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Metal Sanaz interviews Rob Carlton
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Sanaz: I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Carlton today. A solo artist with some great music. When did you start playing guitar Rob?
Hi Sanaz, it's great to be talking to you today. I started playing guitar at the young age of 12 in Long Island, NY. My parents started me on lessons, but I was so enthusiastic about guitar I'd go off on my own and create original music. I used to have a old Red Stella acoustic guitar. It was a piece of crap, but I wish I still had it as a memento. I used to play it til my fingers bled.
Sanaz: Who are your top influences?
My very top influence is Jimi Hendrix. People have compared me to him in reviews and in person after live performances. Other great players who influence me are: Jimmy Page, Randy Rhodes, Peter Frampton, Robin Trower, Eddie Van Halen & Zakk Wylde. At a very young age, I was influenced by the distortion sounds Black Sabbath got in their recordings & as a guitar player that also inspired me.
Sanaz: Tell us about your new album ,SEVEN THUNDERS, and what are the inspirations to this CD?
Seven Thunders will be released end of March 2011. The title song, also called Seven Thunders especially was influenced by some of the sounds and styles of Jimi Hendrix. It is my homage to him. I used a Morley pedal for the wha sounds. I'm also endorsed by Morley Pedal, which is a great pedal. Some of my inspirations for this CD were to try to get some cool sounds like Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson offer and to create some awesome electric and acoustic sounds to enjoy.
Sanaz: Where can people listen to the CD and what should they expect?
The CD will be available on cdbaby, itunes, and sonicbids.com/robcarlton (2 tracks are available to hear right now on sonicbids). People can expect to hear intense instrumental shredding, high energy rock with a couple splashes of acoustic gems to give your ears a little rest.
Sanaz: You are endorsed by GHS Strings, how did you guys meet and how would you describe their relationship with you and people they work with?
Back in the day, I used to do guitar advertising with Conklin Guitars nationwide. I appeared in Guitar World and Circus Magazine. I had a heavy metal band called Empyre, which was getting a lot of attention in New York. I was using GHS Strings already and I contacted them and created a relationship with them while I was playing the clubs with Blue Oyster Cult, Zebra and Cinderella. They were interested in me, and to this day, we continue to have a great relationship and I appear on their website as a full endorsee. Through them, I've met many artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robin Trower & B.B. King. By the way, I use the GHS David Gilmour strings. Those strings generate an awesome sound for me.
Sanaz: You are also involved with the "Extreme Tour". Tell us about this tour and what should people expect of it?
The Extreme Tour is an awesome experience for young and old to come see some rockin new bands. They are representing me at the Dove Awards in Nashville. I also hope to be doing a showcase in Nashville in May which will bring us to a deeper level of involvement with the Extreme Tour. I will keep everyone posted on future tour dates via facebook.com/robcarltonfans, Twitter & MySpace.
Sanaz: Have you ever worked with other people and if so, who? And are you open to working with musicians if you guys have the same goals?
Yes, Joe Bouchard, the original bass player of Blue Oyster Cult produced some of my music and I recently played with him again, opening for his band at the Sherman Theater in PA. I've also worked with Ty Tabor of King's X, he's mastered some of my solo guitar work. In more current times, I've been studying under Jimmy Brown, the Senior Editor of Guitar World Magazine. We jam on Saturdays. Some of his influences have come out on the Seven Thunders album.
I am absolutely open to working with musicians who have similar goals, if they are talented and extremely serious about what they do and put their heart into their work.
Sanaz: What should we expect in the near future from you?
April 17th 3:00-3:45pm I will be performing a guitar clinic at the Central Mass Expo Center in Fitchburg MA.
May 22-25 I'll be in Nashville participating in Extreme Tour meetings and showcase.
And I'd like to announce September 11, I am playing at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. The show will be filmed for syndication on a major cable network. The show is being coordinated by Laser Dog Music and will include a full laser light show. There will be a 5 camera shoot filming the concert for a DVD release.
Sanaz: In a perfect world, what would be your dreams with your music?
