Sometimes, on social media, a simple hello can start the most interesting conversations. And that is basically how I met this week's "guest".

She is fun, interesting and has some Great music for you to check out.

I am proud to give you Irian Darkwood

Hi Irian, thank you for taking the time to have this chat with us.

How did you find  your way to music?

I've been singing since I was really young, I don't know I think my whole life, always finding way to use music and singing to deal with my life, and since I turned legal drinking age ha ha, then I started to do karaoke at a pro level. It was so fun to try my limits. I challenged myself to learn new genres, styles and I practiced for hours and hours.

I had a lot of other jobs at the side because I wasn’t making much money as an musician yet but the music was the red line that connected my life to my soul.

I needed it as I need air to breathe and as I got to go around more and more on the karaoke scene and befriending a lot of hosts I understand that this is what I want to dedicate my life to and I got a taste for live performance that way. I sang with a couple of bands, some pretty big names at the local scene too for a short while but I just knew that I needed to get my own music out there. I knew I had it in me and all through my life it wanted “out”. I felt it, and when I got the chance to release my own stuff and work with a team I could really just do what I was supposed to do. Sing, perform, record, breathe and live music to the fullest. That's so how I got to where I am right now.

When you are writing a lyric, where do you find your inspiration?

I tend to find my inspiration from every day life occurrences, you know what are important topics today, sometimes it's a simple as an object I see in the store that will remind me of something that happened in my life, and sometimes its more memories and past experiences that brings out a lyric to me.

For me I need to have a personal connection. I need to “see and feel” what I write about and also to be able to get the right kind of music to it. I cannot do it any other way and in the end you have just your basic life experience to find true and good inspiration from.

Is music a way for you to make your poetry come to life or are they separated?

For me personally, it's definitely a way to bring some of my poetry to life, not all of my poetry song worthy ha ha. I have written some fun things that I don’t know if anyone can put music to. Take for example my chocolate poem

“Chocolate, chocolate everywhere, 

In the hallways on the stairs, 

out of taps run chocolate syrup 

as we drink from chocolate cups 

I hear chocolate burps! 

Chocolate knives and chocolate spoons 

we sweep the floor with chocolate brooms, 

chocolate mugs on chocolate hooks 

we even read from chocolate books! 

I love the sweet brown chocolate world 

says I with chocolate lace and chocolate pie! 

Then I wake up in my bed 

with chocolate thoughts inside my head! 

Until I go to sleep once more 

I'll think of things like chocolate doors! 

Chocolate chocolate everywhere, 

in the hallways on the stairs!"

But yes, I always write. I always collect stories and who knows, one day there will be a rewritten metal Chocolate song!

Which part of the process is the most energy giving for you?

I really enjoy interacting with my team, they're all very encouraging, and I'd say rather patient ha ha because I can be I think difficult sometimes ha ha.

But other than that I think it’s the experience as a whole. Its to create something from a line on a paper to a whole arranged and wild song that is such a blast.

I mean its hard to explain but the experience to see the finished song and knowing how much effort and energy there is put into the whole project releases so much energy back to me. Its my life force.

You have a new song coming out. What is the story behind that?

My song Light at The End of The Tunnel is coming out April 4, 2025, and I wrote that because at the time I was struggling a bit and in my life and I wanted people to know that they weren't alone, and there was always hope for you know better days in recovery, because things definitely got better for me, and yeah I just want them to know that just don't give up and know that there's always better things coming.

I know this from my personal experience. I have been down, I have been through almost anything you can think of. I battled so many dark demons in my life.

But even when its dark, even when there seem to be no way out or it seems you just have to accept the hardships or everything around you. I have always had my belief that there is always a Light at the end of the tunnel. So its one day at a time, if that doesn’t work, its one hour at a time, if that doesn’t work, we can break it down to one breath at a time but, always remember that its darkest just before the dawn.

I wanted to show that just keep going and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Other than the new song, what are you currently working on?

I have a few songs in the works right now actually, I'm currently working on a fourth release, so I'm pretty excited for the upcoming music.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to record more music of course, and hopefully see the world.

