Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
The local photography series will include an interview and relevant information about local photographers. Although the set of questions remain the same, each photographer has sent in their different viewpoint and opinion on several subjects.
Photographer: Linda Manyisha Facebook Page: Photographs by Linda M.
Native: When did you become interested in photography?
Linda: Ever since i was a little kid i always loved looking at photographs… i could spend an hour literally just staring at one photograph… if it was a family photo i loved that a slew of memories would immediately flood to my brain. most of the time i would remember how i felt that day or a certain song that was playing in the background or something and i loved that feeling. so i think the interest started there but it wasn’t until i was a freshman in high school when i took photography as an elective course when i really became obsessed with it..
Native: What equipment are you currently using to photograph?
Linda: Currently i’m using a nikon d40. no it’s not the best camera out there but i’m a firm believer that it doesn’t matter what kind of camera you use. it’s all about you’re eye and if you have a strong idea or vision of what you want to capture or express and you have the passion and desire to execute it then you’re guaranteed a piece that you can be proud of. lately I’ve been borrowing lenses and a ton of gear from “borrowlenses.com” .. they are awesome.. you can borrow all this gear for a really reasonable price and you can play around with the latest and greatest before you actually commit to buying it.. which is nice.
What is your opinion on the way photography has changed with the arrival of digital photography?
Linda: digital photography is for lack of a better word, amazing. it’s gained a lot of people’s trust.. i know that when i’m meeting with prospective clients one of the first questions they ask is if i shoot with a digital camera. it’s changed in the sense that it saves a lot of time and there’s really no second guessing. it’s very convenient (and a huge perk of the impatient like myself) to see what your image will look like instantly. but that’s just one way…
Do you prefer digital photography or traditional photography?
Linda: At the moment because of how busy I’ve been in the field, i guess i prefer digital… but i fell in love with traditional photography.. there is nothing like being in a dark room and processing your own film and developing your own prints it’s addicting.
Native: Is there anything in particular you like to photograph? Nature? Objects? People? Bands?
Linda: People .. i love capturing genuine smiles & laughter but on the flip side i love how dramatic a person can be in a photo. a scowl or a tear soaked face can all be beautiful especially if that’s what the subject was truly feeling. i rarely try to force an emotion out of someone unless i’m shooting for my own personal collection and i have a story i want to tell. but you know, i would love to get into band photography… i have a strong passion for music so it would be a win win opportunity for me.
Native: What life experiences have influenced your photography?
Linda: I come from a very very passionate family… whether it’s passion for music or art or food or whatever… we’re all heart, and super emotional beings, haha…so just growing up in that environment has had a huge influence on my photography… when im shooting i love to see the passion and emotion behind every captured moment… my nieces and nephews have also influenced my work… children are the real deal!! so raw…innocent…emotional and unpredictable! when they smile it’s genuine and honest and gorgeous everything you would want to photograph to be.
Native: What are your current and future plans? Do you have any projects you are currently working on?
Linda: I would love to take my photography to the next level… I’m always so open to learning new tricks and techniques so i would love to work for a photographer who’s been in the business for a while and have some hands on training.. learn the ropes. but not get too enthralled in the “business” side of things.. at the end of the day i want to still be in love with photography and not tire myself out or get caught up… oh and i hope to “learn the ropes” in london!!… or anywhere overseas, there are so many beautiful countries and cultures i would love to capture. i would also love to get into fashion photography.. i love everything about fashion and would love to learn more…i’m always so eager and excited to style a shoot… so mixing the two is definitely in my future… as for current projects… i have a ton of weddings this season… i never thought i would be shooting weddings so its definitely something new and very exciting. i also have a couple personal projects i’d love to execute sometime soon but they will have to wait until after wedding season is over 
Native: What type of things motivate you and inspire you to continue in your work?
Linda: Love… as cheesy as that may sound… i’m in love with love.. that and fashion… i have a huge collection of fashion magazines… mainly Vogue and Elle.. the articles always come last cause as soon as i pick one up im checking out all the photographs drawing inspiration from the clothing, the atmosphere, the lighting … just from everything.. its all so visually stimulating and i would love for someone to say that about my work some day.
Native: What obstacles/issues can you run into when shooting?
