Let me guess. Your name is Will Woodrow?

Actually Will Woodrow Nelson, but Willy Nelson was already taken.

How long have you been performing?

I started my solo project in 2005. It’s gone through several line-up changes. Liz has been with me for a year and a half . My guitarist is filling in until we find a solid permanent. I’ve been performing for a lot longer though. I guess you could say my music career started when I first picked up a bass. I’ve played in bands as early as 2,000, but used to hip-hop prior to that. I put down the keyboard after I picked up the bass.

I see you are playing a six string bass there. Why a six string?

I love to experiment. The six string opens up a whole new world of possibilities. I like to work out arrangements that seem impossible to juggle both singing and playing. I like to push myself creatively. I like to hold a groove on 1 hand, and solo with the other.

Do you write all of your own lyrics?

Yes.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

I generally take from true stories and situations in my life. I write about myself, family members, friends, girlfriends, etc…

Do you have a job outside of music?

I’ve made a living playing music for the last few years, but not music alone. Selling merchandise, booking, and recording bands, pressing shirts, and hustling in different ways to stay afloat. Working regular jobs to get by during tough times. I’m actually working on a project to open a retail location that will be an all-in-one shop for bands.

Are you nice to Liz?

(Laughs) Unless I want to sleep in the doghouse. We’ve been a couple for over a year now.

Where did you guys meet?

She owns Lizards (a bar and music venue) on the south side of Indianapolis. We we’re playing there and it was our drummers last show. I mentioned it on stage and she spoke up. The rest is history.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

On the bass I would say Victor Wooton, Claypool, Jaco Pastorius, and Jean Baudin. If I was talking bands it would be 90’s grunge, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Primus, 2pac, Beastie boys, and anything rebellious with a groove.

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

One of the most memorable for me was Les Claypool. He’s weird. Different. Says funny things. I like that.

What are you drinking on stage?

Probably Crown Royal or Captain Morgan. Water sometimes.

How did you react to the passing of the King of Pop?

It was unexpected. I was surprised. My daughter is a fan. She went as MJ for Halloween last year. I’m not really that into pop culture. Can’t tell you the last time I listened to the radio.

Is that an actual tattoo that is pictured on your MySpace page?

Yes. I have several. That one takes up my entire right side. It hurt so bad!

Speaking of MySpace, what are your thoughts on the service?

I feel like it’s still a good place to find bands, network with musicians, but in general I think it’s lost its luster for the fans and regular non-music folk. It’s still a great tool for musician’s though.

Are you on Twitter?

Yeah, I don’t tweet regularly though. I’m pretty sure my Facebook updates are linked to it.

Describe your genre in one word.

Koolaid. (Lots of colors and flavors.)

Where are you originally from?

I’m from Indianapolis. I’ve lived in other cities, but my daughter is here.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would you go?

I would like to visit many other countries, but I think I would probably still live somewhere in America. Possibly Hawaii.

You have your cell phone number listed on your MySpace page. Are you not worried about people calling you at all hours of the night?

No. I get calls at all hours of the night anyway. I actually had some really random drunk girl call me at 3:00 AM this morning. No idea who she was, but said they we’re fans. Felt good. I knew the number though; it was another band in Chicago. Guess they let their friends listen to the music. Also, I leave it on there so I can take advantage of opportunities when they arise. I want it to spread as much as possible.

Does anyone ever call you just to talk?

Yes. However, with all the bands I book, I’m pretty talked out at the end of the day. Club owners, promoters, band members, friends…It gets hectic at times.

Tell me a little bit more about that Jell-O wrestling.

It was a great birthday party. Packed house, and everyone had an absolute blast. Who doesn’t want to see pretty girls Jell-O wrestle in bikini’s? Also four awesome bands. Just a promotional Idea to get people out. It worked. Going to do it again in July.

Tell me a little bit more about First Amendment Records.

With the way the scene is currently, labels are less needed by independent artists. Since we’re mostly do-it-yourselfers, I’m working on non-exclusive deals for services these bands aren’t able to, or wanting to do themselves. I would like to do a few old school contracts with bands that just knock my sox off, but for now I’m planning to open a retail shop where bands can record, get they’re cd’s duplicated, take advantage of printing, t-shirts, gear, rehearsal space, lessons, web, and graphic design, booking, touring, etc…

I see you have played some shows here in Indianapolis. Is that the Patio I see? Or the Rouge? Perhaps it was Spin Nightclub?

The marquee you see in the photo would have been at Spin Nightclub. We’ve played almost all the live music venues in the city. Especially the ones that house original music.

You have some pretty sweet concert posters. Who designs all of those?

Thank you. I make them all. I enjoy art, and graphic design as well.

I am really digging your voice man. You ever get sore up there screaming your lungs out every night?

Only when I smoke too many cigarettes. It doesn’t get sore, but I lose power a lot sooner. I actually quit, and started again after three years like an idiot. Drinking and smoking like a rock star, doesn’t make you sound like one. Other than that, the pipes stay pretty stretched out from singing regularly. I can walk away hoarse, but wake up like new again.

So based on your MySpace pictures, you are willing to autograph just about anything huh?

(Laughs) I remember one night when there was a line of girls on stage for Liz to sign their boobs. For some reason girls like to whip them out at our shows. Just so happens, there was a night when a few wanted they’re asses signed.

You must really like Jell-O.

The Jell-o wrestling/rock and roll show draws a crowd. I think it makes a good atmosphere for a fun party. It’s something different no one else has done, and I’m all about trying fresh concepts for putting on awesome shows. I’ve only done it once so far.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Making a living doing what I love. I’ll probably play music until I die, or at least always have my hands somewhere in the business of music. Like I said, I want to get this shop opened up, and watch it grow.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

A good father, A good son, a good brother, a good friend, A good man, and a sick bassist, with some damn good substance in my lyrics. I’m a realist. I don’t expect to make a revolutionary impact, but I would like to make a dent.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Thank you for the interview. Hope to see some new faces at a show to discover what we’re all about. Love making new friends. If you read this interview, please tell me you did so. I’ll email you a new track from our latest album we’re working on to say thanks. You can also message me on Facebook or MySpace. Peace!