I love learning new stuff.

I am currently studying 9 languages, and I love to meet new people, learning new things.

Life is full of opportunities and chances. I want to be able to look back at my life when I get old and feel like “I dared, I did it” because I don’t want to grow old and feel like I regretted not daring to take the chances when they came.

I know you are struggling with fibromyalgia, how has that affected  your journey?, both creativity wise and physical endurance?

Yeah, fibromyalgia can be challenging yes.

I have learned to live with a lot of pain and to handle life and all the things around me.

You never know how much pain you are going to be in one day and sometimes I need to learn to plan around that, or to push through. Its hard I admit it but to refer back to the new song Light at the end of the tunnel. I try to see the light even on the most dark days.

I have good support around me and that also helps a lot. When the bad days come I turn to music if I can, if I cannot sing because of the pain I listen to it or just use it to be feeling more hopeful and strong.

Music is the universal healer and helper that many of us need. My fans  help a lot as well, their support means a lot to me. When I released my first song I didn’t think that anyone would really listen or notice me but the people that did have said so good things to me and that also makes me want to do more. 

I don't know that it's affected my journey so much I mean that's my daily life so I'm quite used to just dealing with it on a daily basis right?

But I guess if I'm going to say anything it's just giving me the power to show myself that I can face a lot harder things than I thought I could, and be stronger and come out really strong because of it.

I want to show that you can reach your dreams and do what you want even through tough medical conditions. Because if I can do it, then anyone can.

I know that there is strength in every human and it always makes me so happy to see people. Really see them because I know that sometimes getting out of bed and getting a glass of water is like running a marathon.

How do you feel the music scene has changed from when you started and what is the best advice you have gotten?

Definitely a lot more emphasis these days on streaming services versus life performances, which makes it difficult for a lot of us musicians who want to perform for life audiences the attendance goes down and it makes it a bit harder for us, but you know there's still quite a bit of interesting life performance and experience so it's just a matter of finding the right people to come out for you.

The best advice I guess that I've been given, is to not give up, and that things will look hard sometimes, but as long as I push through and am persistent and I know what I want in life, then I can achieve anything. To be your own biggest fan. Because a lot of people will tell you what they think you should do or be. But in the end its what you want and who you are that matters. Don’t give up and be yourself!

You are currently working with a management team, how has that changed things for you and how did that come about?

I love my management team, they offer so much support and they do a lot of the things that I really don't know how to do you know they schedule things like interviews and press releases and they help with my social media management, it's just pretty much all I have to do is just sing, and of course they taught me how to use the computer programs that I used to send the and you know music files over remotely since they are in Sweden and I'm here in Halifax Nova Scotia Canada.

I met my manager actually through a musician site that I was managing at the time and yeah it's been a really great ride.

I´ve seen Sweden and they have been here to Canada too. Its just great to see how life and the universe have a way to put you in the right place at the right time sometimes.

What is the one thing you would like your fans to know?

Lots of new music on the horizon, stay tuned, keep an eye out, join me on social media on Instagram and Facebook under Irian Darkwood, and I am super excited for what's to come next.

And you never know what to expect. I have been told that I don’t keep to one genre or style and well. That’s who I am, I am all over but I like it that way!

What is the one thing you would like the music industry to know?

I guess the one thing I would like the music industry to know is that ha ha, they should hold onto their seats because I'm coming and I'm gonna take you all by storm!

And that was my chat with Irian Darkwood

And she is a good reminder of that how dark life might seem, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

and YOU can find more from Irian Darkwood here

https://www.facebook.com/iriandarkwood

https://www.instagram.com/iriandarkwood

https://www.youtube.com/@iriandarkwood

https://iriandarkwood.bandcamp.com

and YOU can find more from Me here

https://linktr.ee/creativereader

Don't forget to Comment, Like and Share with your friends

Take care hope to cya next time

Hi and Welcome to another "In the Spotlight". Today I am joined by a prog metal band from Italy!

Here is  Riccardo and Ivan from "Stranger Vision"!