Linda: LIGHTING!!! i shoot mainly in natural light so that can be interesting… unpredictable…and i’m soo not as technical as i could be so when i have to shoot indoors it can be tricky… i’m still learning
Native: Do you have a website, blog, facebook fan page you would like to mention?
Linda: photographs by linda m. on facebook.. website coming soon!
Native: Do you have a favorite photographer? Have any photographers influences your work?
Linda: I’ve always loved Annie Leibovitz… LOVE her. i’ve always been drawn to her and she mostly influences my work.. i would love to posses her ability to make everything look so beautiful in an understated way…her pieces are classic…timeless pieces of art… i also love the late the great herb ritts, alexi lubomirski, mario testino, mike rosenthal… just recently david slijper and carter smith… and so many many more i’m always seeing someone’s work that i love… i also have a ton of photographer friends 2 in particular (corie howell (andhercamera.com) and david lees (http://seeldivad.tumblr.com/) ) who constantly amaze me and influence my work.
Native: What advice would you give to someone that is becoming interested in photography? What helpful tips could you give to a beginner?
Linda: If you have a love and passion for it i say just have fun with it…never comprise your vision, take risks. oh and dont let the fact that you don’t have the latest and greatest gear scare you or let other photographers intimidate you so much so that you stray away from photography all together… your art matters. no matter what anyone says.
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
Company: Sonoma Wire Works
Website: www.sonomawireworks.com
Tell us a little about yourself and what you do for Sonoma Wire Works.
My name is Daniel Codella and I do artist relations for Sonoma Wire Works. Basically, my job is to establish and develop relationships with artists and companies. I provide artists with our software and get valuable feedback which I then pass to our engineers. We also benefit from any press that artists get using our products, so we try to develop quality software that artists will actually use. Bands contact me every day to request software, tell me of their upcoming projects, or ask me about software we have given them, which I also assist with marketing which has me doing everything from writing press releases to designing t-shirts. We are a small company, so I wear many hats. We all pick up the slack whenever things get busy, so that may mean I do tech support or shipping on some days.
>Who are the other members of the team and how do all these members interact on a typical day at Sonoma Wire Works?
Doug Wright is the president of the company as well as the lead software developer. Hayden is our other software developer and works with Doug to write all of our software. Muss is our third engineer and has been working primarily on improving RiffWorks’ collaboration features. Doug’s wife, Michelle, is our VP of marketing and handles our press inquiries, print and web advertising, and relationships with distributors. Peter is our director of operations and makes sure all orders go out in a timely manner and Jason is our tech support. Like I mentioned earlier, because we are small, we all might have to wear different hats depending on the needs of the day.
Describe the company name, brand and vision/goals.
Sonoma Wire Works makes software and apps that don’t get in the way of songwriting. So many music programs just keep adding more and more complicated features that you spend more time trying to figure things out rather than actually writing music. We try to make simple, yet great sounding software that any musician can pick up and create art with. All of us in the office are either musicians or work with audio, which helps us to really understand our target user. Each of our software titles are easy to use yet produce stellar results. We want to continue to use the latest technology to create amazing software that helps musicians write amazing music. As far as the name? You’ll have to ask Doug
What products/software does Sonoma Wire Works offer the consumer?
Sonoma Wire Works offers a wide range of music software and loops for both the pro musician and the amateur hobbyist. Currently, Sonoma Wire Works makes RiffWorks, Drumcore, Kitcore, instantDrummers, FourTrack, StudioTrack, and the entire Discrete Drums product line.
What are Sonoma Wire Works current/future plans and projects? Any brand new software in production?
Currently we are working on making updates and new versions of all our existing software. We will be unveiling a new product at Summer NAMM in Nashville next week. I am not at liberty to speak about it, but I feel it will be a real game changer.
Where does the Sonoma Wire Works team view themselves in 5-10 years?
That’s an interesting question. I know that even if he were to retire next year, Doug is an extremely creative and hardworking individual who will probably always be creating new things. Ultimately, I think all of us are excited to see SWW grow and expand into even more aspects of music creation. We have many things in the pipeline, and I get the feeling this will be an especially important year for us.
How has Sonoma Wire Works product line changed with the arrival of the iPad?
