Published: September 19, 2010 10:01 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight September 2010 Edition
Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd V
Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd V
Our Webzine has stumbled upon a rare treat in the form of Singers/Songwriters Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd V. Both men are passionately making music that is refreshing to the ears. The musicians’ music is also full of enriching soulful lyrics and harmonious vocals that add to the pleasure of listening to their music. In this spotlight with our Webzine, Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd V speak openly about their musical path and what they hope to achieve with their music. Enjoy!
Isaac: 2010 has been an amazing year so far for Junior’s Cave. What are you most thankful for 2010 so far?
Jay: I am thankful that we found a producer who was able to help us translate our music into a tangible work of art to put into the hands and ears of listeners. We are thrilled with how the CD turned out.
Scott: I am really proud of our CD, and I am thankful for all those who helped us make it happen. I am most thankful for my family (especially my wife), who allowed me to spend all this time and money to pursue a lifelong passion.
Isaac: That is always wonderful to hear.
Isaac: Who were your major influences that helped influence you to want to pursue music as a career?
Jay: When I was 10 years old, I would pet-sit my uncle’s dog. He had stacks of great records by Steely Dan, Elton John, Billy Joel, and I would play them ravenously. Before that, my only musical enlightenment was Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty!
Scott: Well, Jay already mentioned Conway Twitty, but if I had to pick a few moments/influences that stand out….
1. Discovering James Taylor’s music in a sort of “backwards” way. I heard his somewhat obscure album, “Never Die Young”, and was blown away. Of course, then I revisited some of his better known/older stuff, and it just hit home for me .
2. Borrowing a copy of the Lyle Lovett album “Pontiac” from a friend, and hearing “If I Had a Boat” for the first time. To me, Lyle is the ultimate American Songwriter.
3. Hearing the David Wilcox album, “How Did You Find Me Here”, and learning that the guitar can take you to some amazing places, if you just follow the sound.
Isaac: Describe the biggest highlight you have achieved so far with your career and why this moment is/was important to you?
Jay: Hearing one of my songs played in a public restaurant over the sound system. I was like “Wow. This is real.”
Scott: Recording this CD has been very gratifying, and being able to work with Chris Rosser (our producer, and also one of my favorite artists) has given me a small sense of validation as a songwriter. Also, being chosen as a Regional Finalist in the 2010 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest is a nice feather in our cap.
CD Cover
Isaac: What has been some of the negative aspects about the music industry you have experienced that you would like to warn others about?
Jay: For every bloated ego and bad attitude you encounter, there are also people who are just a pleasure to work with, seek them out. You can even change bad attitudes and put egos in check if you have a positive and friendly approach. Be persistent, but never confrontational. If all else fails, carry pepper spray.
Scott: I think I feel the same way as Jay. I try to find the positive side of what we’re doing, and try not to let “those people” bring me down. I do get a little irritated with those occasional unreturned emails/phone calls, but who am I to really complain?
Isaac: Brief history about your background plus the style of music you play.
Jay: I started out years ago, performing with my current duo of Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd V. In the interim, I was in two bands, Lula’s Birthmark and Strangelets. My style of music has evolved throughout each project. With Lula’s, I wrote and performed more art rock, progressive acoustic you could say. With Strangelets, I leaned to more of a funk/pop style of writing and performing. Now, I just do what Scott tells me. If I do well, he lets me out of the cage.
Scott: I learned to play electric guitar as a kid by listening to and trying to play the cool rock music my older brother let me borrow. But really, the “acoustic” thing hit for me in college, and that was it. I learned fingerstyle guitar by trying to play James Taylor songs, and I got into alternate/open tunings and percussive playing after seeing Michael Hedges play, and trying to figure out what the heck he was doing. Oh yeah, Jay never does what I tell him to do.
Isaac: How easy is it to gets gigs for you as an artist? What is the live music scene like in your area?
