FLYAH MAGAZINE

  Earl Carter, we understand you ’ r e  based in Washington D.C... We're actually located in Virginia, so how has the DMV influenced your music thus far?  Well first things first, thank you for taking the time to interview me.  That’s  actually  a great  question. I grew up  in Washington, DC.  As a child during  the 70’s, there were several bands and talented musicians in  almost  every neighborhood.  It was a very comp etitive but  fun place to live. We had “ Summer  in t he Park” events, The Show Mobile,  many “ Battle of the Bands ” concerts , etc…  As a musician y ou had to al ways be at the top of your game. Four of the top bands  in DC were Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers, Trouble Funk, Experience Unlimited (E . U . ) and Rare Essence (R . E . ).  My goal was to get into one of these groups. R . E .  was a teenage band and the members  were in my age group. When Andre “White Boy” Johnson’s dad pulled him out of the group, I auditioned and was offered the guitar spot. Howe

  Rice, straight out of Webster Mass, is coming with the ultimate  Juice. It’s a song for all audiences with many references to the movies in which Tupac was the main character. “I have so much respect for Tupac because of his Passion for Life and his fight for family and community.” The rapper asks of his audience: When your integrity really comes into question what will you do to secure love respect and power? Is money really the answer? This song shows Rice daring to be the star of his own movie – showing his unique style in the process. The beat is light yet impactful. The use of the horns really adds depth and dynamism to the song. Rice’s lyrics, though simple, make his point clear. His flow stays consistent, making moments of extra skill able to resonate more. This also allows the smoothness of the beat to breathe; existing on its own. The references to Tupac make for a fun listen as you try to see which of the rapper’s movies you remember. There are enough variations to the beat

  So Jon Steele, what inspired you to start music at such an early age?     L istening to music and early life experiences. I understand you were in the Air Force, could you tell us about your experience with the U.S. military?   I was in the air force reserves from 2004 to 2009 and the air force in 1999 and from 2000 to 2004. I developed top secret medical problems as a result of my service. So Jon, what are some of your favorite genres and notable artists that bring you inspiration?   Rock, pop. Rush, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Journey, Simple minds, iron maiden  What type of town is Hermitage, Pennsylvania and does it have an influence on your sound and concepts?   hermitage is a small city in western Pennsylvania. It has a little concept from Buhl Park and Bowling alleys and martial arts dojos Besides music, what other things do you enjoy doing? Bowling, martial arts, fitness So what’s does the perfect day of creation look like for Jon Steele? Mountains of motivation in the presence of

  With members all hailing from Detroit, the Happy Curmudgeons started as an idea – making music with friends. This turned into doing gigs and then further became the catalyst to the group writing their own songs. Their first album, MEANT 2 BE, consisted of 11 works of pride and joy. Now, the band has been hard at work on a new project. The new album will feature guest appearances from Jim Moose Brown (Bob Seger Band), Mark Byerly (Bob Seger Band), Bobby Balderrama (original guitarist for Question Mark & The Mysterians) and Pepe' Espinosa. But before we get to the new album, let’s talk about a few tracks. The first, of three tracks, in the spotlight is 2 nd  Chances. This is a 5-minute song which I am biased towards – I like longer songs. The length of the track lends itself to the calming tone of the song and vocals. Listening to the story being told, the lyrics feel reflective. The song depicts the journey someone can go through as they try to heal from a bad break up while s