Thursday, July 30, 2015

Meet Musician: ASHLEIGH STONE





What Instruments do you play?
I play the Voice, Piano, Percussion and Guitar

Are you currently working on any music projects?
Oh yes, I am always dreaming up the next song, recording, or album. I’m also starting to dive deeper into instrumental music and symphonic and large scale composition. 
I find it almost impossible to stay away from the creative musical process
for longer than a day or so.
My soul needs it. 

What are your 2 favorite careers?
Hmmm….that’s a good question. Besides the obvious, playing music for a living, I’ve always said I think preaching would be a great path. Sometimes I think
I could have been a preacher but I cuss too much.
I also am quite a rebel at heart.
However, I still have thought about going to seminary in my later years.  

What are some of your other favorite activities?
Going to the river in San Marcos, hiking, meditating, painting.
Cleaning my house & organizing things. (I know, it’s weird but also therapeutic in a “wax on, wax off” sort of way)
Having adventures with my son, jamming, dancing in my living room looking at trees, reading, seeing new things and having great conversations about life.

What is the hardest thing you ever had to do?
Let go of people that I have truly loved because their self destructiveness
was affecting my life. It’s very sad to my heart to have to make tough choices like that.

What is your most favorite song?
That’s such a difficult question. Among the top candidates, it would have to be songs by Tori Amos or by Claude Debussy.
I can eliminate it down to those two artists, but to choose any one particular song from them is….well,
I’ve been thinking about it for a couple minutes now and still can’t narrow it down.

Are you usually late, early or right on time?
Late. Whoops

Are you happy with your life for the most part right now?
On a spiritual level, yes.
I am absolutely grateful for every single piece and moment of my life.
I find joy, happiness & contentment daily in the little things.
I am overflowing with happiness to be exact.

On a physical plane, no.
One of the best things I’ve ever read is that all artists have a
 state of “constructive discontent”.

 It was described as the notion that no artist will ever be truly satisfied
 and always want to be creating the next thing, better quality, more pure
in its expression and have it reach further.

Am I proud and happy about the work I have created thus far of course.
Is there more in me to give? Yes.

I don’t think I will ever be content with my work fully,
because I always want to help more.
I used to deny that, but now I embrace it as a part of me and use it as fuel and
inspiration.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I haven’t been to Hawaii yet. And it looks really beautiful.
Or some kind of beach with really clear water.
I haven’t experienced something like that yet. 

What do you think would be the hardest venture for you to give up on?
Being a mother. It has never even been an option to give up on that,
 so I cannot imagine ever not working hard to be there for my son.
Everything else could fall away and I think I would be fine. 

Thank you so much Tamara for asking me to do this, I truly appreciate it.
You all are beautiful human beings.
Thanks for your support and I wish you all the best in everything that you do.

Love,
Ashleigh


New Album Elements on iTunes: ​ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/elements/id1002048551 



















Monday, July 6, 2015

Meet Musician: Dan DelVecchio





INTERVIEW

What Instruments do you play?
Guitar / Trumpet / Keyboards / Backing Vocals

Are you currently working on any music projects?
My original music project that I have been working with for the past 5+ years is FACE THE KING. In addition, I am a guitar player for hire for Robbie Rosen of American Idol, Nicoletta Slapo, and various wedding bands through Hank Lane Music Productions.

What are your 2 favorite careers?
My two favorite careers would definitely be a musician and a musician!! If eating was a career I'd choose that as my second.

What are some of your other favorite activities?
I always tell people that when I am not playing music, I am a movie and food connoisseur. I'm a big movie buff and love to collect them, in spite of today's digital age. When it comes to food I'm a very adventurous eater and love trying various kinds of ethnic foods. I also eat in large quantities for someone my size - my friends often refer to me as a human garbage disposal.

What is the hardest thing you ever had to do?
One of the hardest things I've had to do was play Vans Warped Tour. Carting 1000's of dollars worth of gear from city to city in a 15 passenger van - working 12 hours a day promoting and performing in the blistering heat running on as little as 2 hours of sleep, and driving sometimes 8 hours into the night. While it was one of the hardest things I've ever done, it was an incredible experience not only because of performing and meeting all kinds of great people - but it taught me a whole lot about myself.

What is your most favorite song?
It's hard for me to have ONE favorite song but I'll give you one right now: "Mr. Brightside," by The Killers.

Are you usually late, early or right on time?
I'm very punctual for a musician, considering the stereotype is that we are always late, (most I know are). I'm either early or right on time.

Are you happy with your life for the most part right now?
For the most part I think I am happy with my life. I still have a ways to go, but don't we all? While the path I chose is far from easy, it's 100% worth it to be doing what I love most for a living. As they always say, money can't buy happiness.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
If I could go anywhere in the world, I would want to go overseas to perform in Europe. Surprisingly enough I have never been out of the country before and it has been my dream for years to perform somewhere outside of the United States. I better do it soon while I still have time to make it happen!

What do you think would be the hardest venture for you to give up on?
The hardest thing for me to give up on would be music. It's been a part of my life since I was 8 years old, so it's been running through my veins ever since. I've had a motivated and persistent attitude towards my goals with music and so far it has taken me to some incredible places - I'm not about to stop now.

YouTube Channel:

Soundcloud: