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Gregg Hale

SPACE ROCK/EXPERIMENTAL/RECORDING

Gregg Hale has been treated well by the music industry, having a chance to play with the British band Spiritualized and go on tour.  Instead of resting on his laurels and forgetting about everyone else, he's decided to help give back to the music community.  He can be seen judging music shows in Salt Lake City and recording promising new upcoming bands.  He's a valuable resource for many musicians in Salt Lake.  PS - he's nice.  And approachable.  You heard me.

When did you first start playing music?

A: The thought of making my own music never really occurred to me until after High School. I was more into playing basketball and football and listening to Rap and techno stuff like The Prodigy.  My senior year (1995) I started listening to rap-rock hybrids like Onyx and Biohazard, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, and the Judgment Night Soundtrack. This led me to getting more into rock music.  After an accidental listening of Stone Temple Pilots second CD, I decided rock music was the thing for me. That opened up a flood gate of music for me. I started listening to Nirvana, Green Day, Bush, Rancid, STP, The Toadies, Civ, Radiohead, NIN, Collective Soul, Smashing Pumpkins, Spacehog, Fugazi, Live, Alice in Chains… the usual ’94-‘96 stuff.  After I graduated High School and knew I wouldn’t be playing football in college, I decided to start playing guitar; mostly because I needed something to do, and I wanted to be like my Dad and friend Brandon “B-Ride” Anderson, pretty much the coolest guys I know. I borrowed one of my Dad’s guitars (which I found out later used to belong to a member of the Kingston Trio) and had my Dad and my friend Brandon teach me a few chords. I played all day for 3 days, and went to Chesbro Music in downtown Idaho Falls and bought an Ibanez guitar and a 12 inch practice amp. After that, I just played non-stop. I didn’t get very good grades my freshman year of college.

Do you come from a musical family?

A: Music has always been a big part of my family, almost to an annoying degree. Many Saturday mornings I was woken up by piano lessons, or my sisters singing. If anyone ever needed a family to sing something or put on a little show for something, they called the Hale family; naturally I had to do it also. My sisters were always more into that kind of stuff than I was; they still love Broadway and musicals and all that, and seem to always be singing or listening to Hairspray or Wicked or A Chorus Line, or something. They are all amazing singers though! I like that stuff a little, but not nearly as much as they do. As annoying as it all was, especially growing up, I’m sure it has somehow influenced or enhanced my personal musical life. I suppose my parents were my earliest musical influences. My Mother is a phenomenal piano player, and I loved listening to her play. My Dad has always played the guitar, and always entertained at church stuff, work stuff, and anywhere he was asked. When he was younger he was in several folk music groups that did quite well. They got radio time, and apparently were being looked at by several record labels, including Capital Records. While I was growing up he was always playing and listening to folk and folk-country artists like the Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four, Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, Willie Nielsen, Johnny Cash, and early Beatles records, and he still plays with a great folk group called The Not Brothers. He also introduced me to the “Somewhere in Time” soundtrack, which to this day is some of my favourite music in the world.

How long have you been a member of the Church?

A: I have been a member my whole life. I’ve always tried to do my best, but I am far from perfect.  I served a 2 year mission that I loved, and I was recently married to my beautiful wife in the Idaho Falls temple. I go to church as often as possible.  It is a major part of my life, and who I am. Not only were my parents my earliest musical influences, but they have been my greatest life influences. They, along with my parents-in-law love the gospel very much, and show it in the way they live their lives. They are all great examples for me and our entire family.

How has your belief in God shaped your music and your life?

A: It has shaped most everything about who I am, and what I try to be with my life. As far as my music, I suppose I have always just tried to make music that I would not be ashamed to have my grandma listen to, or to have the Lord hear it. Not necessarily music that Jesus might go out of His way to listen to, but nothing He would be disappointed with. I suppose a combination of that and getting older has led me to expand on my lifelong love of instrumental music by listening to stuff like as Brian Eno, Sophorus, Eluvium, Amina, M83, and Stars of the Lid. I can listen to that stuff all day, and my grandma could probably listen and politely nod her head and say, “that’s not bad”.  

I would say, make whatever music you are passionate about, but don’t do anything you will regret later in life. It is surprisingly not hard to do in the music world. My personal philosophy about that is to be very accommodating and overly respectful of other people’s lifestyles and personal beliefs; if you are, it is not asking too much for them to be respectful of yours. 

