Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Music: Interview with Jon Magnusson, eclectic #songwriter and musician

We always find the most interesting musicians around the world and it's a pleasure to introduce Jon Magnusson, a Swedish songwriter and musician with a wide range of musical talent. Read on to find more about his music!




Welcome! Please tell us a little about your background and where you are from.

I'm from Stockholm, Sweden and I have been playing music since I was a little kid. But I've been doing it more seriously the last 2.5 years. 

What kind of music do you play and why did you choose this genre?

I started playing mostly indie and folk but with time I have explored new genres like jazz and progressive rock. I have even done some electronica and hip hop collaborations.


It’s great to explore! Who was your greatest influence to follow in the music career? Why?

I use to say I have three big influences: 1. Swedish and British punk 2. Leonard Cohen 3. Simon & Garfunkel.

Excellent influences! Do you also write the lyrics and compose the songs?

I do almost everything. From writing music and lyrics to producing and recording. I do collaborate with two great producers/engineers as well.

Very creative! You seem to be involved in most of the production of your music. When was the first time you performed live and how did you feel?

2 years ago in a little venue in Stockholm and I was dead nervous but on stage it felt amazing.

I bet it was nerve-wracking but I’m sure you are pretty comfortable performing! Is there a specific performance you feel was your best so far? If so, where and why?

A gig I did at a pub in Brighton, UK. A lot of people showed up and even though almost no one knew my music I got them to sing-along to the last song. 

Fantastic! What do you enjoy the most about your interaction with the fans?

That it gives me both encouragement and inspirations to write new songs. I love when people share their story with me.

Awesome. You just mentioned that your fans give you inspiration to write new songs, but is there anywhere else that makes you draw inspiration to compose? 

From a lot of different places. Real life experience, literature, other's experiences. I also like writing from others perspective, build up a character and try to imagine myself in his or her shoes.

What are you working on now and what are your plans for the future? Where can we find and buy your music?

I recently finished an instrumental EP that's more prog folk/jazz/psychedelic and I'm planning the release of it. Then you'll never know what I will come up with :) Best place is via my website www.jonmagnusson.se where you can find links to all different places where you can buy/stream my music.


Congratulations on your newest release! Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I love getting to know my listeners so please get in touch via e-mail or my messenger m.me/jonmagnussonof


Thank you so much for your time, and we wish you lots of success in your music career!
 


Saturday, January 12, 2019

Music: Interview with Canadian dark rock band Unveil

Happy New Year! For the first post of the year, we've had the pleasure to interview a super cool band! Unveil is a female fronted dark rock band from Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. Known for their high energy live shows, the seasoned four piece band blends classic metal riffs with haunting melodies to forge a sound akin to Evanescence, Birthday Massacre and Halestorm. Want to know more? Read on to find out what Jow (lead vocal) and Alain (guitar, vocals) had to share!

Tell us a little about your background!

Jow: My father was a musician, he played drums in several bands in the 60's (dressed up like the Beatles of which he was a fan). He was also an illustrator. Music and arts live in my veins thanks to him. I remember always singing over the radio in the car when I was very young. Everybody told me that I’d surely be a singer someday... but I never thought that it would come true. In high school, I was in a choir, started to play guitar, had an all-girl band, The Censured Ladies, we were playing Nirvana and Green Day and I was a DJ at the student radio. The music I played was only underground music.
I founded Innervoice, my folk solo project in 1994 but started to play outside my room in 2008. In 2006, when I was looking for musicians for Innervoice, I was approached to sing in a band that soon became Blame Adrianne, a Stoner-Rock band. I was featured in several projects as a back vocalist live or in studio (Hardluck Battleground, Speakeasy, Psychic Octopus, Unveil, etc). In 2011, I became officially part of Unveil as the lead singer and I started the band Les Gilles Thunder, a Country-Humorous-Trash band. I did a few music chronicles on the net and for campus radio, CFAK. I've been judge in a local music contest for 7 years and I'm a booker for a little festival in our town called Familifête.
So, I think, as you can read, that the secret of my voice is that I always sang, in different styles and whatever I do I'm always in relation with music or arts.

