Published: March 19, 2010 1:30 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight March 2010 Edition
Skyrocket Love
Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Skyrocket Love
If any band deserves to be on the top of the music game, Skyrocket Love especially deserves this honor. The band features some of the most talented musicians currently out there in the music industry. Each member brings something special to the band as they are on the road to a huge music career. If you want to hear music that have catchy hooks, melodic tunes, and amazing lyrics, then Skyrocket Love delivers on all accounts. Don't take my word; make sure to check them out for yourselves on their official website listed at the end of this interview. And do not forget to support these guys and buy their music; it is well worth the dollars spent.
Skyrocket Love is
Jeremy Bassett - Vocals
Merritt Graves - Keyboards
Russell Nelson - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Jordan Hemphill - Rhythm Guitar
Curtis Corwin - Bass
Jeff Maddox - Drums
Isaac: I just listened to several songs off your new EP/CD. What was the inspiration for making your new album?
Merritt: Realizing the world wasn't quite as nice of a place as I thought it was.
Jeremy: We just had to do it. After being inspired by karaoke singing, I figured why not record an album in honor of...
Isaac: Who were your influences?
Merritt: Creating music is something deeply personal and I'm not thinking about any other artist when I'm doing it. Of course, my sense for aesthetics has been shaped by the music that I've heard before, but I'm not setting out to retread the same ground. I think Radiohead is brilliant though.
Jeremy: That's a hard one. Well I guess life experiences mixed with people I've come across along the way, the good, the bad, and ugly. Love of course. The band I grew up on were Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Guns-n-Roses, and U2. You know... the greats, the basics.
Isaac: What do you consider to have been the highlight(s) and lowpoint(s) of your career to date?
Merritt: Realizing that the idea would not push itself and that we were not only going to have to create it, but also package it, wrap it with a bow, and airdrop in front of people's feet by ourselves. Once I figured out the new rules, everything was fine, but there is a moment of panic when you're staring up at a mountain.
Jeremy: Highpoints are feedback from fans and being on stage. Low points are waiting to get back on stage and just waiting in general.
Isaac: Brief history about your background plus the style of music you play.
Merritt: I grew up in Iowa City, Iowa and lived there most of my life. I got into music pretty early on; first choir and then the piano a few years later when I was 12. I started seriously writing when I was 18 and having a rough time when I was a freshman in college, but I've been hearing melodies in my head ever since I can remember. Music is the outlet for all the good things and the bad things in my life. Stylistically, I try to capture the feel of a specific moment or experience in a melodic line and then build outward from there. The process can take many forms though.
Jeremy: I'm not sure how brief I can be. I left home around 13 and moved across country to Seattle on my own by the age of 14. As some people know, Seattle has a lot of street kids and I ended up being one of them living on Broadway for a while. So to make it everyday, I used to sing for money on the street. A couple of the other kids I helped support with the money made me promise that I would pursue trying to be a singer. I didn't even realize I could sing that great, but I promised. So I hitched some rides down to LA and here I am some years later still keeping my promise so ill just say listen to the music and decide for yourself. Emotionally, I put myself into it and I am myself so I am not sure what style. I guess pop rock alternative.
Isaac: How easy is it to gets gigs for you as an artist? What is the live music scene like in your area?
Merritt: It's easy to get a book a show here, but not with good terms. Los Angeles is a tough city that really makes short work of naivety. There's the best and worst of everything here.
Jeremy: It's not hard to get a gig, but it is saturated with tons of music in LA and most people are out here trying to make it so.....it ain't easy to get people locally to care, but we have done pretty well. Luckily, there is the rest of the world also that we can let ourselves be heard. Thanks everyone for listening.
Skyrocket Love
Isaac: What do you think of the state of Indie music at the moment? Do you listen to radio much at all? Has the Internet helped music grow or hindered it in your opinion?
Merritt: The label system has been the mechanism that has connected bands to the capital they need to promote with, and since the label system is in disarray, they're left to fend for themselves. Most people in bands are artists, not promoters so it's obviously tough. It's going to be a rough transitional period, but as the sorting mechanisms get better on the Internet, I think what will emerge is a system that will be much more fair and democratic.
Jeremy: Like I said, it is tough and saturated. You have to be self motivated to get out there, but then again you have to be self motivated to be successful in anything in life if you want to be great.
Isaac: If you could create a fantasy band - what would be the line-up and why?
Merritt: Haha this is going to be fun. Thom Yorke, Johnny Buckland, Chris Wolstenholme, and screw it.... Travis Barker.
Isaac: Interesting collection of musicians.
Jeremy: That is an interesting question. I would probably say make it a rock superboyband with a ton of ego so it would be crazy to watch. Like Steve Tyler, Jon Bon Jovi, Axel Rose, Elvis, Bono, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney. That would be cool to watch.
Isaac: What CD's do you currently have available and where can they be purchased from?
Merritt: We're about to announce the date of our album release on our website, www.skyrocketlove.com. We already have some free downloads available there as well.
Skyrocket Love
Isaac: Where can fans access your music, videos, blogs, and anything else about you online?
Merritt: If you ever want to ask us a question or talk to us about anything, message us at www.skyrocketlove.com or Facebook and we'll get back with you. We're nothing without our fans.
Jeremy: Thank you, sharing is caring hope to see you all at one or all of our shows. peace, love, music....
