Category Archives: Interviews

Rob McCullough (Clean Tab) – Interview (Part 2)

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This is the final part of the interview I conducted with Rob McCullough from Clean Tab. You can read the first part right here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

I have always loved, and felt a special conncetion to music. I started playing guitar seriously when I was about 14. My first album was Alive by Pearl Jam.

Are you in a band yourself, or have you been in a band in the past? Is there a clip on YouTube or elsewhere we could watch?

I have never played in a full band. I have played various coffee house style shows with friends. Unfortunately, I don’t have any live videos on youtube. But, I do have a SoundCloud account for anyone interested in my personal music. http://soundcloud.com/mybbor

Musical likes and dislikes? Favorite artists?

If you can name a genre, I can probably name a relevant song that I enjoy. I like to mix up my styles depending on my mood. When I am coding. I absolutely love listening to electronic music. Boards of Canada was the soundtrack to my time working on CleanTab. Continue reading →

Rob McCullough (Clean Tab) – Interview (Part 1)

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Rob McCullough (the founder and developer of Clean Tab, a cool repository of tabs just reviewed on MusicKO) was kind enough to answer all my questions regarding both his startup and his musical background.

Without further ado, this is the first part of the interview. And the second (“Music And You”) can be accessed here.

Clean Tab

Full Name: Rob McCullough
Age: 25
Startup: Clean Tab
Position: Founder/developer

PART I

THE STARTUP

Tell us a little about your startup. How was it conceived? What are its most distinctive features in your opinion?

CleanTab is an automated guitar & bass tablature search engine. We fetch tabs from all over the internet, clean them up, and display them with our customized font. CleanTabs have videos, and they are just as gorgeous printed on paper as they are in the browser.

What was the original launch date?

June 28th, 2010

What has been the response so far? In which countries has it been more successful?

The response has been great! There is only a small amount of resources available to me for for advertising. So, I am working really hard to grow organically and through word of mouth. We are most popular in the United States. But, Australia is not far behind.

What features can we expect to see implemented in future revisions?

I just implemented some new tweaks to the printable version of our tabs. Also, within the next few weeks we will begin updating our tab archive with new material daily! Finally, there is a lot of behind the scenes work going on to make sure all our our data is correct. We are removing duplicate tabs, and trying to fix up song titles that were skewed by their orginal creators.

There is a certain tendency to demonize the Internet in the music industry. I think it is all a matter of perspective – it all depends on the uses it is put to. What is your opinion? In which areas has the Internet left an unquestionably positive mark?

In my opinion, the internet itself, and the rapid speed at which we can access information, is an unquestionably positive thing! Human progress relies on our ability to learn from, and then adapt to, the findings of those that came before us. The internet has given more people access to more information at instant speeds than ever before in history. Any monetary loss to those who were unable, or unwilling, to adapt to the changing world is a miniscual set back.

What advice could you give to anybody who is launching a music-related startup in the future? What are the obvious mistakes that should be avoided?

A few things. First, time management is crucial. Strictly for music related start ups, be aware of copyright laws and how they will affect your business. Avoid doing sloppy work with the intention of fixing it later.

Continue to Part 2: “Music & You”.

Mark Williamson (Flashbck) – Interview

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http://flashbck.com

I bet you remember Flashbck, the service for piecing together all the clips and photos taken by you and your friends at any gig that you have attended. It was reviewed last Sunday on MusicKO, and now I am pleased to introduce you to its co-founder, Mark Williamson. Read on to learn how he describes the service, the impact it has had so far and what the future holds in store.

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson

Full Name: Mark Williamson
Age: 27
Startup: Flashbck
Position: Co-Founder

PART I

THE STARTUP

Tell us a little about your startup. How was it conceived? What are its most distinctive features in your opinion?

Flashbck is a new site designed to help you re-live, share & explore live music experiences. Basically, you go to a gig take some photos/videos & then upload them to flashbck which is specifically designed for live music photo/video sharing –  so it does some cool stuff like pulls in the bands that were at a festival, the people you went with & where the gig was.

I had flashbck in my mind for a while, I just didn’t know exactly what it was. I go to a lot of gigs & festivals & wanted a way to keep track of them online. When I was a teenager I had a pin-board where I stuck up all of my ticket stubs/setlists and so on. Flashbck is the modern version of that.

The most distinctive feature is that we’re music focused. From our really cool slideshow to the Memory Bank – which is like a pin-board. It looks cool and it’s a great way to track your gig-history!

What was the original launch date?

Sometime in August! It’s a bit of a blur.

What has been the response so far? In which countries has it been more successful?

We’re currently testing the site in a soft launch – anyone can check it out – but we’re planning wider promotional activity later in the year. As we’re in London the focus has mainly been here so far. Spreading the word is key for us, so anyone who feels like shouting about us, great! (you can find us @flashbcktweets & on facebook).

What features can we expect to see implemented in future revisions?

We’re adding a lot of new stuff on a regular basis. We wanted to get flashbck out into the wild so our users could help us to understand whether we were heading in the right direction.

On the horizon? Video, integration with other sites & some unique features.

There is a certain tendency to demonize the Internet in the music industry. I think it is all a matter of perspective – it all depends on the uses it is put to. What is your opinion? In which areas has the Internet left an unquestionably positive mark?

My music taste. The web and especially legal apps like Spotify are essentials for me now. I may not be buying albums, I never did spend a lot on CDs, but I’m spending a small fortune on going to see the bands I find on Spotify & on blogs.   Continue reading →

Mal Yo (Interview)

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(Hagan click aquí para leer esta nota en español)

Well, here you can read a small interview I conducted with the cool guys from Mal Yo (remember them?). They are as funny as ever, and they have begun playing more shows around Montevideo Way to go, folks!

Mal Yo

Band Information

Name: Mal Yo

Genre: Rock Pop

Band Members: Diego da Silva (guitar & vocals), Rodrigo Camejo (bass) and Sergio Alastra (drums & backing vocals)

Been Together Since: 21st of November, 2009 (first gig).

Main Claim To Fame So Far: We were number one in the ranking of Cadena de la Costa FM 102.1 (La Paloma)

Some Questions

Where did the name of the band come from?

It came from Sergio’s head – unable to think of anything better (like always) he thought up that name, as a way of asking advance pardon from the listener for what he is going to be put through.

How will you make to leave your mark in the history of Uruguayan music? Is that a concern, or will you just let time determine the role played by Mal Yo?

We play for fun. We love music and we don’t think about “leaving a mark”… if it happens, then that’s great. But come to think of it, we are not really ready for such a challenge.

What is the first thing that someone who is outside of Uruguay will think about when he listens to your songs?

We have seen that our page got a lot of visitors from abroad, but they didn’t stay for long. The probably thought the music was a pile of crap, or something like that!

In which sense being in Uruguay gives you an edge over musicians in other parts of the world? And how does it hinder you?

Well, residing here doesn’t really give you a lot of advantages, The market is small, it is hard to find pubs to play, and even to arrange your own gigs. Musicians here usually earn a living by doing other things that are unrelated, not being able to devote half as much time to it as we’d like… though that doesn’t apply to us and our ineptitude.

How are you building up your following? What role do social tools and services like Twitter, MySpace and Facebook play in your strategy? Would you say that kind of service has redefined how artists and fans connect, or do you believe that nothing beats a face-to-face with your audience?

We use all three, but Facebook is the main one for us. Lots of people have become acquainted with us like that, friends of friends and so on. We advertise our gigs, we upload pictures, videos and make comments. Our goal is to get through to people, and it is actually happening not only in Facebook, but also live. We have good chemistry with the audience. After each gig, we stay to meet people, take pics that we upload to our site… a close, nice group of friends is beginning to manifest itself. That is unbeatable. Well, that’s what we pay these guys for – to go and support us at gigs! Continue reading →

Mal Yo (Entrevista)

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(Click here for the English version of this post)

Finalmente encontramos un momento con los muchachos de Mal Yo para hacer una entrevista, la banda ha empezado a tocar con más frecuencia en los boliches de Montevideo y me alegro mucho por ellos. ¡A ver si para el próximo toque no estoy engripado! ; )

Mal Yo

Información de la Banda

Nombre: Mal Yo

Género: Rock Pop

Miembros de la banda: Diego da Silva (guitarra y voz), Rodrigo Camejo (Bajo) y Sergio Alastra (Batería y coros)

Fecha de nacimiento: Fecha del primer toque de ésta formación 21/11/09

Lo más cercano que han estado de la fama hasta ahora: Fuimos Nº 1 del ranking de Cadena de la Costa FM 102.1 de La Paloma

Algunas Preguntas

¿De dónde surge el nombre de la banda?

Surge de la cabeza de Sergio, que ante la ausencia de ideas (cosa normal) aportó este nombre aplicando la filosofía de pedir disculpas de antemano por lo que se va a escuchar.

¿Cómo harán para dejar su huella en la historia de la música Uruguaya? ¿Piensan en ello, o dejarán que el tiempo determine el papel que jugó Mal Yo?

Tocamos para divertirnos, porque nos gusta la música y no nos cuestionamos el “dejar una huella”, si viene… bárbaro, pero pensándolo bien… no nos consideramos muy aptos para tal desafío.

¿Qué es lo primero que va a pensar un extranjero que escuche sus canciones?

Estuvimos viendo que en nuestra página hubo bastantes visitas del exterior pero no han sido muy duraderas, por lo que sacamos en conclusión que deben de haber pensado algo así como que somos una porquería, una bosta o algo así.

¿En qué sentido estar radicados en Uruguay les da una ventaja sobre músicos en otras partes del mundo? ¿Y en qué sentido los limita?

La verdad que no creemos que haya muchas ventajas por estar radicados acá, es un mercado pequeño, difícil por esta misma característica y donde no es fácil tocar en boliches ni hacer movidas para tocar por cuenta propia. Generalmente los músicos vivimos de otras cosas que no son la música y no podemos dedicarle el tiempo que quisiéramos a la ella… aunque en nuestro caso sería caer en un saco roto… por propias ineptitudes claro está.

¿Cómo están utilizando herramientas sociales (Twitter, MySpace, Facebook…) para promocionar la  banda? ¿Qué tan efectivo ha sido todo ello hasta ahora? ¿Dirían que esos servicios han redefinido cómo una banda interactúa con el público? ¿O nada se compara con una cara a cara con la audiencia?

Usamos las tres pero la que mas usamos es Facebook,  nos han conocido muchas personas por este medio, amigos de amigos y cosas así. Publicitamos los toques, las actualizaciones de  nuestra web, subimos fotos, videos y hacemos comentarios. Nuestra meta es comunicarnos con la gente, y de hecho se está dando no sólo por facebook sino también en vivo, tenemos una buena química con el público, después de los toques nos quedamos a hablar con la gente, nos sacamos fotos, las subimos a la página, se ha formado un grupo de amigos muy lindo que nos siguen a todos lados y eso no tiene precio… por eso les pagamos lo que sea para que nos vayan a ver. Continue reading →

Thomas Veitch (The Melody Master) – Interview (Part 2)

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This is the second part of the conversation I had with Thomas Veitch from The Melody Master. In case you haven’t done so already, read the first part here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

Growing up in Manchester in the Madchester early 90s era, I got really into bands like Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, The Charlatans, Inspiral Carpets. My first purchase though was when I was a kid, and that was Ghostbusers.

Are you in a band yourself, or have you been in a band in the past? Is there a clip on YouTube or elsewhere we could watch?

I was in a band called Survival. It didn’t survive very long and didn’t make it out of the bedroom.

Musical likes and dislikes? Favorite artists?

I like any genre or type so long as it’s got energy and a cachy tune. Los de Abajo, Little Barrie, Fats Waller, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Arctic Monkeys, Profokiev.

I can’t stand wishy washy dreary music which makes you fall asleep. Continue reading →

Thomas Veitch (The Melody Master) – Interview (Part 1)

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This is the first part of the interview I have had the pleasure of conducting with Thomas Veitch, the operator of The Melody
Master. This is where we talk about the site and the reception it has had.
And this is Part 2 (“Music & You”).

The Melody Master

Full Name: Thomas Veitch
Age: 35
Site: The Melody Master
Position: Operator

PART I

THE SITE

Tell us a little about your site. Why did you create it? What was the original launch date?

I along with many musicians wish to be able to play an instrument by ear. You listen to a melody or riff and then wish to play it on the piano or guitar.

By providing some exercises, you can train your ear to do this. I’ve certainly improved my ability and I’ve noticed I’m starting to improvise now when playing the piano. I’d love to get to a level where I’m playing the same notes that I have in my head.

Are you happy with the way it has evolved so far, or do you think that there is still a lot to be added?

Yes, there’s always more exercises and games. The more exposure the site gets, the more feedback and requests we get from users which we aim to include.

What has been the feedback you have received? In which countries has The Melody Master been more successful?

Feedback has been positive. Users want us to put certain melodies in for them to learn. One user requested to be able to use the games entirely from the keyboard as it was easier for him. Another user requested to add a function to gradually make games harded by being able to control the intervals between the notes as in the Higher or Lower game. One user from Germany wanted a pitch memory game which we built.
The Melody Master has been popular in Europe and North America. Unexpectedly we’ve been quite popular in the Philippines. I think that’s because they have a lot of cover bands. Continue reading →

David Trejo (Mixest) – Interview

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Mixest

I am sure you all remember Mixest, a website I reviewed last month that let you discover new indie bands in a very easy and smooth way. I really liked the site, so I am very glad (not to mention thankful) for having had the chance to interview David Trejo, one of its creators.