We had the privilege of being a launch app for the iPad with our StudioTrack program. StudioTrack is a multitrack recording app that includes effects on each channel, 8 mono tracks, and WiFi sync. Currently, StudioTrack is our only product specifically for the iPad, but we have been tossing around several ideas for future apps. The iPad device is really unprecedented, and we believe that most developers have only scratched the surface. The full potential of the iPad has yet to be realized.
What are the current plans to keep up and integrate Sonoma Wire Works software with emerging technologies, like the new iPhone 4 and iPhone OS 4 (iOS 4)?
We here at Sonoma Wire Works try to monitor all emerging technologies and incorporate them into our products. We are very interested in the iPhone in particular and are already developing for it. Mobile devices are getting so fast that the need for expensive desktop systems is almost a thing of the past. All of us try to keep up on emerging trends and actively support new technology if it will benefit our users.
Does Sonoma Wire Works have plans to expand their product line across different operating systems and mobile operating systems?
Currently our desktop software works on both PC and MACs with no plans to develop on Linux. Other mobile platforms do not allow us to both play audio and record at the same time which make it impossible to develop our software for them. Once they make that available to developers, we will consider developing for them. Additionally, it is very inexpensive to develop for the iPhone. There are currently three models of iPhone to develop for and troubleshoot, unlike other platforms which have multiple companies producing multiple handset configurations.
Are there any relevant websites and/or social networking sites you would like to share?
RiffWorks has a collaboration feature which allows users from around the globe to work on music together called RiffLink. Users can post their creations and join collaborations on our RiffWorld.com site. Feel free to check out what our users are coming up with!
What musicians actively use the software?
Countless artists are using our software including M83, Chris Stein of Blondie, Rikki Rocket of Poison, Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver, Al Di Meola, Daniel Bedingfield, IAMX, and David Gray. A list of artists that have been using FourTrack can be found here: http://www.sonomawireworks.com/iphone/artists/. I also maintain a page on our site called “Artist Spotlight” which features interviews I have conducted with some prominent artists which can be found here: http://www.sonomawireworks.com/artists/.
If there is one, point to a link or download of an MP3 or iTunes download that has been created using the software?
The 88 recorded their single “Love is the Thing” entirely on the iPhone using FourTrack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKITWfS41zw
Friday, June 4th, 2010
Thrice Setlist
All the World is Mad
The Weight
The Artist and the Ambulance
Of Dust and Nations
The Earth Will Shake
The Messenger
Firebreather
Circles
Hold Fast Hope
Daedalus
A Song for Milly Michaelson
In Exile
Image of the Invisible
To Awake and Avenge the Dead
Doublespeak
Red Sky
Encore
Stand and Feel Your Worth
Child of Dust
Beggars
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Website: http://www.myspace.com/chelseawolfe
What’s the name of your band? What’s the origin of that name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
chelsea wolfe is my name and the name of this project. it’s a solo project at heart but i currently have four bandmates. we play under the name chelsea wolfe and the death
*Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member.
chelsea wolfe – guitar/vocals etc, kevin dockter – guitar, drew walker – drums, addison quarles – bass/tape noise, ben c. – juno
*What genre of music do you consider your work to be?
goth-folk-experimental stuff; spiritual realm funeral songs; psychedelia without the drugs
*How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
kevin has been with me for a while. i met drew at a house show not long after i had started praying for a rad drummer. he gave me a sweatshirt cause i was cold. he later introduced me to addison we all started playing together in an overheated garage. magic. i met ben c. on tour in LA, he was playing in a friend’s band and now we’re very close. he started playing in the band with us a few months ago. i love all my bandmates, i’m lucky to be playing with such great and talented humans.
*Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
right now i have an LP coming out on Brooklyn-based Pendu Sound. Todd from Pendu Org puts out lots of cool noise music and many other interesting things. the LP, “the grime and the glow” will be out in a few weeks and is available online for pre-order at: http://pendusound.com/releases/psr-0040/
*Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
i don’t play too often. trying to break that habit. i get a little overwhelmed, but once i get into the groove of playing shows i never want to stop. i don’t have a favorite or least favorite venue yet. i like big, industrial spaces and galleries and also appreciate really nice venues with great sound systems. pehrspace in LA is a rad little venue, also the smell. i got to play in some cool spaces on tour in europe last summer like an old nuclear factory in estonia with amazing natural reverb and a converted wooden church-attic in finland. one of my dreams is to do a tour playing only at converted cathedral/church/funeral home spaces !
