"The Zine" content is contributed by Dave Latchaw and colleagues who use the Internet to promote their musical projects. You can check out previous issues at "The Zine" Archives.
- Article: "The Internet Musician 2003" by Dave Latchaw
- Guest Artist: Jake Ezra - Jazz rockin' good time!
- Featured Web Site: SynthEdit.com
- Featured Web Video: wbjazz.com
- CD Pick: John Scofield "Up All Night"
The Internet Musician 2003
by Dave Latchaw
This month begins the fourth year that Latch Music has published a monthly e-zine directed towards musicians, students and fans of music. Both the e-zine and the Latch Music web site have been a fun challenge and an interesting experience for us, with me contributing content, and my wife, Margery, editor and webmaster. The more we have learned about the Internet, the more we realize that there is always something new to learn, which is frustrating and exciting at the same time. With the Internet constantly changing, it forces a Web Musician to adapt their Internet activities accordingly. What worked three years ago doesn't necessarily work now. One has to learn to adapt to the ever changing on-line medium. Seeing many aspects of free music services disappear has frustrated many musicians, because unless you're already one of the few musicians in the league of Sting or Prince, money matters. Of course a great record deal would be cool, but having control of your musical destiny is very appealing also. I find being an Independent Internet Musician considerably less frustrating than when I had my foot in the Record Bizz door with the Scottish Rock Band "The Heat", where so much of what we were trying to achieve was out of our control and in the control of management, lawyers and record executives. Being an Independent Internet Musician allows one to have control of their own musical decisions and directions. The Independent Internet Musician can tweak their on-line presence anytime they want to or need to, follow any musical whim, and be with any given Internet company for distribution of their musical product.
Honestly, being an Internet Musician and publishing an e-zine is just plain good fun for me. It's been very rewarding to have a forum where each month I can write about whatever is on my mind, let people know which web sites, web videos, and recordings I think are cool, and interview a guest artist. The Zine is a way that people can have a window into what I think as a musician, educator, student, and fan of music. I think that it's important for musicians to make an effort to connect with an audience and give insight into themselves. The greater the connection, the more likely a fan will follow one's musical path of creativity. That alone is enough reason for me to spend time on having an Internet presence. Not everyone is up for the challenge of getting their Internet presence going, but I still feel that if you can learn to play an instrument, you can learn to make your own web site, and the Internet can be a useful tool.
With the Internet constantly changing, it becomes even more important for the Independent Musician to have their own web site, and be able to use search engine keywords to make the potential music fan more directly aware of you. It gives a musician a jumping off point to bring people to whatever sites they are using for the distribution of their music. Sites like MP3.com have gotten so huge that it becomes increasingly easy to be missed, which makes it even more important to have your own site. The days of throwing some tunes up on MP3.com or IUMA and having that be successful, are pretty much over. These companies, like so many other music companies, are just barely holding on to their business and keeping it viable. The benefits they once offered to musicians for free are no longer affordable. This has discouraged many artists from pursuing the on-line potential. Initially, there was so much capital for so many Internet companies, that the Internet seemed to be a cash cow. It may not be the easy money it once was, but can still be an integral part of the Independent Internet Musician's game plan, even if it's used only for producing product as the artist needs it. We no longer have to have a thousand CDs sitting in our studio, with many sites you can get your CD inventory in smaller numbers, which makes starting your own label more affordable.
If the Independent Internet Musician can look at themself as a business and be willing to spend a little money to use the Internet as a promotional tool, it's really fairly economical. For instance, using a company like iPowerWeb, you can get 500 MB of space for $7.95 a month, and at Basic Templates, you can get web site templates to help you build your own site with a price range from $.12 to $5.00. $7.95 a month for hosting and a $5.00 template is a pretty reasonable amount to pay to promote yourself and your music business. A lot of people left MP3.com because they began charging artists for many of the features. I don't mind paying some money to be on mp3.com. I especially like being able to see on my MP3.com stats where in the world people are checking out my music. To me, it's worth the money to see that I'm having my music played in Argentina, Bolivia, Yugoslavia, Zambia or wherever. I may not be in an economic position to tour there, but knowing that people in those far off places are checking out my music is completely cool to me. Even if one would use the Platinum Artist Feature at mp3.com just for more Internet exposure, at $14.99 a month plus $7.95 a month to your web host, that's less than $23.00, which is a pretty reasonable advertising budget.
Most Internet situations are non-exclusive, which allows the artist flexibility. One can have their music on many sites, or focus on just a few. We still find that my MP3.com site is fairly cool for mp3 distribution, but we are thrilled to now be part of Peace Work Music Net to sell my music in higher quality wave files. Check out or buy "Reflections", "Glencoe", "Jazztronica", and "Enhance My Trance" at Peace Work Music Net. They also sell singles off the disc, and hand-pick which artists they want on their site, which makes it appealing to us at Latch Music. Selling singles is a cool feature. As much as you want people to dig your full recording, the reality is that not everyone will feel the same way you do about any one given track. Currently, having the ability to sell single tracks makes sense to us.
