Interview Conducted on December 13, 2023

by Dan Locke

The band is a new again.  With a new lineup.  How do you go about redefining a band?

Filippa Nassi: It’s always been me who’s defined the band and it’s music. I don’t think it’s a new band, since the original bass player Majsan Lindberg is back after a 1,5 year leave. However, the feeling is better and the creativity since we enjoy spending time together. It’s only laughter and joy and I’m proud to say our new singer Linnéa Vikström (former Therion) wrote our newest single.

What is the process of writing your music?

Often I have a riff or a title idea and discuss a theme or a feeling of a song with the singer. Often 80% is written and then the band comes in and makes it a 100%. We’re writing a lot on the road when fun ideas come across when we fool around, after a gig or something. If we laugh, or if more than two people like an idea, we record it on a voice memo and we have a shared folder with lyric and musical ideas. We often want it to be something clever, or fun that makes people feel good. In our previous albums the lyrical theme is more different from what we are trying to create now. We’re trying to go back to the humor we had on our first two albums.

Tell me about your new single “I Left My Licenses in the Future”?

Linnéa was in the drivers passenger seat with her mum driving, after a gig we did this summer and she came up with it on her long drive back home to Stockholm. It’s great to be bored ‘cus then you think outside of the box! It’s a hard hitting no-brainer track aimed at the one in the passenger seat without a driver’s license. An anthem for those who never gets to be the designated driver and a love letter to the ones in the driver’s seat.. 

We in the band loved the song instantly!

How was it working with Soren Andersen (Pretty Maids, D-A-D, Glen Hughes and Mike Tramp)?

It’s magical. He is my kind of mentor in guitar playing and songwriting. He is just a magical human being and a great producer. He can take a song and make it so much better in a matter of minutes. The third album with him in the making now.

Paul McCarty and Ringo Starr just released the new and final single by the Beatles “Now and Then”.  With the help of AI and Peter Jackson, they were able to add vocals from John and guitar parts from George.  How do you think AI will affect the music business in the years to come?

I have friends who lost their jobs already due to AI without an explanation. They are pretty upset about the development. For DIY -people like myself it’s a good tool to get things done, cheap and fast. Instead of emailing my english speaking friend to correct my lyrics I can just put it into ChatGPT now. We haven’t tried the picture side of it yet. I guess it makes the graphic designers jobs a bit easier, but it could also ruin it for a lot of cover-designers. Everything we have ever had as an album cover has been man made but I’m personally pretty excited to the opportunity to be able to try things myself.

What are you feeling about streaming music?

It’s great for us to get plays on playlists and I’m stunned by joy everytime I hear Thundermother at the gym or something like that. I think it’s amazing how much new music you can discover. Growing up it was always the same shit at the radio and I was so over it. Mix tapes saved my youth! All in for new music getting better opportunities!

Last year (2022) vinyl is outselling digital media.  Metallica is selling so much vinyl that they bought their pressing plant- They pressed 900,000 plus pieces of vinyl I 2022 alone.  The plant they purchased is the Furnace Record Pressing in Alexandria, VA.  So is it Digital vs. vinyl?

It’s not either, it’s both! I have a huge vinyl collection of over 400 vinyls and I listen to music I really love on vinyl. It sounds better and it’s never been a question of Thundermother not having it. Everything we released exists also on vinyl. It’s also more sustainable than CD:s cus they don’t get ruined after 20 years like CD:s do, they don’t contain water,  so somehow I always knew vinyls would come back.

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what does that song mean to you?

Kiss just had their last show so currently it’s a lot of Strutter on my mind. First time we played in the US was when we were invited to the KISS kruise so I have a lot of gratitude towards them.

Is pay to play still a thing?  Now pay to play also means things like a playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.

It’s a thing for sure, but all I’ve experienced is that bands share a nightliner bus for example. So it’s more splitting costs.

How was it to tour with The Scorpions?

Magical. The Scorpions treated us like queens. Their crew became family and we still have close contact. We played in Germany last week and two from the stage crew came to our show to show support. That’s love. I have so much love for The Scorpions and their crew, my heart could melt. Mikkey Dee will always have my deepest respect, being a Swede like us made us connect,  and being so humble and nice is a true inspiration.

How does one get invited to perform on the Kiss Kruise?

There was a competition of sorts, which we didn’t even know about where we got voted to perform by the fans.

Since Kiss is on their Final Tour, do you think that the Kiss Kruise will still happen next year?

I think so, they might not perform together but Gene might have his business talk and Paul might have his exhibition. It has become a legendary cruise and it is a place for hardcore fans to meet.

The show Star Trek introduced people to the holodeck: an immersive, realistic 3D holographic projection of a complete environment that you could interact with. Today holograms are already being used in a variety of ways, such as medical systems, education, art, security and defense. Performers like Tupac, Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Ronnie James Dio, Marylin Monroe, and Whitney Houston have done it already. The band ABBA just announced that they will be making a comeback together after nearly 40 years as holograms on their next tour.  With ABBA it was with the help of George Lucas .  If the cost was down to the point, you could do it also, would you be willing to do Holographic concerts in our living room?

Haha! YES of course! I have never thought about it, but instantly I want The Beatles to come to my living room! I would love to come to yours and head bang! We would reach so many more people.

In the past, if a musician stopped doing music, they found a new career.  For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?

I would be a guitar tech at tours or a manager for bands. I couldn’t have a 9-5 job, I like working a little bit all the time, wherever I want.

What is your happy place?

On the stage, when the band is 100% listening to each other and the groove just IS THERE and I am a part of it!

A few bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last two years. In addition, Mick Mars from Motley Crue just sold his rights to all his music, up to the point of last year.  In an interview with Rolling Stones, he said “ he was confronted with his own mortality (with his battle with ankylosing spondylitis) And now he does have to worry about anything. This month we are finding out that the music duo Hall and Oats sold part of their music years ago.  And they are still performing those songs live.  Do you think you would be willing to sell your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?   Remember anything that you create forward will be 100% yours.

I don’t think so. I can’t grasp why you would do that really. I don’t put any value in what others do though. It’s up to each and every one.

Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenge and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.  TikTok has become a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners.  In which it has become a place for music artists to earn revenue when people use their music.  In many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to huge boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.  TikTok does this with the algorithm that generates a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch. Because a song can go viral because of this. Sony Music and Warner Music Group- , The ByteDance-owned video app revealed that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group.  Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?

Well, last time I checked, they removed our music from TikTok. Are you sure about this? I think they are not paying their part to Gema or something. Anyway, it’s a tool but nothing I will rely on. Live music is the thing for us.

Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel went live last summer. The station a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.  Some of the on TikTok include Cassyette, YukoEXE, Ashinikko, Palaye Royale, Josh Dun (Twenty-One Pilots), Yungblud, Morrissey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gene Simmons, Kiss, and Mick Jagger.  The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary, Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent.  Do you think this platform could become a force in the future of streaming music?

I hope not! It sounds dangerous! I don’t really like the music industry if this is the way we are going. What we should focus on is going to live shows, or supporting a band buying merch. TikTok is using MUSIC for their own benefit, not the opposite. I might be wrong but I am old-school I guess.

