An Exclusive Interview with The Redd

1) Introduce yourself.

I am The Redd from the West side of Chicago

2) How did you come up with your stage name?

My mother, God rest her soul, called me Redd as a child because I actually had red hair and I still have a red beard and mustache

3) What sets you apart from other aspiring artists?

Versatility, I think people will be surprised to see how many different sounds and genres I use in my music

4) What single or project are you currently pushing?

“Get Naked featuring Rotimi” from the “Get it in Blood” album (soon to be released)
He’s working on his role in “Boss” for Starz right now so I was really happy we could get our schedules together and work on the title track together. He’s a great guy with a lot of talent. I know he will do well and I’m wishing the best for him.

5) What is the philosophy by which you live by?

Live by the sword die by the sword

6) Which artists have inspired you to pursue music?

Tupac Shakur

7) Who does most of the songwriting?

I do all the songwriting. I write the music but then I also bring in a host of other artists to contribute. It’s always interesting and more fun when you get input from other creative people.

(8) What is your opinion of the current state of the music industry?

It has room for an artist like me, but it’s really tricky to get your music heard these days.

For more, read the interview on Ucombo Artist Interviews.

A Conversation with Song Writer Roro

We had a conversation with the 23 years old Song writer, Music Producer, and a Rap
artist Rolandis, better known as Roro this week.

1) Introduce yourself

Hey whats good everybody. My Name is Rolandis but i’m better known as
Roro. I’m 23 years old and I’m a Song writer, Music Producer, and a Rap
artist. I’ve been doing music since I was 7 years old.
I’m originally from Orlando, fl but currently living in Japan. My father
is a hip-hop rapper/producer by the name of Little Ko-chese; He was
internationally recognized for his hit song titled “booty swang” in 1993.

2) How did you come up with your stage name?

Well my stage name was given to me by the uncle i got my middle named
after Levell. I’m not sure how he came up with the name but i’m guessing since my first name is Rolandis, then Roro was shorter, and much easier to remember.

3) What sets you apart from other artists?

Well first thing that sets me apart from others is I’m an international
writer, producer and rapper. so i just don’t just write and produce for U.S artists; I write and produce for people in various countries. I am currently in japan working with japanese artists, so what makes me different than other producers is I try to mix the culture and traditional sounds with today’s sounds. I also don’t just write and produce for hip hop. I also can write and produce for any genre, whether it be jazz,rnb,pop,rock, dub step, etc. I can adapt to any and every style or genre out there. Also my purpose in doing music is to uplift and help others that are lost, find direction. I think all those things set me apart from other artists/producers.

4) What single or project are you currently pushing?

Read more, visit Ucombo Music Review.

A Conversation with Singer and Song Writer Cathy Richardson

We had a conversation with singer and song writer Cathy Richardson this week.

1) Introduce yourself

Hi! I am Cathy Richardson. I sing, write songs and make a general spectacle of myself.

2) How did you come up with your stage name?

That was all my parents. I don’t think my name is nearly as exciting as I actually am.

3) What sets you apart from other artists?

I could tell you that but then I would have to kill you. haha Just kidding. I am the Goddess of All Rock. Accept no substitutes.

4) What single or project are you currently pushing?

I have a new band called the Macrodots and our debut album the Other Side is probably the best rock record you’ve never heard.

5) What is the philosophy by which you live?

My thoughts create my reality. And I think I’m GREAT.

6) Which artists have inspired you to pursue music?

Ann and Nancy Wilson were, and still are, my musical heroes.

7) Who does most of the songwriting in your band?

Zack Smith and I co-wrote all the songs on the Macrodots record. On my solo records, I do most of the writing.

(8) What is your opinion of the current state of the music industry?

Everybody and their mother has a band. This includes me because I became a mother this year.

To read more, visit Ucombo Music Reviews.

A Conversation with Twenty 30

Twenty30 is a four (five now) piece outfit from Philadelphia playing Rock N Roll with a punk attitude and relentless energy. Building a following from regular airplay on www.indie104.com and live shows, Twenty30 appears poised to break out on the national scene. Their debut recording, Departure, was release in July 2008. Departure includes six songs mixing modern rock edge with a punk mentality and classic rock finesse.



1) Introduce yourself:

Hello! We are Twenty30 from Philadelphia, pleasure to meet you it’s a real honor.

2) How did you come up with your stage name?

After many disagreements and quick band name changes we were in the studio recording our first album and as a last resort Lyle our singer/rhythm player said how about real serious (jokingly) and said what about our ages, as some are in our twenties and some thirties and finally it was settled.

