I didn’t get the chance to see Dirty South on this tour, but I was so impressed with his performance at Electric Zoo I just had to share this with you. Dirty South also played a set at Pacha NYC. I was there and caught all of the action from the DJ booth. We had never been to Pacha, but it was one of the coolest little clubs I have ever seen. It’s old, in the middle of Hell’s Kitchen, and has one of the best sound systems around. The venue has a ton of history, and it made sense for someone like Dirty South to play there. They actually get a lot of big names. Guys like Chuckie and Paul Oakenfold play there quite a big. Anyway, this is a short video of some backstage footage of the Dirty South Stereosonic tour. Dirty South is quickly becoming one of my favorite DJs… let’s dance people!

Click here to “like” Dirty South on Facebook.

Click here to follow Dirty South on Twitter.

Click here to watch Dirty South on YouTube.

I am sick of radio! But not lovesick… where did the name come from?

The name came from our drummer. He was going through a break up at the time and was complaining that all the songs he was hearing were sad songs. He said it was like the radio was lovesick. We all kind of looked at each other and said, “Write that down.”

Where did you guys all meet?

The Josh, Josh and Justin went to high school together. One night, depending who you ask, Josh Masters literally ran into David at a bar and spilled his drink on him. They got to talking about music and the next week we decided to try playing some music. The songs we came up with sucked. But they were good enough to realize we were on to something.

There are two of you… is one Josh #1 and the other Josh #2?

For some reason people think they are brothers because they have the same first name. I don’t get that one.

The name is pretty long. Can I just call you LSR?

(Laughs.) Please do.

Some call it pop. Some might call it rock. I would call it alternative. What do YOU call it?

We call in all three… rock/pop/alternative. We listen to everything so it only fair those would come through when people listen to us.

I just saw you guys with Simple Plan and The Fray. Was that a one-night stand, or was there a tour involved?

We just did that one show. We have played with Simple Plan before so it was cool seeing them again. The Fray guys were great to us. We look forward to playing with them again soon.

Since the word “radio” is in your name… I bet you guys get a lot of airplay. Do you remember the first time you heard your work on the radio? What was that experience like?

I remember every time. Every city you go to and your song comes on the radio is rad. We have it on film when they played us for the first time in Chicago. That’s a pretty cool clip that I’m glad we captured.

So I am in LOVE with Spotify. Do you guys use that? It’s WAY better than Pandora in my opinion.

Spotify is great! I’m a music junkie so I love having access to most CDs at any moment I want.

You guys have a street team. What do they do for you?

They spread the word about us online, help with flyers and help out at shows. We love the people that enjoy this band. They make every moment worth it.

Back to the Internet for a second… in your opinion, how has the Internet changed the way people absorb music?

You have easy access to anything you want. Sometimes you have to dig through some not great music, but at least if you do you can find somethings you won’t hear on the radio.

January is almost over… but did you guys have a good NYE?

We played. Anytime we are on stage I’m very happy. So yes.

What are you listening to these days? What’s on your iPod?

That’s a tough question. I know Justin is digging Drake’s new CD. I’m listening to Aerosmith, Richie Kotzen, Bowie, Radiohead , INXS & the Stones. I’m trying to add some old school rock into the mix for our new CD. People need to hear some good guitar music on the radio.

Do you have any rituals before a show? You know… like chanting or hugging?

We put our hands together and Justin will say some crazy thing. It brings it back to the four of us before we head out to win people over.

Yes, I want you! Who writes all of the lyrics? 

We collaborate on everything. So it just depends.

I have seen it both ways… is it Lovesick Radio or LoveSick Radio?

We cap the “S”. We are very creative. Just kidding.

What is your connection to Z99.5? You guys know Smiley?

Z99.5 played my old band at a lot. We have some history there. We love those guys. Smiley and his whole crew are great.

What are you drinking on stage?

Probably vodka. Sometimes water.

What’s the biggest crowd you have ever played for? The smallest?

We played Meadowlands Stadium with Bon jovi and Kid Rock. That was 80,000! So that’s the biggest so far. As for the smallest, I would say when we played just for the staff and a few drunk people because no one we were playing somewhere in northern Illinois.

I see some tattoos there. Who has the most? Don’t they hurt?

I think I have the most. Justin is a close second. Not too bad. You should get one.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

One time when we where playing oversea Masters hand locked up right before a bass solo. For me, my strap has broken a few times from me throwing my guitar around. Now I check the strap before we play and sometimes during.

When you sit down to write a song, where does the inspiration come from?

Life or something you see or hear about. Sometimes you are just playing and inspiration hits you.

What’s next… is there an album in the works?

We are making the second album now. It’s about time. I can’t wait to have people hear the new music and for us to start touring again.

Who runs the Twitter account? What about Facebook?

That’s me. I’m the online guy. So if you like what you see, it’s my fault. If you don’t… that’s my fault too. Our tour manger Noah helps sometimes.

When it’s all said and done, and the band is no more… what’s the LoveSick Radio legacy?

That’s the great thing about music. Our songs will live on forever.

In all of the interviews that I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

We just want to say thank you for asking us to do this. We also want to thank anyone that listens to us. Come see us play and tells people about us. We owe you everything. See you on the road this year.

Click here to “like” LoveSick Radio on Facebook.

Click here to follow LoveSick Radio on Twitter.

Working for IMAVEX has given me access to some of the biggest names in the world of golf. To give you an idea, while in Orlando I met with Martin Hall, Henry Brunton, Mike Bender, Jason Sutton, Mark Sweeney, Jeff Ritter, Peter Kessler, Dylan Ross, Lorin Anderson, and many more. We got in Monday and were in meetings from the time we got there until we left for the airport. We literally left a meeting and grabbed a cab.

Golf Business Network

We work closely with the Golf Business Network, and not only manage their website but also several of their members. GBN has a room during the show, and we set up in there. It also allows us a place to call home for meetings and also schedule meet-and-greets. There is a cocktail party in the room (known as the GBN Clubhouse) every night allowing for networking. I try to take full advantage of that by passing out and collecting business cards left and right.

Other vendors set up in the GBN Clubhouse too. Brands like the Greg Norman Collection and Fairway & Greene have booths to showcase their offerings to GBN members. IMAVEX also has a pretty sweet discount for members. Anyway, they hold several meetings and round table discussions in the room, and we love being able to out our booth up there.

We have a great relationship with GBN, and without guys like Lorin Anderson, Bob Mulcahy, and Grant Way, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Networking Events

One of my favorite things about the show are the networking events. From cocktail parties to meet-and-greets, the PGA Show is a great place to meet the movers and shakers in the game of golf. On Wednesday night, I went to the Brick House Tavern + Tap (they have a great beer selection) for the Junior League meet-and-greet. My close friend Jackie Cannizzo is affiliated with the Junior League, and they had a huge announcement the Friday of the Show. I ended up running into several people I knew including Dennis Sales, Sara Dickson, and Kate Temptesta. I actually hadn’t met Kate until this week but we ran into each other several times.

