rhythm.connection presents A MOMENT WITH SORA AN

Ayooooo. What's good? New interview for you guys today, with NYC-based rocker Sora An...please enjoy!

Sora An (born August 18, 1979 in Houston, Texas) is a Korean-American indie rock singer-songwriter based in New York City. As part of two bands (Girls Don't Cry, Hooray for Goodbye) and running her own solo act, Sora is an accomplished musician way beyond her years, and her daily life fuels the fire to write her music, she says. She has just gotten back into NYC, and before heading off again to Florida to open for the Vivian Girls, she spared some time to answer a few questions!

How long have you been doing music for? Are you doing it professionally or independently?
I have been playing off an on my whole life until recently in 2004 when i first joined an all girls pop-rock band Girls Don't Cry that was formed by 2 producers here in NYC. Before that i would play at random open mics and had a few shows i booked myself in Nyc. I am working towards this becoming a profession where i can make a fine income and continue doing what i was born to do...writing, playing, and performing! I have a band called Hooray For Goodbye (myspace.com/hoorayforgood

bye) and i play lead guitar in ....actuallly there's only one and its me:) I love my band and the woman i play with are such great souls and i feel really blessed to be a part of this musical excursion. I also do my own solo acts as Sora An (myspace.com/soraan) I write all the music and lyrics to my songs as well as record them. I use my Mac without a mic..you know that little whole on the top right corner...yeah that is what i use, and the drums loops so that i stay in perfect rhythm. It's hard for me to record with a click a beat symplifies that for me...doesn't make sense but i need the snare, top hat , and kick drum...you know it's like the heart, lungs, and breath...it works for me:) I have had a couple of friends record me with there nice programs and i am just doing as much as i can to keep myself moving forward and learning as i go. OF COURSE I WOULDN"T MIND IF SOMEONE WANTED TO WORK WITH ME IN A STUDIO SETTING;)

What style of music do you generally play?
Gosh that is kind of hard to answer...really my music ranges it can be punk pop, pop rock, to folkish alt rock to indie rock...my music defines me i dont' define my music...whatever comes out of me and depending where i am at in my life spiritually makes a huge impact on the outcome of my songs and lyrics.

How did you first get involved in music?
I grew up in Houston, Tx ...northwest Houston in a suburban area called Spring..church...my mom said when i was 3 i sang in front of the church some Gospel hyme song but i dont' remember that ....that was a LONG LONG time ago! LOL!! I used to hitthe bowls and cups with my chopsticks, and play on the piano. I felt so unenamored with the lifestlyes down in Tx that i would just play my dads guitar to fiddle around...and 5 minutes would turn into 5 hrs as the years went by. I was a binge playing guitar junkie...i would go years without picking up the guitar, and then out of nowhere i would pick it back up and play it everyday for hours for a month straight...then play here and there.

What made you decide to starting YouTubing your musical talent?
I didn't. My first You Tube exp was when the producers of Girls Don't Cry posted us up there. Then when i made my first music video my friend Roger who actually was in the video and also played bass on the song and added some nice spice to the song "Reciprocate" posted it. Then i posted it as well:)

Who are your biggest musical influences?
The Cure, Sunny Day Real Estate, Sigur Ros, Bjork, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, Face to Face, Jane's Addiction, Elliot Smith etc...the list can go on...Church Praise and Worship Music, Piano concertos my mom made me listen too which i really appreciate now, and yes some country songs...i love it all!!

How does it feel to be getting all this support from people for doing what you do?
FANTASTIC...you know words can't really explain how it feels...gosh it's like when you find out that your crush has a crush on you...all gushy inside and i feel like my cheeks are about to crack because my smile is so wide like the great divide! I just really feel so blessed and grateful:)

Is there ANY musician that you would like to do a collaboration with in the future?
Robert Smith:) I also want to play guitar with Madonna as well as Norah Jones:) Other than that there are so many great indie artists out there that i would love to collaborate with:)

What has been your most popular cover on YouTube? Your most popular original song on YouTube?
"Reciprocate"...it's the only song i have on YouTube.