3) What sets you apart from other aspiring artists?

What sets us apart is a real desire to make a family of our friends and fans, we all work full time and some of us are married so our time away from home and our spouses means we really want everyone to have a good time and hang out together including ourselves. Considering our free time is limited, it makes for a more memorable experience to play with bands we enjoy and are friends with and hang with people who all get along and want to party together! Too many bands just want to climb to the top of the charts, we make music we love and want to share with others.

4) What single or project are you currently pushing?

We are currently pushing our new self titled E.P. we finally feel like we really captured our live sound and put it to tape, we put everything we had into this and you can stream the whole thing on our website!

5) What is the philosophy by which you live by?

Have fun and keep your family and friends close to heart.

6) Which artists have inspired you to pursue music?

Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Brand New, Incubus, Superchunk

7) Who does most of the songwriting?

Lyrics are by Lyle, all music is a complete band effort.

8) What is your opinion of the current state of the music industry?

It is overly accessible now making it harder for original bands and a real fight to get peoples attention, but when the hard work pays off it makes the experience unforgettable and something to be proud of.

For more, visit Ucombo Artist Interviews.

A Conversation with J’Da Prynce

Hi J’Da, please introduce yourself.


Greetings Ucombo! Hello world! My name is J’Da Prynce. I hail you from Peach Country, Atlanta, Ga, by way of North Carolina, by way of South Carolina, and of course I have to pay homage to my birthplace, New Jersey. I am one of six talented children born to Earline and Zander Johnson Sr., and I am extremely excited and grateful to be sharing this space and time with you.


How did you come up with your stage name?


The name J’Da Prynce was actually given to me by Freak Nasty, the artist who wrote and produced Da Dip. After hearing some of my material from my first album, OPEN: THE RELEASE, Ten Years in the Making, and recording a couple of songs with him, Freak began calling me J the R&B Prince. I liked the sound of it, but felt it could be tweaked just a bit, and that’s when I came up with J’Da Prynce-The New Prynce of R&B.


What sets you apart from other aspiring artists?


What sets me apart from other aspiring artist is I’m the “New Prynce.” I’m royalty; not by man’s standards, but by the Universe’s standards. God made me great, as God made each of us great, and I embrace it. Yet, I humbly, but boldly walk within my call and I know and accept my mission to do my part in making my world, our world a better place through music and the many other gifts and talents that are still developing within me.


What single or project are you currently pushing?


Currently, I am pushing my Blazin’ New Single, “Operator.” Though Operator is a fun and addictive club track, as a thematic message it addresses the issue of volatile relationships; particularly relationships that involve infidelity. The drum and bass heavy track was produced by Quan of Track Force Productions. I’m super excited about this track because of its potential to be hugely successful here in the United States and abroad! I look forward to walking into a club soon and watching people dance uncontrollably.


What is the philosophy by which you live by?


I live by a very simple but complex philosophy. I call it “L³.” Live, Laugh and Love! I strive to make each of these elements a daily part of my life. Simultaneously, I do my best to encourage those around me to embrace the same philosophy. Of course, life comes with sometimes seemingly unbearable challenges, but that’s when I go back to this mantra and remember; this too shall pass. Yes, I believe in working diligently to achieve success and I have a planner that I work out of, but as for my Life Philosophy, I try to keep it very simple, Live, Laugh Love; my recipe for success.


Which Artists have inspired you to pursue music?


I don’t know that I would say any particular artist inspired me to “pursue” music, as I discovered my love and passion for music at the age of six. I don’t even think we had a t.v. in our household then. However, there are artists who inspire my musical creativity. I draw inspiration from such artists as Anthony Hamilton, who is an amazing performer with invigorating passion and spirit. The one and only King of Pop, Michael Jackson, inspires me to think and dream with a global mindset; to look beyond the walls of the United States but start with the man in the mirror. Lady Gaga’s boldness inspires me, and Beyonce’s work ethic encourages me to apply a similar approach in my own career path.

For more of the interview, please visit Ucombo Music Reviews.

Man with Upside Down Face - Wachichoo

1) Introduce yourself

Hi I’m Chris Strange, keyboardist a/k/a Throwing Bones

2) How did you come up with your stage name?

Wachichoo was the name given to settlers by native Americans, meaning “Man with Upside Down Face” b/c they had shaved heads and beards. I’m not sure how it happened, but at the first rehearsal, this name came to us in a shared vision. And honestly, Wachichoo was a fun name to say.


3) What sets you apart from other aspiring artists?

