Published: August 23, 2007 9:24 PM EST
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight: Special Request
Special Request
If you are into R &B and Pop, you will love this next act. With a good mixture of both, Special Request has certainly captured the essence of both styles of music. Even more impressive about Special Request is that how the band is able to move from one style of music to the next when one is listening to their CD/songs. Overall, this is a very unique group and one that deserves to be spotlighted in this magazine. I had the pleasure to interview the band a few weeks ago here is what transpired.
The band members consist of
Rey Thomas-- Lead Vocals
Mark Hunter (a.k.a. Spark) –Guitar
Gary Hunter (a.k.a G)--- Keyboards
Lana Banks (a.k.a. Lana)-- Background Vocalist
Mike Rakestraw (a.k.a. Lil Mike)--- Bass Guitar
Dominic Mercurio (a.k.a. Dom)----- Saxophone
Jimmy Riso (a.k.a J.R.)---- Drummer.
Q. What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
A. I get the most pleasure being on stage and connecting with the audience, feeling the energy and love that they give; gives me the strength to keep doing what I'm doing.
Q. What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?
A. Trying to get the radio and DJ's to play your stuff, when there's so much music out there and you think to yourself, how did they get that on the air, when to you, your music and so much more other music is much better but you just can't get that love from the PD's and the MD's until now.
Q. What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming
recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects,
etc).
A. Right now Special Request is Touring locally and we are in the process of putting together a national tour and eventually, touring the world. Also Prime USA Records is about to drop Seven (7) more Artists from Hip-hop to Jazz.
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. The Most unusual show was in Berkeley, CA and it took place in this park, the show was advertised as The Ugly Contest and on that day it was 107 Degrees outside. Everyone was sweating like crazy, equipment was failing and a few of the guys probably could have won the contest, but we kept it as professional as possible and finished the show.
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. The places were I've lived pretty much as had no effect on the music, mostly due to the fact that we are traveling most of the time, but I would say that living in Oakland, CA for awhile did help me put together a better live performance, because it made you work harder than the next band/group just trying to keep that edge.
Q. When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about
it?
A. The last song I wrote was Playa Hater, I wrote it because things in life were looking a little better and I decided it was time to invest in a bigger home, after I purchased the new home I told some of my friends about it and the new move. Well instead of being happy for my success, they were actually upset that I was able to buy a new home and they stop speaking to me. That's when I sat down with my producer " Korrosive " and wrote " Playa Hater ".
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. No, not at this point, only because I'm working with artist's that are so diverse and so talented that I try to concentrate on what they're doing. Prime USA Records roster is growing very rapidly and we have some great talent old and new such as: Korrosive, LaRay, Major D, Mark Hunter, Gary Hunter, The Legendary O'Town Passions, Tony Dwayne and Fats which again are Hip-Hop, R&B, Rap and Jazz.
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. I try to listen to it all when I can, but the truth be told I like it when singer's were singer's and an entertainer, entertained. I really love to listen to Luther Van Dross, he is and always will be the greatest balladeer.
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. Well I think the greatest musician and entertainer has to be " PRINCE ", no one person put's it down quite like him maybe except " MJJ ". My Favorite song is any of the early material.
Q. What's the saddest song you've ever heard?
A. Unchained Melody
