THE FACE BEHIND THE MUSIC
EZPowell: The band members are one for now but I'm always looking for help, so I may or may not remain a solo artist. Working with an entire band as a unit can be a lot of fun and everyone gets to share in potential profits and has a vested interest in making things work! As far as my songs and recordings go, I write most of it, play most of it, record most of it, mix everything, and promote everything ... I'll tell you what, it's hard work. A full band may be the path to take in the future but I have to create something to offer to band memebers first.
EZPowell: I decided to invest in a college education at one of the best modern music schools in the world, Berklee of Boston. I think it's well worth it and I'm learning a lot.
EZPowell: The truth should be told, oh yes indeed, for all musicians there is so much more to music than just earning a crust as most of us never make anything out of it. Or if we do make money it is either not much and hard to come by, or large amounts of cash are a long time coming. Music is one of those professions where dues will be paid in abundance. It is a hard path to choose being a professional musician so taking that route has to be a labor of love, and an all consuming passion. And I am not a professional musician but maybe someday I can make a living at it.
EZPowell: My genre is mostly Adult Contemporary and Adult Contemporary Pop Music, with a bit of an alernative spin to it sometimes.
EZPowell: Specific bands and artists who have influenced me might well number into the hundreds. But some people that come to mind, who have influenced me substantially are people like John Martyn, JJ Cale, Mark Knopfler & Dire Straits, The Eagles, Rob Thomas & Matchbox Twenty, Tony Joe White, Carlos Santana, Wishbone Ash, even a little bit of Jaco Pastorius (I think someone just heard a fretless bass and assumed - I am no Jaco Pastorius).
EZPowell: People have said I sound like all sorts of artists and people. These artists include the likes of Eric Clapton, JJ Cale, Dire Straits, Santana, Wishbone Ash, The Eagles, Elton John, Jack Johnson, America, The Grateful Dead? Really? Other acts have also been mentioned including Hot Tuna, Tom Waits, Bozz Scaggs, Bob Welch, The Shins, Blue October, Warren Zevon, Bruce Cockburn, Dave Mason, Bobby Gosh, Todd Rundgren, Blue Oyster Cult - I have not heard of many of these ones. And there are probably a few more that I cannot remember, that fans have mentioned :)
EZPowell: I write music, I record music, I write books and I have a life and a day-job sometimes as a consultant as well. I now live in North America, a few miles north of the ever busy, bustling and traffic-snarled city of Atlanta (even New York and London are not quite as bad as parts of Atlanta). I have in the past, lived in Western Europe and Africa, New York, Northern California, South Florida and rural Georgia. I would much prefer to be hanging out in Bora-Bora :) Now who wouldn't? But Bora-Bora is a little far away.
An interview with Taxi (an A&R company):
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Southern Africa and Northern Europe
Q: What made you realize that music was your path?
A: If you had dreamed of being rock-star or being a politician which would you pick?
Q: How would you describe the music that you typically create?
A: Some of it's soft rock. Some of it is a bit jazzy, and even bluesy. Never spacey! And I always try to create well crafted, listenable, catchy melodies and lyrics.
Q: Who are your biggest musical influences?
A: People have said I sound like a lot of people. Musicians and acts who have influenced me the most are artists like John Martyn, Rob Thomas & Matchbox Twenty, Wishbone Ash, Jaco Pastorius, Santana, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and many more ...
Q: What makes your music unique?
A: I don't want it to be unique but some people say it has some uniqueness to it. I really just want it to sound good and for people to it and enjoy it. Other people say I sound a little like this or a little like that. Being unique in the music industry is much more difficult to market than something that sounds like someone or something that people already know. And let's face it, no modern musician is unique because we are all influenced by at least one or two other people, even if only stylistically.
Q: Has there been one particular moment in your musical career that you're most proud of?
A: When I get to sing and play in-front of thousands of people regularly, I will answer that one :) Other than that I do seem to have been noticed by a few professionals in the music industry and like my stuff. I've been lucky so far but it feels good to hear encouragement from experienced people - all them positive waves can have only a good effect.
Q: What's next for you?
A: Freakin' rock-star baby! Currently I am still working on the rock-star part but I am slowly making headway at about 2mph :) Truth is I would be happy to make enough money out of music to be able to make and play music all of my life. Anything else would be a bonus including half naked, screaming women in the front row :)