Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH: DOMENIC MARTE
By: William Buckland

LawTown: What inspired you to get into music? Is this something you have wanted to do since you were a child?

DOMENIC: Its just somerthing thats in my blood, I've been singing since I was 3 years old. Its all I've ever known.

LawTown: When you were younger, what kind of music did you like? Any favorite style of music? Influences?

DOMENIC: Freestyle, Salsa , R&B and Hip-Hop. Eric Carmen, George Michael, Frankie Ruiz

LawTown: Do you write and produce your own music?

DOMENIC: Yes I do.

LawTown: If you could pick any celebrity artist to collabroate with on duet, who would it by and why?

DOMENIC: Deffinatly Faith Hill. She has so much feeling & emotion in her work.

LawTown: What did it feel like to land a deal with a major record label? Any changes in your life?

DOMENIC: It was one of the most amazing feelings that anyone can have. The feeling can't be explained. I thank God everyday for maing my dream come true as this type of opportunity doesn't come around too often. It hasn't changed me much, if anything, it has made me more humble. I learn as I go.

LawTown: Do you feel you have changed at all since you have become famous or are you still the same old Domenic to your friends.

DOMENIC: I'm the same guy, just with a very busy life.

LawTown: What did it feel like when you were informed of your first award nomination for your debut album "Intimamente"?

DOMENIC: Butterflies in the stomache and very shocking. I knew it was getting alot of play, but as a new artist it was amazing to get the news.

LawTown: Did you ever imagine that "VEN TU" was going to be as huge as it is?

DOMENIC: I never ever imagined it. I always did say that I believed in my heart that when I got the chance my angel was going to guide me to success. I also believe that hard work pays off.

LawTown: I undertsand that "FIND ANOTHER MAN" is going to be the next single from the album and that its being geared towards the American audience. Unlike your previous singles, this one is in English. Can you elaborate on this?

DOMENIC: Its incredible. Its something that I have always wanted to do. To be able to reach out to both my Latin and American fans. All my singles so far have been latin, this will be the first "all english" single. There is also a new latin single being released from the album called "La Quiero" It's #8 on the album. Watch for the new singles & videos.

LawTown: So, you appeared in a J-Lo Music Video ("I'm Real) , Is she a sweet person ?

DOMENIC: Yeah, she is a very sweet person. She's a very hard worker

LawTown: What are your plans for the future?

DOMENIC: I plan to keep workin hard on my career. I am also lookin into acting as I have already recieved offers. I am launching my own record label called Direct Balance Records (DBR). The first artist will be BATS N ROME who i am also producing.

LawTown: What 3 CDs are you currently listening to right now?

DOMENIC: Kelly Clarkson, My own album, Bats n Rome,

LawTown: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?

DOMENIC: Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I love you all to death> You are the air that I breathe and my reason for continuing what I love. If you believe in your dreams and work hard at it. It will come true.

LawTown: On behalf of LawTown Music, We Thank you for this interview and wish you nothing but the best with your future to come.

INTERVIEW WITH: SHAY MUSE
By: William Buckland

LawTown: You have deep soul in your voice when you sing, have you gone for training or is that a natural talent?

SHAY: It's natural, soul is something you are born with you cannot learn it.

LawTown: The song "Gots To Go" has a very jazzy / hip-hop style to it. Who wrote and produced this song?

SHAY: I wrote and produced this song myself. I was betrayed by a man who was dear to me, we knew each other since we were 16, I always held him in high esteem. When I discovered he was disloyal I was so angry I just started writing. "Gots to Go" was born within the hour.

LawTown: Who would you say your musical influences are?

SHAY: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Mary J Blige, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Alicia Keys all day I could go on and on.

LawTown: How old were you when you first got into music? Writing & Producing?

SHAY: I have been involved with music for most of my life starting in the 4th grade when I began playing clarinet, I played all the way through high school holding 1st chair for 95% of the time and playing in a jazz band. I always sang, but didn't get serious about it until about 10 years ago, I just kept singing more and more and the passion was so overwhelming I decided I wanted to take it to a professional level. I started writing then, and producing came later. I paid attention a lot in studios, and eventually would do my own arranging, editing and mixing.

LawTown: Being from Massachusetts, Do you have a local steady following / Fan base?

SHAY: Pretty much. I started doing a lot of shows in my area (Lowell) and then ventured out to Boston where I have done pretty much the bulk of my shows. I have developed quite a buzz and fan base there as well. I feel blessed, now I'm ready to take it to other states.

LawTown: Within your music career, What would you say is your most memorable moment so far?

SHAY: At a show I did in Cambridge, it was the first time the crowd was singing my lyrics along with me. Whoa that blew my mind what a beautiful feeling, and then when I was done my set I had people screaming "nooooo get back up there, we want more keep singing!!!"

