Another internet buddy of mine gave me the inside scoop
on how to ROCK! None other than Sugarland, Texas' own Dry Martinez! His solo works are available to stream online at:
Dry Martinez | ReverbNation Dry and me have worked together on a few songs, and I knew he had
serious skills... But what I really wanted to know was-
What first inspired you to become a musician?
I come from a musical family. My Uncle was a classical
pianist who wrote scores in Hollywood in the 1930's. My Sister is a
classically trained pianist, and my oldest brother was a guitar
prodigy. As long as I can remember I wanted to play some kind of
instrument, I just didn't figure out which instrument until I became
a teenager.
What instruments do you play and how did you develop
your style of musicianship for each?
I first took piano lessons when I was 9 years old. I was
training to play classical music but once my piano teacher taught me
a blues scale, that was it. I knew what direction I was headed. Some
friends I spent a lot of time with were learning to play guitar at
the same time. When we were about 14, we decided we'd start a band.
That's when I picked up the bass. The bass came real natural to me
while I had to work really hard to play the piano so doing what most
teenagers did, I took the easy road and played the bass. At that time
I was really into bands like RUSH and YES so it was like I was
learning classical music... at least in my mind what we called
"Progressive Rock" was as challenging as classical music to
perform. I also had a 6 string Les Paul knock-off and I was picking
up there where I left off on the piano. Playing the blues felt
natural on the 6 string.
So how do you record?
Right now I'm using an 8-track Tascam stand-alone hard
drive recorder. I usually program a beat on my old Alesis SR-16 drum
machine and lay down a stereo drum track, then bass, guitar, vocals,
etc. Then I mix it down and make a "master" CD. Pretty
basic stuff really. I use on-board effects for final production.
That's why I call my music "Dry"... not much effects
What is your favorite guitar to play, favorite bass?
My favorite guitar has to be my Stratocaster. My
favorite bass would have to be my 1985 Charvel/Jackson 4-string.
What are your favorite guitar pedals, favorite amps?
I've always had a soft spot for my MXR Distortion
DS-1... it adds just the right amount of distortion (for my needs). I
currently use a Crate GFX212 120 Watt guitar amplifier with 2-12 inch
speakers. It's fine for home recording but in an ideal world I'd like
to have several different amps for different styles of playing. A
Fender Twin Reverb for playing clean blues or a Marshall Stack for
songs with heavy distortion.
What do you think of working with a record label verses
being an independent "bedroom producer"?
In my opinion, it all depends on what your goals are as
a musician. Some people want to score the big "deal". I
chased the "dream" for years and when the group I was
playing with finally did get a record deal, we got screwed by the
label. We basically paid them to put a single of ours on a
compilation CD that was distributed to radio stations around the
country. Our song was 11 of 20 on the disc and probably never got
heard. I'd bet most of those compilation CDs that went out ended up
in most radio stations' trash cans.
Being a "bedroom producer" gives one the
creative freedom one might not otherwise have if they were signed to
a big label with some producer breathing down your neck telling you
how to make your own music. For a reasonable amount of money you can
market and sell your albums on the Internet . Then there's the old
fashioned- promote your music through live performances avenue. These
days it's a lot easier for an independent musician to put their music
"out there" and sell it with varying degrees of success-
depending on how much work you put into your musical endeavors.
The guitar is sadly becoming undervalued in modern
music. What would you tell a non-believer? How can we bring it back?
I'd tell the guitar non-believer to listen to guitarists
like Tom Morello or Robert Fripp. Two guitar players from different
generations. Both are innovative artists creating sounds that you
just wouldn't believe came out of a guitar. I'd also tell them to
pick up an electric guitar and a good effects box/pedal and make some
noise. Hell, just go to the local guitar store and plug in and give
it a try. You don't have to be a "player" to make great
sounds from a guitar. Once an artist makes an unforgettable "noise"
out of an electric guitar, they're hooked.
What are your secrets of songwriting? Do you have any
soft of formula?
I don't have any real songwriting secrets. I usually sit
around picking on my guitar or bass and happen upon a cool riff, then
I'll build a song around that riff (or "hook" as they say
in the industry). I try to stay in keys that "play" well
together, but not always. I guess one could say I use the "old
school" formula for songwriting. I'll generally start off with
an intro, followed by 2 verses with vocals, a lead instrument of some
sort (usually guitar), a third verse, and then the ending. As far as
lyric writing goes, I'm usually inspired by current events in my
life.
What are you working on now? What can we expect to hear
in 2018?
I'm currently writing several songs, written in my
traditional style utilizing both acoustic and electric guitars. I
have about 4 finished pieces (fully written) and half a dozen other
unfinished works... some of which is pure Texas Blues. Look for new
music from DRY MARTINEZ in the spring of 2018 on my page at
Reverbnation.
(www.reverbnation.com/drymartinez)
What advice would you give to a newbie musician?
I'd tell them to follow their heart in every
aspect of their music. From the kind of instruments you play, to the
way you sing, to the kind of songs you write, don't let anyone tell
you how to feel about what you're creating. It's your art. And
naturally, you need to practice. I hate to sound like a parent
preaching to their kid about how practice makes perfect, but you
can't develop skills without practicing. Besides, when you're
practicing is when you usually happen upon those cool riffs that are
the genesis of great songs.And there you have it! Now gosh darn it be inspired and (((ROCK))) like Eddie!
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