How did you come up with the motto “We Fight For Rock N Roll”

No matter the hardship people might have in their life, we will always try to make people feel better by having Rock N Roll in their life. During the pandemic we continued to play for 50 people day by day, sometimes two times a day, we did streams, we released music in a very non profitable time. We played on the roof of a fire truck and drove around. 

Music should make people feel better so we will continue Fighting For Rock N Roll. It’s just something I live by and it’s from my heart. We will entertain, we will include, we will continue through anything.

Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

Thanks for having me, and real interesting questions, I learned a thing or two as well, haha!

Don’t forget to check out our interview with the band from 2018.

Website | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter |Instagram |

Interview conducted on December 17, 2023

By Dan Locke

Nordic Daughter is more than just a musical project it is an experience in variety, acceptance, love and logic. The musical concepts behind the music build a sense of intimacy with the audience that can only be described as genuine and authentic. The vocal stylings of Melissa Lycan are unique yet classic and the songs she delivers are heart felt and blended. The project Debuted in 2016 at the Oriental Theater after years of working in the music business the members chose to write the first versions of the songs ready to be produced in the studio. The Band released the first EP “Forgotten” in 2017 and the second Album “The Path” in Nov 2018. In 2020 Nordic Daughter released three singles all around the challenges we face as we go on our heroes journey! The 3rd album is in the works and is destined to release in Spring of 2022. The band has performed with artists like Lita Ford, Trapt, Cold, Stitched up Heart, Jack Russell and Great White, Lost Point and Michael Morrow, selling out venues up to 500.

Nordic Daughter’s main focus is to tour the world teaching children how to write music as an outlet for their own voices. Interested in playing large benefit concerts, performing our fully Choreographed show for fans all over the world and giving as much of our hearts and minds to the planet as it can handle. Get ready for the fiercest of all warriors, NORDIC DAUGHTER!

What is your upbringing? 

Melissa Lycan: I was brought up in a split political household, Which is interesting because my parents really wanted the same things out of life and both of them aligned with different views on certain things but really sat moderately in the middle for most of my life.  My dad was a Deacon of our church and I think really found himself as a father when he entered the church.  

Jason’s dad died when he was 5 and this caused him to bounce back and forth between Colorado and Missouri growing up which also planted him in a unique middle ground perspective.  

Sarah was raised in the Midwest of Michigan she is a Michigander and from what I can tell her parents are artistic and creative but grounded in logic and love.  She is the only daughter and has two brothers.  One in Alaska and one in Colorado. 

How did you discover music? 

My mother and father loved music.  Our house was always filled with it.  Vinyl albums lined the living room cabinets, filled with the sounds of Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, Blue Oyster Cult, Black Sabbath, Elton John, Jerry Mathis, the list goes on.  My dad only ever learned one song on guitar but my Aunt Kerry Jean was such a musical talent, one of the clearest memories I have in Alaska is of her singing House at Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins.  She was in love.  My Grandmother played the piano and she taught me a few songs and I began taking lessons as a kid, eventually she gifted my parents the piano when I was 8 or 9 and then I was gifted it about 5 years ago when I began performing. 

How did you start to write music? 

I started writing lyrics through poetry when I was 8 years old but the first songs, I really composed on staff was when I was about 15 years old.  I wish I could say I was able to continue to write music but when I was 16, I went through some intense trauma. I did a nosedive into depression and self-deprecation.  I surrounded myself with musicians though, there was always a DJ teaching me to match a beat or a singer songwriter testing out a new bar but I didn’t sing again until I was 23 and didn’t pick up Piano again until I was 27.  Now I love writing songs and wish it was my full-time job.  

Describe your music.

Evanescence meets Simon and Garfunkel?  Medieval meets Adele? Modern Folk or Alternative Folk Rock is what we have settled on.  Our music is the story of a life.  The inner workings of our hearts, minds, and souls.  I try to build bridges rather than burn them down with my music.  The melodies are reticent of simpler times, but the lyrics are a little, face your fears, you only have one chance at this.  

What was your first performance like? 

 My first performance was a bit scary.  Jason and I were only playing as a Duet at that time so I was more exposed vocally than I am with a full band.  I think I just kept telling myself that it was going to be ok and there was no turning back now.  We had our first gig at the Oriental Theatre in January of 2016 and the snow was crazy, I was in my final term of my Masters program and was frantic but we still had over 300 people attend the first show.   

Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.

Do you belong to any songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?

 BMI is who we work with under Melissa Lycan as the lead writer and Jason Lycan as Co-Writer.  We also have arrangements with one of our producers for a producer royalty.    

What makes a good songwriter? 

 I think being Authentic to your voice and your spirit makes you the best songwriter.  An ability to write out true feelings that evoke emotional response from the listener is a key indicator of good songwriting for me.  I also believe you have to be able to collaborate and let the song kind of flow where it needs to organically.  You can’t just fit everything in the same box or people get bored.  There is no algorithm for us though, I think our songs are kind of all a bit unique to themselves. 

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

 Actually, we just recorded it.  Our first original song was our wedding vows.  Jason and I spent months working out our wedding vows and we sang them when we got married May 30th, 2009.  It wasn’t until Jason’s grandfather hit stage 5 Parkinsons that we found the song on a video of the wedding and revived it.  He asked us to record the song before he passed in 2020 and now, we have. 

What is the process of writing your music?

 We start with Melody actually.  Sometimes poetry takes precedence but usually I fit my poems to the melody by adjusting syllables and phrasing, maybe finding new words that blend better but still rhyme. It isn’t until we have worked out the Duet that we bring in the Violin and then add drums, bass and keys as the topper.  We also work out the songs over about a year of playing them live before we really settle into how the songs should sound.  We test them on the audience and some never make the cut. 

What are you feeling about streaming music? 

Necessary Evil Right?  I wish they paid more to artists when they make a ridiculous amount of money.  I think streaming is a good way to make new fans, if anyone thinks our music fits a playlist let me know because we struggle with playlist placement.   

The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag. 

Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?

 I mean sharps and flats are par for the course but most people don’t even realize the hashtag is the sharp symbol. 

Tell me about Forgotten? 

Forgotten is a song about honoring the past.  How each hero is often first a villain and the stories we tell about the past are rooted in lessons pain and inhumanity, but they are also about resilience and overcoming those trials. We all fall down; the victors simply get back on the horse.  

How was it shooting the video in the snow?

It was soooo cold.  We were trying to get shots in December at 9000 ft.  Several times we needed to stop and warm up because it was unbearable.  In our world we are supposed to enjoy the snow so we braved the weather to creste that intense allusion to the Northern Countries and our ancestors.  

Digital vs. vinyl?

 I love Vinyl.  We listen to vinyl at least one session a week.  I wish we could store vinyl in our cars safely because I spend so much time commuting or traveling.  The warmth of a record is second to none.  We are releasing our 3rd album on vinyl in addition to CD. 

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?  

Dromte Mig is on my mind right now because we just got the final master file back from the producer.  It is a 15th century song written in runic/Old Norse and we rearranged it and put our own spin on it.  It means that we honor our ancestors and where and what vikings truly were.  Too many people have culturally appropriated viking and scandinavian history and made them into brutes instead of wisemen, travellers, magi, traders, healers and storytellers.    

