Below is a recent interview that I done with Michael Stollaire for on my Indie Music Stop site.
Michael Stollaire- http://www.michaelstollaire.com
Michael has been singing lead vocals, and playing lead guitar/keyboards in rock bands since the age of twelve. He recently took some time out of his busy schedule to do an interview with us.
Interview With Michael Stollaire
By C.W. Ross
1. You've played a wide variety of musical styles over the years, from 1950's rock to thrash metal. What style is your favorite?
Indeed, I think that one of the most important elements of success that is often overlooked is flexibility, along with being consistent and persistent, never letting anyone steal your dreams away. My favorite style of music is actually arena rock, like Nickelback, Creed, Good Charlotte, Evanescence, etc...
2. Who are some of your musical influences?
Great question, and my influences are eclectic, as shown on my most recent album, "Holy Avenger," which will be released on February 29th, at my gig at the infamous WHISKEY A GO GO on Sunset Strip. I've been influenced heavily by bands from ABBA to ZZ Top, and you can even hear elements of The Beach Boys in the layered vocals that I like to do, especially on tracks like "Liquid Gold."
Mainly, my style is hard pop rock, so you can see how bands like Nickelback, Creed, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Evanescence, etc., showed themselves, like the Gothic piece, "Hell Comes Alive Here Tonight."
3. What projects are you working on now?
Well, I have to admit that I have started working a little on my next album, "Lightning Strikes Twice," recording some demos, and also, I've been approached by several companies, including Chevrolet, for tracks to use in commercials, film, and TV, which I am developing, for instance, "Cruisin' In My Chevrolet." One of my targets for the future, is placing as many of my songs as possible in soundtracks, in fact!
4. Do you have any touring planned?
I'm glad you asked! You can refer to my MySpace page for more information:
as I have a booking agent, manager, and promoter, working feverishly on booking dates, to support the release of "Holy Avenger!" The first date is booked at THE WHISKY A GO GO, on L.A.'s infamous Sunset Strip:
I also have several dates in New York City, at The Pussycat Lounge and The Fortune Cookie Lounge. Currently, we are targeting festivals and colleges/universities, so that by the time Summer hits, we are really ramped up and rocking!
HERE IS THE BIG DEAL ABOUT TICKETS AND GETTING A FREE ALBUM:
Cost:
$12 At the Door or Via PayPal:
Using:
If you mention that you heard about this offer through Indie Music Stop, I will give them a FREE DOWNLOAD of my entire album, with each ticket purchased, or vice-versa? if you buy the album, I will give you FREE VIP TICKETS to any of my concerts, world-wide!
5. Where do you draw your inspiration from for your songs?
A variety of different sources, to be totally honest. Some of them come from my real life, and the experiences that I am going through, or love and romance, of course. At other times, it's the places that I have travelled through, the people I've met, my history, how I envision my future, or the lives of the significant people in my life. For example, "This Country Boy Can Rock," is about my life as a boy, in a small village in upstate New York, called Scottsville, where I constantly dreamed of living in Los Angeles ~ now, that dream is my day-to-day reality, and the track tells the story of how that dream became true.
6. You've worked both as a solo artist and in a band which do your prefer and why?
Well, I do prefer being a solo artist, as I have total say over what material is produced, and how it is created, from start to finish. I consider these songs like my children, in a certain way, and so it's VERY important to me, how they are presented to the public? it's like a piece of me that is being shared with the world, if you know what I mean. I also like hand-picking the people I work with, like my GREAT producer, Dave Morse, and Suzahn Fiering, who is doing such a wonderful job promoting me, and giving me great advice, from her countless years in the music industry ~ I can't thank them enough! On the other hand there are big plusses being in a band, like the comradarie, team effort, and the familial bond that is created between the people involved. At times, I miss this, being a solo artist, and see myself gravitating again to join a band, as long as the time and opportunity are right.
7. Anything we missed that you would like to tell the readers?
Of course! The most important thing I want to say in this all-too-brief interview is THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BOUGHT MY ALBUM AND BOUGHT TICKETS TO SEE MY CONCERTS! Every day, I think of what's going on in my life, and how just a few months ago, I was walking around Waterford in Ireland, casually recording demos of some of my originals, just because I had "Write a rock album,"on my list of things to do before I die? Well? a few short weeks later, after posting some of my tracks on one of a billion or so music portal websites in Los Angeles, I was approached by a concert promoter, to open a stadium show in San Bernardino, as he loved "I Can't Let You Go," which then led my being approached by a record label in Hollywood, who asked the right question at the right time: "We would like to work with you, but need to know? What is the biggest show you ever played?!" Within hours, the contract was being faxed to me, after they listened to "Little Princess," "Just Like Yesterday," and later, "Watch Her Walk," which after receiving the magic touch from Mr. Morse, turned into the Top Three tracks on "Holy Avenger."
This is my roundabout way of telling everyone: DREAMS DO COME TRUE!
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