Interview with the ever-passionate Georgii Demin.
Georgii Demin is an independent musician in his mid-twenties. His band Ivory's single In My Arms is currently #1 on the Matthew Talks Music Monthly Top 5. His passion for music and performing is both remarkable and exceptional! Georgii was kind enough to sit down with me for an in depth interview.
Matthew: Tell me about when you first became interested in music and first started playing guitar?
Georgii: The interest came naturally when I got into music at around 13-14. I started playing by myself, went to some music classes and also kept self-teaching!
Matthew: I have seen quite a few of your performances, and am impressed with your natural talent, given you are self-taught in many regards! After your interest blossomed, when did you form Ivory?
Georgii: The band also came naturally, forming with some classmates, some of whom were my friends, who shared the same musical tastes and love to music. After the band was formed, our school proved to be a good platform for us. We would have these annual “parties” at the end of each form and were always provided with a slot to play live at these parties.
Matthew: When you're performing, what are some things you hope your music will evoke within your audience?
Georgii: That’s a tough one. To be honest – I’m not sure I have ever thought of that. But if they the audience...or even one person from that whole crowd gets to feel the same way I feel from the music that I perform - no matter if it’s a cover or a song by me or my band - then I think it’s a job well done!
Matthew: Do you have a favorite memory from any of these live shows?
Georgii: That’s difficult to choose… I think I'd go with the first time our band (which at the time had just went through it’s 4th or 5th lineup change) performed fully live for the first time. It was a Christmas/New Year discotheque at our school, that was held during the graduation year. It was one of the last calm days before the significant changes in life happened half a year later. It was a great moment, we played with a few mistakes (not the best sound obviously) but it was very passionate, at least for me. Some important meetings with our future friends and brothers in arms from younger forms took place after this performance. A friend that we made that day persuaded the school officials to organize it’s first ever musical festival just four months after that. We all performed there!
But I must say that there are some more moments which I remember fondly from later on in our career. Like the several acoustic performances at the free entry acoustic shows that our friend hosted in our hometown. It was the same friend who organized the school festival. However, in 2017-2019 he was now organizing city-sized events. I think overall we gave five concerts there throughout 2017-2018 (and a couple of them very really strong). Our relatives, friends, acquaintances, would come over and support us and sometimes even the strangers whom were unfamiliar with us happened to be supportive too.
Matthew: You won them over!
Georgii: Another one was in Saint-Petersburg, when we had a live debut of our own first song In My Arms. That is also quite a significant moment for me.
Matthew: You mentioned your first song, In My Arms, can you tell me what the recording process was like?
Georgii: The recording process was quite difficult I must say. I wanted it to be made quite professionally, so that’s why we went to the studio which was recommended by my half-brother whom is also into music (he ended up recording at this particular studio - which is why I went there to record myself),
I was the first one from the band to go and record all the guitar parts. The goal that I thankfully achieved in just one-day session. Sadly, though, the slow process of the deterioration of the band had already begun at the time (which contributed to why it took so long to record). However, I personally was very happy with the final product. It was a very important thing for me. It was one of the few things that kept me going then, because I was going through really lasting and painful consequences of a breakup. And to know that at least one song came out of my own band - I must say, still is very dear to significant to me.
Matthew: Ivory has now disbanded, what are your future plans moving forward?
Georgii: I really hope that I’ll get back to writing. As pretty much everyone else left the band soon after that first song was released, I kind of gave up on that activity. At the same time, the thoughts of finishing the ideas that I had at the time and the writing of some new ideas - those desires have never stopped. I’ve been making one demo for ages and I want to finish that one. The global events of the last years sometimes forcefully shifted my attention from it, but now having a lot of time completely on my own and having continuous support from some of my friends and closed ones (some of them for years), I want to finish these projects and also shape and create new stuff. Would be beyond happy to make an album or an EP at least, to have some sense of completion. I also want to perform with it, to have the first concert of my own band consisting of fully original material.
Georgii: The interest came naturally when I got into music at around 13-14. I started playing by myself, went to some music classes and also kept self-teaching!
Matthew: I have seen quite a few of your performances, and am impressed with your natural talent, given you are self-taught in many regards! After your interest blossomed, when did you form Ivory?
Georgii: The band also came naturally, forming with some classmates, some of whom were my friends, who shared the same musical tastes and love to music. After the band was formed, our school proved to be a good platform for us. We would have these annual “parties” at the end of each form and were always provided with a slot to play live at these parties.
Matthew: When you're performing, what are some things you hope your music will evoke within your audience?
Georgii: That’s a tough one. To be honest – I’m not sure I have ever thought of that. But if they the audience...or even one person from that whole crowd gets to feel the same way I feel from the music that I perform - no matter if it’s a cover or a song by me or my band - then I think it’s a job well done!