Your voice is fantastic! What's the story behind the band's name?

Alain: We wanted a name that evoked storytelling and mystery. So we brainstormed ideas around a first name I brought to the table: Dream Spinner. At one point someone said: Unveil and the room went silent. Perfect.

That’s a pretty cool name for a band. Who was your greatest influence to follow in the music career? Why?

Jow: Oh my! The 100$ question! Haha! I don't want to be like someone else, I want to do things my way. There's A LOT of singers that I admire, but I don't want to be a clone. I can say that my biggest influence is Grunge and Rock music because I grew in the 80's and when I listen to this music it give me this real satisfaction like the first time I listened to it when I was young.

It’s great to be unique! Do you also write the lyrics and compose the songs?

Jow: Yes. Since I started to play music. I always wrote the lyrics of my songs and compose music. I'm known for my catchy melodies. I've wrote 2 texts in our latest album The Deep Sleep: Captain's Flesh and Listen to yourself. And I've already 4 others in construction for the future. In Unveil, Alain and I write each on our side and after that we show each other our texts. The melody and the main music is created by the two of us. After that, we play it to the guys and they add their touch to it.

When was the first time you performed live and how did you feel?

Jow: When I was in high school, I performed a lot (talent show, choir, lipsync, theater). The stage was the only place where I wasn't shy.  But as a singer in a band, my first time was in 2007 with my band Blame Adrianne. The bar was crowded, I was so nervous, all my clothes was soaking wet of sweat before I began. I clung to my mic stand the entire set. I think it intimidated me less to know that I was hiding behind it. Ha ha! But I quickly got rid of it. I need to go in the crowd and jump on the stage now!!

Sounds like a lot of fun! Is there a specific performance you feel was your best so far? If so, where and why?

Jow: Yes, at our launch party for The Deep Sleep. It was in a cool little bar in our hometown, the place was crowded with our friends and family. I was touched by all this love. I cried before the show. The dynamic in the band was like "we are one"! We were ready, happy and excited to play. The feeling was awesome!

That must have been thrilling! What do you enjoy the most about your interaction with the fans?

Jow: The crowd nourish me when I perform. They are the important ingredient to do a great show! I like to speak with them, know them better, having their feedback to improve ourselves. Fans are why we are alive.


How do you draw inspiration to write your music?

Jow: I draw inspiration from a feeling I'm putting myself in. I think of a main story and I wrap myself with the feeling that is forwarded in the story and I write it down.

Great to write deep feeling music! What are you working on now and what are your plans for the future? Where can we find and buy your music?



Alain: For now, Jow and I are writing new material. When we get a sense of the general direction these songs will take us, we will evaluate our options. A new album, an EP, a concept show, a video series? At this point, anything could happen. The songs will lead the way. 
You can enjoy our two releases, The Deep Sleep and Codex Noctem, on all major streaming/download sites (Apple Music, Spotify, etc.). If you prefer videos, we have a web series entitled the Oblik session on YouTube at http://bit.ly/OblikSession. And for collectors, we have limited edition book-style CD of our new album “The Deep Sleep” available at http://bit.ly/UnveilCDs  

I really enjoy your sound and I’ll be looking forward to new releases. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Jow: Thank you very much for you interest in our band. It's always a pleasure to do interviews. Hope you like it.  You can keep in touch with us and be noticed of all the latest news on our website: www.unveil616.com
Rock on!
Jow

Thank you so much to Jow and Alain from Unveil for this great interview! 

To sample their music and find out more about the band, here are some cool links:
Here is a link to our EPK where you will find info, bio, music, videos and more: https://unveil616.com/the-deep-sleep
You can also listen to our music on YouTube at the following link: http://bit.ly/OblikSession

Follow the band: