Disney Goes Hardcore

Yes, you read the title correctly. No, you're not dreaming.

Disney Goes Hardcore is very real (and has been since last year!). Here's the epic tracklist:

When You Wish Upon A Star- Lions Among Wolves

He's A Pirate- Lions Among Wolves

Arabian Nights- Lost Childhood

Under The Sea- The Ocean Cure

I'll Make A Man Out Of You- Broken City Sky

Colors of The Wind- Live Like Glass

Love Is An Open Door- Brookfield

How Far I'll Go- Boy Hero

Part of Your World- Dreamhouse

The Circle of Life- ThyStoryteller

You've Got A Friend In Me- Lonely Avenue

This Is Halloween- Jack The Envious

Hellfire- Enemy In I

Savages- A Burden To Bear

Be Prepared- Puzzles To Pieces

Go The Distance- Poet

What I appreciate the most about this album is it includes underrated Disney gems such as When You Wish Upon A Star from Pinocchio, Arabian Nights from Aladdin, and Hellfire from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It's certainly a refreshing change of pace.

My favorite track from this great compilation is Part of Your World by Dreamhouse. It stays true to the song but also provides more of an edge to create just the right balance. It's the version I didn't know I needed.

Something I love about compilations like these is the exposure to bands I've never heard of before. I'm always on the hunt for new music, and this is one of my favorite ways to open up the doors to great new artists.

The best part about this particular compilation is it's FREE on bandcamp! Though I do recommend you do kick in a few bucks to support the artists, as well as express your gratitude for such a great compilation album. I know I've been dying for a "Punk Goes Disney" since high school, and Disney Goes Hardcore more than satiates me.

Enjoy a day filled with hardcore Disney magic!

https://ghostkillerentertainment.bandcamp.com/album/disney-goes-hardcore

Hey look Meg is actually getting some attention for once!

My Interview With Green Knuckle Material

Green Knuckle Material is an indie rap-rock band from Bergen County, New Jersey. The band is comprised of five members donning the monikers Scatterbrain, Young Dan, D String, Mudd Dog, and The Hawaiian.

Check out my exclusive interview with them below.

TT: How did Green Knuckle Material form?

GKM: In the year 4000 George Kilroy Marten, the universe's last hope, faced off against his arch enemy The Huntress, Master of Dark Folk witchery who sought to devour the cosmos. During their battle she sent him back in time, splitting his essence into 5 separate entities and thrusting them to the year 2016. Those 5 entities went on to become Green Knuckle Material.

TT: Where did the name come from?

GKM: Green Knuckle Material is the source of all organic life.

TT: Where does the band draw its influences?

GKM: We all bring our own influences as musically we are from different backgrounds. Hip hop, pop, punk, and folk all meshed into one. Artist like Ed Sheeren really influence our melodies but musically we draw from bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sumblime, and Twenty One Pilots.

TT: Do you have a similar sound to any bands out there?

GKM: We haven’t come across anyone whose sound is really that similar to ours. We are very different so we pretty much slot into most bills, be it hip hop or folk rock we play pretty much everywhere.

TT: What is your recording process like?

GKM: We have our own studio and that helps a lot. We track drums first and from there we build our song like a house, from the bottom up. A lot of the color instruments, like sax and keys, go on just before we do the vocals.

TT: How did you get signed to Bad Cat Records?

GKM: We did a live session with Jake while we were touring over the summer. It had pretty good results on YouTube. We really liked how professional Jake was and also how ambitious he was. We knew right away this was someone we wanted to work with and that he felt the same way about us.

TT: What would your dream tour look like?

GKM: North America with Twenty One Pilots. There’s a lot of bands we’d love to tour with but they are at the top of our list, so if you know anybody in their camp see what you can do, haha.

TT: What is the band currently up to?

GKM: We’re pretty busy over the next few months playing tons of  shows in our main hub of New Brunswick. The basement scene has been kind to us and we really love it there. We’re also playing at Rowan University on March 3rd and making a trip up to CT Jan 27th playing with some friends from Bad Cat on a little run. All the while we are working on finishing up our next ep, a reissue of three songs off of our first album, and writing tons of new music. Our singer YDK is also going to be releasing a solo album of Pop Dance Music soon as well so if that tickles a fancy keep your eyes peeled for that.

You can download Green Knuckle Material's EP Renaissance for FREE here: https://greenknucklematerial.bandcamp.com/

If you like Green Knuckle Material, be sure to check out Get Off My Lawn Records, a co-op of artists pooling their resources to make cool stuff! Get 10% anything in their catalog by using the code ninja1.

https://getoffmylawnrecords.bandcamp.com/

My Interview With The Desert Doors

The Desert Doors is a four-piece rock/blues band from Shrub Oak, New York. The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Christopher DiDona, lead guitarist Anthony Piciocchi, bassist Scott Tornatore, and drummer Ryan Lerner. They recorded their first EP, A Time Away, last August, and steadily play gigs across the tri-state area.

I had the pleasure of interviewing The Desert Doors. Below is our Q&A session:


TT: I love the name. Where did it come from?
DD: We were throwing around names for quite a while, and a lot of the names we liked were taken. Ryan came up with “The Desert Doors” one night, and it stuck. 

TT: Where does the band draw its influences?
DD: It’s interesting because we all share a love for classic rock and blues, but each of us has something else they draw inspiration from. It really brings a unique sound to the table. 

-Anthony’s solos have a distinct blues inspiration, drawing from Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John Mayer. He’s not soloing over a traditional blues tune all of the time, but the inspiration is clear. 

-When Chris picks up a guitar, you can hear that he learned as a jazz guitarist, but also loves rock, blues, and some indie music.

-Scott draws inspiration from almost everywhere in the realm of classic rock, and can always be counted on to create bass line or solo that is all-original, but still feels right at home with our style.

-Ryan is always good with a rock or blues tune, but also likes branching out into Latin and funk drumming. He’s constantly coming up with ways to add more flavor to whatever we play, whether it’s live or in the studio. 

Long story short, it’s different for everyone. Even we’re still shaping our sound as time goes on.

TT: Do you have a similar sound to any bands out there?
DD: We think our sound is fairly unique, and we like throwing elements from different genres into our music to keep it interesting. In terms of our process, we spent a while trying to shape it, and we're pretty comfortable with the writing style and tone we're getting now.

TT: What's your favorite song off of your new EP?

Chris - Painted Rose

Anthony- A Time Away

Scott - A Time Away

Ryan - Forget Me


TT: Are you guys working on a full-length album to follow up the EP?
DD: There are some plans to start work on that! We have a ton of unreleased content that we would love to share with everyone as soon as we can, and we're constantly working on more. All of our music is being played live though, so if you want to hear it before it's officially released, come to one of our shows.

TT: Is there any possibility of a tour anytime soon?
DD: Next question...?


TT: If you could tour with any band, who would it be?

Chris - Passion Pit

Anthony - The Naked Brothers Band (at least we’d be the headliner)

Scott - The Rolling Stones 

Ryan – The Who 


To keep up with The Desert Doors' upcoming releases and shows, go like their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/thedesertdoors

A Time Away is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and more. An acoustic version of their new song “Heart to Heart” has just been released on SoundCloud too! https://soundcloud.com/user-334685784-995960552

If you like The Desert Doors, be sure to check out Get Off My Lawn Records, a co-op of artists pooling their resources to make cool stuff! Get 10% anything in their catalog by using the code ninja1.

https://getoffmylawnrecords.bandcamp.com/

Artist Spotlight: Josh Benash

Josh Benash is a musician from New York who gained recognition as frontman for the avant-garde rock band Kiss Kiss. However, since Kiss Kiss' 2010 hiatus, Josh has fronted the band Vuvuzela as well as embarked on a solo career. He is currently working on a soundtrack for a video game seemingly titled Lucky Foot.

I discovered Josh Banash through Kiss Kiss several years ago. I first heard of the band when I dug out a used copy of their 2007 album Reality Vs. The Optimist at The Bruised Apple bookstore in Peekskill. I didn't have any way of hearing it before buying it at the time, so I bought it solely because the album title resonated with me (a fervent pessimist at the time). I popped the disc in the car's CD player on the way home, and my friend and I were completely caught off guard by what we were hearing. It was a mix of violin-driven circus/avant-garde sounds that was unlike anything we had ever heard before. It quickly became one of our new favorites, and soon after our discovery I went on iTunes and purchased their entire discography.

A few years later, I had just started attending college at SUNY Purchase when I stumbled upon some information on the internet about the band's formation. I was completely astounded to find out that Kiss Kiss was formed at my college! The strange coincidence strengthened my bond with Reality Vs. The Optimist, which is still to this day one of my favorite albums of all time.

I have been following Josh Benash's career throughout the years, and am excited at the news that he is working on a video game soundtrack. In addition to albums he's released with bands Kiss Kiss and Vuvuzela, he has also released three solo albums. What makes Josh's music so interesting is the unexpected array of sounds he utilizes. He's always pushing boundaries with his music, no matter what project he's working on. Case in point: his "waltz/punk/horror" band Vuvuzela doesn't have any guitars in it; instead, it's comprised of harp, upright bass, piano, and drums- an eclectic array of sounds to say the least. Always working on new projects, Josh also composes music for film and modern dance. The consistent shock value Josh's music provides certainly keeps his fans on their toes.

To keep up with all of Josh's projects, check out his website: http://www.joshuabenash.com/

(I don't own this image- all rights go to Josh Benash)

Also be sure to check out Get Off My Lawn Records, a co-op of artists pooling their resources to make cool stuff! Get 10% off anything in their catalog by using the code ninja1.

https://getoffmylawnrecords.bandcamp.com/

So You Want To Be A Music Production Major: What You Need To Know

I had the pleasure of doing a Q&A session with Kyle Guttmann, who spent 4 years at Manhattanville College studying music production. You can read his thoughtful responses below.

TT: What made you decide to become a music production major?

KG: My skill set was the deciding factor. I originally thought I would major in computer science since I've always been fairly decent at using computers, and being a blind person who has experience inaccessible software before, I'd be able to make a difference. And indeed lower level programming still interests me, but in order to really be good at it the math required is beyond me. So when I realized that I was tired of memorizing formulas instead of really understanding what was going on in their math program, and when I discovered that Manhattanville has a digital music production major, it made perfect sense. I was born with perfect pitch and a small dose of musical talent, and best of all, this music can be made by using a computer! I can be behind the scenes, I don't have to perform.

TT: What kind of projects did you work on during your time at Manhattanville?

KG: Many of the projects were free form since music is a subjective medium of artistic expression, but of course they would have to meet minimum requirements on time, number of tracks, and sounding, well, musical. I personally stayed in the rap beat and electronic production realm, but there were other assignments as well, like creating a soundtrack to an already narrated poem.

TT: What was the most valuable thing you learned in the major?

KG: The most valuable thing this major's taught me is that versatility is important in this field.  I used to be a believer in that if you stick to the genre you're best at, your very best work will eventually happen. However, we are in a golden age of DAWs, (digital audio workstations,) music is easier to produce than ever before whereas twenty years ago when computers weren't as fast it was a much harder process. Needless to say that there is a lot of content, a lot of competition out there. It's better to be able to score TV shows and movies, churn out some EDM for the clubs, and also produce rap beats than just being good and trying to improve at only one.

TT: What would you say is the most important thing to consider before choosing this major?

KG: Are you going into this to try and achieve your 15 minutes of fame or are you really passionate about it? Nothing is a guarantee, and you'd have almost just as much luck with succeeding trying to teach yourself with Internet resources. Take these courses at MVille and be prepared to learn about music theory, dissecting and analyzing symphonies chord by chord, and also about audio engineering, e.g. the proper microphones to use in different situations, the way your room should be set up while recording, no parallel walls to avoid standing waves.

TT: How do you hope to use the skills you gained in the future?

KG: Making music, putting it out there as well as freelancing my services to help produce music for other artists.

If you’re into quality music production, be sure to check out Get Off My Lawn Records, a co-op of artists pooling their resources to make cool stuff! Get 10% off anything in their catalog by using the code ninja1.

https://getoffmylawnrecords.bandcamp.com/

Can't Finish What You Start? You're Not Alone.

Welcome to my fatal flaw. Throughout my life, I’ve always had trouble finishing projects that I’ve started. I’ve tried writing novels, short stories, songs, articles- you name it. I’ve completely absorbed myself into projects I believed in, and then suddenly dropped them out of the blue, pouring that borderline-uncontrollable energy into another project until I’ve had nothing left to give. Why do I do this to myself?

While I’m still trying to figure that out, the best answer I’ve been able to come up with is that I work best when there’s a deadline. Finishing essays for school was never a problem for me, and I had no trouble finishing articles for my high school’s newspaper. When I was in a band, finishing songs was possible because others were relying on me, and I wasn’t alone in the writing process. But when I’m left to my own devices with nobody holding me accountable, I can’t seem to finish things I start.

2018 is the year that will change (or start to change, anyway). I am going to hold myself accountable and finish my creative projects. Creating this blog was a step in that direction. But the creative project I’ve been the most eager to make strides on is my solo music. This past October, I decided that I will no longer rely on others to achieve my dreams. I realized that although I loved being in a band, I was leaving myself vulnerable to others suddenly losing interest- which is essentially what led to its downfall (perhaps I will tell that story another day). I was angry and sick of constantly assuming that I didn’t have the skills or talent to just write and release music alone. So I decided to start writing solo songs, which was completely new territory for me. I was convinced I couldn’t sing until one of my former bandmates heard one of my demos (that I intended on having him sing) and freaked out. He was completely in love with my voice, and said that with some training I could sound incredible. I was dumbfounded. I never had the intention of singing anything, ever. But he gave me the confidence to start trying. He even started giving me lessons, as he’s trained in opera and is a classical composition major.

I can finally say today that I have successfully finished a song I started writing last November. I didn’t give up the way I have with past projects- I just took a short break from writing it, and came back to it with a new mindset. I was worried that I wouldn’t come back to it at all (if the past was any indication), but I pulled through for myself and achieved something I’ve been dreaming of for years.

For those of you who are interested, I wrote an acoustic song that I intend on recording in a professional studio. 2018 will be the year I accomplish this goal. I’m so close already- the song is written, I have a title and art for it, and a name to release it under (stay tuned!). All that’s left is fine-tuning it to ensure that it will be the best I can possibly make it. 2018 will be my year.

To tide you over until I record and release my song, please take the time to support independent musicians by checking out Get Off My Lawn Records, a co-op of artists pooling their resources to create cool stuff: https://getoffmylawnrecords.bandcamp.com/

Get 10% off with discount code ninja1

My Interview With No Traffik

I had the pleasure of doing a thoroughly insightful Q&A session with Wesley Hoskins, the drummer of Miami rock band No Traffik, which you can read below.

TT: What genre would you classify No Traffik?

NT: The easiest answer to the hardest question is that No Traffik is a heavy rock band. The early incarnation of the band had more of a straight forward alternative rock sound, which you can hear on our demo "All Lanes Open". But after that release and several lineup changes we scrapped those traditions and started to put more of our identities into the music. We have a particular sound in our heads that we're chasing together as a band and I feel like with each release we get closer and closer to it. We spent a lot of time crafting the new songs for our new record "A.W.I.T.W." which has a longer title but I can't say just yet. But the sound of the record has traces of hardcore punk, metal as well as progressive and experimental sounds mixed with the alternative music we grew up listening to of course.

TT: How did the band form?

NT: The band originally formed about 5 years ago with almost completely different members. They all had different ambitions and our singer Chris was sort of left as the last man standing. Our guitarist Ryan Mcleod was first recruited to play drums but he eventually transitioned over to guitar with myself and Nick Avila joining on drums and bass. The current line up has been together three of those first five years.

TT: What is your recording process like?

NT: Each time we record it's always a different scenario. We've recorded in typical professional studios and not so typical studios, like bedrooms, and the middle of a friend's living room. We just finished our latest project with Dave Humble at his studio Eternal Studios here in Miami and it was the most exhaustive yet positive experience thus far. We learned a lot about preparation beforehand and having discipline in the studio. It took us months tracking our first full length, I think partly because we wrote songs that were too hard for us to play and pull off on record at the time. When it comes to the work it's pretty normal. We track drums first, then guitars, bass, and vocals, then we record effects and extra percussion last since it tends to take less time to record. This time around we didn't use a producer so we all kind of had to take charge in policing each other and approving takes. In the end it made us appreciate each other's opinions and perspectives. Listening back to what you've recorded is always trippy because it's like taking a really hard look at yourself in the mirror and all you notice are the flaws.

TT: What bands or artists are your biggest influences?

NT: The artists that sort of inspired us to pick up instruments and try to do something with it I think were bands like Deftones, Incubus, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pantera and the Seattle grunge stuff was all equally important for all of us. Once we got the band growing as a family together we gravitated to other bands and expanded our taste. Bands like Tool, Neurosis, Black Flag, Radiohead, Meshuggah, Mastodon, Animals as Leaders, WAVVES and Dredg helped us to think about our instruments in a different way and listeners will be able to hear that on our new record. Besides that we like other genres besides loud obnoxious rock music. For instance we listen to loud obnoxious surf music, old school hip hop, dark ambient trap music, extreme death metal and grindcore, and aggressive electronic music as well.

TT: Are you part of a label? If not, what are the pros and cons of being independent?

NT: We operate completely independent of any labels. Some of the benefits to that are being able to work undisturbed without any outside influence and business tends to be way easier to discuss between the four of us. It gives us the ability to dictate our art in whatever direction we want to take it. However, not being on a label means we have no other financial support so it does take longer to release our projects. Also we miss out on opportunities to tour with more established artists or festival slots which labels can help you with that exposure. We've had to learn a lot of things through trial and error because we had no A&R guy or management to help advise us. But it's all good we love being indie and in charge of our own destiny but we're not against record labels either. We've seen bands who have managed to sign record deals and maintain their integrity.

TT: Have you toured at all?

NT: We've done out of town shows and weekend warrior trips. That sort of thing where you get out of work and school early and drive hours to play the show and you're back for work and school the next day. Which sounds exhausting but shows like that tend to be more fun than you would expect. Then you go back to work full of adrenaline, feeling like these people don't even know what I just got into last night. But we are gearing up to support the new album with a full tour of the states starting with the east coast.

TT: What are your goals going forward?

NT: Our goals are to make this band more of a full time outlet. We want to put these songs out that we've slaved over and play it for different kinds of people from all kinds of subcultures. We have a few projects in mind that involve other artists planned after we release our next record that I cant give away just yet. But expect a new album from us this year with visual art to go along with it and we'll be hitting the road to play some loud rock & roll.

To keep up with No Traffik, check out their website:

http://www.notraffik.com/

If you love supporting indie bands, please take the time to check out Get Off My Lawn Records- they're a co-op of independent artists pooling their resources to make cool stuff. The label features all sorts of genres, so there's something for everyone! Use discount code ninja1 for 10% off of any purchase.

getoffmylawnrecords.bandcamp.com