I have to know where you guys got the name.

I was helping our singer Mike clean out his parents’ attic one day, and we found this weird, old history book from a library. When we opened it up, someone had written “TREATY OF PARIS” on the inside cover with a pencil. We thought it would be funny to call our band that. Or it could mean something else entirely.

I have spent a lot of time in Paris, actually. Have you guys ever been there?

I have never been, but I would love to go. I want to go to the Louvre! And hang out with Anthony Bourdain. But I guess I would have to open a sweet restaurant to do that.

Where did you guys meet?

High School, through various Chicago bands, mutual friends; take your pick.

How long have you been performing together?

Well, when you factor in all the time-travel we have been doing, I would say about twenty-eight years. But if you take all those quantum physics equations away, I think we have been a band for about six.

Where do you guys practice?

At The Stained Glass Palace – the nickname for my house. It’s quite the pad. It’s a mansion with forty-two rooms and a miniature golf course in the backyard. Plus we have this system rigged up where you push a button in the kitchen and a random Taco Bell item comes down a chute and onto our kitchen table! That was there when we moved in.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

I think we once played for 3,000 – 5,000 people playing at the Lincoln Park Zoo a few years back – opening for none other than Collective Soul. That was an interesting evening. Almost as interesting as playing at Bamboozle a few weeks ago or opening for U2 last year playing for 50,000 people a night. They actually asked if they could open for us but we said, come on guys. You are getting all the money. Don’t ask us to play for two hours if you are only going to be paying us with Panera Bread coupons. At least give us Chipotle coupons. They said no, so we finished off the rest of the tour playing first just like we planned.

The smallest?

We played a show recently in Little Rock, Arkansas for about eight people. And we brought the rock! Before that, we were messing around with this experimental laser gun my dad had set up in the attic, and accidentally shrunk ourselves! Oops. While we were trying to figure out how to unshrink ourselves, we came across this hidden village of this weird blue people who all dressed the same and were all guys, except for this one girl with blond hair and an old guy with a beard. They had miniature instruments and were fans of Treaty of Paris, so we played a show for them. Then one guy tried to give us a gift, but it was really a bomb. So we got the hell out of there.

Do you guys have a favorite venue?

Outside of Chicago, we always have a great time playing at The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, and Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey was great too. Gabe’s in Iowa City is pretty awesome/gross in an awesome way. Anywhere on the West Coast is great too because, well, it’s California and everything is better there. There are so many great places to play in Chicago and I feel like we have played most of them. Chicago shows are always fun no matter where we play because we are playing for our friends and our best fans. The energy from the crowd is always the best at our Chicago shows.

What do I have to do to get you guys to Indianapolis?

What do we have to do to get you to see us in Columbus or Cleveland? We’ll come to Indianapolis, but you have to pay us $1,000 in Chipotle gift cards. No more Panera cards! We still have a lot left over from the U2 tour and they all expire next month! I have to eat Panera Bread three times a day!

How do you know Chris Nanney?

This is an odd question…Chris and I grew up on the same street together and went to the same grade school, middle school and high school.

Who writes all of your lyrics?

Mike and I write our own lyrics for our own respective songs, and when we get stuck, everyone else helps out and offers ideas/critiques. I am trying to get Lady Gaga to write some lyrics for us. She still hasn’t gotten back to me. Every time I try to leave a message, it goes straight to this voicemail of someone named Doug. I think I entered her number wrong on my telephone. My, my, my telephone. My, my, my telephone.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Anywhere. I could pick up the guitar after not playing it for a while, play something random and become inspired by it. Then get sick of it a day later and let it age on my hard drive like a fine wine or a moldy cheese, depending on how good the idea was. Most of the time, I will revisit it later and try to make a song out of it. As far as lyrics go, we take whatever we have going on with our lives and write about that. No one knows this, but most of Mike’s songs are about yoga and Whole Foods. Mine are about Deb from the TV show Dexter.

I’m sorry but you will never record a song better than Waking up the Dead. What is that song about?

Well then we better give up right now! That’s the end of this band! We peaked! Might as well go start a Rage Against The Machine cover band!

Who did the album artwork for your debut album?

Some artsy LA kid. We were going for a Roy Lichtenstein/pop art look and I think he succeeded at conveying that.

You guys play the Metro a lot. That is actually one of my favorite venues. Do you guys live close to there?

It is one of our favorites, too!

Are you fans of the White Sox or the Cubbies?

Cubs.

Will the Cubs ever win a World Series?

I doubt it, but stranger things have happened. Like the Sox winning a world series.

Where can I get some Treaty of Paris merchandise?

From our website! Or from our online merchandise store. Or come to a show. We usually have great merch deals.

You guys are songwriters. Most songs are stories and have a meaning to someone. So, having said that, tell me a story.

Once upon a time, there was an island. A plane crashed on the island. Little did the survivors know, the island was already home to some scary people and two feuding gods who made up weird rules on the island, like women couldn’t have babies and no swimming until an hour after eating. The survivors later learned that one of the island gods created a series of events that caused their plane to crash to bring them to the island so that he could hold a series of job interviews for his job. He wanted to retire and needed a replacement. The job was to protect a golden cave on the island from harm, and from the other island god, who was his jealous twin brother who could turn into black smoke and kill people. But not the people that the first island god was interviewing. They had immunity. In the end, the first island god was killed by one of the scary other people already living on the island who was tricked into it by the jealous brother god, and the plane crash survivors found the golden cave, turned off the lights in the golden cave, which briefly turned the evil god into a human, killed him, and then turned the power back on. Some people died, some left the island, some stayed and then after everyone had died, they all met up in the afterlife and lived – er, died happily ever after. The end.

Dan, when did you shave?

Tuesday.

You guys are on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and MySpace. Which is your favorite social networking service?

I think YouTube is the greatest source of entertainment on the Internet. That’s where we post all of our goofy video blogs and homemade music videos. And that is where I watch that Wife Swap video of “King Curtis” over and over and over. Bacon is good for me!

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

Nothing embarrassing ever happens to me onstage. I am a Golden God.

I am actually chatting with a new fan of yours on iChat. He wanted to know what your future goals are. Where do you want to be and when will you guys consider yourselves a total success?

Our goals are to take over the world, learn how to make a casserole, consistently release new music every year, win a pie eating contest, travel to Three Floyds Brewery to try their Dark Lord Ale, get one of our songs in a commercial, hear a contestant on American Idol try out with one of our songs, sell out Madison Square Garden two nights in a row, and try every burger on the menu at Kuma’s Corner. When I am waking up in the morning to go surfing by the beach near my house in California, I will consider myself a total success.

Why isn’t Phil on AOL Instant Messenger?

Maybe he is avoiding you!

You guys have a ton of big name sponsors. How do you keep them all straight and make sure they are all happy.

Well, let me tell you. It’s hard to keep those folks at Pepsi happy. Do they think that just because they pay us 100 million a year that they can tell me to wear a Pepsi t-shirt at every show? What if I want to wear a Coke shirt? What are you gonna do, Pepsi? Take away my Mountain Dew supply? I dare you!

Why are you not headling Warped Tour yet?

I do not have the answer to that question. Perhaps you should interview Kevin Lyman and ask him.

I saw that you are friends with the band fun. How good are those guys?

GOOD.

What are you drinking on stage?

At our last show, it was purple Gatorade. But it’s usually straight vodka poured into a water bottle. By the end of the show, we sound great to my ears!

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

Yes, of course we do! We love being in a band but it’s hard to pay the bills on our mansion and sports cars without making some extra cash on the side! Ever watch Breaking Bad? Those guys have some great ideas for earning additional income. I saw a girl with a lemonade stand the other day and I was like “Pssssshhhhhh, yeah right!” And she was all like, “Buy some lemonade!” and I was like, “Aw naw HELL naw!” And she was like, “Fine.” And I was like, “Yeah whatever.”

You guys are too good to be unsigned. Is there anything in the words in regards to a record deal?

You will have to ask the record labels if any of them plan on signing us anytime soon. There are only like four left or something, so you won’t have to ask too many people.

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

Too many great ones to count. I saw Metallica last year and that was a really epic concert. Most recently I saw Muse play in Las Vegas and they were phenomenal.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

I can’t see myself in five years! Five years from now hasn’t happened yet, silly!

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

That we wrote great songs and were nice people. And had fun with interviews.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Zyzzyva.

When I began my career as a graphic designer I had no idea the scope of projects that I would be working on. The projects, both freelance and school related, ranged from brochure designs, custom t-shirts, and logo development all the way to website design and layout management. While working on these projects and honing my skills as a designer, I learned many valuable lessons on what it takes to be competitive in such a harsh market. Keeping up with current design standards in color theory, font choices, layout design, and in the software I use is something that I pride myself on as designer and as a professional.

But as a graphic designer, no matter how often your style changes, no matter how many projects that you are given, in the end a logo design is still a logo design. It was not that I was getting bored with design, but rather that I was beginning to not challenge myself as an artist. So one night while sharing a glass of wine with some friends I opened up Macromedia Freehand. This is a vector-based software.  That means that all work created in this program is based on mathematics, not pixels. So imagine that I created a stamp in a vector software program such as Freehand. I could take that stamp and blow it up to the size of a billboard and it would not lose its original resolution. The program itself is actually unable to be purchased as Adobe recently bought out Macromedia. However it is still one of my favorite software packages to work in.

So I opened Freehand and began playing around with some random and off the wall color palettes. After creating all of these little boxes, all ranging in size, I wanted to create an entire page with these colors. So I grabbed what I thought was the selection tool and pulled each box to the bottom of the page to fill the screen with color. The result, which was a mistake on my original idea, actually turned out better than I had expected. I kept the piece and started on the path as a digital abstract artist. The title of that first piece is Digital Drip, and it is one of my favorite pieces in my collection.

I start the process by taking an image, idea, or concept and look deeper into the true meaning behind it. Once I have gathered my initial thought on how to recreate that vision in my head, I will then grab some random colors and begin creating either a complimentary or completely opposite color structure. You can see this process throughout my work.

After each piece is created I save the project and then forget about it. I will just let it sit for a few days before going back to look at the finished product. I have over two hundreds pieces in my collection to date and I would venture to say that for every piece that I keep in my collection I throw away five more that I have created. This is sometimes discouraging to me, as an artist, but allows for my mind to stay on top of the creative curve.

As you look at my work I want you to have no clue what you are looking at. I want you confused as to why you are even viewing this art and then I want you to ask questions. Where did this come from? What is it? How did he manage to create those lines and decide on these colors? The more questions you have about my art the more effective I feel that piece actually is. My passion lies behind graphics and art. This is just a culmination of both.

Most of the images that you find online, especially the ones that are worth using anyway, fall under some sort of a copyright. There are free sites out there that provide an array of images but rarely will give you the highest quality to of photos to choose from. Places like Stock.XCHNG offer thousands of images but when you search for something more specific, say, “Golf Course Driving Range” you will find very few choices. That is why most of the time I end up going to iStockphoto.

Now, all of the images you find on iStockphoto have their own copyright issues. These images are not free, some can get extremely expensive depending on the person taking the photographs and the sizes you are requesting, and can be purchased one at a time or through a series of monthly billing cycles that iStockphoto has setup for you. Their selection is also much larger than Stock.XCHNG. The search that I just mentioned on Stock.XCHNG brings me only nine images while it brings me ninety-three images to choose from. These images are also higher in quality.

