Interview with Antonio Giacca

Welcome back, guys! 

This is MissTaintedLove here with another artist interview. This time, with DJ, producer and label owner Antonio Giacca, from Los Angeles. 

Hope you enjoy the interview! You can check out Antonio's music here. More links can be found under the interview. 

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How were you first introduced to music in your life?
My dad worked in a well known club in my hometown, Rome in Italy and he used to bring back home tapes from the guest DJs who’d come perform at his club and that’s how I started to get fascinated by the whole thing.

At what point in your life was the defining moment that made you realize what you wanted to do, as a musician?
Well I always been into dance music because it runs in the family, so I guess that’s pretty much what I wanted to do my whole life… by the age of 14 I said to myself “I want to be a DJ and produce my own music, and I want to be the best I can at it!”

How long have you been involved in music now? 

Pretty much since I was a teenager, as my dad used to run one of the most known clubs in my hometown Rome and I used to hang out with the DJs playing there since I was very young.

If you could describe you and your music in five words, what would they be?
Uplifting, exciting, melodic, original… entertaining!

What do you feel sets you apart from the crowd?
I play a lot of my own songs, remixes and bootlegs that I only produce for my own sets making the whole performance pretty original and unique.

How do you describe the style/genre of your own music?
I’d say progressive house with electro elements.

 

What was your first project? How have you grown since then?
I first started producing techno, minimal and tech house, very underground stuff… used to love going raves and made music that would be played in those kind of parties.
Then as I started developing my own style, I started liking more melodic stuff and ultimately vocals.

What type of music/artists have influenced you and your music?
Well, in the early days people like Sasha or John Digweed really inspired me a lot to try to think out of the box and stay true to yourself… Music wise I also loved a lot the old progressive sound, people needed to know what they were doing in the studio rather than throwing together a bunch of loops on Ableton.

 

What is the inspiration for your music?
When I get into the studio I try to picture how sexy girls in a club would dance to the beats I am making… If I picture them to shake their booty a lot then I know I’m making an awesome track! 

What other artists, musicians, and producers have you worked with?
I have been collaborating with a lot of artists from all over the world but I am currently focusing on working in my own studio with JJ Flores, my studio partner on a lot of my productions, on the tracks for the up and coming album.

 

What do you feel is the best piece of music you've created? Why do you choose this one?
I had a lot of success with the track Majestic, which made it to Beatport number one for its genre a while back and it’s now being re-released with some pretty cool remixes and a very “special” video on a major label. People love this song and remember me a lot because of that one, so I guess it has a special meaning as I started to get noticed a lot after that.

 

What can you tell us about your current album? How does it differ from any of your previous projects?
The album is a collaboration with an old friend of mine and it’s more “pop”, with proper songs featuring both well established and up and coming singers.
My own solo projects are all about getting down and dirty in a club, so proper bangers although they still have some melodic elements in it.

 

 

What type of mindset do you get into before you enter the studio? Do you do anything special to prepare yourself?
When I am not in a studio or a club I try to listen to more chilled music like Ambient, Classic, Old Rock… even 60s and 70s stuff… it’s always good to get inspiration from different styles of music and try to fuse a little bit of them into my productions to make them different from what everybody else is doing… Trying to give it a little “soul”, even if it’s electronic music!

 

What plans do you have in the near future for music release/recording? What sets this upcoming project apart from your previous ones?
Well after my latest releases did very well I now have a lot of new tracks and remixes coming out on a bunch of major labels so I expect them to do very well as they will have the right support behind them and a lot of big DJs have already been playing them all around the glove with great success!

 

Any upcoming tour plans?
I am currently finishing my first album and there will be a USA and South American tour to promote is at the time of its official release which is pretty exciting!

 

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Definitely ranking in the top 10 dj's in the world! 

What are your thoughts of the current state of the music industry? How do you feel you fit into it?
Well dance music is becoming the new hip hop… so personally I am really happy that more and more people are embracing electronic music because that’s what I loved my whole life!

 

Any words of advice for young/aspiring musicians?
Make music the way you want to, so that you have your own style, but also always make sure you keep an eye for what’s working at the moment.

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Thanks, guys! Hope you enjoyed the interview! I want to thank Antonio for the interview!

