Category: Interview

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Lee DeWyze gets personal with his new album, ‘Paranoia’

There’s something special about Lee DeWyze’s new album, Paranoia. It’s the singer/songwriter and American Idol winner’s seventh studio album, and his first full-length set since 2016’s Oil and Water, but it’s also a collection of reflective introspection.

In addition to emotionally-driven songs like “Let Go,” “Got It Right,” Carry Us Through,” and the title-track, the new album also includes “The Breakdown,” DeWyze’s hauntingly beautiful song of love realized.

There’s a lot of space on Paranoia, which DeWyze will tell you was left intentionally to leave the listener with even more room for thought.

AXS recently spoke with Lee DeWyze about Paranoia (which will be released on February 16) and more in this new interview.

AXS: What inspired this new album?

Lee DeWyze: I’ve always been a singer-songwriter who plays guitar. It’s what I do, but I never want to be bored with myself. I wanted to do something that was me, but me in a different place. It was one of those situations where it wasn’t an album from the get-go. It was more of a situation where I was writing, and as I continued, it felt more like a collection of music that belonged together. The inspiration behind the record actually kick-started with the song, “Paranoia.” I already had pieces for a few of the other songs, but once I started working on “Paranoia” and then “The Breakdown” all the other songs started to come together. Production; instrumentation; vibe. Everything started to feel connected. I wanted to go into the studio when I was inspired and capture those emotions to put in the songs. At the end of the day, I wanted it to feel like an album that you could listen to from beginning to end. Individual pieces that make up a much larger thing.

AXS: Did you find the process of writing an album this way to be more therapeutic for you creatively?

LD: “Therapeutic” is the right word because there were moments where it felt so good to get into the studio and work on the songs. There’s a feeling that comes when you play live on stage where you consciously say nothing else matters. When you’re up there, you’re in the moment, and all of the outside stuff goes away. It felt that way every time I went into the studio.

AXS: Let’s discuss a few more tracks from Paranoia, starting with “Let Go.”

LD: Some of the songs on this record were written in real time, and “Let Go” was one of them. I was sitting in the studio and started playing the riff that opens the song over and over for hours. Then I just started writing. Some of it was really in the moment, emotionally.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Lee DeWyze by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Chappell Roan discusses her new album, ‘School Nights’ and new tour
Photography by Catie Laffoon

From the moment Chappell Roan forced herself from her mid-western roots to showcase for labels in New York it’s been nothing but a steady trajectory of success. The singer/songwriter, whose hauntingly beautiful voice conjures images of Stevie Nicks and Carole King, shines brightly on her debut EP,  School Nights. The magical, five-song album is fueled with a rawness of teenage emotion, maturely crafted writing and Roan’s undeniably melancholic and infectious vocal prowess.

Roan will soon be touring alongside Declan McKenna for a  new tour that will get underway Jan. 31 and travel throughout the U.S. until the end of March.

AXS recently spoke with Chappell Roan about her School Nights and more in this new interview.

AXS: How would you describe your new EP, School Nights?

Chappell Roan: Sonically, I’d say that it’s very dark pop with some influences of the sixties and seventies. I really wanted to showcase a very moody vibe with his album.

AXS: What’s your songwriting process like?

CR: When I write, I usually think about what I’m feeling. The feeling is what inspires the song. Then, I’ll think of a melody and plug the lyrics in once I figure out what the song’s about. I also have a list on my phone filled with words and phrases that I hear people say, or with sentences from books that I think might be cool for a song. Sometimes, it may take three hours to write a song, and other times three months. It all depends on the feeling.

AXS: I want to get your thoughts on the songs from the EP. What can you tell me about “Die Young”?

CR: I wrote that song when I was sixteen, and it’s a song that’s really different from the rest. It’s not so much about love and being in a relationship as it is about a battle within myself. I was going through a hard time with my parents and with making friends when I wrote it. I really didn’t know what to but my outlet was writing.

AXS: “Good Hurt.”