The mixer was fun, and I’m glad I went. Junior golf is a huge part of the game and tomorrow’s lesson and private club member is a junior. The sooner pros realize that the better. I couldn’t be more proud of Jackie for her attention to the project.

On Thursday night, I was back at the Brick House for another meeting. John Graham, a Twitter superstar, holds one of these every year, and I wasn’t missing this for the world. I ended up meeting tons of people I had only communicated with online. I ended up meeting and chatting with Jason Helman, Rob McGill (love that dude), Brandon Stooksbury, Megan Padua, Aaron Olson, Andrew Marr, Kirk Oguri, and many more. It was fun putting a face to a tweet. I must admit I knew more Twitter handles than I did names!

Show Floor

Last year I didn’t even make it to the show floor. This year I walked around a little bit to see what’s new in the industry. From golf balls to gloves, you can find a little bit of everything here. You can even buy stuff like shafts, balls, towels, and more. If you’re lucky, you will get some free stuff from some of the vendors. Some of the booths, like the Callaway, Taylor Made, Puma and Titleist booths were massive. I’m talking ridiculous setups that you could get lost in. A lot of them have open bars so you can grab a drink while walking around the floor.

On Wednesday, I was walking around and ran into Butch Harmon. I had never met Butch, only in passing, but stopped to say hello. I also ran into Yani Tseng, Alexis (Lexi) Thompson, Natalie Gulbis, Kristina Kim, Brad Faxon and several other pros. It’s neat to be walking around and see Dave Stockton or Scotty Cameron just hanging out on the show floor.

Eating Out & Lodging

When we travel like this, we eat out a lot. When we got in on Monday, we went to The Crab House. Steve loves this place, and while it’s not the best seafood I’ve ever had, it’s solid, and I highly recommend the macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi.

On Tuesday, my good friend Greg came to visit me. He recently moved down to Florida and was only a couple of hours away. He drove up, and we had lunch. It was good to see him. I miss hanging out with him.

Wednesday we met Grant at Hooters and ended the night at Miller’s Ale House. Miller’s is sweet, and has a very open and inviting atmosphere. Every time I am in Orlando I try to swing by there. The place is always busy, regardless of what’s going on at the convention center.

For lodging this year, we stayed at the Hampton Inn. Last year we stayed at the Holiday Inn Castle, but this year we were much closer to the Orange County Convention Center. It was close enough to walk, and we got a GBN discount for staying there. The room was nice, and the hotel had free Wi-Fi. They also had a sweet breakfast every morning. I didn’t get to enjoy it, but the guys did and were impressed. The hotel lobby also allowed for a place to meet people.

The PGA Show is just a ton of fun and a great place to meet new people, to network with everyone, and to see the latest and greatest in the world of golf. The older I get, the more I get dragged in to this industry… and I couldn’t see myself working in any industry but this one. As they always say… FORE!!!

Have you ever been to the PGA Merchandise Show?

I love the name. Mainly because I love Arizona! Where did you guys come up with that band name?

When I joined the group they were trying to call themselves Kung-Fu Grip. I hated that name. I talked them into changing it and we underwent two weeks of tossing ideas on our white boards. When I got to practice one day Phoenix On The Fault Line was on the board. I knew that was it. A week later we voted, and here we are today. We all have different ideas of what it means. To me it means… brotherhood.

I also like the logo. Who designed that?

We currently have two logos floating around. One designed by Liegh Miller and the other by Dan Mecca at Bleeding Media.

You guys have some pretty mature lyrics. Who writes all of the lyrics?

Thank you! I write all of the lyrics. Sometimes the guys come up with the song titles though. On this last album I would say 80% of the titles were the original working titles for the songs. I just make it fit in with the mythology.

Your sound is very polished. It seems you have a pretty professional setup. Do you guys practice a lot to nail that down?

Yes we do. I am also very fortunate to be in the room with eight other extremely talented musicians. Separate we would have all taken different paths through this musical odyssey but together we form something much bigger than ourselves.

Where did you all meet?

Johann and I met playing in the band REBUILT several years ago. The rest of the guys have known each other for years. Some since childhood. When they first began this project, a mutual friend of ours put us together. I loved the sound and camaraderie so I stuck around.

There are a LOT of guys up there on stage… As you said, nine of you. Does it ever seem crowded up there?

Hell yes. Our combined weight is a little over a metric ton. It is kinda like a mosh pit, but on the stage. I collide with people and instruments nightly. I know better than to spill Jon Ball’s beer though. And if I do, I promptly get him another.

What’s with the nicknames… The Prospect and “Big” Andy?

Well sir, thats a long story. The name Johann 51 aka “Nate Gray” had to do with an incident involving an android on one of our adventures. The details of that incident are currently being scribed by our guitarist, Chip Strohs. He is our resident historian/journalist. Ocho was the eighth member. Big Andy and The Prospect are giants (and really brothers). Hence the “big” in Big Andy. The Prospect was our prospective final guy. Once he earned his way into the fraternal order that is POTFL he decided to keep that name. It’s a right of passage really. Once you are reborn into our brotherhood you choose your name and your numbers. Darby is just Darby. I don’t know if that is his first or last name. His wife calls him Darby so that’s good enough for us.

Why do you guys say 3317 A.D.?

I believe it has some sort of numerological value that has not been determined yet. The date itself was an accident. I was only trying to push us ahead by three days and well… I am not the mathematician of the group. Poof! We had gone too far. Time travel is an exact science with many coordinated factors. I, however, believe that everything happens the way it was destined to, so sometimes we just spit whiskey and go, go, go! It took us about a year to get back home but it was an awesome adventure that brought us all closer together.

Original rock in the city of Indianapolis is rare. How do you guys raise the bar night after night?

We tell our stories with the conviction of a dictator leading his troops to war! People seem to like the escape from reality that we provide them. Yes, we are talking about spaceships, zombie robots, and time machines but like in any good sci-fi experience, sometimes those things are just metaphors. Today’s music is a sad state of affairs indeed. Too much carbon-copied, mainstream media manipulation and over-processed corporate consumer nonsense. We don’t wear our sisters jeans, and we don’t use auto tune.

What’s your favorite venue to play in Indy?

I personally love The Melody Inn. We don’t quite fit in there anymore, but I love that place. There is a nostalgia that is thick in the air of that bar. Lots of blood, sweat, and whiskey tears have pushed through that place over the decades. I am glad we have gotten to be a part of it.

What’s the biggest crowd you have ever played for? The smallest?

The biggest show we have played so far was when we opened for Clutch last year. It was a sold-out show and an amazing opportunity and experience. I’d say the smallest show was when we traveled to a festival in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I think there were five people in the bar. The promoters messed that whole experience up. We still had a good time though.

