DJs Spotlight an interview with Dizzy Fox

Hey there everyone DJ Dizzy here & once again its time for a band interview this time around with Dizzy Fox who is an emerging hard rock band.  Enjoy!

How'd you get started in music?

1. Stanley started to play his bass guitar 2011.
Luke touched a guitar for the very first time in 2010, but only started to play in 2013.

Criss started to pound down on his drums in 2012

Freddy plays the guitar since 2005 and started out by covering nirvana and acdc.

Me for my part I started to sing around 2011/2012, but only started to take it seriously around 2013.

Who are your biggest influences?

2. Our inspirations range from a good chunk of 80s sleaze n' hair metal bands like Ratt, Mötley Crüe, W.A.S.P, G n' R, Skid Row, Van Halen and so on, over to more modern bands like Crazy Lixx, The Darkness, Marilyn Manson, H.e.a.t. We could probably go on like this for hours, there's always something you can pick up, cause there's tons of great music out there ;). But our main inspiration would be the golden age of rock music in our opinion, the 80s!

What advice do you have for any aspiring performers?

3. Be cool! Don't be an asshole to people! Play music with people you like to be around with, enjoy it and you'll hear the end product... but! Rehearse, usually when we skip a week or two we sound like shit for the next few songs, but then we catch it again, since we're Dizzy Fox ;) haha. But really now, rehearse!

How would you say music has impacted your life?

4. Music is the device that keeps us breathing, how else would we be able to let off so much steam? Running around the block? Yoga classes? Hell no! In our case it definitely is a bunch of guys playing their instrument, rockin' the stage, having a great time! It's creativity, personality, power and passion.

Any gigs in the future?

5. Next time we'll hit the stage is on the 5th of may at the Nothing But Metal Festival in Malters, Switzerland. We still have some unreleased songs ready for you guys, however you will have to be patient for some other upcoming stuff as well ;) We're also getting back into writing new material and will be playing a few shows in autumn, but nothing official yet!

Special thanks to them for the interview & I wish you nothing but luck in their career & all the best! So until then be radically righteous!

America's Got Talent Review

Hey there everyone Its DJ Dizzy here & I'm talking about America's Got Talent or AGT. Now for starts I just want to say that I'm a huge fan of this show because it features variety acts of all kinds not just singers & dancers.  They come from all over the world to be apart of the stage & share their talents no matter how old or young they might be.

You never know who you might find even the host & judge have their share of fun. (Its really cool that Tyra Banks is hosting it now. I hope she comes back for it.) What I enjoy about AGT the most is that it features all kind of acts & you never know who might show up be it from the internet or where ever its something that everyone can enjoy. 

I will say this about AGT sometimes some of the acts are a bit over the top mainly the dance acts & the singers sometimes. One thing I don't like at times is most of them try to be or sound like someone that they aren't remember this as a singer, dancer, or any kind of performer it should always be about the performance & of course keep things original I can't stress that enough. Also  be sure that its nothing too over the top be it singing, dancing or anything else.

So my main point when it comes to sharing your talent keep it simple & nothing too over the top & most importantly just have fun with it that's what people like & want to see.

Well that's all the advice I have to offer but here's hoping that Tyra returns as the hostess (I'm rooting for you.) And here's hoping to another great season. So until then be radically righteous!

DJs Spotligh: An interview with BannerElk

Hello everyone DJ Dizzy here this time its another interview once again this time from a group called Benner Elk. Who are an indie band. Enjoy!

How'd you get started in music?

I began with music as a fluke. I was 5 years old, started playing the piano

randomly in our living room, and my parents and their friends thought it was

cool that I memorized the tune they were singing and played it note for note

on the piano just to do that. I had no idea what all of the fuss was about when I did that, and at

5 years old, (my mom tells me) I walked away so nobody would bother me. 

Who are your main inspirations or influences?

The list is huge! 

For vocals it is: Nina Simone, Etta James,

Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Ray Charles,

Patsy Cline, Nat King Cole, 

James Taylor, Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, 

Ann Wilson, too many to list.

Guitar is: Steve Morse, Jimi Hendrix, and

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Songwriting: the Beatles, Paul McCartney,

Bob Dylan, Eddie Vedder, Joni Mitchell, 

Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Soundgarden,

Chris Cornell, too many to list, I'm sure I'm leaving out so many.

How would you say music has impacted your life?

When things were tough age 5, age 6, I'd hum, and if

things in the house were insane, I'd sing to myself, or lock

myself in a room and play music to calm down.

Then my 2 brothers would play the Beatles, Led Zeppelin,

McCarntney/Wings, and also, in my dad's car I'd hear Billy

Joel and jazz, so I was drawn to music, 

plus piano, it was always

something I needed somehow, or something with me.

Music pretty much saved my life. I've been told I was so lucky

I didn't have addiction in my family and I do believe that cause

I had a hell of a time. 

By age 14 I just went to the piano to get out feelings and it helped.