Have you ever considered writing purely Korean music for your fans?
Oh absolutely...my father told me a few months ago that if i were to write a song in Korean or even half english half Korean they would go crazy and the market there is on top...you know us Asians we are really good at supporting music and artists:

I imagine you have a lot of music tastes; what do you normally play on your iPod and/or when you’re at home?
Itunes shuffle...so it ranges from my own songs, MGMT, Coldplay, Jets To Brazil, Hooray For Goodbye, Ten Minute Turns, Paris Can Wait, Bjork, Cocteau Twins, Damien Rice, De La Soul, Norah Jones, Chopin Piano Concertos, Death Cab, The SHins, David Gray, Imogean Heap, Sonic Youth, The Cure, Mogwai....it goes on and on!

Where’s the one place where you can go and get your creative flow going in order to write/create music?
Anywhere as well as away from NYC...it could be a simple train ride upstate, but mainly nature/new city out of state:)

Who is your closest musician friend, and how did you two meet?
My closest musician friend is Liz Kelly of Paris Can Wait! She is off the hook! GENIUS!! Not only that she is a beautiful person inside and out and a great friend!! I met her when we got rid of our first drummer in Girls Don't Cry, and Liz came in and replaced her...and i still remember when i first saw her in her cute ponytail sitting at her drums:) She tore some shit up on that set and her voice oh her voice is so beautiful!!

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not playing music?
Grocery store, and preparing foods and cooking some foods:)

What do you hope to accomplish while being involved in music?
Heal through the power of music:) Travel around the world and experience the people, places, things, culture, GOOD FOOD. The experiences that will conduct my creative symphonies to write more songs and collaborate with other brilliant musicians as well. Donations and supporting all the non-profit organizations my mother has been in since she was in her mid 20's. Spoil my family and friends:)

Do you have any final words for the readers?
I have a new music video coming soon for "Oh it's so nice" Stay tuned!
You can check out my show listings at my MYSPACE.COM/SORAAN or WWW.SORAAN.COM
My band is opening up for the Vivian Girls October 21.2009 in Lake Worth, FL with Pretty please:)
AND.......Just in case no one told you that they loved you today ..."I LOVE YOU!!!"
You can also buy my songs on ITUNES!!


Yay, another wonderful interview done. Merci beaucoup to Sora for the interview. Keep your eyes open for new interviews soon...with Lana McKissack, Kina Grannis, Far East Movement, Esna Yoon, Mike Isberto, Clara Chung, Kele Okereke of Bloc Party, and more! :)

J~


Sora An

rhythm.connection presents A MOMENT WITH GROUP 1 CREW

Hey folks, back again, but with my first group interview...behold, G1C! Manwell Reyes, the frontman, speaks on behalf of the group...please enjoy!

Group 1 Crew (comprised of Manwell Reyes, Blanca Reyes, and Pablo Villatoro) is a Christian hip-hop/pop/R&B group based out of Orlando, Florida. This group is one of the many groundbreaking acts to hit the mainstream Christian music market, but also bring a fresh attitude to the scene. With a new album in the works, as well as continuous touring, Manwell, the frontman for the group, spared some time to speak with me about G1C's story and what goes on now!

How long have you guys been doing music professionally for?
10 YEARS

How long has Group 1 Crew been together?
6 YEARS

What style of music does G1C generally play, and which musicians provide inspiration for your sound?
HIP HOP/FUNK/SOUL..EVERYONE FROM MICHAEL BUBLE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON

Recently, you guys wrote on your website that you were back in the studio recording. What is in the works now, and what can we expect?
ALBUM OUT BY APRIL AND ITS GOING TO BE A NEW SOUND FOR US BUT SO MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE. A TRULY CREDIBLE MAINSTREAM ALBUM WITH AMAZING CONTENT

