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myrecordcollections · 4 years

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Tu-Do Hospitals

Patients Of.....

@ 1986 W Germany Pressing

*****

1986 - the first TRUST (The Punk Magazine In W Germany) appears. The German hardcore scene is still in its infancy. Some of you will remember vividly and not be able to suppress a few sentimental tears, for others the seriousness of life had not even begun.

One of the better known bands back then was TU DO HOSPITAL. In the first TRUST there was some kind of report about that. 15 years later I ask Winni, who was then singing at TU DO HOSPITAL, about his memories of then and what his life looks like now….

***

Hi, first introduce yourself, what's your name? how old are you? What are you doing?

Winni: Hi - I'm Winni, on this planet for 34 years, currently in San Francisco, California, where I work as a graphic designer.

Winni, you used to sing at TU DO HOSPITAL. in the first TRUST there was a report about you and 2 concerts that you played in leutkirch and linz. that was 15 years ago. what memories do you still associate with the band and the “scene” in germany back then?

Winni: I found the scene very exciting at the time. The whole punk rock history seemed to be changing and a lot of new people came into the scene who were very active and redefined punk rock.

I think a lot of kids came along who were very influenced by the US hardcore scene and that brought new momentum to the movement. Suddenly you saw a lot of new people at the concerts who didn't care how “punk” they looked or whether they were laughed at when they went around with their skateboards.

This may all be a very personal experience, but around the mid-80s there was suddenly a lot going on. Many new bands & zines started, more concerts were organized and all of a sudden there was a network across Germany and other countries that made it possible for bands like ours to play everywhere.

At concerts you often met the same people who were very active, whether it was a cow village in Holland or Kreuzberg - at that time you traveled huge distances to see bands and a lot of people in bands were also involved in organizing concerts and wrote for zines. I think to myself that that has not necessarily changed today, only the “scene” is probably much bigger and more professional today compared to back then.

To stay a bit in the past: TU DO HOSPITAL was a band with very personal lyrics that were probably written by you. “You think you know me, but that's not true. you see my clothes and hear what i say, but what i feel is hidden inside me from you. my thoughts change very often, because i'm learning new things every day, but you have this picture of me and you think i'm still like that ”(from“ wrong image ”). what do you think of your old texts today? and to stick with the wrong image, what kind of person is winni wintermeier today?

Winni: I haven't looked back at the old lyrics for a long time and can no longer find the old record to read it all over again. I can still remember a few fragments and I think that many of the things I wrote back then seem a little naive today. On the other hand, much of it is still valid today and some thoughts have not necessarily changed. I can't even describe in a few words what kind of person I am today.

I could try to describe my personality, but it will probably sound like some sappy personal ad. Who I am and what I do in this world is a question that I continue to research with great interest and which may never be able to answer. This is partly reflected in the old texts.

In retrospect, what significance did the band have in your life? why and how did you break up?

Winni: At that time the band was already an important part of my life. As a result, I have had relevant experiences and met many people who have also shaped my life. We broke up because of musical and personal differences without much drama. We just got to a point where it wouldn't have been easy to continue as a band.

And does it still matter today? are you still in contact with your bandmates? do you even have contact with anyone “from the past”?

Winni: It hasn't lost its meaning, but looking back it was just one of the many important experiences I've had in my life. I lost contact with my old colleagues, but recently a friend sent me a CD from the Carnival of Souls, the band from Achim, the old guitarist.

You now live in san francisco and run the one-man company 3AM (www.3am.net). how did your move come about?

Winni: Boredom drove me to San Francisco in 1992. I had studied photography in Germany for two years and that didn't really help me. I just couldn't imagine going through this for 2-3 years. I had visited San Francisco several times and had become a kind of second home.

I knew a lot of people who do interesting things and there was a lot going on in terms of culture. For me it was very inspiring to take the big leap to concentrate on the things that interest me (music, photography, design, art, etc ...)

Do you see a connection between the punk / hardcore ideals that you also promoted in your texts for TU DO HOSPITAL and what you are doing now? “It's ok if you don't like our music because we don't play what you want to hear. if you don't like the things we sing about, listen and try to understand us. I don't mind if you don't like our music. we put our energy into it and like to play it ”(from“ our music ”)“ i feel young and strong, full of energy. I know how to use my strength, I won't hide it. i live to be creative and not to waste my time. I know there is an end, but I'm not afraid of dying. "(from" 1-2-tu-do ")

Winni: Partly yes, I'm a little “punk rock damaged”. I still have many ideals from earlier times that are reflected in my work. With “3 am” I work on a lot of record covers for various small indie / punk rock labels or just for friends for little money.

