Welcome to the first issue of Underground Music Monthly, an e~zine dedicated
to exposing (without exploiting) underground musicians and record
labels. I got the idea for this e~zine after starting my record
company and seeing the cyberzine homepage. I saw there was a cyberzine
called "Zic" coming out in October, so I emailed Scott Shannon at Cyberzines
and asked if I could be interviewed in "Zic." He said he'd love to.
About a week later I got this homepage, and decided that what I was
going to do with it was dedicate it to the exposure of otherwise
unnoticed bands. I don't know how many people will ever view
Underground Music Monthly, but no matter if 10 people see it, or
10,000,000 people see it, then I'll know at least someone has been
exposed to quality music that just hasn't had a lot of nationl airplay,
or been on MTV.
This e~zine will always be free to view, every issue. If you ever
see a subscription order form that wants to charge you money, DO NOT
fill it out. Email me and say someone is trying to charge you. This
e~zine is dedicated to exposing underground music, and if people have
to pay to see the exposure, less people will be exposed.
If you are an underground band, or a low record label,
or you know someone who is, then email me at
missionman@missionman.net
and I'll most likely interview you or do an article on you in an upcoming
issue. If you are a music e~zine or cyberzine write email me and I'll
check out you e~zine, and probably add a link to your page. Anyone
who has something they think they can add can also feel free to email
me and I'll give their ideas some thought.
This article is the first article ever written for Underground Music
Monthly, and it is about Wakefire Records. Wakefire Records was
started by me, Gary Milholland, to get my own music out into the music
world. The company was started in June of 1996. It is basically a
one-man company at this point, but hopefully the company will grow
to be successful. I plan on releasing my first album in November, and
that can be ordered through the Wakefire Records homepage. There is
a link there from the main page of this homepage. The first CD will
be $9, including tax, shipping and handling. I plan on keeping the
price of CDs at $10 or less forever through my company. I feel like
paying $16 or $17 at a CD store before tax is a tremendous rip-off.
My CD will be released in stores for probably around $11, which is
higher than I'd like, but because I'm a new business, I need to make
more of a profit. If you see the CD in the store, don't buy it there.
Buy it directly. It will save you $2, and you shouldn't have to
wait more than a week or two to receive the copy, once it is released.
My first album is called "Intro to My Mind" and my rap name is
Mission Man. There are 13 songs on the album, to read the lyrics,
click on the songtitle:
1. "Intro to My Mind"
2. "Stay Real"
3. "Love is Enough"
4. "Memories"
5. "Gotta Work Hard"
6. "Runnin' (for the human race)"
7. "Playing a little basketball"
8. "Weightlifting Jam"
9. "Respect Our Women"
10. "Out of High School"
11. "Mother"
12. "Is There a God?"
13. "Inventor"
I wrote Inventor when I was 13 years old. Actually, it is the
first rap that ever came out of my mouth. I was walking to the
University of Central Florida with B.J. Fuller and he was a pretty
good rapper and a good friend of mine. He said "kick a rap man." I
told him I couldn't, but he kept bugging me so I tried. "Turn on the
stereo, kick up the bass/ As I dunk in your face..." and the whole
song, except the last 4 lines came out of my mouth at that the time.
The other four lines were added a few days later when I wrote down
everything I had said. I actually recorded "Inventor" when I was
14 with B.J. at home, but it never did anything. I sent it to a radio
station, and it didn't even acknowledge that it had received it. I
was disappointed. I also sent it to a talent agent, but she said "you
have talent, but you should do something that's you... not something
every Tom, Dick, and Harry in the world does." I was thinking "Rap
is me." I still am thinking "Rap is me." Oh well.
I will record my second album this spring and release it at the
beginning of next summer. I will also do a project with B.J. next
summer, and release that in the fall. B.J. is an incredible rapper.
I remember when I was hanging out with him I'd be thinking "Dr. Dre
has sold 2 million copies of his album, but B.J. is better than all
the rappers on his album." I thank B.J. for giving me the courage to
rap that first time, and for having rap sparring contests with me.