I’m not sure if you guys have done any collaboration work with other artist, but is there any chances of seeing that happen in the future?
YA I'M SURE THERE IS. WE JUST DID SOMETHING WITH KJ 52 AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE TO COME

Are you guys doing any projects and/or campaigning for anything right now aside from your music career?
YUP I AM DOING A NONPROFIT CALLED REVOLUTION ONE (REV1.ORG) AS WELL AS STARTING A POP/URBAN LABEL

How did you guys react when you found out that you won the award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year at last year’s Dove Awards?
WELL IT WAS DOPE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE JUST REALIZED THAT THERES STILL SO MUCH TO DO

This question is for Blanca. You recently announced that you got engaged. How does it feel? And do you think you can manage both the “married” life and your music career?
Blanca was unavailable to comment.

This question is for Pablo. How did you get that crazy hairstyle of yours?
Pablo was unavailable to comment.

This question is for Manwell. I know a lot of people ask this, but for those who don’t know, you have a lot of tattoos. What do they all mean?
ONE SAYS HOTEES WORLD (HO-T) AND ITS A NICKNAME I GOT IN BIBLE COLLEGE. THERES AN "M" ON MY LEFT HAND AND TWO ON MY BACK OF SUNS SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENTING THE SON OF GOD

Back to all of you now. Can you name any one moment in your life that defined who God wanted you to be, and how that desire came about to pursue music as a career?
WELL I GUESS IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME I WAS CALLED TO MUSIC. IT WAS PRETTY EVIDENT THAT GOD WANTED ME TO DO THIS

What’s the one thing that God is constantly reminding you of or challenging you each to live out in your daily lives?
FOR ME TO BE A MAN OF CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY. WHERE I WANT TO GO REQUIRES A HUGE DEAL OF CHARACTER

You guys have probably played a lot of gigs by now. What has been your favorite gig by far, and why?
I'VE HAD A LOT OF FAVORITE. PROBABLY AMSTERDAM CAUSE IT WAS WITH THE BAND AND WE GOT TO TRAVEL. AUSTRALIA WAS COOL TOO.

Is there anywhere you haven’t played in yet that you’d like to?
YUP! ASIA!!

I imagine you have a lot of music tastes; what do you normally play on your iPod and/or when you’re at home?
JOHN MAYER, NE YO, ASCENSION, THE SCRIPT, WORSHIP MUSIC

Where’s the one place where you can go and get your creative flow going in order to write/create music?
THE STUDIO

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not recording or touring?
GYM AND MOVIES BABY! THE BEST

To the critical question now. You guys have been involved in music for some time now, and music tastes and styles are changing quickly in this day and age. Where do you see music in the US/Canada going in the future, in the sense of changing tastes, and will this allow you continued creativity down the road?
WELL TO BE HONEST THERES NO TELLING WHERE MUSICS GOING..I FEEL WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING BACK TO A "SINGLE" SOCIETY LIKE IN THE OLD RECORD DAYS, BUT THATS COOL. AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MUSIC, THE WORLD IS GOING TO REMAIN INSPIRED REGARDLESS THE MEDIUM IN WHICH ITS PRESENTED

Do you feel you’ve contributed to the advancement of music in the US & Canada as a Christian hip-hop unit? And is there anything you’d like to see done in this whole genre of music in the US/Canada?
SURE...BUT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. I'D LOVE TO SEE OUR INDUSTRY EMBRACE URBAN POP A LOT MORE


There you go, G1C in a nutshell, thanks to Manwell for this interview, and until next time, au revoir!

J~


Group 1 Crew

rhythm.connection presents A MOMENT WITH YouTube MUSICIANS - EDELEN ANGELES

Yo! Been a while since I posted an interview with a musicians...but this interview was long overdue to be posted...so here it is, my chat with Edelen Angeles!

Edelen Angeles (born October 17, 1989 in Chula Vista, California) is a Cali-based YouTube acoustic musician who got attention with her songs like "Smile" and "Catch of My Day". She isn't as active these days, but she spoke with me a few weeks ago in mid-September to chat about what's up with her!

