it's definitely not for keeps, but then again I can't think up anything better. Maybe "Chair Parade" but resonances with design elitists and canadian indy music keep me from doing so (so prepare for a tribute song called Chair Parade)

I play a little guitar but poorly and definitely alone. I don't own a guitar. So no. Dabbled with the clarinet in highschool and own a harmonica I can't play.

Freedom. Radiohead kindly released an album which could be downloaded for free (if you do research you'll find it's not available anymore) and they weren't even the first. What's always going to be important to anyone serious about music as applied artistry is distribution, and free distribution is more than just a utopian ideal.

The internet makes it possible, and the general desire for music should mean that all options ought to be available. In 20 years when someone writes a book about what the internet and the mp3 format did to the music industry, a loud discussion can take place... music hasn't died yet.

Major labels will probably never know of me. Minor labels probably won't ever know of me. So, all told, I'm not holding my breath.

Started making tunes in 2004 on a Pentium 3 with fruityloops (no, not FLStudio) and nothing's really changed since except the resulting music.
Forgot about music throughout 2005 because of life circumstances.
Late in 2006, perhaps in response to personal living situations or mental illness, such classics as 'Speculations' were born out of lengthy late night sessions which generally involved maddeningly frequent repetitions of loops which I would slowly refine or haphazardly involve in 'finished' songs.
In early 2007 I was briefly in love and the song "Ode To Emesis" erupted as a result, but it reflects as well on the simple pleasures of drinking too much and overproof alcohol and being happily careless of the public. Ditto for "Monolife Redux".
2008 I have a poor memory of at this moment, but will update when I recall any standout moments. Visits to my band page went up from an average of 5 a month to about 10, but dropped to 0 several times thereafter. I never went around trying to raise awareness, preferring the 'surprise'/'word of mouth'/'know your artist' models of musical distribution.
2009 - external HD crashed and lots of work was lost, maybe permanently. Started what I jokingly called a 'concept album' (Headphone Buddies!) and any recent songs are a product of that.

Honestly not that simple a question; if I had to be honest as to influence that you may detect, this simple: Groove Armada, Jungle Logic, Casino vs. Japan, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, AK1200... and any earlier Ninja Tune stuff. Especially Animals on Wheels circa 1997.

A desktop computer. Beats are tried out on any available surface when I'm away from the computer, but are also quickly forgotten.