My dream is to present my guitar playing to a world wide audience and to tour and release albums on a continuous basis. I want the world to enjoy listening to my music as much as I enjoy creating and playing it for them.
Sanaz: Thank you so much and keep them coming :)
Thank you, Metal Sanaz! It's been awesome!
Starfire Play’s Live @ The Park Bar
Fri. April 29th @ 9:00pm
2007 W. Burbank Blvd. ALL AGES
Starfire with Blake Paulson, Andrew James, Greg Pajer and Dairenn Lombard will perform live throughout southern California in the spring of 2011. The shows are a year-long promotion for the debut album; “Eye of the Storm”.
“Instrumental melody in its passionate rock songs about intimacy is the focus of the music by STARFIRE, a music project by Los Angeles recording artist and producer Dairenn Lombard. Musically, the recordings or live performances of STARFIRE will delight music lovers on both ends of the rock spectrum; from fans of Howard Jones, Randy Newman or Elton John to Asia, Survivor or Chicago. Whether you are in love, looking for love, or mourning unrequited love, STARFIRE has a song you can dedicate to yourself or to the one that has captured your heart.”
Playing piano and guitar for nearly 25 years, Dairenn Lombard has written hundreds of songs since the mid-1990s and made numerous solo acoustic appearances, performing both private corporate events and public showcases throughout the greater Los Angeles area. After spending the last decade recording original music in his home studio, Dairenn transitioned into developing live shows for promoting newly released material by teaming up with a trio of highly accomplished musicians.
Main guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist for Starfire, Dairenn Lombard, have been playing since 1986, writing since 1995, and recording since 1997. Taking what his parents taught him in the 1980s to the next level, he moved forward to teach himself new techniques as a teenager throughout the 1990s, studying the work of Rush's Alex Lifeson, Edward Van Halen, Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Mr. Big’s Paul Gilbert. In addition to arranging, composing and writing all the Starfire songs, Lombard engineered, mixed and mastered all five original albums. The production style that has worked best for the Starfire catalog takes from several influences by music producers including Vince DiCola, Ron Wasserman, Ron Nevison and Bob Rock.
When Dairenn was asked he said:
What’s next with Starfire after this tour?
The next new thing is that singles from the next CD will start to come out in late April this year. The idea is to really raise awareness about this upcoming record, and see more copies out the door. It’s quite a departure from the freshman effort, Eye of the Storm, out now but I think music lovers will enjoy the new direction of these songs.
Are you working on any new projects?
A lot of the work is prepared far in advance so once the ball is rolling on promotions for the next album to be released later this year, the subsequent release will undergo some lasting tweaks. Basically, we are going to be taking some of the better tracks recorded during some sessions over the last few years and get them polished up with new re-mixes and re-mastering to deliver something that can stand up next to the major releases coming out these days. There is a lot of energy and passion on those series of performances and it’s truly exciting to think about the reaction it might get once it hits everybody’s iPods.
Are there any plans for a European tour?
I wish; I’m embarrassed by how much more enthusiastic the music scene is in Italy, Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom than it has been here in the United States and I wish I knew why. Some of the greatest music ever thought up came from L.A., Seattle, Detroit, Nashville and New York.
Who inspires you these days?
Without a doubt, Paul Gilbert from Mr. Big; beyond being having perhaps one of the most remarkable technical skills as a guitarist, he is a remarkable composer and has such a fun-loving stage presence. Exaggerated movements, the great facial expressions; he makes you feel the music when he’s on stage and that’s something I aim to do during my performances.
Drummer Blake Paulson holds a BA in Professional Music from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Paulson was awarded Berklee’s distinguished Professional Music Achievement Award and has worked with artists from almost every major label as well as those unsigned artists and performers that have played small acoustic sets such as indie artists that have no desire to sign with a record label, as well as artists who have sold 100 to 1,000,000 CDs and jam packed arenas.