These are often projects that are very non-commercial and where no one earns anything materially. On the other hand, I also do a lot of things for bands that call themselves punk, but are basically nothing more than any other rock band that want to be popular and successful.

I often have to make compromises so that I can pay my rent. To get to the quotes - I sometimes wish I had the same energy again that I had at the young age of 18 - my body can no longer keep up with what I plan to do in my head, ha, Ha.

With 3AM you do some graphics / layout things for various punk / hardcore things. how did this collaboration come about?

Winni: A friend of mine was working at a small punk label that had just released two records and needed a graphic designer for their new projects. Back then I had designed a couple of CD covers in Germany that I showed them and all of a sudden I got a lot of work.

The label (Fat Wreck Chords) then grew quite quickly and other labels (Hopeless, Side 1, etc ...) saw my stuff and suddenly it became my full-time job. It was quite hectic because I had to teach myself everything and I had hardly any idea how to use a computer.

Can you live on 3AM?

Winni: So far I've been able to make ends meet, but right now I have to look around a little for new work. The budget for a lot of record covers is quite small and for the last two years I have often helped out with a hi-tech magazine that paid me quite well, but they are just going down the drain.

San Francisco has become very expensive and the new internet economy has almost completely destroyed the city, which has made it very difficult for many people to survive here. At the moment I would like to concentrate more on my photography, because I don't feel like sitting in front of the computer all the time.

Do you actually see your work as political? do you try to make certain statements in what you do? or is that more "art for art`s sake"?

Winni: My graphic arts less, although I often work for bands that are politically oriented in their lyrics. Some of my photos are more political because I am interested in documenting the influence people have on their environment. That suggests more in the direction of photojournalism and as an artist I wouldn't necessarily describe myself because this term is not important to me.

I think that with 3am I will try to create a free space in which I can work for people who have similar points of view and who work outside the big system and that is politically motivated.

what motivates you these days?

Winni: The urge to explore life. I find inspiration for this everywhere, whether it's music, art, literature or the old man sitting around the corner in my café.

What will you do if we repeat this interview in 15 years?

Winni: I don't know - I still haven't decided on a big plan for the future. I'll be able to tell you that in 15 years.

Thanks for your answers!

#Tu-Do Hospitals #Patients Of ..#San Franciso #Punk #Winni #TRUST Magazine

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waffletoast215 · 5 years

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It’s time for an updated Three Tail cast pic! This one introduces their rival band (whose name I still haven’t come up with yet).

I’m including character bios for everyone in the photo just to keep it up to speed, but I’ll put them under the cut.

Background Texture From: https://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=3090998

Characters from left to right: Chico Perla, Aku Maka, Ji-Ku Maka (Olives sitting on his head), Kento Shimura (Lentils sitting on his shoulder), Sai Fuji and Je-Muzu Masamoto.

Character Bios: Three Tail

Ji-Ku Maka: Multi-talented yet self absorbed, Ji-Ku is a popular guy. His fame goes to his head, so he tends to brag a lot. He’s optimistic, energetic and can be childish. He even likes to flirt with his fans sometimes. He tends to be airheaded and he’ll often make bad decisions because he doesn’t think them through. Because of this he tends to get on the nerves of his younger brother, Aku.

He’s an extrovert who can’t live without attention, which is part of why he loves being an idol. He doesn’t understand it when people aren’t interested in him. Also, don’t mention to him that he’s short: he hates that. He tends to have a short temper at times, but deep down he’s a nice guy. He likes to sing the most, but can also play the guitar.

Aku Maka: The opposite of his older brother Ji-Ku, Aku is introverted, pessimistic and not very confident. If he’s under pressure he can even suddenly start stuttering, or lower his voice so that it sounds much quieter. Despite being an idol, he can get easily flustered when all eyes are on him. However, he’s also the smartest member of the group, and he’s a nerd for music, video games, and pop culture in general. He tries to hide this because he wants his fans to think he’s more “cool”; his main obsession is fashion, and he constantly seeks out clothes that will help him maintain a “cool” image.