And it all stayed with me, through lonely times, depression, breakups, family stuff,

losing people (and by the time I was 27 I had lost so many people to illnesses.)

What advice would you offer aspiring performers? Don't give up if you love

it and feel like you have to do it. Do your own thing, craft your own style.

Work the craft. If you are songwriter, write it, rehearse it and be ready.

If you are singer, work it (I studied classical, jazz, blues and so much and I'm still

learning on guitar and keyboards, all of the time.) 

Performers have to get comfortable by being in front of 

people a lot til you can get to where it is (after the first 20 seconds of nerves)

like you are right at home doing your thing. Preparation, loving the moments,

videotaping your show to see what you wanna change, knowing how to do your sets, it takes time but for performers, it is key. Don't pass up any big, real opportunities and link to other musicians all of the time, too. 

Any new gigs or works in the future?

Me and the guys are going back in to record 12 brand new originals I wrote

(I'm a crazy radiohead girl walking around)

from June through the summer into Fall we hope to release those or have someone help us with mgmt/promotion . I'll be backstage for Rockfest so looking forward to that next week and it's so great cause it will be Ozzy Osbourne and Halestorm and I'm very excited to be doing that with Fretboard Magazine.

One friend helping the band just linked us to a National promo company for shows and events for South Florida, yet...ahead, our goal now is the right promo/mgmt co. and opening for big things, 

shows, colleges, tours, festivals, events, etc.. 

Some originals

are online at www.bannerelk.band    

We have May-June local gigs and...

our buddies are working a Fall schedule out for events

I hear yet the dates will be posted soon so stay tuned.

So here's to you Banner Elk Nothing but luck in your music & your career. So until then I'll be seeing you so be radically righteous!

DJs Spotlight: An interview with Falling into Red

Hey there one & all DJ Dizzy here. I've been doing my share of interviewing bands & one of them is called Falling into Red who while on tour took the time to answer a few questions, Enjoy!

How'd you get started in music?

- Scott: I come from a very musical family. My brother Ray is also in the band.  Our father had a small recording studio, played in bands and was always making music during our childhood... there was always a jam session going on at home and as we got older, we just fell into it.  Amy has always loved music and has such a great musical ear. She also is great with words and is the driving lyrical force of the band. 

Who are you're biggest influences or inspirations?

wow there are so many. We’d have to say as far as bands: Alter Bridge, Starset, Breaking Benjamin, ADTR, I Prevail... so many other great bands out there too. In addition to being in a band, we are big fans as well.  Scott loves and has also written music for film and video games, so there is a cinematic influence also. 

How would you say music has impacted your life?

Great question, but hard to answer. I mentioned how much music was part of us growing up... it was always there and just part of us from the start.  I don’t know any different.  I can’t imagine not having music as a means of expression or outlet.  Music is what keeps us going.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

While it's a little cliché, I'd have to say don't give up on your vision or artistry.  As soon as you start creating something only because you think you should (as opposed to because your heart tells you to), your art will suffer... and it's actually pretty obvious.  Be true to yourself.  Also, take time to learn the business of music.  You are very much on your own these days and while it is art, you have to approach it like a business to be monetarily successful. 

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

Yes!  We are always creating.  We have a new EP we hope to release this summer sometime.  And there will be some shows to support it :)

So with that I say best of luck to you guys in your music & I wish you nothing but the best. Until then that's going to do it for me so be radically righteous!

DJs Spotlight: An interview with Paradise Rose

Hey there everyone. DJ Dizzy here.  And I had the pleasure of interviewing Paradise Rose. A tribute band of Guns & Roses. Hope you enjoy.

How'd you get started in music?  

Stephen Taylor Huey, lead vocals:  

Piano lessons, started singing and writing some original material in 2000...started singing rock/hr in 2010

Brad Thorne, lead guitar:

I always loved guitars from an early age, we used to make guitars out of cardboard and pretend to play along with my Beatles albums.  I took some guitar lessons for a while at age 12, then got started again more seriously around 15 and started playing in my first band soon after.  

Ray Terranova, drums:

Ever since I was little, I was always interested in drums, but i guess I was too shy or whatever to pursue it. Then, when I was 12 years old, music became such a big part of my life that i just said "screw it! I want to do that! I COULD do that!" I was totally convinced that I could make a good run at getting to a pro level! So i saved money, bought a cheap kit and just tried to imitate what i saw on MTV.

Frank Oquendo, rhythm guitar:

In 1976 Mother was in love with 50’s and 60s Rock and Roll; Always loved the heavier grind of Elvis Presley myself but Beatles took it a step further listening to AM Radio seemed more of a way of life than a pastime; I couldn’t wait to hear what came next.  My life’s soundtrack in the 70s was a mix of Beatles, Hendrix, Supertramp, but most of all Kiss.

Rod Viquez, bass

I played in school band from 8 years old.  When I was 14, bought Led Zeppelin four and bought my first bass a month later. Knew I would want to play the rest of my life.

Who are your main inspirations or influences? 

