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The first piece of advice that I got from Anthony was short and sweet, but something we should all remember.

• "No one ever succeeds without being weird, or not taking risks." 

  • Don't misconstrue this, of course. We all know there's a WRONG way to be weird. But don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Take risks and believe in yourself. 

The second piece of advice I got was in regards to recording in the studio; Q: This is my first time in the studio, do you have any suggestions?"

• "Just have fun and enjoy the work like you do on stage. Don't change a thing, and don't get intimidated."

  • The studio can be your best friend, and your worst enemy. It's been a painful process for us in Waiting In The Willows, but we're figuring it out slowly.

Aurelio suggested checking out his series he made for aspiring musicians to me. It's a very convenient playlist on his YouTube Channel "The Lair of Voltaire". The playlist is linked below, and very helpful!

The Future Rock Star's Handbook

Derek spent a lot of time with me, and offering advice to date. Something which I will be forever grateful. I asked Derek for help with only two simple matters; "How would you suggest starting a band?", "How would you suggest someone get back in touch with their emotions?"

• Starting a band was just a goal I had in Hawaii, for when I moved to Seattle. I knew what I wanted, but had no idea how to achieve my end goal. His suggestion to me was this, 

  • "Make sure to network appropriately. Go to local shows, get to know the local bands. Look online for the local groups that are popular among musicians. There, you should be able to make connections and find other like minded individuals."

I did exactly what he said. I moved to Seattle in August, and had a band by October. That advice was invaluable. I'm not saying that there weren't some individuals who didn't work out. There was a bit of a fight to get the right members of our band. Once we were all together though, it was worth the headaches. (The headaches never go away, but you can work through them with the right people.)

• RE:Emotions... I spent time in the military. I disconnected with myself greatly during that time, and I was having issues figuring out how to start writing again, or even allowing myself to become emotional in any capacity. Derek had one suggestion that really helped me with both of these problems.

  • "Write to get back in touch with yourself. Keep something near by, or on your person all the time to make sure that you're always ready in the moment to capture what you're feeling. Eventually those feelings might become easier to accept. Believe in yourself."

This one I didn't follow so well. That has more to do with my issues with focus, I think. I always thought that having my phone would be enough. I still make this mistake, actually. Heed my words. Having pen and paper handy is MUCH faster when you're trying to record something word perfect. Sometimes, I'll take too long getting my phone out and opening the app I'm using to record that information. I usually retain the main idea, but not that first, perfect way that it flowed. Even though I didn't do it the way Derek suggested, using my phone that constantly to write down my thoughts and feelings did actually start to bring me back to being open to feeling emotions again. Writing something every day made things much easier down the road when I had to write for our current catalogue.

Honorable mention for the phone. Once I'd gotten to the point that full verses were coming to mind, having my phone was VERY helpful. Often times, I can imagine the musical backing that would compliment my lyrics. I use the phone to record what I'm hearing in my head through very embarrassing grunts, grumbles, hums and whistles. Keep multiple forms of writing media nearby for the best results!

My time with Gerard was short, but he really helped me kickstart my drive to get a band together. I won't lie, I was very star struck. I was making failing attempts to not fan boy to my hero that I had been looking up to since grade school. Our meeting (the one-on-one portion he and I had) is a little bit of a blur to me. I'll never forget his kind demeanor, though, and how willing he was to offer me advice. Hopefully I will be able to make his acquaintance again, later in life. Here's what I asked Gerard; "How do I get back in touch with my emotions and apply them to my music?"

• "Write down your thoughts, no matter what they are. You don't know where inspiration will come from. The moment you described to me, about how you felt that spark? I felt the same thing when I saw Thursday live. That's the moment you have to hold on to. Don't forget that feeling. Push yourself, no matter what anyone may say to you."

  • I live and breathe the moment that he referred to. That moment was when I watched them perform "The Black Parade". There was a tangible static in the air. The way they were able to send waves of emotion, and frantic, full feelings into the audience had me enamored. Everyone in the audience became one being. There were no troubles, just purity. I want to create that spark, the same way Gerard does. I intend to. I paired his advice to write down my thoughts with Derek Sander's advice to write down my feelings. I felt a little silly putting a bunch of strange notes into my phone. But LO AND BEHOLD! I have at least one song that ended up being inspired by many, MANY different thoughts that formed a full idea when they were cobbled together. I'll never tell which one it is. Okay... maybe I will if enough people are interested. This was a very effective method.