How long have you been doing music for? Are you doing it professionally or independently?
I've been writing since i was like...12? But got pretty serious when i was around 16 or 17. I kinda just do it independently - when I was on YouTube and all that I had a couple offers to have my songs used for a couple indie films but i always lagged on getting them a sample haha.

What style of music do you generally play?
Lots of acoustic. Stuff from the heart.

How did you first get involved in music?
My dad played music his whole life, so I guess it's in the genes, kinda?

What made you decide to starting YouTubing your musical talent?
I kinda just wanted to see if people could relate, whether they were feeling happy or sad (unfortunately I found more people could relate to my sad songs haha) and even if they could relate to my sad stuff more, at least they could be sad and not alone.

Who are your biggest musical influences?
The beatles, prettyman, branch, mraz, mayer, some city in colour, you know, kids who can pick up a guitar and write their own stuff.

How does it feel to be getting all this support from people for doing what you do?
It felt pretty cool, I always thought my stuff was shit but people on youtube seem to think otherwise.

Is there ANY musician that you would like to do a collaboration with in the future?
I'd kind of like to sing with my good friend jeffery vanwinkle. jason mraz would be pretty sick too.

What has been your most popular cover on YouTube? Your most popular original song on YouTube?
hahah I did a cover of 'better together' that got like 15,000 views. my most popular original song probably has to be Catch of my Day, or Smile.

Can fans expect another cover or original song from you soon?
hahah yeah man i've got tons of new stuff. im kind of trying to stray away from covers, but songs are so damn catchy i can't really help but wanna learn them. haha but yeah ive got some new stuff on the way, i just need to find myself a camera or something :]

I imagine you have a lot of music tastes; what do you normally play on your iPod and/or when you’re at home?
I dig a lot of classic rock. a lot of paul and lennon. i like a lot of hardcore and the occasional african beats.

Where’s the one place where you can go and get your creative flow going in order to write/create music?
Anywhere i'm alone. like a garage or a closet haha

Who is your closest musician friend, and how did you two meet?
I'd probably have to say all the boys in Macguyver. they're a local San Diego band that'll make it big real soon. I met them in college, a great band of boys. I love you guys!!

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not playing music?
Shower, collect sponges.

What do you hope to accomplish while being involved in music?
Music is everyone's soundtrack, I just want to write something and have it able to take you some place nice, or some place not so nice. as long as it makes people feel something, feel human, then that in itself is a huge accomplishment for me.


Waah, there it is peeps. Those are some inspiring words from Edelen, muchas gracias to her for this interview, and thanks for reading. Till next, cheers!

J~


Edelen Angeles

rhythm.connection presents A MOMENT WITH LYDIA PAEK

Guess what! A double feature for Sept. 11/09! Let's see what's up with Quest Crew/Boxcuttuhz member Lydia Paek!

Lydia Paek (born March 28, 1990 in Los Angeles, California) is a member of dance crews Quest Crew and Boxcuttuhz. She is also a singer, and she has made quite a name for herself. From a young age she showed much potential as both a dancer and a singer, and has gone through many challenges so far to get where she is today. But with every struggle, she says, God is there too. She just recently hosted ISA 2009 in San Gabriel alongside Tom Ngo, and she keeps busy with practices with both dance crews as well as other gigs. Now take a look as we find out who Lydia Paek really is!

How long have you been dancing for?
5 years

What style(s) of dance do you specialize in?
Breaking, funk, choreo.

Your primary dance crew is Quest Crew. How did you hookup with them originally?
I sessioned with them a long time ago, and I became friends with then, they wanted me in because of my potential, not cause I was good. Cause I was not good a long time ago haha.

You’re also a member of Boxcuttuhz, which you joined during your time in ABDC season 3. How are things going with you guys after ABDC?
They are good, just doing our own things, shows here and there, traveling, training,and sessioning.