You spent some time in England playing with the alternative/experimental rock band Spiritualized.  How has this experience changed your view of the music industry?

A: The time I spent filling in for them was not long, but it was a lot of fun while it lasted. The main thing it showed me is that there are many amazing bands out there that will likely never be seen on MTV, but are just as, if not more talented and worth listening to, and can still have a very large and devoted fan base.  Prior to then, I had lumped Spiritualized with well known pop bands like Radiohead, Pink Floyd, The Verve, The Sundays, Mazy Star, etc. After I realized the vastness of lesser known, but just as relevant bands out there, I started to associate them more with my favourite post-rock/space-rock-type bands like Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, the Lassie Foundation, Godspeed you Black Emperor, Mum, This Will Destroy You, Mono, Stars of the Lid, God is an Astronaut, Low, Slowdive, The Flaming Lips, Mogwai, Mercury Rev, etc. The main thing I learned is that just because it isn’t on the radio or on MTV, doesn’t mean it’s not worth listening to… in fact, odds are it may be better than what is on TV and Radio, you just haven’t heard of it yet.

Do you have plans to work with Spiritualized in the future?

A: Not really. All the members of Spiritualized that were in the band when I knew them are no longer in the band, except Jason Pierce. I keep in occasional contact with Jason and Sean Cook. I have told Jason (half jokingly) a few times that I am ready to join the band, but he has had the same lineup for about 9 or 10 years.  Next time he rolls through town, we are hoping to record a spoken interview with him to use as background in an Our Dark Horse song, we’ll see if that pans out though, probably some legal issues to work out anyway. 

Tell us about Our Dark Horse and Last Response.

A: Last Response was the first band I joined after moving to Salt Lake City. I was looking for a project, and I saw a post saying they were looking for a second guitar player. I listened to their stuff, which at the time was a pop-punk CD. Their music was not really what I was into at the time, but the singer had a great voice, and they had catchy songs. I auditioned and got it. The first CD we released after I joined was called “Have You No Sense of Direction”, and it remains one of my personal musical highlights. I have always been very well pleased with that album. Joel Pack recorded, and did a great job. We then started getting more into 60’s influenced garage-type rock, which was reflected in our next recordings, highlighted by the song New York. That recording was done by Mike Sasich, again, the perfect man for the job. Last Response took a lengthy hiatus, but recently got back together to start making music again, which makes me really happy. Mike Angelastro is a great singer and songwriter, we compliment each other well, Aaron Evans is a very creative bass player, and a fun guy to be around, and Brandon Hansen is possibly the best drummer in Utah, just an incredible talent, and an extraordinarily hard worker!

While Last Response was on hiatus, I started recording on my own, and recorded my friend Darren’s post-rock band Our Dark Horse. I immediately fell in love with their music. They had 3 guitar players at the time, and 2 of them moved out of state within about a month of each other. They asked if I was interested in replacing them, and I jumped at the opportunity. It was exactly the type of project I had been interested in doing for several years, they are all very creative. We have recorded a few songs, and hopefully we can get in my studio and record some more.  Usually our songs are planned out, with room to experiment in them, but we recently played an entire “impromptu” show. We got our instruments, and just played. I had never done that for a show before.  Very liberating! Brian Walker is on par with any post-rock guitar player I have ever played with or seen, maybe with the possible exception of Kristian Dunn who is in a different stratosphere from every other guitar/bass player (if you are not familiar with him, look up El Ten Eleven on Youtube).  The rest of the band is equally talented. Darren enhances the mood of every song with his keyboard and Steve makes every song better with his diverse bass styling. Amy, the drummer really helped take the band to the next level also, she is very dynamic; and she is a delight to be around.   

Do you prefer playing music for money or recording?

A: To be honest, I have never made much money playing. I have made much more in the studio, running live sound, and judging various Battle of the Bands competitions.  Most people who start a band to make money or meet women will be very disappointed. 

I love playing shows with my friends. I love writing songs and performing. I also love recording bands. I love it when a young band has finished throwing down tracks for a song, and they listen to it for the first time. They just smile and get a look of pride and accomplishment. That is a lot of fun for me, knowing I helped them musically. That’s the cool thing about recording. You will be able to have a copy of that CD, and be able to tell your grandchildren, “Listen to this, I did this!”. 