We are real musicians and have all paid our dues. We are a rock-type band with no guitar, which is something you don’t see all the time.

4) What single or project are you currently pushing?

For more, visit Ucombo Interviews.

Rapper Scott Giannotti - A Conversation

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Scott Giannotti my nickname is SAV, I am a rapper originally from Strong Island but now I live in Northern New Jersey.

How did you come up with your stage name?

SAV is a derivative from the names of myself Scott, brother Anthony, and Sister Valerie. They are also professional independent musicians. At times I also think of it meaning sex and violence because those are two things I’ve felt very passionate about.

What sets you apart from other aspiring artists?

My desire to succeed, my ability to channel the realness within my words and deliver them is the things that set me apart from every other artist. I have been a hustler my whole life and I feel that I can multi-task at a higher level then 90% of society so I believe I can simply outperform in the long run-wear em all out.

For more, visit Ucombo Music Reviews.

Meet the band Stereo Crowd

Jamie Robinson (drums), Robert Keith (guitar), Paul-

Anthony(guitar & vocals), VFerg (base & vocals)

How did you come up with your stage name?

Well the band was given birth to on the rooftops of South Harlem. It started as just a lot of musicians getting together and jammin’ out on P-A roof on 111th street. We invited anyone and anyone who wanted to play or hang and listen. Before we knew it, we were getting over well over 100 people on the roof listening, and another 20-30 musicians or so jamming.

It was wild! P-A looked around and said to VFerg, “yo… we should start a band,” so they had another party; this time a covert band naming operation was at play. Throughout the night, people put over 150 names in a jar. The next day, P-A picked out two: “Uptown” and “Stereo Crowd.” When he called VFerg about it, VFerg lost his sh*t, because of all the names in the jar, P-A picked out the one that VFerg put in… “Stereo Crowd.”

The name represents what we saw those first few nights and what we still see today – a very diverse crowd that blends together like the left and right channels do in audio, to create stereo. In this case, that stereo signal of left and right that have come together as one, is a crowd.

What sets you apart from other aspiring artists? Hmm… well some people are like us.

They work as hard, build team, put out their own content, etc… It’s the extent that we take it, along with our style of music, that’s makes us different. We have soooo much fun playing this music! Some people are all pissed off… we just want you to shake your rump! Then when it comes to building our business team, we want to crush it! Bring in and engage as many fans as we can.

Fore more, visit Ucombo Indie Music Reviews.

David E Beats of the White House Band

We interviewed David E Beats, a member of the White House Band this week.

Hi David, please introduce yourself.

Wasup! This is David E Beats, the lead and only official member of The White House Band!

How did you come up with your stage name?

I always wanted to have a band called The White House Band. It was something that I’ve always wanted so finally I just said, fuck it, lets do it.

What sets you apart from other aspiring artists?

That my fans support me! Also, that I work longer and harder than most other acts!

What single or project are you currently pushing?

#TheStimulusPackageEP which you can find on my website or on the bands bandcamp!

What is the philosophy by which you live by?

Music First, Bullshit Last!!!!

Which artists have inspired you to pursue music?


First rapper that I listened to was Jay-Z and he was the one who inspired me down this long journey.
Who does most of your production?

I write, produce, and mix all the songs on every record!

What is your opinion of the current state of the music industry?
I try not to have one. I’m just focusing on making sure I stand out above the noise to get my band noticed and make sales.

If you could change one thing about the music industry what would it be and why?

Nothing. I’d like it to stay the same at least for now. Once my band grows into a national band, then it can change up, lol.

Are there any singers/rappers that you would like to collaborate with in the future?

I’m down to collaborate with anyone really, I’m a fan of music. Doesnt really matter who it is, as long as they are dopesauce to me I’ll do the collab!

What Is your favorite movie and favorite book?

My favorite movie is Gladiator and my favorite book is Empire State Of Mind.

For more of the interview, visit A Conversation with David E. Beats.

An Exclusive Interview with Blues Guitarist Demian Dominguez

Considered as the most promising Blues guitarist /singer from the Latin America, Demian Dominguez has captured the Blues music scene worldwide. A native of Buenos Aires, Demian's international tours have taken him to Europe and the Americas.

He recently released his second CD entitled “Devil By My Side” featuring world renowned Bernard Allison along with his own Demianband in the US and Europe. Ucombo Music Reviews editor Meg Dilts had the opportunity to interview him about his musical bringing, early career, and the releasing of his new CD.


Meg: Hi Demian, thank you so much to talk to us. The critiques have called you the most important Blue guitarist/singer who ever emerged from the Latin America and the Spanish cultures. People would think that you were a native of southern United States instead of a native of Buenos Aires if they just heard your playing. How did you get into the Blues?

