardherrick.com, where the MH front man streams and sells his music but also showcases his photography, sculptures and a forthcoming children’s book/CD companion package.

How do you describe your music to people, Howard?
"Minster Hill a place where power-pop music florishes from the seedlings of greats like Cheap Trick, Weezer and the Beatles"

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!
Record, write, play, listen, read,,,,,,,,

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Making money to be able to make more music!

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
I thought I'd be a football coach or involved in my Father's work.
However, I "hoped" to be creating music as young as I could remember.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Since I do not tour my community has really had very little impact.
I do get the opportunity to inspire and show other younger musicians that live in my area what I do and that is very satisfying.

What other artists out there do you love?
The Beatles          The Who
Cheap Trick         Squeeze
XTC                    Jeff Buckley
The Cars              James Taylor
Bread                   Genesis
Yes                      King Crimson
Jethro Tull            Flaming Lips
Wilco                   Led Zeppelin
Jellyfish                 Kinks
Badfinger              Raspberries
Big Star
and many many more!!!!!

What does your future hold?
I am currently writing songs for a new cinematic thriller out next year.
I would love to, much more often, release albums of my music.
I have a new pop record coming out the first quarter of 2010.
I also have an acoustic record, an Alternative Folk, Americana record in the can. I have been working on a progressive rock record, as well as a female vocal record in the style of Barbara Streisand meets Anita Baker.
I also would love to more often write for recording artists.
My long term goals, as of today, is to write for film and Broadway.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Adam Stokes

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:10:00 +0000

Adam Stokes

Seeing Adam Stokes perform live, the listener is impressed with the passion and honesty of his performance... as well as a distinct and soulful voice. The timbre of it might be likened to James Taylor or Cat Stevens, but with a more contemporary flavor. Much like his songwriting, this voice resonates with the character of his personal journey.

Adam's first record Friends Like These, was released in Austin, TX in the spring of 2000. It was well received on the local scene, becoming a top-selling local record two consecutive months at the famous Waterloo Records in Austin and receiving airplay on the infamous local radio station KGSR. Stokes also gained national attention when he earned a showcase at the CMJ New Music Marathon in NYC in 2001, an honorable mention in the John Lennon and USA songwriting competitions, and had songs on a variety of compilation CDs. Coca-Cola and Dick Clark productions chose Adam as one of the top 50 unsigned bands for 2001.

2002-2004 saw Adam testing his road metal as he criss-crossed the country on a self-booked, self-promoted odyssey of coffeehouses and small clubs. A few “getting your van towed in NYC” –esque experiences, a blur of strange stinky couches, and tens of thousands of miles later, work began on a new record.

In 2005, Adam moved to Antigua, Guatemala to spend the year with his wife, a Maya archeologist, on a Fulbright grant. Throughout the year Adam played 3 or 4 weekly gigs in Antigua adding an international contingent to his growing number of appreciators. Returning to the States in 2006, Stokes was chosen as a finalist in both the 2006 and 2007 International songwriting competitions.

His recent release, October Sky (Fall 2009) includes a selection of songs that were written and honed on the road. Between the hundreds of shows and the countless miles, his inner journey has poured into his new music. This influence emerges in a sense of longing that is woven throughout the record.

How do you describe your music to people, Adam?
Americana flavored introspective folkrock

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I started writing little things here and there in early high-school, but never really knew what to do with them. Somewhere around 16 or 17 I borrowed a friend's guitar and started learning some chords, and suddenly it was very clear that all this creative energy could be channeled into this songwriting thing. Then in 1989 I got John Gorka's Land of the Bottom Line record for a christmas gift and everything changed. I knew I had to be a songwriter at that point.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Hike somewhere insanely beautiful, with someone insanely cool.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Promotion!
I am terrible at self promoting. It is the antithesis of my personality to hype myself.
A not too distant second is organization. If I could just get organized I would rule the world. (and we'd all have to be nice to each other)

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
Rich, (grew up in the 80s man)

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
I have been moving around a lot but I think the music community in Austin, TX has influenced me the most. There is an amazingly palpable sense of musical community in Austin. It is competitive to be sure, but that competition serves to sharpen bands up and just raises the level of acceptable professionalism, musicianship, or whatever. It just made me such a better songwriter, to be around such great songwriters

What other artists out there do you love?
John Gorka- wittiest performer ever!
Nanci Griffith - best storytelling songwriter ever!
Patti Griffin - Wow, just WOW!
Jackson Pollock - best painter ever
Gotta mention- James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, Lucinda and Victoria Williams, Martin Sexton, Paul Simon, Anyone who writes great songs
Artists who, by their art, change the way I see my world or my place in it.