Is pay to play still a thing?  Now pay to play also means things like a playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.

 Pay to play is all over the place still, the Whiskey for example still asks bands to pre purchase tickets that the band can then recoup from direct fan purchases.  Most touring bands are looking for the money and for local bands to draw them a crowd and help them promote.  We have a strong local support community in Denver and many artists open up for National bands with limited return for the tickets they sell.  They are playing and selling tickets for exposure.  We book venues and throw our own shows a few times a year so that we have the freedom to take smaller paying gigs when they come up.  

The show Star Trek introduced people to the holodeck: an immersive, realistic 3D holographic projection of a complete environment that you could interact with.

Today holograms are already being used in a variety of way, such as medical systems, education, art, security and defense.

Performers like Tupac, Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Ronnie James Dio, Marylin Monroe, and Whitney Houston have done it already. The band ABBA just announced that they will be doing a comeback together after nearly 40 years as holograms on their next tour.  With ABBA it was with the help of George Lucas. 

If the cost was down to the point you could do it also, would you be willing to do Holographic concerts in our living room?

That would be amazing.  If the audio mix could be perfected, yes.  We have thought about doing holograms of dancers or actors so we can travel with a smaller ensemble.  

In the past if a musician stopped doing music, they found a new career.  For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?

I currently teach HS Math.  If music were not an option this is what I would continue doing, however, I plan on maintaining my voice for years to come.  I can’t imagine not making music even if I never made another dime.  It is the most satisfying and fulfilling activity on the planet.  

What is your happy place? 

 The Stage is my happy place.  It is like a relief.  I get on stage, and I get to leave all of my stress on the platform, shake it off and just be pure energy for hours.  Teaching is the only other place where I feel I make a difference in people’s lives, attitudes, perspectives and beliefs about themselves.  People have forgotten how truly magically they are, and my purpose is to wake them up.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million.  In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year.  Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million.   Neil Young sold 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180 song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited . Once you get to the age of about 70.  Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artists based on sales, airplay and streams.  A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985.  And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.

The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning. 

On January 19, 2021 Hipgnosis Song Management acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, covering the country superstar’s discography from his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams through 2017’s Live in No Shoes Nation.

 Someone who was totally against selling his rights was David Crosby.  He did not want to sell his publishing rights.  In addition, it was not an easy thing for him to do.  However, by making a deal with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, it took a big weight off his shoulders.  He could pay off his house and cover other bills.  Now he does not have to work for a living.  It should be noted that David is battling tendinitis in his hands, which hurts his ability to play guitar.

Do you think you would be willing to sell your back catalog if someone like Universal is willing to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? 

Hmmmm, only if I retained my ability to perform them anytime I wanted and the price was right because I believe shelving this music is a mistake.  I would never let that happen.  Also, I can always write more music because I am in the prime of my life right now.  100 million would change our lives forever, in ways I can’t even fathom yet.  

There are many platforms out there that allow artists to get their music heard. Artist Republik, DistroKid, Tunecore & plenty others offer distribution services. These services enable independent artists to put their music on some of the most popular streaming services globally, from Spotify to Apple Music & everything in between. If you’ve been in any part of the music industry in recent years, you probably know someone that has distributed a song.

Spotify reports that in 2021 there are about 8 million artists on the platform. Of those 8 million artists, about 57,000 are raking in a whopping 90% of the total revenue from streams. That means that .71% of the artists on Spotify are making good money. In 2020, there was a total of around $5 billion paid out to artists on the Spotify platform alone. 

Therefore it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.

What do you think that could mean to independent artists? 

It really is a double-edged sword.  We are swimming in a sea of music and rising above the din of everyone else is more challenging today.  It becomes much more important for the music to hold integrity and really connect with fans.  No matter what as an independent artist we need to remember that 1000 true fans is a powerful thing.  We can thrive off of 5-10,000 real followers regardless of streaming.  Don’t get discouraged, keep plugging away.  

Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenge and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.

TikTok has become a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners.  In which it has become a place for music artists to earn revenue when people use their music.  In many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to huge boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.

TikTok does this algorithmically generating a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch. 

Because a song can go viral because of this. 

Sony Music and Warner Music Group- , The ByteDance-owned video app revealed that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group.  Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?

I am trying to use tiktok more often.  The biggest challenge I find like most creators, I have a hugely full life in which I teach math, write music and do booking too which means I am lacking extra time to create.  I wish I could simply create tik toks and become wildly successful.  

Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer.The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.

Some of the members on TikTok include Cassyette, YukoEXE, Ashinikko, Palaye Royale, Josh Dun (Twenty One Pilots), Yungblud, Morrissey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gene Simmons,  and Mick Jagger.

The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary,Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent.  Do you think this platform could become a force in the future of streaming music? 

 We already have our music hosted on tiktok so fans can create stories from our music and share what we do with other people.  I have  watched our old violin player blow up on TikTok.  Check her out @MiaAsanoMusic It titworking very well for her.  

Anything you would like to say in closing.

We released our 3rd Album later this Summer after each of the singles drop.

Website | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram |

Silver Legacy Casino

Reno Neveda

November 04, 2023

Daryl Hall has been touring for over a year with John Oates.  And the question is can a front person of a successful duo (Hall and Oates) and you step up for a solo tour?  And be able to go into the nooks and crannies of our catalog to make even the hardest hard cord fan happy.

Daryl is doing a tour with Todd Rundgren.  And you say Hall without Oates.  Has the band fallen to the waste side?  No this is part of Daryl Hall’s musical career.  Many people don’t know he has a television show called Live from Daryl’s House which can be seen on YouTube. There are over 90 episodes of the show.  On this show, he invites some of the top musicians of the world into his living and they play songs from his catalog and their catalog along with covers by other bands.  Some of the people who have appeared on this show include Howard Jones, Lisa Loeb, Andy Grammer, Robert Fripp, Charlie Starr, Grace Porter, Amos Lee, Kenny Loggins, Ben Folds, KT Tunstall, Tommy Shaw (from Styx), Toots and the Mayalls, CeeLo Green, Smokey Robinson, Rob Thomas, Keb Mo, Wyclef Jean and Todd Rundgren (2x)( both from Philly).

The show happened at the Silver Legacy Casino, a venue which I had never been to.  The venue was acoustic nearly perfect.  You had good sound iany you stood in the room.  Both artists’ vocals were some of the bests I have ever heard from both artists. (Daryl- the first time I heard him was at SXSW at Daryl House and I also saw him at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  With Todd- I have seen him with many different versions of his show, Everything from Utopia, Todd touring as the Cars, With Joe Jackson, and the best time him playing Beatles songs with Alan Parsons, Ann Wilson, John Entwistle, and Christoper Cross.

Todd opened the show, and he did his hits, The only downside was his soundboard mix was off during the first two songs, but after it was corrected, it was great.  Being a small stage, he made sure he walked from one end of the stage to the other, so he got to all his fans.

Some of the hits he played were Love to the Common Man, Real Man, Hello it Me, I’m So Proud, Ohh Baby Baby and I want you.

It was a real treat for Toddstock fans.

