Talk to the Mano: Domino Saints

If Domino Saints prove anything, it’s that a lot of sound can come from just a few people. The duo, comprised of singer Giselle Ojeda and percussionist David Leal, infuse their dance music with contemporary trends and vintage textures that span several cultures. Nothing is off limits in this melting pot. Expect anything from time-honored Latin traditions like bomba and plena to island music like reggae and dancehall, old school funk and soul and new school reggaeton.

Domino Saints’ Puerto Rican heritage is never more apparent than in their single, “Buenos Dias San Juan,” which won a Billboard World Songwriting Contest award and was featured as an iTunes single of the week. The song opens with guitars that nod to Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft” and a burping horn section that leads into a raw bomba groove. Sung in Spanish, the lyrics may be obscured to Gringos, but the message comes through loud and clear—standing still is not an option. On the subversive, darker funk track “Machiavelic,” Ojeda sings, “I’ve got a plan to take over the world / I’m gonna do it with music.” Let’s hope Domino Saints follow though on the threat.

Jay Sweet recently sat down with the lovely Blake Hazard and asked her a few questions about how her solo career influenced her current project and asked her what advise she had for her fellow indie artists.

JS: Before you two formed The Submarines you were both involved in other musical endeavors, i.e. bands, solo projects, composing, producing. etc. What did you learn from that period of time that helped make The Submarines more “successful”?

BH: There have been plenty of frustrations along the way, to be sure, leading up to our becoming The Submarines. We both played in clubs locally, toured nationally and overseas some, and felt things weren’t building quite as we’d hoped. I suppose spending all that time struggling and “paying your dues” can have an amazing flip-side: if you come out the other end with your cynicism in check and still just love making music, you’ve won—no matter how great or small the reward. Not being devastated by every little (or big) thing that doesn’t go as you’d hoped is a helpful result of having spent a lot of time working. We’ve also learned to celebrate the things that do go well.

JS: It seems like your label, Nettwerk, is very progressive when it comes to generating opportunities for it’s artists; I know you have been with other “major” labels, can you explain why Nettwerk has been a good match for The Submarines?

BH: Nettwerk, as a label, has been very adaptive and forward-thinking. They’re always experimenting with different approaches and it seems that’s really served them well in the sort of natural selection process. Terry once told us he only works with people he wants to work with, and who want to work with him and the label—that they’d never keep a band who wanted “out.” As far as I know, most majors don’t operate that way. People who feel they’re working together by choice will usually have a better result. There are also just some great people there, whose company we enjoy.

JS: Knowing what you have learned in the last decade or so in the music business, what would you tell yourself if you were just starting a career in today’s environment?

BH: First, stay in school, if you can! That environment can be so electric—you may never have the time and resources to mess around creatively while being intellectually stimulated that way again. Savor the hell out of that, then throw yourself into your art 100 percent. I’ve spent a lot of time second-guessing, trying to be reasonable and brace for failure, and I don’t think it’s helped a bit.

JS: I know The Submarines are in the studio recording the next project. What are some of the things you are most excited about with the new material? What do you believe is the best way to get the word out about your music?

BH: The shock of the new! Just playing around with something, a melody, some chord changes, until it suddenly takes shape is still really exciting to me. When I write a song or a part, I always think it could be the last one. Collaborating with John and hearing his instrumental ideas for the first time knocks me out and we’ve been going a bit bigger, sonically. I love not worrying about what will happen with these songs when we’re finished. There’s a force field around the studio blocking out any thoughts of the business side of things right now.

JS: Where do you discover new artists?

BH: I spend time on MySpace, chasing connections between bands and music I like to find things they like. I look at blogs occasionally, too. But, friends have sent me me recent favorites, like Noah and the Whale’s “First Day of Spring” and Sam Amidon. John’s a bit better at seeking out new music. I linger with one record I love for a much longer time.

In 2008 musicians Kristen Wagner and Josh Shapiro met in a West Hollywood cafe and decided they needed a change. Frustrated with their former bands, they chose to join forces as musical partners. It proved to be a songwriting match made in heaven with Kristen taking care of lyrics and vocals while Josh pounds out the electro-rock fused backings. Under the moniker Bullet & Snowfox, the duo is heating up the L.A. scene with infectious tracks like “Bad Days” that display a punk at heart attitude and a new wave finish. The handful of the band’s songs circling the web demonstrate a common theme: these kids are determined to make fans dance their feet off and have fun while doing it. Bullet & Snowfox is currently working on new material amid word of the possible involvement of the best DJ/Producers in the biz, Baron von Luxxury. We suggest you bite the bullet and check out the rest of their tracks available on OurStage.