You've probably recorded some bands that are really worth checking out.  Any examples?

A: I have recorded some great bands! I built the studio so I could record my own bands without watching the clock and feeling rushed. It eventually led to me recording my friends’ bands, and referrals and stuff started keeping me busy.  I am a little picky about who I will record in my studio.  Maybe that sounds snobbish of me, but I have to enjoy the band I am recording.  I didn’t start this studio to make money, I did it to help local bands.  I set it up to be inexpensive for young bands who don’t have a big budget, but still want a quality recording (usually around $20 an hour with free editing and mixing etc.); and I am wiling to record most anyone who has a good attitude about life and music. I have totally enjoyed recording and getting to know every band I have worked with so far, but a few of the highlights for me have been a Christian Rock band called Jeremiah’s Fire. They were one of the first bands I recorded in my new studio, so I was still learning a few things with it, but still one of my favourite recordings. I recorded a band called Unknown Anthem. Unknown Anthem has very catchy songs that I enjoy, and are very nice guys. I just completed a very technical recording with a progressive band called American Hollow, I learned a lot from them. I also recently recorded a band called Echoed Illusions. They are a very new band and still pretty young. This was their first recording, but I think this recording shows they have a lot of potential to become one of the top bands in SLC. 

How is the music scene in Salt Lake City?

A: Overall it is pretty strong. When I first moved here, it seemed you had to be a screamo/scream metal band to get anywhere. I suppose that was just what was in at the time. Things have diversified a bit, and while there is still a very talented scream/metal scene, there are many other types of music that are doing well.  I have always been impressed with the quality of music and bands coming out of Utah, and I think that quality is starting to shine through on the national scene. The main thing I noticed when I moved to Utah is that bands don’t work well together. It seemed they spent more time tearing each other down than building themselves and the local music scene.  Last Response was in a group called the F-9 Faction, and it was a great network of bands that liked each other and supported each other, and we always had shows with those guys.  I think there needs to be more organizations like that in Salt Lake.  There have been positive steps made, but I think there is still a lot of room for bands to unite and support each other.

When can we see you next as a performer?  Any shows coming up?

A: Neither band plays a lot of shows. We used to play several each month, but after a while it just seemed like too much. Now shows are more of a special thing for us that we look forward to. You can always check our Myspace pages. ODH has a show set up next month opening for Wolves in the Throne Room which should be an interesting show.  

www.myspace.com/lastresponse

www.myspace.com/ourdarkhorse

How can we as listeners support what you do?

A: I love listening to local bands. I judge many MANY local Battle of the Bands competitions, and I LOVE it! I love hearing bands, I love being able to give constructive help on their songs, and I love meeting them after the show. I consider myself to be a nice, approachable guy, and I’d love to listen to your music. If you are in a band, hit me up on my studio webpage. You can Google “Lincoln Street Sound Studio” or go to www.myspace.com/knutpunch.

If you are looking to record, give some of my recordings a listen on my myspace page. I have tried to include a few different genres on there. If you like what you hear, send me a message, or e-mail me. You likely won’t get a much better recording for the price, I am fairly confident of that ($20 an hour).  My contact info is on the studio MySpace page.

The Sweater Friends

SWEATER ROCK

In the sometimes gloomy world of rock and roll it's refreshing now and then to hear a band like The Sweater Friends. This isn't your average happy folk-rock duo. Their songs are sweet, fun, and catchy. Jake and Allyson met as children in the same neighborhood, and their friendship grew long before their music did. Their lyrics are interesting and insightful, but are not bogged down musically like lots of insightful lyrics can be. They will be playing soon with Mindy Gledhill on April 24th at Kilby Court. More on that later.

First of all, let's get this out of the way. Are you two married?
ALLYSON: Um. No. We did both get married within 2 weeks of each other though to two wonderful people. Jake is like a brother to me. I think I may have insulted him the first time I told him that.
JAKE: Ha, I was never insulted but Allyson summed that up nicely.

