Post by diki03 on Dec 12, 2009 11:50:17 GMT -5
www.gossipbeast.com/?p=5019
GB Exclusive: Evan Taubenfeld Interview
Dec - 11 | By: The Beast | Comments (0)
If you’re not familiar with Evan Taubenfeld then you should be. The 26-year-old got his start as Avril Lavigne’s lead guitarist and musical director, and is now on his own path to solo stardom. He recently spoke with GB and gave some insight on his passion for pop music, what it takes to make it as an artist, his increasingly popular ode to Taylor Swift, “Merry Swiftmas,” and much more.
GB Exclusive: Evan Taubenfeld Interview
Dec - 11 | By: The Beast | Comments (0)
If you’re not familiar with Evan Taubenfeld then you should be. The 26-year-old got his start as Avril Lavigne’s lead guitarist and musical director, and is now on his own path to solo stardom. He recently spoke with GB and gave some insight on his passion for pop music, what it takes to make it as an artist, his increasingly popular ode to Taylor Swift, “Merry Swiftmas,” and much more.
GB: You’re an upcoming artist, but not new to the music business, being that you were Avril’s lead guitarist, was becoming a solo artist a life-long goal or something that developed after you entered the music industry?
Evan: It was always the plan from the beginning. I put aside doing my own music to join Avril’s band. They ask me would I take a backseat and be the lead guitarist and I was totally cool with it and it was an awesome experience, but I definitely always wanted to do my own project.
GB: So what did you feel like when you were asked to join as the lead guitarist?
Evan: I don’t think I put much thought into it. I was like “Holy sh*t” [laughs] “Life is good.”
GB: How would you describe your music to those not familiar with you?
Evan: Awesome!
GB: That’s nice, but what’s the vibe you’re trying to put out?
Evan: I’d say it’s like love…and fun…and summer…candid honesty, heart on your sleeve good pop.
GB: What current artists are you fans of?
Evan: I really like Taylor Swift. In fact I just wrote a song [Merry Swiftmas] about her as a joke and I posted it online and she twittered about it. It has gotten like 200,000 plays on Youtube. Obviously Avril. Honestly, I’m just a huge fan of everything that’s on the radio…as long as it is good.
GB: Many people are fascinated by people who can write and/or produce their own music. Can you describe what the creative process is like for you?
Evan: There’s two sides. One where you’re purely inspired then it’s just easy. It’s like watching a movie or playing a video game where you’re just having fun. Then there’s the other side when a movie company or someone asks me to write a song for them and it’s a little bit harder.
GB: So that brings up the question, how much creative control do you have over your music?
Evan: I know a lot of artists have problems over that with their records labels, but my record label couldn’t be any better. They let me do whatever I want and they support it wholeheartedly. Because they give me that space I ultimately end up giving them what they want.
GB: What was it like when you heard your record on the radio for the first time?
Evan: The best moment of my life. Honestly, I almost started crying. Which was weird because I normally never cry over anything, but it was like ten years of excruciating hard work flashing by.
GB: We live in a digital era that has greatly changed how people find, exchange, buy new music. I see that you use many of the social networking sites like Twitter to better connect to your fans. What’s your perspective on how the digital era has changed the music industry and how the music industry has reacted to the change?
Evan: It completely changed it in the sense it has knocked the balance off. Artists have more power than ever. Artists have more ways to connect directly to the fans and record labels have lost a bit in their influence and relevance, but because it’s so easy to reach so many people it’s has become harder for artists to really, really stand out. Consumers have way more options now.
GB: Which begs the question: what do you think of downloading music?
Evan: Wait, downloading or illegally downloading? It’s complicated. I think cd’s are done. They are big plastic, clunky things and I’m glad that those are over, but stealing is a real tricky thing. There isn’t any other business, like say a jewelry store, where you can walk in and take a watch and just walk out without paying. Yet, it is totally acceptable in popular society to basically steal music which is someone’s art and creation. That being said I don’t think we can fight a losing battle. So f*ck it, if you take my song I hope you like it, then I hope you like another one and buy a t-shirt or something.
GB: In today’s market, an artist’s look is vital to their success? Do you put a lot of effort into your look or…?