Hi guys, thank you for chatting with us..

To those that have never heard your music... What can they expect?

Riccardo:
You can expect a unique blend of power and progressive metal, where epic melodies meet complex compositions.

We focus on delivering music that’s not just powerful and technical, but also emotionally captivating. Our songs are deeply rooted in storytelling, often inspired by literature, philosophy, and human emotions, so every track is an experience.

What was it that made you realize that music was more to you than just "a hobby"?

Ivan:
Music became more than a hobby when I realized how it allows me to express emotions that words alone can’t capture.

It’s a medium that connects us with people in ways nothing else can.

Writing and performing music gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment, especially when I see how it resonates with our audience.

What is the best thing about being a musician in Italy?

Riccardo:
Italy has an incredibly rich cultural heritage, and that’s an endless source of inspiration.
From art to history and breathtaking landscapes, it’s all around us.

While the metal scene here might not be as big as in other countries, the passion and dedication of fans and fellow
musicians make it deeply rewarding.

You have found some amazing locations for your videos. How did you discover them and have they influenced your music?

Ivan:
We choose locations that visually reflect the themes of our songs.

For example, the barren landscapes in the Wasteland videos perfectly embody the desolation and search for rebirth
in T.S Eliot’s poem.

These settings inspire us to think visually when writing music, enhancing the emotional depth of our compositions.

If you could play on any stage anywhere at any point in time, where would that be and why?

Riccardo:
Wacken Open Air, no doubt. It’s the holy grail of metal stages.

Performing there would mean sharing our music with a truly global audience of dedicated fans.

It’s a dream I’ve had since I started playing, and I hope one day it will come true.

What is your coolest memory together as a band?

Ivan:

Winning the Imagination Song Contest organized by Blind Guardian and collaborating with Hansi Kürsch is an incredible memory.

It was not only a professional milestone but also a personal achievement that brought us closer as a band.

Sharing this journey and working with such a legendary artist is something I’ll cherish forever.

Being on stage or filming a video, which makes you more energized?

Riccardo:
For me, being on stage is incomparable.

It’s pure energy, and the connection with the audience is something magical.

Videos allow us to be creative and tell stories visually, but performing live is where I feel the essence of our music truly comes to life.

What are you currently working on and what are your plans for the future?

Ivan:
We’re working on Faust Act II, our upcoming secondo part of the concept album inspired by Goethe’s masterpiece.

It’s a deep exploration of themes like ambition, love, and redemption.
Our future plans include promoting Faust with tours, festivals, and pushing our sound even further.

What is the one thing you would like to tell your fans?

Riccardo:
Thank you for believing in us and supporting our journey.

Your passion is what drives us to create.

Stay with us as we continue to explore new ideas and bring meaningful music to life.
You’re as much a part of this journey as we are.

What is the one thing you would like the music industry to know?

Ivan:
The music industry needs to remember that authenticity matters.

True art comes from the heart, not just trends.

By supporting artists who are passionate about their craft and willing to take creative risks, the industry can continue to thrive and inspire future generations.

That was my chat with Riccardo and Ivan from "Stranger Vision"

I hope you found it as inspiring as I did.

and YOU can find more from "Strainger Vision" here

https://www.facebook.com/StrangerVision/

https://www.instagram.com/strangervision_band/

https://www.youtube.com/@StrangerVision

https://open.spotify.com/artist/09O0hbp66Yn3hJ3Ud1lzHp

https://strangervisionband.bandcamp.com/

http://www.strangervisionband.com/ 

Don't forget to Comment, Like and Share with your friends.

Hope to cya soon

Hi and welcome to another "In the Spotlight" where I share with you some of the cool, talented and interesting bands that I come across when I am looking for music to play on my show "Almost Random".

And one of those really talented bands are NATIONWIDE!

Hi Carl and thank you for taking the time to have this chat with us.

Who are NATIONWIDE?