There is no time like the present to promote your work. If you don't try to get your artistic endeavors out there, who is going to know about your efforts? Be willing to have a go at your own site. Think of it as always a work in progress, and tweak it as you go. You may even have some fun!
Jake Ezra
#1 Where on the Internet can people find out more about you and your musical activities?
The website for my band Van Davis went up this past June and can be found at www.vandavis.com. The site contains biographical information, a photo gallery, a link to our MP3.com site, etc. To get to know the band beyond what you might find on a typical "band website", click on the "Eclectic Wisdom" link on the bottom left-hand corner of the homepage for some extras! To hear three our of songs, check out our MP3 site at www.mp3.com/van_davis
#2 What kind of music education have you had that has helped you to be able to play guitar around New York and do sub work for shows like the off-Broadway, "Dream A Little Dream"?
My father is a successful musician, and he encouraged me to play piano at age seven. The guitar got a permanent hold on me two years later when I saw Van Halen's legendary 1984 tour. Playing guitar became my number one passion, which I explored in various bands in high school and college.
At age 18 I wanted to be a rock star, but instead I majored in classical guitar/music education at William Paterson University in New Jersey. Although I was a classical major, I made use of the university's renowned jazz department — I was exposed to great jazz music and musicians, and I met future collaborators. After earning my degree I pursued teaching music for a few years, but I always knew that I'd be most happy performing my own music and finding my own voice.
I've been open to many musical experiences, including working in New York theatre. Several years ago I found myself subbing as guitarist in the pit of Broadway's Footloose, which has more recently opened doors for me to sub on the off-Broadway shows Little Fish and Dream A Little Dream: The Mamas and Papas Musical (in which I play mandolin, banjo, and harmonica in addition to electric and acoustic guitar).
#3 Who are the other members of Van Davis, and how did you decide to do a serious project together?
The current lineup of Van Davis is myself on guitar, Patrick Carmichael on drums, and Ron Baron on bass. The members of Van Davis set out to combine many of our influences into a project that never loses its rock ‘n’ roll roots. I had always aspired to bring aspects of jazz, including improvisation, musicianship, and talent (I learned at college that you couldn't be a hack and play jazz well) to the excitement of rock. A goal of Van Davis is to find freedom in the rebelliousness and intensity of rock ‘n’ roll as well as in the improvisation and intelligence of jazz.
Patrick Carmichael, our drummer, really understood the feel and style of our music from the beginning. He's an extremely gifted player who gigs all over Manhattan and is also a great, fun person to work with. In my opinion he can make anything sound better. Ron Baron, our bassist, is the newest addition to Van Davis. I met him while playing with the fusion violinist Joe Deninzon, and I was very impressed with Ron’s jazz sensibilities and understanding of improvisation. A self proclaimed "jazz punk" in the tradition of Jaco Pastorius, he plays the bass with unparalleled intensity. Being a new band member, we have not yet recorded together, but look for a future CD featuring Ron on bass.
#4 Who are some of your musical influences that inspired you and your band "Van Davis" to develop your own voice, and why?
When the band was in its earlier stages, our name Van Davis represented an amalgamation of two of our influences — Van Halen and Miles Davis. The band has evolved very much in the last year or so, becoming more eclectic and demonstrating our appreciation of many genres of music, including even electronica and surf music.
Some of the artists who have influenced us include (in no particular order): Van Halen, Miles Davis, Boston, Queen, Tower of Power, Steve Morse, Bach, Mozart, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Brent Mason . . . the list could go on and on. My favorite guitar player of all time is Jimmy Herring (of Aquarium Rescue Unit and The Other Ones) because he seamlessly combines styles; you don’t know where he'll "go" next, but wherever it is, it'll make you smile. Van Davis attributes much of our sound to a variety of different musical genres, and especially to music that is heavy or groove-oriented.
#5 What qualities do you find in each others playing that makes the music of "Van Davis" work?
Patrick and Ron play with heaviness and authority yet never lose the groove and feel of the tune. We all have really good energy together — when we play we are very relaxed and know that we're all on the same page, yet at the same time there's an unpredictability that's exciting and vital. I have composed most of our songs and I notate specific parts, and I find that Patrick and Ron find a great balance between playing what's written and giving their own signature stamp to the music. In addition, gigging and rehearsing with the trio is always a blast because we all love playing our instruments and enjoy the music we're making.
#6 What do you want the listener to get from the debut recording of "Van Davis"?