What does your future hold?
My wife just finished her PHD (literally like a week ago) so we will be moving as soon as she gets a teaching position somewhere. (so if YOU know any psychics I'd love to know where we will wind up).
Regardless I will be able to tour and promote my new record and hopefully amass a small army of fans that then pay me to sit at home and write and record songs, posting them to the internet, while sitting in my underwear and eating honey-nut cheerios.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Blog Note

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:11:00 +0000

Hey guys! I am taking a quick break from posting. I will be back before you know it. I have lots of amazing artists lined up, and I am really excited about it.

Also, if you're waiting to hear from me about something I promise I haven't forgotten you! We'll be back to our regularly scheduled program shortly.

Definitions

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:02:00 +0000

Black Cotton Knit Cardigan

Karla of Definitions offers unique women's clothing pieces that are simple, delicate and timeless.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft, Karla.
I started sewing 20 years ago after having my four children. I wanted to shop at Jacobsons, an upscale department store, and could not afford it. A very dear friend taught me how to make patterns and there was no turning back. Jacobsons went out of business some years ago and I purchased one of their mannequins that I still use to make my garments; it's a dream come true.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Spending time with my family.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Staying disciplined enough not to buy fabric when I have no plan for it.

What item in your shop would you most like to receive as a gift if someone were shopping for you?
Everything!!!! If I have to choose one, a Cardigan; they're so simple and classy

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
A Singer

What other shops or artists out there do you love?
There are many, BCBG, Anne Klein, Donna Karan, Narciso Rodriguez

What does your future hold?
Great things

See more from Definitions at Definitions.etsy.com

Chris Daniels

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:49:00 +0000

Chris Daniels

Chris Daniels & the Kings have toured over two continents, playing in such diverse places as South America, Curacao, Japan, and all over Europe. Chris has appeared with legendary musicians B.B. King, Uncle Cracker, Blues Traveler, The Neville Brothers, Delbert McClinton, Sister Hazel, Sheryl Crow, Robert Cray, Taj Mahal, Al Kooper, Bonnie Raitt, Ziggy Marley, and The Fixx, to name only a few.

He took a moment on his tour bus to...well, pretty much tell us to go read another interview. But here is what he had to say to us.

How do you describe your music to people, Chris?
Brass and roll

rock and roll with a horn section

Keb Mo with horns

Little Feat with horns

not just another guitar band whining about nothing

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
There is a good "cover story" about me with all that info in the December Issue of The Colorado Music Buzz and that has my whole life story ( ho ho)

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Play guitar
sing
teach
sex
work out
travel

sounds like a bad date question

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Too much paper

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
a guitar player

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Denver has played a huge role ... see Colorado Music Buzz story

What other artists out there do you love?
Keb Mo
Tower of Power
The Weepies

What does your future hold?
A solo CD and a European tour

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Sarah Haskins in Target Women: Lessons 2009

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:17:00 +0000

Slo-Mo

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:35:00 +0000

Mic Wrecka and Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner

Slo-Mo is the brainchild of Philadelphia steel guitarist Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner. Brenner has recorded and played on the road with such artists as Badly Drawn Boy, Magnolia Electric Company, Marah, Melody Gardot, G Love and more, but Slo-Mo is something totally different. Mixing Brenner’s steel guitar grooves with frontman Mic Wrecka’s rhymes and hip hop poetry, Slo-Mo Featuring Mic Wrecka has become a Philly favorite, winning over fans with a slamming live show and uniquely funky tunes backed by a tight 8-piece band.

Slo-Mo’s first disc, Novelty (Bong Load, 2000) was produced by Tom Rothrock (Beck, Foo Fighters, James Blunt) and Beale Dabbs (R.L. Burnside, Lutefisk) and combined electronic beats and samples with Brenner’s dobro playing.

The follow-up was My Buzz Comes Back (PHIdelity, 2005) the first disc to feature Mic Wrecka as a collaborator. The Brenner/Wrecka co-written songs My Buzz Comes Back and Shackamaxon received heavy airplay from Philly station WXPN and the band, now augmented by singers Susan Rosetti and Steph Hayes (of Philly’s Stargazer Lily), set to work impressing audiences with their highly energetic live gigs.

The next disc Smokey Mountain (PHIdelity, 2007) continued the evolution of the band and further established Mic Wrecka as the frontman and main lyricist. Songs such as Shine As You Are and Aramingo Takeout immediately became live show staples.

With their newest, Gimme What You Got (Authentic Records, 2009), the band has created a disc that matches the excitement of their lives shows as well as showcasing the increased confidence of the unit itself. With the addition of keyboardist Daryl Hirsch, the line-up has solidified and bloomed into a band that consistently delivers the goods, night after night.

How do you describe your music to people?
Hip hop with steel guitar and pop elements.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I've been playing music for a while, been in bands since high school. But about 12-13 years ago, I got really into lap-style dobro and steel guitar, starting with bluegrass and then other stuff. I've always loved R&B and dance music, electronic stuff, so it was just a matter of time before i combined the steel guitar with hip hop or funk. I was just very lucky to meet Mic Wrecka and make such a cool partnership.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Sit around and practice and play steel guitar. I can't get enough of it. Sucks that I have a day job now.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Keeping the band happy and productive, keeping every show fresh and rocking, continuing to be creative

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
old

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Growing up in Philly, the sounds of R&B and funk and, later, hip hop, are inescapable. I grew up listening to white rock stations and learning classic rock, but it was music i heard as i walked around that probably had the deepest impact

What other artists out there do you love?
So many: but currently I'm really into Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Beyonce, Freddie Hubbard,
Jerry Douglas

What does your future hold?
I'm a musician, a father, a video editor, a writer: my crystal ball says "you will be very fucking busy from here on in."

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Jeffrey Paul Bobrick

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:03:00 +0000

Jeffrey Paul Bobrick

Billboard Award Winning singer/songwriter/pianist Jeffrey Paul Bobrick performs throughout the east coast and is creating a buzz with his "very clever, bright, intelligent songs" (Joey Reynolds, WOR radio). His demo EP, “When You Are Free,” is now available as is his Michael Jackson Tribute Song “Michael (The One and Only).”

How do you describe your music to people?
Billy Joel meets Josh Groban at a 1980's tribute concert put on by theater geeks!

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
Writing music, singing and performing always came very naturally to me. As young as four years old, I used to put on shows for my friends and family. This continued throughout my life and I was fortunate to have many opportunities to perform and also to see great performances. I was performing in Equity shows before I went to college and enjoyed being an actor in plays and indie films. However, my greatest love was music. When I stopped acting to do music, I knew it was the right decision for me and I've never looked back.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?

My favorite thing to do in the world is something that makes a difference for others or for our world. Sometimes that's performing, sometimes that's being a good friend, sometimes that's being a leader and creating opportunity. My goal is always to contribute.

Also, I do like baseball and tennis a lot!

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?

My biggest challenge when it comes to running my business is just getting the word out. My fans have been so great in telling people about me and bringing people to my shows and my web site. They tell people to go to my web site and download a FREE mp3. People do this and I'm grateful but having more people know who I am is the biggest challenge.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?

From a very early age, I thought I would be a performer or entertainer. I enjoy other things, but this has always been my passion.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
Growing up in New York City, surrounded by so much diversity, culture and art has certainly had an impact in who I am as a person and musician. In addition, my friends and fans have encouraged me to pursue my dreams no matter what.

What other artists out there do you love?
I LOVE so many artists out there. The list could go on and on and sometimes it does change, but I'll do my best to give you a little of everything.

Some of my favorite singers and songwriters include: Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald, Little Jimmy Scott, Brian Wilson, The Beatles (band and solo), Queen, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Jackie Wilson, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Jimmy Webb, tin-pan alley masters (Gershwin, Porter, Rogers and Hart, Berlin, Arlen, etc.), Peter, Paul and Mary, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Elton John, Eurythmics, Radiohead, Antony and the Johnsons, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Bob Marley, Dion DiMucci, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Regina Spektor, Morrissey, Keane, so much more rock, hip hop, jazz, classical, musical theater, punk and possibly you.

Classical: Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky, Edvard Grieg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Georg Frideric Handel, Franz Schubert, Fritz Kreisler, Fritz Wunderlich, Enrico Caruso, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Writers: Shakespeare, Plato, Keats, Yeats, Wordsworth, Tagore, Dickinson, C.S. Lewis, Steinbeck, Zora Neale Hurston, all that good stuff!

Films/Directors: M, Citizen Kane, Edward Scissorhands, The 400 Blows, The Court Jester, Dumbo, To Be and To Have, Tim Burton, Spielberg, Hitchcock, Lang, Scorsese, so many more!

Actors: Again, so many. Very partial to, among others, Cary Grant, Fiona Shaw, De Niro, Brando, Daniel Day Lewis, Simon McBurney, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, etc.

Visual Artists / Dancers, etc: I'd say I'm less influenced by the visual arts and dance, but there are many fine artists and dancers/choreographers I love. Included in this are the obvious Italian painters but also Picasso, a Lucian Freud, etc. Dancers, well, Baryshnikov, Sylvie Guillem. Choreographers: Robbins, Fosse, Balanchine Cunningham, Michael Peters, etc.

What does your future hold?
Right now I'm working on a new CD. I want it to be so good that it will blow people's minds!!!

See more from Jeffrey Paul Bobrick at www.ilovejpb.com, ilovejpb.wordpress.com, FaceBook, MySpace, and Twitter.

Click here to buy the music featured on Such Cool Stuff!

Authentic Fiction

coolstuffadmin@gmail.com (Fresh Peaches) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:19:00 +0000

Tini and Teetante of Authentic Fiction have a passion for wool and all fibers, which they connect with their other interests and experiences. Their yarns are inspired from science fiction, fantasy, movies, literature, nature, modern culture and travelling. They are also interested in past times and ancient crafts. They spin both special, extra-ordinary, just phantastic art yarns as well as plant-dyed and natural yarns with minimal chemical treatment.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
Tini
Well, one day, Teetante came to me, praising a new craft she had learned somewhere else: spinning. To be honest, my first thought was to get over with and try it once, so I can say what a bollocks that'd be...well, it turned out, it wasn't. It got a bit out of hand from then on with buying an enormous amount of fibre and a spinning wheel and...so it's all her fault!

Teetante
I re-started knitting around 4 years ago and always liked the idea of creating the yarn myself. On a renaissance fair a short time later I saw someone spinning with a hand spindle and was instantly hooked because you don't need a spinning wheel for that and I didn't have the money and space for one at that time. I got myself a spindle and tried on my own, but I didn't really start after a weekend's workshop from a nice spinner I met on the internet. After I started I couldn't stop anymore and added some more fiber hobbies like dyeing, weaving and sewing and doing some raw fiber processing myself.

Peacock - handspun artyarn with glass beads and sequins

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Tini
Hm...acting...no wait...Improv acting...no wait...maybe...spinning...no...more like...hanging out on the sofa the whole day without having to do anything at all while watching tv...maybe my motorcycle...music?...

Teetante
I enjoy reading, watching movies & SF shows, having good food, nice company and of course knitting and spinning. And the possible combinations of that.

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Tini
Lack of material. I have moved to London at the beginning of November but I could only take my drop spindle and some fiber with me. The result: I swear at the drop spindle because I miss my spinning wheel and I only have two colours right now. If you know me you know that I love colours. I miss my colours!
But at the beginning of January I will bring everything to London and we will live happily ever after!

Teetante
I have to say time. I started my PhD one year ago and sometimes can't afford to spend much time in fiber things. If I'm not too tired I can spin some yarns in the evening, but sometimes there's just the weekend. And there's always something to do, dyeing some fiber, spinning of course, but also things like working on the website or the blog, taking good photos (which sucks in winter in a north-facing apartment), loading them up and link to the sites where we tell people about what we do, coming up with new ideas and finding the right ingredients for that (in a still foreign and a bit strange country), doing some ads, mailing what we sold etc. But I still love the job, because it's so many different things I can do and learn. I just wished there was more time for it.

What item in your shop would you most like to receive as a gift if someone were shopping for you?

Walnut Stripes - handspun handdyed natural dye yarn

Tini:
Teetante's "Happy Onion". Those colours...

Teetante:
From Tini's creations I really really like the Great Barrier Reef cuffs, they are really really gorgeous!
It's not in the shop at the moment because it still spends some time in Germany, but here is a picture.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
Tini
Astronaut. Still would try if my eyes hadn't decided to shrink into some excuse of a visual instrument when I was eight. The "being a pilot" plan B was also burried at that time.

Teetante
Apart from the stuff you come up with because every girl wants to become it (nurse, vet, something with horses...) I really enjoyed documentaries on Astronomy and wanted to become an Astronomer. Other things I imagined were gardener or librarian. And it really turned out to be sciences, though I take a detour to rocks right now. But maybe it's "Ad Astra per Aspera" and I will still end up in stellar regions later.

What other shops or artists out there do you love?
Tini
Yarn shops: snowberrylime and weirdandtwisted on etsy
General: malam on etsy. Check out her "Alice in Wonderland" dress. OMG!
[Also check out the SCS interview with malam! - Ed.]

Teetante
I successfully could prevent myself to do much etsy-exploring (and shopping), so there are not many shops I can recommend, but I saw tons of nice earrings. I love earrings. Should look for some on etsy. Now...

Blue Fire - handspun merino silk art yarn

What does your future hold?

Tini:
Not even God knows that one... I finished my law degree on October 31st. After that...Freedom? No law, fun, acting (hopefully), film making (hopefully), a full shop (hopefully), an empty shop (hopefully), music, people, and peace.

Teetante:
Who really knows? Would also be quite boring. I just hope to end up with an interesting job but enough free time for my hobbies and friends. And lots of books and fiber. And a nice home in the Green with a little garden and a cat, I'm tired of moving all the time. But I'm afraid that will take some more time.

See more from Tini and Teetante at Etsy,Twitter, authenticfiction.blogspot.com, and authenticfiction.net