CR:  I was very confused when I wrote that one. I was in a relationship, but I wanted my old relationship back. The old relationship was toxic, and I couldn’t figure out why I wanted it back. I wrote about wanting to be comfortable, but knowing that doing so meant that you were going to be treated badly. I think a lot of people can relate to it. It was about me knowing I shouldn’t do something that was wrong but doing it anyway. It hurts, but it was comfortable.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Chappell Roan by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music, Uncategorized

Interview: Maxine and Roxy Petrucci discuss new Madam X album, ‘Monstrocity’

Thirty years seems like a long time for a band to release sophomore album, but for the all-original line of Madam X: Bret Kaiser (vocals), Maxine Petrucci (guitars), Chris “Godzilla” Doliber (bass) and Roxy Petrucci (drums), the wait was certainly worth it. The band, who’s 1984 debut, We Reserve The Right was fueled by the infectious guitar/drum wizardry of sisters Maxine and Roxy Petrucci have released the long-awaited “follow-up” three decades later. The ferociously aggressive, Monstrocity.

Monstrocity captures the classic vibe of the veteran foursome while tastefully bringing the band into the 21st century with well-crafted songs, ubiquitous grooves and a production that includes the likes of veteran mixer, Michael Wagener (Metallica, Ozzy) and Mark Slaughter as well as a guest appearance by Janet Gardner (Vixen).

AXS recently spoke with Maxine and Roxy Petrucci about Monstrocity and more in this new interview.

AXS: It’s been more than thirty years since we last heard from Madam X. What sparked the reunion?

Roxy Petrucci: Madam X fans are so loyal. I’d been out touring in Europe with Vixen and noticed a lot of Madam X memorabilia coming through our meet and greet line. I thought it would be cool to maybe release one song with all the original Madam X members, just for the fans. I ran the idea past the band and everyone was on board.

Maxine Petrucci: We released a single in 2014 to get us started, “Another 80’s Rock Song.” That sparked interest from Sweden Rock. They contacted us and asked if we’d be interested in playing Sweden Rock 2014. When we played, there were close to 20,000 people there. We were in shock, but once we hit that first chord we realized the chemistry was still there. It felt very comfortable and like thirty years hadn’t even gone by. We picked up right where we left off. That was when we thought about doing an album for the fans. Madam X was back.

AXS: What were those early writing sessions like?

RP: Bret had a song with a cool riff that needed a little work. So, Maxine and I took it and started tweaking it. That song turned out to be, “Hello Cleveland,” and that’s what really inspired us to write some more. But we didn’t want to just throw something out there. We were passionate about releasing great stuff and worked really hard and took our time.

Read the rest of my
axs
Interview with Maxine & Roxy Petrucci Here.

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Jeff Angell discusses new Walking Papers album, ‘WP2’
Photo: Dean Karr and used with permission

Walking Papers, the Seattle-based band that features Jefferson Angell (The Missionary Position), Benjamin Anderson (The Missionary Position), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) and Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) will release their moody and carnal sophomore album, WP2 on Friday, January 19.

The new album is a culmination of groove-infused, songwriting maturity and the result of nearly three years of touring throughout Europe and North America. Although rooted in blues, soul, and classic rock, WP2 delivers deeper musical exploration to the band’s ever-increasing fan base.

AXS recently spoke with Angell about the new Walking Papers album and more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: How does WP2 compare to some of your previous work?

Jeff Angell: The one thing that’s exceptional about this album is the fact that we’ve toured and played so many shows together. It really captures the live and visceral energy of a band at the top of their game but at the same time, still has some gloss and ambiance of a studio recording. It’s a self-indulgent studio experience with the best of both worlds.

AXS: What’s your typical songwriting process like?

JA: I’m a lyric guy. Music to me is more spontaneous. Music is the body and lyrics are the head, but you need both to validate each other. I usually go with my gut on music, and the inspiration (the 1%), happens almost instantly. Then it becomes a matter of hammering down the lyrics, which is the other 99%.

AXS: Do you draw inspiration for your lyrics from life experience?

JA: I’ve known a lot of characters in my life, and some of them have certainly inspired me. At the same time, I have a filter on everything that’s happening. There’s a lot of characters in these songs, and maybe some of them are a reflection of myself. It’s all about sitting on the fence and looking at each side and being at the apex of making a decision. Sometimes, it’s what you want to do and other times it’s what the world allows you to do.