Even though sometimes he can doubt his own work, he’s overjoyed when his fans are happy, and deep down, a part of him is proud of himself, even if he might not realize it sometimes. As a result of his pessimism and insecurity, he has a tendency to be very snarky, especially to Ji-Ku, who often annoys him.

He can sing, and he can even play the piano. Performing slowly but surely is getting him out of his shell. He has an alter ego as a drag queen, which he adopted to not only try out more fashions but mainly to help him conquer his stage fright.

Sai Fuji: Sai first ran into Ji-Ku and Aku when they first moved to Sekyuo, and he’s been their best friend and third band member ever since. He’s a reliable and loyal guy who is usually the most calm and logical member of the group; when Ji-Ku and Aku get into scuffles he’ll be the one who stops the fighting. However, he hides a nasty jealousy problem, mainly because he’s a fox within a nation that just adores cats, and he’s less popular than Ji-Ku and Aku are. His jealousy can make him act almost bratty as a result sometimes, and he could even lose his cool and burst into a crying fit if it gets too extreme. However, he’s usually very nice and will go out of his way to do things for people.

He has a habit of getting easily smitten for handsome men, and as a result he can be easily influenced or even pushed around by his crushes at time. He often gets bashful, however, and refuses to admit if he has a crush on someone. He has had playful crushes on both Ji-Ku and Je-Muzu in the past among others, but truthfully he’s easily enamored by anybody in a boyband, as he’s been a fan of boybands since he was a kid, and to this day is still a walking encyclopedia of boyband trivia. Despite his strong emotions, none of his crushes ever actually mean anything however, and he’s okay with just being everyone’s friend.

When Ji-Ku and Aku get into their antics he’ll try his best to stop them; however stern lectures don’t usually work on them, so he rarely gets through. Sometimes he’ll even join them, albeit reluctantly at first. Although they frustrate him, he really does care about them and would probably be alone without them.

He likes to sing but also can play guitar/bass.

Olives: A very bossy cat who’s the group’s manager, and often times their songwriter and producer, too. She’s very honest and is never afraid to say what she thinks. She tries to be imposing in order to make up for her small stature, since people don’t take her seriously; she wants to be a legend and considered an important player in the music industry. She has an affinity for “hip” or street fashions, since she thinks they make her look more formidable. Sometimes she makes the guys do things simply because she has that authority and she loves having people at her whim. She might just hide a caring side for them, though.

Being a cat, sometimes she likes to use her cute charm to her advantage. She can be cute one minute, but loud and scathing the next. Most of the public isn’t even aware of just how vile her attitude can get.

Although it may not be obvious at first glance, Olives is actually quite smart and experienced, and is great at giving advice to anyone who gets on her good side. She even went to college, although she was easily distracted whenever a teacher used a laser pointer.

She and the boys get on each other’s nerves frequently. However, over time she learns to be less harsh towards them as they melt her once-cold heart.

The Rivals (Band Name Still Unknown)

Kento Shimura: He’s half scorpion and, true to his species, has plenty of sting as a result of his mischievousness and wit. He has a “bad boy” image, and presents himself as being edgy. He likes to play tricks on people because he loves feeling like he’s got the upper hand, and he even likes to use his tail to hang upside down and surprise people. He’s prone to making sassy quips. He’s quite pretentious, stubborn, and can even hiss when provoked; this personality leads to him often being at odds with Ji-Ku, his main rival.

Although he maintains a tough image in public, truthfully he doesn’t like how people are often scared of him due to his being part scorpion. Out of the public eye, he likes to write poetry and is also a fan of traditional tea ceremonies. He’s quite confident and proud of his work, but he doesn’t boast explicitly like Ji-Ku does; however, when challenged he always feels a need to assert his superiority.

He’s a great singer, and is surprisingly adept at playing an acoustic guitar, despite what his hardcore image might suggest.

Chico Perla: A chihuahua boy of foreign ancestry. He’s one of the few people shorter than Ji-Ku, but he doesn’t mind. Although he appears to be a child at first glance, he’s only small as a result of his species. However he acts just like a child; he’s very jumpy, fun-loving and adventurous. Because of his constant energy, he usually needs to be supervised, as he has a tendency to break things. He also tends to talk a lot, regardless of people want to listen. Because of his cute, childish appearance, he tends to get things handed to him, and is often taken aback when he isn’t entitled to things.