Are you working on any big projects or events right now, either by yourself, with Quest, or with Boxcuttuhz?
Just training more with both crews and my own music.

What is your training schedule like?
Random ahah

Who are your favorite dancers?
I have a lot - Yoshie, narumi, shi chen, sean evaristo, lando wilkins, alottttttt...I can go on forever.

Who are your closest dance crew buddies?
TM, Quest, Common Ground, Fanny Pack, RingMasters, KabaModern, and more :)

Aside from dance, you also sing. How long have you done that for?
Umm I actually started dancing first then singing lol, since I was in jr high.

Who are your biggest musical influences?
stevie wonder, luther, india arie, lauryn hill, maxwell, kim burell, smokie norful...etc.

In several of your YouTube videos, you’ve been seen playing alongside guitarist Aj Rafael. How did you two meet?
Through Randolf Permejo, basically mutual friends.

Would you ever consider doing a career in music aside from your dancing, and why or why not?
Yes I think singing comes with dancing.

What do you do in your spare time when not playing shows or practicing?
cook, draw, hangout, sew, make music, write, workout.

What is your current obsession at the moment, and it can be anything!
Hello Kitty and Dove chocolate hahaha.

“I talk with a melody and walk by beats” is your motto. How did you come up with it?
I don't know, I write a lot so I was on a roll with this one spoken word I did, it just came out, I made it up and I stay true to it.

When are you happiest the most?
When someone around me is playing music.

What is your favorite Bible verse, and why?
Mark ch. 11 verse 23 and on, because it gives me strength and security.

Do you have any advice for people who want to pursue either dancing or singing?
No matter what, never let anyone down you for what you love to do, it might be hard and I won't lie, its gonna be a struggle but your gonna enjoy it at the same time. If you pursue it make sure you put your heart into it cause anything to do with music comes from the soul, you make your own story to tell through dancing and singing.

And finally, after everything you’ve accomplished or done, is there one thing you haven’t done yet that you want to accomplish, something very important, very ‘epic’ as I phrase things like that, what would it be?
Ummm, be on a TV show like acting I guess even if i suck at it, make an album, make my own line of clothes, lol I have a lot more to accomplish and achieve, we'll see where I am in about 10 years ahaha.


And there you have it! Thanks to Lydia for the interview, and saiyonara for now!

J~


Lydia Paek

rhythm.connection presents A MOMENT WITH YouTube MUSICIANS - MEGAN LEE

Hello world! Back with another interview with another rising YouTube star - enter Megan Lee!

Megan Lee (born September 18, 1995) is an singer/dancer/actress from Northridge, California. She has quite the resume, including having done commercials for Wal-Mart and DirecTV, has been in promos for several different Disney shows, dances a variety of styles, and plays several instruments, to go hand in hand with her amazing voice and acting. Now she spared a moment to answer some questions!

How long have you been doing music for? Are you doing it professionally or independently?
I have been doing music all my life and I am currently independent :]

What style of music do you generally play?
Most of the time i am r&b, pop, and pop/soft rock; sometimes i like to freestyle rap with my brother!! :D

How did you first get involved in music?
I always had a passion for music.

What made you decide to starting YouTubing your musical talent?
I was influenced by other Youtube stars ^ ^

Who are your biggest musical influences?
Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson

How does it feel to be getting all this support from people for doing what you do?
I feel very LUCKY. And very appreciative. :]

Is there ANY musician that you would like to do a collaboration with in the future?
Singing with Jason Mraz ;]

What has been your most popular cover on YouTube? Your most popular original song on YouTube?
Haha I don't think I have that many views yet on YouTube because I've been deleting and haven't been posting up many vids yet...but I'm currently working on it! I have to admit that I need to be more diligent on it. :]

What was it like performing alongside big names like Jinah Kim, Gerald Ko, Alfa, Mike Isberto and the like at Kollaboration Acoustic 3?
I thought it was a GREAT honor to sing alongside them and to meet them ;] Everyone actually was just AMAZING. Every performer is my inspiration and role models! Plus, just to be on that stage made me feel like a super star!! Wow!

