South Florida Indie Music Artist Talent Support Developers & Musical Agency Management

 DownTown Mystic Interview

Q.) How did the project or band come into existence?

A.I was managing 3 bands and worked with them in the studio. I began to miss creating my own music. Since I was working with very good musicians I thought I’d have some fun and get them to record some tracks with me. My plan was to work on the tracks when I had some spare time. That was the start and eventually I went back and worked on some of the songs and put one on a Radio Industry compilation CD, which would get played by Jed The Fish on KROQ in LA...and then things got serious and DownTown Mystic was born.

Q.) Who are the members of the band and please tell us about them?

A.The original idea for the “band” was just me playing with different musicians, depending on who was available, doing my songs. Tom Mastro, who was in a band I managed called The Discontent, was the main drummer on the first tracks I cut. He’s a great solid player and is now down in Nashville. Steve Brown on guitar & PJ Farley on bass, who I managed in a band called Soaked were originally in the band Trixter when they were teenagers, they are amazing players. Making the 1st cd I decided on having more of a collaborative project in the writing area and I brought in Bruce Engler, who I had also managed. We have similar styles and Bruce is also a great guitar player. Then there was Garry Tallent & Max Weinberg of the E Street Band. That’s a pretty good rhythm section! For the last 2 cds I’ve worked with Steve Holley on drums and Paul Page on bass, another great rhythm section. Steve was the last drummer in Paul McCartney’s Wings (when Paul got busted in Japan) and he’s played with just about everyone you ever heard of. I call Paul Page the “Urban Legend” because he’s been on the NY scene forever and played with everyone there. I’m very lucky to have been able to have such great players to be part of my music.

Q.) How would you describe your sound/genre?

A. The new cd, “Standing Still” is what they call Americana, which to me is Roots/Rock’n’Roll. They might have called it Country Rock back in the 70's but as the song goes, “it’s still rock’n’roll to me”.

Q.) Who is responsible for your songs or is it a combined effort of all the members and where do you find inspiration ?

A. I write most of the songs. I wrote all the songs on the new cd. Bruce Engler is a great writer and he added a lot of songs to the 1st & 2nd cd. Plus we wrote a couple together. I find inspiration in every day things and what’s going on with me personally.

Q.) What formal training or previous experience do any of the members have?

A. I probably took lessons the most...for at least 7 years and was accepted to the Hartt School of Music on Classical Guitar. But I was always working on my own songs. I just couldn't get into the discipline it takes for that. Most of us are self taught in what we do. I think you always go after the stuff you really want to know and it develops from there.

Q.) Who would you say has been the biggest influence on the bands sound or that you have used as inspiration for your music?

A.The Beatles, Stones, Buffalo Springfield are probably the main ones for me. From The Springfield came Poco, Stephen Stills & Neil Young. They had a big influence on my playing and writing.

Q.) What do you want the world to know about what you feel it takes in the music business to succeed or any advice you would give to others starting out?

A.It takes tremendous perseverance to succeed in anything but especially in the music business. You have got to want to do it and also have a great deal of belief in yourself.

Q Where can people go to learn more about you and hear your music?

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/DownTownMystic

http://www.myspace.com/downtownmystic/

http://shala.com

Q. One question I always like to ask is..If you could play anywhere in the world or with anyone you wanted where and why...

A. Being from the NYC area, probably Madison Square Garden. Maybe Wembley Stadium in London with Sir Paul...sounds like fun, right?