Andrew James has been playing electric bass guitar professionally for the last 10 years, (his dream bass is either a Ken Smith or a Eccleshell) and during that time; he has appeared in countless live shows, performed in numerous studio sessions, recorded a number of albums, rocked thousands of people worldwide on numerous stages, and has toured with many different musicians such as Alan Grace, BC Jean, Mandi Perkins, and Mike Precviti. Throughout all off his experiences he says that the craziest thing that has happened to him while playing was “not too long ago he played in what felt like a monsoon. The pedals died and the mixers exploded, good stuff”
A graduate from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood with a Commercial Music Degree, Greg Pajer has been playing electric and acoustic guitar for over 20 years and when asked he say’s he prefers playing the electric guitar most. Pajer has been playing professionally; performing, recording, music directing, and touring with numerous bands, singers, and songwriters. Now he’s working mainly in L.A. and not really doing any touring. Greg’s most memorable musical experience was performing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
“After releasing "Eye of the Storm," the debut CD by STARFIRE, the band has been performing throughout southern California and enjoying exposure by various podcasters, bloggers and Internet radio stations from around the world.”
Starfire’s music features catchy guitar work and ambient keyboards, which blend into a perfect combination for rock-pop, radio-ready tunes. With Lombard as their driving force, Starfire has created their own classic pop-rock influenced by such artists as Lenny Kravitz.
The band has adopted a fierce, independent approach to recording albums that is everything but predictable, emulating legendary nontraditional artists such as Hendrix, Prince and Vernon Reid. Not satisfied to adopt any specific method or formula to create their music, Starfire prefers an out of the box thinking that allows for complete artistic freedom in the studio.
Although Dairenn Lombard is the core of the band Starfire there are other members that support him in his efforts that carry just as much importance. With the diverse talents of Dairenn Lombard and the strong experience of the other members, when Starfire performs live, the future looks bright with many musical projects on the horizon.
Press:
"the nine-track album is a 80s throwback with high energy. “I’m On My Way” can be easily pictured being featured in the soundtrack from a film from that decade."
— Annie Reuter, Spinner.com
"Starfire, has created a pop/rock collection of original songs that are well produced and arranged without being overindulgent [and has] a very contemporary feel with a tip of Lombard's retro hat to the 80s."
— Janie Franz, Skope Magazine
"a band with great songwriting and a very 80s sound. If you are a fan of power ballads and rock anthems, this is the band to check out. Ballads like “Waiting” and dance pop like “Genie” will be a treat to the ears."
— Andrea Guy, ReviewYou
If you want to post your own reveiw email it to:
Interview with musician/recording artist Skye Delamey regarding newest album
"Songstress Secrets," and music video releases.
Q What are some of your latest projects?
A I just completed "Songstress Secrets" album, which is my only acoustic album I have so far. It's about "confessions of the soul." In other words, I wanted to shed light on the simplicity of just vocals and piano playing and the strength of a song even it it's most raw form. Along with the album, we also finished the video Thor.
Q What is "Thor" about?
Thor was written in 2008 on the night of L.A.'s biggest thunderstorm. I was sitting at my piano and the song just came through me. That night I wrote many songs, also including "The Girls," and others. It was like being hit by a musical lightning bolt.
Q How long have you been singing or playing?
Since the time I could crawl, I was fascinated by the piano keys on my dad's accordion. I fell in love with the keys, and soon was introduced to a keyboard, then a piano. As a young child, I began playing, writing songs, and falling in love with music. It was like being given a voice to express, through songs and piano playing, what I felt, including what could not be explained. Creating music can tap into parts of the unconscious, or parts of your spirit, almost as if you are in a trance. It is a cosmic experience. So, to encounter that as a child, was pretty amazing. And, I never looked back.
Q Where does you inspiration come from?
As a music medium, it always, every time, just comes to me, and whatever the subject or concept, it is always as clear as day. It's a very natural process. Some times the inspiration lands on my lap, other times, I am inspired and motivated by something and that gives birth to a song.
Q You've also made your music video directing debut in recent years. Can you talk about that process?
