-
10 Questions with ... La Need Machine
July 10, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
1) Thanks for taking the time to answer 10 Questions for All Access. Where does this interview find you today? What's on the agenda besides this interview?
We are in Seattle, Washington, the Emerald City! After this interview we are doing some more filming for the music video for our new single, "Maria" So, we will be heading to Bear Den Studios!
2) Let's start at the beginning. How long have you been playing music and when did you decide you wanted to make music for a living?
Been playing music since I was in high school. Always wanted to make music for a living – but, as you know, it's easier said than done!
3). How much has the Seattle music scene and artists from there influenced you?
OMG -- the Seattle scene has had a huge influence on me and the band. There have been so many great bands from Seattle, going back to the 1950s. Here's a few and their influences:
The Sonics – their influence was massive – they rock as hard as anyone ever has. The first time I heard Strychnine I was like, what? What was that, and I wanted to be as rocking and cool as they were.
Jimi Hendrix – not that I can play like Jimi Hendrix, but everyone in Seattle starts out playing some Hendrix! An overlooked element of Jimi is how well he covered other people's music. All Along the Watchtower is a perfect example.
Heart – Heart proved that women could rock, and we like to think we're still proving it with Dawn and Carly!
Foo Fighters – the thing about the Foo Fighters is they rock so hard, but it's really melodic and, frankly, accessible.
4) What was the inspiration for current single?
I heard some kids talking about bullying in school when I was at a baseball game, and then I thought back to how horrible that was when it happened to me. Since then, I've always held myself to a standard of stepping in when I see someone being bullied. So, the song started out with that anti-bullying focus, and then it turned into a love song as the person who stepped in to help the one being bullied, fell in love with her. I have my Maria and I love her dearly, so she helped inspire the song, as well.
5) You also have a new video tribute to Joan Jett. What can you tell us about that?
We are huge Joan Jett fans and have always loved her from her Runaways days to present tour. One day I was reading Rolling Stone and I saw that Ted Nugent was giving Joan Jett a tough time. I said, man, we are coming down on the side of Joan Jett, so we wrote the song She Loves Rock and Roll. We decided to make a video for it, and we contacted Joan Jett and her team through our PR team, Team Clermont. Joan loved the song, and she approved a bunch of footage for us to use in our video. It was totally awesome! The song has done well on college radio and the YouTube video is steadily growing.
6) Tell us about your philanthropic endeavors in relation to your music sales.
We have always been inspired by bands that make a difference like the Clash and U2. So, we decided to always donate proceeds from video views and streams to charitable organizations. We want to make sure our music is not only making people happy but making a difference in the community. We are now donating to:
- The Trevor Project
- The Humane Society of the United States
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Mary's Place Emergency Family Shelters
- American Nurses Foundation
- Tetiaroa Society (Marlon Brando's non-profit)
- Childhaven
- Northwest Harvest
- Global Impact – Ukraine Response Fund
- Doctors Without Borders
- Ukrainian Community Center of Washington
7) There's a definite difference between making a record, going out, and playing it live in front of an audience. Many feel that the real work is making the record, and the fun part is playing it live. What's your take on both of these processes?
Yeah, I love both. But I would say that I actually like being in the studio as much as I do playing live. Most artists won't say that. For me, I think that's because when you are recording in the studio, there's a tangible product at the end. Playing live is great because you can see people enjoying your music, but it's more transitory.
8) Speaking of playing live. Do you have any tour plans for this year?
Yes, we want to button up our video for "Maria," and then our next single, and then get back in front of audiences!
9) Who are some of the older and/or newer artists who inspire your music?
We really like bands from pretty much every rock and roll decade. Eddie Cochran from the 50's, the Who from the 60's, Generation X from the 70's, right up to the present with great bands like the Struts and Rival Sons.
10) Finally, on a personal note, what do you like to do for fun and relaxation when you're not in your "Music" mode?
Run! Running not only keeps you in great physical shape, but helps your mental health, too. I write a lot of lyrics when I'm running! Right now, I'm on a running streak of 567 consecutive days, and I'm getting ready to run the 200-mile Ragnar Relay with my team.
-
-