Evan: I don’t put a ton of effort into my look. I dress the way I dress and I’m not going to change just because a record label thinks it would help me sale records. That being said, if you have no look or style so that people can visualize to set you apart then that’s not going to help you stand out from other artists.
GB: You have been touring bands such Secondhand Serenade, Metro Station, Mayday Parade, Describe your show, visually and musically~
Evan: My show…people that have seen my show know that I’m extremely ADD. When I play live my goal is that every single person in attendance leaves going “holy sh*t, that’s the best thing I’ve seen in my life.”
GB: What’s the typical day like for you?
Evan: I wake up at like 8 or 9. I head into my studio and I work until I fall asleep. If I’m on tour I wake up around 2pm and I mess around on the bus writing songs until we go to sound check and play our shows. Then I pass out.
GB: What inspires you to do what you do?
Evan: I’ve always known this is what I was always going to do and can’t see myself doing anything else.
GB: What advice would you give to other rising artists and bands?
Evan: First and foremost, never ever give up. It doesn’t matter how discouraged you get. If this is something you really want to do, if it’s your dream then you should never give up. The other thing is get to work. I’ve met thousands of kids who want to do this without actually putting in the work required. You can’t accomplish great things if you don’t put the work in. There are a lot of people willing to put in the work and they’re just going to kick your ass reaching for the top.
GB: What would be the biggest obstacles facing an artist or band in the industry?
Evan: Drugs, alcohol, a lack of zeal for the work. It’s actually one thing to say you’ll work but you have to do it every day. I meet so many guys that are like “Dude, can I get a chance?” and I’m like sure come over and we’ll work tomorrow. Then they’ll ask what time and I’ll say 10 or 11 am and they’ll say that’s too early. Or they’ll work for 4 hrs or so and want to be done for the day.
GB: What would you do if music was taken away from you for a day?
Evan: It would be terrible. I don’t even want to think about that.
GB: What new recordings do you have that we can look forward to?
Evan: Well, currently there’s “Merry Swiftmas.” And At the top of the year we have a few songs being released. One is called “Pumpkin Pie” then there is “Starbucks Girl” and “Best Years of Our Lives.”
GB: Do you have any upcoming shows?
Evan: I don’t have any shows booked currently, but next year there’s going to be a ton of touring.
GB: So down to the last question. It’s kinda of silly, but do you think a Jewish vampire avoids the Star of David or a Cross?
Evan: Can there be a Jewish vampire? Are humans kosher? I think it would it be very easy to answer because one, by definition of a vampire they should be adverse to the cross and two, a Jewish vampire probably wouldn’t avoid a Jewish star.
Clearly, Evan doesn’t realize that Twilight has completely destroyed vampire legend. Old rules no longer apply.
Evan: It was always the plan from the beginning. I put aside doing my own music to join Avril’s band. They ask me would I take a backseat and be the lead guitarist and I was totally cool with it and it was an awesome experience, but I definitely always wanted to do my own project.
GB: So what did you feel like when you were asked to join as the lead guitarist?
Evan: I don’t think I put much thought into it. I was like “Holy sh*t” [laughs] “Life is good.”
GB: How would you describe your music to those not familiar with you?
Evan: Awesome!
GB: That’s nice, but what’s the vibe you’re trying to put out?
Evan: I’d say it’s like love…and fun…and summer…candid honesty, heart on your sleeve good pop.
GB: What current artists are you fans of?
Evan: I really like Taylor Swift. In fact I just wrote a song [Merry Swiftmas] about her as a joke and I posted it online and she twittered about it. It has gotten like 200,000 plays on Youtube. Obviously Avril. Honestly, I’m just a huge fan of everything that’s on the radio…as long as it is good.
GB: Many people are fascinated by people who can write and/or produce their own music. Can you describe what the creative process is like for you?
Evan: There’s two sides. One where you’re purely inspired then it’s just easy. It’s like watching a movie or playing a video game where you’re just having fun. Then there’s the other side when a movie company or someone asks me to write a song for them and it’s a little bit harder.
GB: So that brings up the question, how much creative control do you have over your music?
Evan: I know a lot of artists have problems over that with their records labels, but my record label couldn’t be any better. They let me do whatever I want and they support it wholeheartedly. Because they give me that space I ultimately end up giving them what they want.
