AMY KUNEY
interview by Geoff Melton
From a move with her family to Honduras as a teenager to a burgeoning music career and an appearance on Gilmore Girls, Amy Kuney has already had more life experiences at 20 than many people have in their entire lifetime. I recently had the chance to ask her about these things as well as the upcoming release of her debut CD, mixing college and music and more.
MK – Can you give me a quick background on yourself?
AK – I was born in 1985, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was home-schooled and went to church every Sunday and Wednesday night. Church was pretty much my social life until I left the States. My family was very conservative so I wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music unless my parents “okayed” it.
I am one of five kids. My parents are very musical and so each of us kids began playing our own instruments when we were very young. My instrument was piano. I started piano at age 5 and played in church quite a bit. I also entered a lot of classical music competitions and played for juries and guilds all over Tulsa. I was sort of a tomboy though. I mostly stayed outside and played with my younger brothers.
MK – When you were 13 you moved to Honduras with your family. How has this influenced your music?
AK – It actually started my music. Back in Tulsa I had started writing songs and learning pop chords on piano, but I really had no influences or inspirations. After moving to Honduras, I had a wealth of new experiences, people, and drive to start writing meaningful songs. I was introduced to a whole new culture. It got me out of my “Safety Zone” and helped me grow a new boldness.
MK – Does your family still live there?
AK – Yes, they do. Now is just my parents and my two brothers Michael (16) and Jeffrey (13).
MK – You’ve been going to school full-time while working on your music career. How has that been?
AK – It’s been tough. The EP took a long time to make because I could only do my recording on weekends and school breaks. Then of course, I have homework and the germs from dorm life to contend with. It has been good though, because the friends and teachers at school are so supportive. I actually have a teacher who plays my EP in class while people are arriving. They are all so proud of me.
MK – You’re only 20, yet some of your lyrics in songs like “Sold Out” and “Breaking Bad Habits” sound like they’re from the perspective of an older person. Where do you get your inspiration for songs like these?
AK – I read all the time. In Honduras, I averaged about 2-3 books a week. I had a lot of spare time and no television. I also watch people when I am out. Whether it be in an airport, at the school cafeteria or just at a gas station, I like to watch people and wonder about their lives and what they go home to on a daily basis.
MK – I love the jazzy shuffle of “Sore Loser,” which kind of sticks out from the other songs on the disc. Was there anything special that influenced the vibe to that cut?
AK – I honestly don’t know where that song came from. I vaguely remember sitting at my desk in Honduras and coming up with a little play on words about baseball. The tune came first though. I found the chords and then built the song around them. When I finished it, I knew it would set the bar very high for my writing.
MK – Your upcoming CD was co-produced by Peter Barker and Mandi Martin. What can you tell me about them and how did you get hooked up with them?
AK – I was in Fresno a few years ago for missionary counseling. There is a mission base there where families come to relax and spend their furlough. I had a few “decent” songs by then, and I thought I would try them on someone in the business. I blindly googled “producers in L.A.” and my computer almost crashed. There were so many. I clicked on one of the first links I saw and in doing so, contacted Peter Barker. I asked if he would mind hearing a few of my songs…I had no demo or press kit. He said, “sure,” so a few days later my parents drove me around in the rental car trying to find his studio. When we finally found it, it was closed, but Peter happened to be sitting at the front desk and saw us. He took me into the mixing room and I played my songs. They really weren’t that good. I only knew 3 or 4 chords on the guitar and my melodies were rambling. He was really encouraging though and told me to keep it up. Maybe someday I would get somewhere. He really had no plans of ever meeting me again.
I kept his business card though, and kept writing and working on my songs. About a year later I wrote “How The Wind Must Feel” and sent it to him. He really liked it and showed it to Mandi Martin, his friend who was also a record producer. He asked her if she would be interested in co-producing me. That was in the fall of 2003. I came back to L.A. in January 2004 and met Mandi Martin. She had said “yes” to Peter’s question about co-producing me. By August, I was signing a contract with Peter’s company. It’s a really bizarre story. It is probably something that won’t ever happen again. I was incredibly lucky to find them. They are both so encouraging and sincere. I’m pretty spoiled.
MK – You were on Gilmore Girls. How did that come about?