After Todd 45 min set Daryl came to the stage.  With Daryl set it was a true live at Daryl’s episode.  With his backing band of great musicians,

Shane Theriot- Guitar (band leader for Hall and Oats and musical director for Daryl’s house)

Brian Dunne- Drums (Daryl’s House)

Porter Carroll Jr.- Vocal and guitar (Atlantic Starr)

Clyde James- Bass (BET Network)

Greg Mayo- Keyboards (Hall, Todd, Bon Jovi, and Blood Sweat Tears)

Mr. Casual Charlie De Chant- Sax (Mick Jagger, The Temptations, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt, The Average White Band and Hall and Oates)

Like I said in the beginning Daryl liked the small venue because he could see everyone in the room (like his living room).  And as he was playing in the living room, he had the feeling of being there with an unfiltered impromptu jam session with a Philly sound.

Daryl’s setlist included Dreamtime, Foolish Pride, Out of Touch, Say it isn’t So, I’m in a Philly Mood, Everytime You Go Away (which was a song he worked on with Paul Young), Sara Smile, I Can’t Go For That and Maneater.

After Daryl was done, he came back with Todd to do an encore of three songs.  They started with Make my Dreams Come True at which point the crowd went nuts. Followed by Can We Still be Friends and Todd and Daryl played off each other with each taking the lead of each part.

So yes, Daryl did show he can do it by himself. He shows that he is a successful duo and has a solo career without interluding his career path.

Which brings up a point.

Shortly after the show news broke out about the lawsuit between Daryl and John (Oates) So the story continues.

Daryl Hall  Website | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram |

Todd Rundgren  Website | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram |

Sandra-Mae Lux

Interview conducted on November 29, 2023

Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Sandra-Mae Lux was singing almost before she was walking.  Even at a young age, Sandra-Mae had an ear for melody and was already penning songs by the time she was 10.

Completing her academic training at Capilano University British Columbia, Sandra-Mae graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies on Saxophone. She received multiple awards such as the Phil Nimmons Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Jazz, and was spotted as a stand-out Top 30 Under 30 in a Vancouver newspaper. She has performed twice at the Ottawa Jazz Festival where she shared a stage and performed with many recognized artists such as Robert Glasper, Herbie Hancock and opened for Dave Brubeck. 

 What is your upbringing?

I grew up in a fishing village called Steveston on the outskirts of Vancouver, BC (Canada). My parents were immigrants from The Netherlands so I grew up bi-lingual. I’ve always had a natural draw towards music, and my mom told me that I sang before I spoke haha.  Some of my earliest memories are standing on tables and singing at family gatherings!

At what age did you get into music?

My parent’s divorce at age 9 hit me very hard, and it started me on a road to episodes of deep depression which I still struggle with today. Plus, in high-school, you tend to only get “socially elevated” when you’re good at sports, rather than the arts. And while I was very good at a lot of sports, especially soccer, I was a gawky and nerdy kid who loved everything music. So, inevitably I got very bullied. It got so bad in high school, that were it not for encouragement from my high school music teacher Jeremy Hepner, I might not be here.

After high school, I went to university and got my bachelor’s degree in music in jazz studies on sax.

I started playing piano at age 6, took up saxophone at the age of 11, and guitar at 13.

How did you discover music?

My mom told me that I sang before I spoke, and had the ability to sing along in perfect pitch with the songs that came on the stereo, and then recite them at will. She also thought that all young kids could do this, until I went to school for the first time and she realized that might not be the case!

I’m also very lucky that my family members and parent’s friends had great taste in music, and would always bring around their latest finds whenever they came over. So I grew up listening to artists like Frank Sinatra, Diana Krall, Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz, Otis Redding, Etta James and Bob Marley.  All of those artists (and a lot more now) inspire the music I create today.

How did you start to write music?

I think growing up with a piano in the house really helps because it’s just always around, and you can always go to the piano and tinker.  I was bullied a lot growing up, so many afternoons I’d come home from school, sit at the piano and just…play.  It was a kind of therapy, an escape, a way to exorcise some of the negative emotions I’d been feeling throughout the day. That’s pretty much where it all started!

Describe your music.

I would say my music is an upbeat fusion of soul, disco, MOR and pop, with elements of jazz.  In terms of songwriting, my partner and I write in a similar style to the golden age of Brill Building songwriting duos (think Goffin & King, Weil & Mann, Sadaka & Greenfield, etc).

What was your first performance like?

The first performance I can remember was a piano recital at age 7.  I was very lucky that my piano teacher’s husband at the time owned part of one of Vancouver’s nicest studios, and we got to have our piano recitals there.  I remember it so well; I got to play a beautiful grand piano in a huge studio with wooden floors, walls and ceilings. I learned all my music by ear, and my piano teacher had no idea I couldn’t read music!  At this recital, I took the music up to the piano, and played the song without actually reading it.  She did eventually find out, and that’s when I started learning music theory.

Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.

Do you belong to any songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?

Yes I do! It’s totally essential to join a PRO to track usage and receive regular pay-outs.

What makes a good songwriter?

Talent! But seriously, I think a good songwriter has three important qualities:

1 – An intuitive ability to completely observe a moment in life.

2 – An understanding of form (but knowing when to throw it out the window).

3 – The ability to perfectly articulate a complicated feeling in 3 minutes.

Oh, and it takes a lifetime to master. See? Easy!   Personally I feel like the best songs have all been written by teams of 2-3 people. Think of all the incredible Brill Building songwriting duos who churned out hit after hit. And I’ll bet that even the greatest of solo writers (Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Billy Joel) all bounced their best songs off of other people. It’s kind of arrogant to think that you do it all on your own.

Tell me about being a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest?

Another unexpected honour with my track “Moment In The Sun!”  I’ve always known this song really has something, so it was nice to have it confirmed by such a prestigious songwriting contest.  I look forward to seeing this track really find its place in the world. 

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

I actually don’t remember, and didn’t record it! However, the first song my songwriting partner and I wrote was called I Believe, which made it to the finals of CBC’s Searchlight Competition.  I re-recorded it for my album titled “Happily Ever Now” which you can listen to here.

What is the process of writing your music?

My writing partner Alan and I have been writing for years together, and he’s mostly the lyric side, while I’m more on the music side (think Bernie Taupin / Elton John or Greenfield / Sedaka). However, we both influence each other’s work. Generally, I’ll come to Alan with an “emotion dump,” or an idea for a song, and he’ll write it down (kind of like a therapist haha) and then he’ll make sense of it and create lyrics.

Alan does a lot of automatic writing, and sometimes a poem will fall out. Both of us feel that a poem in its original form doesn’t necessarily make good song lyrics. So we’ll edit the poem and transform them into lyrics. Other times a great stray line will just fall out randomly, either from him or myself, and that becomes the basis of a new song. We have tons of stray lines written on post-it notes scattered all over our flat – we’ve got a lot more songs to write!

After we’ve finished finalizing the shape of the lyrics, I’ll then sit at the piano or pick up a guitar and let the lyrics guide where the melody/harmonies/arrangement/groove wants to go.  The song will tell you what it wants to do; all you have to do is get out of its way!

Tell me about your song Perfect Weather?

This is one of those songs that just “fell out” during an inspired moment!

This song is really about two lovers who weather their relationship through any weather – (metaphorically) good or bad.

