One of the goals of this Indie Webzine for our music section is to present amazing and talented musicians in the Indie music industry. This next artist is certainly one of those amazing singers/songwriters who have accomplished so much with his music. He writes lyrics that tell wonderful and beautiful stories, he plays his guitar with a level of charisma and style, and he sings from the heart and soul. Who is this artist? He is Jaimz Woodard and this is his story, enjoy!
Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?
Jaimz: I enjoy the independence of it, not having to rely on a major label has made so much more possible for Independent Artists in terms of promotion, marketing, publishing, and creative control. I have been Active Duty Army for the past 10 years, and at the beginning of my military career, it was not really possible to be on active duty and have a music career... well a music career where you can gain attention outside of a local scene, much less release an album. With all the resources available to Indie Artists, and the increased support and the want for music outside the mainstream, the Indie Music Movement is in full swing and I am happy to be a part of it.
Isaac: I could not agree with any more than I do now. :D
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have build up over the years about you in the process?
Jaimz Woodard
Jaimz: Recently I signed a Distribution Deal with JMD Records/INgrooves/Universal Music Group, and by doing that...it made me realize that today there are still some advantages to having a record label support you. A few years ago I probably would have said “NO” if anyone asked me about a major label record deal... but I have educated myself more on the pros and cons of record deals, as well as the music industry altogether, given the opportunity, I believe I would sign a Major Label Record Deal. Even with all the resources Indie Artists have today, a Major Label has more, and more ability to get the music to the masses... and that's the most important thing to a musician in my opinion...to be able to share your music with the most people.
Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?
Jaimz: I feel determing one's own “it” factor is very difficult. Something I feel is my “it” maybe different than what others feel is my “it.” But if I had to pick something to be “it” that would be my lyrical songwriting as well as guitar playing.
Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to Jaimz Woodard?
Jaimz Woodard
Jaimz: Fans should listen to my music because with music, I have always loved the songs that convey sincerity and feeling...you know the ones that put you into the mindset of the songwriter/singer, and you can feel the emotion of the music. In mainstream music, I feel this is somewhat slacking in some ways today. Don't get me wrong there are still a lot of great songwriters today...like Jamey Johnson, he, in my opinion is the best “new” songwriter I have heard in a while... but in the mainstream songwriters seem like they have taken a backseat to this “mass-produced” sound that has taken over the music industry. I feel fans can relate to my music because of the sincerity and imagery I write in my lyrics... pretty much I am a down to earth dude and feel that shows in my music.
Album cover for "Devil's Advocate" which was released Friday October 15th
Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.
Jaimz: Well, let's see...
I grew up in a broken home, raised by my mom in a small town in Louisiana outside Baton Rouge. When I was a kid, my mom and I would go to Mississippi for family get togethers and one of my uncles had a country band...hearing music, kinda brought to life...not just on a radio, intrigued me. I used to go on stage with them and sing some Hank Williams, JR songs and stuff (like I said they were a country band). I guess my mom realized the attraction I had to the guitar, and music in general, so she bought me a cheap piece of junk guitar from a pawn shop, and even though I had no idea what I was doing, I started writing songs. A few years later, my mom's girlfriend (ex-girlfriend now), who is a great guitarist and amazing singer in the Baton Rouge Music Scene, taught me how to play guitar (correctly). I took what I learned from her and started playing in rock/grunge bands in High School, and continued when I went to college at LSU (Louisiana State University). After a couple years at LSU, I joined the Army and had the intention of giving up music...but making music is a hard addiction to beat. I started playing in bands around the areas I was stationed, went on tour as the Audio Engineer for the U.S. Army Soldier Show, then started recording and producing my own music...That's about as brief as I can get.
Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?
Jaimz: My early influences when I was learning to play guitar, was Nirvana, Pearl Jam and of course, the great Jimi Hendrix. Then the more I learned, the more I wanted to explore in music...and that lead me to Leadbelly, Blind Willie Johnson, Johnny Cash, and to the man my Grandfather told me was the greatest... Hank Williams, SR. I was really into the old blues for a while, and old country... but when I started listening to Johnny Cash, and hearing the sincerity in his voice and a lot of the messages in his songs, that somewhat lead me to be a more sincere writer. In the last 3-4 years, I have been listening to a lot of Kid Rock because of his genre crossing and ability to make good music without being labeled as an artist in just one genre... I feel the music should lead a person to a genre, not a genre guide a person, (if that makes any sense).
I really can't say which Artist or Band I can relate to the most... I listen to and relate to a wide variety...but if I had a gun to my head, I would have to say...Johnny Cash.
Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?
Jaimz Woodard
Jaimz: I feel Indie music is starting to get the credit and respect it deserves and I feel that the Indie music scene is going to keep growing and growing. For so long there was not an avenue to get Indie music to the same masses as mainstream, but technology has closed that gap a lot...and I feel will continue to do so.
Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?
Jaimz: I would change the way the music business does “business.” Jimi Hendrix once said, “Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” This is a statement I feel is very true. The Music Business, should be less about business and more about music. What I mean by that is that there should be less “cookie cutter” stuff out there. The music business has a great responsibility in our society because music does change the world... for good or bad.
Isaac: Do you think in the near future that DIY artists/bands will be the norm and big record companies will be very limited?
Jaimz: In someways, yes...but I feel that the big record companies, since they have resources a lot of Indie artists do not have, will still play a big part in the music business for a long time. Advertising is a huge thing, and the big record companies have the ability and means to advertise so much more than Indie Artists...but technology has provided a way to close the gap a little and while the big record companies will still make money, Indie Artists will be able to compete... so while the big record companies will have competition and maybe not make as much money as they like because of Independent Artists... they will not be very limited.
Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?
Jaimz: Hearing that people like my songwriting and lyrical content has been the best positive feedback I could ask for.
Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.
Jaimz: When I was like 19 or 20 I had the thoughts in my head of being a rich famous rockstar...but that was the disillusioned thoughts then. Now, even if there was no way to make a dime playing music, I still would because of the fact I enjoy it. Fame and Fortune should never be anyone's motivation for making music...if it is, the musical quality goes down. I like to make music, if fame and fortune follow then that’s a plus, but it’s not something I expect or something I strive for.
Isaac: How do you handle negative feedback or negative energy about your music?
Jaimz: No matter what you do, someone will have something bad to say at some point in time or another. I look at it as open minded as I can, and take everything into consideration. But ultimately if the positive outweighs the negative... I'm happy.
Isaac: What role do your family and friends play in the equation of your pursuant of a music career?
Jaimz: My family has been amazing. For example: in August 2009 I deployed to Iraq for a year... my wife knew I would go crazy without a guitar, so she sent me a Fender acoustic...which sparked all sorts of musically creative thoughts. My mother, who has always supported me musically...yet never really cared for my music, began to like the new stuff I was doing... to me this was a turning point... my worst critic...liked me. Then after that, all the Ideas I had to promote my music, I ran them by my wife and she supported me like 1000% and I ran with that. If she had not been on board things may have been different. Oh yeah and watching my 2 year daughter attempt to dance while I am playing guitar and singing at home is priceless and motivation.
Isaac: What is the best site/s that you can be found on the Internet?
Jaimz: Thank you for this opportunity, Isaac. You are a great supporter of Indie music. Don't forget to look for my Album (EP) “Devil's Advocate” which came out October 15th. Look me up on iTunes.