Not only does he sing, but he loves to act, especially in Broadway-style musicals. His bandmates don’t really understand his love for musicals and theater, but they support him regardless. He also can play drums.

Je-Muzu Masamoto: A close friend of Chico’s and usually the one who attempts to keep him out of trouble. Je-Muzu tends to have “bro”-ish tendencies due to his love of exercising and his obsession with looking at cars, despite the fact that he often doesn’t actually understand how they work. Behind his “bro”-ish exterior however, his main passion is zen culture, and he’s quite knowledgeable about incense and chakras. This allows him to maintain a cool head, even in chaos (most of the time). He even has a miniature zen rock garden he likes to care for, but he has to be careful with it since he’s so strong, he sometimes accidentally breaks the rake and has to buy a new one. He’s also quite the outdoors-man, especially compared to Kento and Chico.

He tends to be proud, especially of his strength, and often can’t relate to other people’s situations; he means well, though, and will try his best to be a protective guardian when called upon. He has a powerful voice, but can also play the piano and keyboard.

Lentils: The band’s manager, a very tiny Scorpion who is close to Kento. However, they’re nothing alike; Lentils desires nothing more than to be loved and to be seen as “cute”. Unlike Olives, she’s soft spoken, polite, and friendly, and she never wants to offend anybody or step on anyone’s toes. She gets quite sad when she sees people shriek and run away from her in fear, though, and she wishes people wouldn’t judge her just because she’s a scorpion.

Just like Olives, she went to college, and she’s very book smart. She’s quite the talented songwriter and producer as well. She has trouble at social gatherings, though, mainly because she’s so small she often has to raise her voice and elevate herself in order to get noticed. She has difficulty even handing out her business card unless Kento holds her in his palms so she can make eye contact with people.

Despite being a manger she is easily manipulated and a pushover due to her wanting to fit in more than anything else.

#three tail #my ocs #my art #this one took me a really long time so I hope you like!

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catholicartistsnyc · 5 years

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Meet: Stephen Lyons

STEPHEN LYONS is an actor and musician living in NYC. (www.StephenLyons.net)

Catholic Artist Connection (CAC): What brought you to NYC, and where did you come from?

Stephen Lyons (SL): I am originally from West Chester, PA. In summer 2013 I made the decision to move back to New York after being inspired by Once, A New Musical. I was very much excited by that type of show and the storytelling. I was living in Philadelphia at the time when I saw a friend of mine in the Broadway production. I moved to the city and met one of my bandmates at an open mic who happened to be working on 'Once' and knew our mutual friend and we formed the band Bonfire Falls.

CAC: How do understand your vocation as a Catholic artist? What do you see as your personal mission as a Catholic working in the arts?

SL: "Give beauty, give beauty back to God" (Gerard Manley Hopkins). This was the mantra ingrained in my experience at DeSales University by my dear mentor, the late Rev Gerard Schubert, founder of the DeSales University Theatre Department. To me, it is the responsibility artists have in using their gifts to bring light, refreshment, revelation and hope to the human experience.

Bono of the Irish rock band U2 has also played a huge impact in my understanding of the responsibility of Christian artists have in advocacy. Oftentimes, especially in this hyper sensitive culture, there is this enticement for despair. Bono encapsulates it in U2's song "Every Breaking Wave":

"baby every dog on the street / knows that we're in love with defeat / are we ready to be swept off our feet / and stop chasing every breaking wave."

To me, that line is about the journey toward faith, hardwired hope under the strata of despair circulating in the frequencies of social media.

Faith is a garden. It is a quiet place in an inner city neighborhood waiting for discovery, for someone to walk in, connect and lend a hand. It is a response to beauty waiting for us to cultivate and reflect back to God.

CAC: Where have you found support in the Church for your vocation as an artist?

SL: Through the Catholic Artists Connection network. The daily postings, reflections, opportunities and encouragement have been helpful in understanding your relationship to your work and the greater community of Catholic artists.

CAC: Where have you found support among your fellow artists for your Catholic faith?

SL: The Our Lady of Harlem Artist House has allowed me the ability to pursue my music and acting career. Without this community, without this support, I'm not sure I'd be here. I had gone through a personal hardship which effected me both financially, emotionally and spiritually. The support network of my housemates has given me the strength to get through a very difficult time and help me get on my feet again. Our unique house of artists of different disciplines has been a special grace.