But what sort of rules and regulations does iStockphoto have? Below you will find the pay as you go content license agreement. Note that this is just the pay as you go agreement. There are different agreements for the monthly service packages that you can also take advantage of. (I dare you to read through this entire agreement. This is what iStockphoto expects you to read for each and every image you download.)

(Note that this agreement has not been edited in any way. This is the official agreement that you will see when purchasing a photo.)

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Thank You Letter to Gallery 7

I want to start by saying thank you to Jared Duymovic. As the Gallery 7 community outreach coordinator Jared has been aiding me from day one. Having met with Jared early on in my desire of displaying at Gallery 7 I knew immediately that this was somewhere I had to display my work. And with his constant communication from my acceptance in regards to displaying at Gallery 7 to his patience in the many hours I logged while setting up my exhibit Jared has been an incredible resource.

I want to also thank the Pike Performing Arts Center and Pike High School for allowing me two full months of time to exhibit my work to the general public. They have been gracious enough to provide me with twice the expected amount of time and added exposure is priceless to me as an artist. Also, by allowing me to have two separate artist receptions, one each month, allowed for an evening for me to be present with my audience and to discuss individual pieces and to meet all of my fans as they enjoyed my work.

I want to thank Danielle Hensley for the bleeding hands and early mornings while helping me set up my exhibit. Without her endurance and her drive to making my display nothing less than perfect, you might not be reading this today. Danielle, an interior designer from the Art Institute of Indianapolis, has logged just as many hours as I have and has finished just as many cups of coffee helping me in more ways than I could possibly imagine. Without her this exhibit would not have been possible.

I would like to thank FedEx for their unbelievable customer service in helping me make sure each and every piece was perfect for my exhibit. Having spent about six months researching and receiving price quotes for the printing process, FedEx went above and beyond in not only being the lowest price for the quality of their work, but also by providing me with next day service on all my work. I could not be happier with my final product.

I would like to thank the Indianapolis Arts Council. They have been a new found part of my art world and this past year, as being their cover artist for the 2008 Indianapolis Arts Council Gallery Guide, I have gained invaluable amounts of exposure. Having worked with numerous members of the staff at the council, I have gained access to an abundance of resources for helping in enhance my art career.

I would like to thank my family and friends for their continuous support of my work. Being a freshman artist is scary when trying to gain immediate exposure in a market as large as Indianapolis. Without their support and comments on my work and criticism just the same I would never be able to create another piece.

And most importantly, I would like to thank you, the audience of my work. Without people out there to look at my work, to appreciate my work for what it is, and to ask questions on the process and the inspiration behind each piece, I would be making art for no one but myself. Thank each and everyone of you for your inspiring words, thoughts, and love for independent art. For my art.

This art is for you.

The art show went well and I managed to sell a few pieces in the months following the art exhibit. I had a great showing the second month and managed to shake a lot of hands and meet a lot of people who truly appreciate independent art work. I have stayed in touch with the folks from the gallery as well and plan on showcasing my work again in the near future. It has been a long road, having covered eight art shows in the last three years. But no show meant near as much to me as this one. Thanks again to all of those who made this event possible, all of you who helped me along the way, and continue to talk about my work.

Where did you come up with that name?

We were originally Rick DeSutter and The Clutter back when we started in early 2008. Rick had some albums he had recorded and wanted to add a band to his Rick DeSutter solo project. Clutter rhymed and it sounded cool. In October 2009, we decided to rename the band just The Clutter in order to be more marketable.

How long have you guys all known each other?

Rick, Brad, and Bobby have known each other for a long time. Ethan came into the picture in early 2009 when we needed a replacement for our first bass player, Craig Meinhart.

Where did you all meet?

We all met in Lafayette, Indiana in various ways for various reasons.

You guys play a lot around the Midwest. Do you have thoughts of a nationwide tour anytime this year?

Our main focus right now is to work on playing shows in the surrounding area and the surrounding states in order to build up a strong fan base. Nationwide touring sounds cool, but would not be wise without the help of a label/booking agent or a well seasoned, experienced band. Better to build a strong foundation than to stretch ourselves thin and burn out.

Who writes all the lyrics?

Rick does. He’s written music and lyrics for several bands now and continues to write his own solo work on the side. For The Clutter, Rick’s lyrics mostly focus on his personal challenges in life, like struggling to be successful and always feeling as if there is not enough time to get everything done. The Clutter is an honest expression of how we all deal with the clutter in our lives.

You guys are playing Cornerstone? How did you land that gig?

We’ve made up our minds to go this year and make the best of it. We’re still technically in the process of landing the gig. (Laughs) The hope is to perform at least three times while we’re there whether it be on the New Band Showcase, The Label Showcase, or generator stages. We’re currently entered in the New Band Showcase and are in the top twenty-five out of over one hundred bands. We need people to continue to vote for us everyday until May 16th in order to get a slot. So yeah, everyone please go to and start voting for us!

Have you been to Cornerstone before?

Brad and Rick both went  several years back to play with their first band called Dead2Self. Rick has been back several more times since.

Describe your genre in one word.

Clutter.

How did you react to the passing of Michael Jackson?

Bobby is a huge fan of Michael. We didn’t think we would ever hear the end of it when he passed. We still hear if every once in a while. He was very talented and a great entertainer and many people will miss him.

You guys have shared the stage with a ton of bands. Who was the most fun to play with?

Red Morning Voyage. Those guys know how to rock out and have a good time while playing some of the sweetest riffs you’ve ever heard!

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

We were getting ready to play the finale of a band competition at The Lafayette Theater. Rick jumps up on stage to heft an amp and rips the crotch out of his pants. The set went well, but Rick had to stand a little more still than usual. (Does anyone feel a draft in here?)

Do you have a favorite venue to play?

In our hometown, Lafayette, our favorite place to play is Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop. The people are extremely nice, the turnout is always great, and they make this sweet little drink called a fragalappé! When we go out of town our favorite venue is The Underground in Cincinnati. Great people, awesome stage and venue setup, and the local crowd is very friendly. We’ll be playing there again in May!

What is the biggest crowd you have played for?

200-300.

The smallest?

3.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

Blindside, Muse, the Juliana Theory.

I dig that photo on the top of your MySpace page. Where was that taken?

That photo was taken in the back of McCord Candies in Lafayette. That have a sweet room with a really old stair case in it. The photo was taken by Al Davis Creative.

Speaking of MySpace. What are your thoughts on the service?

Great for booking shows and keeping in touch with other bands.

Are you on Twitter?

Nope.

Any tattoos in the band?

Ethan, the bass player, has a few. A flower, a star, and SP00 (his old band) which somehow looks like coffee beans.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you?

The Midwest baby! Living the dream, living the dream.

You guys have some sick show posters. Who designs all of those?

Rick does. He has designed posters for all of his past bands, too. Rick, Brad and Bobby are all graphic designers.

Living in the neighborhood of the Boilermakers, I will assume you all went to Purdue?

Nope. Rick is the only true Boilermaker.

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

Indeed.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

The inspiration comes from living life and dealing with it’s many challenges combined with just loving to make music that’s different and refreshing.

Where can I get some of your merchandise?

Come to a show! Or message us on MySpace and we’ll arrange for payment and shipping.

Are you guys using a PC or a Mac?

Both.

If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, whom would you pick?

The three MJ’s. Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Michael J. Fox (You gotta love Back to the Future!)

Where do you guys practice?

Brad’s mom’s house.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

Livin’ in a van down by the river! (Laughs) No, not really. In five years we hope to be performing bigger and better shows and making enough money to keep writing and playing music.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

We want to be remembered for not only being a group of guys who play good music, but mainly for our ministry in God.

I always let the artist get the last word.

We have some really big shows coming up this year. Taste of Tippecanoe, Cornerstone Festival, and the Indiana State Fair!

(For those of you that do not know how Twitter works, messages that start with @robbyslaughter are messages from me to the artist.  Messages that start with @rickyleepotts are his responses.  I have set a limit to 140 characters for this interview and all questions and answers must fit in 1 single tweet.  All of the messages you see have not been edited and are exactly as I received them.)

So tell me @robbyslaughter, what is that you actually do for a living?

@rickyleepotts I help people. That’s what we all do for a living. My primary interest is in bottom-up workflow and productivity.

@robbyslaughter Can you help me?  I have been sick for the last three days.  Any words of advice on how to keep focused?

@rickyleepotts First: ask coworkers to give you a day without interruptions to catch up.

@rickyleepotts Second: Go through and reply to every email you received with: “I’ve been out sick, but I WILL reply within 48 hrs.”

@rickyleepotts And finally, make sure you leave on time the first day back! No use making yourself relapse.

@robbyslaughter That is some good advice.  Thank you.  So where did you go to college to learn how to help people like myself?

@rickyleepotts One of the big challenges of workflow and productivity is people feel like it’s too academic or too complicated to …

@rickyleepotts work smarter, because of tools or obscure terms. But the reality is that more important than a college degree is a new

@rickyleepotts perspective on work.

@robbyslaughter U are cheating u know. U are only supposed to be allowed 140 characters to respond. But that’s OK. I like it! Pepsi or Coke?

@rickyleepotts I didn’t know about the 140 character limit! I like Pespi better.

@robbyslaughter I will take the blame for not explaining the rules to you.  Don’t worry, @paulpoteet cheated too. You a Colts fan?

@rickyleepotts Yes, Go #colts! You can’t live in Indy and not be a Colts fan.

@robbyslaughter I beg to differ.  I HATE the Colts.  (Notice how I did NOT use a #?) According to Twitter you are a trouble maker?

@rickyleepotts If you’re not making trouble, what are you doing? Progress requires thinking differently.

@robbyslaughter You are very well spoken.  I like that.  Any reason why you follow more people on Twitter than follow you?

@rickyleepotts I don’t pay attention to follower/following counts. I just try to take part in the community, and numbers emerge.

@robbyslaughter I think you should write @HALLMARKPR cards.  What is on your Christmas list this year?

@rickyleepotts Thanks, I think. Xmas list: World peace. I don’t really have anything that I’m excited about.

@robbyslaughter How many people work for @slaughterdev?

@rickyleepotts Three plus myself.

@robbyslaughter So are you an @iPhone user?

@rickyleepotts I am, and user is the right word. There is use, there is addiction, and not really any grander benefit.

@robbyslaughter Is this your first time being interviewed on Twitter?

@rickyleepotts Yes, it’s my first time for a TwitterView.

@robbyslaughter Well in all of my interviews I let the artist (you are an artist in my mind) get the last word. So with that being said, GO!

@rickyleepotts Thanks for the TwitterView. I hope it was fun for all who listened in! Check us out at http://www.slaughterdevelopment.com/

Where did you come up with that name?

(Chris) Shannon and I both read a book called, “The Dogs of Babel” by Carolyn Parkhurst. It’s about a man and his dog, which was the only witness to his wife’s death. The dog’s name was Lorelei, which is fitting since Shannon has some dog features.

(Shannon) Funny, Chris! The story was very beautiful and we were both inspired by it. Then we discovered that Lorelei comes from a German myth. She’s a young maiden who haunts the Rhine River and lures in sailors with her song.  I used to be in an all-female a capella group in college, the USC Sirens.  Lorelei is the German equivalent of a Siren. We both liked the idea of a female seductress enticing men to their doom.

Actually, speaking of the name; how do you pronounce that?

Lore – uh – lie.

Where are you originally from?

(Chris) I grew up in Port Orchard, a suburb south of Seattle. Same stomping grounds as many of the famous Seattle musicians, like Kurt Cobian for example.

(Shannon) I grew up in Gig Harbor.  We realized that our childhood homes were only a few miles a part from each other! 

How did you meet?

(Chris) I posted an ad on Craigslist, believe it or not. I had been searching for months for the perfect singer, and Shannon responded. The rest is history!