Jay: Getting gigs is relatively easy. Getting PAYING gigs, there’s the rub. Fortunately for me at this point, the former is most important…reaching the listener. In our area, the music venues are out there but the niches for original music are sadly becoming homogeneous. I hope the trend changes and the area opens up to all genres of original music.
Scott: It’s easy for Jay, because I do all the booking! Really though, I think you have to earn your audience and the privilege of someone taking the time to listen. We are beginning to find a niche, and I do think there are people in our area and elsewhere who enjoy original and meaningful music.
Isaac: What do you think of the state of Indie music at the moment? Do you listen to radio much at all? Has the Internet helped music grow or hindered it in your opinion?
Jay: I live on an old farm, where I only just recently got high-speed internet! Now that I’m part of the digital age, I expect to listen to more Internet Radio. The radio market in our area is very Billboard Hot 100 oriented, so I’m excited about the portal that internet radio opens listeners and artists.
Scott: I think there is a lot of great music being written and recorded, but I’m not sure radio is an ideal venue anymore. I do think the Internet can help songwriters reach a broader fan base, but maybe we’ve become oversaturated and underdeveloped at this point. Or maybe I have no idea what I’m talking about.
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)?
Jay: I would be perfectly content writing and performing music for the rest of my life and have no one know who the hell I am…as long as they remember the song, and as long as I can pay my bills!
Scott: I hope I always have the opportunity to write and perform music, regardless of the “name” recognition. It’s good therapy for me.
Isaac: If you could create a fantasy band - what would be the line-up and why?
Jay: I would love to work with former band mates from Lula’s Birthmark and Strangelets, in a project again, people who fuel my own creativity and infuse it with their own. In a fantasy band with Sting, Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby or a host of others…I would probably be too intimidated to create or perform. I would just stand onstage and pee my pants!
Scott: Well, I don’t think anyone would make me pee my pants, but give me Hornsby on keys, Lee Sklar on bass, Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Chris Thile on mandolin, James Taylor and David Wilcox on acoustic guitar, Mark O’Connor on fiddle, David Gilmour on electric guitar, and River Gueguerian on percussion. I’m not sure how this would or could work together, but a guy can dream. We will let Jay sing – he has a lovely voice.
Isaac: Do you feel that your family and friends have been supportive of you?
Jay: All of my friends and family have been very supportive. Getting them all to come out to gigs is a little harder; they all have lives and kids and work, etc. I know how it is. That’s why it’s important to either reach fans through your music whose lifestyle match your gig schedule, or reach them through CD or mp3. I’m not sure yet where we fit in there!
Scott: I’ve already mentioned my wife’s support and how crucial it has been, and yes, my friends have been great. Hopefully, they will read this and buy a CD.
Isaac: How hard is it to manage family, work, and everything else life sends your way with pursing music?
Jay: Prioritizing is tough. It’s easy to let music take a backseat to everything. You just have to realize that everything is not a crisis, no matter what work, family or everything else would have you believe. I take it week by week and it seems to work. And medication, lots of medication.
Scott: It has been difficult for me, especially during the recording process. I have two small children, and they don’t seem to care if Daddy got home at 3am. But regardless of sleep deprivation, I get to play music that I created, and people will actually listen, and sometimes they even give me money! That’s pretty cool. And again, it helps having such a supportive wife.
Isaac: What CDs do you currently have available and where can they be purchased from?
Scott and Jay: You can find us at Itunes, CDBaby (physical and download), and many others!
Isaac: Where can fans access your music, videos, blogs, and anything else about you online?
Scott and Jay: You can go to www.scottandjay.com, www.reverbnation.com/scottdameronandjayladd or you can search for the “Scott Dameron and Jay Ladd” page on Facebook.. You can check out music samples, schedules, join the mailing list, and keep updated on all things “Scott and Jay”.
Isaac: Message to your fans?
Jay: I hope you enjoy the music, and if you do…tell everyone you know. Let them know that fresh, new original music is still being written and performed; it’s just having trouble projecting its voice above the screaming, deafening machine of the industry!
