VMU: Hey brandon how are you and where you from?
BSH: I'm good. It's a warm day, which is better than cold.
I'm originally from Southern Ohio, but now reside in
Columbus Ohio.
VMU: Tell us more about your music and projects?
BSH: I'm a solo artist. I'm also the frontman for the band
Day 9 [ http://www.day9.tk ]. My solo efforts are a
way to have something that's completely my own,
however Day 9 is my musical priority at this moment.
VMU: How many releases have you put out and who
produced?
BSH: I've been on several records. There were 3 demo's
recorded by the original Day 9 line-up (which
disbanded in 2001.) The first two were produced by
Jason Burnside and the third was produced by Jason
McGoran. After that Day 9 line-up disbanded, I went
into the studio by myself to record a new Day 9
record. That record wound up being my solo debut
"Orphan". I've also been featured on early recordings
by Filtheology, who is no longer together sadly. I've
produced my own Christmas album that I offer for free
to download near the holidays. And I've added some
guitar tracks to demo's I produced for Tom Stearns.
VMU: Were the recordings done digital or analog? (if
comps what programs)
BSH: Depends on the recording. The first two Day 9 demo's
that were produced by Jason Burnside were created on a
cassette 4 track. So were the Filtheology recordings,
which were also produced by Burnside. Jason McGoran
recorded Day 9's 3rd effort on a Roland Digital 18
track home studio. And everything that I've produced
has been digital in one form or another.
VMU: How did you get started in music?
BSH: I took piano lessons when I was 5. I was in them for
3 years, but none of it stuck. Then I decided to take
up drums, which lasted a month before I got bored with
it. I gained interest in guitar when I was 10, and 14
years later here I am.
VMU: Do you prefer live or studio recording?
BSH: Depends. I prefer studio recording myself, but live
has a certain honesty and feel to it that is hard to
duplicate in a studio.
VMU: How's the local music scene in your home town?
BSH: My home town is Portsmouth Ohio, and the music scene
is dead. There are a few bands there, but it's an
economic death trap and bands can't survive. There
are no venues to play, no fans to come to shows (50
people at an outdoor venue for a free concert is a
hell of a good turnout for the popular bands!). It's
a shame because the area has a hell of a lot of
talent.
"I think that every artist has the right to express
their beliefs in their music." - Brandon
VMU: What do you express in your lyrics?
BSH: Emotion.
VMU: How do you feel about other artists expressing
their beliefs in music? (Religious or political)
BSH: I think that every artist has the right to express
their beliefs in their music. After all, it's their
artform! It's their form of expression! How can you
silence that?!
VMU: Could you explain in detail the gear you use?
BSH: When I perform acoustically, I play an Ovation
Celebrity. On my solo album "Orphan", I played a
Squire Double Fat Strat. I played my Ovation on a few
tracks, and borrowed Ibanez Basses. The guitar sound
is my Fender Princeton 112. It's a small amp, but it
packs a hell of a punch. And it has that loose grungy
sound that was great for my record. No distortion
pedals were used on that record, just amp distortion.
Although I do have a DOD Grunge Pedal which has a hell
of a heavy sound.
In Day 9, I play either my Squire Double Fat Strat, or
my Ibanez GAX70. I play through a Crate GX212 with no
fx pedals. I use my amp's distortion.
Other equipment I have is a DOD Stereo Phaser with an
extremely unique sweeping pattern, and an Old as Shit
MXR Flanger. It's so old that It has a wall plug
coming out of it and no LED to tell you that it's on
or that the battery is dying (cause it doesn't take
battery's.) But it's a great pedal, and a classic. I
used it on the clean guitar parts for "Blinded" on my
solo record. I also use a BOSS BR-532 Digital
Recording workstation. I mainly use it as a pre-amp,
even though it is perfectly capable of great sounding
recordings. It has amp models, bass simulators, mic
models, and most practical effects built right in, and
it's the size of a 5 subject notebook!
VMU: Who are your musical influences?
BSH: Metallica, Nirvana, Soundgarden, SOAD, Grunge, Metal,
Rock.
VMU: Any tours in the works?
BSH: I WISH!
VMU: How did you do the recording process direct or
mic?
BSH: I Mic'd the majority of my record, however the bass
parts were all direct and the acoustic guitars on
"Time" and "Thoughtless" were direct. I opted to Mic
the acoustic guitar on Karen, however.
VMU: How do you feel about the mainstream music scene?
(USA and overseas)
BSH: I don't hate it if that's what you mean. I think it's
great that people can make a living at what they love
to do!
VMU: Any deals in the works?
BSH: I've got some soundtrack deals in the works, but
that's it at the moment.
VMU: New recordings in the works?
BSH: Not yet.
VMU: Tell us more about Hire Media and what you
provide for artists.
BSH: I provide affordable media services for "starving
artists". I try to keep my services cheap enough that
the average musician with next to no disposable income
can afford me. I provide Web Design, Audio
Production, Graphic Design, Press Kits, and more. I'm
currently selling a compilation CD of underground
metal artists from around the country. Also, I'm
working with Doogz.net to place independent artists in
film soundtracks.
VMU: Any advice to other indie bands?
BSH: Promote, promote, promote. Play, play, play. Lather,
rinse, repeat.
VMU: Do any of you own a home studio? (What gear)
BSH: Currently my home studio is my BOSS BR-532. I'm
working to expand that, but it works fine for me right
now.
VMU: Why do you do what you do in music?
BSH: I do what I do because it's what comes naturally to me.
I believe it's my purpose in this world.
VMU: Thank you so much for your time!! Any last words?
BSH: Teenage Angst Has Paid Off Well! Now I'm Bored And
Old!
VM UNDERGROUND
March 9 2005
www.v-m-u.com