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| Artist Statistics |
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Artistopia Rank : 33
Member Since : 1/2005
Last Login : 8/4/2008
Views : 33,868
Songs : 4
Events : 36
Alliances : 7
Releases : 6
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Artistopia URL :
http://www.artistopia.com/sunsoma |
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| Latest Music By Sunsoma |
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d3
Published Date : 01/2007
Total Downloads : 171
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News Article |
Artist News Home |
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Interview with Mel Spicer from ‘Sunsoma’ |
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| Published on 2/18/2005 |
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| By Aristopia |
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Q. At what age did you realize you wanted to become a music artist and why?
Since I used to sing along to Top of the Pops when I was a kid, I’d memorize all the lyrics and bug my mum and dad until they watched me perform them, I loved it and still do.
Q. Most music artists have that special someone or thing that influenced their decision to do music. Did anyone or something in your life play a major role in influencing you to go into the music business?
My husband. When we first started going out he would always encourage me in my singing and songwriting as he is a writer as well, and as time went by we developed our own style of writing between us. He remains my most ardent supporter and critic!
Q. In terms of the music, which major artist(s) influenced your style and why?
The poetry of Suzanne Vega, the soul of Eva Cassidy, the freedom of Jeff Buckley and the grit of Alanis Morissette
Q. With so many independent artists trying to make it, what makes you stand out from the competition?
It’s not an easy question to answer. I always spend a long time trying to craft my lyrics into the songs I write and I would like to think this helps us be who we are as a band. We definitely have a distinctive style about us and this comes from each band member playing the music they want to hear, and the way I use my voice is no different from this. It is important not to try to be something or play in some kind of contrived way, but to simply be yourself even if that makes you feel vulnerable or uneasy with the honesty you’re expressing.
Q. Music industry professionals are quick to say that being an artist means to gracefully fit a marketable niche in the industry. If you were offered an opportunity that asked you to be something you are not, would you do it to get your foot in the door?
As an unknown artist who is working in the industry but not earning enough money to live properly just through the music I love to write and perform, I would be very grateful of any opportunity that may arise to give me a wider stage in order that I would become better known, and I would hope that my songs had got me to that place. I would not want to compromise my own values and beliefs, as this would make me a fraud and therefore an unbelievable performer, someone who is clearly in the wrong place doing the wrong sort of thing.
However in an industry with so many pitfalls I would welcome good advice from experienced professionals in order to further my career and I would make the necessary choices to enable me to move forward even if it meant a change of direction to do so.
Q. Making music is one thing, selling it is another. What types of strategies do you use in promoting your artistic work and getting it heard by the proper professionals?
At the moment we are using a number of avenues. We have a good quality 4 track demo CD that we mail out to ‘warm’ contacts, in other words, contacts that we know are looking for artists like us because we already have an introduction to them via websites like Taxi, or Bandit. We also sell our CD’s at gigs, and have local radio and music magazine support. We have created a strong web presence by linking our own website to others, including music directories. If you punch Sunsoma into Google you will get seven full pages about us before anything else comes up. We also have MP3 downloads available on a number of smaller satellite sites. We regularly update these sites with fresh news and information to keep them active. We also perform at showcase events to present our music directly to industry professionals.
Q. In regards to wheeling and dealing, how important do you feel business knowledge is to making it in an industry filled with much heartache?
Vital. The music business is a business. If I am to earn a good living I need to understand how to keep the money that I make in my pocket and not in everyone else’s. So many young musicians lack the business skills required to succeed in a notoriously risky business and then they find themselves in situations where they feel they have been exploited.
Q. Let's fast forward to 5 years from now. What advice would you offer to struggling independent artists?
Persevere, believe in yourself and your music and never give up.
Q. Most successful artists are involved in charitable organizations that stand for a cause that hits close to home. In that regard, once you reach success, what charitable cause(s) would you like to be involved in and why?
I’d like to help the vulnerable people in this world, the old and the young because they are not able to help themselves; they are reliant on the care and the good will of others. It’s right that we should look after them; they were the guardians of yesterday and will be the lifeblood of tomorrow.
Well, we thank you for taking the time to interview with us and certainly wish you the best in your music career endeavors. There you have it ladies and gentlemen, an inside look into the mind of an independent artist struggling to bring their hard work to fruition in an industry where perseverance and thick skin means survival. No one said it would be easy.
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| Article Credits and References |
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| No Credits or References were provided by publisher |
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