GB: What was it like when you heard your record on the radio for the first time?
Evan: The best moment of my life. Honestly, I almost started crying. Which was weird because I normally never cry over anything, but it was like ten years of excruciating hard work flashing by.
GB: We live in a digital era that has greatly changed how people find, exchange, buy new music. I see that you use many of the social networking sites like Twitter to better connect to your fans. What’s your perspective on how the digital era has changed the music industry and how the music industry has reacted to the change?
Evan: It completely changed it in the sense it has knocked the balance off. Artists have more power than ever. Artists have more ways to connect directly to the fans and record labels have lost a bit in their influence and relevance, but because it’s so easy to reach so many people it’s has become harder for artists to really, really stand out. Consumers have way more options now.
GB: Which begs the question: what do you think of downloading music?
Evan: Wait, downloading or illegally downloading? It’s complicated. I think cd’s are done. They are big plastic, clunky things and I’m glad that those are over, but stealing is a real tricky thing. There isn’t any other business, like say a jewelry store, where you can walk in and take a watch and just walk out without paying. Yet, it is totally acceptable in popular society to basically steal music which is someone’s art and creation. That being said I don’t think we can fight a losing battle. So f*ck it, if you take my song I hope you like it, then I hope you like another one and buy a t-shirt or something.
GB: In today’s market, an artist’s look is vital to their success? Do you put a lot of effort into your look or…?
Evan: I don’t put a ton of effort into my look. I dress the way I dress and I’m not going to change just because a record label thinks it would help me sale records. That being said, if you have no look or style so that people can visualize to set you apart then that’s not going to help you stand out from other artists.
GB: You have been touring bands such Secondhand Serenade, Metro Station, Mayday Parade, Describe your show, visually and musically~
Evan: My show…people that have seen my show know that I’m extremely ADD. When I play live my goal is that every single person in attendance leaves going “holy sh*t, that’s the best thing I’ve seen in my life.”
GB: What’s the typical day like for you?
Evan: I wake up at like 8 or 9. I head into my studio and I work until I fall asleep. If I’m on tour I wake up around 2pm and I mess around on the bus writing songs until we go to sound check and play our shows. Then I pass out.
GB: What inspires you to do what you do?
Evan: I’ve always known this is what I was always going to do and can’t see myself doing anything else.
GB: What advice would you give to other rising artists and bands?
Evan: First and foremost, never ever give up. It doesn’t matter how discouraged you get. If this is something you really want to do, if it’s your dream then you should never give up. The other thing is get to work. I’ve met thousands of kids who want to do this without actually putting in the work required. You can’t accomplish great things if you don’t put the work in. There are a lot of people willing to put in the work and they’re just going to kick your ass reaching for the top.
GB: What would be the biggest obstacles facing an artist or band in the industry?
Evan: Drugs, alcohol, a lack of zeal for the work. It’s actually one thing to say you’ll work but you have to do it every day. I meet so many guys that are like “Dude, can I get a chance?” and I’m like sure come over and we’ll work tomorrow. Then they’ll ask what time and I’ll say 10 or 11 am and they’ll say that’s too early. Or they’ll work for 4 hrs or so and want to be done for the day.
GB: What would you do if music was taken away from you for a day?
Evan: It would be terrible. I don’t even want to think about that.
GB: What new recordings do you have that we can look forward to?
Evan: Well, currently there’s “Merry Swiftmas.” And At the top of the year we have a few songs being released. One is called “Pumpkin Pie” then there is “Starbucks Girl” and “Best Years of Our Lives.”
GB: Do you have any upcoming shows?
Evan: I don’t have any shows booked currently, but next year there’s going to be a ton of touring.
GB: So down to the last question. It’s kinda of silly, but do you think a Jewish vampire avoids the Star of David or a Cross?
Evan: Can there be a Jewish vampire? Are humans kosher? I think it would it be very easy to answer because one, by definition of a vampire they should be adverse to the cross and two, a Jewish vampire probably wouldn’t avoid a Jewish star.
Clearly, Evan doesn’t realize that Twilight has completely destroyed vampire legend. Old rules no longer apply.