Published: May 25, 2009 4:3 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight June/July 2009 Edition
Spanx T. Urquhart
Spanx T. Urquhart
Spanx T. Urquhart is making music that fans will instantly enjoy. He possesses a unique style that many can not label. In this recent spotlight with the entertainer, Spanx T. Urquhart speaks candidly about the music industry, his music, and everything else in between.
Isaac: What was the best part of 2008 for you musically?
Spanx: The videos... '08 was the first time I worked the opposite side of a camera lens and I absolutely dig it... directing, lighting, editing and performing ~ I was given a crash-course in guerrilla filmmaking while spending the better part of last year making some fun music videos. My last two projects propelled us into the political arena by bringing a national spotlight to my award-winning song parody "God Luv Ya, G. Dub'ya!" ~ an irreverent, disingenuous homage to George W. Bush which caught the attention of The Huffington Post ~
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Spanx: Directing my first music video was quite a challenge... I was working solo with two cameras, so I would set up everything to roll and then I would run the length of a long, exterior corridor to hit all of my marks and sing from the balcony of a neighboring apartment... then I'd scurry back to the camera equipment to adjust lighting & focus, etc... then run the length of the hallway again... and again and again... and yeah ~ my neighbors thought me insane but I was having great fun and after several months of shooting & editing ~ I lost 275lbs...
Isaac: Describe the music scene in your area.
Spanx: Dead... but improving ~ live music has an audience in South Florida but most of the large venues for homegrown talent have been closed down, replaced by coffeehouses and titty bars (seriously...) from South Beach to Palm Beach. Florida's nightlife is alive and vibrant but unlike Sixth Street in Austin, Texas... here it seems that most clubs would prefer a DJ to spin dance, house or Latin music 'cause the tourist industry in Miami caters greatly to visitors from the club scene over in Europe (or so I'm told...)
Also, there is greater demand for cover bands and less for singer/songwriters plugging original material... a younger Simon & Garfunkel might starve to death if they lived and performed solely in South Florida ~ so recently, I've been keeping the company of Chrystal Hartigan and other local, music promoters and songwriters who are attempting to revitalize the South Florida music scene once again... for more info, contact Chrystal on Facebook or @ MySpace ~ http://groups.myspace.com/floridasongwriters ~
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Spanx: Back in the day, my sound crew kNiption FiT frequently performed at The Button South, a popular nightclub and The Plus Five Lounge, a raucous pool hall... both had large, sprawling stages that could accommodate our theatrics with trampolines... those were always fun events ~ however, next week I will be playing at the Broward Center of the Performing Arts sans trampoline and that gig promises to be equally exciting...
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Spanx: When I lived in Japan as a child, my mother would blast old phonographs of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass... I also remember "Classical Gas" and "Baroque-A-Nova" by Mason Williams... both affecting me tremendously as it was great ear training to hear integral arrangements and full-blown orchestration at such an early stage... I learned all about harmony & counterpoint with simply listening to old worn-out 45's and The Beatles ~ Paul McCartney was a motherfucker... and so is Sting & The Police who raised the bar with "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" ~ I then graduated to Rush with the album Moving Pictures and later, I discovered Thomas Dolby floating on the "Airwaves" before realizing that Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are two of the best damn producers on the planet... also, Digital Underground gave me a much deeper appreciation of rap and its potential as a rhythmic conduit for sardonic, biting humor... "God Luv Ya, G. Dub'ya!" was inspired in part by Humpty Hump's keeping it real with da rhymes ~
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Spanx: Well, I've been told often, "There's nothing new under the sun..." ~ so I hope to bring back more of what is missing in commercial music today... inspired songs & noteworthy compositions which can lift the human spirit and further aspirations of future songwriters and music lovers ~
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Spanx: Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis of Flyte Tyme ~ producers for Janet Jackson and many other artists... their sound is flawless and they can make anything groove... with the utmost attention given to every detail & aspect of a recording ~ even the pitch of a back-beat snare is tuned to resonate harmonically for maximum, absolute funk appeal... "Control" by Janet Jackson is pure, non-stop groove 'cause Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have the Midas touch ~
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Spanx: I'd say it's thought-provoking... most people don't expect what they hear when first giving a listen ~ so, they are often surprised by the versatility of the songs and the many varied styles of production... but more notably, my vocals always throw 'em ~ nobody expects "the little mouse who roared" to appear suddenly during that first chorus of "Blithe's Theme" ~ nor do they ever expect me to rap or sing barbershop harmonies in an original folk song. While touring France, I was frequently mistaken for a jazz musician with the offerings from my demo ~ so I might endeavor to say it is melodic, sophisticated and somewhat provocative...
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Spanx: Some have suggested it is well-suited for movie soundtracks and feminine hygiene commercials... often, I receive compliments for studio production and my vocals but the most flattering remarks are from peers and experienced, older musicians who have been heard to exclaim, "¡Ay, coño..!" when reflecting on my demos, "How did you do that..?" which is usually followed by comments like, "There it is... that thing you always do..." and the ever-popular, "Aww, shit..." as if to suggest that I too could be a motherfucker ~
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Spanx: More music and more videos... we recently flew to Nashville and worked with Neil Ebanks on an album of island music and folk songs. Last year, my brother and I became songwriting partners for this venture which may prove to be quite fun and lucrative... also, I recently partnered-up with an old bandmate to invent scary/cool compositions for a new animation & film production company ~ so, we should be rather busy producing soundtracks to accompany a glut of other music & styles that I may also explore in the near future...
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Spanx: My greatest love to Teresa Lane for sustaining me with lessons about life, the universe and true happiness... and my father, Vernon Urquhart who has given me "Many Reasons" to always say thank you ~ as does my partner, Hamada for the opportunities that may come with his building my new Frankenstein computer ~ thanks, pal... and 'big-ups' to all of my kFriends & kFans around the globe ~ sorry for not writing back sooner..!
Also ~ to my brother, Guy Urquhart who nearly left us for greener pastures more than two years ago... thanks for coming back to bless our lives once more with newfound strength, wisdom and humor ~ you're the best big bre'dah, man...
Isaac: Final words…
Spanx T. Urquhart:
"It is what you do that defines who you are..." - Rachel Dawes / Batman Begins
"To be or not to be ~ that is the question..." - Shakespeare