 

Once more, you can check out Antonio Giacca at...

 

Official Site

Facebook

Youtube

Twitter

SoundCloud

Artist Interview with Shid Latta

Hello, everyone. 

MissTaintedLove here, bringing you another artist interview. 

This time, I'll be interviewing Baltimore hip-hop artist Shid Latta. 

Hope you enjoy the interview, and you can check out Shid Latta here, and more links will be placed under the interview. Thanks!

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MTL: The name Shid Latta - how did that come about?

Shid: It's my real name. All my music is true and about my life so I feel it's the only name suitable.

MTL: How were you first introduced to music in your life?

Shid: It's more like I was immersed and not introduced. I have been around music since birth. My family is full of singers and musicians. Growing up I was introduced to every possible type of music and was aloud to make my own choices on what I wanted to hear. I love to learn and explore, so I would hear a new type of music and want to soak up as much of it and know as much info about it as possible. So I may wake up to someone playing Queen, ride to school listening to Frankie Beverly and Maze, have a convo about Green Day at recess, argue about Nirvana or Metallica while listening to Wu-tang with my cousin after school, and go to sleep with some random song by Biggie or Nas song stuck in my head.

MTL: At what point in your life was the defining moment that made you realize what you wanted to do, as a musician?

Shid: The rap music around 2010-2011 just sounded so similar to me that I had to make my own. I felt like people weren't doin what was true to them, that they made music that was already being played or what they thought people wanted from them. So under the influence of everything I could consume including music from all genres I set out on a mission to make what I felt was true music. 

MTL: How long have you been making music now? When did you begin rapping?

Shid: Basically forever. I've been making music on and off since I was like 6 but not seriously. I wrote my first rap when I was 6 but never tried to make a career of it. That's why I feel I'm lyrical and if you truly listen to my music - I'm actually saying some shit.

MTL: What do you feel is the best piece of music you've created?

Shid: Damn! That is truly a hard question to answer...all my music is special to me because it's my life! But if I think really hard and pretend a gun was to my head and had to pick one song that stands out, I'd say my song 'Crayola' from my cd, 'Heath Ledger Chronicles: Vol. 2 Toxicology Report.'

I love that fuckin song! It's my life broken down into colors. So many artist have made songs about colors and I always wanted to but it felt like copying. Until the week I made the beat. I was at work on my break and it just spoke to me. So that night I was chilling with a bitch I met the night before and she was so light she almost looked white and had red hair and green eyes. We were smokin a blunt of Blue Dream and Green Crack, drinking some brown Hennesey out a bottle with a gold and black label. And when I would raise my hand to inhale the blunt with my right hand I would zone out on my purple diamond bracelet on my wrist. So after we had our fun I was fucked up just watchin her get dressed, her face was red, her hair was red, so her green eyes stood out. So when I dropped her off all that shit was spinning through my mind and mingling with the pills, alcohol, and weed. I put the beat on and all the colors of my life turned into lyrics on my ride home. So every color and scene I rap about is actually from my life, just put to music.  

MTL: What was your first project? How have you grown since then?

Shid: 'Heath Ledger Chronicles: Vol.1 Why So Serious'.

I've grown and learned so much as an artist, from production, to delivery, to marketing, and so much more and I feel I actually grow as a person by learning and experiencing so much.

MTL: How do you describe the style/genre of your own music?

Shid: Lyrical, hard hitting, unorthodox, non fiction. Or:

Shid Shit, Gonzo, Actual Factual! I feel the term Gonzo, as Hunter S Thompson uses it, describes my music best

gonzo [ˈgɒnzəʊ] adj Slang

1. wild or crazy

2. (Communication Arts / Journalism & Publishing) (of journalism) explicitly including the writer's feelings at the time of witnessing the events or undergoing the experiences written about

3. conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual

MTL: What type of music/artists have influenced you and your music?

Shid: It is so many I don't know how to start...so off the top of my head I'll give 4 from 4 genres that have helped influence me.

Rap: Biggie, Pac, Ugk, Outkast

Rock/Metal: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Nirvana,Green Day

Pop: Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Ke$ha,Brittany Spears

Others: Skrillex, David Guetta, Trent Reznor, Marilyn Manson

MTL: What is the inspiration for your music?