The horns are so unique. What made you want to add horns to the band?

I don’t think we have ever had an intention of adding any instrument. We all just came together like the gravity of a collapsing star. Jon Ball was already part of the show when I walked through the doors. He was the reason I felt that we were on to something special. What he was doing with that baritone sax was not something I have ever heard being done. It was like the band Morphine had a bastard child. It made the sound they were creating unique. We added Darby about a year in and The Prospect jumped in last year. It’s not my lyrics that give us that sci-fi sound. It’s them.

I see you are whiskey drinkers. What’s your favorite whiskey?

I am a Kentucky bourbon man myself. James and Chip seem to like the Irish stuff. Darby is fond of Canadian sipping whiskey but I can’t speak for the rest of the gentlemen. With nine guys, favorites are never a cohesive thing. The consensus, however, is that whiskey is a good thing.

I want that logo on a shirt. What kind of merchandise do you guys have?

We have shirts, hats, hoodies and more. We are currently working on making a LOT more of a variety too. We are a DIY kinda group.

Really digging your website… what content management system do you use for that?

Thank you again! If you asked any of the guys what content management system is used they will tell you it’s called Tony Ferreira. I think they are under the impression that I manage the site with the power of my mind.  It is just bits and pieces of code I have collected and modified to meet our current needs.

P.O.T.F.L. is being featured on the X103 tribute to Nirvana. What does being a part of that project mean to you guys?

It was an honor to have the opportunity to cover one of the greats. Like them or not, Nirvana changed the game. With that respect in mind we tried to make the song our own.

You don’t play a ton of shows in Indy. Are you branching out of the Circle City and playing in other Midwest markets?

We traveled a lot at first but for the last year we have been at home building an army and finishing our new album, “Basement Of The Coliseum”. We will be branching out a bit in 2012 and even more in 2013.

Tell me a little bit more about your relationship with Shoot The Hostage Records.

Shoot The Hostage Records aka STH Media & Publishing is our label/company. We own and operate it. Our mission is to create a legacy of entertainment for the masses of this new interconnected society. Back ten to fifteen years ago you needed to sign with a label to get advertisement and distribution. Now the business model is totally different. I can make quality products and distribute them electronically to all points on the globe. Harnessing social media for advertisement purposes cuts out the millions I would have had to spend getting us out there into the eyes and ears of the world. Social media is the game changer. If you can overthrow governments with it, then you can build empires too.

Where do you guys practice?

We built a bunker in an undisclosed location. I could tell you where, but the Men in Black would undoubtedly show up at your door. I assure you they are not as fun or as witty as Will Smith portrays them to be. The bunker is pretty awesome actually. There are lots of fun electronics, a lab, music room, and of coarse a Jon Ball custom bar. There are NO time travel devices allowed at the bunker though. We learned that the hard way. I keep that stuff locked away safely out of Ocho’s idle hands.

You have a couple of albums under your belt. What have you learned along the way from one album to the next?

We have three now and a fourth one under construction. Through the process of making them we have learned how to work as a unit. We have also learned to check your ego at the door. We don’t hold each others hands through the writing process. I can make a suggestion, but ultimately if it’s your part, you make the decision of what to do there.  Newton’s first law of motion also applies. We keep charging forward with writing new songs. We have to keep that fire alive.

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

Yes. We are swords for hire. We are basically like a time-traveling A-Team. If you can find us…. you can hire us.

I haven’t seen you live… yet. What can someone who hasn’t seen you perform expect from a show?

Exhilarating adventure! We take the listener on a journey. I expect to see you in the front row soon, sir!

You are getting a lot of radio play. You have been featured on stations here in the United States as well as overseas. What was it like the first time you heard your work on the radio?

Words can’t describe it really. We had not even released our first album yet and it was being played on the air. The best is when I am driving and I randomly catch us being played. It’s an awesome moment. Makes me proud of what we have accomplished and it never gets old.

I have to thank Anton Swartz for introducing me to you. How do you guys know him?

Anton and I used to work together at a tech company here in the Indianapolis/Carmel area. I have not been able to prove it, but I am pretty sure he is an extraterrestrial alien. I think he may be a little touchy about that subject, though, so I don’t push it. I will say this, though… if I am in a jam with my website, I call him.

I LOVE the “Basement of the Coliseum” album cover. Who designed that? What’s the meaning behind that image? It’s pretty powerful.

The original art work for the album was done by Faith Mullins. She also happens to be the sister of Jon Ball. She read the lyrics to a song off our album (SteamPig) and that is what she saw. Josh Smith (who also did the graphic design work on our first album) did the design work around Faith’s art. My favorite part of the picture is the two old men in the corner with their ale glasses held high in salute to the ship. The name of the ship is Parsifal. That is our salute to three extraordinary inventors. Hammond Van Ocher, Thomas Birks, and Joachim Jensen. They designed and built the first steam-powered flying pig and named it Parsifal. It is an amazing feat of engineering, truly. It is an even more amazing feat that Birks and Jensen have convinced people that it is just a  piece of art when really it is one of the most powerful airships in the galaxy. You can read more about them at steampig.com.

Are you familiar with rickyleepotts.com presents six bands for six bucks? I would love to chat with you guys about getting you on a bill.

I am indeed familiar with that idea, and we are totally down to rock out with you.

What’s 2012 look like for you guys? Got anything big planned this year?

We plan to release another album, hopefully in October. It’s a concept album tentatively titled “Dethiachi”. We are also hoping to work with a local film company doing a short film of the same name. I can’t tell you much about the concept behind the album but I’ll tell you this much. If Danny Trejo had thirty minutes of zombie killing to do this is what he would want to be listening to while he did it. We also have the novel that Chip is writing about our ridiculous adventures through space and time. If I get my way, there will be graphic novels too. Other than all that, we just plan to rock as much as we can all over Indiana and the Midwest.

When it’s all said and done, what’s the P.O.T.F.L. legacy? What do you want people to remember you for?

There is a lot of irony in asking a time traveler what he wants to be remembered for, don’t you think? We want to be remembered as game changers and adventurers. We take a lot of risks just being us. I want to always look back on what we have created and smile.

Thank you so much for taking the time to sit and chat today. I appreciate it guys. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Thank you so much for the interview, Ricky! I only have a few things to say and I’ll be on my way. Please support local art and music. We have a ton of exceptionally talented people in this town. With your support, we can make Indianapolis an epicenter for creativity in the years to come.

I would also like to tell any would be time travelers out there one extremely important bit of information… avoid 2217. That is all.

Click here to “like” Phoenix On The Fault Line on Facebook.

Click here to follow Phoenix On The Fault Line on Twitter.

Header photo compliments of Liz Nicol of 110db.

I’m starting to get the hang of these PGA professional interviews. There is so much I want to know about Jason Helman. Where do we begin… well, let’s start with your career of choice? What made you want to get into golf?