Matthew: Do you have a favorite memory from any of these live shows?
Georgii: That’s difficult to choose… I think I'd go with the first time our band (which at the time had just went through it’s 4th or 5th lineup change) performed fully live for the first time. It was a Christmas/New Year discotheque at our school, that was held during the graduation year. It was one of the last calm days before the significant changes in life happened half a year later. It was a great moment, we played with a few mistakes (not the best sound obviously) but it was very passionate, at least for me. Some important meetings with our future friends and brothers in arms from younger forms took place after this performance. A friend that we made that day persuaded the school officials to organize it’s first ever musical festival just four months after that. We all performed there!
But I must say that there are some more moments which I remember fondly from later on in our career. Like the several acoustic performances at the free entry acoustic shows that our friend hosted in our hometown. It was the same friend who organized the school festival. However, in 2017-2019 he was now organizing city-sized events. I think overall we gave five concerts there throughout 2017-2018 (and a couple of them very really strong). Our relatives, friends, acquaintances, would come over and support us and sometimes even the strangers whom were unfamiliar with us happened to be supportive too.
Matthew: You won them over!
Georgii: Another one was in Saint-Petersburg, when we had a live debut of our own first song In My Arms. That is also quite a significant moment for me.
Matthew: You mentioned your first song, In My Arms, can you tell me what the recording process was like?
Georgii: The recording process was quite difficult I must say. I wanted it to be made quite professionally, so that’s why we went to the studio which was recommended by my half-brother whom is also into music (he ended up recording at this particular studio - which is why I went there to record myself),
I was the first one from the band to go and record all the guitar parts. The goal that I thankfully achieved in just one-day session. Sadly, though, the slow process of the deterioration of the band had already begun at the time (which contributed to why it took so long to record). However, I personally was very happy with the final product. It was a very important thing for me. It was one of the few things that kept me going then, because I was going through really lasting and painful consequences of a breakup. And to know that at least one song came out of my own band - I must say, still is very dear to significant to me.
Matthew: Ivory has now disbanded, what are your future plans moving forward?
Georgii: I really hope that I’ll get back to writing. As pretty much everyone else left the band soon after that first song was released, I kind of gave up on that activity. At the same time, the thoughts of finishing the ideas that I had at the time and the writing of some new ideas - those desires have never stopped. I’ve been making one demo for ages and I want to finish that one. The global events of the last years sometimes forcefully shifted my attention from it, but now having a lot of time completely on my own and having continuous support from some of my friends and closed ones (some of them for years), I want to finish these projects and also shape and create new stuff. Would be beyond happy to make an album or an EP at least, to have some sense of completion. I also want to perform with it, to have the first concert of my own band consisting of fully original material.
Interview with the newly re-emerged Ty Wilson.
Ty Wilson recently scored a Top 10 hit on the Canadian Indie Country Chart with his single Another Day, Another Pour and has a new album on the way.
He shared some candid insights about being an independent artist and more!
He shared some candid insights about being an independent artist and more!
Matthew: Your last release came out back in 2014. With a new album on the way this February are you feeling nervous? Excited? Both?
Ty: When The first single came out last year, I was definitely a healthy mix of both. It's nerve wracking putting yourself and your art back out there again for people to hear. I loved writing these tracks though and genuinely feel like this is the first time I've really been able to nail an authentic version of myself through music. I would say most of all, I was really excited.
Matthew: Although there was a bit of a gap between releases, you were still very active in terms of live performances. Did any one of these give you a spark where you felt like it's time to go back into the studio?
Ty: In truth, I had kind of given up on writing my own music after my last release. I had spent so much time, energy, money on it and because it didn't do very well, I had kind of given up on that type of career. Honestly, I didn't know the industry well either at that time and I had a lot of growing up to do. I ended up meeting my producer Shawn Moore by chance at a small writers round I played in Waterloo and he was the first person to really try and push me to start writing and recording again. He must have message me about it once a month until I finally caved in and had a session with him. We ended up finishing up one of the songs I had half written from back in the day and I was hooked again. I was in a healthier place mentally and for the first time in quite a few years, really believed that I could come back to the industry and put out some great music.
Matthew: Given the time between releases, you probably had a lot of different experiences to draw from in terms of song-writing inspiration. Was it hard to narrow this down for one album?
Ty: I definitely had a ton of different experiences to draw from over the years. But this whole Ep is pretty well running along the same type of premise directed towards the feelings I was processing while spending a year sober from alcohol. A lot of feelings of guilt regarding past relationships and my relationship with booze came up and made for some great songs. They are deeply personal, especially "Another Day, Another Pour" and the currently unreleased "Pair of Hearts" which will be my next single.
Matthew: How have you evolved as an artist since your last EP till now? What would you say is the biggest change musically?
