“Making records is easier than ever, experience has made us better, the internet makes everything and everyone a keystroke away but not everyone can write a great song.” – @MitchLaney

Listen to the Interview
Episode #295 : A.V.A Live Radio Behind The Music with Jacqueline Jax : http://www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio/2016/02/04/episode-295-ava-live-radio-behind-the-music-with-jacqueline-jax

GETTING TO KNOW MITCH LANEY
by Jacqueline Jax host of A.V.A Live Radio

Music business…
I am not sure how to feel about it right now. From my perspective it is like the wild west. Chaos, not sure where to turn. The Pro is that making records is easier than ever, experience has made us better, the internet makes everything and everyone a keystroke away. But the Cons are almost everything I listed earlier. Making records is easier so anyone can do it and software makes anyone sound decent. Experience means we are also older, and everyone has the same access we do. The one difference is not everyone can write a great song.

Hurdles and pitfalls…
Determination and good solid songs. Education also helps, you have to learn how to find your way. The big question is where do you put the little bit of money you have?

Social media…
Through social media, you have access to everyone. The challenge is actually getting access to everyone.

Singles vs an album…
I don’t really have much of an opinion, releasing singles could build excitement I suppose. Talk about the differences in your marketing strategy to support your preference. I am still figuring all of that out. If I knew how to successfully market the band, I would already be selling more than we could keep up with. We sell at shows, and other than that, still learning.

Getting Started…
When my Mom was pregnant with me, she played guitar to me so I was born ready to rock. When I was a kid I listened to bands like Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc.. These records inspired me and so I learned to play guitar. When I went to my first concert I knew that was what I wanted to do; play music up close and personal for people who felt like I did. I was hooked. Kenny’s dad was a professional musician. He played with Author Smith he was around it his whole life. It has been a lifetime love for Scott and Johnny too.

Being Influenced by Music trends…
I think you should do what you do, that is the only way it will come off as genuine. The only real curse is sounding dated in the wrong way. I think most of that comes in the production. Great songs stand the test of time, your production should be the same and let the songs stand for themselves in my opinion. Don’t over produce them; let them sell themselves with content and arrangement. I think all of the guys in the band feel the same way.

I am most afraid of…
A member of my family dying before I do.

My personal definition of success is..
Being happy with where I am in life. De Entre Los Muertos was my first time producing a record, someone I admire as a musician and producer wrote me a note letting me know that he really liked the record. I nearly fell out of my chair.

It was our first record as a band and my first record as producer, so having that validated was really something for us.

My over all goal for my life & career is…
Don’t worry, be happy.

3 Ways that I challenge myself

1) Write a song where someone else says, “man I wish I had written that”. That would make me happy. Kenny and Scott write songs like that.

2) Be the change I want to see in others, I would like to be a nicer guy, help others more. I want to be a hero to my sons.

3) I want to learn how to market our music in today’s world, how to reach the people that I know would love our songs. If I could figure that out, well, you know.

Heart of Stone
It is about a love gone cold, an unfortunate situation where someone carries a torch for someone who no longer feels the same way. Sad song.

The song was recorded at Cadillac Tracks Studio on Kenny’s farm in Watertown Tn. He wrote the song. This was my first time producing, I have recorded many but never produced. It was a great experience, Michael Bush engineered the record with us and he was wonderful to work with. (RIP) Shortly after recording the record with my friend and mentor Michael Bush engineering he passed away. I will always remember this experience. He taught me so much about music and production. (Download the song: https://saintlukesdrifters.bandcamp.com/album/de-entre-los-muertos )

Our music ranges from straight up Honky Tonk to Country…
Edged rockers, energetic, soulful, and genuine. Written and performed by us straight from the heart.
In a time where altered music dominates, we write our own songs, play our own instruments, and we made our own record. I would like to think that understanding our music is easy since we write about real experiences.

That is one thing that all humans have in common is the human experience, longing, pain, heartache, having fun, and questioning our origins. Being self-aware right? What do you wish to accomplish with your album. We want to sell enough to make the next one! Lol, we want to share it, you know part of creation is the act itself, but a writing a song is more fun if others hear it and it brings up some emotion. Shared experience again, misery loves company right?

I am marketing my music at shows, on social media, and sales sites such as itunes, amazon, cd baby, bandcamp, reverbnation, and our website but certainly we are still a pretty well-kept secret.

We live in Watertown, Tennessee…
just east of Nashville, our little town is great. We have a coffee shop we go to and play. But Nashville is awesome, great music, art, etc.. it is a very friendly city. Nashville music scene is hard to break into, but we are making progress. There is certainly no shortage of bands. Lulu’s Coffee House, and in Nashville, The Country, The Basement, Mayday
Brewery, and tons of others.

I am not sure I can stop at one, music related, I love to play live music when the band is hitting on all eight cylinders! There is no other feeling like it. Non music related, I love to hang out with my wife and kids.

I would love to have 5 minutes alone with…
Paul McCartney, his bass lines make the songs and he is one of the greatest song writers of our time. If I could get some insight into how he builds his melodies, wouldn’t that be great. Not to mention maybe George Martin would be there.

Links to Web Pages:
https://www.reverbnation.com/saintlukesdrifters
https://www.facebook.com/Saintlukesdrifters/
www.saintlukesdrifters.com
https://twitter.com/MitchLaney