Originally it fell out as a classic Bossa, but once Juno award winning producer Chris SD got his hands on it, and put a heavy beat behind it, the song really lit up. I added a sax solo, and – voila! A lovely track that just makes you smile, rain or shine.

How was it to be on the UK Soul Charts with your song You Me and Tomorrow?

It really was an honour, and definitely not something that I expected! This was another one of those songs that just “fell out” and wanted to be here, so my writing partner and I just got out of its way and let it happen.  I also made a conscious choice not to promote it heavily, and see what it wanted to do. What a lovely surprise to see it get to No. 3 on the UK Soul Chart!

What are you feeling about streaming music?

Wow. Where do I even start?

I think streaming was a great idea that was completely hijacked by the Big Three record companies (Sony, Warner and Universal).

Streaming is now completely unsustainable for independent artists and is the death of great independent music. Artists get paid almost nothing for streaming. Literally nothing.  Actually, just the other day it was announced that Universal has cut a deal with Deezer in an attempt to define what a “professional” artist is.  Their benchmark for being a professional is getting more than 1,000 streams per month, which so many independent artists do not get.  How dare the Big Three and the DSPs set the rules to what is and what isn’t considered “professional” and then pay those people even less per stream!  A stream should be worth the same for every artist. If you want to stream an artist you like, why should a huge part of your monthly subscription fee go to big artists you don’t even listen to?  It is wrong in every way.

But here’s the kicker – they are keeping track of all the analytics! How do we know that it’s even honest? There are no checks, no balances, and at the moment they control the outlet. They want to define what music is, and then control the music, the outlet, and the marketing completely. In any other industry, this would be classified as restraint of trade. But once again, the artists are completely at the mercy of their record labels.

And guess what? Record companies have never known what music is, and what people actually want to hear.  When streaming is the only game in town (because gigging and touring are also completely financially unsustainable now), you have to ask yourself what kind of a music world do you want to live in?  If you turn on the radio right now and listen to new music, it all sounds exactly the same.  And that is a direct result of the total monopolization of the music industry, and the way we consume music, ie streaming.

The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag. Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?

Ha! Yes that may be so! Having studied music and music theory since the age 7, the use of the # has always been music first for me. The # as an accidental actually started showing up in music notation as far back as the 11th century.

Digital vs. vinyl?

Definitely vinyl for me!  I have a lovely vinyl audiophile set-up at home and it truly is a different experience.  There’s so much more warmth and depth with vinyl, and the listening experience is so much more intimate and interactive. Also, the mix can sometimes be very different from the digital version of the same recording. Sometimes I go back to vinyl recordings, and I’ll hear things that I couldn’t in the digital version, which is a real treat!  Although digital is a more convenient way of listening to music, sometimes it is because of its convenience that it makes the listening less active.  I’d love for more people to start actively listening to music again instead of just listening to wallpaper playlists on the streamers.

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

The song Lush Life by Billy Strayhorn has been going around in my head lately.  The lyrics are incredibly poignant, and the arrangement is just sublime. It really is a stunning jazz ballad that doesn’t actually get played that often. The chord changes are delicious!  When I was about 13 I was enamored by the chords and learned them all. It was like a masterclass in theory!

Is pay to play still a thing?  Now pay to play also means things like a playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.

Unfortunately, yes it is.  I could book 10 gigs tomorrow if I wanted, but there’s no way I could afford to do them. Venues now charge (a lot!) for the hire of their sound engineer, a percentage of ticket sales, and sometimes even a percentage of the merch sold. I’d also have to pay for promo materials, pay all my band members (a proper fee), pay for rehearsals and rehearsal studio time, travel costs, food, etc.

It’s a similar situation to open for a band on tour; you’d have to pay for the travel, accommodation, performer fees and food for the entire band, plus any promo.

And yes, paying to be playlisted on a DSP is also definitely a thing, although I really do not recommend doing that because there are a lot of shady playlisters out there, and if the DSPs find out that you’ve paid to be playlisted they can blacklist you and your music in future releases.

The show Star Trek introduced people to the holodeck: an immersive, realistic 3D holographic projection of a complete environment that you could interact with.

Today holograms are already being used in a variety of way, such as medical systems, education, art, security and defense.

Performers like Tupac, Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Ronnie James Dio, Marylin Monroe, and Whitney Houston have done it already. The band ABBA just announced that they will be making a comeback together after nearly 40 years as holograms on their next tour.  With ABBA it was with the help of George Lucas.

If the cost was down to the point, you could do it also, would you be willing to do Holographic concerts in our living room?

I’d definitely think about it, considering the current prohibitive costs of touring!  P.S. I’m a huge Star Trek (Next Gen) fan and think Gene Roddenberry was incredibly brilliant and so ahead of his time. Did you know that without Lucille Ball, Star Trek would never have happened?

In the past if a musician stopped doing music they found a new career.  For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?

Well actually I am a professional voice actor! My latest project is playing Eve in the #1 New York Time’s Best Selling Audible Audio drama Sandman by Neil Gaiman, directed and adapted by the brilliant Dirk Maggs. So if I ever stopped doing music (very unlikely), I guess I’d just keep on doing voice work.

What is your happy place?

Anytime I’m behind a mic (as a singer, sax player or voice actor), or behind an instrument working out a new song or arrangement.  Whenever I’m doing those things, it feels like time ceases to exist and I’m in complete flow. It’s an incredible feeling.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million.  In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year.  Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million.   Neil Young sold 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180-song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited. Once you get to the age of about 70.  Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artists based on sales, airplay and streams.  A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985.  And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.

The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.

On January 19, 2021 Hipgnosis Song Management acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, covering the country superstar’s discography from his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams through 2017’s Live in No Shoes Nation.

 Someone who was totally against selling his rights was David Crosby.  He did not want to sell his publishing rights.  In addition, it was not an easy thing for him to do.  However, by making a deal with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, it took a big weight off his shoulders.  He could pay off his house and cover other bills.  Now he does not have to work for a living.  It should be noted that David is battling tendinitis in his hands, which hurts his ability to play guitar.

Do you think you would be willing to sell your back catalog if someone like Universal is willing to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?

If the price was right – absolutely! I can always write more songs.

There are many platforms out there that allow artists to get their music heard. Artist Republik, DistroKid, Tunecore & plenty others offer distribution services. These services enable independent artists to put their music on some of the most popular streaming services globally, from Spotify to Apple Music & everything in between. If you’ve been in any part of the music industry in recent years, you probably know someone who has distributed a song.

Spotify reports that in 2021 were about 8 million artists on the platform. Of those 8 million artists, about 57,000 are raking in a whopping 90% of the total revenue from streams. That means that .71% of the artists on Spotify are making good money. In 2020, there was a total of around $5 billion paid out to artists on the Spotify platform alone.

Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.

What do you think that could mean to independent artists?

 Unfortunately, it is the death of independent music. It is an absolute killer for independent artists.  We are just getting buried by the sheer avalanche of music being uploaded – almost half a million songs per week. And the streamers, under pressure from the Big Three (Sony, Warner, and Universal) have always biased subscription revenues towards the biggest artists (number of streams). That means that I get paid a lot less for one stream of my music than someone like Dua Lipa. It’s the “winner takes all” attitude.  Computers now could have incredibly accurate analytics (just look at the ads that pop up on your phone)!  Are you telling me that streaming services, with all their analytics, can’t track which artists someone actually streams, and have their monthly subscription pay for who they actually listen to?