Ty: Complete genre change! *laughs*... I have also grown and evolved and bettered myself in all areas musically in my opinion. I decided to start vocal lessons a couple years ago to focus on honing my craft and really working on my guitar playing.
Matthew: When writing songs, do you pay attention at all to musical trends and try to incorporate these into your own recordings (in a way that is still 'you')? Or do you just let the process happen organically?
Ty: I don't generally look at trends too much, I mostly just want the songs to sound like "Me" more than anything. However I do approach songwriting with a certain direction in mind. Usually that comes from a chord progression that I like and try the work the "feel" of the song out from there. Some do just kind of happen though, "Another Day, another Pour" was definitely one of those tunes that just kind of came together and we loved it.
Matthew: You signed your first record deal when you were 16. Many teenagers have an idea of what they want to do, but sometimes with age and experience this naturally changes. Did you ever think about leaving the music industry? Especially since the business itself is constantly changing.
Ty: From my earliest memories all I wanted to do was play music for a living. That kind of never changed for me. But I had to grow up and make sure that I could also live comfortably while doing it. For the last few years that has meant a good full-time job and a lot of late nights and weekends playing music. It can be a grind, but it's what makes me feel the most fulfilled at the moment. The whole starving artist thing never appealed to me, so making sure I had/have stability is very important. I'm getting to the point now though where music is starting to provide a pretty great income, so in the future, being an artist full-time is really looking like it could be a reality.
Matthew: Your first new single that announced you were back was Catch Me In Your Next Life. Was it hard to decide what song to use for this moment? Why did you ultimately go with Catch Me In Your Next Life?
Ty: It really wasn't too hard at all for me to pick "CYIMNL" as the first single. I wanted something fast and fun to release as my first foray back into the industry. I knew that it was a great "lead off" single to get my name back out there.
Matthew: You recently put out the song Another Day, Another Pour, what was the video shoot for that like?
Ty: I honestly had so much fun on that shoot. We shot everything at the wedding venue/farm that a good friend of mine owns (Shoutout to Farmhill Weddings and Events) and did it all in one afternoon. A.J and Jonny at Roadhouse Productions are top notch guys and they did a really great job with the video. I can't say enough good things about my experience with them!
Matthew: Another Day, Another Pour recently became a Top 10 hit on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown Chart, what was your reaction when you heard this?
Ty: It was a bit surreal honestly. If you would have told me a year and a half ago how well my music is currently doing and that the songs were charting I would have told you you were crazy. My team and I all believed in this music and I'm really happy that other people are starting to see what we see in it as well.
Ty: When The first single came out last year, I was definitely a healthy mix of both. It's nerve wracking putting yourself and your art back out there again for people to hear. I loved writing these tracks though and genuinely feel like this is the first time I've really been able to nail an authentic version of myself through music. I would say most of all, I was really excited.
Matthew: Although there was a bit of a gap between releases, you were still very active in terms of live performances. Did any one of these give you a spark where you felt like it's time to go back into the studio?
Ty: In truth, I had kind of given up on writing my own music after my last release. I had spent so much time, energy, money on it and because it didn't do very well, I had kind of given up on that type of career. Honestly, I didn't know the industry well either at that time and I had a lot of growing up to do. I ended up meeting my producer Shawn Moore by chance at a small writers round I played in Waterloo and he was the first person to really try and push me to start writing and recording again. He must have message me about it once a month until I finally caved in and had a session with him. We ended up finishing up one of the songs I had half written from back in the day and I was hooked again. I was in a healthier place mentally and for the first time in quite a few years, really believed that I could come back to the industry and put out some great music.
Matthew: Given the time between releases, you probably had a lot of different experiences to draw from in terms of song-writing inspiration. Was it hard to narrow this down for one album?
Ty: I definitely had a ton of different experiences to draw from over the years. But this whole Ep is pretty well running along the same type of premise directed towards the feelings I was processing while spending a year sober from alcohol. A lot of feelings of guilt regarding past relationships and my relationship with booze came up and made for some great songs. They are deeply personal, especially "Another Day, Another Pour" and the currently unreleased "Pair of Hearts" which will be my next single.
Matthew: How have you evolved as an artist since your last EP till now? What would you say is the biggest change musically?
Ty: Complete genre change! *laughs*... I have also grown and evolved and bettered myself in all areas musically in my opinion. I decided to start vocal lessons a couple years ago to focus on honing my craft and really working on my guitar playing.
Matthew: When writing songs, do you pay attention at all to musical trends and try to incorporate these into your own recordings (in a way that is still 'you')? Or do you just let the process happen organically?
Ty: I don't generally look at trends too much, I mostly just want the songs to sound like "Me" more than anything. However I do approach songwriting with a certain direction in mind. Usually that comes from a chord progression that I like and try the work the "feel" of the song out from there. Some do just kind of happen though, "Another Day, another Pour" was definitely one of those tunes that just kind of came together and we loved it.