How do you classify your music? It's light-hearted and funny at times, but not really comedy.
ALLYSON:We pride ourselves on all of our songs sounding different. I think our music and lyrics reflect how we approach life. Neither one of us is really uptight, I love to just sit back and see what life brings. I learned a long time ago, it takes too much energy to obsess about everything.
JAKE: I kind of came to the conclusion that it was more important to be different than be the best. I think as we shot to be different and express ourselves with the talent we had, the quality came and continues to do so. But as far as a classification goes, folk rock sounds good. Though, a local DJ here coined the phrase Sweater Rock. We have been using that ever since.

Where did you both grow up and how did you meet each other?
ALLYSON: We both grew up in Murray about 2 blocks away from each other. I honestly can't remember the first time I met Jake - I just know I can't really remember my life without him being there.
JAKE: Aw, that's cute :) I think my first real concrete memory of Allyson is when we were in 6th grade and we both sat on the back row. Who knew that it would lead to this.

Did you have musical families?
JAKE: I do, my grandpa played tuba in the Air force and was the BYU organist for a while. He played in a dancehall band for like 30 years. He is the one that got me started playing, giving me a guitar he had in his garage.
ALLYSON: Yes and no. My mom is quite musical with singing and the piano, my dad plays the guitar but can't sing to save his life. Both of my siblings are talented with music but would never admit to it.

What kinds of music do you both listen to? Any musical influences?
ALLYSON: Before the Sweater Friends, I think my musical tastes were pretty limited. I listened to a lot of the stuff on Fat Wreck Chords label and anything else that had that punky pop vibe with a melody. After taking voice lessons and then playing with Jake, I was so much more willing to listen to anything different just to hear new ideas. My influences are Rocky Votolato, Butch Walker, Colby Stead, Mindy Smith, Marie Digby and I've really come to love P!nk in the past few months.
JAKE: I played guitar for the jazz band in high school which really effected how I play. As far as what I listen to, I love Rocky Votolato, Allyson got me into him. I'm a pretty big Thursday fan, along with Saves The Day and RX Bandits. Johnny Cash, Aimee Mann and Dustin Kensrue from Thrice have really influenced me lately.

What general themes can our listeners hear in your music? Love? Hate? War? Pirates?
ALLYSON: I know I always write about what's on my mind. Those nagging thoughts in my head when I lay down to go to sleep at night. From friends making dumb, rash choices, breakups and the loss of loved ones.
JAKE: Same. That is one thing I can say, I am proud of about our music. It really comes from our hearts and lives. I do like to write about important things to me in a fictitious way, such as trying to keep my group of friends together with a moat. Every part of our latest release, Everyone We Know, is about something real. I guess overcoming could be one of the themes.

It seems that The Sweater Friends didn't start out trying to rock the world, but grew into something people have been really digging. What are your plans for The Sweater Friends?
ALLYSON: ROCK THE WORLD! I just want to see us keep doing what we're doing. I think people like us because we're just doing something we love. If it ever gets tedious, the whole project would feel empty and old in a minute.
JAKE: I would like us to make an impact, like a dent in your kitchen table that you can point out and say "I did that." We have decided to start donating 10% of our music sales to help fight hunger. We are also working on a new project called "The Ghost and The Guest" which is gonna be a combination EP/short novel. Again, different over being best, we are doing a blog and podcasts called "SweaterCasts" about the creation of it. They can be found on iTunes and our blogspot, myspace and youtube pages if interested.

Tell us about the show you have coming up with Mindy Gledhill.
JAKE: Well my wife, Jessica, was a fan of hers and I knew her a bit from my mission CDs. Jess just happened to be friends with her on facebook so she mentioned I was in a band to Mindy. Mindy wrote back that she thought The Sweater Friends were great. I asked her to play a show here in Salt Lake at our favorite venue, Kilby Court, and she loved the idea. We are really looking forward to it. My friends have asked, "are you playing with that chick we listened to on our mission?!" It should be a cool evening.

