What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.
My mother and sister bought guitars and went and took lessons… (they didn’t ask me) about a week later they quit and the guitars stayed in a closet for several months. My mom then brought home a karaoke machine and I started singing the Elvis CDs she bought with it. “Sing Like The King” and when I noticed after a while singing it, that I sounded like the king, I knew I wanted to be in the high school talent show. So I sang… “In the Ghetto”, won first place but the most amazing thing was performing for 1000 of my peers and watching their reaction and hearing that applause. That was it.
Provide us with some info about your latest release…
Well in all those years between the Karaoke machine/talent show and today, I had my fair share of drinks and back and forth between drunkenness and sobriety. And with those things lots of bad relationships and losses. So this album is a highlighter of some of the worst moments in my life and the lessons and hope that came from them. Keep Dreaming is basically the acknowledgement that there is no perfect person, and we’re all on our own path. Some choose to stay on the dark path and not pay attention to any self-awareness. Me, I fortunately have chosen a sobriety path and am trying hard one day at a time to better myself.
Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?
Elvis of course, Kings of Leon, John Mayer, Chris Isaak, Frank Sinatra, Marc Cohn, Ray Lagmontagne, Andrew Belle
In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?
This record is Chris Stapleton vocals over a bed of John Mayer, Springsteen and Beach Boy vibes.
Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…
Come Around Sundown – KOL, Battle Studies – John Mayer, Dive Deep – Andrew Belle.
Shawshank Redemption, Stand by Me & Donnie Brasco
Bible, Big Book of AA, and Hunger Games
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?
I LOVE both. They’re so different and unique in their own way. I love the studio cause it’s creating the art and that process is amazing. Then I love performing live and presenting that art.
Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?
I wanted to open for Marc Cohn sooooooo badly… I pestered and pestered the booking agent for this one show to be his opener. I kept getting a “No”. Finally he said.. “Look.. I know you love Marc Cohn and he’s one of your idols and influences musically… he needs a ride to the airport tomorrow morning… want to drive him?” So I drove him to the airport… gave him a CD of mine. Was a blast.
Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?
Hmmmmm.. Keep Dreaming I think because it was coming out of my last codependent relationship and realizing that if you think there’s someone that will “Complete” you, Keep Dreaming. Only God can do that and a great relationship is just a bonus. A good friend to be with, but they can’t define you.
Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?
Keep writing and releasing music and touring touring and touring the world over.
Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…
Who is someone living that you look up to…
And the answer would be Matthew McConaughey. I just love his story, his faith and how he shares it, and is just an overall great guy.
Curated by: Christos Doukakis
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