Matthew: You signed your first record deal when you were 16. Many teenagers have an idea of what they want to do, but sometimes with age and experience this naturally changes. Did you ever think about leaving the music industry? Especially since the business itself is constantly changing.
Ty: From my earliest memories all I wanted to do was play music for a living. That kind of never changed for me. But I had to grow up and make sure that I could also live comfortably while doing it. For the last few years that has meant a good full-time job and a lot of late nights and weekends playing music. It can be a grind, but it's what makes me feel the most fulfilled at the moment. The whole starving artist thing never appealed to me, so making sure I had/have stability is very important. I'm getting to the point now though where music is starting to provide a pretty great income, so in the future, being an artist full-time is really looking like it could be a reality.
Matthew: Your first new single that announced you were back was Catch Me In Your Next Life. Was it hard to decide what song to use for this moment? Why did you ultimately go with Catch Me In Your Next Life?
Ty: It really wasn't too hard at all for me to pick "CYIMNL" as the first single. I wanted something fast and fun to release as my first foray back into the industry. I knew that it was a great "lead off" single to get my name back out there.
Matthew: You recently put out the song Another Day, Another Pour, what was the video shoot for that like?
Ty: I honestly had so much fun on that shoot. We shot everything at the wedding venue/farm that a good friend of mine owns (Shoutout to Farmhill Weddings and Events) and did it all in one afternoon. A.J and Jonny at Roadhouse Productions are top notch guys and they did a really great job with the video. I can't say enough good things about my experience with them!
Matthew: Another Day, Another Pour recently became a Top 10 hit on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown Chart, what was your reaction when you heard this?
Ty: It was a bit surreal honestly. If you would have told me a year and a half ago how well my music is currently doing and that the songs were charting I would have told you you were crazy. My team and I all believed in this music and I'm really happy that other people are starting to see what we see in it as well.
Interview with Award-Winning Artist Andy Penkow.
Andy Penkow has scored ten Top 20 hit singles on both the Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart & the Australian Country Radio Chart. This success led to Andy winning the 2022 Australian Country Music People's Choice Award. He has also won many other awards and earned mass acclaim.
Matthew: You recently put out the single Ghostly Gums (Walking Away). Tell me about it. Also, is there a new album or EP is on the way for next year?
Andy: I recorded Ghostly Gums as a Bush Ballad in the way it was originally written to show respect to the lyrics, Walking Away is a contemporary version of the song from the Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes album track 10. Yes, we are currently working with some amazing songwriters for the next project, I am super excited about that and we are looking at a 2023 release.
Matthew: Ghostly Gums is a very interesting title that conjures up a lot of imagery. How did you come up with it?
Andy: The song was co-written with Kath Stewart, David Carter and Angela Bristow-Baphm. It was It was written for the farmers who have struggled, and are still struggling not just in Australia but all over the world with the way the world is atm. They are the backbone of a nation. And we often forget that.
Matthew: Do you have a follow-up single in mind to release after Ghostly Gums?
Andy: Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes will go to Australian radio on the 12th of Jan 2023 to coincide with my CMAA Golden Guitar Nomination. However I will have some new music coming later in 2023 watch this space.
Matthew: As you mentioned, the song has already earned you a nomination for Bush Ballad of The Year at the CMAA Golden Guitar Awards. First off, congratulations! Were you surprised how quickly the reception for this song happened? Or given your previous successes was it less of an awe?
Andy: Thank you so much! It's an honour to be nominated for the highest accolade in Australian country music. I'm truly humbled. Yes... it's funny it happened so quickly with the release and the Nomination, however we've been working on the song for over 2 years. I've also been in the industry for a long time working hard on building my career and making better and better music. The song was really written for the farmers, we did it for them.
Matthew: Your songs often encompass this rich classic countrypolitan sound. Who were some of the artists that inspired you and helped you cultivate this style?
Andy: I really love music. It's something that comes from deep down. I have been surrounded by lots of country music. My parents had good taste playing a lot of Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Slim Dusty, also a lot of 90's country Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, Kasey Chambers. My Grandmother was also an Opera singer so there was a lot of music around me growing up.
Matthew: I can definitely hear some 70's Elvis in there! You recently had the honor of winning the 2022 Australian Country Music - People's Choice Award for Most Promising future star. How did you feel when you found out you had won? Given it's a People's Choice Award it must be nice to know that the fans really rallied around you.
Andy: Yes that is true, I think when it comes to awards the fan voted awards are really special, we do it because of the fans, we are nothing without people supporting and listening to our music. I am truly grateful to everyone who has ever supported me and my music.
