It was a strange answer to say the least. I need to have a big single on radio to be on radio? What? Is this the chicken or the egg question?

I have just realized a big pattern though. Anytime I was on radio it was because of something we in the band did, not something the pros did. The most recent example is when I was interviewed by Paul Cavalconte on WRXP.

I had met Paul months earlier at a James Taylor event and he had caught my attention because of his vast knowledge of music, bands, jazz, and recording techniques bands had used. So, I reached out to him to keep the dialogue going. There was no motivation on my part to be on radio. It was much more innocent. Like when you meet a kid at school who is interested in the same things as you.

Anyway, as it turns out we ended up getting together to hand out early last December. The first thing Paul said to me when I met him in the lobby of the radio station that snowy day was, “Let’s get something to eat and then after I want to interview you for a new segment I am doing called Vinyl Virgins.

Paul and I ended up talking about all sorts of cool things after lunch and he recorded everything I said. If I die in a plane crash tomorrow Paul is the man to see about my vault of interviews! Most importantly Paul got what he wanted which was a snippet of me talking about Radiohead and I, in turn, ended up on the radio the following week.

Moral of the story, in my opinion, is that radio people are just like other music lovers. They are people who do what they do because they love music and musicians. Reach out, be true to yourself and your art, and treat them like people rather than vehicles for your success.

So far I have had the pleasure of meeting Paul, Matt, and Leslie at RXP, and they are just very nice people. I hope all radio people are this nice and if they are not then their loss.

Thank you RXP

Your song Ruin has hit the homepage of thesixtyone.com!

And then, a second email to tell me:

Ruin (427 hearts)
Strangest Most Beautiful (124 hearts)
Sour Grapes (198 hearts)

“Here is what I’m thinking we should do with Iranian Democracy. We put together a concert or maybe a whole bunch of concerts for Iranian Democracy. I was at Colombia records when Geldof decided he was going to do Live Aid. You know what he did? He just called people. He sat there and he just called everyone he knew. So that is what you are going to do. I mean, I could call people, but you are the one who has to sell the idea. It is your passion for the cause that is going to convert them. So, what I want you to do is go home and start calling everyone you know and see if you can make this happen.”

That is how the idea was born. Over the next couple of days I compiled a list of everyone I knew in the music industry and have now started to contact them individually. Pulling this off still seems a little out of my reach and ability, but as they say where there is a will there is a way!

Cover Artwork for Buddahead Iranian Democracy EP

Hi All,

We are excited to announce the release of Iranian Democracy, available now on Itunes and most other online digital music stores.

For more information please read the official press release