Published: July 6, 2010 11:29 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight July 2010 Edition
Factor 11
Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Factor 11
Our Webzine had the delightful pleasure to speak to a group that we think people will fall in love with once they hear the band’s classic rock sound. Factor-11 band members range from the age of 17 to 50 which makes the group relate to just about every generation through their wonderful message in their music. We spoke to Factor 11 about several important things that the band was more than willing to answer. Here is the full length interview from our online encounter.
Isaac: Let’s get started with this interview. When and how did you first become interested in music? How long have you been playing music? Who would you say are your biggest musical influences and why?
Factor 11: Early on: Beach Boys and Beatles: Harmony driven rock with teen angst and mystical themes were a powerful adolescent driver. More Recently: U2, DC Talk: More edgy version of the same, with grown up themes that seem to stand the test of time.
Isaac: What has been the greatest highpoint in your career so far?
Factor 11: Getting radio play on songs we have released and getting feedback from people all over the world on them. When you first hear your music on the radio, it is an amazing feeling and gives you a semi real validation that your music has worth and is appreciated. It’s a “sugar high” though, as you always want a bigger audience.
Isaac: What has been the greatest disappointment in your career so far? What did you learn from that experience?
Factor 11: That people just don’t get up and applaud your musical ideas and concepts because they are good. There has to be a ‘draw” and there has to be a “show”. I often write music based on life experiences or social events that I think will translate over to what other people are thinking about or experiencing. This may be the case, but if you don’t have the musical hook, or a live performance that grabs attention, very few will appreciate your songs. That is why the band now does covers along with its own original music. We now entertain people and they have a good time. Once this ‘groove “sets in, we mix in our own original music, which often times is very well received because of this.
Isaac: What draws you to want to play the type of music that you do?
Factor 11: Part 1: Here comes the “God” thing. God changed my life for the better. I believe that His mercy faithfulness saved a very close person to me from death by drugs. It makes me want to reach out to other people with the same hope. Part 11: I love to entertain and get people to have a good time. Playing covers is a perfect intro to that. We can play a street festival and start with Ticket to Ride and end with Day Tripper, and have hundreds of people singing and dancing along, ages 2-60. It is powerful fun.
Isaac: What do you feel it takes to play this type of music that you play?
Factor 11: Discipline and an ability to see that the band is the sum of its parts and not one person. It keeps us together so we keep adding material and get better at what we do.
Isaac: What do you think you will create that will make your performances and who you are stand out in the music industry?
Factor 11: It is a combo question: The original material has to be there, or all we are is a ‘cover band”. Supplementing new songs and releases with more high profile shows, gets you noticed. Once we are noticed, we are interesting. We have three band members who are sons of other band members. Two of them (Thomas and Nick) are musical prodigies who will likely go on to their own individual musical careers. Take Latino, South African and New England cultural backgrounds and mix it in with a WASP church choir leader who harmonizes with the best of them, and the fact that the band reaches out to play for incarcerated teenagers on a regular basis and it is “stand out”.
Isaac: If you had the opportunity to do one cover, what cover would you do and why? How would you put your own spin on this cover?
Factor 11: (Note: The rest of the band would never agree to the following): California Girls. I would rock it, rap it and tweak the lyrics to be socially relevant or a parody) to add the “steroidal” pump that would make it cool all over again.
Isaac: What does it take to be a good songwriter?
Factor 11: Pain, discipline and the idea that you can benefit someone by what you have gone through.
Isaac: How difficult is it to juggle music, family and work obligation, and life in general? Explain.
Factor 11: If you love something, you find the time. If you love your family and care for the people you work with, they will encourage you in your music and there is less stress. If it is a selfish endeavour, and you rob from those you love and give little back, then it is a battle to juggle your separate lives.
Isaac: What is your definition of being an Indie artist/band?
Factor 11: You generate your own support. Kind of like musical missionaries.
Factor 11: If Factor 11 is still going in five years, then the musical blend of three generations of musicians will have been honed to a level that will be noticed heard by many more people. If not, I think other people will be covering some of our original material.