Well, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do after graduating high school but in 1991 I tripped across an advertisement in Golf Digest for the San Diego Golf Academy, now the Golf Academy of America offering a degree program.  I was already working at a resort that owned a course and I was helping manage the day-to-day operations so, I figured I would turn pro. The program and education I received was phenomenal. I still have many of those relationships today.

You are all over Twitter. Did you enjoy 7 Nights At The Twitter Academy?

I’m very active with social media; I really enjoy Twitter. It has led me to some amazing people in the golf industry such as John Graham and Jason Sutton to name a couple… and the rest of the 7 Nights At The Twitter Academy team.

The Project – “7 Nights At The Twitter Academy” that I developed and put together involved an entire team of people. Rob McGill, Sara Dickson, Jason Sutton, Andrew Marr, Kirk Oguri and Dennis Sales. I came up with the idea after hearing an ad for the Golf Channel’s preview and thought to myself why don’t we do this on Twitter? So, I recruited 7 Coaches from across North America, put a few movie trailers together for the show, sent them the agenda and we were off producing and tweeting about it.  It wasn’t really to rival the Golf Channel; they have a slightly larger budget than us but it was a huge success. We managed 1,719 video views in total for the first week by just posting the unlisted videos on Twitter. In the second week, we blew the videos up on our blogs and Facebook pages and the views tallied up to 2,485. This was kind of a social media experiment as well, to see just how and what works best to get our message out to our clients, golfers and fellow professionals. The videos will be public very soon.

You said “take the “hit” out of the chip” in your video from 7 Nights At The Academy. Past watching the video, what exactly does taking the “hit” out of chip do?

Over the past 19 years I continuously see people trying to make a full golf swing within their short game in an abbreviated, often, inconsistent tempo. They get to the top of a back swing, then they realize they’ve gone too far back, slow down as a reaction then speed up at the bottom. Instinctively, they use their hands and wrists as leverage, to gain speed after they’ve slowed down which turns into more of a “hitting” movement as the majority of the rest of the body has ceased to engage, or essentially stops. If I can get players to use their body parts in the correct sequence they will be able to achieve more solid shots versus this type of segmented motion.

Wait a second… you were the 2010 PGA of Canada Teacher of the Year? That’s pretty sweet. Did winning that affect your lessons at all? How did they deliver the news?

Yes, I was much busier this year and I have a lot of new customers. I got a phone call on a Monday night in February. I was grocery shopping and I almost didn’t answer the call as it was only a 5 digit number that showed up on my mobile, so I thought it was a telemarketer, but, luckily, I picked it up anyway, on the other end was the PGA of Canada President, Glenn Cundari. He was happy to advise me that I had won the coveted award. We had a brief chat, I thanked him and the selection panel and had to sit on it for 7 days until they released their press release which actually gave me time to do my own as well, then of course straight to the social media platforms. I was allowed to tell a few people so of course I called my parents up and texted a few close friends immediately.

By the way, I like that belt buckle.

Thanks; gotta represent. Callaway has been great to me.

Not too many left-handed players out there. Is it weird hitting from the other side of the ball? (I’m right handed… if you couldn’t tell!)

Actually, in Canada this isn’t as much of a rarity as it is in the USA. Our past time is hockey and the majority of players are left-handed and the motion or movement simply carries forward into golf for the most part; it’s in our DNA. But golf is booming here. I read an article this summer that stated more people in Canada play golf than they do hockey. 7 out of 10 times I get the old joke, “Oh you stand on the wrong side of the ball.” So, whenever someone let’s me know that I’m on the wrong side of the ball. I’m quick to call them out and ask them how many right-handed Masters champions from Canada are there? “Pardon,” did you say, “None. I think it is you that is on the wrong side of the ball,” with a small chuckle and grin. Although, I find it way easier to teach right-handers as I can stand opposite them and they can mirror me. I have a great title for my book that will hopefully be finished soon that will touch a little on this issue.

Callaway hat… Callaway shirt. Let me guess… they sponsor you?

Callaway has been very supportive. I’ve been with them for the last 5 years. Thanks to Scott, Preben, Tally and Barry. I hope I can do more with them. I would love to do a series of instructional videos in the future. Cross your fingers.

Where are you originally from?

I was born in Ottawa and then we moved to a very small town called Westport where I grew up. Population 700 at the time.

Tell me a little bit more about Tip It Up Golf Talk Radio.

I did a few radio shows as a golf insider but found it starting to get tough to stay in the media spotlight, so I figured I’d start my own radio show. It’s fun and I do it all from my home office, wait, I mean in a big radio studio. (Laughs.) I defer and bow to the power of my Mac. I choose the people I want to interview. All the shows are pre-recorded a couple of days ahead, so they’re “live to air”. I have a lengthy list of contacts and respected people within the industry and try to align myself with people that are willing to reciprocate in building our brands or businesses together. I’m going to start uploading them to iTunes very soon.

I would love to be on that show! Anyway, I’m looking through your blogroll… there are some pretty great blogs on there. I LOVE  John Graham’s blog. Do you read all of those on a regular basis?

I’m happy to give some blogroll love. If you’re listed on my blogroll it’s a huge sign of respect, admiration or in some cases reciprocation. John is a great guy. I’m happy to call him more than just my colleague; he’s my friend, and we did an AimPoint Technologies clinic together this year. It was the first one ever to be scheduled in the Toronto area. I try and read as much as possible, but as you know, “content is king”, so I’m fairly busy with my own projects trying to keep up with the Jones’ so to speak or the Graham’s and Guru’s in this case (wink, wink!)

Starting with your driver, what’s in your bag? I even want to know what golf ball you play!

Well, of course you’re going to see a little Callaway represented here:

• Driver – Callaway RAZR Hawk 9.5 Tour (with an Accra M5 S3 Dymatch (75g) shaft)
•  3W – RAZR Hawk Tour (with an Accra Accra M5 S3 Dymatch (85g) shaft)
• 2H – Diablo hybrid (18 degree) (with an Accra Accra M5 S3 Dymatch (95g) shaft)
• 3 iron – RAZR X Forged Cavity – KBS – Xflex
• 4 – PW – RAZR X Tour Prototype – KBS Xflex
• SW (56) – 10 bounce & LW (60) 8 bounce – Jaws X-Series – KBS Hi-Rev shafts
• Putter(s) – Odyssey Black Series #1 Wide or #2
• Ball – Callaway Tour iS

What’s your favorite golf course? You are NOT allowed to say Wyndance G.C.

Well, that’s good this opens it up to North America. I was narrowed down to Canada on the Morning Drive when Erik light heatedly jumped on me for picking my own course. It really is a tremendous test and property that Mr. Greg Norman sculpted together. Okay, I will have to go with the Olympic Club in San Francisco. A friend of mine was an assistant there and I was fortunate to play both courses. The Cliffs course is probably the most fun par 3 course that I’ve played in the world. I actually had so much fun I played it again… picture perfect ocean views, double tees and double greens; it was a cool experience.

