Tell us about:

Your latest single you have released:

“Black Angel,” released October 13, 2023. I always have a hard time explaining what the song sounds like [laughs], but it’s definitely about not blindly following things. It’s a bit sarcastic. “My folks believe this, so I do too.” I’m not a fan of that. I like when people open their minds and discover new ideals. Sometimes blindly following something can detract you from a lot of other solid and positive experiences in life. That’s what the song is to me.

Your first single and how you felt when it was released:

As a solo performer I released “Fire in the Forest” in 2022 as the lead single to my debut solo record, Rubedo. I was excited and also nervous. The song is a bit moody. I wasn’t sure what people would think. 32,000 streams later…I guess some people like it. You always have that second guessing in your head, like, “should I have released an upbeat single”? But I think this one turned out fine and I am SUPER proud of it.

Your favorite song that you have released as an album track:

That is a tough one. I tend to like all of the tracks I release. They’re like all my babies. My song babies. If I had to choose one from each catalogue, I would say “Colors (Voodoo Dancing)” from the Seven Witches EP by my band The Cosmic Vultures (I just moved that EP under my solo catalogue on Spotify; more news on that to come) and “Love and War/All the Fools” from my solo Rubedo album.

Your favorite song to play live:

“Backwards Lateral” by The Cosmic Vultures. There is so much energy, so much funk and soooo many solos [laughs]. We usually end the show with that one. As soon as I announce that we are playing it, those who know us definitely let us know they’re excited to hear it.

The song that was the longest to write:

“Love and War/All the Fools” had been an idea for like 12 years. I could never quite figure out how to finish it. One night I was fiddling around on the guitar and finished it. It felt like quite the accomplishment.

Your most emotional track:

“Low” by The Cosmic Vultures. I’m literally crying during the second verse. I kept it in. I just felt distraught and sad during that recording. I also kind of improvised the lyrics in that one.

The best lyric you have ever written:

It may seem like just a random sentence, honestly… but it means so much to me. I hate to be all nihilistic but: “And it doesn’t really matter.” It’s such a real thing to me. My beliefs and everything. I feel that no matter what we do, what we say, how we feel… blah, blah… does it even matter in the end? That’s just me though.

Describe the feeling you get when walking on stage to a show:

Nervous and excited. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re gonna get. If the crowd is small and there is no energy, it’s sometimes hard to find energy and excitement. At that point you just turn to your bandmates and screw around. When the crowd is big and full of excitement – that changes everything.

The hardest track to play live:

“Confusion” by The Cosmic Vultures. Only because I suck at playing bar chords on the acoustic, so it jacks up my band a bit and it’s not comfortable. And then trying to sing on top of that. BLARGH!

Essential items you take on your with you:

My wife once made me a care package. A face cloth because I sweat before the set even starts, plus deodorant, cologne, mints. I want to make sure people get the best experience when talking to me afterwards! [laughs]

Describe your fans in 3 words:

Purple, Dynamite, Ravioli

A song by another band I wish I had written:

“Goin’ Quackers” by Donald Duck, Willio and Phillio

What we can look forward to from you this year:

Lots of music. Lots and lots of music. At least two more singles after this one and a big album at the end of the year.  And a BIG announcement is coming very very soon in regards to my solo catalogue and our band catalogue.