How has your faith influenced what you do? What are your testimonies?
ALLYSON: When we first started the band we started band practice with a prayer - no joke. It was great. We should start doing that again. I know on the night of our first show, I said about a million prayers to calm down. I actually really don't like people hearing me sing so I was so nervous. I love my Savior and am so grateful for his sacrifice for my infinite number of sins. I am so grateful for the Restoration of the Church and the amazing influence it has had in my life and the lives of those around me. I am grateful for a living prophet that is here to lead us and guide us every day. I love the fact that I know my purpose here on this Earth and that I know our lives and relationships don't end here. I am so grateful for a wonderful husband who stands by and loves me every day. I am so lucky to be surrounded by an amazing family and such great friends that accept me for who I am.
JAKE: My faith has molded me really. From my demeanor and goals to how I plan and organize the band, having a testimony and 2 years of full-time missionary work under my belt has bettered me in more ways than I will ever know. I love knowing that Jesus Christ is real and loves me. He went through every hardship, pain, trial and temptation that I have, and experienced them in a personal yet all encompassing manner, thus making him the perfect person to have as a best friend. His church has been on the earth many times throughout history, with a true Prophet at its head. Though there have been times of rejection and darkness, he has always restored his power and love when it has been forgotten or lost. That has happened today and by that same power I can be married forever to my wife Jessica. My favorite song I have written, Yellow Bookend, is about that. "When I say I mean forever, that's just how long it's gonna be."

Jake, where did you serve your mission?
JAKE: I served in the California Roseville Mission, Spanish-speaking. One of our songs is actually based heavily on this. I wrote Us and Them about a lady I met on my mission named Alejandra. She was a nurse in Mexico City with 2 boys. She grew unable to support her family and decided to come to America illegally. The song is about if the United States and Mexico traded places and you were the only one to notice.
ALLYSON: I found the letters you wrote me from your mission this weekend. I laughed so hard reading through some of them. Good times. Sorry for answering your question with a random comment.

It's okay.

How can your fans support your music? Where can they go to hear more of The Sweater Friends?
JAKE: We are found all over the internet, namely MySpace, facebook, reverbnation, and iLike. Showing us to friends and family, telling us what you think of our music, and coming out to see us perform is always awesome. Of course, people can support us by purchasing our music on iTunes, Amazon and other places. We do sell thru CD Baby and love it, that is the cheapest place to get our music.

Why are you called The Sweater Friends anyway?
JAKE: That is knowledge known by only a select few. Come out to a show we might let it slip.

Steve Brown

INDIE/ROCK/DARK POP

Steve Brown tries to make things not sound horrible. He certainly knows his way around a bass, and has had quite a career playing with several bands including Pinchpoint, Chigger, and The Arrogants. He currently owns and operates a small recording studio while playing bass for The Northern Labour Party. They have a sound that is familiar yet foreign, and have an EP coming out very soon. Steve has several things to say about touring, kids, and the great monetary rewards of being a recording engineer (and he's only been thrown out of ONE band for being Mormon).

So how long have you been a member of the Church?
A: I was born into the Church, and grew up in Downey, CA. I’m the youngest of 11 kids (how stereotypical). My parents were always active members, but most of my siblings weren’t. I guess I could say that in the past my body has always been active, but my head hasn’t. Probably like most have.

How has your family (your parents and your current family) supported your decision to make music?
A: When I was 18, I started playing music seriously. I’d say my parents were supportive. They knew I had an independent (stubborn) personality, so I think they probably knew I would do it anyway. Looking back, my mom must have had some trust in me. I mean, all the late nights, touring, and unfamiliar people around probably raised some questions. She let me have my space though.

With my own family, I couldn’t have asked for a better support system. My wife knew she was going to marry a musician; and with that comes some nonsense, and atypical situations. But she has always been supportive and encouraging towards my muse. When times have been slow musically, I think my wife has sensed the change in my disposition, and tried to entice me to get into more projects. Right now, the kids are still pretty young, so they think Dad is the coolest for playing in bands, and having a studio at the house; which, of course, I am. We’ll see how that plays out as they get older.

How do you know previous Linescratcher Cory Mathews?
A: I met Cory through a mutual friend about 10+ years ago. He then ended up marrying another good friend of mine, so we’ve been able to stay connected through the years. We have very similar views on musical philosophies, but could never agree on a project. I think we both think that each of us should be in charge. If we ever did, we probably wouldn’t get anything done. We’d end up sitting around for hours just talking about stuff.

What bands and albums have influenced you over the years?
A: Ok, this part could go on for weeks. But, here are 5 albums, throughout my life, that have changed the way I play/write/view music.