AK – In July 2005, while on summer break from school, I played two songs at the L.A. Women In Music (LAWIM) showcase at the Bel Age Hotel on the famous Sunset Strip in Hollywood, hosted by Harriet Schock, a well-known songwriter and songwriting instructor and longtime friend of Mandi’s. Larry Wines, a journalist and folk radio deejay was in the audience. He really enjoyed my songs and he and Mandi kept in contact. In October 2005, when the search went out for a young folksinger to play on Gilmore Girls, the casting directors went straight to Larry. Larry referred them to me. I auditioned and got the part.
MK – I know your EP isn’t even out yet, but the 6 songs on there just aren’t enough. Is there anything else in the works and how long will it take us to hear more from you?
AK – I definitely have more songs. When I signed my deal I had 26 songs, and I’m still writing. I cannot give you an exact time when anything else will be released, but we definitely have big plans for more.
MK – Your tour dates have primarily been California. Are those of us in the rest of the country going to have a chance to see you live sometime soon?
AK – Yes, although I feel really strongly about building up a fanbase where I am now. Especially at my school, where there are so many potential fans who haven’t heard of me yet. I believe in keeping it local for now and taking advantage of the opportunities that I have here.
MK – What are your plans for 2006?
AK – Oh man…..plans change by the day. For now, I am really concentrating on increasing my fanbase, keeping my school grades up, maturing in my songwriting, strengthening my voice and keeping in touch with my family. It’s a lot to think about. I think 2006 is going to be a really good year. My EP is scheduled to be released March 7th, and we have been promoting it in advance. I think its going to come out with a “bang.”
MK – Is there anything you want to let readers know?
AK – Please enjoy my songs and thank you so much for all of your support. If you’d like to know more about me and my songs, get advanced notices of any future releases, where I’m going to be playing and to just keep up with me in general, please check out my website at www.amykuney.com and sign up to be on my mailing list.
(www.amykuney.com)
—————————————————–
WIL SEABROOK
While you may not know his name, if you were one of the early watchers of last years reality show Rock Star INXS, you have already seen Wil Seabrook perform. I recently had a chance to talk to him about that experience and other things like as his past as leader of the Wil Seabrook Band and his current career as a solo artist.
MK – Can you give me a bit
of your background?
WS – I was born in North Carolina but grew up (with my teacher parents) in Germany as a military brat. I did a project CD in high school that got noticed by an LA producer. I landed an indie deal a couple of years later and spent most of the last few years touring, recording and releasing indie and major CDs, and figuring out what kind of music I actually want to make…
MK – “All Always” and “See Myself Again” have a moody atmospheric feel to them that remind me of Daniel Lanois and early Chris Whitley. Were either of them inspirations?
WS – Daniel Lanois by way of U2. I had all of U2’s early stuff. I got the Joshua Tree as a present from my first girlfriend and worked my way backwards. The Unforgettable Fire is THE soundtrack to my inner monologue as a kid. I’ve always been into ambient music as long as it has a pretty solid pop structure and strong melody.
MK- The lyrics on “new” seem to have a lot of sadness and desperation to them, but with an occasional glimmer of hope. How much of your lyrics come from personal experience?
WS – It’s all either my experience or things I’ve observed. I’ve gotten knocked around a bit in my career and in my personal life but you will never meet a more stubborn person than me. You cannot ever hit me hard enough that I won’t get back up again. It’s that mixture of some tough experiences mixed with determination that informs my lyrics.
MK – How do your previous releases that were released as the Wil Seabrook Band compare to the songs on “new”
WS – This is much more my own voice. We recorded this very quickly (less than a week) on a shoe string budget so these are really demos. I wanted them to be raw and in the moment so there’d be no over thinking and not too much attention on production. This is the first time in my career where I had total creative control so I wanted to make sure that the recordings were as close as possible to what I heard in my head. Given the time and budget constraints, I think we got pretty close.
MK – You have a new version of “As It Should Be” on your myspace page. Why did you decide to re-record it?
WS – All the myspace demos are for my new full length album that I’ll be recording in November. We’ll be revisiting most of the material from “New” so these new demos are the first step in working out new arrangements for the songs. I’m now having the chance to finally dig deep and find the real essence of each song, something I’ve never been able to do before. It’s where the craft part of songwriting comes in, and I’m totally in love with the process.