Shid: My life, the people in it, and the shit I do from day to day. I make musical journals not albums.

MTL: What do you feel sets you apart from the crowd?

Shid: The fact that I am my own person and I do and say what's true to my heart. I get inspiration from all over but I don't follow most trends or social norms. So what I put out is all me, it's an expression of what I think, feel, and do. It's not what I think people want to hear or purely my version of what someone else has done. I give you me and my life as I see it. And I don't give a fuck what people think!

MTL: If you could describe you and your music in five words, what would they be?

Shid: Unique, factual, intoxicating, gonzo, entertainment!

MTL: What other artists, musicians, and producers have you worked with?
Shid: Djk, Al Stead of the Pornstars and P.star productions, J Black, and Mdotcook. And I've been rapping over a few beats released for free online by Dj Burn One and Furthur.

MTL: What type of mindset do you get into before you enter the studio to record? Do you do anything special to prepare yourself?
Shid: I just go in ready to spit. I play the beat, smoke on something, sip on something, go over my shit a few times, and then get in and spit that Shit Shit til the Mic bleed!


MTL: What can you tell us about your current album? How does it differ from any of your previous projects?
Shid: In February 2011 I released my 2nd album, Heath Ledger Chronicles: Vol 2 Toxicology Report. It was all produced by me with the exception of 'SmokinXTrippin' which was produced by DjK. It had a party, drugs, and sex theme like most my music. It was experimental. So I played with different sounds and genres and the outcome was fuckin awesome!


MTL: What plans do you have in the near future for music release/recording?
Shid: I do so fuckin much and my mind is goin constantly and I have so many ideas, so I write all the damn time. I was working on a series of different smaller projects with different people and sounds and just tryin to expand artistically and was goin to make a few different albums. But based on the feedback and request I've been gettin I've been thinking about putting the best of it together as one album and calling it ,'Delusions of Grandeur or Grandeur of Divinity....D.O.G or G.O.D.' or just 'Delusions of Grandeur' but I love complex titles. So we will see. Also later on I want to rap over 10 of my favorite 'Top 40' songs and do a joint rapping over different rock songs.


MTL: What sets this upcoming project apart from your previous ones?
Shid: One is the production...on my other two cd's I put out I made all the beats and was just gettin started and had no idea how to mix and shit like that and it fuckin shows lol This time around I didn't make any beats and instead of focusing on individual parts I put more time and effort into the overall final product. Also I feel I'm still the same person from the last albums but I've grown a little more and the more I grow as a person the more I grow as an artist and vice versa and its reflected in the music. Plus I'm goin with a less experimental sound and aiming more toward the mainstream.

MTL: What are your thoughts of the current state of the music industry? How do you feel you fit into it?
Shid: I fuck with it heavy. It's so many new artists out, with different sounds, trying different things and that's how I feel artistry should be. I love all genres of music so between the 'Top 100' to new shit online from indie artist, I'm very happy with it.
I feel if I was marketed to the masses they would love me because I bring a whole new out look music and I have a completely different style, delivery, and overall vibe. That's exactly what I feel true music fans want and the mindless consumers will follow suit.


MTL: Where do you see yourself as an artist five years from now?
Shid: Enjoying my journey to the top and continuing to make the music I love and interacting with my fans.


MTL: Any upcoming tour plans?
Shid: I'm lookin into some shows now but no official word yet.

MTL: Any words for young/inspiring musicians/artists? 
Shid: Make sure you have a budget and do what's in your heart.


MTL: Anything else?
Shid: Sure! I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity and give a shout out to all my supporters and my family!

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Again everyone, that was Shid Latta. You can check out more about him and more of his music from the links below. 


Official Site
Twitter
Facebook
Youtube
ReverbNation

Artist Interview: Oktayne

Hello, everyone. MissTaintedLove here bringing you another artist interview. 

This time, I'll be interviewing hip-hop artist Oktayne. Oktayne is from California, and describes himself as a "Rapper, CEO, Son, Brother, and Friend" (via FB page). You can visit Oktayne here, and catch the interview below. 

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MTL: The name Oktayne - how did that come about? 