It’s me, Carl Berglund, on guitar and Peter Ledin, also guitar. We started this band while disbanding our previous band Age of Reflection. We have Mikael Hagström on bass. Mikael was already in the summer of 2023, which was natural because he was part of A.o.R, and he hung out with us in the studio and is both a good friend and a stable bassist that you can lean
on. Richard Holmgren, drums, and Peter have known each other since their teens, they have played in several bands together (including Grand Design's first two albums). Richard and I have also played together in the power metal band Haterush, so we both know what he is about, both as a songwriter, singer and drummer. On vocals we have Daniel Groth, which is the perfect frontman and singer for NATIONWIDE.

What is the story behind the name NATIONWIDE?

We wanted a name that was easy to remember and looked good in print.

You have to imagine it on a huge backdrop at Wembley Arena. It also needed to be a name that wasn’t already taken and reflected our vision.

NATIONWIDE is exactly what we want for our music— to reach people everywhere. It also symbolizes music as a universal language that crosses borders and is understood by everyone - NATIONWIDE!

Your Album "Echoes" tell us about it.

As mine and Peter’s previous band started to lose momentum, we started thinking along the lines of writing music for projects, writing for other artists, selling to record labels, etc., because our creative juices never run out.

In the summer of 2023, we advertised for singers, then for what was intended as a project, But everything felt so damn right when we found Daniel Groth (Vocals) and it was so easy and good to write good music together, so we decided that this is not a project but a great band.

Some of the songs on ECHOES are older ideas but most of them are new songs written by me, Peter and Daniel. Me and Peter writes most of the music and Daniel writes most of the lyrics. The lyrics in the songs take up what is closest to us in life and all the feelings and events that we and many others experience on a daily basis.

We want everyone to recognize themselves in our songs. Recurring themes such as love, frustration, friendship and the loss of someone or the time experienced. Then the lines connected to these themes fit well in the mouth and flow well in the songs. It's like poetry. The words and the music must marry each other.

For those that haven't heard you yet, what can they expect from your music?

Punchy, melodic hard rock/AOR. It’s the music I grew up with and fell in love with as a kid.
I’ve always dreamed of forming my own band and playing on the same stages I saw in live videos or on Headbangers Ball. I remember the '80s as a happy decade, and I think our music reflects that

What is more challenging, writing the music or the lyrics and where do you find your inspiration?

Some days both is challenging, and some days they’re not...

it all depends on mood and feeling.

When I write music, the inspiration comes from everything that happens around me, it can be everything from relationships, meetings with people of interest, world events or just sunshine and a good mood. Something that ignites my creative spark is when there are no restrictions or frames at all, but you just sit down, often with Peter, and just let the creativity flow, it's unbeatable.

Recording in the Studio or performing Live, where do you feel the most home?

I love both, but playing live is the main reason why I do this.

Nothing can beat being up there on stage, playing our own songs and to see the response from the audience...hear them sing along. We love playing live, and all our songs are written with that in mind, with hooks, sing-along sections, and great energy.

What are you currently working on?

We are releasing a new single by the end of February and We’re already working on writing and recording demos for the second album, which we hope to release by spring 2026.

In the meantime, we’re rehearsing and preparing for live shows.

We have a few dates booked right now, and we hope to be out there more this spring, performing at festivals and clubs. We’re also working with the record label to promote NATIONWIDE, planning more music videos, releasing the album on vinyl, and trying to reach as many people as possible.

What are your plans, hopes and dreams for 2025 as a band?

Play a lot of gigs, releasing our new single, finishing our next album and to spread our music worldwide

What is the one thing you would like your fans to know?

Keep supporting your favorite bands, it's thanks to all of you that we can do this. Follow us and spread the word, ECHOES is just the beginning...

NATIONWIDE is here to stay.

What is the one thing you would like the music industry to know?

The same... This is just the beginning, NATIONWIDE is here to stay...so listen to us, book us, spread the word and make sure you’ll be a part of our journey.

And that was my chat with Carl Berglund from NATIONWIDE!

I hope you found it as interesting and inspiring as I did.

You can find more from the band here

https://open.spotify.com/artist/06zctsPaTMz3EE7CO9cmdx?si=mO6AH1i2SwuYZCsh2-S2Zw

https://youtu.be/_-vVwOcDdgo?si=Z7Ax7mVDWQaTutaX

https://youtu.be/Oj_6yGxU0VA?si=fKimzNPHkFHDXIFc

https://www.facebook.com/NATIONWIDESweden

www.instagram.com/nationwide_sweden/

Don't forget to Comment, Like and Share with your friends

Hi and welcome to another "In The Spotlight"
Today I have the huge pleasure to introduce you to Bad Bubble!

Thank you for spending this time with us..
Thank you for having me!

Who/What is Bad Bubble?

I’ve thought about this nonstop for 3 years. I’ve concluded, Bad Bubble is a display or a showcase of the scope of human emotion. I have gone way out of my way to highlightevery single known and experienced emotion I can honestly say I know. However,sadness and hopelessness are the most common visited. This is not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. Do you want to hear from someone or want your art displayed to you by someone who hasn’t suffered anything? What on earth do you hope to achieve by doing so? Bad Bubble wasn’t always how he is now. He morphed himself on in organically. Originally, I wasn’t going to show myself at all. That’s what a lot of artists do nowadays. You have no idea who they are. But generally, it can’t be like that when you’re singing your own lyrics to the songs you, yourself wrote. When you pour yourself out, it makessense to face up. Even if partially. This way people can put a face to the name and know you’re not a bot or a fake of some sort…

What was it that drew you into music?

I’m not sure. I was so young. I probably at the time felt it was normal for everyone to listen to music at the age of 3, literally all day, every day. I always preferred music over TV. It’s not even close…When I first got bit by the bug, it was listening to Talking Heads,Prince and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. I would hang out in the parking lot of a museum I lived across the street from. It never had people in it and was always empty. So, I would sit on the steps and listen to everyone back then. Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Husker Du, Ween, Sex Pistols, Misfits, and countless other bands that had long broken up. What drew me in was the mystique. The level of danger that is so nonexistent today. And I miss it very much. Now everyone is in their rooms at home. Wonderful…

Growing up, where did you find your inspiration and has that changed muchover the years?

Yes and no. It’s changed in that I tend to not waste time with something I know for fact I will not like. I do not listen to any mainstream anything. That is just about pointless. For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would. But I digress. So, in that sense, back then I wasted time in this regard. Back then, I had no real account of just how fast life zips by.

You don't show your face in your videos, is there a thought behind that?

I have in the past. Album 6 I had the mask off the entire album presentation as far as video goes. For those who don’t know, I release an album one song at a time, every 2 weeks, for (an 11-song album, the usual) 22 weeks. I did not wear the mask for that album and for a few other videos. Hozar & The Latch come to mind. I did put it back on. The mask became a part of my identity. Funny when there is a part of your physical identity which covers up your physical identity. Consider this. Rey Mesterio Jr, for those who do not know, is a professional wrestler. He wears a mask. He has utilized one now for several years and it is a part of who he is. Very few know what he looks like. Or cares to know for that matter. His fan base sees the mask as a part of who he is. From there, everyone gets over it and moves on with the show. Same thing here. Without it, it’s just different and it is not a positive different…

What are you currently working on and what are your plans for the future?

I’m always several years ahead of myself. Currently I am releasing 2 albums at a time. A Well Devised Plan, which is a story album. I have 8 albums, 8 EP’s, and several singles which all tell one long story. I call the work in this story a “story album” or “a story EP”, “story single”, etc.. I’m almost finished with this story. I released the first album of this story titled Future 9 in March 2022. I am now on the 7 th album, a Well Devised Plan. I have one more EP and finally, the 8 th and final album for that story. The story material is easy to spot. It has a yellow house and either a yellow man or a yellow
woman in the window of the house. All 8 albums are like this, Very easy to spot in Spotify, Apple, Pandora, etc. There are however other albums which do not have the man/woman/house on the cover. These include as of today, January, an album I released with Electric Eden Records, an Intricate Cacophony, and I am about finished releasing the Triumph of the Puissant. These albums are not telling any story as they are your more traditional album releases. So to answer your question, I am currently releasing a Well Devised Plan and the Triumph of the Puissant both at the same time. I must do it this way or it will take years to release everything, and I do not have thatmuch time.

