I have an amazing administrative and musical team. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without them. My number one goal is to make those around me better and for them to push me to be better as well. I honestly think my approach to business and music are the same. I ask a lot from who ever I am working with. I trust them and their decisions, but will fight for what I feel. Creating a marketing plan is just like writing a song. It has to feel right or it’s not going to work. And I fight the “musician is always late” myth. I like to be on time whether it’s for a show or a meeting. How you execute is how you will be rewarded.
As successful as you are as an independent artist, have you ever wondered how things would be if you were signed to a major label? I’m sure you are satisfied with how things have worked out for you, but where do you think you’d be if you had taken a different route by being directly involved with a major label earlier in your career?
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Yeh, I have wondered that but I basically believe that it wouldn’t have worked. I am not the kind of artist that fits in today’s music business. I have certain songs on my albums that I know I would not have been able to do if I was signed to a major. There’s no fame or fortune I would trade those songs for. Besides, the artists you hear now was improved by the no’s and the door slams, those long train rides from New York after a horrible meeting with an A&R. All that showed up in my songs. If it was given to me easier, I would have taken it for granted and I would not be here doing this interview with you now.
Besides the music, are you involved in any other businesses or are you planning to do anything else outside of music?
I work with different charities where and when I can, but no other businesses yet. Running our label and touring take up enough time at the moment. I have an uncle who is a very successful business man and he’s always says, “Organized growth is the key.” That’s what I focus on. In time I plan to have our label as powerful as a major label. I look forward to the ability to sign and put out other artists that I really admire.
How do you balance your career and family life?
Like I said, this business takes a lot of time. For me, I try to keep my family around it while I am doing it. My kids were in and around the studio the whole time while we were recording this album. If you listen closely, you might hear them on a song or two. I have a limit for how long I will be on the road away from my family. And when I am home I shut it all down. You have to, or you will never enjoy that pure quality time with a loved one.
Name one mistake you’ve made in your career that if you could have a do over, you’d make a different move and how would you have done it knowing what you know now.
Not trusting my “Spidey Sense.” I haven’t gotten ripped off by a janky promoter much in my career, but when it has happened, my Spidey Senses were telling me to pull out. We run a much tighter ship now and if someone is even sounding like they don’t have their business together, we politely remove ourselves from the equation.