MK – I read that you plan on recording your new album in November. Is there anything you can tell us about it so far?
WS – Besides what I said above, only that I am more excited about this recording than anything I’ve ever done. I feel, for many different reasons, like I have yet to record anything that really reflects my potential as an artist. There have been moments here and there but nothing substantial. I’ve got a team in place now who are incredibly supportive and incredibly talented in their own right. It’s a winning combination. I am extremely excited to share this new recording with the world.
MK – I love your CD, but I also loved the more rock oriented songs you did on Rock Star (especially “Heroes”). Do you think we will hear any more rock oriented songs from you in the future?
WS – One of the things I’ve gone through in the last few years has been losing my singing voice totally for about two years and slowly starting from scratch with it, almost like learning to walk again. It is a much more fragile instrument now, but also able to do many things I could never do before. A byproduct of that is accepting that I am not really a rock singer and should never have tried to push myself so hard in that direction in the first place. I love a killer rock song as much as anybody but in terms of any vocal belting coming from me, I don’t see that happening. Having said that, I think there will be tracks on this new album that will have some meat to them. I am not a fan of the same singer/songwriter mid tempo acoustic thing for a whole album. I end up skipping around on CDs like that. I want something that takes you on a journey…
MK – Your previous releases were released as the Wil Seabrook Band, but now it’s just under your name. Was there any reason behind the name change?
WS – I finally realized after a long tug of war with various, extremely talented musicians in different bands I put together that I really do want to be a solo artist. I think democracy is great for running a country. I don’t think it’s so great when it comes to creative stuff. You have to have an incredibly special bond between people to create music together. Most of the successful bands I know grew up together and have a connection that goes way deeper than the music or the business. I haven’t found that group for me, so I’m very content for now to do my own thing.
MK – How would you sum up the experience of being on Rock Star INXS and how do you think it helped and/or hurt you?
WS – I think it was a strange detour into something that I thought would be much different than what it was. As soon as I realized what it actually was I decided immediately that I wasn’t a good fit and was happy to leave when I did. I was treated with respect and really enjoyed meeting the other cast members. I got a little bit of attention from it but nothing overwhelming and I’ll be happy to leave it as a distant footnote soon enough.
MK – Have you stayed in contact with any of the other contestants?
WS – Most of us are in pretty regular email contact. The other contestants were really the best part of the show. Such an immense amount of talent and heart in that group. I felt honored to be among them.
MK – With tryouts underway for the next Rock Star. Would you encourage other vocalists to try out?
WS – I don’t watch much TV so I didn’t really know the reality tv formula very well. I would say if the living on camera and the performing under extreme pressure looks like fun then it would be a fun gig for you. If any of it turns you off then it will probably end up being a very difficult experience.
MK – This may be a strange question, but do you think that you would be happier touring and recording as the lead singer of INXS than you are now doing your own songs?
WS – Not a strange question at all. The one thing the show crystalized for me was that I am my own person creatively and professionally. The idea of stepping into someone else’s shoes at first had some appeal, but when the real opportunity presented itself I realized that I am only happy when I am being 100% myself. It’s an integrity point for me, and it took an extreme experience like that for me to realize it.
MK – Do you have any tour plans?
WS – Definitely. Starting next January I’ll be touring virtually full time in anticipation of the new album’s release.
MK – What are your plans for the rest of 2006?
WS – Trying to top myself in terms of songwriting, relaxing a bit (not something I’m usually very good at) and gearing up to go into overdrive once the recording and touring circus starts up again.
MK – Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers?
WS – Only that music, like any other art form, is only successful if it communicates. I have wanted to share my music with the world since the time I first opened my mouth to sing. The feedback I get, the support, the energy, is something I could never do justice to. So the biggest thank you in the world to anyone who has a kind word for what I’m doing, and especially to those who actively support the music by buying the CDs, coming to shows, etc. You allow me to have the best job on the planet. Many thanks. Oh and also, I do have a sense of humor. It just didn’t come across in this interview. Next time I’ll tell more jokes…
(www.wilseabrook.com)
———————————
THE GYPSY SONS
While the Southern Rock music scene isn’t what it was at one time, if The Gypsy Sons keep it up their fresh sounding take on the genre might just be the thing to bring it back. With an EP under th
eir belt and a following that’s growing at an extremely rapid rate things are going great for this band. I recently talked to guitarist John Aguon and here’s what he had to say about this hot new band.