Sittin' Pretty: Philadelphia's Viv Peyrat

James Dean—ageless dreamboat, immortal rebel. If you’re gonna channel someone, you may as well aim high.

Viv Peyrat does so in his song, “So James Dean.” And though the 22-year-old singer-guitarist may share some of Dean’s rebel allure, he also begs more contemporary comparisons: Jeff Buckley for looks, and Jason Mraz for musical sensibility.

Peyrat, a Philadelphian by way of France, mixes pop with R&B, funk and blues, sometimes organically, sometimes with the amps turned up. Like Mraz, his singing is insouciant and breezy; with lyrics revealing a pure heart and a positive mind. Though most songs may shuffle along at an unhurried pace, they’re still driven by hooks—lots of them. “So James Dean” is a lackadaisical little melody, brightened by an organ and Peyrat’s pretty arpeggios. But “Mine Tonight” inches closer to pop rock—reverberating guitars pulse and break into an anthemic chorus:

“We can ride out in the sunset / We can walk right out the door / We can fly up to the stars/ I’ll leave you running back for more.” To all the Natalie Woods out there, this rebel promises a pretty sweet ride.

Share and Enjoy:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

]]> http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/09/28/easy-rider/feed/ 4 http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/09/28/download-of-the-week-midori-and-audioclique/ http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/09/28/download-of-the-week-midori-and-audioclique/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:30:14 +0000 Sam C. http://blog.ourstage.com/?p=19460

Midori Longo is not your average teenage girl. After all, not every 16-year-old gets nominated for Vocalist of the Year by the Los Angeles Music Awards while fronting her own rock band. Backed by Audioclique, Ms. Longo is pop-rock tour de force waiting to explode out of California and onto the national scene. Fans of Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz are destined to make room for Midori and Audioclique’s Bring It album on their iPods. This weeks free track is a synth-infused rocker called “Do You Love Me.” With ready-for-radio production and an infectiously catchy hook, you’ll be singing into your hair brush in no time.

Share and Enjoy:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

]]> http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/09/28/download-of-the-week-midori-and-audioclique/feed/ 0 http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/21/next-in-line-a-qa-with-patrick-meese/ http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/21/next-in-line-a-qa-with-patrick-meese/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:00:44 +0000 Kate B http://blog.ourstage.com/?p=14001

If you had describe the current Denver music scene in three words, you might pick “killer piano rock.” Over the past few years, bands like The Fray and OneRepublic have taken their melodious, ivory-driven pop balladry to multiplatinum levels. Rounding out this Rocky Mountain trifecta is Meese, a group formed by brothers Patrick and Nathan Meese. After rising to the forefront of the Denver scene in 2006, Meese hit the road opening for their friends in The Fray. Fan adulation and industry buzz quickly ensued. This month marks their major label debut, Broadcast, led by the irresistible single, “Next In Line.” We caught up with Patrick on tour to see how rock stardom was treating him.

What’s the biggest “we’ve made it moment” you’ve had so far?
I turned on my iPhone and saw our ‘free single of the week’ logo on the front page. That was definitely a cool moment. Then I checked out our website and saw we actually had a whole summer of tour dates posted, which is new for us. I also like the smaller ‘we’re making it’ moments too, like when we meet new fans.

You’re the third major band to emerge from the Denver music scene (behind The Fray and OneRepublic). Do you see yourselves as part of a Colorado piano rock movement?
We know both those bands pretty well and we’ve learned a lot from them. We have a good amount of piano-based stuff like OneRepublic and The Fray, but our set is becoming more guitar heavy. We’ve also started incorporating more electronic elements into our music, like a bonus track we released called “The Working Class” that is very Postal-Service-esque. Colorado is really great for bands right now though. And when you learn how to sing at the elevation, you feel like Pavarotti when you get to sea level.

