JOHN WEST EM ENTREVISTA AO URBAN BUZZ !!

John West concedeu uma entrevista ao Urbanbuzz , quem é john west? Gostavam de o ver actuar em Portugal ? só depende de nós...

A minha proposta é criar um verdadeiro BUZZZ em volta da música deste novo talento que ultimata o seu album de estreia e tem recebido excelentes criticas por parte do publico/media nos usa..decora esta nome porque ainda vai dar muito que falar..

Eis JOHN WEST na primeira pessoa e em exclusivo para Portugal..



UrbanBuzz- Hi man! How are u?

JW-I’m doing well – things are moving along with my music and it’s a pleasure to be saying hello to all the music-lovers in Portugal!


UrbanBuzz- For who dont know who u are and your role in music right now can you tell us who is JOHN WEST?

JW-Well, I’m a soulful, thoughtful singer/songwriter from the southern United States in a quick eight words or so! But as far as my sound, my message, my story -

I come from a great family of educators and community activists, plus my brother who’s a great cook! My sister and my mom aren’t musicians, but their lives’ work have truly inspired my music and my worldview. We can all be of service to the world, to the community, or perhaps to one person – regardless of our job title! And we all need help along the way.

I’m still continuing to find my sound and my voice, and I suppose that’s a lifelong journey. I try to cross the lines of genre, which often seem sort of tired and predictable. I feel comfortable onstage with just myself and my guitar. Or you can throw in a cello player. Or an MC – or maybe a horn trio...

I’d like to consider my music soulful without being soul music, catchy without being pop, and jazzy without being jazz. I think people are craving something raw, honest, emotional, and groovin...


UrbanBuzz- You have been promoting your music on Myspace , on your official page where you share your music ,thoughts,news,everything about your career with people that have been following your steps from the beggining and the fact is that you already have a huge community of people to support you. Do you wanna tell us a little more about that?

JW-I’m not sure how my career would function without the internet, MySpace in particular. MySpace connected me to people who ended up connecting me to my management team. And just last month I was a Featured Artist on MySpace. Between the combined punch of MySpace, iTunes, PayPal, and YouTube – there’s completely a revolution taking place in the music biz. It’s great to be a part of it.

It’s also great to know that the outreach work I’m doing to get new fans on MySpace will still be valid once I get a deal. MySpace isn’t just for independent artists, it’s for everyone. Setting up something that works now is important for my future plans.


Urban Buzz:for those of us who go to your myspace page to find out a little bit about u, they could listen to a song titled "Gravity". Thats a potencial single for your next album right?
how have you been doing with your shows and promoting yourself while you look for a label that fits your expectations as an artist?
JW-I’ve had a lot of lucky breaks – I met a great management team after being in LA for only four months. Seriously, I couldn’t be in better hands. Good people with serious experience. Everyone’s working hard to get together the best possible package – that means great music, photos, video, press, and very importantly, buzz!


There are a lot of bumps along the way, and sometimes you think things are about to explode – and then, nothing really happens for a while. That’s why I’d say the hardest thing is patience. Even when things are going really well, it all happens in spurts. Nothing progresses for weeks, then BANG – you have to be ready to move. It’s exciting but exhausting, feeling like you’re never quite ‘working’ but that you’re always on the clock.



Urban Buzz :you have been performing across U.S., how has that experience been so far and what kind of feedback do you get from your audience? do you usually open some other artists' shows?
JW-I’ve been playing the scene here in Los Angeles for about 9 months and I must say – it’s been a great reaction from the crowds. The audience is getting bigger with each show, and we’re starting to get more press out at the shows. It’s exciting to actually feel the buzz building around your music.

I’ve had the pleasure of opening for Goapele, a terrific Sony Urban recording artist, at the Roxy here in Los Angeles. It’s a historic venue and it was crazy to be on that stage in front of a packed house. They were feeling the tunes. I also hope to be opening for Raphael Saadiq on some House of Blues dates in early 2007.

Urban Buzz :Which artists have influenced your music?

JW-The first songs I ever learned on guitar were Cat Stevens tunes. Simple and so emotional – songs like ‘Father and Son’. I also love Nick Drake, more recently rediscovered by the music scene after a VW commercial with ‘Pink Moon’. Such a beautiful, simple, melancholy song.

I also am inspired by all those soulful sounds! Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Carole King, Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott – their music is personal, honest, and grooving...

UrbanBuzz-whats the most important goal for u as an artist ?
JW-All I want is for my music to make some people feel a little bitter, a little less stressed, maybe a little more empathetic for the world around them.

I write about the emotional and personal struggles in my own life. I write to relax my own soul. When I get messages from people saying my music made them cry, wow – I know I’m doing something right.

We ultimately change the world not just by the things we say but by the example we set. If people can feel some of my energy and be inspired to create or to investigate or just to let go a little bit, then that’s a beautiful thing.


Urban buzz:I hope you can bring your music to Portugal anytime soon to surprise everyone around here (I'm sure I'll be on of them). what can we expect from a future John West gig in Portugal?"


JW- You let me know when the gig is and I’ll be there! Seriously though, I can’t WAIT to start touring in Europe. Let’s make it happen.

UrbanBuzz-thanks man.


Urban Buzz

Rui