A As a story teller, it felt natural to put the songs into a visual concept. So, directing videos such as "the girls," "devil in an evening dress," or recently "Thor," were a natural and fun process.
Q What is the message behind your music?
It is all based on the calling behind the inspiration. From "Thor", to songs about after life, such as "another chapter," or "I see you there." Then there is "The girls," about space girls who come to earth, or "Renaissance Past," about a spirit reborn and brand new in this reality.
Skye Delamey's music can be purchased at www.skyedelamey.com, as well as on itunes, and amazon.com. Also via www.tunecore.com/music/skyedelamey. Watch the music videos at www.youtube.com/skyedelamey
Kidd Comet
Kidd Comet is Casey Lee Michels on vocals, John Zeps on guitar, David “Noodles” Lawson on guitar, Sean Cruz on bass, and Mark Edward Cutsinger on drums. Formed in the late 80’s in Los Angeles, the band recently relocated to Casey’s home town of Indianapolis where they’ve been focused on songwriting and recording new tracks. Kidd Comet is known for their high energy live performances and have shared the stage with heavy hitters like Bon Jovi, Metallica, Poison, Ratt, and Quiet Riot. Kidd Comet is currently in the studio working on their latest album, Agents of Chaos, which will include reworked Kidd Comet classics Kiss Kiss Bang! Bang! and Switchblade Serenade.
Interview with Casey Lee Michels:
Michelle: Casey thanks so much for taking the time to talk with Screamer Magazine. For those not familiar with the band, tell our readers about Kidd Comet.
Casey: We formed in Los Angeles in 1988 and released our first five-song EP back then. We are currently working on our new serial release Agents of Chaos which will be released a couple of songs at a time through our social websites.
Michelle: Aren’t you guys working on some new tracks? When do you expect those to be released?
Casey: Yes thank you for asking! We’ve started mixing the new stuff with Tommy Roosa (Cabretti Records) which will eventually culminate into Agents of Chaos.
Michelle: How can fans get their hands on the new music?
Casey: Well our website (www.KiddComet.com) is a good place to start or also they can check out http://www.reverbnation.com/themightykiddcomet for videos, audios, live concert updates and a lot more! And of course we are also on Facebook and MySpace as well.
Michelle: What’s different about Kidd Comet of the 80’s and Kidd Comet now?
Casey: With all things come time; it’s kind of like we’ve come full circle. Being a huge fan of music (all of us), we just pro-create certainly the same passion for the creative process and self expression. We love to jam and have fun – it’s like therapy! We’re older, wiser, and happier. Like most folks these days not sure where it’s going…but we are enjoying our time. It’s truly the best band I’ve ever been blessed to be in.
Michelle: The one thing I always loved about the hair bands of the 80’s was it was almost always “feel good” music. Do you think there’s still a place for that in the industry today?
Casey: Everyone’s got photos you’d rather bury, but 80s rock or 50s rock – it’s all the same chords over time with a different effect or beat. That’s music – celebration and good times. There are only so many chords so it always comes down to who’s in the room as to how the sound comes out.
Michelle: Does Kidd Comet have any plans to hit the road and do some shows for fans?
Casey: Yes we venture out. We did about 50 shows in 2011 and we’ll venture out even further in 2012 and revisit where we’ve been. We love making new friends and having new adventures. Just pay for the round trip tickets and we’re there!
Michelle: What’s your favorite song to play live and why?
Casey: hmmm…depends, but really I love them all!
Michelle: If you could have only one thing for Christmas, what would it be?
Casey: A new American administration! I think a tour in the UK and Asia would be great, and of course a lot more American and Canadian shows too.
Michelle: Thanks for talking with me Casey. Best of luck to you and Kidd Comet!
Casey: Dave and Screamer Magazine have always been very good to us! Hope you enjoy the new music — tell a friend or two about us!