I imagine you have a lot of music tastes; what do you normally play on your iPod and/or when you’re at home?
I love fun beats and tunes.. CATCHY songs!! :D And recently I added tons of kpop and jpop! haha

Where’s the one place where you can go and get your creative flow going in order to write/create music?
My bedroom ♥ I have a really interesting room with tons of posters and colorful things, its where my creativity takes place. ^ ^ everything happens in there ;D

Who is your closest musician friend, and how did you two meet?
Will Volume. :] i have only known him for a couple of months but somehow it feels like years. Hes a very talented musician, friend, and music teacher. He can play over 20 instruments!! isn't that crazy?? haha. We met when I was looking for a pianist for the Kollaboration performance!!

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not playing music?
I love to draw!! :] and I'm pretty interested in fashion designing! It makes me relaxed... ;]

What do you hope to accomplish while being involved in music?
First of all, a finished original song that im working on now :] And eventually, I want to become a musician who could be a positive influence to people. I want my music to relate to other people and to put smile on people's faces.

Do you have any final words for the readers?
haha THANK YOU SOOO MUCH and I am only 13 now so please watch me grow bigger, yay!! ♥


Once again, another amazing performer, and another act to watch out for! Till next time, I'm o-u-t!

J~


Megan Lee

rhythm.connection presents A MOMENT WITH YouTube MUSICIANS - ALFA GARCIA

Waaassssuuuupppp? (I know, lame sauce.) Me again, with another part in the YT musician segment, and I'm joined by NYC-based singer/songwriter Alfa Garcia, voila!

Alfa Garcia (born October 11, 1985 in the Philippines) is a singer-songwriter from North Jersey/NYC. Born and raised in a family of classically-trained musicians, Alfa is far more than that. Apart from having taught herself to play guitar 10 years ago, and also able to play the piano and the violin, she's got quite a voice, and has traveled to many big cities in North America to do her thing. She's got a lot of heart and soul for being a young musician, and now continues to share her passion with others!

How long have you been doing music for? Are you doing it professionally or independently?
I've been involved with music since I was 5, so basically my whole life. I started off playing classical violin and piano and eventually branched out and started writing my own material. I'm doing it independently and hope to become "professional" - i.e. do it as a job.

What style of music do you generally play?
I always dread this question! :) It's hard to say, and a little misleading to "brand" the style. I really started writing music because I just wanted to express thoughts and melodies that I had, never aiming to be any kind of sound. But I guess if people really wanted a classification, I'd go with pop/rock/acoustic/folk. That's the best I can do. :)

How did you first get involved in music?
My mom plopped me down on a piano bench and introduced me to my piano teacher when I was 5 years old. That really started the snowball into other instruments and eventually, songwriting. I'm thankful for it! :) But I come from a family of musicians, so it’s always been a part of my life.

What made you decide to starting YouTubing your musical talent?
- I really didn’t start doing it myself. It started when people posted my performances on their YouTube pages. Truthfully, I'm kind of old-fashioned in that I think nothing beats the live experience, and I'm most interested in improving the live show. But seeing how cool it was for people to think my performances were worthy of posting online, I realized it would be a good way for me to get my songs heard too. I am not as active on YouTube as I can be, but it’s DEFINITELY something I hope to change in the coming months, so stay tuned, k? :)

Who are your biggest musical influences?
Biggest? Hm, so hard to say! When I was younger, I got a lot of motivation from my grandfather. He’s got a knack for playing piano by ear – to this day, he’s still better than me at it. So he was probably one of the earliest influences to writing music, and trying out a non-classical style. When I started listening to popular music, I got very much into a grunge band called silverchair. They didn’t have much popularity in the States but were huge in Australia. Funny enough, the lead singer’s writing style really spoke to me back in the day despite the fact that his sound was so different from what I sound like. But like I said, I never intended to “sound” a certain way, and I think his sense of songwriting was what I picked up on and it motivated me to write introspectively. Later on I picked up a lot from Jewel’s earlier career and Fiona Apple. Now I kind of feel influenced by so many female singer-songwriters: Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday, Regina Spektor, Sara Bereilles, Feist, etc. and also a lot of bands: Death Cab for Cutie, Stars, the Beatles.