We used to play Tunque and freestyle. We'd talk about how much better
our hand was than the other person's. I'd rap for about a minute on
my hand and how I was going to win, then B.J. would rap for about a
minute. We occassionally had freestyle games where we'd rap for 15-20
minutes straight, then let the other person freestyle for 15-20
minutes.
After I finish my album with B.J. and it is released, I don't know
what's going to happen, but hopefully it will be bigger and better
things, like writing a third album, and adding a punk band called
Fuel Gauge onto the label.
To go to the Shave Librarian Homepage, click here.
I have listened to the sound clips on the homepage, and I personally
think they are pretty good, even though it isn't rap, which is what
I generally listen to. Brian Riley happened upon my Wakefire Records
homepage, and emailed me. I told him I was starting this e~zine, and
I'd like to interview him. The interview is below. First will be my
list of questions, then will be his answers.
Q: What is your favorite type of music?
Q: How would you define your band?
Q: Do you have any influences?
Q: Who is/are your favorite bands?
Q: How long have you personally been writing or performing songs?
Q: When was the original band started?
Q: Who were the original band members?
Q: Who are the current band members?
Q: In what areas (states or cities) have you had radioplay?
Q: How many copies of your first album did you sell?
Q: How many copies of your second album did you sell?
Q: Has your CD been in music stores?
Q: What pressing plant (Discmakers, Rainbo, Crystal, etc.) did you
go through, and why?
Q: Would you recommend that pressing plant for a first time artist
trying to sell CDs himself or trying to send CDs to record companies
to get a deal? If so, how can you get in contact with that pressing
plant?
Q: What is the best way to order your albums?
Q: How much are you selling your album(s) for?
Q: How much are you selling your album(s) for?
Q: Do you write all the songs for you band, or is it a collaborative
effort?
Q: Have you been interviewed or feautred in any other magazines,
e~zines, or cyberzines? If so, how can we read those articles/
features?
Q: If you could do a duet/ combination performance with any band or
artist, who would it be?
Q: Have you done any producing?
Q: Have you made any music videos?
If there's any additional comments you'd like to make, feel free.
*********************************************************************
My favorite types of music are alt. rock/progressive pop, jazz, funk,
hip-hop, 70's 'art rock', disco and a lot of '80's and '90's
alternative.
The Shave Librarian sound is eclectic, original alternative rock/progressive pop, fronted by lovely, bizarre lyrical imagery.
Hypnotic.
I have always been influenced by great productions. You will hear jazz
elements and funk in the Shave sound. The '80's sound has really been a
stronger influence on our upcoming CD and the last release, Done Dog
Brown. Our debut release, Ariel had more of a '70's sound, with definite
Pink Floyd, early Genesis influences. You may hear more of a David Bowie
influence on the new CD. Jay and I were really inspired by the Bowie/Eno
production on Bowie's 'Outside' album, which came out around the same
time we were getting started on the new Shave CD. Listeners may detect a
little of the usual (can't seem to help it) Floyd influence, and some
Peter Gabriel overtones. I would also like to say hip hop may be
influencing the lyrical flow on some of my newer songs. It really frees
my head up. I love being bombarded with visual/lyrical imagery! Some of
the hip hop and rap that I've heard just hypnotizes me! I love the
interesting, hypnotic sample work that I hear on a lot of rap and hip
hop recordings.
I've been writing since jr. high, the early '80's. I feel that my
writing really matured, maybe showing some hints of the future Shave
sound in '88. I was writing and recording with my first band, Lewis Carroll Unit. We began playing live, with our first show on Earth Day
1990. There were occasional performances until late '93/early '94, when
the original line-up of Shave Librarian began.
The original members were Brian Watts- Percussion. Warren Smith-Six
string and Fretless Bass. I cover lead vox and keyboards. We worked with
several guitarists both live and in the studio, the last one being Rob
Snyder-DDB, the most creative being Mike Montgomery-ARIEL, and the most
David Gilmour-esque being Rob Williamson-ARIEL.