I am from a region where we use the term “gassed” which means you killed that track or ripped that beat. Anyways, homie Kev and I were picking out through rap names for me; considering where I am from, and how explosive gas is, my rap name was born.


MTL: When were you first introduced to music in your life?
Oktayne: I was introduced to music by my dad because he used to DJ parties for people of all ages. He had collections of any hot commercial artist you can think of during the 90s. I eventually I found some Jagged Edge, 112, Usher, Brandy, Whitney Houston (R.I.P.), and TLC made me like R&B first.




MTL: How long have you been making music now? When did you begin rapping? 
Oktayne: I been making music over half my life but the rapping road was chosen in 2008.


MTL: At what point in your life was the defining moment that made you realize what you wanted to do, as a musician? 
Oktayne: When I performed on stage at Club Recess and people came up to me just tell me good job.


MTL: What type of music/artists have influenced you and your music? 
Oktayne: LL Cool J, different types of the Chicago sound, Jay-z and R&B Music.


MTL: How do you describe the style/genre of your own music? 
Oktayne: The soundtrack to fun having and lady getting situations.


MTL: What was your first project? How have you grown since then? 
Oktayne: 'Self-Explanations', I just have an overall better flow and delivery, and my lyrics make more sense.

MTL: What is the inspiration for your music? 
Oktayne: The women are the biggest inspiration seeing all the different types of women, from average to drop dead gorgeous. 


MTL: If you could describe you and your music in five words, what would they be? 
Oktayne: Feel good music for common folks.


MTL: What other artists, musicians, and producers have you worked with?  
Oktayne: I worked with Sosa The Champ, Kareless MF’ah, P-lo, Bre, Philly Swain, Circus TK, Mardell Maxwell, Kajmir Royale and Greenlight. A few names I just mentioned don’t do music anymore or took a break from the music industry. Producers were Kajmir Royale, The Invasion, Sap Da Beat Man, G-Funk, Beat Catererz, and Sledgren. I had leased beats from Johnny Juliano, Superstar O, Vybe Beats and The Starist. The Starist produced a song I made about my homie from high school LaJuan Singleton.


MTL: What do you feel sets you apart from the crowd? 
Oktayne: My flow is very unique, and different. Some say that I have an uncanny ability to make songs for the ladies. I mastered doing that because I am a poet at heart; I know what women like to hear in songs. To me women usually want to feel good when they are listening to music.


MTL: What do you feel is the best piece of music you've created? Why do you choose this one?  
Oktayne: 'Fly Sippin’ because it complements my smooth demeanor. The song is smooth uptempo party song that makes you feel like you drinking and partying with me.

MTL: What can you tell us about "Mindgames"? How does it differ from any of your previous projects? 

Oktayne: Mindgames is just a track from my new album Feature Presentation, but Mindgames released last year as well as the video but I didn’t want to put my album out without proper promotion and advertising. Mindgames isn’t anything I am pushing as a song to spin but its for sale on cd baby, and soon Fly Sippin’ will be for sale on CD Baby. Mindgames just shows I got better lyrics than I had in the past.

MTL: What plans do you have in the near future for music release/recording? 

Oktayne: Working on a two mixtape series which are very short projects to implement 14 days which are songs as well. Will release the album Feature Presentation this month digitally, and later follow with download cards, and I will press up some physicals as well. I have a team of people who have their material to put out as well as a compilation. The compilation will not be worked on until we are good position to release.

MTL: Any upcoming releases? What sets this upcoming project apart from your previous ones? 

Oktayne: I have an album set to release within a couple weeks, and I am working on a mixtape series called Awoke For Seven Days. The current album is way different than my first which is available online and what not. The production of beats which made it stand out a little more than that first album. Self-Explanations was an album that I had released in 2008 with no promotion.

MTL: What type of mindset do you get into before you enter the studio to record? Do you do anything special to prepare yourself? 

Oktayne: I get into the mode I’m always in, I’m always in that I got that focused mood going on, my lyrics will be written, and re-written several times. They would be rehearsed and all that. I then would have to get some pre-recording snacks and some hot tea or cocoa. Then go record and knock some tracks out.

MTL: Any upcoming tour plans? 

Oktayne: No tour plans as of yet, most likely just local shows until my momentum builds up more.