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
my friend jessalyn recommended william basinki’s disintegration loops to me so i’ve been droning out to those recently.
*Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
i have a cover of “you are my sunshine” .. recently we’ve been playing a 6 song set that has the first song off “the grime and the glow” LP (“advice & vices”) and the five songs that are going to be on the new EP we’re recording during the next couple of weeks.
*Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
i write the songs and then we hash them out together as a band to play live. for the new EP i’ve been flooding my mind with apocalyptic literature and themes and intense visuals. of course the topics change as you live and grow and find different and new inspirations, but themes of death and spirituality have always fascinated me, even as a little child.
Do you get nervous before a performance?
not before. during.. only if there are technical difficulties or i get strange energies from the audience
*What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
try something new
*How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
soon my new album will be out on a record with a digital download. hopefully it will be more accessible in the near future.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
ever ray, bjork, old country musicians like hank williams sr and johnny cash. vladimir vysotsky was incredible. musicians who pour their soul into their art and musicians who make honest and timeless music.
*Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
i’m very grateful for anyone who lets us stay at their house on tour, comes to or promotes shows, collaborates with me artistically, helps spread the word of the music, and so on. anyone who allows the music in and really understands. and my friends who still love me even though i’m a social hermit.
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Local Artist: Sister Crayon
Location: Sacramento
Website: http://sistercrayon.net/
What’s the origin of the band name? Have you changed the band name before?
The name of our band is Sister Crayon. About three years ago, I started the project under the name of Silent and Clementine. I played solo for a while under that name but always felt that I was going to change the name…and about a year later, I did. I was drunk one night in S.F. and was writing a letter and I signed it Sister Crayon. I had no idea where that name came from but figured that I liked it, so it stuck. I felt like that name had the attitude that I was looking for at the time.
What are the respective instruments for each band member?
Sister Crayon is: Terra Lopez, Vocals, loop samples. Dani Fernandez, MPC 1000 + Microkorg. Nicholas Suhr, Drums + percussion. Genaro Ulloa, Keys.
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
We have been a full band for little under a year now. The band came in stages. I was solo for about 2 years and then I met Dani and we clicked. We both wanted to make some trip-hop/hip-hop songs…I wanted her to put beats over the songs that I was making with my classical guitar. Some how it worked. Genaro then joined after about 6 months of just Dani and I. And then we met Nick. It all came together eventually.
What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Trying to find a genre for us is sometimes a bit frustrating. We’ve had people say trip-hop, hip-hop,electronic all the usual ones. I think we usually just go with either trip-hop or electronic…? I prefer just saying manic and letting it go from there. I think manic is a much better description. As far as influences, I think we all range from very different places, musically. But the main ones that we all agree on and get a lot of influence on are a lot of old jazz, oldies, 50′s music. I personally am obsessed with Jeff Buckley and Quwalli music. I’m all into that right now.
What inspired you to make music together?
I think that what inspired us to make music together is that it all happened so naturally. We’ve all been in bands before and things didn’t work out so well. I think when you finally meet people that you can connect with on a musical and non-musical level, songs just happen. The connection has to be there though. It can’t be forced. If it’s forced, it won’t last.
Do you have a record label?
We are currently on Manimal Records, a really amazing small label based in LA. They have been amazing supporters of us and will be putting out our debut album in the Fall. We love Manimal..man, they have been so supportive and have helped us meet some really incredible people and artists.
Tell us a little bit about your instruments
We basically use whatever instruments we can afford. Ha. I mean, really we do. I just happen to use Korg and Boss for a lot of what I do and so does Dani. I love the Boss Loop Pedals, esp. the 20XL because you can store loops. Some of our songs are loop based so it comes in handy for sure. I also love love love the Korg Kaos pad. I’ve been using it for years for vocals and effects and it’s been pretty reliable so far. Dani uses the Akai MPC 1000 and it’s a beast. That thing has been really reliable so far. Genaro uses a lot of vintage keyboards and that always helps bring in different elements for the songs.