I would also like to draw special attention to Cole Matson who has a very special gift of vision. He blends that unique skillset of an academic, intellectual, humanist and love for artists that defines what should be the model for New Evangelization, a kind soul who is always positive, and encouraging artists. He himself as an artist and visionary is a tremendous gift to the New York City Catholic Artist Community.

CAC: Where in NYC do you regularly find spiritual fulfillment?

SL: I attend St. Malachy's, The Actor's Chapel. Candlelight is an important aspect to prayer and meditation. I have a very strong memory of votive candles and colors from a young age. It is a quiet, peaceful important part of meditation and prayer. "Be still and see that I am God." Ps 46:10 The smell the look of flickering fire (the Holy Fire) which has a simple power.

Also minor rant: can I just say I like St. Malachy's because they use REAL candles and not those fake push button jobs! Completely defeats the purpose.

CAC: Where in NYC do you regularly find artistic fulfillment?

SL: As far as artistic fulfillment, I belong to the Writer's Room (Open Mic) which is an extremely supportive and nurturing space to showcase new music and network with other musicians. I also belong to Actor's Launchpad which provides monthly coaching for film / tv / networking and they also offer free self-taping for auditions.

Harlem is a huge place of inspiration for me right now creatively. It is going through a complex change. The African American experience has informed my faith in a powerful way. There is such a deep music and cultural history here that resonates with me both on a spiritual and creative level. There is a lot of complexity here as well as soul.

I also get inspired by our community garden, Mandela Garden. It is the only wildflower garden in Manhattan and boasts 30 different species of wildflower no longer found in the city. People underestimate the power of gardens, of working with the earth. There is both a physiological and psychological thing that happens when you work in a Garden. It causes you to think differently about the World around you and how you think. It’s also a nexus in this neighborhood where the community can come together. Sadly, our garden is in danger of being developed, but we are fighting in court.

CAC: How have you found or built community as a Catholic artist living in NYC?

SL: Participating in monthly Mass, activity with members of Our Lady of Harlem House, and attending events through Catholic Artist Connection.

CAC: What is your daily spiritual practice? Where do you like to go on retreat?

SL: In my morning prayer, I thank God for the gift of life, the gift of the day. I pray for the loved ones in my life and the Grace to be attentive to their needs. I'm also focused on direct intentions, what I hope to achieve through God's Grace praying an 'Our Father,' 'Hail Mary,' and then speaking the intention 10 times. I pray 'Jesus I trust in you' 10 times as well, surrendering all to God and concluding with a Glory Be.

During the course of the day I pray for people I meet along the way. If i see someone in despair or homeless for example I will say an 'Our Father' or 'Hail Mary.’ I try to be conscious of seeing Christ in everyone I come in contact with.

In the evening I may pray rosary or recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy which is one of my favorite prayers. I pray for family and friends and I remember the souls of family and friends who've died.

Honestly, I have not done a whole lot of retreats because of budget. I tend to go to quiet beautiful places. There are some beautiful hiking trails and spots in Pennsylvania where I grew up I like to go to. Landscape informs my songwriting a great deal. I generally like to get lost in the country.

CAC: What is your daily artistic practice? And what are your recommendations to other artists for practicing their craft daily?

SL: Generally I try to carve out 1 - 2 hours a day of songwriting. I understand some artists force themselves to write at such and such a time each and every day, but that's never worked for me. Often, it comes unexpectedly.

To quote Martha Graham:

It is not your business to determine how good it (your creative expression) is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.

I try to be present to the World around me, to look for God in the face of His children every day in the World, to see where injustice or acts of courage are happening. Creativity most be allowed to flow it is your response to your daily existence. Journaling sometimes helps. For me I also will record melodic or lyric ideas on my voice memos or notes on my iPhone during the day. Oftentimes in my songwriting I'm searching for a vocal line. It begins with a vocal improvisation with 'non-sense' words until the feeling of the vocal and the chord structure starts to drive a narrative.

CAC: Describe a recent day in which you were most completely living out your vocation as an artist.

SL: Every time I get to rehearse with my bandmates (Bonfire Falls). I've never been part of a group of incredible, giving, supportive group of musicians and songwriters in my life. Each time we are in the room, there is an incredible energy of diversity in thinking, feeling and creative expression. It is the ultimate example of how a band can create outcomes you never thought possible. Each one of us contributes in powerful ways. There is a 'Yes And' mindset always present. There is a flow that happens, an almost heightened intuition.