Matthew: You are also nominated in several categories for the 2023 Independent Country Music Awards, and in the past have won several other honors. Is it important for you (as someone who has previously won such accolades), to continue to do so? Does it emphasize your continued momentum and success? Or does the music speak for itself regardless if it gets any sort of official recognition (awards, high chart positions, etc)?
Andy: The awards and recognition is just amazing, I am humbled by it all no matter who or where I'm getting recognized by. Some artists can work their whole career and never get any recognition. I think for me it's like the cherry on top. However if i never received a nomination or award I would still be grateful to the music, I do it for the music, it's my best friend. As Shania Twain once said she doesn't have to be the music to get what she needs out of it"
Matthew: Do you have any plans to tour for next year?
Andy: I sure am, 2023 is going to be a big year. I will be heading overseas to record and play some shows, a national tour of Australia later in 2023 is in the makings atm. We are still locking in dates so stay tuned.
Matthew: Do you have any special memories from one of your live shows that really sticks out that you can share?
Andy: Yes, I was playing a show in Sydney harbour, as i finished up I was approached by an older lady who couldn't speak much English. However, she handed me an envelope, with a hand written note and a $100 bill, telling me that my music changed her life after losing her husband. I still have the note and the $100 Bill.
Andy: I recorded Ghostly Gums as a Bush Ballad in the way it was originally written to show respect to the lyrics, Walking Away is a contemporary version of the song from the Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes album track 10. Yes, we are currently working with some amazing songwriters for the next project, I am super excited about that and we are looking at a 2023 release.
Matthew: Ghostly Gums is a very interesting title that conjures up a lot of imagery. How did you come up with it?
Andy: The song was co-written with Kath Stewart, David Carter and Angela Bristow-Baphm. It was It was written for the farmers who have struggled, and are still struggling not just in Australia but all over the world with the way the world is atm. They are the backbone of a nation. And we often forget that.
Matthew: Do you have a follow-up single in mind to release after Ghostly Gums?
Andy: Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes will go to Australian radio on the 12th of Jan 2023 to coincide with my CMAA Golden Guitar Nomination. However I will have some new music coming later in 2023 watch this space.
Matthew: As you mentioned, the song has already earned you a nomination for Bush Ballad of The Year at the CMAA Golden Guitar Awards. First off, congratulations! Were you surprised how quickly the reception for this song happened? Or given your previous successes was it less of an awe?
Andy: Thank you so much! It's an honour to be nominated for the highest accolade in Australian country music. I'm truly humbled. Yes... it's funny it happened so quickly with the release and the Nomination, however we've been working on the song for over 2 years. I've also been in the industry for a long time working hard on building my career and making better and better music. The song was really written for the farmers, we did it for them.
Matthew: Your songs often encompass this rich classic countrypolitan sound. Who were some of the artists that inspired you and helped you cultivate this style?
Andy: I really love music. It's something that comes from deep down. I have been surrounded by lots of country music. My parents had good taste playing a lot of Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Slim Dusty, also a lot of 90's country Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, Kasey Chambers. My Grandmother was also an Opera singer so there was a lot of music around me growing up.
Matthew: I can definitely hear some 70's Elvis in there! You recently had the honor of winning the 2022 Australian Country Music - People's Choice Award for Most Promising future star. How did you feel when you found out you had won? Given it's a People's Choice Award it must be nice to know that the fans really rallied around you.
Andy: Yes that is true, I think when it comes to awards the fan voted awards are really special, we do it because of the fans, we are nothing without people supporting and listening to our music. I am truly grateful to everyone who has ever supported me and my music.
Matthew: You are also nominated in several categories for the 2023 Independent Country Music Awards, and in the past have won several other honors. Is it important for you (as someone who has previously won such accolades), to continue to do so? Does it emphasize your continued momentum and success? Or does the music speak for itself regardless if it gets any sort of official recognition (awards, high chart positions, etc)?
Andy: The awards and recognition is just amazing, I am humbled by it all no matter who or where I'm getting recognized by. Some artists can work their whole career and never get any recognition. I think for me it's like the cherry on top. However if i never received a nomination or award I would still be grateful to the music, I do it for the music, it's my best friend. As Shania Twain once said she doesn't have to be the music to get what she needs out of it"
Matthew: Do you have any plans to tour for next year?
Andy: I sure am, 2023 is going to be a big year. I will be heading overseas to record and play some shows, a national tour of Australia later in 2023 is in the makings atm. We are still locking in dates so stay tuned.
Matthew: Do you have any special memories from one of your live shows that really sticks out that you can share?
Andy: Yes, I was playing a show in Sydney harbour, as i finished up I was approached by an older lady who couldn't speak much English. However, she handed me an envelope, with a hand written note and a $100 bill, telling me that my music changed her life after losing her husband. I still have the note and the $100 Bill.
Interview with acclaimed artist Mindflip.
