Published: September 13, 2009 11:44 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight September 2009 Edition
Sunday Speedtrap
Sunday Speedtrap
A mixture of deep and meaningful lyrics and country folk/rock sound Sunday Speedtrap is making music that fans can relate to; especially with heavy influences like Jewel, Todd Snider, Kingston Trio, Beatles & Buddy Holly that can be heard in the band's overall musical style. Recently, Chris Eric of Sunday Speedtrap spoke to our Webzine about the band's music and what fans can expect from the group. Enjoy!
Isaac: We'd love to know about your inspirations growing up. I hear so many influences in your music. How old were you when you first discovered music?
Sunday Speedtrap: I was young 7 or 8; I can remember my dad playing the Kingston Trio on a Reel To Reel.
Isaac: Is there any kind of musical history in your family?
Sunday Speedtrap: My mom played Accordion and a close uncle played guitar in a garage band. I don't think too many people thought I'd grow up and spend all the time I could writing and performing music.
Isaac: What drew you to pick up an instrument in the first place?
Sunday Speedtrap: I started playing Flute in 5th grade and then moved over to Clarinet and Bass Clarinet from 6th Grade through High School. It was a great distraction over the years from my competitive swimming. I swam competitively for 13 years from the time I was 6 until 19.
Isaac: As you hit your teenage years, did you know that this was what you would be doing for the rest of your life?
Sunday Speedtrap: It wasn't until my early 20's that I switched from swimming to music; my childhood dream was to swim in the Olympics and travel as a competitive swimmer. Then I retired and needed something as demanding and since I wrote a lot of poetry in school and played some instruments music was right fit for me.
Isaac: Is there a performer in any genre of pop culture that you would like to work with?
Sunday Speedtrap: I would really love the opportunity to work with Singer/Songwriter Billy Falcon, artists such as Stevie Nicks, Cher, Manfred Mann, Sherrie Austin, and Trace Adkins have covered his work and he has co-written 10 songs on the last four Bon Jovi albums. There is so much emotion in his songs, he is an incredible writer.
Isaac: Who are some musicians that you really like, present or past?
Sunday Speedtrap: I really like current artists such as Jewel, Goo Goo Dolls, Jimmy Buffett, Todd Snider, Bruce Springsteen and past artists like the Kingston Trio, Buddy Holly, The Beatles and Foreigner. The Harmonies of The Beatles and Kingston Trio are still amazing all these years later and the story telling from Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett are so inspiring.
Isaac: What is your ultimate goal with your music career?
Sunday Speedtrap: I want to continue to write and release songs so that I am able to get out and continue to perform for anyone anywhere. If that was to mean with a label, that would be great for the resources that they would bring but otherwise I am very happy releasing my own CDs.
Isaac: What has been some of the obstacles it has taken to get this far in your career?
Sunday Speedtrap: Booking shows, it was so hard to get a hold of promoters but things have changed with online press kits like Sonicbids and a lot of places have websites that makes it a lot easier now. Band Lineup Changes, pretty typical stuff for local and working musicians. Raising a daughter presents challenges from scheduling shows to how far we can travel since Cari and I perform together. That would leave our daughter with a babysitter or Grandparents, tough to grow up that way. The days of performing 120 shows a year are on hold and in our past until she graduates from high school.
Isaac: Would you recommend this "field" to others who are aspiring to be musicians like you?
Sunday Speedtrap: Absolutely, the adrenaline climbing on stage or hitting the sweet spot in rehearsal or the studio are amazing feelings. Seeing the crowd react and connect to songs you wrote, it's priceless. Music provides such a release from life and it bridges the gap in communication differences with people. There is no language barrier with the rhythm of music, it's such a great thing to be apart of.
Isaac: Describe one piece of advice you've have been given to by others in the music industry.
Sunday Speedtrap: I was told early on to get out and perform as much as possible for anyone at anytime. The result has lead to having performed over 950 shows in the last 16 years and countless shows were due to someone seeing us and booking us for other shows. It also has given me the onstage experience that has melted away nervousness for shows. We've played all over too, not just coffee shops, bars and clubs but also nursing homes, football halftime shows, private parties, elementary school assemblies, Festivals and Fairs.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider most of your music?
Sunday Speedtrap: I have thought the closest thing I fit into was Folk/Rock however one reviewer pointed out that he felt we fell more into Alt-Country with a sound in the vein of Blue rodeo.
Isaac: What has been your favorite piece of work?
Sunday Speedtrap: That is tough, I have several for different reasons but I so think there are two that are tied at the top. Friendship, for some reason, this has connected with people and it's our most downloaded song. That is really cool to me; I love the idea of people all over listening to this song and it somehow fitting into their life. For me, it's where I was at one point in my life looking for someone I could share experiences with. Follow My Heart, this song is where I'm at now, it's an apology to friends of the past that I was so focused on my dream I left most behind, it's seeing how chasing my musical dream has taken such a toll. But with all that said. I would never change the road I travelled nor has the road ended in any way. I see so much more music in front of me.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Sunday Speedtrap: We have an official Website - www.sundayspeedtrap.com, you can hear songs from the latest CD, Confessions from the Heart, as well as previous releases, and you can also follow the links to our Facebook (http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Sunday-Speedtrap/123172704208) and MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/sundayspeedtrap) Pages. You can also purchase and download songs from the last three CDs at iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and many other online services by searching for Sunday Speedtrap. Come see us live too!
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Sunday Speedtrap: How could I not take a moment to thank my Parents and family? Man they have been by my side for the 16 years of up and downs in the music business including Cari Ann, who has been on this wild ride with me for a long time and keeps going even though she wants to retire from performing. I also have to say thank you to Dave Parks, he really set me straight on not just singing but playing guitar and Harmonica. Matt Shoemaker, who even at a long distance keeps contributing to Sunday Speedtrap and all the other musicians that have been a part of the band over the years.
Isaac: Any last words?
Sunday Speedtrap: Hopefully, these are not my last words; after all I do love writing songs! I would say that if you have a dream follow it and never allow anyone to stand in your way. No one will ever believe in you more than you.