Tell us a little bit about the tour so far. What has life on the road been like?
Right now we are out with Copeland. They are a band we’ve listened to for a long time, and they are nice dudes. We’re leaving San Diego right now and headed towards San Luis Obispo, one of our favorite towns. All the crowds have been very receptive and I really think performing these songs is becoming more natural each night. Our band and crew are all really close friends, which makes a lot of days feel like vacation. I almost got arrested for setting off fireworks in Albuquerque, however. I’m talking hands on the hood. We bought some real deal fireworks in Texas, but apparently those laws change from state to state. Who knew?

What is your favorite song off Broadcast and why?
My favorite song off the record changes. I’ve been in a more rockin’ mood lately so my favorite track right now is ‘Say You’re OK.’ It’s a fun one live too. But I’m most proud of a song called ‘Margot.’ I really pushed myself musically on that track.

You’ve shared some details about your past addiction to drugs… Now that you’re in a major rock band, is it a challenge to stay sober?
I don’t do drugs anymore. I’m surrounded by a crew of great guys who always keep me in check. It’s inevitable that drugs will pop up on the road from time to time. But this summer we’re touring with very respectful bands. No Guns ‘N’ Roses stuff backstage or anything. I view this band as a job, and it’s a job I don’t want to lose or forget about.

Have you had any crazy fan moments on tour?
Not particularly, but there’s a lot more summer left! I’m just fascinated that people want to take their picture with me right after the show when I’m sweating an ungodly amount.

What’s one thing you have to have on the road?
I just got my first iPhone, and I have to admit I totally love it. Every band guy I meet on the road has one. It really is useful when driving around the country and sitting in a van for hours and hours. Also, sun tan lotion is important. My white Scottish meat can’t handle all this summer sun.

What’s next on the agenda for you guys?
Tour, tour, tour. We got to spread the word. We’re touring with other bands this summer like The Fray, Barcelona and Our Lady Peace. The road beckons…

For more on Meese, visit www.atlanticrecords.com/meese. If you like what you hear, check out this OurStage artist:

Share and Enjoy:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

]]> http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/21/next-in-line-a-qa-with-patrick-meese/feed/ 4 http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/20/game-on-players/ http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/20/game-on-players/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:00:09 +0000 Kate B http://blog.ourstage.com/?p=13794

When the first 8-bit version of Nintendo Entertainment System was dethroned by the slick, 16-bit Super Nintendo in 1993, there was plenty of cool gear left to gather dust in the basements of teens all over America: the zapper gun from Duck Hunt, the Power Pad from World Class Track Meet and countless controllers with their tiny microphones. It was the end of an era. Or was it?

Enter I Fight Dragons, a band from Chicago with a penchant for video game nostalgia. The group, fronted by singer-songwriter Brian Mazzaferri, repurposes vintage NES parts and churns out irresistible power pop. They scavenge old soundchips, dance on the Power Pad and work the controllers, festooning their songs with cheerful bleeps and blips. Ostensibly, they are dorks. Their shtick is kitschy. But it’s also full of passion, intelligence and big juicy hooks.

“Heads Up, Hearts Down” and “Money” are radio-ready salvos of distorted guitars, swirling electronic chirps and emotive vocal harmonies. But even in the most action-packed video game, things can’t always be on warp speed. I Fight Dragons also turn out some lovely and languorous slow songs like “With You.” Even if the ballad is inspired by Princess Toadstool and not a real girl, who cares? I Fight Dragons make their video game rock appeal to the masses. And in that regard they score big.

Share and Enjoy:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

]]> http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/20/game-on-players/feed/ 0 http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/06/death-by-pop-oh-ja/ http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/06/death-by-pop-oh-ja/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:30:33 +0000 Kate B http://blog.ourstage.com/?p=12435
The headline on Shotgun Cracker’s Myspace page reads, “Vi slåss för kärlek!” Translation: “We fight for love!” If that’s the case, then their weaponry includes (but is not limited to): guitars, drums, keyboards, whistles, handclaps and cowbells. The Swedish band’s hyperkinetic indie pop is loud, exuberant, percussive, and most importantly, hook-y as hell. One look at the album cover for their recent release, Visual Randomization, sums it all up: An explosion of color and chaos with quirky personalities popping out here and there combine to form some compelling art. Shotgun Crackers unleash a brazen sonic attack, but it’s one you’ll happily surrender to.

Share and Enjoy:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

]]> http://blog.ourstage.com/2009/07/06/death-by-pop-oh-ja/feed/ 0