There's an AMAZING story that accompanies my meeting Gerard. I tell that story at almost ALL of our live performances, so if you want to hear it, you'll have to make sure you see us live!

I can say With Confidence (lol) that Kyle is the GOAT. He really is the MVP when it comes to heralding the spirit of a musician. He will take the time to talk to his fans, and other aspiring musicians. He thinks about his responses and offer up the best advice that he can muster. I have had the fortune of meeting with Kyle twice now. Once in Hawaii when I was waiting to talk with Derek Sanders, and once at a show in Seattle. Both times, he welcomed my conversation, and offered advice. Admittedly, our conversation in Hawaii was in relation to what his favorite "Exploding Kittens" card was. He was offered the choice of "Catmageddon" and "The Curse of the Cat Butt". What was his answer?

• The Curse of the Cat Butt

The second time I met Kyle was a little more tailored on my part, because I was still struggling with writing music and being in touch with myself. I was getting better at feeling and accepting my emotions, but I still couldn't allow myself to put those thoughts and feelings into lyrics. I asked Kyle, "How would you suggest I combat writer's block?"

• "Go to shows, and write while your surrounded by the scene. Being present in the music could help to offer inspiration. It doesn't need to be live shows, it could be somewhere with a DJ. It could even be at home. Put in some headphones and allow yourself to feel the music, and then try writing with it as background noise."

  • This was the best advice I used to mitigate my issues writing. Not only did it help focus me, which seems counter intuitive, but it really did. But it was also a nice way to set a goal for myself. What I did, personally, was go to Emo Nite. I sat down at a table, and told myself that if I finished the lyrics for song "x", then I could go get on stage and have fun for the rest of the night. I've done this several times, without fail. Any time I start getting frustrated, I remove my earbuds, take a break, and just listen to the music that surrounds me. I am able to mitigate any frustration I feel almost immediately. This has been the most effective method to date for me. I recommend this to anyone, and everyone.

Recently, we were fortunate enough to play with a very talented group of musicians. They probably have the coolest tour bus that anyone has ever aspired to travel the country in, and they go by "Miniluv²". Miniluv³ is a post hardcore/emo/post emo band that we played with at the Fun House in Seattle, WA while they were on tour. They put on a very energetic show, filled to the brim with emotional lyrics and feeling. I definitely recommend checking them out if they roll through your city. Here is what we talked about!

• What are some things you would suggest to a band before going on their first tour, or any tour in general?

  • Start early, and start small. You should aim for a minimum of about 6 months of prep work. If it's your first tour, try to keep it local to your region. There's a big difference between being stranded 4 hours away from home and 30. The further away you get from home, the bigger the risk becomes. Set yourself up for success and be ready to learn during your first tour. Ask other bands where to go, which venues work well for them, and for other contacts for show support. Keep in mind that bands in the areas you travel to have to care about their own situations as well, so don't take it personally if they can't support.

  • Set aside a tour vehicle that you'll be comfortable in. Seriously, considering your comfort is really important. You need to plan off days during your tour, everyone needs a break every once in awhile. You should make sure your gas stays over half a tank, keep your receipts, and be ready to take a loss. When you're starting out, touring isn't about making money. You're spreading your influence and building a resume!

• What are your favorite road snacks?

  • Taco Bell and Voodoo Chips. But really bring lots of dry food and water. Protein bars are a life saver.

• What makes you consider a show you play to be a successful show?

  • Well, first you should do the prep work. Look for bands that could have a local draw, and make sure their fans are also fans of the type of music you make. Then do your thing! Play the show, and rock the house. Did you spread the word? Did you gain a fan? That's success.

• Do you have any final thoughts to share?

  • Bring a pillow. Bring extra strength Tiger's Balm. Bring earplugs (they help you sleep in a loud van). And seriously, plan out your gas stops!

Huge thank you again to Miniluv for agreeing to do this interview! We can't wait to see you all again, and would love to play with you in Colorado!

¹ - https://www.instagram.com/miniluvco/

² - https://www.facebook.com/miniluvco

³ - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OtryTb8CSnDX2asGlYFA1?si=hAX_63ajTlOjFf7ucKFNTg

Don't make the same mistakes we did! <3