Since moving to Boston in August '95 and beginning the third Shave
Librarian project in Sept '95 I have been working with several musicians
in the studio. Jill Stein of the Boston group, Somebody's Sister layed
down some very shave, hypnotic conga/percussion tracks. Theo Colburn
contributed some incredible cello tracks. Jennifer Markewich, Paula
Chase and Jay Williston performed all of the great backing vocal tracks.
Greg Fontaine layed down a guest guitar track on "Bombay Taxi". Jay
plays guitar on several of the songs. It was a great pleasure working
once again with my good friend, Warren Smith, from the original Ohio
line-up. He flew out to lay bass tracks down to all of the 10 songs.
Great sessions!
Shave Librarian has had airplay in Cincinnati, Yellowsprings and Columbus, Ohio. We are currently targeting the international market/
pirate radio. We have contact with people all over the world through the
internet. We expect the new Shave CD to receive a considerable amount of
local airplay. We will also have it out to stations all over the U.S..
We sold several hundred copies of ARIEL. DONE DOG BROWN has sold around
200+. We sold a lot of T-shirts and stickers at our live shows in Ohio.
There are new Shave T-shirts and new Shave 'Eye' logo stickers available
from IRN/New Silver Age Productions. The best way to order any of the
Shave Librarian merchandise is through the Shave Mall on our website or
e-mail: ShaveLib@ix.netcom.com. You can also send requests to e-mail:
irn@shore.net. You can also call IRN at 617-739-2686 or New Silver Age
Productions/Promotions at 617-254-3086. Cassettes are $8.00, T-shirts
are $12.00, Stickers are free with any purchase or two for $1.00.
We had our material in several stores in Ohio, including Media Play.
Several of the major music stores in the Boston area have told me they
would carry the new Shave CD.
Ariel and Done Dog Brown were manufactured at Sonic Sculptures in
Cincinnati. While recording at the Recording Workshop in Chillicothe,
Ohio I had heard some good things about Sonic Sculptures. I also wanted
to be able to deliver the DAT and other material in person. Lan Ackley is a perfectionist. I really enjoyed hearing his music industry stories.
I really appreciated his expertise. I worked closely with him on the
arwork and lay-outs. Great sounding duplications! I would recommend him
to any first time group or artist that wants a professional-looking,
great sounding release.
The new CD will be mastered at M Works in Cambridge, MA and manufactured
there or at Wonderdrug Records in Boston.
Yes, I write most all of the Shave Librarian material. I have done some
collaboration such as "Mr. Blue" on DDB with my good friend and
part-time spiritual guide, Dave Wing, and "Where You Buy Your Days" with
bassist Warren Smith, also on DDB. I wrote all eight songs on Ariel and
all ten songs on the new CD. I think I've written and at least demo'd
around 130 songs since '88. I am always getting new ideas and writing
new songs. We are looking into having one of my short stories turned
into a musical. We'll see.
I have been interviewed for the IRN Newsletter. Shave Librarian was
interviewed for some local papers in Ohio. Buzzcuts did an online review
of Done Dog Brown and Screed in Cincinnati did reviews of Ariel and Done
Dog Brown.
I guess I would like to collaborate with Jeff Lynne of ELO or David
Bowie. There is an incredible local band called ZIA that is getting a
lot of recognition recently. I would like to do a duet with Elaine or
write an 'alien' song with them.
I co-produced Ariel with percussionist, Brian Watts. I produced Done Dog
Brown. These were both recorded at the Recording Workshop. They were 24-
32 track digital A-Dat with Pro Tools editing. I am producing the new CD
with Jay Williston at IRN. It is 24+ digital tracks. We have the Mac
based midi tracks synched-up to the Alesis A-Dat and we're also using
the new digital hard disk multi track recorder.
The original line up did a music video for MTV's Beach House Band
Search in '94. You will find a lot of photos on the website and some
clips from studio video footage.
I have been developing the new Virtual Synthesizer Museum with my
friends at IRN. It will be available soon at:
Visit the Shave Librarian website at:
I'm sorry this first issue is so small, but I've only given myself
two weeks to do it, plus I had exams. The next issue promises to be
bigger.
Read Issue 2 of Underground Music Monthly Click to return to the main page .
Go to www.missionman.net for free music