 
Published: July 13, 2007 10:05 AM EST
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior
(Juniorscave.com)
Music Spotlight: George Hartline
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Singer/Songwriter George Hartline. | |
Singer/Songwriter George Hartline is making his name known in the music industry. This artist, who is originally from Alabama, is sure to win your heart with his amazing vocals and astounding lyrics. George, who has been influenced by such iconic musical legends such as Dave, Matthews, John Mayer, Counting Crows, and Hootie and the Blowfish, is hoping to achieve all of his goals. If you are ever in Santa Monica or Hollywood, you can catch him perfecting his craft. Check out this wonderful Q & A that Georgia took the time to complete for the magazine.
Main Websites:
http://georgehartline.com
http://myspace.com/ghartline
Q. What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
A. Probably, challenging the "system" that is in place now by presenting music that doesn't fit the model for top 40, but is good enough for people to take notice. I like to see their response to something that wasn't expected.
Q. What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?
A. I get discouraged when I see bands that are terrible making it big,
and then I see guys that are great and they get nowhere.
Q. What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming
recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects,
etc).
A. Well, we just released "Live from Lake Elsinore, CA" a live album
cd/dvd. I am writing now for my first studio album and I'm excited about doing a studio album for the first time! We are also trying to "bumrush the charts" much like the band Black Lab did. Everyone is going to purchase my cd/dvd on August 31st to try and push into the mainstream charts! I love that idea-sticking it to the mainstream man.
Q. What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a
recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the
show/recording?
A. We recorded the "Live from Lake Elsinore" album in an old converted
church in Lake Elsinore, CA that is now called the "cultural center". It still has the old stain-glass windows. The stage wall behind us was round and was like a bowl turned on its side. It had a great vibe, because my music is kind of subtle in terms of my beliefs, and that place was a perfect compliment.
Q. In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have
lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?
A. I grew up in Alabama, so I listened to a lot of country (not because I wanted to, but it was inevitable). Also, I grew up in church,
listening to old-timey gospel and stuff with a LOT of soul. I'm talking about people who cry while they sing. Then I was into folk and rock, and the mix of that-so I listened to Dave Matthews Band, Sister Hazel, and Counting Crows, Blues Traveler. I would say the southern influence keeps my music organic, stringy, acoustic, percussive, and tasty.
Q. When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about
it?
A. I have recently come up with a lot of lines. One was "I've been googling myself again". I have really been writing a lot of funny songs lately. I wrote a song about the door guy at "the Viper Room" in Hollywood, because I was there the other night seeing a friend perform, Alex Arndt, and the guy at the door was a jerk. I wrote a song called "Joanie" about my wife. It is a piano -rock song.
Q. As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less
interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other
people...and why do you think that is?
A. Oh, I have been listening to more new music than ever. Every time I hear about a new buzzworthy band I go buy their CD (I still actually go buy CDs in stores). I want to hear what people are listening to, and whether it is just a fad or if it is really good music. Sometimes I am very disappointed, like Modest Mouse didn't really do it for me. But then Wilco I loved.
Q. Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)
A. New music definitely. I really like the Killers, even though my music is nothing like theirs. Maybe in the future I will do more progressive rock (distortion guitars, synthesizers). I just have a hard time writing music in that style. I also try to find guys like me and listen to how I compare to them, and see how I could improve.
Q. Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and
think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time
favorite recordings by this band/musician?
A. Dave Matthews Band! This is my all-time favorite. They have so many
great masterpieces. Probably, my favorite recording of them was "Under the Table and Dreaming", one of the first CDs I ever got: I got it for Christmas along with Blues Traveler "Four". My first CD was actually Boys to Men "II" haha!
Q. What's the saddest song you've ever heard?
A. Wow, that is a tough question. Probably the song "Thank You For Giving to the Lord" by Ray Boltz. It is about this man, who dies and goes to Heaven, and he runs into all these people in his life who helped him and says thank you. SAD! but good.
Thanks for this opportunity!
-George Hartline
Photo used in this story was provided by George Hartline.
George Hartline
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