The current model is completely unsustainable in this “winner takes all” streaming approach. The major labels control 70% – 88% of Spotify’s playlists, so the game is rigged.

Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenge and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.

TikTok has become a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners.  In which it has become a place for music artists to earn revenue when people use their music.  In many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to huge boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.

TikTok algorithmically generates a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch.

Because a song can go viral because of this.

Sony Music and Warner Music Group- , The ByteDance-owned video app revealed that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group.  Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?

I really enjoy TikTok as entertainment, and I actually learn a lot there!  My algorithm is mostly funny animals, spirituality, and cooking – which says a lot about me ha-ha.  I don’t think I’ll use it more, as my music has already been licensed for use on TikTok for a few years now.

Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer. The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.

Some of the members on TikTok include Cassyette, YukoEXE, Ashinikko, Palaye Royale, Josh Dun (Twenty One Pilots), Yungblud, Morrissey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gene Simmons, and Mick Jagger.

The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary, Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent.  Do you think this platform could become a force in the future of streaming music?

I sure hope so, especially for independent artists!  However, if the Big Three have anything to do with it, it will most likely only play and promote signed artists.

Are you into Dr. Who?

As a UK resident, I think I have to be haha! The Russell T. Davis did an amazing job with the Dr. Who reboot.  I haven’t really taken the time out to watch through the entire series, but living here you do feel like you get to know the series by osmosis.  Fun Fact – my songwriting partner has been in a couple of the Dr. Who audio dramas! His latest was playing HP Lovecraft in The Lovecraft Invasion.

How was it being a part of ALIEN- Sea of Sorrows?

Voice acting brings me so much joy and fulfilment and being a part of this No. 1 New York Times Bestselling Audio Dramas (directed by the legendary Dirk Maggs) was incredible from start to finish.  And getting to work with other actors at the top of their game is just an absolute thrill.

Do you think it will be made into a movie.

Who knows?! The scripts, story, score and sound design are all there, so I feel like it’s pretty much a movie already!

Anything you would like to say in closing.

The music industry has gradually eroded the earning power of artists, to the point where they are being paid virtually nothing for their creations. When someone buys an album, song, mug or t-shirt directly from an artist, they circumvent the middleman, and all the people who have nothing to do with the actual creation of the music.  Why should a music fan pay multi-billion-dollar record company executives, or CEOs of streaming services (who have virtually nothing to do with the creation of the music), for the songs they like, when they have the ability to pay an artist directly?  

The current system of remuneration for an artist is unsustainable. Purchasing music directly or becoming a patron to an artist, cuts out the middleman.

If I have to work three jobs just to survive (which I do), that leaves me very little time and mental capacity to create new work.

Composers and artists like Mozart and Beethoven were financially resourced through direct patronage. Maybe it’s time to look at that system again.

On that note, feel free to purchase my music on iTunes or BandCamp at Merch from Sandra-Mae Lux

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Pop music has been used to punt products almost since the genre came into being. In the 1960s, Coca-Cola hired artists the caliber of The Shirelles, Jan & Dean, and Roy Orbison to perform their jingles, many of which were released as singles. This strategy culminated in perhaps the most famous ad music of all, The New Seekers I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing, which eventually went on to sell 12 million copies.

Fast forward to the 1980s, and the ad men struck upon the idea of licensing existing tracks for TV campaigns. 1988 saw The Beatles’ Revolution on a Nike Air commercial. The 30-second short showed amateur athletes diverting from their prior strategies of featuring pros like tennis player Ilie Nastase and the as-yet-to-be-GOAT Michael Jordan.

The relationship between artist and agency isn’t always easy. Having your music on an Levi’s commercial in 1990s England came on the understanding that your single would sell by the barrowload, but your band would cease to be taken seriously at that point. While Levi’s managed to survive due to being a mainly US concern (perhaps the equivalent of George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio doing TV ads in Japan, away from potentially judgmental eyes), the CD singles of Babylon Zoo’s Spaceman and Stiltskin’s Inside continue to clutter the bargain bins of second-hand record stores to this very day. While we’re used to seeing Snoop sell everything from Skechers to Corona, it’s the man, not his music, that’s showcased.

The current generation of musicians seems more practical than precious about their art. The Cure is enjoying a second renaissance, headlining 2023”s Riot Fest after a 30-date US tour. However, back in 2003, they were without a label, and Robert Smith – who swore blind he’d never do such a thing – licensed In Between Days to Fiat to raise the revenue to wrest copyright control of his songs back from Polydor. One of the biggest draws to Chicago this summer was Turnstile, and by comparison, the current landscape of minimal revenue from recorded music (physical or streaming) and the increasing cost of touring meant they had few qualms about letting Taco Bell use Holiday in a commercial on TikTok.

Whether a commercial breaks an artist – or breaks an artist – or gives a second life to something perhaps overlooked the first time around, some stick long after the campaign’s done.

Nick Drake: Pink Moon – Volkswagen

When Drake passed in 1974, he left behind only three LPs, little listened to in his lifetime. However, as the decades passed, his delicate folk started to spread around England by word of mouth. In 1999, The Guardian named his Bryter Later the ‘best alternative LP of all time’. That year, Volkswagen captured that posthumous zeitgeist just at the right time. The NorCal setting, the fact the brand was seen as European and somewhat more cosmopolitan than American cars appealed to the college-grad sector who had been turned on to bands like Belle And Sebastian, who owed more than a debt of thanks to Drake. In 1999, Drake’s US album sales were 6,000; by the end of 2000 they were 74,000.

Celeste: One Love – Oakley

Some artists and some songs are timeless. This cover of Bob Marley’s classic rewrites some of the verses to emphasize the on-screen message of family and determination. While it’s designed to have you buy sunglasses from Oakley, there’s more on offer. Singer Celeste was hand-picked by the Marley family for the ad. Born in the US of Jamaican heritage, she now lives in the UK, matching the story of Bob and his descendants. A wide range of their lenses are shown, from the O-Frame BMX goggles that first launched the company to the tinted visors they make for NFL superstars now – perhaps a nod to Rohan Marley, who played linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes.

Yuna: Strawberry Letter 23 – H&M

If one thinks back to the late 90s, when long-forgotten classics from the psychedelic age were being reissued by the dozen, perhaps the most important to come out was Shuggie Otis’ Inspiration Information. When David Byrne’s Luaka Bop imprint put it together with four cuts (including this one) from his earlier Freedom Flight LP in 2001, the guitarist hadn’t released anything since its original outing in 1974. A classic of California soul, the commercial leans into the song, showing a sun-drenched L.A. street scene. The cover, by Malaysian singer Yuna, is faithful to the original; it didn’t need to be anything but.

Feist: 1234 – Apple

When singer-songwriter Feist licensed this track to an iPod campaign in 2007, she was already fairly well known in indie circles. She’d collaborated with Buck 65 and Kings Of Convenience. 2004’s Let It Die had gone platinum in her native Canada. Mushaboom had been used by Lacoste. After 2007? She sang with Elmo, chickens, and penguins on Sesame Street. Can there be anything cooler?