1. Adam & the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier
2. Jesus & Mary Chain – Psychocandy
3. Pixies – Doolittle
4. Slint – Spiderland
5. Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane over the Sea

As far as individual bass playing goes its: Simon Gallup (The Cure), Eric Avery (Jane’s Addiction), and Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order).

Give us a quick overview of the bands you've been a part of.
A: I started out playing in bands with just friends. We really had no idea of what we were doing, but we wanted to write songs. The bass was sort of pawned off on me (thanks Aaron) because I was the only one that had a job, and could buy one. It ended up suiting me perfectly. After about a year I started playing in some L.A. bands, but things really picked up with a band called Garganta. We got signed to an Indie label called Satellite Records (www.satelliterecords.net) in Pasadena, and released and 7” (still a highlight) and a CD. That just fueled the itch. I then jumped into a touring band called Pinchpoint. They were also signed, and had some backing. So, we cruised around the country in a van. Touring can be trying, but there’s something about rolling up to town, rocking the house, then leaving. Chigger was next, and we also released an EP through Satellite. We did a few west cost tours, and also into Canada. During this time I was also playing bass with The Arrogants (www.arrogants.com). They were all good friends of mine through church. They ended up trusting me to record their last album, even though my studio skills were lacking. Overall, that was probably one of the best band experiences I’ve had.

What bands are you currently playing with?
A: The current project is Northern Labour Party (www.myspace.com/northernlabourparty). It’s a dark pop in the vein of Magazine, Gary Numan, and Joy Division. The analog synth player from the Arrogants had a new band that wanted to record an EP. We did it at my studio. Their bass player was not working out, so I jumped in. It all seemed like a good fit.

Is a touring lifestyle difficult to reconcile with your standards?
A: It can be. There’s a lot more crap coming at you from different angles when you are involved with this industry, than one that’s less appealing to artist types. Being trapped in a van with 9 guys for a month at a time can bring you to the edge. I think some of them saw me as a novelty; “You don’t do what?” A few of them would also try and protect me from things. I thought that was kind of funny.

All the bands I’ve been in have known that I’m a member. I’ve been lucky, though, to have just about all of them be accepting of it. I did get booted from a band once because of being a member. No harm done.

What do you see as the biggest problems with LDS people trying to be working original musicians, and how can they be resolved?
A: Probably not being grounded in your life. But that comes with time and experience. When you’re younger, it’s much easier to use the musician’s life as an excuse to get out of the Church. It’s just an excuse. If it wasn’t for that, I’m sure you could find another reason to do so. I was more drawn to the writing and performing side of music. The negative stuff that comes with it is more about living the life, and not being an artist. The two don’t have to go hand-in-hand.

What advice would you give young LDS songwriters who are trying to get into the music industry?
A: Don’t be a preachy person. Just be cool with people, and it’ll come back. I mean, you can hold onto your beliefs, and then be accepting of the others around you. It’s not always easy, but it’s also not always hard. Most people are good. They just don’t have our point of view, or understanding, of what this life is really about. If you respect the whole situation for what it is, then living this lifestyle, especially in this industry, is not too much of a problem.

Where do you see The Northern Labour Party going? Where can we hear their music? Will there be any tours in the future?
A: We just finished our first EP, and it’s being released at the beginning of May. The songs on our web site are the ones on the EP. We’re trying to stay focused, and write better and better songs. It always comes down to the songs. If they’re not strong, then none of the rest matters.
Touring options come on a case-by-case basis. You have to be a little more selective when you have a mortgage and kids. But, Germany is a stronger possibility. Our drummer came over from Holland, and used to play in some touring bands over in Europe. So, the contacts are there. We just have to make it happen. Closer to home, we’d like to try and do more shows around California, and over in Utah.

What do you do with your recording studio?
A: I try to make things not sound horrible. I started this studio out of frustration with going to other studios. I spent way too much time watching a clock tick by, and costing me more money. And in the end, not leaving with anything I was really excited about. If you wanted to experiment, it was going to cost you. Man, that stinks.

So, I pieced together this small studio that works fairly well. I usually record friends or referrals. I don’t advertise, so I can be selective about who I work with. I charge by the project, and not the time spent. My clients are happy with that. Some think I should charge more, but it doesn’t feel right. I really try to make it sound as good, and as interesting as I can. I probably spend more time on it then I should, but I usually get into the projects. When I’m done, I probably make about $4 an hour. The studio’s slogan is, “I make hundreds of dollars a year doing this crap.”

