GoGirls Interview with Madame Scorpio of Scorpio Rising
by Madalyn Sklar
What drives your music?
Not too sure, there is something within that keeps telling me to not stop this... seem to always end up at music somehow?
When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?
Think it goes beyond music, I discovered early on I wanted to be center stage, even though I am very very shy and always screaming inside... when it comes to switching into performance mode I just know I feel it and able to own it...
I have felt that way since elementary school plays and playing cello with the UT String Project concerts.
I just have always felt very comfortable performing whether it is dance, acting or music
Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.
As far as my band Scorpio Rising, the music style is very Motown slash Rock style.
Me personally - I dig music period... and hate trying to label or separate into specific genres..
I can feel deep into music like some old school Pink Floyd or King Crimson to hot driven aggressive Rob Halford with Judas Priest... Rob is very inspiring he is so great. So hard to narrow down to 3 individuals when I have been inspired by maybe just one song from a band to an entire record from 1st to last song... but as far as power and success Madonna is pretty darn cool to admire and be inspired from. I have always said that Gene Simmons was a good inspiration, that dude just keeps pumping out the products in so many forms it is insane but as far Gene the bass player in the band and his character - fuckin’ rox, I love that stuff!
What's your ideal venue atmosphere?
As far as a music venue and performing... good PA with monitors and a sound engineer that knows the room and really runs sound while you play.
Scorpio Rising will play to any cliental and with any other band on a bill.
Playing a venue where the staff does not act as if you are a pain in the ass and waste of time is always really nice.
I don’t need a lot of bells and whistles for a club to be cool to me.
Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.
I started performing in a band called Retarted Elf back in 89-90 to 00-01. We took ourselves serious and made a name for our selves. We were making $1500.00 guarantees at clubs across Texas on a regular basis... now... things have changed and people don’t go out to see live music as much, so hard to say it has evolved in a growing sense ahahah seems to have definitely changed though... its all about different media these days and what I see is how it affects the music career in how it is marketed, distributed and packaged now. Personally as a singer I have evolved more in the studio and perfecting my sound, I am always learning. The music career seems to be spinning.
How would you describe the music scene in your area?
Austin will always be one of the coolest cities to live and perform in. Austin is going through a lot of growth changes and the music scene is affected in many ways, however there always seems to be a place to perform but just not as much local support as you would think for the “music capitol” which means no money... no pay.
There are too many places that want to do live music but don’t know what they are getting in to... expect you to perform for no money and bring a PA! These places have no business trying to do live music in my opinion for some reason a lot of places expect to get rich off booking bands... but don’t support the bands they book.with advertising.... no promotion at all... sort of a loose - loose situation.
There are plenty of artists in Austin, not running short on that, just running out of good vibe venues to play with good vibe staff and location that know how to conduct business right.
What was the inspiration for your latest release?
To finish a project! Our inspiration was not having anything new and we had to get something out there with our new drummer!
The last CD was with our new drummer - having new blood is very inspiring.
What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?
#1 Homework - know your parts. The worse thing is to half ass it and then when listening to the final product saying, "oh man wish I would have done this or that."
You will probably end up with a box of CD’s sitting there for a long time so when ordering your numbers order in bulk to keep cost down but don’t get too crazy, unless you have 1000 pre orders... do not get more than that!
Have your art ready to go - that can hold your project up for ever.
What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?
Seen more break than make to be honest... distractions and additions will always bring the musician down.
Just starting out - deal with it... you will be hungry starving... no money... struggling better have thick skin and be able to handle criticism. Be ready to have your heart broken and turn it into stone…hide the weakness!
Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.
It has been tough the entire time. When my band Retarted Elf stopped playing that was tough to deal with... when there was a burning desire to rock the stage it made me get Scorpio Rising up and running in more full force. Scorpio Rising dealt with having our drummer quit right after finishing our CD “Vain Bastard” for release... that sucked... having to back up and put it in a different gear... but we managed to find another drummer and have put out a CD with him on it which is very cool
What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?
Thick skin... and don’t show gaze, give the fans what they came for - practice.
Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.
I am Madame Scorpio here to rock with you.
What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?
Couple shows, we are playing the GoGirlsMusicFest at Momos Oct 27th
Would like everyone to know we’re playing at Cactus Café in the Texas Union on UT campus Friday Oct. 2 - Wonderbred’s bday party!!! Would love some gogirl support!!
More on Scorpio Rising at www.myspace.com/scorpiorising and www.facebook.com/scorpiorising
Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar
Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success in the biz. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.
Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians
What drives your music?
Not too sure, there is something within that keeps telling me to not stop this... seem to always end up at music somehow?
When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?
Think it goes beyond music, I discovered early on I wanted to be center stage, even though I am very very shy and always screaming inside... when it comes to switching into performance mode I just know I feel it and able to own it...
I have felt that way since elementary school plays and playing cello with the UT String Project concerts.
I just have always felt very comfortable performing whether it is dance, acting or music
Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.
As far as my band Scorpio Rising, the music style is very Motown slash Rock style.
Me personally - I dig music period... and hate trying to label or separate into specific genres..
I can feel deep into music like some old school Pink Floyd or King Crimson to hot driven aggressive Rob Halford with Judas Priest... Rob is very inspiring he is so great. So hard to narrow down to 3 individuals when I have been inspired by maybe just one song from a band to an entire record from 1st to last song... but as far as power and success Madonna is pretty darn cool to admire and be inspired from. I have always said that Gene Simmons was a good inspiration, that dude just keeps pumping out the products in so many forms it is insane but as far Gene the bass player in the band and his character - fuckin’ rox, I love that stuff!
What's your ideal venue atmosphere?
As far as a music venue and performing... good PA with monitors and a sound engineer that knows the room and really runs sound while you play.
Scorpio Rising will play to any cliental and with any other band on a bill.
Playing a venue where the staff does not act as if you are a pain in the ass and waste of time is always really nice.
I don’t need a lot of bells and whistles for a club to be cool to me.
Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.
I started performing in a band called Retarted Elf back in 89-90 to 00-01. We took ourselves serious and made a name for our selves. We were making $1500.00 guarantees at clubs across Texas on a regular basis... now... things have changed and people don’t go out to see live music as much, so hard to say it has evolved in a growing sense ahahah seems to have definitely changed though... its all about different media these days and what I see is how it affects the music career in how it is marketed, distributed and packaged now. Personally as a singer I have evolved more in the studio and perfecting my sound, I am always learning. The music career seems to be spinning.
How would you describe the music scene in your area?Austin will always be one of the coolest cities to live and perform in. Austin is going through a lot of growth changes and the music scene is affected in many ways, however there always seems to be a place to perform but just not as much local support as you would think for the “music capitol” which means no money... no pay.
There are too many places that want to do live music but don’t know what they are getting in to... expect you to perform for no money and bring a PA! These places have no business trying to do live music in my opinion for some reason a lot of places expect to get rich off booking bands... but don’t support the bands they book.with advertising.... no promotion at all... sort of a loose - loose situation.
There are plenty of artists in Austin, not running short on that, just running out of good vibe venues to play with good vibe staff and location that know how to conduct business right.
What was the inspiration for your latest release?
To finish a project! Our inspiration was not having anything new and we had to get something out there with our new drummer!
The last CD was with our new drummer - having new blood is very inspiring.
What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?
#1 Homework - know your parts. The worse thing is to half ass it and then when listening to the final product saying, "oh man wish I would have done this or that."
You will probably end up with a box of CD’s sitting there for a long time so when ordering your numbers order in bulk to keep cost down but don’t get too crazy, unless you have 1000 pre orders... do not get more than that!
Have your art ready to go - that can hold your project up for ever.
What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?
Seen more break than make to be honest... distractions and additions will always bring the musician down.
Just starting out - deal with it... you will be hungry starving... no money... struggling better have thick skin and be able to handle criticism. Be ready to have your heart broken and turn it into stone…hide the weakness!
Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.
It has been tough the entire time. When my band Retarted Elf stopped playing that was tough to deal with... when there was a burning desire to rock the stage it made me get Scorpio Rising up and running in more full force. Scorpio Rising dealt with having our drummer quit right after finishing our CD “Vain Bastard” for release... that sucked... having to back up and put it in a different gear... but we managed to find another drummer and have put out a CD with him on it which is very cool
What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?
Thick skin... and don’t show gaze, give the fans what they came for - practice.
Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.
I am Madame Scorpio here to rock with you.
What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?
Couple shows, we are playing the GoGirlsMusicFest at Momos Oct 27th
Would like everyone to know we’re playing at Cactus Café in the Texas Union on UT campus Friday Oct. 2 - Wonderbred’s bday party!!! Would love some gogirl support!!
More on Scorpio Rising at www.myspace.com/scorpiorising and www.facebook.com/scorpiorising
Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar
Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success in the biz. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians
Labels: gogirls interview, Madame Scorpio, Scorpio Rising
Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 15 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.
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