10 Questions with ... Sharif Iman

1) What was it that got you interested in music?

I had music in my blood from the day I was born. I came from a musical family so it's embedded in my DNA.

2) Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Some of my biggest influences are Nat King Cole, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, Sting, Prince, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gay, Living Color, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Jeff Buckley, Seal and so much more.

3) What was the inspiration for your new single "Shine?"

I was finally at a good place inside of my skin, a peaceful place where I was OK with my life no matter what it looked like. I was so blessed to be a musician in its entirety and it didn't matter if I had a trillion dollar a deal, no deal, or whatever. I was happy in my life because my heart, my head and my spirit were right and the world was a new place of beauty. My life was more than what I had or didn't have. It was about each moment that I was blessed with and I loved it all from a free point of view. So I started to 'Shine' and it was about never giving up no matter what.

4) How have social networks and sites such as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter affected the way you promote your music and interact with your fans?

Honestly they have all been great, great tools for my career! I was just so run down by being the artist, manager, promoter, booker, tour, etc. for so long that when social networking sites came out I was so over doing all this stuff myself. I could have hit them harder than I did, but I had to make a choice to really concentrate on the music side, but I was blessed to have my friends help me. These services rock because you can get to people within seconds, and you can reach out to people with video and bring them into your world. What's great is that you can make your page very personal and that is what I like, to be personal with my family (fans).

5) How are you using new music technologies to record music and in your personal life?

I have been using music technology for a while now and it is really great. I am using Logic Pro 9 and it is wonderful. It's great that I can sit down, write a song and put everything down so it sounds like a record. Or, I can work on a record and save a lot of money because I can put down the major tracks first and then collaborate with a producer. It's wonderful! I love it!

6) What is your approach to songwriting? How do you capture the inspiration when it comes, and how do you tailor your music to fit in with contemporary artists that are now getting played at radio?

I write what I feel when I feel it. I have been doing this for so long, and I was blessed to have some of the best writers school me back in the day. So it just came so natural. I capture my inspiration by recording an idea right away because I don't want to lose it. I do not write to follow people. I write what I feel and if you like it you like it. So now people are liking it, on a large scale which is great!

7) How have music file sharing services affected the way you market your music?

Sharing music is basically the organic way to get known on the web. It'd be awesome if there were some way to regulate sales. At the end of the day, it's about getting to the people and I would hope they would honor the work and be honest enough to honor the artist.

8) If you had the opportunity to work with any act/artist from the past, present or future, who would it be?

I would have to say Sting.

9) What are some of the artists we might find on your MP3 player?

Me! LOLOL!! Seriously...umm...Jeff Buckley, The Police, Michael Jackson, Billy Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Red, Miles Davis, Trip Lee, Death Cab for Cutie, Sade, or Prince.

10) What are the biggest changes you would like to see happen in the music industry?

That it would not be about how you look or trying to be like someone else, but it should be about the music. It's not about the money. That is a part of it of course, but it should be about the character of the artist, his or her music, and what they are saying. Then let the people decide freely.

1) What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time I work on music, sometimes I read, play PS3, hike, play soccer, cook, watch cartoons, and dream about what I am doing right now. Wow! So unreal!

2) How do you balance your family life?

Well, I don't have a family yet but when I think about it, I am going to have to work really hard because as much as I love music and the road, I desire a family and I want to be there for my family and not just be a part-time man. I don't want to miss anything so I am still working on that in the whole sense of the meaning.

3) You are the remaining survivor on a remote tropical island with no chance for rescue. You have a CD/DVD player with endless power. What five CD's are a "must" to have with you? What five movies?

"Ten Summers Tales" by Sting, "Shine" by Sharif Iman, (laughs), Trip Lee, some Classical of any kind, and Stevie Wonder.