AXS: Let’s discuss a few tracks from the new album, beginning with “Death On The Lips”. What can you tell me about it?

JA: When this record was coming together (and that song in particular), I started to see a common thread: temptation and redemption. When you’re on the road, that lifestyle invites you to make bad decisions. I wasn’t struggling with it, but I was aware of it, and it got my head thinking about things I’ve done in my past and about being grateful for not being in that world anymore.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Jeff Angell by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Dead Daisies bassist, Marco Mendoza discusses his new solo album, ‘Viva La Rock’

It’s been nearly eight years since The Dead Daisies bassist, Marco Mendoza released a solo album, but with the pending release of his monstrous ‘Viva La Rock’ [produced by Soren Anderson], Mendoza’s proves that the wait was worth it.

For Mendoza, whose resume also includes stints with such legendary bands as Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake as well as work with artists like Ted Nugentand Neal Schon, ‘Viva La Rock’ is a groove-fueled celebration of life and love as well as a tip of the hat to his musical past.

Songs like the album’s title track, a catchphrase Mendoza’s used for years, are rollercoaster rides of musical emotion, while songs like the power-ballad, “Leah” speak to the love he has for his wife and soul mate. Mendoza even includes his spin on a few cover songs, notably the Thin Lizzy classic, “Chinatown”, which features guest vocals from Mike Tramp [White Lion, Freak of Nature] and guitarist Richard Fortus [Guns N’ Roses].

AXS recently spoke with Marco Mendoza about ‘Viva La Rock’ [which will be released on March 2], The Dead Daisies and more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: It’s been eight years since your last solo release. How did this new album, ‘Viva La Rock’ come about?

Marco Mendoza: My whole journey and career have been busy, but these last ten years have really been over the top, and I love it. But I’m always writing and there’s always a drawer full of ideas. I had just finished up with The Dead Daisies and found a window of about fourteen days. So, I flew to Denmark and got into the studio with my good friend, Soren Anderson. The time and energy was right. It was fast and a lot of fun.

AXS: How does this album compare to some of your previous work?

MM: I think this album is a little more focused. We really dug deep with the ideas and songs. It’s classic rock and roll. Catchy songs with good hooks and melodies and relevant lyrical content.

AXS: Let’s discuss a few songs from ‘Viva La Rock’ beginning with the title track. What can you tell me about it?

MM: The creative process is to follow the vibe, and “Viva La Rock” was the first song that we wrote. It’s a catchphrase that I’ve been using for years that’s become part of my vocabulary. I remember going in and grabbing the guitar. Soren followed along and within the hour we had the song. The lyrics also came quickly. When you do something for so long it’s all instinct. You just open the flood doors and it starts happening.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Marco Mendoza Here!

Entertainment, Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

‘Got Soul’: Robert Randolph Talks Grammy Nomination, Artistic Inspiration

Robert Randolph’s recent Grammy nomination in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category for his latest offering, Got Soul, should come as no surprise.

The renowned pedal steel guitarist—who’s already collaborated with such legends as Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and Santana—is merely taking the next step in his journey toward becoming of the genre’s most spiritual and accomplished artists.

Having heard almost no secular music while growing up singing and performing the “sacred steel” at church, Randolph was eventually exposed to the blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan as well as soul and rock music in his late teens. The rest is history.

Randolph describes Got Soul as a soulful form of rock and roll. A kinetic, raucously energetic album that puts his pedal steel guitar front and center, it combines elements of blues, funk, jazz, soul and country with the gospel music of his youth.

Guitar World recently spoke to Randolph about the Grammy nomination and more in this new interview.

This is your fifth Grammy nomination. As an artist, what’s it like when you hear your name announced for a Grammy award?

Yeah, this is our fifth time. It feels good to know that you’re respected among your peers and are appreciated by die hard music fans. It also shows the hard work we put into making music and writing songs. It’s a nice payback.

Let’s talk a little about Got Soul. What themes did you want to explore when making this album?

