Published: June 18, 2009 2:56 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight June 2009 Edition
A Beautiful Curse
A Beautiful Curse
A Beautiful Curse makes music that is enchanting, mesmerizing, and haunting that captures the artist's unique sound in one wonderful melodic tune. Each note from A Beautiful Curse's music illustrates the diversity in the artist's music. In this recent spotlight with A Beautiful Curse, our Webzine spoke to the artist about his music and what he will bring to the music industry. Enjoy!
Isaac: What was the best part of 2008 for you musically?
A Beautiful Curse: I think it was realizing that A Beautiful Curse was shaping into something real. It started as a "project" that would write little bits here and there for licensing to movies, TV commercials, etc. but at some point in '08, it grew into what it has become and hopefully this is just an intro to what's to come. Not only that but 2008 was when the project was officially named A Beautiful Curse and that was a fantastic musical part of '08 as well.
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
A Beautiful Curse: Writing "Tastes Like It Should" and "A Lot Like Diamonds" for the CD. (lol) There was a lot of trial and error going on last year and a lot of it was good and grew into great things and ideas but the sense of pride really hit when those two songs were written. I wonder if that's shallow thinking maybe (?).
Isaac: Describe the music scene in your area.
A Beautiful Curse: I'm not sure to be honest. I just moved to San Antonio in the past month or so so I'm still checking it out. Been to Austin quite a bit in the past and I know that place is still hoppin'. I moved here from Las Vegas where there wasn't a scene at all there, independent-band wise anyway. Plenty of "Las Vegas shows" type of things but not much in the way of a band playing in clubs, etc. It was really strange to me to be in an almost musical ghost town like that.
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
A Beautiful Curse: It was this outdoor venue in the Netherlands (I can't remember the name of the park nor the city unfortunately) but the place was absolutely fantastic. Not only because I got to play (with 24-7 Spyz) in front of thousands of people but almost more so because it was a free show held in this big public park and everywhere you looked there were a bunch of tents with all sorts of other bands playing all at the same time for most of the day and definitely throughout the night. The vibe was incredible and I didn't see a frown on anyone's face that whole time we were there. All sorts of different music all over the place, dancing, meeting fans and musicians everywhere. Just amazing. That venue/festival is number 1 in my book for the time being.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
A Beautiful Curse: Oh my goodness. This list could be extremely long but I'll try to streamline it. Let's see, I'm really influenced by those who were not only great talents but learned so much on their travels that they became superstars outside of their initial gifts. Case in point is Quincy Jones. He grew up a jazz trumpet player, played beautifully. Found himself as a band leader and writing more and more music. Then came TV theme music for him (the original Cosby show theme, Sanford and Son theme, many more), then film work (the original Shaft among others), then Michael Jackson's "Thriller", then... Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree is another. Amazing songwriter, fantastic guitar player, vocalist, and equally as amazing as a producer (P.T. / Opeth / Blackfield). As far as just musicians, the list is extremely long and goes from George Clinton to Miles Davis to Bob Marley to Black Sabbath to Stevie Wonder to Massive Attack to Meshuggah to... I'll stop there (lol).
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
A Beautiful Curse: Hmm, I have a feeling, if the industry even bothers to listen to ABC, the project will bring a little bit of "genre chaos" to the table. I absolutely hate genres to begin with (...are you a rock band, are you electronic, are you country, are you...?) and listening to "As It Should Be" reminded me that I sure wasn't paying any attention to fitting into a comfortable, easily pinned down niche and THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT. (lol) Past that though, maybe we can set a standard for how more laid back music can be presented recording-wise and live as well. Time will tell though, hmm?
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
A Beautiful Curse: Only one? Yikes! Hmm, I think right off the bat I'd have to say Massive Attack. Such an influence on me that to be in the same room with them for some time working together would be beyond a thrill. Actually, I don't think I'd be able to get much work done 'cause I'd be sitting in a chair all star-struck or something dumb like that (lol).
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
A Beautiful Curse: The only thing I've been able to say is that it's electronic-ambient-groove-rock-mostly. Man, that sounds so stupid now that I say it to myself. (lol) I mentioned that I hate genres, right? (lol).
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
A Beautiful Curse: One of the coolest pieces of feedback I got was that this CD is one of the sexiest they've heard in a long time which made me VERY happy to hear. haha. A lot of people are saying that they can definitely hear this stuff on TV or in movies, etc. I've also heard that there are so many influences and styles but that they all make sense together on the CD. The feedback has been fairly varied but those are about the most common pieces that I can think of.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
A Beautiful Curse: Our main website at www.abeautifulcurse.com. We're also on Facebook, My Space, Bebo, iLike, Zorpia, Reverbnation, Last FM, download a couple of our songs at Fizzkicks dot com, and more to come soon.
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
A Beautiful Curse: Hopefully another few releases, a trip into the video world in a different way than what's going on now, better recordings and better mixing from our studio Temple of Boom, and maybe even a live version of A Beautiful Curse.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
A Beautiful Curse: So many people made A Beautiful Curse a reality and without them the project wouldn't exist and I'd be an empty shell because of it. Otto and Aleesha, Brian, Savannah, Mauricio, Todd, Jefferson, Benjamin, Soonja, Teddy, Jeff, Loretta, Elizabeth, Kyle, Adrienne and the Family Dubs, Studio West in S.D., Mrs. James whoever she may be...
Isaac: Final words…
A Beautiful Curse: I think I said a whole lot just now (lol). But I do want to say how blessed I feel being able to release this CD and being able to work with the folks that I got to work with. It may not sell a zillion copies or anything like that but no matter what happens with it or the stuff to come, it's all so worth it and I hope that other indie bands/projects might be able to think along those lines as well.