How can fans support you with your music if they like what they hear?
A: You can email us at northernlabourparty@gmail.com. We’re probably going to sell the EPs for $5 each, but even that might be negotiable. I’d rather just get the songs out there and see what sticks.

Salt Lake Hip-Hop Scene

HIP HOP

The Salt Lake Hip-Hop scene, including Definit and Linescratcher Young Sim, has recently been featured on the front page of the Utah Daily Herald. Expect big things from these young men!

Click here to read the article.

David Murphy

PROMOTIONS

The chance to do an interview like this doesn't happen too often. David Murphy is a kind, energetic young man who does promotions for Simeon "Young Sim" Lawrence's clean record label, Feel Good Music in Salt Lake City. On Friday, a 45-year-old man named Jeffrey Boyd Ackerman was shot and killed in Pleasant Grove, Utah, and a suspect with a weapon ran from the crime scene, pursued hotly by the police. David was working and witnessed the pursuit, in front of the business where he worked. What did he do? He ran out of his business and tackled the suspect, holding him down until the police could apprehend him. After I heard this amazing story from Sim, I just had to interview David about his experience.

So, first tell us how you're involved with Feel Good Music.
A: Growing up in Philly I learned to love music, all kinds. The one thing that is missing in today's music genres is clean messages. Music that depicts life and real problems/emotions stands out. It moves you. I grew up with Young Sim and his vision for Feel Good Music inspired me.

Have you gotten calls for any other interviews yet?
A: I interviewed with Fox News (channel 13) right after the incident but nothing else.

Explain what happened for the readers back home.
A: I was in American Fork and heard a shout. I looked up and a police officer was chasing a guy across the street into my parking lot towards me. I ran and headed him off, grabbed him and locked his arms behind him. After putting him on the ground I held him there till the police officer caught up and put the cuffs on him. 25 seconds later police cars from every direction crashed the scene with mean weapons and armor and things. I didn't even know that there had been a man-hunt underway until later.

So this guy was armed and dangerous, and the cops were chasing him for miles, and you just stepped in and held him down?
A: That's pretty much it. I had no idea that he was a fugitive. Just, if the cop was chasing him, he probably had a reason.

Have lots of people been congratulating you? Is it weird?
A: Yea, its been strange, humbling. I don't think that I did something that anyone else wouldn't do if they had been placed in the same situation. In the moment is was just the logical thing to do. In retrospect it was meaningful but I still don't deserve praise.

My friend wanted me to ask you if you had eaten your Wheaties that morning.
A: Ha. No, I think I went without breakfast. Wish I had!

What is your future with Feel Good Music?
A: I believe Feel Good Music is going to revolutionize the face of music. It has a fresh vision and pure motivation behind it. That is something that I think people can connect with, really feel. Powerful lyrics with hot beats, it's fun. As far as my future with Feel Good Music, I hope to be a part of it as it goes forward. Right now I am acting as the Promotor looking for venues to exhibit the music. That's what it's all about anyway. Call me!

I told Simeon that this isn't just Feel Good, it's DO Good. How has your faith influenced this and the other decisions in your life to do good?
A: That is so true. Yea Sim! God has given us all our abilities and he grants us the time we have. If we don't use those abilities for good it is a waste. What we do with that time is our decision and it only makes sense that we take every opportunity. If we only live for ourselves we will live a very shallow and cold existence. My faith definitely pushes me to be be accountable for what I do with my time and how I help those around me. Talking does nothing, it's about action. We all have to look out for each other cause if not us, then who?

Thanks for your work with Sim and your service to your community!
A: Hey, thanks a lot.

To learn more about Young Sim and Feel Good Music, visit http://www.myspace.com/youngsim

We're still here!

I'm aware of the complete lack of new interviews lately.  Don't worry!  I haven't forgotten about you!  I haven't forsaken the online LDS music community!  Things have just been a bit busy lately as I am preparing to take a beautiful young lady to the Louisville Kentucky Temple on March 7th.  Give me some time and I'll have more Linescratchers for you soon.  Thanks!

Arthur