MTL: What are your thoughts of the current state of the music industry? How do you feel you fit into it?  

Oktayne: It’s getting more and more diverse again even though many artist sounds the same as the next. I like that some of the newer guys sound like they self.  I would fit more in it if I stay independent, because if I go to a major label then people will say that I’m trying to be like Wale or something.

MTL: Where do you see yourself as an artist five years from now? 

Oktayne: In five years from now my team will be a strong force to know about.

MTL: Any words of advice for young/aspiring musicians? 

Oktayne: Study the game, know the business, know how to market because you are going to need to have more than just talent.  When you drop music, don’t drop music just to drop music, do it to build your brand.

MTL: Anything else? 

Oktayne: JULY 25th go to CD Baby, Itunes, Amazon and get Feature Presentation.

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Again, everyone - that was Oktayne. Make sure to go check him out!

Official Site

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

SoundCloud

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Artist Interview with Mason Blair of "Sounds of Saturn"

Hello everyone - MissTaintedLove here. Welcome back to My One Sane Note. It's time, you guessed it, for another artist interview. 

Today I will be talking to Mason Blair from Texas electro-pop-rock band "Sounds of Saturn". You can check out the bands' Facebook page here, and I hope you enjoy my interview with their lead vocalist!

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MTL: The name "Sounds of Saturn" - how did that come about?
Mason: We actually came up with the name from an astrology website that showed
what each planet represents.
Saturn represents limits, and we're all about pushing our limits, especially
with our music. So Sounds of Saturn seemed like a good pick!
Plus it can be abbreviated to S.o.S which we think is super cool.


MTL: Who are the band members, and what do they each play?
Mason: Well, we are a base duo, and occasionally we'll have a live drummer
and some backup singers and the rare stripper (yes, that was a joke haha).
But basically:
Mason (Me): Lead Vocals, Synthesizer, Guitars
Garrett: Vocals, Synthesizer.


MTL: How did the band come together?
Mason: Well you see, back in the summer of 1976 a man met a wo…
Nah, just kidding.
Back in March of 2006 two boys were in an Algebra class in their freshman year of high school, which they both happened to be failing, and they instantly connected. And the Shenanigans have ensued ever since. One night after going bowling we actually just started talking about forming a band (the same talk had happened before, but this one was somehow different) and we got our crap together and finally played some music together. And it was wonderful, shortly after that we came up with the name ‘Sounds of Saturn’ (S.o.S).



MTL: How would you describe the genre of music you create?
Mason: I would definately describe it as 'different'. We're trying to blend things together that just typically don't go together. Kind of like if Daft Punk and The cure met and had a baby at a swingers party with
Tiesto and Blink 182.
I have no problem saying that I've never heard anything quite like us before.


MTL: What do you feel sets you guys apart from the crowd?
Mason: We believe we have a VERRYY unique sound and attitude (I've never personally heard anyone else with our particular style of music and I think most people can agree) not to mention we're two of the strangest/craziest guys that have ever walked the earth.
Not sure we’ve ever really been a part of ‘the crowd’ to begin with.



MTL: What is the inspiration for your music?
Mason: Life.
All of our songs come straight from within us (call it cheesy, it's the truth). Each one tells a story of a feeling, dream, nightmare, happening, person, or other sort. We believe the best songs come straight from the soul, and we strive to write our music in that mindset.

MTL: If you could describe the band and your music in five words, what would they be?
Mason: KILLA’ ELECTRONIC MUSIC FROM SPACE.

MTL: What do you feel is the best piece of music you've created? Why do you choose this one?
Mason: Personally, I’ll have to say ‘Fly’ is the best. There’s a lot of personal meaning in that song that most people won’t get nor understand. In fact, I think everyone in the band can agree with me on that one, not to mention it was the first song we ever wrote together.  (coincidentally it’s the most popular)


MTL: Have you guys ever worked with any other notable musicians, or on any other projects/collaborations?
Mason: On the word of projects,
I have been in loads of bands.
None that are 'notable'.
On the word of collaborations,
We do have plans to collab with some local artists in the near future!