If you meant in Canada, I will go with Bigwin Island Golf Club, a Doug Carrick design fun to play and from a picturesque standpoint it’s amazing. The National Golf Club of Canada for the tougher test of golf; it’s been ranked #1 for I don’t know how many years.

Speaking of Wyndance, do you get to play a lot of golf being the Director of Instruction?

It depends. As you know it’s a short window here in Canada to earn revenue. I try and play in as many men’s nights at the club as possible. I look at that day as my day off. I guess I probably play about 20 full rounds a year with some late evening 9 hole rounds here and there. For the most part I spend the majority of my time coaching.

Let’s say I wanted to book a lesson with you. What’s that first lesson like?

Well, I would let you know that I don’t teach “lessons”, I provide “coaching sessions”. This concept or paradigm shift has to change for golfers. People need to understand that taking a “lesson” really isn’t going to make much of a difference in their game.  I’m trying to get golfers to comprehend that they should be adopting a coaching model.  I recently wrote a practice article that will be out this season that discusses a similar comparison to this concept. I will not be offering a single session option this year within my academy.

As for your first coaching session, firstly there’s an intake form for you to fill out and then we do a short interview with a series of questions pertaining to how long you’ve played, short term goals, self correction attempts, pertinent injuries, and other questions that I routinely go through to interact and engage with the student. We then move onto a short athletic screening followed by the student showing me their current talent level.  I usually have them hit six shots.  After that I have a pretty good idea of what direction I want to go with the student. Depending on what we’re doing I will sometimes have a fun little match against them at the end of the session.

 You are all over the place… you were recently on Golf Channels hit show the “Morning Drive”. I LOVE those guys. What was that experience like? (I feel like I’m interviewing a celebrity here!)

I graduated from the Golf Academy of America and came down to speak for about 6 hours to 6 individual classes. We parlayed it into a couple of other visits to ESPN Radio and the “Morning Drive” was certainly a highlight of 2011 without question. The people at the Golf Channel were awesome! I was kind of nervous, but simply tried to think that I was just sitting down with the guys talking golf.  I’ve been on TV before but they advised me I was giving a tip about an hour before the show when I was sitting in the green room. The studio is very small; it’s definitely not super safe to swing a club. So, with the “safety first” mentality, I decided on a short game bump and run shot so we didn’t take out a flat screen.  Everyone was very friendly and accommodating they made me feel just like I was part of their team and wow did 6 minutes go by fast… seemed like 30 seconds. I hope I get to do it again. We’ll see.  I’m working on that celebrity status. One of my goals in life or golf is to leave a long lasting memory on the sport and be one of the most prominent teachers to ever come out of Canada. It’s a process but I will get there.

What’s the Digital Golf Coach?

This is a new piece of equipment that I’m going to start training my athletes with. It can do a variety of things that I know will assist players in developing skills faster. It helps with developing putting feel as well as sequence or pattern training in the swing. You can use it to train with specific clubs, positions and/or swing techniques, and practice rhythm and tempo with the metronome functionality or play a practice round with it to capture the data and come up with real raw data of what you do during a round versus what you accomplish on the range range. It also has the ability to upload the data to a digital web portal for the coach to analyze the information even if he/she wasn’t present during your practice. Through the use of more advanced software on the portal, the golfer can see his or her swing through 3D animations. No doubt, It has a cool factor but the information it provides the golfer will far outweigh that in results.

You are a member of the Golf Business Network. How has being affiliated with those guys helped you grow as an instructor?

The Golf Business Network is an organization that specifically identifies the necessities required for specific categories of the golf industry and they provide valuable information and seminars that help members of those specific categories grow or develop their business model.

Will we see you at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show?

You bet! I will also be there for the #tweetup #2012!

You look good in green… nearly all of your magazine covers you’re wearing a green shirt!

Thanks… I’m not even Irish! (Laughs.) I’m of Scottish/German heritage. It wasn’t really feasible for me to fly down to Florida for the last cover so we got approval from a previous shoot to use those photos. I have a running joke with one of the girls (Sarah) that I used to work with at the club that I wore it just for her because she likes lime green shirts on me too. I sent her a couple of signed copies just for fun. I guess I’ll have to do another photo shoot with some new headshots.

You have a degree in Professional Golf Management. Where did you go to school? Did you play golf in college?

I had originally been accepted to a couple of universities here in Canada to play football and go through to be a school teacher. I was a quarterback but certainly had the foresight to see what the future might offer given my size, 5’9, 185, quick with a good arm but also a realist. I was more the Doug Flutie style but I could see the forest through the trees. So, I took a year off and figure out what I wanted to do in life. I saw an ad in Golf Digest as mentioned above and I chose to attend The Golf Academy of America and choose golf as my passion to follow.  It was a great experience and if anyone wants to get into the golf business I would recommend they enroll in this program. I learned and gained so much from the instructors and coaches at this college. Brad Turner, Charlie King, and the late Coach Conrad Rehling were all mentors to me in a variety of facets that relate to the industry.

What does being a class “A” member mean?

In my opinion, becoming a Class “A” Member of the alliance of PGA’s certainly proves that you were willing to complete a program and achieve a higher education in industry knowledge. An apprentice in any trade always strives to complete the set program, it provides the ability to earn more money, earn higher job positions, gain a certain amount of respect and support within your industry as a member of the organization. Here in the PGA of Canada we have candidates for Membership and Assistants, once you earn your Class “A” certification you become an official member of the association.

There are a LOT of great PGA teaching professionals out there. Putting the top 100 list aside, who is the best teacher in the world?

That’s kind of a loaded question. There are a number of them that are great marketers and brand builders. I don’t really favorite one teacher over another. I think the best teacher in the world is the one that can communicate, bond, build relationships, develop and present clear concise concepts and information to their students in a fun, creative learning environment so that we can continue to grow the game and our students continue to love the game.

What does it take to hold PGA TOUR credentials? Do you have to apply for that every year?

The tour sends them to you every year but you have to have a player on the PGA, Nationwide or Champions Tour that you work with. Yes, your player applies for them every year and signs off on the paper work to the tour headquarters and they issue your new one.

Speaking the TOUR, what player(s) have you worked with on TOUR? Do you follow them to events or just coach from home?

I’ve worked with several players over the years. Tyler Martin, Bryn Parry, Keith Nolan, Sara Brown, Alana Johnson, Seema Sadekar, Stacey Bieber and Rebecca Lee Bentham to name a few. And it depends… I’ve traveled regionally if their close by the area or they’ve flown me to events such as US Open Sectionals or other big events. I also Skype with them, usually just to share lots of positive thoughts and re-assurance as well as Facebook, Twitter or the old school text message. But, nothing is better than being there for the hands on experience if it’s cost feasible.