LawTown: I see that you are also linked with Krumb Snatcha, do you two have anything in the works together?

SHAY: Yes we have some collaborations coming soon we will be appearing on each other's albums. Krumb Snatcha's album is coming out in 2006 and it will be entitled "Vendetta" it's being executive produced by D.J. Premier.

LawTown: What 5 CDs are you currently listening to?

SHAY: Erykah Badu's "Mama's Gun", Krumb Snatcha's "unreleased", Avery Storm's mixtape (he's off the hook, he's a soul singer signed to Nelly's label), Brix's "Hood Certified" mixtape and Jill Scott's "Who is Jill Scott Volume 1"

LawTown: If you could do a duet with anyone, who would you pick and why?

SHAY: D'Angelo, because he was one of the first soul singers of my generation to come out, he needs to come back, he got that old school pure soul steez, plus he can play the piano like whoa, and I'm not gonna front dude is mad sexy.

LawTown: Do you have or will you have a CD coming out soon?

SHAY: I'm working on an ep, I havn't named it yet, but I hope to have it wrapped up by fall.

LawTown: Where can New Fans learn more about SHAY MUSE?

SHAY: www.shaymuse.com www.myspace.com/shaymuse www.bighustle.com www.lowellrocks.com

LawTown: Anything you would like to tell your fans?

SHAY: Without y'all I wouldn't be inspired to keep doing what I'm doing. Y'all feed my soul and the love you give me is the payoff for all the work I do. I would like to say THANK YOU.

INTERVIEW WITH: JOHNNY 'O
By: William Buckland

LawTown: I's been 3 years since the release of "The Sounds of My Heart". Is there anything new in the works such as a new single or album?

JOHNNY 'O: Right now I am about to embark on my latest masterpiece, and I am doing the vocals as we speak. The project is being hosted by the one and only ZYX Records out of Germany and they are excited about this powerful project, this album is going to be touching as well as impacting this world and market.

LawTown: Like Disco, It looks like Freestyle Music has come and gone. Do you think Freestyle will ever comeback? Why?

JOHNNY 'O: I have to disagree; the one thing people who say that Freestyle was like Disco is misunderstanding the broad impact that this industry had and still holds. To date it is still being played on radio and promoted today in great respect. Freestyle is a culture of music; Disco was a style, big difference. I myself am being promoted and touring around the nation and globe. So time is still on my side and change is on its way!

LawTown: The Freestyle world knows you best for "FANTASY GIRL", does this annoy you or are you happy with it?

JOHNNY 'O: This song went Platinum, around the world. Should I be bitter about a song that started it all. No, this song is only one of many hits that I hold and many of my fans know me for far more than just Fantasy Girl, and with my future this planet will know me for far more! This next project is going to change the world! Prophetic Album powerful words that mean far more than people can see!

LawTown: Besides from making music, what else have you been doing over the past few years?

JOHNNY 'O: Will I have been pasturing and teaching being a positive impact for my community and leaders in my city, loving father and husband.

LawTown: Most of the Freestyle artists out there live in the New York area, what made you make the move from NY to Florida?

JOHNNY 'O: Back around 1993, the music started to shifted, so I took this opportunity to move my family and head for Florida where I based my company and began the process of creating new music, new ideas and potent ional goals.

LawTown: If you could record a duet with an artist of today, who would it be and why?

JOHNNY 'O: Maybe one of the cross over artist, who I am not sure! But someone who is gigantic and extremely famous, format would not matter much.

LawTown: What 5 Cds are you listening to these days?

JOHNNY 'O: I listen to a lot of gospel, but I notice that there are not very many Freestyle gospel songs, so I am making it my goal to create some gospel freestyle very soon! And of course I am listening to the new album music, which is very incredible.

LawTown: How do you feel about the re-release of your first 2 albums on MicMac? Excited?

JOHNNY: The timing is perfect. Because it is going to cause a resurgence of fans wanting more from me and the surprise is going to shock them when they hear this Freestyle powerful master piece. Prophetic Album!

LawTown: Anything you want to say to your fans?

JOHNNY 'O: You asked if Freestyle would ever return? My answer is an answer of faith, YES! because I am going to bring it back. With the help of prayer and the Lord, this album is going to move radio and promoters and the industry as a hold. That I am going to get my Grammy, create a new category and gain the respect of other industries and artists. I AM JOHNNY O LEGEND OF FREESTYLE///KING OF MY MARKET. My domain, and with the support of my fans globally and this anointed songs, there is nothing going to stop me! I humbly submit this response to you, Freestyle will return, Johnny O is coming back new and improved. God Bless you talk soon, and thanks

Thanks for taking the time out for this Interview Johnny, We here at LawTown Music Appreciate your support.