CAC: You actually live in NYC? How!?

SL: I had been sublet hopping for about a year when Emily Snyder (Turn to Flesh Productions) introduced me to Cole Matson, who was looking to pull together a group of Catholic artists. Cole had asked me to check out an apartment in Harlem. When I got out of the 125th Station at Lenox Ave there was a teen gospel choir singing on the corner. It was a group from Vy Higgensen's Gospel For Teens which focuses on preserving the art form of Gospel to young people. I had been going through a very difficult year and when I saw that it was a kind of grace that this was the right place at the right time. Catholic Artist Connection also provides a great network for finding housing.

CAC: But seriously, how do you make a living in NYC?

SL: This is the pain for every artist. I had been working in a full time job when I moved back to New York in 2013. I have a background in sales and marketing, and leadership development, but it was taking up too much of my time and energy. I had made the decision to leave that company and go back to my music and acting career.

Resources for actors I've found very helpful: Actors Access, Backstage, Playbill, Casting Networks, Casting Frontier to name a few.

I do a lot of catering because it’s flexible work. JitJatJo is a great new staffing app for people in food service. Gigmor.com is great for gigging musicians.

CAC: What are your top pieces of advice for Catholic artists moving to NYC?

SL: I wish I had the Catholic Artist Connection when I first graduated college and moved to New York. Your faith is what sustains you, knowing that you have a community of fellow Catholic artists is so important to learning and dealing with the city. If you are deeply sensitive or highly intuitive you need to be aware of how the city will affect you. I'm one of those types and for many years I didn't quite understand how to handle it. Highly intuitive or feeling people experience the world in a much more deeper level than many. It’s what makes us powerful artists. It is a strength, not a weakness, but sometimes you need to protect that sensitivity. New York will give you skin, but you have to be patient.

It is important to stay grounded in your faith and connecting with a support network. Seek out spiritual direction and understand that the city will push you to grow. Look to volunteer or help those in need. Find a garden.

Be patient with yourself and give it at least a year. That first year can be brutal.

Second piece of advice I'd share is find flexible work that won't drive you INSANE. Too much sitting at a desk will sap your energy and your creative spirit. If you can teach something on the side DO THAT!

Also catering is fantastic. It keeps you moving and they feed you. It’s flexible. Great way to save money and also network with other artists. Did I mention networking? Take classes. Networking is so so so important!! Actor's Connection, Actor's Launchpad, The Growing Studio, check Backstage for other resources.

Remember to Love God through the work you do by loving humanity - be conscious of becoming too in the World. If you're an actor pray to St. Genesius. Align your intentions with the One who made you out of Love.

"Give beauty back, beauty, beauty, beauty, back to God beauty's self and beauty's giver."

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theparaminds · 5 years

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If you asked for a single word to describe Satchy and all he encompasses, it would simply be soul. Through a lifetime of listening and learning, Satchy has developed a soul more unique than many could imagine, more human than many thought possible. He expands and explains it through music in ways and motions strikingly honest and as beautiful as lush summer sunsets.

He puts intense care both to every individual note and melody, but also to his reflective, and often connecting, lyricism. Taking these two elements he blends together a musical smoothie rich both in flavor and variety, full of talent and impossible to replicate under any circumstances.

With past experience on his side and skills improving daily, the future is brighther than ever before for Satchy. He knows in his heart what he is able, and committed, to accomplish. He knows how far he is able to take his visions. All he has to do now is create with the undying passion within his heart.

Our first question as always, how’s your day going and how have you been lately?

Been going pretty good! Just started school and I’ve finishing up this new album.

It might seem like a strong start, but your name and what it encompasses to your sound is extremely unique. What do you find it means to you and how have you reflected it within your work?

The whole thing with my name is pretty funny because people would call me "Satchy" when I was younger as a sort of annoying nickname, and I would act like I hated it, but secretly really liked it. I've also just been through so many stage names and "satchy" was the only one that seemed simple and not corny. I really wanted a name that reflected the simplicity of my music and with satchy being a one-syllable, unique, pretty simple word, I thought it fit as my name perfectly.

What other experiences or forces within your life, growing up or currently, have had a part in shaping your sound? What has really made you who you are artistically?

