WOKE UP THIS MORNIN’…
From the sultry streets of Ireland’s capital city to the sunny shores of southern California, the youbloom festival train never stops.
Next stop: the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival, and it’s approaching fast so it’s time to dust off the HEADROOM hat and get back in the conductor’s chair for the only place on the internet where independent musicians can come together to share their wildest, most WTF stories, hopes and dreams.
It’s a crazy world out there for a musician – luckily we’re here to share the crazy for all the world to see.
As always, we’ve asked four of our phenomenal artists who will be playing their hearts out at the upcoming festival to share a little something…personal with us. And the answers are pretty dang interesting, if I do say so myself.
Today’s question: If you woke up tomorrow as any other artist or musician, living or dead, who would you want to be and why? Check out their answers below, as well as bios for each artist and links to their music.
Huxley Rittman, singer/songwriter: ‘I’d like to be someone somewhere between Hendrix and GG Allin. I think they’re sort of at two different ends of the spectrum of abnormality. Regardless, they will always remain the only ones of their kind.’
An act we’re pleased to welcome back to the youbloom stage, Rittman is an artist who brings fresh footfall to the well-hiked trails of acoustic storytelling. He makes it more about the listener than about himself, which is dignified and refreshing. Like a relaxed, neofolk Dylan instantly persuasive and warmly addictive. For fans of: Nick Drake, Hudson Taylor, Mark Kozelek
Kalina, vox, piano & ukelele, Rocky’s Revival: ‘I would definitely want to be Paul McCartney. He is my favorite Beatle. He redefined music and the music industry. McCartney wrote brilliant and innovative songs. I would love to be a part of the band that created pop culture and changed music forever.’
Exquisite instrumental arrangements underpin clever and thoughtful lyrics delivered with deft harmonic skill and a powerful sense of confession. A heartfelt yet wry take on the singer/songwriter duo genre. For fans of: Sarah Bareilles, The Pierces, Nerina Pallot.
Matt Jaffe, Matt Jaffe and the Distractions: ‘I’d like be Hank Williams. I think he wrote the most perfect songs. Although he wrote in a populist form, the fluidity of his songwriting has the same divine inspiration that people attribute to the likes of Mozart. His voice is plaintive, yet confident, his lyrics are desperate, yet self-effacing. Although he died way too young, his legacy is just stunning. Songwriting is the cornerstone of my love for music and pure songwriting doesn’t get much more brilliant than Hank.’
With a confident delivery, speeding tempo, and bruised lyrics reminiscent of the road-weary performers who spent entire lives on tour, the surprisingly young and massively talented Matt Jaffe and the Distractions will take you from barroom to boulevard and back again. Super enjoyable and one to watch. For fans of: The White Stripes, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Cage the Elephant
Tim Jarzabek, drums, No: ‘If I had to wake up tomorrow as any other artist, God forbid, I would wake up as Keith Moon one second before he died. I would hate to be anyone except me. I’d rather be dead.’
Refreshingly refusing to be pinned to the board of any one genre or playing style, the band NO lend their considerably talented hands to an impressive array of sounds, weaving them together to create music that is singularly smart and enticing: a rare ability. For fans of: Spring King, The Beach Boys, The Beta Band
What about you? If you had to brush the teeth of a legendary musician when you got out of bed tomorrow, who would it be? Let us know in the comments below.