Calling text messaging old school… I love it! You are all over social media outlets… you even blog. In your opinion, how has that changed the way your business operates? How has the Internet changed the face of the golf industry?

Well, if you’re not participating in the social media arena in this day and age, you’re in the dark ages. I’ve set aside time every Monday morning during the season to accomplish or keep up with this side of the marketing/communication or attend to new business. As for changing the industry, there’s a lot more information out there for golf that’s for sure and if you’re not one of the people presenting or engaging the very people that are seeking the information I’m afraid you’re going to be left behind.  The customer will simply seek out other information providers and your potential client may have just clicked on your competitor’s site.

I know you have a Swinkey… what color? Mine’s pink!

Mine is tile wrapped with my company logo. Are you surprised? I didn’t think so. (Laughs.)

Do you listen to music when you practice?

I don’t listen to music when I practice. One would have to have enough time to actually practice for me to do that. My “to do” list is way too long. I probably had 2 quality practice sessions last season where I actually had the opportunity to focus.

What’s a lesson (coaching session) with you cost? Do you set your prices, or does the facility? 

As mentioned earlier, I won’t be offering any lessons. If someone wants a single it will probably be something like $250/hour for a couple of reasons. One, I’m not interested in teaching one off band aid sessions and it’s my objective to steer people to a learning/coaching model. My coaching plans will be 3 Month, 6 Month or 12 Month plans. I set my own pricing according to the other facilities within the current model of the club and other pros in the area. You get what you pay for in this world.

Do you do playing lessons?

Yes, more and more people are finally finding that these are more beneficial than range practice. I find myself coaching more on the course than on the range every year. This is where the game is played and this is where people should learn after they have developed some of the skill sets we worked on or patterned.

You are a pretty active member of the Business of Golf Instruction on Facebook. Have you learned anything in the group? What value do you see in sharing all of that information?

I really like that group. Most of the people that participate are friendly and willing to share their ideas. I try and help as much as possible where I can in expressing some of my experiences over the years and hopefully some of the group members can benefit from that knowledge. I have learned a few things and tried to incorporate some of those ideas into my business in order to grow my customer base as different things work better for certain demographics.

What’s next for Jason Helman… what does 2012 have in store for you, your golf game, and for Jason Helman Golf?

Well, 2012 got off to a good start. I was named to the Top 50 US Kids Instructor Honorable Mention worldwide list and while this is certainly an achievement being one of the few Canadians named to this list, I’m still striving for the top. So, one of the goals for next year will be to move up a list to the US Kids Top 50 Teacher List. I have a number of things/goals to accomplish for 2012, setting up a school in the USA and China, finish and launch my book, do another episode of “7 Nights At The Twitter Academy”, attain a couple of more tour players, attend a couple of trade shows, booking some corporate outings, the PGA of Canada Coach of the Year award is on my radar, try and line up some speaking engagements for social media and instructor business development.

I will shut up now… but I could talk to you all day buddy! Thank you so much for taking part in this. That was a lot of fun. In all of the interviews that I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

I’m sure we’ll have lots of time to chat at the tweet up and PGA Merchandise Show. I had a great time and thank you for the support. If any other professionals would like to partner up with a clinic or school I’d be happy to join forces. Having said that if any fellow professionals require any opinions or assistance I have an open door, open contact policy, feel free to drop me a line. #howgolfprosroll

Click here to “like” Jason Helman Golf on Facebook

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Click here to watch Jason Helman Golf on YouTube.

Each week, Tiësto’s Club Life Radio will air a countdown of Tiësto’s current favorite songs during the weekly special “Tiësto’s Top Ten”, as well as new and classic editions of Tiësto’s “Club Life” radio show, which currently airs on SiriusXM’s Electric Area, channel 52, on Saturdays at 10:00 PM EST.

“I’m really excited to be taking my relationship with SiriusXM further by developing my own Club Life channel,” said Tiësto. “It will be an awesome way to showcase the incredible artists on my own label, Musical Freedom, play new material of my own as well as other music that I’m really passionate about.”

Tiësto’s Club Life Radio will be available in the Dance/Electronic category through the SiriusXM App for smart phones and mobile devices. It will also be available on channel 340 on Edge satellite radios and on SiriusXM Internet Radio. Tiësto’s Club Life Radio will launch in early 2012.

Tiësto is a DJ, performer, producer and universal cultural phenomenon. His achievements include a GRAMMY nomination, MTV awards, performing at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics and selling out venues around the world to millions of fans. He recently set the record for the largest single DJ show in U.S. history with his performance in LA. Tiësto has collaborated with some of the music industry’s biggest names. Mixmag recently voted Tiësto as “The Greatest DJ of All Time.”

About SiriusXM Radio
SiriusXM Radio is America’s satellite radio company. SiriusXM broadcasts more than 135 satellite radio channels of commercial-free music, and premier sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather, and data services to over 21 million subscribers. SiriusXM offers an array of content from many of the biggest names in entertainment, as well as from professional sports leagues, major colleges, and national news and talk providers.

SiriusXM programming is available on more than 800 devices, including pre-installed and after-market radios in cars, trucks, boats and aircraft, smartphones and mobile devices, and consumer electronics products for homes and offices. SiriusXM programming is also available at siriusxm.com, and on Apple, BlackBerry and Android-powered mobile devices.

Click here to “like” Tiësto on Facebook.

Click here to follow Tiësto on Twitter.

Click here to watch Tiësto on YouTube.

“This book will be treasured by everyone who loves golf,” says Button. “It’s targeted at kids aged 8-17, but golf fans of any age will enjoy it. It’s the magical story of the golf gods, Ti Ming and Tem Po, who turn their believers into champion golfers and teach them the importance of honesty, respect and perseverance.”

“Finding Ti Ming & Tem Po” has found a legion of fans far and wide. Dr. Bob Rotella, the world’s leading sports psychologist and bestselling author, wrote the book’s foreword and had this to say about Finding Ti Ming & Tem Po, “As I have been teaching golfers for years, the game is played primarily in the mind and in the imagination. This book is a great way to get the mental message of the teachings of golf to players young and old.”

PGA TOUR star David Toms, winner of the 2001 PGA Championship, also is a fan. “I’ve known about the golf gods since I was 12 years old,” says Toms. “And now, finally, someone has brought them to life.” “Finding Ti Ming & Tem Po” has also received favorable reviews from a host of television and radio broadcasts, such as ABC Television, CBS SportsRadio, Yahoo! Sports Radio and Fox Sports Radio.

In “Finding Ti Ming & Tem Po”, Button sets the mystical Ti Ming and Tem Po in the lives of a diverse group of people. Ti Ming and Tem Po are the true guardians of the game. They know all, see all and control the fate of everything in golf. Disguised as small wooden statues, they come alive in the dream world and teach their students to love, respect and master the game. All the while, the golf gods impart life lessons and virtues the game instills, such as the importance of confidence, respect and sound decision-making.

