Published: April 13, 2008 6:29 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
Patrick Vega
Junior’s Cave newest interview is with Rock/Heavy Metal Entertainer, Patrick Vega, who was kind enough to spend some time with us. Patrick did not shy away from any of our questions and was very candid about his responses. The truth of the matter is that what Patrick is saying makes perfect sense. Besides being an awesome musician, Patrick is one of the most down to earth guys you will ever get read about. Check out this recently spotlight.
Isaac: Briefly describe how you entered into the music industry.
Patrick: I’ve been doing it pretty much since I started playing the electric guitar. I was 9 years old and knew that that’s what I want to do. It took me 5 more years to convince my parents that that was what I wanted, so if the music industry is ,,fight for what you want“ it started when I was 9 years old.
Isaac: What is the most rewarding aspect to making music currently for you?
Patrick: Having released my solo album where I did everything but the mix and mastering and that on my own label. That’ll be there for all eternity. And the fact that everything (besides objective ,,fame“ however you define and value that….) I set out to do I’ve accomplished. Playing guitar and making a living doing that being on the top of that list.
Isaac: What has discouraged you the most about making music?
Patrick: That the world sees you as „great“ only if you are huge, famous and known and that you have to sacrifice and sell most of yourself to achieve that goal which in the end might not even be yours anymore. But I am not a slave to that misconception anymore.
Isaac: Do you have a personal philosophy about music? If so, what is it?
Patrick: As a listener- it’s the stuff you have your first kiss to, fall in love to, train to, wake up to, fight wars to, conceive a child to, music is being played at your wedding, on birthdays and at your funeral..it ain’t just elevator music.
As an artist, it’s a blessing and it’s a curse. The people that are true to their craft whatever it might be do it simply because they have to. They couldn’t live without it. If they’re not recognized until they died, it doesn’t make a difference; they still do it. Look at Van Gogh, etc. It’s an enigma. It’s my first big love and I don’t spend a millisecond not thinking about it.
Isaac: When you are performing live in front of an audience, what are the thoughts that are running through you head?
Patrick: These people are here to listen to me. That’s pretty f****ng cool and I better make it worth their while. And that energy and high that I feel right now is better than any drug.
Isaac: Why is being an independent musician important to you?
Patrick: I have all the control in how my music is being unleashed unto the planet and no one keeps me from being just myself. If that is what I chose to do even though I wouldn’t mind collaborating with people and having some people helping me with the whole production; humans are social individuals and need to socialize. Independent is a very stretchable term and would have to be defined first. Independence ends with being conceived, your mom, air, food, it doesn’t end.
Isaac: Do you think the Internet has altered the path of music as an industry? If so, how?
Patrick: It changed everything, the entire world, not just the music industry. But when Napster came along it opened Pandora’s box: Why pay for something if I can have it for free ? Music, literature, software, movies, it’s all free and up for grabs which basically means it ain’t worth sh** no more and the quality goes down big time. Which I think is a problem. You are connected to the whole world, but no one wants to pay for what you do. I have students that are super fanatic about their most favorite band. They have all their music, know everything about their favorite cool musician dudes lives, but do not own : a CD, a legal download or a t- shirt and do not go to their live shows. They download the music for free, learn how to play the music by down loading the guitar tabs online and that’s it. They absolutely really like them but wouldn’t spend a dime on them. It just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Isaac: Any advice for other musicians out there when it comes to using the
Internet as a medium for getting their music heard to the masses?
Patrick: Make sure you know what you doing in any aspect. It’s DIY (Do It Yourself). Everything else is just a way to try and get money out of people with something that they could easily do themselves if they’d just apply themselves a little.
The entire Internet in the world does not replace live shows. Music- or any product for that matter doesn’t just magically sell it self. You have to also put yourself out there in a non digital fashion. Life ain’t just on the Internet (even thought it kinda seems that way).
Isaac: What kind of recording software do you use and why do you feel it is the best?
Patrick: Pro Tools. It’s easy enough to understand rather quickly and seems to be the industry standard for quite some time now. The best…could be but I am not on the Digidesign payroll to make that statement. Whatever works for you is the best.
Isaac: I know that everybody has his or her idea of a dream artist, someone
who for whatever reasons that person would just love to listen to and
admire. As an entertainer yourself, if you could play with one of your
"dream" musicians, anyone at all, who would it be and why?
Patrick: That’s hard to say since I don’t know if we would vibe with each other and if I was worthy at all to join their circle but it would involve any member of Led Zeppelin, classic Van Halen, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Michael Jackson, Prince and BB King. And I don’t care what you say.
Isaac: What are you hoping to gain from your experience of being a musician and making music?
Patrick: Music is me. I don’t hope I just do. But music definitely brings you together with a certain kind of people in this world that just somehow are my kinda people.
Isaac: What are you hopes for your music in the year 2008?
Patrick: Live shows, live shows, live shows and the release of my follow up album to my debut album „Freefall Faith Firestorm“.
Isaac: This is our Shout Out time. Please give props to anyone and everyone that matters the most to you.
Patrick: My family and a group of individuals that don’t necessarily care they know.
Isaac: This is Shameless Plug time: Give us some updates on new releases and other projects in the works.
Patrick: I am working on the Freefall Faith Firestorm (2007, FFF Music) Remixes right now. It is very exciting to me and will soon be reality. Also, if you haven’t checked out Freefall Faith Firestorm, check it out and really check it out and if you dig let me know. Someone told me that they listened to my music while successfully rehabilitating from a freak accident. That’s what really makes my day. So let me know that you’re out there!
Isaac: Final Thoughts:
Patrick: If you like some music, software a book, or movies out there just buy it. The people that created it have to eat too you know.
And if your kid wants to learn how to play electric guitar, don’t force it to learn classical guitar first, it’s complete nonsense (I am also a guitar teacher, I know). Trust me.