My community honestly. When I was younger I was really into going to underground local punk and indie shows and that fast-paced, DIY energy always stuck with me. I try to keep that energy in my music and live performances especially. Also, with all my best friends being jazz musicians, them introducing me to jazz gave me this whole new musical tool to find new ways to express myself and also get in touch with my culture. My mom and my dad have also both been raising me on black music and that really had a huge part in my building my sound today because it just showed me the importance of soul and melody in music. And just falling in and out of love throughout my life has been something that has shaped my sound and way of writing because love has a huge factor in my life and in my music.

What is currently your greatest daily inspiration?

Well, I'm constantly listening to music and searching for new music, so that already inspires me but really my friends and family really inspire me. All my best friends are my roommates and they are all jazz musicians so they are always sharing so interesting and sick tracks with me, whether its soul or free jazz. My dad is a painter whose very influenced by jazz and all black music so he's always showing me the classics. My momma is more into soul so she's always playing that stuff and that always inspires me.

When making the decision to take music seriously, and to truly pursue it, did anxieties and fears exist and if so, how did you tackle them, and if not, why do you believe you were fearless?

I definitely was feeling weird about taking music seriously at first. But seeing people relate with it and bring them joy really showed me that this career was something to pursue not just for me, but also to all the people that connect with it.

You’ve been someone who’s been fearless in releasing music, you’ve always been consistent and always on the move with music. How have you found consistency to be important to your creativity and is it something you hope to continue going forward?

I just kind of make music all the time because I'm constantly inspired by my friends and roommates and such. I'm also just always listening to music all the time so I'm constantly getting inspired to create. Lately though, I haven't been working a lot, mostly listening, I put so much energy into making this last album that my creative juices have sort of fizzled out, but still, work on little things when I can.

In your eyes, is there a central theme or ideology you hope resonates with listeners, or are you just expressing yourself without thought of what it means to others? Simply doing what you need to do in that case.

At first it was just for myself because I didn't really know how else to express my sad feelings into anything but music, but now that I've seen that people really relate with the music and what I'm saying, I'm starting to not only make music just to express myself but also for the people. Especially with this next album, I'm sticking with my normal subject matter of heartbreak and falling in love, but with a bit more of a hopeful vibe. I wanna show the people it's okay to feel shitty sometimes but always try to overcome those shitty times. Fight the negative with positive if that makes any sense.

With future projects, what aspects of your music do you see as key to improve and grow overall? What do you see as development points for yourself?

I've improved a lot with just song structure lately. Before I would just do a very simple verse chorus verse kind of thing, but nowadays I've been working a lot on how a song progresses and the dynamics of the song. Also just taking things a bit faster. I've been listening to a lot of classic disco and funk stuff and I really like that sweet soulful vibe the music gives and I really wanted to incorporate that into my own music. As for me, I've just sort of grew out of my whole sad boy phase and am just looking more for inner hope and inner joy.

Though, overall, what about your art has made you most proud thus far? What has it been, in a sense, keeping you going and always striving for excellence?

I've just been proud that my music touches people and helps people. That's what really keeps me going.

What are the most important, unshakable goals you’ve set for yourself, and what would achieving them mean to you?

If we're talking small goals for this year it's definitely to put this album out and do a whole country round tour. My big goals are to be able to become successful enough to pay for my momma’s bills and see all my family and homies striving, happy, and successful as well.

As well, as someone still coming up, you’ve been really active with live performances, how have you found that experience to be and what importance exist within it for you?

Performing live has taught me so much. Just about how to grab an audience, and it lets me experiment and see what sounds good with a song and what doesn't. It's like practicing but you’re doing it for something bigger than yourself or your bandmates.

If you could go back in time and witness a single live performance, who’s would it be of and why would that be your choice?

There's a lot but I'd really just love to see any performance from D'Angelo when he was performing with "The Soulquarians". They just groove so hard in their performances, it's sometimes just low key better than the recordings because it’s just so raw and on the spot. Super fucking impressive.

While relating to time travel, which is never easy to escape once touched on, what would be the lesson you would pass on to a younger Satchy if you ever got a chance to speak to them?

Dude I would tell younger Satchel to just do your own thing. When I was younger I use to really try and make the music that was cool and never just followed my own taste as I should have.

Do you have anyone or anything to shoutout or promote? The floor is yours!

Yeah shout out to my pops, my momma, my little brother, and my bandmates, check out Sean Tarpey, he plays guitar in my band and also makes beautiful music.

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