Ti Ming and Tem Po’s journey touches the lives of many, including Jack, a curious boy seeking confidence; Anna, a cocky tomboy with a strained relationship with her father; and Tommy, a once-promising amateur golfer whose life is derailed by bad decisions. With the help of Ti Ming and Tem Po, things change dramatically for all who believe. Finding Ti Ming & Tem Po, Legend of the golf gods is a magical story filled with character-building morals.

“The game of golf can be a metaphor for life,” says Button. “All of the emotions people experience can occur in one round of golf – joy, sorrow, fear, pride, uncertainty, surprise, gratitude, excitement, humility, etc. As the golf gods illustrate, those who love and respect the game of golf also lead happy, honorable lives.”

About the Author
“Finding Ti Ming and Tem Po: Legend of the Golf Gods” is Mark Button’s first book. A native of Lawrence, Kansas, Button is the executive editor of Texas Links Magazine. A graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas, Button has covered sports as a writer and editor for more than 17 years. For the past 7, he has exclusively covered golf in Texas. He currently lives in Houston.

About AuthorHouse
AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industry’s only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrated 15 years of service to authors this year.For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 1888-519-5121. For the latest, follow @authorhouse on Twitter.

So we met on Facebook… I actually wasn’t familiar with your work until then. Now I am seeing you all over the place. Let’s start with your name. Is your real name Beadz Jones? And why a “Z” and not an “S”?

Beadz Jones isn’t my birth name, it’s actually Derrick Jones. The name Beadz came to be from me having braids with beads on them. I wore braids and beads for over eight years and whenever I rapped or performed I performed with a lot of energy and all people would see was my braids and beads going everywhere. So in high school some of the girls thought it was cute and would come up to me in the hallway and asked me to shake my beads… the name stuck from there. I use the “Z” instead of the “S” because it looks cooler to me. (Laughs.)

What’s it like working for Manatee Records?

It’s great being a part of Manatee Records. I’m the lead artists on the label and I also have an executive position with them. I play a major role on helping make decisions in what direction the label takes. Some of the artists on the label deal with marketing and promotions.

Where are you originally from?

I’m originally from Chicago. I was born on the south side of Chicago, and I spent my peak years in Harvey/Riverdale, Illinois which is like ten minutes from the city of Chicago.

I see you are a Sox fan. Why not the Cubs?

I started off a Cubs fan when I was young, but when I got to the age to really understand I was from the south side I became a Sox fan because they’re on the south side. I’m a fan of all Chicago teams though.

You have produced a ton of work. How is a mix tape different than an EP or a full-length album?

Well the main difference between a mix tape and an actual album is the fact that on a mix tape there are no rules. What I mean by that is on a mix tape you can take/use other artists beats and samples without permission… basically because mix tapes are mainly for promotional use only. On most mix tapes, artists get DJs to mix and blend records together. In most cases there is no particular structure. When an artist works on an album, they trying to find your lead records that will catch the consumer or your fan base; they’ll look forward to your project. Also on an album an artist will work with producer and different artists to build the body of work which means there more business involved in legal ramifications.

You say you are “one of the realist in it”… but what is “it”?

When I say I’m “one of the realist in it”, I’m saying I’m one of the realist in this industry. The things I rap about are things I have personally experienced or have seen those close by me experienced. I don’t go far out of things that I don’t know. If I’m not sure about something, I don’t rap about it. I do over exaggerate, or talk about things that’s out of my tax bracket. I don’t rap about Maybachs cause I never been in one… I don’t rap about the stars, the moon or the galaxies because I’ve never been. I feel I have been successful to this point because I kept it real thus far.

Do you write all of your own lyrics?

Yes, I write all my own lyrics. I write everything and do most of the singing as well.

They dubbed you the “Face of Chicago”. You were featured in an issue of Hip Hop Weekly. What sort of exposure does something like that get you?

It’s been a blessing to appear in Hip Hop Weekly Magazine and the other magazines I’ve been featured in. A magazine as big as HHW puts you in the presence of the top hip hop artists in the music industry. It helps build the awareness for independent artists such as myself.

Do you play a lot of live shows up there in the Windy City?

Yes, I have performed in majority of all the top hip hop venues in Chicago. I also travel a lot and perform in different states as well.

What are you listening to these days… what’s on your iPod?

I predominately listen to hip hop & R&B,. As far as mainstream artist go, I still listen to older music like Jay Z, Tupac, DMX & Biggie. I do listen to artists like Lil Wayne and Drake and any other artist who’s successful… because I have to take in consideration what they are doing to be in the position they’re in. I also listen to a lot of underground Chicago music.

How did you get connected with Raw Product Music?

Raw Product Music was a group that I started when I was younger. Now we go by Dowg Mobb Ent or Team DME.

Do you have a job outside of music?

No, I don’t have a job outside of music. I’ve been fortunate enough to maintain off of music, paid shows and features.

Wait a second… and you were featured in an issue of The Source. Lil Wayne was on the cover of that one. Man, you are killing it up there.

Yeah, I was featured in The Source, Hip Hop Weekly Magazine, Ozone Magazine, Hood Mag, SIR Mag, Ford Mag and a few more. It’s like a snowball effect once the people pick up on you and you stay consistent… one thing leads to another.

Is the scene you are in competitive, or do you guys share ideas and shows?

It’s both; it’s very competitive on the Chicago music scene at the same time it’s certain artists share ideas, plans and strategy.

Tell me a little bit more about “A.W.N”.

“A.W.N” is the name of one of my CDs. It stands for “America’s Worse Nightmare”, meaning “I’m a Nightmare to America” in  various way. I’m a nightmare with my music and intelligence. I’m not the average rap artist. I feel I’m in the process to make an impact in the music industry how a Jay Z or a 50 Cent did. They both were successful making music and business moves.

I see you are also a Bulls fan. As a matter of fact, you wrote the official Derrick Rose theme song. How does an opportunity like that even present itself?

Some opportunities you have to create and that’s exactly what I did with the D Rose them song. I made the song because I felt he deserved a song. I did the song out of RESPECT for what he recreated for Chicago basketball and the song just took off and the people made it successful and created the awareness of the song.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations?.

My mom and my son are my biggest inspirations. Life itself inspires me to make the music I make though.

You are all over Twitter. In your opinion, how has the internet and social media changed the way people absorb music?

The Internet and social sites make it easier for an artist to reach more people without spending a lot of money. I can be in NY and still handle business in MN with the web and social media. I’m able to keep my fans in tune with me easier by a click of a button.

You’re over 21… what’s your favorite drink of choice?

Awww man… I’m Remy VSOP is my #1 choice. I also like Hennesy, Grey Goose and Rose. Those my favorites.

What would you be doing if you were not recording?