(Shannon) Yep, I had just moved from LA to Seattle and was looking for some creative outlets to get involved with in addition to my solo project.  I saw his ad and emailed him. He listened to my music and he contacted me.  He sent me some songs that he had recorded with a previous singer who didn’t work out.  Chris was obviously very talented. We met up, started collaborating really well together…and here we are!

What are your thoughts on MySpace?

(Chris) MySpace is a great network for artists/bands who may never get heard outside of their home town. It’s a nice place to create a following and be able to communicate directly with fans. There have been many artists who have found success from MySpace popularity, like the Arctic Monkeys.

(Shannon) Honestly, I’m not a big fan of MySpace, but I do feel we should have a page, since most bands do.  It has gotten so filled with spam lately and it’s hard to weed out the real fans from the ones trying to promote themselves.  But it’s still a great tool for promoting our music and connecting with fans.  I’m more of a Facebook gal.

Are you on Twitter?

(Chris) I think so…Shannon, are we on Twitter?

(Shannon)  I have a Twitter account.  It’s: shanrockeileen. Hit me up!

Who are some of your biggest influences?

(Chris) I have always have been heavily influenced by UK music, and musicians.  Radiohead, Keene, and David Gray for example. I grew up in a musical family and I was exposed to a lot of blues and bluegrass music. Daryl Hall from Hall & Oats shagged my mom on one of their tours, so that is where a lot of my talent came from.  Eric Clapton is one of my biggest guitar influences. I started playing guitar while listening to a lot of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.

(Shannon) One of my biggest influences as a singer and songwriter is Sade. She crosses all genres. Her music is soothing, soulful and timeless. Other vocal influences are jazz and soul singers, like Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Dusty Springfield and Eva Cassidy.

Do you guys have a favorite venue?

(Chris) Not really any favorites. I like venues where you are up close and personal with your audience. I also really love playing outdoor venues as well. It’s my dream to play at The Gorge in Eastern Washington someday

(Shannon) One day, Chris! My dream venue would be the Hollywood Bowl.

Do you ever tour outside of Washington?

(Chris) We played a showcase at the Viper Room in Hollywood last year.

(Shannon) And we’re planning a northwest tour in 2010, which will include Seattle, Portland and San Francisco.

Who is the ringleader of the band?

(Chris) Shannon and I work equally on Lorelei. Decisions, direction, and ideas.

(Shannon) Yeah, we’re both the ringleaders.  We write the songs and record them.  The rest of our band mates just perform with us.

Who writes all of the lyrics?

(Chris) A few of the tunes on the album I wrote with a co-writer that I had been writing with for years. However, Shannon changed and re-wrote a lot of those.  All the other songs Shannon had lyric duty.

(Shannon) I’ve always felt it was important that I write the lyrics I sing.  With the exception of covers, it’s hard for me to really get into a song that someone else writes.  I think it comes across better emotionally, both on the recording and while performing live.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

(Chris) I’ll send Shannon music tracks that I feel great about, and she’ll work with the songs that inspire her.  Once she gets a melody and lyrics down, we’ll work out the final arrangements together.  It’s a great way to write songs actually.

(Shannon) Yeah, it works really well for us. Sometimes we’ll discuss the type of sound and vibe we want based on a certain song we’ve been listening to at the moment.  But it usually ends up turning out completely different from the original idea.  That’s why I love songwriting.  The songs take on a life of their own.

If you could be any cartoon character, whom would you be and why?

(Chris) Being Shaggy from Scooby Doo would be cool. He is the 70′s version of Ghost Hunters. Plus he has a pet dog that talks.

(Shannon) You kind of look like Shaggy!  For me, it’d be Wonder Woman. Because she kicks some butt and I already have her costume.

What is the biggest crowd that you have ever played for?

(Chris) My old band, Dead of Winter, opened for Stone Temple Pilots at the OK Hotel in Seattle. It was packed! That was a great show.

(Shannon) Mine was when I was flown out to perform a holiday concert for US troops and civilians in Guantanamo Bay. I felt like a celebrity there. That was an experience I’ll never forget.

The smallest?

(Chris) We set up a show opening for Alice In Chains, and only forty people showed up. A majority of the people were our friends and family. It was a big venue and it looked even emptier.

(Shannon) I got you beat. My smallest show was for five people. One of who was a drunken old man with a floor-length white beard swaying off beat. Granted, I didn’t promote the show, and it was technically just for practice.  But for morale purposes, I still had to be reminded multiple times that night that every band has to start somewhere!

If you could tour with any band out there right now who would you chose?

(Chris) U2 would be a great band to tour with, as they have such a huge fan base. Also, the Fray would be great. For “awe” purposes, I would love to do a song with Eric Clapton.

(Shannon) I think I’d choose Radiohead.  Or No Doubt.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?

(Chris) Well, I must say Seattle is one of the best places to live in the world.  So I’m happy where I’m at. My second choice would be on my own vineyard in France or Italy, living peacefully making wine and music!

(Shannon) Yes, I’d live right where I am.  I want to travel all over the world and always come home to Seattle.

How long have you guys been performing together?

(Chris) Almost two years?

(Shannon) Yeah, just about two years now.

What is the last movie you saw?

(Chris) I saw the Hangover.

(Shannon) “Up In The Air” with George Clooney.

Did you like it?

(Chris) Yes, I thought it was a very funny movie. I would recommend seeing it, but not with children around!

(Shannon) I loved it.  I was tearing up throughout.

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

(Chris) I can’t imagine not performing music. That is a hard one, because I can’t really picture myself doing anything else. I think music keeps me out of trouble!  Perhaps I would paint oil paintings.

(Shannon) I’d probably be a visual artist and blogger. I recently started my own inspiration and design blog about things that make me happy.

What are your thoughts on the passing of Michael Jackson last year?

(Chris) I always loved MJ’s music. He was such a great pop songwriter. His influence is everywhere in modern music.  I believe he had a hard life and was greatly misunderstood.

(Shannon) I was pretty distraught.  I grew up with Michael in the 80′s and would create dance routines to his songs as a child.  I’d be lying if I said he didn’t influence me musically.  I was always a supporter of him throughout the sketchy years.

What is the last album you bought?

(Chris) I haven’t bought an album in a long time! I buy and download individual songs, but haven’t bought a full length CD in awhile. I haven’t felt there has been a full album that I must have.

(Shannon) Yeah, I feel the same way. But I’ve bought entire albums off of iTunes before.  The last one I purchased like that was Adele’s album, 19.

What are you drinking on stage?

(Chris) Bud Light and goat’s blood!

(Shannon) Yuck. Water.

Pepsi or Coke?

(Chris) Coke.  I like Coke better than Pepsi any day, especially Coke in a glass bottle.

(Shannon) I’m right there with you.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

(Chris) With a few Lorelei records under our belts, a large fan base and great tours. I will be satisfied knowing that we are sharing our music with the world.

(Shannon) Lorelei will have multiple #1 hits.  Perhaps we will have a Grammy nomination or two. Dream big!

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

(Chris) I’d like to be remembered as a creative guitarist /songwriter.  I’d like to make some kind of impact in the music world.

(Shannon) The reason why I sing and write songs is to be able to inspire others.  If I can touch other people’s lives in a meaningful way, impact them, uplift them, I will be happy and will know that my purpose on this earth has been fulfilled.

I always let the artist get the last word.  Go.

(Chris) 2010 is the breakout year for Lorelei!  We will put out our full length CD, shoot a video, and complete a west coast tour.  We are planning many big things for the band and we want our friends and fans to stay tuned!  I believe that all creative people out there should stick to what they believe in and stay confident in their art.  Even when it gets tough, it will pay off in the end.  Love and persistence is the key.

(Shannon) Thank you so much for interviewing us, Ricky!  Everyone, please come listen to our tunes on MySpace sign up for our mailing list.  Fans are our top priority and we always respond to genuine emails and comments.  Big things are happening and we’d love to have you along for the ride!

(For those of you that do not know how Twitter works, messages that start with @kristianindy are messages from me to the artist.  Messages that start with @rickyleepotts are his responses.  I have set a limit to 140 characters for this interview and all questions and answers must fit in 1 single tweet.  All of the messages you see have not been edited and are exactly as I received them. Also note that #RLPTV was an attempt to create a trending topic on Twitter with this interview. It also allows for users to search and find my content.)

Let’s start this interview with @kristianindy! Tell me, @kristianindy, what is it that you actually do for a living? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts My team and I work with our clients to help them develop their brand, product, and business strategies. We call it BXD.

@kristianindy How many people are on your team? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts We have 7 full time employees (including myself) and a couple of part-timers – http://bit.ly/7CPOIz #RLPTV

@kristianindy I LOVE that you just used a bit link. How concerned are you with traffic on your link shares? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts How concerned am I? Um…I guess not very. Should I be? #RLPTV

@kristianindy In my opinion VERY. I obsess over traffic to my link shares. Same as my analytics report. So are you a #Colts fan?

@rickyleepotts Yeah – my primary analytics report is my monthly P&L statement. Season ticket holder for 10+ years. #RLPTV

@kristianindy No kidding? That is awesome. Do you like the new stadium?

@rickyleepotts The new stadium is great in most regards –1 of the best in the NFL. Better than that strip club the Cowboys call home.

@kristianindy I do not even watch football to be honest. You appear to be an educated man! Where did you go to college? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts It sounds like your a golf guy. I graduated with a degree in Design from Anderson University, in Anderson, IN. #RLPTV

@kristianindy I am in fact a golf guy. Are you? I can see you on the course! So what is this I hear about you living in Arkansas?  #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts What did Mark Twain say about golf again? – http://bit.ly/86vwJi . I split time between my homes in Arkansas and Indy. #RLPTV

@kristianindy I enjoy some MT but I really like those bit links! & I want to have multiple homes! So, what is your favorite “brand”? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts This short-form interview format is tricky isn’t it? #RLPTV

@kristianindy I like it though! It makes you think about your response. I would be more than happy to do an email interview if you rather?

@rickyleepotts No way. This is interesting. Keep ‘em coming. #RLPTV

@kristianindy That’s the spirit! You have worked with some pretty impressive clients. Who is your favorite? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts We’re really proud of our affiliation with all of our clients. We try 2 only work w/ clients where there is a mutual respect.

@rickyleepotts Currently we’re really excited about @FormSpring @exacttarget and @rewardsnap

@kristianindy What is one thing every brand has in common? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts The fact that, in spite of what they might like to believe, they are not (exclusively) in control of their brands. #RLPTV

@kristianindy No no, I know but just in your experience with brands. Think Apple, McDonald’s, Target. What do they have in common? #RLPTV?

@rickyleepotts You mean great/successful brands. Successful brands all have a simple, differentiated, and focused value proposition. #RLPTV

@kristianindy No no no, you did quite well! I always let the bands that I interview get the last word. So, you too! GO! #RLPTV

(*This is where the interview went from Twitter to being handled via email.)

I see that you have worked with Smaller Indiana. The logo on their website does not link. That bothers me as a designer and as someone who wants websites that I visit to be user friendly. However, every time that I try to contact someone from there I am NEVER replied to. I am handling it in a very professional manner. It is honestly leaving a very sour taste in my mouth. What are your thoughts on a website that has a logo that does not link to the home page?

I’m sorry to hear that you are not getting a response from the gang over at Smaller Indiana. They are an amazing group and have done an enormous service for the Indy business community. With that being said, I’m obviously a proponent of adhering to best practices when designing for the web.

Where do you see the Internet in ten years?

I don’t think we will see it. In ten years it (the Internet) will be so ingrained and embedded in our lives that it will become invisible. The end game is truly ubiquitous networking.

What is your biggest challenge working with brand management?