MTL: How were you first introduced to music in your life?
Mason: I’m going to try and remember as far back as possible here... I remember my dad used to bump Green Day and Weezer CD’s in his car when he’d pick me and my brother up (parents were divorced). And those tracks still remain as catchy to me today as they did back then. I’m sure I heard other artists before then, but when you’re 5 it’s hard to actually find music you actually care for seeing you spend most of your time shoving foreign objects up your nose and into your ears.


MTL: At what point in your life was the defining moment that made you realize what you wanted to do, as a musician?
Mason: Call me cliché, but I do believe it was the moment I got my first guitar as a gift for one of my birthdays some years ago. My dad got it for me, I’ve played that bad boy everyday, and I don’t plan on stopping . Ever. So I figured I might as well try and do something with the talent ya know? Either that or the time my mother yelled at me to turn it down for the first time, let me tell you, it’s a wonderful feeling hearing your superior try and scream over a 40w amp cranking out KISS songs.
Haha!


MTL: Tell us about your current album?
Mason: Well, right now our current debut album is a big collection of our demos entitled '3-2-1 Blastoff!'
And it's the first project we've done together as a band. So it's a pretty exciting time for us!


MTL: What plans do you have in the near future for music release/recording? What sets this upcoming project apart from your previous ones?
Mason: We plan on starting on our next album soon.
We were thinking about doing a concept album, kind of like Rush’s ‘2112’ or Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’
We also plan on getting some studio work done for our demo cd ‘3,2,1 BLASTOFF’ So it sounds a little more professional.

MTL: Any upcoming tour plans?
Mason: We’re on what we like to call the Denton Texas Tour right now.
Lots of crazy college parties and playing the Backyard Arena is the extent of that at the moment.
We’ll probably drive south a bit and play a couple shows in Austin and San Antonio.
But sadly we won’t be going on any world tours anytime soon (unless you count the one we’re currently doing on Rock Band).

MTL: Where do you see the band five years from now?
Mason: Well, it'd be nice to see our name in lights, though that's highly unlikely to happen.
But I truly see our band in the same place it's been before it even started,
as a friendship between two guys who just happen to have a burning passion for music,
and even if this project falls apart over the years (which we surely hope it doesn't), we'll
still have our bromance ya' know?



MTL: What are your thoughts of the current state of the music industry? How do you feel you and the band fit into it?
Mason: All I can say to that is 'LOL'. We have MANUFACTURED INDIE BANDS topping the industry...
Think about that term for a second...seriously...haha.
I think that it's become very bland and in need of some color, and I think that bands like ours
(the kind that truly don't fit the 'mold' persay) could possibly be the future of
this said 'industry'


MTL: Any words of advice for young/aspiring musicians?
Mason: Practice.
Everyday.
Eat your vegetables.
Play with as many people as possible.
Don’t play to ‘become famous’, that’s the biggest mistake you can pull, write music that means something to YOU, if other people like it, AWESOME! If not, atleast you’re doing what makes sense to you.


MTL: Anything else you'd like to add?
Mason: I <3 Doritos Locos Tacos
But on a real note, we'd like to thank everyone for reading this.
And that we think that kitkatpiano (MissTaintedLove) is adorable.
And we thank her for taking the opportunity and time to interview us.
And to check out our page at facebook.com/SoundsOfSaturnMusic
And that we hope you get a kick out of our jams.
Thug life.

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Once again, everyone - that was Mason Blair of "Sounds of Saturn". I highly recommend you check out their stuff! Thanks to Mason for the interview. 


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Summer OFF

My Berklee class - Arranging 101 (aka HELL) is OFFICIALLY over!!

Can I get a motherlovin' round of oh yeah?

OH YEAH!

*little instant air guitar solo*

So... since I have endured hell, I have put together a list of what I'll use my summer break for (no school until September 26th). 

1 - Record new music

2 - Write new music

3 - Pair 1 and 2 together

4 - More music lessons. Been at it for years, even more can't hurt

5 - Think of school in the summer. Cry

6 - Tone abs

7 - Work on abs

8 - Actually get abs

9 - Learn how to actually dance beyond the little 'school is over victory dance'. Yuk. ENOUGH. 

10 - Work more on this blog, and develop a better following! YAY!

11 - Get fat

12 - See 6, 7 and 8. Strike 11 from the record. 

13 - Listen to more music

14 - Breathe

15 - Write song inspired by 14