I really wanted to give people good songs that have messages of love, happiness and inspiration and not focus on all the negativity that’s going on in the world. It’s music with big choruses, catchy grooves and rock and roll guitars that allows people to dance. It’s all of those elements put together.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Robert Randolph by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Micah Wilshire discusses his new jazz inspired EP, ‘Manifesto’

Already an in-demand Nashville-based musician, Micah Wilshire’scontributions to music include session work for artists like Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley and Jake Owen. As a writer, he’s scored big with television and film placements as well as songs for orchestrally dark-pop artists like Katie Garfield and country/rock newcomer Kasey Tyndall. Now, Wilshire is getting ready to explore a different side of his musical craft—one he’s waited nearly two decades to do—with his beautifully crafted, jazz-inspired EP, Manifesto.

Wilshire brings out the heavy hitters for Manifesto, including contributions from bassists John Patitucci and Willie Weeks along with drummer Nir Z. Three of the songs on Manifesto were co-produced with Dennis Matkosky, whose resume includes working with Al Jarreau, George Benson and George Duke.

With Manifesto, Wilshire may have delivered an EP that’s twenty years in the making, but as groove-laden tracks like “In The Stars,” “Woman,” and “Be With Me Tonight” confirm, it’s an album that was certainly worth the wait.

AXS recently spoke with Micah Wilshire about Manifesto and more in this new interview.

AXS: How did this project come about?

Micah Wilshire: I had thought about doing a project like this for about twenty years. The issue was, when I moved to Nashville I immediately started doing session work, which was fun but put things on the back burner. Eventually, you get to a point in your life where you say you know what? I’m going to do something where there’s no pre-condition, and this was about my love of jazz, soul and pop music.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Micah Wilshire Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Kasey Tyndall discusses her debut album, ‘Between Salvation And Survival’

Having already captured the attention of country/rock fans with her high-energy live performances, road warrior and singer/songwriter Kasey Tyndall has finally unleashed her debut album – the ferocious Between Salvation and Survival’.

Produced by Tommy Cecil (Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Parmalee), Tyndall’s creative passion and country-rock rawness perfectly shines on the new album. From singles like “Everything is Texas” and “Bar That’s Open” to feel-good songs like “Friday Night” and the confident female jam, “Everyday Girl”, Between Salvation and Survival is a ten-song, introspection of well-crafted material that combines the beautiful, North Carolina native’s relatable lyrics and gritty vocals with hook-laden melodies and warm, Southern charm.

Tyndall has done more than one hundred shows in 2017 and shows no sign of slowing down. Her resume already includes touring with the likes of Kane Brown and Granger Smith as well as providing direct support for Parmalee on their Hotdamalama Tour.

AXS recently spoke with Kasey Tyndall about Between Salvation and Survival and more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: How would you describe your debut album in terms of its sound?

Kasey Tyndall: It’s three-parts country, two-parts rock, a splash of redneck and a twist of rowdy, all shaken and poured over ice in a great big solo cup [laughs]. I was exposed to a lot of diverse music when I was growing up. Everything from Hank Williams Jr. and Willie Nelson to Joan Jett and AC/DC. My music lands somewhere in there.

AXS: What was the songwriting process like for Between Salvation and Survival’?

KT: The process is rarely the same twice. Sometimes it starts with a lyric idea or even a title. Other times, I’ll just sit down with other writers and we’ll talk about what’s going on in life and write a song about it. This album is very autobiographical. From the rockers like “Boots Stompin” and “Bar That’s Open” to the more sensitive songs like “Bottle & The Bible” and “Everything is Texas”. They all have elements of my personal life.

AXS: You mentioned some of the songs and I’d like to ask you about a few and get your thoughts on them. Maybe what inspired them or something else about them, starting with “Bar That’s Open.”

KT: I wrote this song with Ashley McBryde and Lainey Wilson. I remember when we first got into the writer’s room, Ashley sits a bottle of Jack Daniels down on the table and says, “All right girls, we’re gonna write a good song today.” I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised it’s a song about drinking [laughs].