Legendary local and all-around good-time rock band, The Pimps (formerly known as, “The Goodyear Pimps”) have officially announced that after decades of making kick-ass ‘three chord rock ‘n roll,’ out of Rockford, Illinois, they will be calling it quits following their very last live performance on November 10, 2023, in Madison, Wisconsin. It will indeed be the end of an era for the Illinois local music scene that can only be described as, “amazeballs.” But, before you reach for the tissues, please take comfort in the fact that, just because The Pimps will soon be history, there’s still a possibility that its members might venture into new musical endeavors, creating fresh sounds and continuing to contribute to the musical landscape.

I sat down with The Pimps, vocalist, Stuart (“Stu”) Johnson on October 28th, just prior to the band’s very last hometown performance in Rockford, Illinois. We discussed the reasoning behind the official end of The Pimps, an ongoing community music project, as well as the potential for a whole new band to be taking the stage in the near or distant future (yes, that was meant to be vague).

While talking with Stu, he spoke a lot about a successful and ongoing community project that he started in his hometown, Rockford, back in 2013. His face literally lit up as he talked about the beloved, the Rock and Roll Institute. Similar to the School of Rock franchise, the Rock and Roll Institute is a dynamic and innovative kids’ music program that transforms aspiring young musicians into confident, stage-ready performers. But, there is one exception: The Rock and Roll Institute crams an entire educational and hands-on music journey into only five days…not several weeks like its predecessor. Just imagine it: You arrive at the program on a Monday, where you’ll meet some kids your age, likely for the first time. Then, you and said “other kids” break into a group to: form your band, name your band, learn how to play an instrument, learn how to play a song with that instrument with a group of others, then perform that song live with your band on that very next Friday. It is an admirable feat and Stu’s excitement and pride about the program is well deserved. The program is in collaboration with Rockford’s own, Keith Country Day School, a private school in the area that has 99% college success among its diverse student body. More information about the Rock and Roll Institute and the Keith Country Day School are linked below.

Next up, and most importantly, when asked about whether the band was calling it quits (for real this time), Johnson confirmed that it is indeed the final chapter for The Pimps. With a collective nod to the passage of time, the decision stemmed from a desire to gracefully embrace the next chapter of their lives. “There’s no hard feelings everybody’s super cool about it,” Stu added.

Johnson did mention however, yet another new project he has been working on, a new album that he and Pimps bassist (and Stu’s husband, btw), Tony, entitled, No Chalance. Currently, there are a bit more than a dozen tracks set for the album, narrowed down from 384 songs, says Stu with stone-faced seriousness. However, there was a hint of vulnerability in his voice when he confided that the prospect of releasing their latest creations which was accompanied by a wave of uncertainty, leaving the decision to share their intimate creations hanging in the balance. However, if and when it is decided to release the new stuff, you can expect a country’ish/punk’ish/chunky’ish style of music with songs such as, It’s All my Fault Your a Narcissist; I Fell in Love with a Rodeo Clown; and, Bloodshed at the Pizza Ranch, just to name a few. The name of the (potentially) new band, Precious Johnson & The Criddles. Thankfully, the sense of humor and similar music style of this duo is still intact and may carry on into the future. Keep an eye/ear out!

Later in the evening, as The Pimps, known for its entertaining/interactive stage presence and genre-defying sound, took to the stage for their hometown fans one last time, it was definitely bittersweet. The set was full of energy and enthusiasm however, the pauses between songs to give away a few key pieces of band memorabilia to their fans, i.e. their Mission Impossible 2 Platinum Award Plaque, original rehearsal space white board, and a giant piece of fan art, made it all the more apparent that this was indeed the end, forcing a collective sigh to echo through the crowd.

If you would like to catch the very last performance of The Pimps, they will be at the High Noon in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, November 10th. As far as any last sentiments, the band states on their social media, “It’s time to Swedish Death Clean. We have said all we have to say.”

RIP The Pimps – Three Chord Rock ‘n Roll from Rockford, Illinois. Here’s to wishing all of them (Stu Johnson, Tony Crisman, Dave Deraosso, Michael “Hilly” Hilenburg and Todd Cooper) the very best with their future endeavors, no matter what they may be!

HIT THESE LINKS FOR MORE INFO:

The Pimps – Facebook
Rock and Roll Institute
Keith Country Day School
Rockford Area Arts Council

Motionless in White is an American metalcore band hailing from Scranton, Pennsylvania. The band was formed in 2005, and they are known for their unique blend of various metal subgenres, including metalcore, industrial, and gothic influences. They are recognized for their dark and macabre image and lyrical themes that often touch on horror, the supernatural, and personal struggles. And, on Saturday, October 21st, they brought their tour to Chicago’s Byline Bank Ballroom (f/k/a “Aragon Ballroom”) and rawked and rattled the bones of thousands in attendance.

Motionless in White released their debut full-length album, “Creatures,” in 2010, which helped establish their presence in the metalcore scene. This album featured a mix of heavy breakdowns, melodic choruses, and dark, thematic lyrics.

Subsequent albums, like “Infamous” (2012), “Reincarnate” (2014), and “Graveyard Shift” (2017), continued to refine their sound and expand their fanbase. Their music often incorporates elements of electronic and industrial music, which sets them apart from many other bands in the genre.

The band’s lyrics often explore themes of darkness, personal struggles, and emotional turmoil. They’ve gained a following for their theatrical live performances, featuring elaborate stage setups and a gothic aesthetic that matches their music’s themes.

The band’s future tour dates (and much more) can be found here: Motionless In White Official Website

Illinois is full of notoriety. Known for a of cool stuff, like: Abraham Lincoln, Route 66, Al Capone’s hideaway, the iconic Chicago Bears, and much more. However, last week, this Midwestern State was host to two live metal music tours that were like a symphony of thunderstorms within two different cities. The tours were a mere 24-hours apart from one another, both of which left fans across the miles of prairies and cornfields awestruck and drenched in the raw power of metal. Below is a full recap:

August 9, 2023 – “The Psychotherapy Sessions” Tour
Peoria, Illinois
(Peoria Civic Center)
Future Tour Dates: August 19 (Concord, CA); August 20 (Reno, NV); August 22 (Auburn, WA); August 23 (Ridgefield, WA); August 25 (West Valley City, UT); and August 26 (Greenwood Village, CO); .

MUDVAYNE (Peoria’s Own!)

GWAR

COAL CHAMBER

NONPOINT

Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL

photos and Review by Anita Maree

August 6, 2023

On the beautiful grounds of the outdoor music venue Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL the nearly sold-out audience experienced some silky smooth music from two incredible artists.

Keb’ Mo’ took the stage, igniting a musical fire that swept through the venue. His seasoned fingers danced across the strings of his guitar, producing a tapestry of blues and roots melodies that resonated deep within the hearts of the audience. With a voice that carried both raw emotion and soothing comfort, he transported us to a realm where time seemed to stand still.