How does it feel to be getting all this support from people for doing what you do?
I am honored and humbled at the same time! And it definitely pushes me to keep on becoming the best songwriter and performer I can be.

Is there ANY musician that you would like to do a collaboration with in the future?
I’d love to collaborate with any of the artists that just did Kollaboration Acoustic 3. I think they’re all excellent and I can learn a lot from each of them.

What has been your most popular cover on YouTube? Your most popular original song on YouTube?
Most popular cover is Feist’s “1,2,3,4.” I don’t do a lot of covers to begin with, and this was my only foray into covering songs on YouTube. It’s stunning to see how many hits a cover will get you. My most popular original song? I don’t really know that. The new album just came out, so I guess those songs haven’t been able to get as much face-time yet, per se, so we’ll see what happens. Of the older bunch, maybe songs like “The Lament” and “Better” were somewhat popular.

How did it feel to win Kollaboration Acoustic 3? And how was the event overall?
It was pretty shocking. I came into the event just hoping to sell a few CD’s and get some more people tuned into my music. I never imagined I would actually win. It was pretty much the “icing” on the cake, though. Just being there and connecting with all those artists for an entire day was more than enough for me.

I imagine you have a lot of music tastes; what do you normally play on your iPod and/or when you’re at home?
It totally depends on my mood. If you look at my iPod, you’ll probably scratch your head. I’ll listen to everything from Cypress Hill to Sara Bareilles to Devendra Banhart to Paramore to French rap. Go figure. :) Recently, I’ve been listening to Camille – my favorite French singer. Her first album is pretty low-production and a bit grittier than her second, but it’s got a great acoustic feel and her lyrics are really quirky.

Where’s the one place where you can go and get your creative flow going in order to write/create music?
Hm, my room.

Who is your closest musician friend, and how did you two meet?
This question’s a bit hard…having grown up with music I feel like a lot of people I’ve known through the years are musicians. The closest… definitely my sister. She plays flute and piano and was trained in classical singing.

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not playing music?
I have a day job, sadly. I’m a writer for a newspaper… aside from working and music, I try to travel whenever I can and I just enjoy hanging out with friends in the city (NYC).

What do you hope to accomplish while being involved in music?
I just hope my music has a positive impact on people. Whether they’re inspired to do music too, or if they can feel connected because of my lyrics, that’s really the best reward for me.

Do you have any final words for the readers?
Thanks for reading! Hope to meet you soon.


Huzzah! There it is folks! Thank you to Alfa for the interview, and I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I did. Till next time, adios!

J~


Alfa Garcia

rhythm.connection presents A MOMENT WITH YouTube MUSICIANS - KRYSTLE CRUZ

Hey guys, for your reading enjoyment, the first in a new segment on my blog, featuring up and coming musicians who have made a name for themselves over YouTube and are getting a lot of attention these days. My first guest in this new segment is San Diego-based singer Krystle Cruz - enjoy!

Krystle Cruz (born January 22, 1988 in San Diego, California) is a independent R&B/acoustic singer. Since the age of 3, she has been rapidly gaining attention as both a great singer and dancer. Taking an active role in both dancing and singing, she started performing in venues at the of 9, and continues to keep bringing fresh performances. She also was the captain of a dance team in her high school years. As well, in 2008, she and fellow musician Michelle Martinez got the chance to do some intensive training on an all-expenses paid trip to Japan financed by one of Japan's biggest record companies, Avex Trax. I spoke to Krystle, and she was able to spare a moment to speak with me on how she continues to strive to be a great musician!