For more information on Kidd Comet visit: http://www.reverbnation.com/themightykiddcomet
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Award winning, very popular guitarist and featured solo artist Ronny North, good friends with Randy Roads and his family, plays the 6 string guitar and has played with many major recording artists. He preferres to use his music ‘to do good’ and has played for many charities and is the leader of countless guitar clinics. He played Nascar in February of 2010, has his own line of gear/merchandise and has been sought after for help in the development of new musical products. He has many endorsers and is Featured in major media i.e. t.v., radio, internet and print. To say the least he gets lots of exposure all over the world. So how am I possibly going to top any endorsements or exposure he has priory had? So I just have a few questions,
You’ve been playing since you were 14 what would you say is your greatest accomplishment?
I’m still trying to get there….. I have had a few highlights along my journey, Winning rock guitarist of the year in 2007 at the All Access Magazine Music Awards was one, as was being featured in Guitar Player Magazine and the many other publications I’ve been very fortunate to be featured in. Getting a Citation from the City of Los Angeles and from the Veterans in 2011 were also definite highlights as is playing the Special Olympics Summer Games every year. Touring Japan was also pretty cool......I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch of stuff........I'm very fortunate to be able to play guitar for a living.......
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Having played with numerous to recording artists, which artist would you say inspired you the most?
Every artist is very unique and I have learned from working with them all… it’s always great working with other artists and see how they do things…….I have definitely learned a lot from the sessions I have played on I have used my experiences to help my own career……after all they are famous for a reason so why not learn from them???
Every artist has his or her own favorite place to play, where’s your favorite place to play?
Wow, that’s tough… big events are always a blast….I really enjoyed playing Japan in 2010, I also have a blast every time I play at NASCAR…those crowds are nuts…….lol….. They really dig guitar music…I also enjoy performing at clinics and trade shows such as NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) . This year at 2012 Winter NAMM I played daily for my sponsors Jet City Amplification, Essential Sound Products, M.I.A. Products and I did signing events at the Dean Markley booth that went off.....It's always great meeting the fans and always fun getting pictures with them......The internet has really opened things up.....I was waiting on the train platform in Tokyo, Japan for the Bullet Train when a Japanese girl came up to me and asked me in broken english if I was Ronny North and that she was my Facebook friend.....How cool is that???? Of course we got a picture together and I gave her a CD........
You’re a very busy artist, with many hot irons in the fire, but what are you working on now?
Yes, I definitely spread myself a little thin sometimes….lol…… right now I am working on several things as usual….I just finished doing winter NAMM in January for my sponsors,lately I have been doing a lot of press which is always fun and I have been going through all the offers I have received from NAMM.I’m also gearing up for some upcoming live shows and clinics both in the U.S. and over seas and I’m in the middle of finishing up my new CD……
After all that you’ve done, what’s in your future?
I have some big plans and I plan to have longevity in the biz......These days artists really have to diversify…….In March I'm playing The 2012 LA Marathon and I might be doing NACAR again ....my new CD will be out soon and there are some big shows on the horizon both in America and over seas…..This year is looking to be a very busy one for me....
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You’ve worked on a lot of materiel, what is your favorite album/song, that you’ve done or that someone else may have done?
I have recorded on a lot of big artist’s stuff and I have done a few cool things on some of the tracks I’ve played on…..I’m actually going to be doing some stuff for someone big in the next couple weeks…..always fun playing guitar on the big projects …The funny thing is I’m never intimidated by the actual artist but by looking at all the platinum albums on the studio walls……as for my songs it changes all the time lately my current favorites to play live are my songs "Tomorrow is Burning" , "Light "and "Race with Me" …Once I put the CD out I really don’t like to listen to my stuff……..there’s been times when my stuff has come on the radio while I’m in the car and I change it as soon as I can reach the radio…I really do like playing live and get that immediate crowd response... that's the hardest thing to recreate that excitement in the studio when you're making a new CD is that excitement that a live crowd gives you when you perform.
Other then the guitar what other instruments can you play?, and do you have any favorites?