Each song was a chapter of life, a story of love, struggle, and triumph. The crowd swayed and sang along, creating an atmosphere of shared connection. Keb’ Mo’s infectious energy and genuine smile radiated, inviting everyone into his world. His witty anecdotes between songs added a personal touch, forging a deeper bond with the crowd.  He performed songs including “Everything I Need”, “Life is Beautiful”, “She Just Wants to Dance”, and “All Dressed Up in Blue”.

The musicianship on display was a masterclass. The interplay between Keb’ Mo’s guitar and his bandmates was seamless, each note a testament to their skill and chemistry. From foot-tapping grooves to soul-stirring ballads, the performance was a dynamic showcase of his diverse musical influences.

As the final notes faded with “The Worst Is Yet to Come”, the applause thundered, and the smiles on the faces in the audience were evidence of the magic we had all experienced. Keb’ Mo’ had woven an unforgettable night of music, leaving us with a sense of gratitude for his artistry and a longing for more. The concert was a testament to the timeless power of music to unite, uplift, and inspire.

Next up was Boz Scaggs, and he graced the stage with timeless charisma and musical finesse, captivating the audience in a night of sheer delight. With a voice that has only grown richer over the years, Scaggs effortlessly transported us through his decades-spanning catalog. From the sultry blues of “Lowdown” to the soulful  “Lido Shuffle,” his performance was spot on.

Backed by an exceptional band, Scaggs’ guitar work was a revelation, weaving intricate melodies that wove seamlessly with the rhythm section. The crowd swayed and sang along, united in a shared appreciation for the musical journey he crafted. Each song was a story, a snapshot of a life lived, and Scaggs’ between-song anecdotes added a personal touch that endeared him to the audience. He performed many songs including “Jojo”, “Miss Riddle”, “Harbor Lights”, and “Look What You’ve Done To Me”.

The venue was alive with an electric atmosphere, a testament to the enduring appeal of Scaggs’ music. His stage presence exuded a warmth that transcended the footlights, making everyone feel like a welcomed guest in his living room. The energy in the air was palpable, and as the final chords of the encore reverberated, the applause was thunderous, echoing the sentiment of a captivated crowd.

Boz Scaggs’ concert was more than just a performance; it was a celebration of a musical legacy that has left an indelible mark on generations. His ability to effortlessly traverse genres, from blues and rock to R&B and jazz, showcased his versatility and musical prowess. As the night drew to a close, there was a collective sense of gratitude for having been part of an unforgettable evening of music, shared in the presence of a true icon.

Boz Scaggs Website | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram |

Keb Mo Website | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram |

Interview conduct April 1, 2022

By Dan Locke

Melodic heavy metal with elements of folk with lyrics in endangered native language Hok-key is vivid representative of the Belarusian metal scene with a 20-year history, which marked its presence in the release of 5 full-length albums and numerous singles and EP. Hok-key has taken the path from the original comedy metal and inventing texts directly to its present form – philosophical texts and regular musical and sound experiments, but not beyond the heavy, melodic, metal with folk influences (mainly in the endangered and disappearing Belarusian language). The band is broadcasted on radio stations, actively participates in various festivals and concerts both at home and abroad (Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy), ​ In 2015 and 2017 the band made several bright musical tours to Europe – «Thunder and Lightning European Tour» and “Reaping Europe Tour”.

Jaroslav Sapunoff- guitar, keyboards.
Alexander Volchek – bass.
Oleg Kansov – drums
Irina Sapunova – Violin

You band started at a comedy type act and since move into Melodic Metal. How did your band form?

Our band was formed in 1994 during ordinary metal gig in Minsk. Show of one band was canceled and there was a free slot to play. Several musicians from different bands decided to make some improvisation and play fast and aggressive metal with funny lyrics – that’s how Hok-key was formed

How did you get your bands name?

Firstly it was “OK” band, but then it has transformed into Hok-key. Rather suitable name for comedy metal.

Describe your music.

Now Hok-key plays melodic metal with folk and symphonic influences. We try to combine modern electronics with authentic folk instruments.

Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.

Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ? –

No

What is the process of writing your music?

Inspiration is needed, and it is the most important part of songwriting. We usually start with music then we proceed with lyrics. Lyrics are usually written under the impression and mood of the song.

Tell me about your latest song “Les Ailes”?

This is a story of Madame Blanchard, first woman-balloonist, it is about her life and tragic death. She was very brave woman but her life ended up very tragically.

Why did you decide to use videos by Lumière Brothers, Maries-Georges-Jean Méliès?

We wanted to use them because madame Blanchard is from France. We think those videos fits song very well and create the atmosphere of “good old France”

Out of the 11 songs which is your favorite track on your album? On your album “In Existence” .

Our album has its own concept and idea. Humanity has so-called bricks to build own life, to create something beautiful. But it often happens that people use these “bricks” to start wars and destry our planet.

What are you’re feeling about streaming music?

It is really cool that your music could be distributed through the whole world.

Digital vs. vinyl?

 Both are ok. Of course, you are not able to listen to vinyl during trips or driving the car.

If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

Covid has affected music business indeed. We have less live shows, but from the other side we can focus on recording or creation of videos.

Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career? I do not think it is plus it is just hinge of conditions.

We can’t play live but we can record new songs.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

Actually new album was recorded during this time.

In 2017-2018 during the Reaping Europe Tour, your band visited almost every country in Europe.  Which ones did you miss?

Many of them, each country is different, different public reaction, fans. We miss touring in general

Is pay to play still a thing?  Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.

When you are a young band – yes it works. But if you are an experienced one – this is not an option.

In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career.  For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a  licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?

I think gardening is ok.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million.  In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year.  Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million.   Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180 song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited . Once you get to the age of about 70.  Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams.  A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985.  And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.

The lump sums being offering by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.

On January 19, 2021 Hipgnosis Song Management acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, covering the country superstar’s discography from his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams through 2017’s Live in No Shoes Nation.

Someone who was totally against selling his rights was David Crosby.  He did not want to sell his publishing rights.  In addition, it was not an easy thing for him to do.  However, by making a deal with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, it took a big weight off his shoulders.  He could pay off his house and cover other bills.  Now he does not have to work for a living.  It should be noted that David is battling tendinitis in his hands, which hurts his ability to play guitar.

Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? 

Good question. We are not RHCP and  we do not have proposal from Universal. If we have such a proposal – we will think about it.  Now it is better to concentrate on playing live and recording new stuff.

Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenges and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.

TikTok has became a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners.  In which it has become a place for music artist to earn revenue when people use their music.  Which in many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to hug boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.

TikTok does this with the the algorithmically generates a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch. 

Because a song can go viral because of this. 

Sony Music and Warner Music Group- , The ByteDance-owned video app revealed that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group.  Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?

Well, we are old-school band, and frankly speaking we do not have Tik-Tok account.

Do you think that Belarus will be digged into the War?

We hope that no. Our position is straightforward – this war should be stopped. Russian forces should leave Ukraine and they should leave the territory of Belarus as well, as they are using it for offensive.

Why did you feel that your country is losing it language?

It is obvious. We have two state languages but the number of belarusian schools is reducing, in big cities people are not using belarusian. Our Language and culture are in danger.

Anything you would like to say in closing.

Stay true, stay Hok-key and take care in this difficult times.

Website | Facebook | YouTube | VK | Instagram |