Demian: I feel so fortunate and happy that the audience considers me this way and I'm very happy about the success that “Devil By My Side” is showing in commentary and reviews.

I arrived in Barcelona 8 years ago but I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For me, places mean “the people” and not necessarily the countries so I didn’t feel as though I was pulling up roots in Argentina when I moved to Barcelona. If you are really into the Blues and Rock the South of the USA must be the best place to be since many of my musical heroes were born there and this is the place where the Blues history was written. Playing the Blues is not only about spending a lot of hours practicing but it is a deep understanding about the folklore, the life and the feeling of all of those people who lived in the Southern USA. I started to play the Blues when I was a child of 12 years old and I used to listen to the monster musicians like Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many others and I was always into the Blues. When I would come home from school, I would sequester myself to play and studio for 8 or 9 hours each day.

Meg: You started your musical training early, what were your early musical training like? Are your parents musicians?

Demian: I always had my mother’s support, my grandmother used to play the piano and my father who was a guitarist, taught me to play the guitar. My father introduced me to really good music. I would practice and play for hours until it started to sound like music. During this period of time I didn’t have a lot of friends and for me it was the most fun to spend the time with my guitar.

Meg: Who do you consider to be the most influential musicians in your playing?

Demian: I give thanks to Stevie Ray Vaughn for being a major influence in my musical career. For me, what was so profound about Stevie Ray Vaughn is that you can hear that he took many influences of the old timers and he created his own style with those influences that evolved beyond and expressed his own individuality. It’s like when you are young and your family offers you advice. You must listen to them and then you take their suggestions and your own way of doing things grows out of that so you build your own thoughts and opinions. To me it is the most important thing to have my own musical “voice” and for that to keep on developing.

I usually listen to a lot of Blues music, Rock and Soul but my biggest influences are among 60′ and 70′ musicians. Those guys were inventing new stuff and they played with such energy and passion by contributing a piece of themselves to every song and every musical note that they played and this is something that I never forget.

Read more of the interview on Ucombo Music Review.

Living the Dream - A Conversation with Jazz Musician Jason Parker

Jason Parker, a jazz trumpet player from Seattle, has been living the dream of many independent musicians and paying the bills at the same time. Working in the music industry for over 20 years, Jason leads The Jason Parker Quartet, one of the busiest jazz bands in Seattle, and plays in a host of other bands, including Clave Nagila, Water Babies, The Nate Omdal Nonet and more.

Jason has released four of his own CDs and played on countless others. He is releasing the second CD with The Jason Parker Quartet, entitled “No More, No Less”, this month. It was recorded on April 8, 2009 at MOUSe Recording, Seattle, WA. Its official release date is October 24, 2009.

Ucombo Music Reviews editor Meg Dilts had a conversation with Jason Parker on his early musical training, the making of his first CD, and his career.

Meg: Hi Jason, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. You’ve been on the music scene for over 20 years. Have you always played in a jazz band?

Jason: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me! I appreciate the opportunity to tell your readers a bit about myself and my music.
I started playing the trumpet at 8 years old and my first exposure to jazz was in my high school big band. The teacher was really into old Basie charts, Sammy Nistico, Maynard Ferguson, etc. He really got me playing jazz. Then I attended the Interlochen Arts Academy for two summers during high school, which really help me progress as a musician. I entered college as a music major, but quickly realized that I didn’t have the drive that the other music students did. They spent all their waking hours in the practice rooms, but I just wanted to be a college freshman! So I played in a few rock bands and pick-up bands, but turned my attention to the radio station at the college, which played lots of jazz. It was a way for me to stay close to the music without all that practicing! After college I put the horn down, had a very successful career in radio, and didn’t think much about playing. It was only after I turned 30 and had a bit of a mid-life crisis that I went back to the horn. A Seattle bassist named Ev Stern has been leading a Jazz Workshop for years and convinced me to come try it out. I did, was hooked, and haven’t put the horn down since. That was 10 years ago.

Meg: When did you start your musical training? You are a trumpet player,
has it always been your instrument of choice since the beginning?

Jason: Growing up we listened to equal parts classical music (my dad’s choice) and folk music (my mom’s choice). From an early age I was taken with the cello, and that’s the first instrument I wanted to play. In 2nd grade, when they made everyone in my school choose and instrument, I chose the cello. But I was told I was too small and would have to settle for a violin. I wasn’t happy about it, but decided to give it a try. But about 2 weeks before the first music class, they called us all into the multi-purpose room and sat us down for a concert. I was right up front, and remember sitting at the feet of a man who looked like a giant, wearing a daishiki and a huge smile, and playing the heck out of a trumpet. I sat watching him mesmerize the whole room, and decided then and there that I wanted to be a trumpet player. That man: Dizzy Gillespie!