First releasing music professionally in 2018, Mindflip has since gone on to amass more than 30 million streams. His hit single Run My Sh*t recently went Gold, and the same track landed him in the Top 10 on Billboard's Spotify Viral Top 50 chart. He has received acclaim from both national and international press outlets. His recent single (the brilliant) 'Exquisite' is already enjoying radio success (check it out here)!
Matthew: I recently saw a photo on your Instagram story with the caption 'great spot for songwriting'... did you end up writing anything that day? If so, can you let your fans know a bit about it?
Mindflip: I did the song is called “Thank U life” and it will come out in early 2023. The song is produced by same person who produced “ Exquisite”. The song has a bit of a Coldply feel mixed with the high energy of “Exquisite.”
Matthew: What are some other sources of inspiration for you in terms of your songwriting?
Mindflip: I love to drive around in my car with my windows down!!
Matthew: Can you think of an impactful experience you had that you haven't yet written about but would like too? Anything that might be cathartic?
Mindflip: I was going way too fast on my motorcycle (sportbike) the other night and when the adrenaline came down I realized my life could have ended in half of a second! I arrived home and realized I had to stop speeding a bit cause I have some many things that I have to accomplish in life and obviously I dont want to go now!
Matthew: On your track Exquisite the production has some really great funk, dance, and almost NuDisco elements. Were there any particular artists or songs that inspired you to experiment with those types of sounds?
Mindflip: We got inspired a bit by Kaytrana for the groove, but other than that we really just went intuitively.
Matthew: Are there any other genres that you would like to incorporate into your music at some point?
Mindflip: Yes just like the song “ Thank U life” I’m writing right now, more spiritual energy more gratitude energy. I always been a fan of Cold Play because of the purity of the energy and I decided I was going to incorporate that in my next radio single.
Matthew: Were there any experiments in the studio with styles that you ultimately felt didn't work for you?
Mindflip: Yes, going too pop just for the sake of it…I love when the chords and the energy of a song have a meaning of a depth. I dont want my songs to sound like every other song on the radio just so I get get some airtime. I want them to be catchy and accessible but I want them to stand out.
Matthew: Your music as a whole has a feel good vibe to it. Is that a conscious choice to make music that aims to make people happy - or is it just a natural expression of how you feel?
Mindflip: It really is a natural expression of how I feel!!
Matthew: In November you have some shows coming up. Most artists say in regard to live performances they feel a mix of excited and nervous. Do you personally feel one more than the other?
Mindflip: I used to have stage fright, but now I’m just confident and excited!
Matthew: What is your favorite part of performing live?
Mindflip: Interacting with the crowd!
Mindflip: I did the song is called “Thank U life” and it will come out in early 2023. The song is produced by same person who produced “ Exquisite”. The song has a bit of a Coldply feel mixed with the high energy of “Exquisite.”
Matthew: What are some other sources of inspiration for you in terms of your songwriting?
Mindflip: I love to drive around in my car with my windows down!!
Matthew: Can you think of an impactful experience you had that you haven't yet written about but would like too? Anything that might be cathartic?
Mindflip: I was going way too fast on my motorcycle (sportbike) the other night and when the adrenaline came down I realized my life could have ended in half of a second! I arrived home and realized I had to stop speeding a bit cause I have some many things that I have to accomplish in life and obviously I dont want to go now!
Matthew: On your track Exquisite the production has some really great funk, dance, and almost NuDisco elements. Were there any particular artists or songs that inspired you to experiment with those types of sounds?
Mindflip: We got inspired a bit by Kaytrana for the groove, but other than that we really just went intuitively.
Matthew: Are there any other genres that you would like to incorporate into your music at some point?
Mindflip: Yes just like the song “ Thank U life” I’m writing right now, more spiritual energy more gratitude energy. I always been a fan of Cold Play because of the purity of the energy and I decided I was going to incorporate that in my next radio single.
Matthew: Were there any experiments in the studio with styles that you ultimately felt didn't work for you?
Mindflip: Yes, going too pop just for the sake of it…I love when the chords and the energy of a song have a meaning of a depth. I dont want my songs to sound like every other song on the radio just so I get get some airtime. I want them to be catchy and accessible but I want them to stand out.
Matthew: Your music as a whole has a feel good vibe to it. Is that a conscious choice to make music that aims to make people happy - or is it just a natural expression of how you feel?
Mindflip: It really is a natural expression of how I feel!!
Matthew: In November you have some shows coming up. Most artists say in regard to live performances they feel a mix of excited and nervous. Do you personally feel one more than the other?
Mindflip: I used to have stage fright, but now I’m just confident and excited!
Matthew: What is your favorite part of performing live?
Mindflip: Interacting with the crowd!
Darryl Hurs - Founder and Director of Indie Week.