Here you have the conversation in full.

Tell us a little about your startup. Why focus on indie bands only? What do you see in them that you don’t see elsewhere?

Mixest isn’t really a startup. We’re a bunch of friends who banded together to create what we hope is a great listening experience. We enjoy Indie music and wanted a way to discover the latest music with ease. Indie musicians are particularly interested in reaching listeners and spreading pleasure with their music, and we’d like to help them do that.

What are Mixest’s most distinctive features in your opinion? In which ways is it an improvement over other sites that let you find and listen to indie music?

Mixest is about the music and the joy of the listener and nothing else. We streamline the music discovery process—no need to waste time setting up an account. Just go to our mixest.com and listen to music. You don’t even have to hit ‘play.’ It just works.

What was the original launch date?

We first announced our service on July 2nd.

What has been the response so far? In which countries has it been more successful?

We’ve had an extremely positive response so far. The feedback we’ve received so far has helped us improve and yet stay true to our values. We have listeners from all over the globe, and but we’ve gained the largest followings in North America. Continue reading →

Barry Starlin (Soundzabound) – Interview (Part 2)

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Read on for the final part of the interview with Barry Starlin from SoundzAbout.
Here you will learn all there is to know about his background in music. Of course, you can learn more about the company itself in the first part of the interview.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

I am the last of five music kids so I was born into it.  My earliest memories of being alive were of me and my family gathered around the piano playing and singing songs.  My older brother and three sisters were teenagers in the 70’s.  They were a part of the whole scene.  Even better is the fact that they exposed me to everything from country to rock to pop, and growing up in Georgia – home of James Brown, Otis Redding, Allman Brothers and so many legends was also an influence in such a multi-cultural environment.  But, it was when I was six years old and saw Johnny Cash on television that I decided what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.  When I was ten, my brother and my oldest sisters husband hooked me up with guitars and I was hooked.

Are you in a band yourself, or have you been in a band in the past? Is there a clip on YouTube or elsewhere we could watch?

Yes I am.  Currently I’m performing, writing and producing with a lot of different bands, artists and vocalists.  You can check out some of them at www.reverbnation.com/starlin.  I’m also currently recording a catalog of songs I have written.  Some will be published through ASCAP with the intention of major artists recording them and some will wind up on my upcoming solo release.  I’m all over YouTube, but one of my favorite things recently posted was a live show in Shanghai in 2006.  I’m the one playing the white Les Paul.  Viewers should watch the video till the end so they can see the size of crowds we played to in Asia!  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5H0CE-iVts)

Musical likes and dislikes? Favorite artists?

I like artists who are original, creative, and innovative and are an inspiration in some way to their audience.
Dislikes – Bands and artists who are unoriginal and whose music makes no difference.

Favorite Artists:  Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes, The Who, Aretha Franklin, Sade, Prince, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, KISS, The Smithereens and believe it or not – Lady Gaga.  (Yes, eclectic I know) Continue reading →

Barry Starlin (Soundzabound) – Interview (Part 1)

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SoundzAbound is one of the most interesting startups that I have reviewed so far. And I have had the privilege of catching up with its president and co-founder, Barry Starlin. Now you can read the whole story.
This is Part 1; it deals with the genesis of the startup and its repercussion so far. Part 2 is about Barry and his musical past, present and future. Make sure to check it here.

Barry Starlin Britt from SoundzAbound

Barry Starlin Britt from SoundzAbound

Full Name: Barry Starlin Britt
Startup: Soundzabound.com
Position:  President and Co-founder


PART I

THE STARTUP

Tell us a little about your startup. How was it conceived? What are its most distinctive features in your opinion?

Back in 1996 a district educator in the Atlanta area was working in the media department and getting many requests for royalty free music that could be used in PowerPoint and news shows primarily.  Most of the audio was too expensive and mostly “elevator music” in those days.  He contacted me about producing some demos.  Once the demos were done and I could see the results of use, I was on board.

The most distinctive features were the technological needs, the need for copyright compliance in the school systems and mostly, our intellectual property was unmatched having been a marriage between district educators and music industry professionals that soon join us.

What was the original launch date?

Our first Volume was released in August 1998 and Soundzabound was officially incorporated just shortly after that same month.  We did not decide to take the company full time until 2005.

What has been the response so far? In which countries has it been more successful?

The response has been amazing.  I never knew what a necessity our product would be.  In the early days I personally thought it would be nothing more than a novelty, but technology and compliance really drove the need.

Being a U.S. based company with strategic focus on the district, regional and state levels of K-12 education, the United States has been our most successful country, but the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, China and India are of course quickly emerging. Continue reading →