I started on piano and I can get around on one (I have one in my living room as well as a ton of keyboards in my recording studio) , I also play a bit of bass…..I have quite a few guitars actually and a lot of cool basses…….recently I’ve been messing around on my fretless bass…….when I make demos of my new songs I record all the parts myself with keys, drum machine, bass parts and all the guitars… my guys learn the songs from my demos and put their stamp on the songs when we record their parts but I write all the parts around my guitar obviously……sometimes we keep all my parts except the drums…..I also produce, engineer and record all my stuff myself in my won recording studio……I do send it out to get it mixed by my good friend Jim Decicco at Pryam Axis Studios.. He has mixed all my instrumental CD’s…..We have a great working relationship and he knows how I want it to sound….He mixes the songs and then I come in after he’s did his thing and we tweak things……
You’ve had your music featured on MTV’s Real World, Has your music been featured on any other show?
Yeah, they’ve used my stuff on a few of the MTV things and a bunch of smaller stuff and even some independent movies…..
You have your own signature nail color, what is that color?
I actually do… it’s from ManGlaze and it’s called Ronny North Psyko Green…..It really is great stuff…..I actually have a few other signature products in development at this time with a few of my other sponsors…..
So what’s up with having your own day at Norwalk High School?
I know how did that happen????? As I told them when they approached me about it I wasn’t exactly the perfect student….lol……..for me school was like a prison…..I knew I had to do my time and then I would be free, how I graduated I have no idea but I did……I definitely wasn’t popular especially since I had longer hair and when I was in school that couldn’t have been less cool…. They told me I’m the 3rd most famous graduate from Norwalk High School.. First is Julie from the Love Boat, second is Tiffany the pop star and then me… you really couldn’t make that up…..That all being said I was extremely honored and my day was great. Channel 11 Fox TV news even came down and covered it live on the air (You can see the footage on my website)…..The kids really dug it and it was great spending the day with them, speaking in the career center and performing at the school…..since then I’ve been the principle for the day (They wouldn’t let me give the kids have the day off…..damn!!!…) and I have been a judge for their senior projects for the last 3 years……how did I become respectable????? Definitely losing my street cred……..lol….
You’ve written a column for Intense Guitar Magazine; do you still write the column?
I do still write the column.. it’s called Planet Guitar…..I really enjoy writing the columns and I’m always up to help up and coming players…..on that note I recently got my own radio show on www.wpmd.org internet radio called “Get your Shred On with Ronny North” ..it’s on the last Tuesday of every month and it’s dedicated to guitar instrumental music…..we’re only a few shows in and the response has been over whelming , the next show is on Feb 28th will feature all female shredders and I have some famous players calling in live to the show that day….I feel very fortunate to get these opportunities…….
How amazing was it to play for the American Troops?
It really is amazing…Just like when I play the Special Olympics every year I probably get more out of it than they do…….I have played the Special Olympics Summer Games for the last 11 consecutive years and I’ve been playing for the Vets and the troops for several years…..I really enjoy meeting everyone and hanging out and hearing all their stories….They both are a blast and I even got to go on an operational battleship … it was awesome!!!!! They wouldn’t let me shoot anything though……..damn!!!!
Thank you for featuring me on your website.I really appreciate your support…..I’d like to thank a few people before I go,First off I'd like to thank my fans from all over the world...You guys are the reason I can do what I do. I’d also like to thank all my sponsors for believing in me as a player and for all their support. I really could not do it without them, my assistant Karen is definitely a life saver, my road manager Chuck Davis and of course my band: Charles Wiley on drums , Bryan Talbot on bass. Right now we have my good friend Johnny Zell filling in on bass while Bryan deals with some family stuff……all my guys are great players and normal people… that really is the trick you always find one or the other but I definitely lucked out…..if you can’t hang with your guys especially when traveling what’s the use? If anyone wants to purchase my music you can get my latest CD Light at Best Buy stores and off www.bestbuy.com as well as at CD Baby, I-Tunes and many other online music distributors …For info on everything Ronny North including my music,various Facebook pages and all my other online stuff , merchandise and upcoming events you can go to my website www.ronnynorth.com .
The Mr. Ronny North
Pictures by Karen Barrezueta
