We were delighted to speak to an amazing musician who captures brilliantly the essence of music magic when one hears him sings. His lyrics are enriching full of life lessons and he tells wonderful and soulful stories through his music. Meet Brother Magnum who mixes elements of Blues, Soul, and Classic Rock into a wonderful sound that fans can easily find appealing. In this spotlight with our Webzine, Brother Magnum speaks openly about the music entertainment industry and what he wants others to know about him and his music.
Isaac: 2010 has been an amazing year so far for Juniorscave.com. What are you most thankful for 2010 so far?
Brother Magnum: I have so much to be thankful for in this day and age; my family, my friends, my health, the opportunity to work with many great musicians and this gift that I've been given to write music. Performing for people consistently for so many years is truly a blessing.
Isaac: Who were your major influences that helped influenced you to want to pursue music as a career?
Brother Magnum: So many people have steered me down this road. I've always been moved by the old school greats like Otis Redding, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, Albert Collins, Funkadelic, U2, John Lennon, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, and the Rolling Stones. I could go on all day. In the early days, I have to credit my older brother. He is a drummer and was one of the cool kids in town with lots of ladies digging him so I said I need to be on that scene when I reach my teens!
Isaac: Describe the biggest highlight you have achieved so far with your career and why this moment is/was important to you?
Brother Magnum: Everything musically has been such a train ride that it’s difficult for me to even recall. I live for success that's ahead so I never look back. It keeps me focused on the future. Now a few weeks back, I was waking up and turned on the TV, saw one of my music videos and that brought a smile to my face. No less than twenty minutes after I turned on the radio and a local station was playing one of my songs. To be an independent artist and get your music heard is a big accomplishment. A Grammy and a mansion would be nice but if I can stay in the game doing my own thing and have longevity, that’s cool with me.
Brother Magnum
Isaac: What has been some of the negative aspects about the music industry you have experienced that you would like to warn others about?
Brother Magnum: So many traps and leeches exist out there I don't want to give them any recognition or any more of my energy then they've already taken so I'm going to leave them in the sewer where they belong. I want to allow the light rule the darkness. It falls back on the individual to be smart in this business. I think the most destructive thing to any artist can face would be an over inflated ego. Not only does it isolate ones audience but it tends to make people think they are indestructible. That leads to greed and all the bad that comes with it.
Isaac: Brief history about your background plus the style of music you play.
Brother Magnum: I'm the youngest of eight kids and I grew up surrounded by lots of love from my older siblings and my parents. I was blessed to have been exposed to so many styles of music and different cultures that it really opened my creativity. My music is a blend of blues, soul, and classic rock. It's always based off of a groove and it’s a lot like moms home cooking; from scratch! I like to call it "urban alternative" but I'm always referred to as a blues musician. I'm cool with that but I don't want to be thought of as one of those "whoa is me" old dudes in a chair... My music makes everyone from babies to grandma's get up and dance so let it be known that I rock the house! Kinda hard to put a label on it. Hell, I wish I could!
Isaac: How easy is it to gets gigs for you as an artist?
Brother Magnum: It's easy to get a gig but it’s hard to get GOOD gigs anywhere. I live in Austin, Texas and everyone and their mother is in a band. Competition is fierce and venues in town know this.
Brother Magnum
Isaac: What is the live music scene like in your area?
Brother Magnum: It's not what it used to be but it’s still cool. People here still want to dance to real music despite a lot of the canned "latest thing" many venues desperately push.
Isaac: What do you think of the state of Indie music at the moment?
Brother Magnum: I think it’s great for artist but bad for the people who profit off the blood and sweat of the artist.
Isaac: Do you listen to radio much at all?
Brother Magnum: Every now and then I'll find a cool internet station or a smaller market station but I just don't dig the idea of someone else selecting what I should listen to.
Isaac: Has the Internet helped music grow or hindered it in your opinion?
Brother Magnum: I think the Internet has been a wonderful blessing for music. The people have the control rather than the fat cats.
Brother Magnum
Isaac: If you could just perform and play music for the rest of your life but never become a household name, would you be happy (why or why not)?
Brother Magnum: Yes I would. Longevity is true success for me. I'm not the guy that would compromise creativity to be rich and famous. I never have been attracted to the latest thing so if I have to pretend to be something I'm not. I might as well get a corporate job and be a robot.
Isaac: If you could create a fantasy band - what would be the line-up and why?
Brother Magnum: Well, I would want the guys in my band. I call them The Razor Bumps because they are so irritatingly funky! We work together so well and no one has a rock star attitude so the vibe is always positive. Any band leader knows that having that kind of support is a fantasy in itself!
Isaac: Do you feel that your family and friends have been supportive of you?
Brother Magnum: I couldn't ask for a more supportive family and friends. I can always count on someone from the family coming to a show or they send friends from work when they come to town. I have a brother who always has a nice business/music connection or a product endorsement hook up. He has been my number one supporter from day one. All of my friends know that music is my life and if they were not supporters we could never be friends. It would be like rejecting everything I'm about.
Isaac: How hard is it to manage family, work, and everything else life sends your way with pursing music?
Brother Magnum: It’s definitely a challenge. I play at least five nights a week and the other nights I’m usually in the studio, at a video shoot or recording. You need a family that understands and supports what you do and you need a really cool boss or you need to be self-employed because the boss won’t like it if you handle music business on “their” dime. Music is my life so everyone around me support or they moved on. That’s okay with me because I don’t want anything or anyone in my life who doesn’t support what I’m about. This isn’t a passing fancy for me. It’s real!
Isaac: What CDs do you currently have available and where can they be purchased from?
Brother Magnum: I have two available from my website www.brothermagnum.com and you can buy mp3’s from iTunes.
Isaac: Where can fans access your music, videos, blogs, and anything else about you online?
Brother Magnum: Thank-you for taking the time to read my psychotic rant. Without you this wouldn't be as joyful. Now turn off your hellavision and go watch a band. Peace and love!