If I wasn’t a recording artist I would’ve perused the career to be an on air radio personality on an urban station.

Some people call it rap… others hip-hop. What do you call it? Is there a difference between the two?

Some artists are rappers and some are hip hop artists. Hip hop to me is the culture and rap is just part of the culture. Hip hop has substance; it’s just not words over a beat. A good hip hop artists you’ll feel like you know them and the music is everlasting. Rappers are trendy and are only here for the moment.

What’s a typical Friday night look like for you?

It really depends but Fridays are busy… sometimes I’m traveling performing or making appearance in a club.

I remember listening to rap a lot growing up. I always liked the poetic side of the lyrics. But the whole “east coast / west coast” thing got in the way. Why can’t everyone just be friends? You are stuck in the middle here living in the Midwest.

I think it just depend on the type of people and the type of egos they have what causes rap “beef”. Egos tend to run high in the rap world and rap is oriented from the streets so the combination can potentially cause problems. Some rap “beef” is fun and entertaining because battling is part of the culture. The problem comes when people take it too far.

When you sit down to write a new track, what is that process like?

When I make a song the process is like talking to a woman I would like to hook up with… some are easier than others. (Laughs.) I ride with the beat and listen to it and I talked back to it. If me and that beat is meant to be, a good song come out.

Tell me about your relationship with Emily Grimes.

Emily is a photographer out Chicago. She made her name by doing a lot of photos at the underground hip hop spots. I took a liking to her work and I hired her to do photo shoots for me and the artists involved with my company. I recently had her take photos of the behind the scenes of  my video Everything Cold featuring my artist D Greazy.

How was your Christmas?. Get everything on your wish list?

I just wished for a strong end to 2011. I got two videos in the editing process and I’m shot another video for another one of my songs on December 27. I just want to end 2011 strong, and get a good jump on the new year.

From what I can tell, you had a pretty good 2011. What’s next for you… what do you have in store for 2012?

In the first quarter of 2012 music fans should see me appear in at least three more major magazines. I start my promo tour top of the year as well. Also there will be more videos to come and another CD.

In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

I would like to thank you for taking time to interview me! I would like to thank BC the Man for linking us up. Also would like the readers to follow me on Twitter. Mad love to everybody who supports independent artists no matter what genre. Be on the look out for Manatee Records / Dowg Mobb Ent and Breezy Diamond Dolls!

Click here to friend Beadz Jones on Facebook.

Click here follow Beadz Jones on Twitter.

I can’t sleep when the sun goes down either! I love that song man… did you ever think you would have so much success when you produced that track?

No, I never knew that. It’s so hard to predict what is going to be big and what will not be. I’m so happy that Axwell lifted the song and made the release happen.

You are originally from Sweden. Isn’t it cold over there?

Yes, it’s crazy cold here… the only thing we can do is spend time in the studio. I guess that is good! We have like 7 months of winter. Every time spring comes it feels very surprising.

You are involved with quite a few labels… Ultra, Axtone, La vida Locash. Why can’t you just pick one? Does it ever get confusing working with so many different labels?

(Laughs.) Yes, it’s like this in the dance music industry. Now I’m working exclusively with Ultra Records for the album, so that feels good.

I love your single Teenage Crime too. You are pumping out one great single after another. Is there an album in the works here?

It’s set to release in early March. I’m just doing the last mixing and mastering. I’m really happy with the result.

Tell me about your relationship with Empire Artist Management.

Empire Artist Management is my worldwide management company. They are the ones who deal with my remixes, gigs and other inquiries. We have a great connection and we are achieving the goals together.

Your website just redirects people to your social media sites. Do you manage all of your social media sites? You are crushing it on Facebook and Twitter by the way!

Thanks! Yes, I manage my Facebook and Twitter efforts. Sometimes my management will post a contest or gig. Twitter is an amazing way of staying in touch with fans and other DJ friends; it’s so easy!

I love the artwork for the single Alive. Who designed that?

His name is Ricky Tillblad. He has done a lot of stuff for the Swedish House Mafia guys as well!

You aren’t playing a ton of shows… is that because of the album?

Yes, my main focus has been in the studio. It takes so much time to make an album. It’s crazy… It feels good to let go of it after all this time!

There is a new DJ Mag Top 100. I am not that impressed with the list. It seems that the guys at the top are all producing pop tracks. How does the Top 100 list affect you and getting shows?

Right now I think the list is about the people who does the biggest productions at the moment and who gets it out to the masses. I think it would be nice if there could be a more diverse mix of DJs on the list, but it’s up to the fans so there is not much to argue with. If I get on the list I think it would affect me positively with bookings, but I still have alot of work to do.

There are a ton of remixes of Can’t Sleep. When a DJ remixes your track, do they need permission from you? Do you get to listen to the remix before it’s released?

Yes, its often the label who goes after the remixes. I always have to approve the remix though.

You also did some modeling early on. Do you still do that, or is that in the past?

No, I gave that up. I think my modeling agency was pretty tired of me anyway since I was always DJing, and I rarely had any time to work.

What’s the biggest crowd you have ever played in front of? Do you get nervous playing in front of big crowds?

I think it was around 15,000. I don’t ever focus on the size of the crowd… I always try to get everyone going, in smaller clubs with capacities of 300-500. The thing that can get me nervous though is if I am tired before the gig. That can sometimes set me off balance so I always try to rest before and show.

What’s on your iPod right now… what are you listening to these days?

I’m listening a lot to old music… some The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Iggy Pop. I like that stuff. Since I’m doing gigs all the time, it’s nice to listen to that kind of laid back stuff when I’m not in the club.

Tell me a little bit more about Adrian Lux TV.

It’s under development at the moment… more to come!

Your logo is on a lot of stuff… do you ever wear your own merchandise around the house or the studio?

(Laughs.) Yes, sometimes if I am hungover or on laundry days.

What’s next for you… what’s 2012 hold for Adrian Lux?

I think the main thing will be the release of my album, and then taking my gigs to the next level.

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit with me. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

I want to thank my fans around the world who have faith in my music. I wish I could gather all of you guys and have one big party!

Click here to “like” Adrian Lux on Facebook.

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Afrojack was nominated (and subsequently won) his first GRAMMY in the same category this past February for his and David Guetta remix of Madonna’s Revolver. Afrojack also worked on several high profile songs this year that have been recognized by The Recording Academy with GRAMMY nominations. Although not personally nominated for his work, he is proud to have had a hand in these significant records.

Chris Brown’s Look At Me Now is vying for “Best Rap Performance” and “Best Rap Song” respectively. (Afrojack is a co-producer on the song nominated.) Nothing But The Beat by David Guetta, which is up for “Best Electronica Album”. (Afrojack is a co-producer on the songs; Titanium, Lunar, The Future and I Just Wanna)

The 54th annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast on CBS on February 12, 2012. Afrojack will attend the ceremony in LA.

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