Darryl Hurs has a 25+ year history in the music industry, including work for Live Nation, being the present Director of Market Development for the 'anti-label' CD Baby, and launching/running Indie Week (one of Canada’s largest emerging artist showcase festivals). I recently had a chance to interview Darryl about his work and the music industry as a whole.
Matthew: After being actively involved in the music business for over 20 years, how do you keep yourself full of passion and enthusiasm? How do you avoid burnout?
Darryl: The passion is still there and there is always something new to learn in the industry and new music to discover, that keeps it interesting and challenging.
Matthew: As someone who has enjoyed great longevity in the business, I am sure you have experienced many rewarding moments. What are a few of these that stand out immediately in your mind?
Darryl: I've been very fortunate to have met some really key people - immediately I think of when we hosted John Densmore from THE DOORS and was able to have dinner with him where he shared some stories of Jim Morrison, which doesn't happen every day. But really, some of the results of our work is really moving to me. Through connections made at INDIE WEEK, children across Canada have access to information on reconciliation through The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, Buffy Sainte-Marie producer Chris Birkett spending time up north recording Inuit artists also as a result of a connection made at INDIE WEEK, and seeing bands who have played INDIE WEEK in the past doing well in their careers (Cleopatrick, PUP, Monowhales, Softcult, to name a few). We also had WALK OFF THE EARTH play right before they broke internationally. Another fun memory is that our old Indie Week logo had a pig with wings and eight people have a tattoo of it.
Matthew: Do you have any major regrets in terms of your work in the industry?
Darryl: No regrets really - disappointments yes but no regrets.
Matthew: Your work has at many points brought you to international destinations, from these journeys what do you gather are the biggest misconceptions about the Canadian Music Industry?
Darryl: I think the biggest one is that people from other countries think that Canada is an easy country to tour. It definitely is not.
Matthew: A lot of your endeavors involve independent artists. What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing indie artists in terms of starting their careers?
Darryl: I think the biggest challenge is that there isn't a clear path to success anymore. Many have a hard time learning the proper steps to take and as a result spend much more time having to learn the hard way through mistakes. That can take a toll on their mental health.
Matthew: What are some of the advantages to being an indie artist or being signed to an Independent label?
Darryl: Being able to make decisions for yourself that match your goals and limits - the tools are all now available to be able to run a label yourself but the downside is the labels have teams to run the business.
Matthew: Do you think many independent artists care about mainstream success, or do you get the impression that most are content with achieving enough to be able to simply continue making and playing music?
Darryl: More and more I am seeing artists that are content with just being able to write and perform their music with the hopes of being able to support themselves. I am seeing less of the ones with the goal of "making it" and being big stars. But with that said - there are more opportunities to be exactly what you want to be. When I was coming up there weren't as many paces to play that accepted original music, there was no means to distribute your music or get it played. So really - again it's the best time to be a musician.
Matthew: With streaming being so predominant, in your opinion do you think that new artists who are hoping to achieve mainstream success still care about chart positions, physical sales, and certifications (Gold, Platinum, etc). Or do you think they are more concerned with streaming figures? Or both?
Darryl: Yes and no - for artists looking to move up the ladder quickly chart positions are extremely important. Achieving any level in charts or awards can give more points to highlight in your marketing and also can assist in raising the value of your performance fees.
Matthew: What about already established artists, do you think chart positions and physical sales still matter, or are successful tours and streaming the main concerns?
Darryl: Everything is important for larger, more established artists - there is more at stake with bigger budgets. Numbers help with projections and planning. Once you are at a certain level you want to maintain it and keep your profile up which can affect performance guarantees, fees, and ticket sales. But ultimately artists are finding where they are the most successful and lean into it to maximize success.
Matthew: Do you think the relatively low number of major labels (compared to the 1990's) is good or bad for the industry as a whole? Have you noticed any significant impacts as a result of this on Canada's music scene?
Darryl: The area I feel has had the most impact is the lack of artist development. Labels used to have development deals for artists and artists often had multiple releases before having a hit but were given that time to build up to it. Now artists are expecting to have a certain level of success right away - often artists aren't even considered until they have had some level of success on their own before being signed.
Matthew: Are there any specific artists you would like to work with (in any capacity) that you as of yet have not had a chance too?
Darryl: U2, Faith No More, Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Daniel Lanois.
Matthew: Who is/are your favorite artist(s) or band(s)?
Darryl: Too many to mention as I have many favorites across genres. Lately, Softcult and Aysanabee are favorites.
Matthew: In the new year you will be launching the Music and Tech conferences Music Pro Summit (Sept 2023), SCREENxSCREEN (Feb 2023), and Indie101 (Spring 2023), what are some key points that you would like readers to know about these conferences?
