Published: August 4, 2009 9:33 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight August/September 2009 Edition
New Gospel Today Spotlight
Paul Estro
Paul Estro
Christian Musician Paul Estro is making music that comes from the heart and soul. His love for our Savior in Christ is illustrated throughout his music, and Christians all over the world are enjoying what they hear from the Singer/Songwriter. Paul recently spoke to me in this special interview about his music, his family, his love for God, and his appreciate of his fans from all over the world. Enjoy this spotlight.
Isaac: What has been the best part of 2009 for you musically so far?
Paul: I have been so amazed at the overseas response to my music. To get emails and phone calls from people in New Zealand, Belgium, Australia, Lithuania, and other places is truly a blessing. I never marketed anything overseas, and how they use the Internet to find me and their passion for my music is touching.
Isaac: What do you feel has been the biggest accomplishment for 2009 so far?
Paul: There has been so much happening this year; it has been very hard to even reflect on a lot it. I got invited to showcase in Nashville, Jericho Walls got picked up for a play in New Zealand, a radio station in Belgium has been playing Better, the Obama song has suddenly somehow made me an expert on the tea party movement, been a wild year.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in your area.
Paul: I live in the Finger Lakes area of New York and it is very rural. It is almost 20 miles to the nearest stop light from my house. Road trips to music stores or venues are an adventure. Porch pickin' parties are the norm. Most communities have one or two hot spots where people go to hear music. Out here, it's my front porch or a party someone is having out in the hills. When you say you live in upstate NY, people think Westchester or Albany; they don't realize that much of the state is very rural.
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Paul: There was a little club way up the other end of the lakes in Geneva, called Cosie's, it is closed now. He would invite me up to play and you never knew what would happen, a lot of famous people stumbled in over the years and they'd always return when in the area and pay their respects. Cosie owned the place from the early 1950's until last year when he closed it due to his health. He never changed a thing in all that time and he was the only employee. It was quite a place. The building is on the cover of my CD. We airbrushed in the window text.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Paul: Growing up in a very rural area music was a major part of my life. We only had two TV channels so radio and my records where everything to me. Johnny Cash was my idol. Later on Steve Earle became a major influence because I could sing like him and he was country yet rocked. I used to hitchhike up to Ithaca, NY back in high school. I would cut class and hang out all day. I got to know the guys in the Rods and Kim Simmons from Savoy Brown. I would listen and learn everything I could from them. Silly things like always have a nail clipper and how to make a capo out of a pencil, two nickels and a rubber band.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Paul: More twang, like it needs it. LOL Honestly though, I never considered myself a country, or Christian or folk artist. I just try to write from the heart, speak to what is on my mind, and let the song take the music where it needs to go. If nothing else, what I bring is real. A lot of my lyrics require you to think, and I guess that isn't in vogue in some circles these days. Oh well, I am not going to dumb down my lyrics because some so-called expert thinks America is too stupid to figure it out. Sometimes I think the insiders are too out of touch with those on the outside.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Paul: I would probably say Steve Earle because I love his older music but politically I think he needs some tweaking. I am sure he could teach me something about songwriting and I could hopefully move him to the right a little bit. Of course, I heard he has a temper and can be hard headed, and he is bigger than me, so maybe that wouldn't work out real well.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Paul: Americana from a born again Christian. I love Jesus Christ; however some of his followers may drive me to drink. The 21st century American church is a pretty messed up place. Talk about a lack of direction. There are segments going in every direction possible. We need to look at the Apostles creed and if you can agree with it, then lets put our other differences aside and start focusing on what is important, and if you can't, then please go find a different name for yourself, or maybe we should change our name. I hate labels, but two people can both call themselves Christians have no beliefs in common. There are people who call themselves Christians because they think Jesus was a cool hippie kind of dude who started the peace movement. Ok, and I wrote Exodus.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Paul: People love the fact that I take a stand, and do it so tongue in cheek. One reviewer said I was sardonic. Now there are those who are a bit offended by some of it, but like the music. I find that most of my fans are Christians who are tired of the hypocrisy in church, and tired of the watered down, same old, same old, in Christian music. I think that is why I have been so successful overseas; they are much more passionate about their faith and taking a stand for something. Christians here still think, by and large they are the majority. They haven't woke up yet to the sad truth that true believers are exiles in a foreign land. So many of them are so busy trying not to offend others, it's ridiculous.
You can find me on MySpace, Facebook, iTunes and Indieheaven.com as well. I haven't twittered yet. Maybe for my birthday. LOL
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Paul: I am currently working on my second CD, which will have a more honky tonk feel to it plus some real rocking worship songs. I am getting a good collection of country songs so I hope to get a CD of those out in the next year or so. They aren't Christian; they are more "sardonic." Other than that, my goal is to just keep touring, hopefully get overseas to meet some of those fine people, and get a chance to do more theological writing. I've been asked to expand my paper on worship, which is available at my website, into a book so I need to finish that plus I have a few more book ideas I am working on. I give lectures on being a Christian in a post-modern world and I need to finish the study guide for that.
I wrote the song Obama (You Can Keep the Change) and I have been getting invited to tea parties and conservative rallies, radio interviews, etc. which is great, but it stretches me a little thinner. According to the media, I am an expert on tea parties, so I have to stay up on it because people ask me questions and then I read my comments in the paper or I get emails from people pointing me to websites using my music and comments. I've made the Obama song free for downloading off my website, and it gets a lot of hits. Sometimes I worry when I see the addresses are the DOD, or Langley or DC. I keep looking for black SUVs. Although under this administration, it may be a squadron of black smart cars that pull up and take me away. I can't wait to see Jack Bauer jump out of one of those. LOL
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Paul: I am so glad you asked this question. When my wife told her mother I was doing this interview I got strict orders from the Mother in Law to make sure I work in what a wonderful wife I have. So, to my wife Amy I say thank you for all your support. I know I drive her crazy. She is a nurse and very organized, and I am usually anything but. She can sit in a room all night reading a book and never disturb anything. I am in a room for 20 minutes and they are guitars, picks, papers, remotes, phones, gadgets and books everywhere.
Isaac: Final words…
Paul: Don't believe everything you read and hear. Investigate for yourself. Blaze your own trail and follow your heart. We live in a culture where no one wants to take responsibility for themselves or anything in their lives. Be different. Be you.