I think it’s getting clients to understand that you can’t control a brand via brute force. It’s like raising a teenager. If you just lock them in their room and try to exert total control, they will rebel and you’ll end up with the opposite of what you intended. Conversely, if you just let them go and provide no supervision or support the outcome could, and often will, be equally bad. Managing brands is about finding the right balance between control and chaos.

Your team, based on what I see on the website anyway, looks more like fashion models than brand experts. Do you encourage that atmosphere in the office?

(Laughs) We just have a great photographer. But I will say that often times really great designers tend to have refined aesthetic sensibilities that transcend their professional life and manifest in lots of other ways…including fashion. We definitely take image seriously, it’s a profound part of our business. I don’t want to take fitness advice from someone that is in worse shape than me.

Out of Twitter, Facebook, and a blog which do you find has the most potential for the future of social media?

I have a hard time separating them. They are all just digital channels. I rarely think of those three “products” in a vacuum. Ultimately, I think Facebook is built to last, because their business is built on data. Blogs are a really just a publishing platform, but I don’t think they are going away either. Twitter is in front right now, because they are filling a huge need around “instant” – instant search, instant gratification, instant gossip, etc. 2010 will be the year of instant/real time, so I expect Twitter to flourish in the short term.

Who would play you in a Hollywood film about your life?

I’ve always said Ethan Hawke. But the rest of world seems to think Stifler (Seann William Scott) would be a more appropriate fit.

The names of your children intrigue me. Can you explain how you and your wife came up with those names?

My oldest daughter, Scout Belle, was named after the character in “To Kill A Mockingbird”. We named our middle daughter Daisy Jane, just because we thought it was a beautiful name, but there is also a literally connection to “The Great Gatsby” as well. Finally, my youngest is boy named Indiana Olav – we call him Indy. That is really my way of paying homage to Indiana and acknowledging how great that community has been to me and my family.

Any words of advice for a young guy like myself who wants to be on that list of the “Forty under 40″?

I think the fundamentals of success are fundamental. There is no secret sauce. I think it is a matter of working hard, being humble, serving others, and creating value. If I could add one thing that is often left off of that list it would be – being visible. Make sure that you are communicating to “your audience” in a way that is engaging and make sure that they know what you are up to. If you’re generating value…they’ll want to know.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In a perfect world my life would look very similar to the way it does today. I would hope that my family is healthy and happy and that my businesses have continued to enjoy some level of success. I just want an opportunity to keep doing what I’m doing…which is what I love.

Do you think Lady Gaga has talent or she is all hype?

You’re asking the wrong guy. I listen to country (mostly classic country) music almost exclusively.

So how do you know Ryan Mull, managing partner at IMAVEX?

That’s a good question. If memory serves correctly we met a long, long time ago when he was at MarchFirst and I was doing consulting for one of their clients, a company called Healthx.

I always let the artist get the last word. (Yes, I consider Kristian an artist.) Go!

You’re doing good work and building a heck of a personal brand. Keep at it.

(For those of you that do not know how Twitter works, messages that start with @joshcorken are messages from me to the guest.  Messages that start with @rickyleepotts are his responses.  I have set a limit to 140 characters for this interview and all questions and answers must fit in a single tweet.  All of the messages you see have not been edited and are exactly as I received them.)

@joshcorken Any reason why you decided to break Twitter not minutes before our #twitterview?

@rickyleepotts Ha! Well, sometimes I like to challenge the programmers over at Twitter HQ to really test their skillz. They passed the test.

@joshcorken What is your official title over there at @axiik?

@rickyleepotts First off, it’s @xiik. ;] And I am an Account Coordinator/Assistant Art Director.

@joshcorken Oh, so you are kind of the like the Dwight of your office? You know, assistant to the regional manager? Do you have an iPhone?

@rickyleepotts Haha! Ya, you could say that. I’m kinda like the jack-of-all-trades, if you will. Yes, I live and die by my iPhone!

@joshcorken Have you had a chance to listen to the new @adamlambert album?

@rickyleepotts I have not. Been trying to catch up w/ a lot of other music at the moment. I’ve heard good things tho…mostly from you. Lol!

@joshcorken If you could only eat one type of cereal for the rest of your life what cereal would you choose?

@rickyleepotts That’s probably the hardest question I’ve ever been asked! But I’d probably go with Honeycomb. That stuff is like crack!

@joshcorken If you woke up tomorrow, and had no memory of the past, and could start over, start fresh…what would you do different?

@rickyleepotts I wouldn’t do anything different. My life is going in a direction I love. I’m completely happy! The future looks bright.

@joshcorken Do you prefer creamy or crunchy peanut butter?

@rickyleepotts Creamy. Hands down! I like my food silky and smooth.

@joshcorken Not sure why I am obsessed with knowing your food preference but do you drink Coke or Pepsi?

@rickyleepotts I was wondering the same thing. I actually don’t drink soda anymore. I gave it up over a year ago for health reasons. Go H20!

@joshcorken I thought water was H2O, not Bud Light!  So when do you graduate?

@rickyleepotts I saw recent studies showed beer was just as good for you as water. Or maybe that was on College Humor? I graduate May 2011.

@joshcorken College Humor is great.  What are your plans when you graduate?

@rickyleepotts I plan to work at Pixar as entry level and work my way up. I eventually wanna be a director & open my own studio! Dream big!

@joshcorken Let’s say that you are told you have a week to live. How do you spend your last seven days?

@rickyleepotts Traveling the world. That’s my goal in life. But I would have to bring all my friends & family along so I could be w/ them!

@joshcorken Who is your biggest inspiration in life?

@rickyleepotts Tough question! There are A LOT. My mom & dad, the founders of Pixar, Zeb Wood, Frank Tai, and a handful of my peers.

@joshcorken Thanks for doing this my friend.  I always let the artists get the last word.  Go.

@rickyleepotts Thanks Ricky! It was fun. Last words, eh? Stay passionate, do things that make you happy, be true to yourself, & live life!