It may sound clichéd to say I want to take the listener on a journey, but that's really my goal. Many of the songs on the recording are rooted in specific styles, and each song expresses a certain mood and vibe. For instance our song "Even If" is an energetic Latin-influenced song, "Assgrass" is my take on country/bluegrass, and "9" is a simple-yet-powerful blues tune. We have a song called "In Your Face, Space Coyote" which is heavy and progressive and explores everything from video game music to new age acoustic to thundering riffs. Listeners have responded very positively to the surprises in our eight tracks.
Our debut album is instrumental, and I'm happy with the energy and passion that comes through in the playing. I had set to write instrumental songs that would grab and keep listeners' attention by utilizing the guitar as a sort of "lead vocal" or main melody. I paid close attention to see that the songs had strong melodies and grooves and that one did not eclipse the other. The recording is not overproduced, and it is a true translation of the live sound of the band at the time we made the CD.
#7 What future projects and events should people look for from you?
Van Davis is currently playing live around the New York area. We're writing a lot of new material and trying to expand the possibilities within instrumental music. We're in the process of adding guest musicians including vocalists, who will use the voice as an instrument in the texture of the music. We hope to build a larger fan base and keep playing as much as possible.
I am also pursuing several other exciting projects on my own. Along with the work I'm doing in New York theatre, I'm one half of a world music acoustic guitar duo with Nat Janoff (www.natjanoff.com), an amazing guitarist and William Paterson alumnus. Our CD, Nat Janoff/Jake Schwartz Live can be purchased online at Amazon.com and CDBaby.com.
I also work with the fusion violinist Joe Deninzon (www.joedeninzon.com), and I'm featured on his soon-to-be-released live CD alongside guitarist Alex Skolnick (formerly of Testament, currently heading the Alex Skolnick Trio).
Overall, I feel fortunate to work with such talented musicians, and I plan on playing until my fingers fall off.
#8 How is the Internet working for you and the band?
One of the most interesting ways the Internet has given us exposure is through a live webcast (performance and interview) which was transmitted over the Internet by a college radio station. Listeners from all over the country sent Instant Messages to the station, asking Van Davis questions and offering many positive comments.
Our website is helpful in getting the word out about the band, and we also sell our CD online and keep in touch with fans through an e-mailing list. Curious websurfers can visit our MP3.com site (www.mp3.com/van_davis) to hear tracks from our CD. MP3.com has also led to MP3.com station play including the "Fusion" Latch Music stations; this has helped us in building a fan base and finding people who enjoy our kind of music.
SynthEdit.com
Synth Edit is a very cool shareware modular synthesizer that allows you (with Windows 98 or better) to design your own virtual synth or drum machine. With this software you can also make your own VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plug-ins, play live via MIDI keyboard or MIDI file, use VST Plug-in instruments and effects with no restrictions on how you connect them, record and play multi-channel audio to disk, play wave files, and process live audio with a full-duplex soundcard. With Synth Edit I was able to develop my own usable synth in a very short time, which was a blast. What a great way to learn about synthesis! There is also a huge community of Synth Edit users that one can belong to and check out what other people are developing with the Synth Edit software. Much fun. Click here to check out Synth Edit today.
wbjazz.com
Warner Brothers has a very cool video page promoting some of the great artists on their label. There are video interviews and performances with such brilliant artists as Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Kenny Garrett, and also wonderful performances of The Pat Metheny Group doing "The Heat of the Day", and Miles Davis doing "The Doo Bop Song". If you have some time and want to use it constructively, check out these fun streaming videos!
John Scofield
"Up All Night"
John Scofield is truly a improvisational master. "Uberjam" was a great recording, but it seemed transitional and less focused than his new "Up All Night", which seems to be where Scofield was going with his sampledelic jazz. The playing and direction of the music is more cohesive, which can only come from a group having more time together in collective improvisation. If you're into Jazztronics, this recording is a must. Making electronics work in a musically organic way is the best way to use technology. Scofield and his band have really evolved into a very important unit of musicians who are blazing the electric jazz trails. Scofield definitely has kept the spirit of Miles alive with this recording. Buy "Up All Night" today!
Musicians for "Up All Night"
John Scofield - Electric Guitar, Guitar Samples
Avi Bortnick - Rhythm Guitar, Samples, Loops
Andy Hess - Bass
Adam Deitch - Drums
Tracks for "Up All Night"
- Philiopiety
- Watch Out For Po-Po
- Creeper
- Watcha See Is Watcha Get
- I'm Listening
- Thikhathali
- Four On The Floor
- Like The Moon
- Freakin' Disco
- Born In Troubled Times
- Every Night Is Ladies Night
Click here to learn more about "Up All Night"
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