Meg: As a professional musician, do you teach besides performing? Do you
find teaching students musically rewarding?

Jason: I do a little bit of teaching. I’ve never enjoyed having a ton of private students, but I love teaching classes to groups of kids and do so for a few organizations in Seattle. I find working with groups and teaching them how to play as a band is very rewarding and inspiring. My favorite thing about jazz is that it is a conversation, and seeing young folks get that and actually start listening to each other is one of my biggest rewards.

Meg: Your quartet, The Jason Parker Quartet, is one of the busiest jazz
bands in Seattle. When was it formed? How did you meet the musicians in
your band?

Jason: I have been leading some form of the JPQ since 2001. The current group has been together for about 2 1/2 years and are the greatest human beings I’ve ever played with. I met Josh Rawlings, the piano player, when I hired one of his bands (Soul Kata) to open for my band Water Babies. We hit it off and when the piano chair in my group came open he was the only person I wanted. Luckily he said yes! He introduced me to Evan Flory-Barnes (bass) and D’Vonne Lewis (drums), who he plays with in a couple of different groups in Seattle (The Teaching and Industrial Revelation). I brought them in to help me record our first CD and we’ve been playing together ever since.

Read more of the exclusive interviews with Jason Parker on Ucombo Music Reviews

An Exclusive Interview with PAINTED ON WATER

The self titled debut album “Painted on Water” release in June 2009 by artists Sertab Erener and Demir Demirkan is a combination of traditional music and art from eastern culture with America's roots music, jazz and blues representing the culmination of a truly global vision. The group “Painted On Water” just completed a highly successful tour in the US.

Ucombo music editor Meg Dilts had the opportunity to interview both artists about their career, collaboration, and the making of this wonderful international music project.

SERTAB ERENER has been among the most acclaimed female artists on the Turkish pop music scene for over 15 years. A conservatory-trained coloratura soprano, Erener’s versatility in opera and pop styles has won her an army of devoted fans, and global sales of over four million records. In 2003, she represented Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia, and became the first Turkish singer to win the Eurovision first prize with “Every Way That I Can,” co-written with her partner in PAINTED ON WATER, Demir Demirkan.

Demir Demirkan is the songwriter, arranger, co-producer, guitarist, and singer for PAINTED ON WATER. Embarking on their world music and jazz/blues/rock fusion together after ten years of successful collaboration on Erener’s pop projects in Turkish and English, PAINTED ON WATER was co-produced in Los Angeles with Jay Newland, a nine-time Grammy-winning producer and engineer.

Meg: Hi Sertab and Demir, thank you so much for taking the time to talk us about making this wonderful global music project. Prior to Pained On Water, you had been collaborating for over a decade. You co-wrote “Every Way That I Can,” the song that helped launching Sertab’s international career. How did you two meet? What was your first collaborated project?

POW: Hi Meg, thanks for interviewing us.

We met in the summer of 1996, at a club where Sertab was singing. I had just relocated to Istanbul from Los Angeles and she had had her 2nd album released. My first thought was “she should be singing worldwide!” And honestly, I can say that was the moment I fell in love with her.

I started working on another singer’s debut album, meanwhile we got together with Sertab for some of her demos. We prepared a 2 song demo for Arif Mardin, he was in Istanbul at that time. That’s also the time we got together as a couple. The first project we worked on was Sertab Gibi, her 3rd Turkish release. We co-wrote songs and I did the production, arrangements and a lot of guitar playing :)

Meg: Sertab, your work in PAINTED ON WATER represents a new creative plateau in an already accomplished career, you said that “In this album, not so many variations, and big voice in the performance, but instead — soul. Expression.” Music is all about reaching out to the audience and igniting listeners’ emotions and passion. That’s every artist’s dream. Do you find yourself using different singing techniques? Since you were trained as an operatic soprano?

POW: When I was studying music and vocals at the Conservatory, I used to be very fond of some singers, musicians, and bands. During my education, I used to perform jazz, pop jazz , pop, with different bands as a lead singer. But of course, to create my own individual sound of voice was the most necessary and important thing in my career. So now I definitely am using different techniques when I am singing and enjoy it. it makes me free.

Read more of the interview on Ucombo Music Reviews with Painted On Water.