Darrly: Each conference has a different focus SCREENxSCREEN is music + tech (we host it in FEB so we can focus on what are new trends for the upcoming year), Indie101 focuses on education and how-to's - for example: how to plan a release, how to run a marketing campaign, etc...MUSIC PRO SUMMIT - has high-level industry discussions regarding the music industry
Darryl: The passion is still there and there is always something new to learn in the industry and new music to discover, that keeps it interesting and challenging.
Matthew: As someone who has enjoyed great longevity in the business, I am sure you have experienced many rewarding moments. What are a few of these that stand out immediately in your mind?
Darryl: I've been very fortunate to have met some really key people - immediately I think of when we hosted John Densmore from THE DOORS and was able to have dinner with him where he shared some stories of Jim Morrison, which doesn't happen every day. But really, some of the results of our work is really moving to me. Through connections made at INDIE WEEK, children across Canada have access to information on reconciliation through The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, Buffy Sainte-Marie producer Chris Birkett spending time up north recording Inuit artists also as a result of a connection made at INDIE WEEK, and seeing bands who have played INDIE WEEK in the past doing well in their careers (Cleopatrick, PUP, Monowhales, Softcult, to name a few). We also had WALK OFF THE EARTH play right before they broke internationally. Another fun memory is that our old Indie Week logo had a pig with wings and eight people have a tattoo of it.
Matthew: Do you have any major regrets in terms of your work in the industry?
Darryl: No regrets really - disappointments yes but no regrets.
Matthew: Your work has at many points brought you to international destinations, from these journeys what do you gather are the biggest misconceptions about the Canadian Music Industry?
Darryl: I think the biggest one is that people from other countries think that Canada is an easy country to tour. It definitely is not.
Matthew: A lot of your endeavors involve independent artists. What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing indie artists in terms of starting their careers?
Darryl: I think the biggest challenge is that there isn't a clear path to success anymore. Many have a hard time learning the proper steps to take and as a result spend much more time having to learn the hard way through mistakes. That can take a toll on their mental health.
Matthew: What are some of the advantages to being an indie artist or being signed to an Independent label?
Darryl: Being able to make decisions for yourself that match your goals and limits - the tools are all now available to be able to run a label yourself but the downside is the labels have teams to run the business.
Matthew: Do you think many independent artists care about mainstream success, or do you get the impression that most are content with achieving enough to be able to simply continue making and playing music?
Darryl: More and more I am seeing artists that are content with just being able to write and perform their music with the hopes of being able to support themselves. I am seeing less of the ones with the goal of "making it" and being big stars. But with that said - there are more opportunities to be exactly what you want to be. When I was coming up there weren't as many paces to play that accepted original music, there was no means to distribute your music or get it played. So really - again it's the best time to be a musician.
Matthew: With streaming being so predominant, in your opinion do you think that new artists who are hoping to achieve mainstream success still care about chart positions, physical sales, and certifications (Gold, Platinum, etc). Or do you think they are more concerned with streaming figures? Or both?
Darryl: Yes and no - for artists looking to move up the ladder quickly chart positions are extremely important. Achieving any level in charts or awards can give more points to highlight in your marketing and also can assist in raising the value of your performance fees.
Matthew: What about already established artists, do you think chart positions and physical sales still matter, or are successful tours and streaming the main concerns?
Darryl: Everything is important for larger, more established artists - there is more at stake with bigger budgets. Numbers help with projections and planning. Once you are at a certain level you want to maintain it and keep your profile up which can affect performance guarantees, fees, and ticket sales. But ultimately artists are finding where they are the most successful and lean into it to maximize success.
Matthew: Do you think the relatively low number of major labels (compared to the 1990's) is good or bad for the industry as a whole? Have you noticed any significant impacts as a result of this on Canada's music scene?
Darryl: The area I feel has had the most impact is the lack of artist development. Labels used to have development deals for artists and artists often had multiple releases before having a hit but were given that time to build up to it. Now artists are expecting to have a certain level of success right away - often artists aren't even considered until they have had some level of success on their own before being signed.
Matthew: Are there any specific artists you would like to work with (in any capacity) that you as of yet have not had a chance too?
Darryl: U2, Faith No More, Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Daniel Lanois.
Matthew: Who is/are your favorite artist(s) or band(s)?
Darryl: Too many to mention as I have many favorites across genres. Lately, Softcult and Aysanabee are favorites.
Matthew: In the new year you will be launching the Music and Tech conferences Music Pro Summit (Sept 2023), SCREENxSCREEN (Feb 2023), and Indie101 (Spring 2023), what are some key points that you would like readers to know about these conferences?
Darrly: Each conference has a different focus SCREENxSCREEN is music + tech (we host it in FEB so we can focus on what are new trends for the upcoming year), Indie101 focuses on education and how-to's - for example: how to plan a release, how to run a marketing campaign, etc...MUSIC PRO SUMMIT - has high-level industry discussions regarding the music industry