My plan is to retire. I no longer wish to be in this business doing what I am doing. For reasons which will take a long time to list out and explain properly. But I’ll say this. I’ve felt this way for a very long time. Probably mid album 5 release last year around this time. And it has not changed since. It is very stressful and often painful to see things go the way they do. The way the industry structure operates. The way things turn out. I’m convinced there is no way around it or even through it directly. It is sad, but the status quo will continue. I do not see it changing. I just don’t. Some are optimistic. I regard that
outlook as naive. Not unintelligent or poorly thought through. Creating something out of thin air and calling it hope is not hope. And that is not true optimism. A famous person from here in the States once said, hope is not a tactic. True words. I may be an artist & I may be a poet. But I am also a realist. And I choose not to create hope out of thin air.

What can a new listener expect from your music?

Integrity. I play instruments. I recorded everything on a TASCAM 24. Old school mixing board. Right in front me where my hands chiseled it all out without a mouse in sight. If I make a mistake, I start over. On every track. Drums are the only thing I program as this cannot be avoided. I cannot bang on drums where I live. My next-door neighbor is a kind and good man in his retirement. I’m not going to do that to him. I work mostly in the middle of the night. But everything else is meat and potatoes. What you hear are my fingers on the keys. My lyrics are as honest as I can possibly make them. And they are
created through experience and a life built with mistakes. I have a lifetime of events and experiences I wanted to share. And I did. Any listeners can expect honesty. But they can also expect tough love. They’re not off the hook. They play their part in why things are the way they are. That is what artistic honesty looks like.

What is the one thing you would want your fans to know?

There are people in this world who this world will never be right for. That is a fact of life. These people are noticed only to be looked at as an example of what not to do or what not to be. They fully know who they are. And no matter what anyone does, this world will continue to take from them. Some of the “self-help” & “self-love” sects of society will say otherwise. They’ll say, “they can choose to do X, Y, and Z”. I assure you they cannot. I know because I am one of them. That is who I am here for and who I have been trying desperately to reach every day for the last 3 years. I failed. I tried so hard and left no rock unturned, but I failed. I hope one day they find my work. That is what I would want them to know. To find my work. If you are a happy person, this does not apply to you. There is plenty of content out there for that and they’ll have no trouble finding it. As will any target audience. But I’m here for another group. And I have love in my heart for these people. The hopeless. The truly and unequivocally hopeless. I want them to know that I tried my best to find them. And soon I will stop trying. They will haveto find me.

What is the one thing you would like the music industry to know?

I would want the music industry to know loud and clear, it deserves itself. You made your bed; now go lay down and go to sleep for a very long time. You did this to yourself. And you can only blame yourself. Yes, you ruined it for everyone who tried coming up behind you. But you also will be looked to as the reason why. I am thoroughly enjoying the downward spiral into the toilet. I want it to know that is where it belongs. My only regret is it needs to happen faster. However, the music business is not the music industry. I separate the two. The music business is Bandcamp. And Shopifys. And
circles on social media. They are hurting and everyone knows it. The music industry is the one hurting them.

That was my chat with Bad Bubble.. Amazing artist and such an interesting person.

To find out more about him visit this link

https://linktr.ee/Badbubble

Don't forget to Comment/kommentera Like/gilla and Share/dela with your friends!

Take care Hope to cya next time

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/StraleOfficial

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OA4Q3DiU0S23HQM2aU31f?si=Bp0QaSteTL-twwNaicYH7Q

And  YOU can find the remaining tour dates here

In today's "In the Spotlight" I have the huge honor of introducing you to Jimmy Katone. Someone I have been a fan of since I heard "Simply Because" with Hit the Ground Runnin'!

Hi Jimmy and thank you for taking some time off your very busy schedule to spend some time with us.

To some you are the drummer for the band "Hit the Ground Runnin'" and to others you are a solo artist. How did it all begin?

After I left Hit The Ground Runnin' originally, way back in 1991, I took a brief hiatus from music to recollect my thoughts and gear towards the future. I always knew I wanted to pursue a solo career. I had several Ideas for songs and much of my writing style didn't necessarily fit with HGR's way of doing things. Stepping out from behind the drum kit was something I'd been wanting to do and I felt this was a great time to do it. I didn't start with the intention of playing all the instruments myself on my albums but the availability and schedules of my musician friends didn't really match up to my availability and so I began recording on my own and it's remained that way for over 25 years.

How many instruments do you play and is there one you would love to learn one day?

I'm a drummer first and foremost. I also play guitar, bass and keyboards. I've dabbled in other instruments on my albums such as the clarinet solo at the end of my song, "Love Me When I'm Dead" and other little things like that. I would love to learn violin some day. I feel that playing chordal instruments as a drummer is super important. It really helps to gain a more musical perspective about rhythm and arrangements. On the other hand I think being a drummer contributes to making my music overall more dynamic.

What was it that first got you started with music in the first place? and was it only just music that "rocked your world"?

I'm the youngest of 4 kids and I always had access to my older sibling's albums. I was taken with Alice Cooper, David Bowie, The Edgar Winter Group, Deep Purple and many others at a really young age. My very first album was Ziggy Stardust by Bowie. Through these influences I began singing and formed a deep affection for performance. I also started guitar and piano lessons around 7 years old. Later, I found KISS and was blown away with the drum solo in the song "100,000 Years". It was a strong contributing factor to me wanting to be a drummer.

How would you say your style differs from a solo artist and your role in a band?

My style as a solo artist is my full personality coming out to you 100%. When I'm out front I'm more of a story teller bringing the meanings behind my songs to you and also portraying roles and characters and sometimes antagonists in my songs. It's all about getting the point of the song across through performance. My role in a band, specifically as a drummer, is of course being the backbone of the music and being a band player. I do think performance as a drummer is important as with any instrument when you're putting the point of a song across to an audience.

What can someone that has never heard your solo work expect?

First and foremost, expect something completely different than the bands I play in. My stuff is heavier so don't expect HGR. I think the complete genre change is what catches people off guard the most. I do however think my songs can be pretty catchy. I tend to go deep with lyrics and use the music to drive the points home. My lyrics can be pretty bold so that's another thing that people notice when first listening to my songs.

What are you currently working on?

Currently, I'm doing alot of drumming. I'm already well into recording the second Mason album with Marcus Mason - the first album will be released this October 28th (2024) on Lions Pride Music. I've shot 2 videos with the band and I'm shooting two more this coming weekend, actually. I'm also playing drums on the forthcoming Ritchie Newton album titled "Higher Power" set for release this December 7th (2024) on NRT Records. I'm set to shoot two videos for the songs "Higher Power" and "Crying In The Summer Rain". I'm also making my way to the next Katone album which I'll resume recording sometime next year.

What can we expect from you in the future?

Expect a continuation of this past year with lots of drumming and guest drumming as well as new Katone music and videos

What is the one thing you would like your fans to know?

Some of you know me as a drummer and some of you know me as a solo artist. I know It can be confusing but I'm glad you're finding a way to coexist. No matter what I'm doing I do it 1000%. I hope to see you lots more in many more ways throughout the rest of the year and into the next.

What is the one thing you would like the music industry to know?

This is actually a really tough question. I've seen so many changes in the industry over the years. The music industry, per say, is very different than it was when I first started out. So I'll keep it simple by saying .. I'm still here.

And that was my HIGLY interesting chat with Drummer/Solo Artist Jimmy Katone.

All YOU have to do now is to Comment Like and Share with your friends..

and Don't forget to find out more from Jimmy Katone thru this link

linktr.ee/katone_official

Take care hope to cya soon!

Happy Thursday and Welcome to this weeks "In the Spotlight".

Today I will introduce you to the multi talented Dominic J Mason.

Hi Dominic and Welcome!

