HMTV Canada Tina Interviews Hard Eight
www.myspace.com/hardeight
HMTV Canada Tina: 1. Hi Hard Eight How are you? How was your Holidays?
Hard Eight: We are doing fine and our Holiday's were pleasant.
HMTV Canada Tina: 2. Go to any wild parties?
Hard Eight: No wild parties this time, took time to refocus.
HMTV Canada Tina: 3. Hard Eight is still much a mystery how did you come up with your band name?
Hard Eight: I took my guitar to my guitar tech and he asked me "how was my day". I told him I had a "hard eight", in reference to the name. He said it was a cool band name and he agreed so I kepted it.
www.myspace.com/hardeight
HMTV Canada Tina: 4. How long has the band been together, how did you meet?
Hard Eight: Together 3 yrs, I ran an add for a drummer and I met Kris Krosskove and we agreed to work together and ran another add for a singer and met Gina. Gina didn't think she was a rock singer, but she had the drive and I seen the potential in her. She tried out for the band and the band picked her.
HMTV Canada Tina: 5. Who writes your songs?
Hard Eight: As far as the music, I (frank) did that. Gina and I coordinated on the lyrics.
HMTV Canada Tina: 6. What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
Hard Eight: Some of the songs are trials and tribulations from Gina's life, like runaway, insane and dark streets, toystreets. The One for Me, was written by me.
HMTV Canada Tina: 7. Can you describe some of the highlights of Hard Eight influences, messages, inspirations, plans, goals any tours planned?
Hard Eight: Highlights, the band continues to grow from the CD's - as we are reaching markets from all over the world. Influences, came from Melissa Ethridge (lyrically), to George Lynch and Metallica (musically). We didn't play extreme metal, because we had to use the power of Gina's voice, but we were quite capable. We became better writers from working with our singer. Messages, take for example "runaway", it was about one of Gina's ex - boyfriends and she wanted to destroy him musically - so we wrote "runaway" about her ex. Elizabeth, was written after - a night of drinking and watching "Elizabeth- queen of england with cate blanchette. We were inspired. Insane, was written about a woman who was letting go and enjoying life in her way (musically and sexually). Plans, to record another CD and make a living in the field of music would be an awesome goal..and is what I enjoy the most.
HMTV Canada Tina: 8. When it comes to the music making process what is your perspective to recording music?
Hard Eight: Writing music is not easy, you need inspiration. From inspiration you create the idea - music. It flows out of you, then you write the lyrics and then you sit down and put ur's and the singers idea's together.
HMTV Canada Tina: 9. What is your criteria for a well mixed and recorded song?
Hard Eight: Harmony between bandmates, engineer and enough money.
HMTV Canada Tina: 10. Do you have or keep a constant changing approach to recording and mixing music?
Hard Eight: I'm always learning new things about the technology. But I have found out, instead of using digital processors for guitars, drums and vocals, tube amps and tube microphones are hands down the best for recording. They bring warmth to the music. They bring an analog recordings of more frequency's for the purest.
HMTV Canada Tina: 11. When it comes to the music industry today do you have any strong opinions pros and cons of the business?
Hard Eight: The pro's, is the internet - digital age. It has opened up the world to all forms of music. Its still in its baby age, but looks very promising for the independent artist. The con's, we are not getting free radio play on the airwaves. Cooporations have bought up major markets for example, A record label will not only own distribution, recording studios, media and radio stations. So they only play the artist that they have sunk money into. It is not in there interest signed by other labels. This has destroyed the music industry. Local bands need the opportunity and it is there write as taxpayers, to be played on the "so called free airways".
HMTV Canada Tina: 12. How is the internet helping collaborating with PR's media and marketing your music?
Hard Eight: Since the breakup of the major labels people once employeed to do A&R are unemployeed and now seeking out the independant artist with there skills. Because it is free. It only takes your personal time and you can expose yourself to the public that they enjoy.
HMTV Canada Tina: 13. Do you feel the internet is a better network for reaching our to your fanbase?
Hard Eight: Without a doubt. Everybody lives on a budget unless you were born rich. So we have to use every avenue that we have for exposure and connection.
HMTV Canada Tina: 14. Where have you performed live and do you have any upcomming shows?
Hard Eight: mostly in the state of california, cities like "hollywood, orange county, riverside, ventura, san diego"
HMTV Canada Tina: 15. What advice to you have for new bands wanting to break into the music scene today?
Hard Eight: longevity is the key for bands to become good writers. the longer we perform with each other, the better we get at complementing each other musically. keep business away as much as possible. like thinking everything is about image and making it. make music the center piece. enjoy the music.
HMTV Canada Tina: 16. Before we close our interview do you have any shout outs or any last words?
Hard Eight: check us out on myspace.com/hardeight for the latest on the band, and our cd (hard copy) or downloads can be purchased at http://cdbaby.com/cd/hard8. Last words; never give up on your dream. always show respect for the people who give you there time, money and energy. don't believe all that the media says. we would love to communicate with anyone, about anything.
Thank you Hard Eight for taking the time to complete HMTV Canada Online Ezines interview questions. You Rock
Hollywood Music TV Canada Tina