Stephen Taylor Huey:

God first, then musically Guns N Roses is what got me singing

Brad Thorne:

My first love was the Beatles, but it was Kiss who really got me playing in a band.  We used to play most of the songs on the Alive album, and then we moved onto bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Deep Purple, Aerosmith. 

I'm definitely a hard rock guy; I also love southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top.  I always felt the Skynyrd guitar players were under-rated. My first concert 38-Special and Foreigner opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Springfield Civic Center on June 15, 1977.  Man, what a show.

Ray Terranova:

I've always liked heavier music, but it was difficult to seek out all of the time. So, my earliest influences were R&B and disco...Stuff you could hear on a cheap radio...Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, KC & the Sunshine Band and so on... Then AC DC on up to Journey, Asia, Van Halen and here we go onto Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, and of course, Crue and Guns...All of the drummers in all of these bands are ones that I REALLY tried to study and learn from. I'd seen KC and Kool & the Gang at Great Adventure before I was 10 years old! I was just blown away! What great, great shows! And when we were able to finally get MTV in our house, that was kind of like home schooling right there! 

Frank Oquendo:

Kiss, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin

Rod Viquez:

I'm a huge Maiden fan and Steve Harris showed me that the bass doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone.  I also was influenced by Geezer Butler and John Paul Jones.  Another bass player I think is underrated is Frank Bello from Anthrax.

How would you say music has impacted your life? 

Stephen Taylor Huey:

Performing is a high to my life..love to entertain people and would like to perform for more charitable events to help people that could use help in different ways.

Brad Thorne:  

Well, there would be a big hole in my life without music.  It is really the thing I have always wanted to do ever since I was a kid.  I have a recording studio in my basement and I practically live down there.  I'm always recording new music, and I'm about to release my third album.

Ray Terranova:

Music has meant so much in my life. Its the air I breathe...the blood in my veins... Its all I think about... Its always in the background. There's always a relate-able situation for music to fit into. Music is a healer. 

Frank Oquendo:

It’s made it far more colorful, in the late 70s I was so desperate not only to hear it but to be part of its makeup, play it perform it, produce it. In the early 80s when I could finally afford my own instrument I made it so and it has been a wonderful ride especially now that I found musicians that are willing to move forward it as much as I do .

Rod Viquez:  

Music helped me overcome a tough period when I was just getting into high school. It helped me by having an outlet to deal with the trouble I had fitting in with kids my age. It's given me a way to express myself as a person and just has been a huge part of my life.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers? 

Stephen Taylor Huey

If you love to play or sing....itll hit you sometime...let it rip.

Brad Thorne:  

Well, one big thing is that I let my parents convince me to play it safe and go to college; have a back up plan.  But I should have had a back up plan that was parallel to my love for music, not instead of my music career.  I should have majored in music or become a sound engineer, because that is what I'm really into now in addition to playing guitar - I love recording and mixing my own music.

To aspiring songwriters and recording artists, I'd highly recommend the music collaboration website Kompoz.com.  I highly recommend it. But beware, it can become addictive!  

Ray Terranova:

Quit. Music is a hard life! But if you don't heed that advice, then try this... Don't even THINK about a "fall back on career"... If you REALLY want to make it, then your ENTIRE focus should be on music!

Frank Oquendo:

The Music industry is a difficult market but if you love being part of the music it will give you the strength to fight and move forward it has made me overcome a great many things, being a musician allows me the ability to make something beautiful out of frustration. In the end you become better at your craft and fame or not you still win !

Rod Viquez:

Focus on practicing fundamentals. Learn to care and mantain your instrument.  Listen and learn to appreciate bassists from more than one style of music. Be a team player and focus on the music and business, not on the parties and lifestyle.

Any new gigs or works in the future?

Stephen Taylor Huey:

If it wasnt for gigging...it would be no fun for me...all about playing live and making people smile..so yes...gigs are always in the works?

Brad Thorne:

Paradise Rose has shows on (All Saturdays):

May 19 at Dingbatz opening for Slayer Tribute No Mercy in Clifton NJ; 

June 2 at AquaMania Music Festival in Hopatcong NJ; 

June 9 at Debonaire Music Hall opening for Jane Lee Hooker in Teaneck NJ; 

July 14 at Paul's Tavern in Belmar NJ;  

August 18 at Bar XIII with in Wilmington DE; 

Ray Terranova:

There's always something to do. We're constantly trying to get out in front of people to show them how great we are...and hopefully we impress enough people that they keep coming back and keep bringing more and more of their friends!! GnR music is just so much fun to play; they're probably the last great American rock band and the people seem to really dig how we represent them so that's the focus right now. To sharpen and improve our show.

Frank Oquendo:

We are looking at some theaters and larger venues,  our fans respond well to the band and it only makes us work harder to please them

Rod Viquez:

We got some great shows across the area and looking forward to building a fan base across the region.  I'm also hoping to record some more tracks and keep putting out a high quality product.


So here's to Paradise Rose & I wish you luck on all your success. So until then be radically righteous!