Growing up. What sparked that interest to create? and where did you start?

My imagination - for good or ill - distinguished me from many of my peers at an early age. I love people, but I could also play with chess pieces or action figures in blissful solitude, often not realising that the hours had passed me by until my grandmother called me down from the landing on the stairwell to eat dinner. I adored the movements of the pieces on the squares and would often play against myself, turning the board around to answer my own move. During these formative years, I remember spending days designing what I considered to be the ultimate Lego Formula One cars and racing them with my brother in my grandfather's living room. The cars would glide along the carpet at speed, eventually hitting the oak table with a thud! This would result in them either falling apart or desperately clinging on...and so, looking back on this I understand that the race wasn't about speed, it was more about durability. The winner was often the car to survive the most impacts!

As a child, was creativity something that was encouraged or did you have to fight to find your voice as an artist?

My grandfather enrolled me in the church choir at age 6. I was their youngest chorister ever admitted at that time, and I recall the director being a little reluctant to accept me on account of my age, but I had wanted to join my brother as a treble so badly that my constant questioning paid off! My grandfather was a trained tenor and could play piano to a competent level, so he naturally took us both under his wing. Joining the choir was the catalyst to expressing myself with music, it was also a gateway to hearing other instruments such as the pipe organ, pianoforte, and, later on, string ensembles. Singing taught me many of the skills I cherish to this day, discipline, teamwork, patience, and relishing the joy of ensemble musicianship. I quickly fell in love with the pianoforte not long after this. And the discovery of Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and Tchaikovsky blew my tiny mind.

What was it that made you realize that this was MORE than just a "hobby"?

The word 'phases' strongly defines my musical history. I was obsessed with the piano when I was a boy, and several tutor's told my mother that I had potential. I always wanted to strive for more, which was an attribute that often frustrated my teachers. I would defy their rules and practice different (usually more difficult) pieces and get carried away with my latest passion for a newly discovered composer. As a teenager, it was evident that I could create melodies and harmonic structure on the piano, which led me to begin composing and writing things down. It was around this time (aged 14-16), that I began to develop an early voice as both a composer and a writer of poems. 

How do you feel your creative style has changed over the years and what have been the biggest reasons for that growth/change?

Without labouring the point about phases, I have gone through so many in my journey thus far. Usually it happens because of a concert I've attended, or a new style of music has entered my life because of study or perhaps due to hearing it played on the radio. I am a voracious reader...consuming books and films by the thousands as an adolescent really gave me a thirst for knowledge, a thirst that has been unquenchable ever since. At this point in my life, at the age of 36, I have composed in so many styles but thankfully never been defined by a single genre, I like to think of it as more of a mosaic of culture coming together and combining to form the whole. My Poulenc, Schumann, and - later - Mompou phases lasted for about a year apiece and really pushed my music to another level I feel. My later fascination with the 20^th century impressionists and the avant-garde set aided me in composing my 2021 piano album 'Songs for John' which incorporated many elements of the French and Japanese style, including wispy piano lines, repetitive pianist devices, and salonesque motivic allusions.

How would you describe your writing and music to someone that is new to it?

My musical tastes are eclectic, both as a listener and as a recording artist/performer. I am equally happy performing my own solo piano repertoire or classical music, and the next day playing a jazz gig or an indie set at a festival. My latest adventure as a recording artist has been a collaboration with my longtime friend Adam Strazzanti. We have known each other since Year 7 at secondary school and have long talked about setting up a duo in the future. Well, we did just that this year! We called it 'Robot Birthday Party' which we think was inspiration from when NASA put a robot on a spacecraft and programmed it to sing itself happy birthday...you cannot deny that the idea is adorable! Adam and I took the approach of not writing in a predefined genre, but instead to let it flow naturally. The result has been a type of music that somehow defies pigeonholing, though someone did DM us to suggest that they would call it Latin funk jazz rock! Even though there's no denying that there are classical influences in it, we are happily stealing her definition going forward...! We have released two singles in 2024, the latest (California Sunset) dropped a fortnight ago.