How long have you been doing music for? Are you doing it professionally or independently?
Well, I've sang ever since I was 3 years old and started performing at age 9. I started writing music on and off when I was 16 and just became serious with it early this year. I am currently recording an album independently.

What style of music do you generally play?
Usually, you will hear me singing R&B/Pop/Soul genres but I also like to expand my horizons and try other genres like Pop/Rock and Indie music.

How did you first get involved in music?
When I was handed the karaoke mic at 3 years old :-)

What made you decide to starting YouTubing your musical talent?
I had a channel for like a year just for leaving comments/feedback on other people's videos but thought it was silly to sing in a video so I never did it for a while. Quite a few friends finally convinced me to post some videos to get my talent out there because they believed I would be a "star". So now I have videos on YouTube of me singing and sometimes, dancing :-)

Who are your biggest musical influences?
Long list short: Christina Aguilera, Etta James, Alicia Keys, India Arie, Esmee Denters, Demi Lovato, Paramore, Whitney Houston, (old) Mariah Carey, Adele, Danity Kane, Jennifer Hudson and the likes.

How does it feel to be getting all this support from people for doing what you do?
It feels absolutely AMAZING. Doing the "music thing" can become discouraging from time to time but when I think about all the friends, family and fans who support me no matter what, it makes it that much easier and is a great reminder of why I love to do what I do.

Is there ANY musician that you would like to do a collaboration with in the future?
This changes probably everyday but at the moment, I would love to collaborate with Demi Lovato because she is such a young soul with so much talent and songwriting skills.

What has been your most popular cover on YouTube? Your most popular original song on YouTube?
My most popular cover on YouTube (strangely) is "Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson, which is a collaboration with Angie Girl. I currently don't have any originals up on my YouTube but they will be up within the month.

This question is for Krystle and Michelle Martinez. How was the experience of briefly training under one of Japan’s biggest record labels, Avex Trax?
This experience was by far the most memorable musical opportunity I've ever had. It opened my eyes to another world and another aspect of the international music industry. We met a lot of people from around the world. We learned a lot of new things musically, culturally and personally and have definitely used it to apply to our musical journey.

I imagine you have a lot of music tastes; what do you normally play on your iPod and/or when you’re at home?
Depends on my mood. I have a very diverse taste in music. You can catch me playing anything from Keri Hilson to Adele or Etta James, Jamie Cullum and of course, Demi Lovato.

Where’s the one place where you can go and get your creative flow going in order to write/create music?
Either in my room or balcony

Who is your closest musician friend, and how did you two meet?
-This is probably already obvious but my closest musician friend is Michelle Martinez. We actually met in Japan in September 2008 and have kept in touch since although she is from the Bay Area and I'm from San Diego. Our experience in Japan brought us closer together because we worked hard toward the same goal and we only had each other to rely on. And now you can catch us collaborating at shows here in the US or singing in a YouTube video together :-)

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not playing music?
I like to write in my journal. I've been writing in journals since elementary school so it's something I do religiously. It's really nice to also read back at what you wrote in the past. It helps you understand yourself and see how much you grow through time. Also, when I'm not busy singing, you can find me dancing. And just like anyone else, I just like to have fun whether it be going clubbing, hanging out with friends, having dinner with family, etc. During the summer I love going to the beach and during the winter I like to go snowboarding. And on any given day, Disneyland floats my boat :-)

What do you hope to accomplish while being involved in music?
I hope to inspire people with my music, as every musician does. Although I have videos on YouTube, I like to focus on being known for being a great performer on stage, even when it comes to dancing. I want to use my personal experiences and express them through my music to further my growth and reach out to others.

Do you have any final words for the readers?
Please be on the look out for my upcoming originals and performances in the near future and if you have any further questions, feel free to ask me on twitter: @krystlecruz :-)


There you have it! Just one of the many fresh faces on YouTube who you should be keeping an eye and ear out for! Till next time, signing off!

J~


Krystle Cruz