Where have you performed?
We play a lot of shows in Sacramento. Sacramento has been a constant source of support for us. We love playing Luigi’s FunGarden over there and The Press Club. In S.F. we love playing the Rickshaw Stop and in LA-The Echo is probably the dopest venue we have played at there so far. We still have a lot of growing to do. Maybe one of these days we will play some bigger venues but so far, these venues are great sounding and they treat us well.
Some shows that we have coming up are in S.F. (June 17th at TRIGGER for a Harvey Milk Benefit and Bottom Of The Hill july 29th). We will also be playing the Land of Nod Festival in Jackson, Michigan July 23rd with a crazy lineup (Of Montreal, Dr. Octagon, Qbert, etc).
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
Oh man…album recommendations? An album that i’m always listening to is Jeff Buckley’s “Grace” record. It’s fantastic. I study that over and over and I’m never tired of it. Seriously, “Mojo Pin” still gives me chills every time and I swear, I’ve listened to it hundreds of times. Something newer…I love the new Flying Lotus album “Cosmogramma”…I love him. His music is so innovative and just great music for tour trips. I also adore 50′s music, any lowrider compilations as well. You can’t go wrong with those. But yea…”Grace”…man. That record is perfect.
Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
We play most of the songs that are going to be on our record. We don’t play any covers live but we have covered “The Bewlay Brothers” for an upcoming David Bowie tribute record that Manimal will be putting out in September. We are also working on some oldies covers that we will be recording soon.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?As far as the writing process goes…it’s all over the place. For most of the songs on this record, Dani and I wrote most of the main melodies. The older songs…”Here We Never Die”, “(in) Reverse”, “I’m Still The Same Person”, etc. For the newer songs that will also be on the record, we all wrote them as a band. It was great to have everyone in on it and write as a full band.
The theme throughout this full record ranges from Jean Genet and Fernando Pessoa (my favorite writers)…some songs are about my girlfriend. This album is basically just about being manic and trying to do what needs to be done in order to get through the day, to be honest-hence the album title “Bellow”.
Do you have a set time each week in which you practice
We practice pretty regularly. Right now we practice and play shows about 2 times a week. We are just now getting our own practice space so soon, we hope to make it a 4 to 5 times a week thing. We just want to get better and write more.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Our music has evolved a lot since first forming. It was such a quiet experience when it was only me. And people were supportive but I always heard a lot more behind those songs. When Dani came along, she provided the percussive element that I was looking for. When Genaro came along, he provided a lot of the textures that we wanted. When Nick came along, he just brought a new element that we needed- an intensity. I feel that we are a lot more intense live than ever before. That’s all we want. To play live and to show what we are passionate about. I think live we do that.
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
I would tell other bands just starting out to just stay focused. It can be a bit overwhelming at times…trying to book shows and get your music out there. But if it’s important to you, than you will do it. Just stay focused and write.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band?
I think the biggest challenge as a band that we have had to face is just finding out finances for doing what we want to do. Being in a band full time while also trying to balance day jobs can get pretty hectic but we are starting to balance it and figure it out. It’s getting there.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
I’ve already gushed over Jeff Buckley but honestly, he’s by far my favorite singer of all time. He had so much range and passion-no one else compares. He’s my favorite artist. I also love Elliott Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Bille Holiday, Patsy Cline, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Sigur Ros, Voices Voices. I look up to all those artists.
Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?
I worked at a record store for 4 years when I was younger so I was paid to explore music, basically. I fell in love with old records and tapes…man. I could go on for days. I love love love Duster Bennet. He is one of my favorite blues musicians/singers ever. I also love Robert Johnson, Coltrane, Charlie Parker…Little Charlie…But I really love Duster Bennet. He is my favorite.
What’s your ultimate direction for your band?
I think that all that we want to do as a band is tour our asses off and work hard. We want to play and hopefully people will continue to be supportive. We just want to work hard and get our name out there. If people come to shows and listen to what we are doing, even better.
Any last words
Thank you for the support and for the interview. We really appreciate it.
All images unless otherwise noted by Josh Johnson: http://anomie1.com/josh/
