Hello, folks! Today marks the start of something new and exciting–musician interviews! From now on, we hope to have an “Artist of the Week” each week. All musical artists featured will have had a song in a commercial, and we will ask all of them the same five questions. If you want to be an upcoming Artist of the Week, email us!
Our Artist of the Week for August 19th – August 25th, 2012 is Sound Remedy! Sound Remedy made the electronic song featured in a 2012 Asics commercial. If you want to show Sound Remedy some love, “like” his Facebook page and listen to his music (for free!) on Soundcloud. We love his positive message at the end of the interview. Thank you, Sound Remedy!
1. Many of our readers are curious about what goes on behind the scenes. How did your song come to be in this commercial?
The agency approached my manager directly. They had heard my Nirvana remix and they thought it would be good in a commercial so they asked me to write something like that for them!
2. Most musicians were exposed to music early on. Was music a big part of your life as a child? If so, can you see ways what you listened to then influences what you create now?
Music was a HUGE part of my life as a child. Both of my parents graduated from Julliard School of Music, and are orchestra musicians in the CSO (Chicago Symphony Orchestra). I was always that kid on the block that everyone came to for suggestions on what to listen to because I was always discovering weird bands that no one had heard of. I also took classical piano lessons for 5 years when I was growing up. I am really influenced by melodically driven music. Classical artists like Beethoven, Strauss and Mozart inspire me. I am also heavily inspired by the Piano compositions of Claude Debussy and their departure from the more traditional form. In terms of contemporary music I am really into Boards of Canada and Deadmau5, these two groups inspire me a lot.
[Ed's note: We covered a Deadmau5 commercial song once.]
3. If your music could be in any commercial at all, what would you want it to be in? What type of company would be the “perfect fit” with your sound?
I don’t know what would be the perfect fit musically, but I can give you a VERY selfish answer haha. I would like to write music for a Chipotle commercial in exchange for a lifetime supply of free burritos. That would be the “perfect fit” for my life.
4. What is your favorite food? Do you have a favorite song about food? Are any of your own songs about food? Can you tell we love food around here? (Don’t answer that last one.)
Can you tell by my last answer that I love food??? Everyone loves food!!! I don’t have a favorite song about food and none of my songs are about food. My favorite foods are 1) SUSHI 2) KOREAN BBQ 3) Chipotle. That sums it up. I don’t cook food except for cereal (I know that doesn’t count). All the food I get is either delivered to me or I pick up. So yes, I am a huge foodie and I indulge myself to an extreme amount. I blame this on my mom.
5. What’s next? Do you have any albums or tours people should be on the look out for?
I have finally started booking shows and recently signed to NUE Agency. So people should be on the lookout for a couple dates showing up. Here is the link people can use to book me: http://nueagency.com/soundremedy/ Both my agents are nice people and I encourage anyone interested to reach out!! I am also working on a lot of new music. I am writing tons of new music and actually have more unreleased stuff than I have ever had before!!! I really want to share the music, but some of the stuff is released by big record labels and that usually takes a while.
I know this wasn’t a question, but I just want to encourage anyone reading this who wants to go into music DO IT. When I decided to pursue music all my friends thought I was going crazy. I studied Finance at a prestigious business school so it didn’t make any sense for me to go into music. I love music though, and I had to follow my dream. One year later, everyone who thought I was crazy now thinks everything that is happening to me is awesome. You only have one life to live, and if you really love music, you should take the plunge and pursue it!!! There is going to be a long period where you are working hard and have nothing to show for it, but eventually things DO turn around if you work long and hard enough. I am lucky enough that it hasn’t take a very long amount of time for my movement to gain momentum. I still have a long way to go, but when you do what you love, work is SO WORTH IT!!
