Uh...I was born with it. Besides, 20 some odd years ago, noone could say Schwarzenegger either.

Currently doing open mikes in Reno, NV.

Well, it's the best of times and worst of times. On one hand, the ability to distribute music via mp3s and other compression types on the internet give the independent musician more control and more ways to distribute his/her wares. On the other hand, there's now more of an assumption that all music is free, because of mp3s available for free on the internet. Then there's the concern from labels that OMD sites offer nothing but crap done by any Tom, Dick, or Harriet with a PC, a keyboard, a guitar and a soundcard (which is also a valid point ;^) ). So there are all these issues now that one must wade through in order to reach the ultimate in penultimate, regarding success (whatever that may be). The fact that people CAN distribute their content when they want and how they want is already impacting the music industry. The internet is really more of a distribution source with minimal promotional value. One can't really be expected to get rich (well, there's no such thing as a rich musician anymore, unless you're Limp Bisquick or whomever) distributing MP3s on the internet, but again, with the ability to release content when one feels like it/one is ready makes things hunky dory on the internet for me.

Maybe, depends on the deal and what trends are friendly to me and my music at this time. I'm at an age where I'm not "industry" friendly, but well, if I can sell enough cds on my own, I'll see who comes my way...

I came into this world some even odd years ago, and I've been singing it's praises ever since :).

I have too many to mention, but here's a representative sample: Nina Simone, Kate Bush, Billie Holliday, Chemical Brothers, Enya, Lene Lovich, the Cure, Aretha Franklin, XTC, Squeeze, the Beatles, Chaka Khan, Dead Kennedys, Elton John, Etta James, Depeche Mode, and Ella Fitzgerald

Why my home town, San Francisco!

Here goes:

"Pro-sounding" Stuff:

Recorded on: Dell Inspirion 8100 laptop, using a either Digigram VXPocket2 PCMCIA soundcard or a Tascam US-224 external soundcard (tho' that's been reduced in use to being strictly a control interface).

Backing tracks: created using Powertracks Pro MIDI Sequencer & Audio Workstation, VSampler softsynth, and FruityLoops, using the Soundfonts plugin (along with LOTS AND LOTS of Soundfonts!).

Keyboad: Evolution 149K MIDI keyboard

Audio recorded and mixed using: N-Track, along with it's DirectX and VST capabillities. Cool Edit was done for "Mastering". Vocal mics: (mainly) Oktava MK-319 and Studio Projects B-1 condenser microphones. Pre amp used on all mics is ART MPStudio.

Demos: recorded (and sometimes mixed) on the Zoom PS-02 (hope to graduate to a PS-04 someday).

Backing tracks on demos: created on Palm Pilot using "Minimusic" software and "voiced" using a Yamaha MU-5 synth module.

Guitar on demos (and occasional "pro" tracks): Baby Taylor run through soundpatches on the PS-02. Sometimes played on it's own.

"My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard..."