You can read the rest of my
Interview with Kasey Tyndall by
Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Mark Slaughter discusses his new single, ‘Halfway There’, career highlights

Released in May from EMP Label Group, Halfway There is a stunning return to form for legendary rock vocalist, Mark Slaughter. His new album channels the classic feel of early Slaughter albums like Stick it to Ya and The Wild Life while at the same time providing material with an adrenaline-fueled, twenty-first century appeal.

Slaughter also does a bit of soul-searching on the new release. Particularly on the album’s emotionally-driven title track. A ballad that’s easily on par with hits like “Fly To The Angels” and continues to showcase Slaughter as one of rock’s most recognizable and versatile artists.

AXS recently spoke with Mark Slaughter about the new single and more in this new interview.

AXS: “Halfway There” is your new single and the title track of your album released earlier this year. Can you tell me what inspired it?

Mark Slaughter: The concept I was speaking to with Bill Jordan [co-writer] was a song that talks about how things change as we get older. At this age, we’re all starting to lose our parents and many others around us. We thought this is where we are in life. So, we wanted to write a song that really got in there about what we’re going through. It hits the nail on the head.

AXS: How would you describe the new album in terms of its sound and how it relates to some of your previous work?

MS: There’s definitely an aspect of Slaughter in there. A lot of people don’t realize that Dana Strum and I wrote, produced and perform the music to this day. We’re the only guys from our genre that had that much control back then and still carry it. The records I’m doing now are ones where I’m in control and making the songs come across the best they can be.

AXS: What’s your songwriting process like?

MS: I usually write music first. I hear orchestras in my head and then follow the bouncing the ball with what the melody is. There’s something about how the song feels and how the melodic structure works that’s important to me. The lyrics usually come after the fact.

You can read the rest of my
Interview with Mark Slaughter by
Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Lindsey Stirling discusses her holiday Album, ‘Warmer In The Winter’ and ‘Dancing With The Stars’
Photo by Cara Robbins and used with permission.

Warmer In The Winter is the first holiday album from critically-acclaimed electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling. The album features the multi-talented artist’s renditions of such holiday favorites as “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Carol of The Bells,” “I Saw Three Ships” and “Jingle Bell Rock” as well as several original numbers written by Stirling.

Stirling in joined by a slew of other chart-topping, special guest artists on Warmer In The Winter, including Becky G, Sabrina Carpenter, Trombone Shorty and Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low.

AXS recently spoke with Lindsey about Warmer In The Winter, her time on “Dancing With The Stars” [where she placed second with her partner, Mark Ballas] and more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: What made you decide to do a Christmas album?

Lindsey Stirling: I love Christmas music and one of my favorite things about it is how it ties people to their memories. Everyone has their own favorite Christmas songs that have become tradition and brings back tangible memories. I’ve always wanted to do a Christmas album and hope that this music can add to people’s holiday memories and traditions the same way certain songs tie me to mine.

AXS: Was there a certain criteria or theme you had in mind when choosing which songs you wanted to cover?

LS: I don’t think I’ve ever done so much homework for an album [laughs]. I spent hours listening to Christmas music and making playlists. Deciding not only what songs to do but also what style to do each song in. It includes some of my favorites but other songs I chose because they really sang on the violin or brought out the symphonic element. There are so many different sides of Christmas. There’s the big band, classic sound and then there’s the magical, symphony sound. Half of the album is with the live band and horns and the other half is with symphonic strings playing live. It was a first for me to be able to do an album in this way and to work with arrangers and composing. It was a lot of fun.

AXS: Let’s discuss a few tracks from the album, starting with “Angels We Have Heard On High.”

LS: That’s always been one of my favorite Christmas songs. I remember when I was a kid my family would make cookies and then we’d all go deliver them to neighbors by caroling. “Angels We Have Heard on High” was a song we sang so well together. On a personal note, I lost several people who were really close to me over the last few years, and the thought of angels has taken on a whole new meaning. I’ve felt the influence of angels in my life so strongly in the last few years. Not only the idea of angels but people I know and love who are looking out for me. That’s why I spent quite a bit of time making that song so special. Because it’s special to me.

You can read the rest of my
Interview with Lindsey Stirling by
Clicking Here!