MK – I love your combination of Southern Rock with the heavier rock guitar. How did The Gypsy Sons come together?
JA – Well thanks Geoff. Me and Jody wrote some songs in LA ’round October 2004 where we met, played a few gigs with a coupla’ guys there, booked a tour in August 2005 on the east coast, those guys couldn’t make it, my best friends came on board and 8 months later we’re still rocking.
MK – The Gypsy Sons is a definite diversion stylewise from the stuff you’ve done in your previous bands like Dead, White and Blue and Lumber 4 Songs. What caused you to move in this direction?
JA – Well, nothing really. To me, all of these bands are stylistically similar. Then again, I am biased, but It’s always been about making music with my friends and I can’t wait to get on the road again!
MK – Since the band’s inception there have been several personnel changes. Does this latest lineup seem to be pretty stable?
JA – Yeah. Me, Cecil and Tom have been best friends since we were kids and Jody fits right in like an old friend. Stable enough I guess for a rock and roll band, I mean, how stable can a rock and roll band be in the first place…we’re a bunch of crazy asses anyway…hee hee..but we’re having fun…
MK – From the responses and feedback on your site it looks like things are taking off really quick. Are you surprised by that?
JA – Well, yes and no. Yes, because we’re a relatively new band and no because we’ve been busting our asses to get our music out there. We have a lot of support from our friends and family who are helping us out with all facets of the band.
MK – You just finished up a recording session. How did that go?
JA – Actually, we’re head long into the process. We’re taking our time to make the very best record that we can and we’ve got alot of new material. We are shooting for an early summer release.
MK – Are the new songs any different from your first EP?
JA – We’re still doing what we do but we have added more instrumentation. This time around we’re adding some piano, some fiddle and some slide and other stuff but the core sound is still patented Gypsy Sons.
MK – You have a video for the song “Change”, which is my favorite of all of your songs I’ve heard. To me it has an edgier sound than the songs on your EP. Why didn’t you include it on the EP and will we be hearing more songs like that on your next disc?
JA – We’re re-recording it because we changed it up a bit and will fit in with the new material better.
MK – How does the songwriting process tend to work?
JA – For us, I get to riffing, Jody gets to writing, and Cecil and Tommy get to laying down the foundation. It’s pretty much a group effort.
MK – John, you’ve been the vocalist in your prior bands. Will we see you taking the lead on any songs in the future?
JA – We have a combination that we think works for us in The Gypsy Sons. But, if we stumble across a song that I should sing lead on, then I will. But mostly, my thing is guitar. Always has been, always will.
MK – Have you had any label interest?
JA – Right now, we’re selling the EP and the songs at CD Baby, Broadjam, iTunes, Tower, etc…and at our shows. We are a label called East West Pacific Records LLC but we will certainly entertain any and all offers.
MK – John, do you think that any of your unreleased Dead, White and Blue music will ever get an official release?
JA – Yeah, probably. I’d like that. But I would have to do alot of research and get alot of funding to make that happen and that will take awhile.
MK – You’ve been doing a lot of touring in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and California. Do you have any plans for more extensive touring?
JA – As a matter of fact, we’re in the process of buying a tour bus right now and we plan on using the hell out of it.
MK – In addition to Gypsy Sons songs what other songs are you playing in your live shows? Have you been playing anything from any of your previous bands?
JA – We do a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “What Your Name?” that will most likely be on the next record. We’re talking about bringing “There” back and a few others but we have so much new material that it will probably be awhile before that happens.
MK – What are your plans for the rest of 2006?
JA – The same thing we do every year Geoff…….try to take over the world.
MK – Is there anything else you want to share with readers?
JA – Well Geoff, we’re on the Jenny Craig diet and let me tell you….we have never looked or felt better in our entire lives!!!!!!!!
http://www.amykuney.com
(www.thegypsysons.com)