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Gigs n Reviews -


A Day In The Life Of A DJ Craig Williams


craig williams, dj, presets, ladyhawke
Craig Williams - Dj
Craig Williams is a DJ (yes people still call them DJ’s... I asked!) who keeps himself very busy with Djing, blogging and travelling between Australia and LA.
He has remixed tunes for the Aria award winning Presets, Ladyhawke and other groups. Just recently he has signed a two year deal with Bombeatz, a record company based in Florida. He runs his own blog as well as all his other social networking sites including his Myspace where you can hear his original tracks as well as all his remixes. Craig is definitely one busy guy!
He has recently moved to LA to be with his girlfriend. In transit I was lucky to catch up with Craig! I asked him a few questions about what he does and what his bright future holds for him.


1. You’re an extremely busy guy with mixing, blogging, etc. How do find time to do it all?

The short answer is I don't really {laughs}. I kind of flip flop between tasks. I'll be making a mix tape then I’ll hear a piece of music that will inspire me so I’ll stop that and go and start making a new track. Or I’ll be making a track and need a break so I’ll start to blog and so on.


2. Do bands/managers approach you to do their remixes?

I have been approached by a couple of bands the latest one being Mechanical Animal a band from Melbourne. I think we will all be hearing lots from this group they have a really great sound. I also got contacted by a group from the UK to do a track for them so I’m really excited that people are starting to come to me after hearing some of my work.


3. Is there anyone you’ve worked with who really has stands out in your memory?

I did a remix for a friends band (Tether) what made that really stand out was that the vocal track I was given was really good. The singer has a great voice and it was a pleasure to work with it and make it something new.


4. Describe a typical day as a DJ? Do people still call it DJing or something else?


No it's still called Djing but most of the guys that Dj make tracks to so a great part of any free day is making new music to play to remain fresh. A typical day when I’m playing out of town will consist of me just chilling out maybe sending some emails to people doing the admin that I try and forget when I’m back at home. Most importantly finding a nice place to have dinner and then head off to the gig (depending on the time I go on) Play my gig if I’m not heading home early that morning try and get some sleep and then off to the airport.


5. How much time do you spend in Australia and America? Do you get fresh ideas whenever you travel back and forth?

I have recently moved over to LA with my girlfriend so I spend majority of my time here, which is great I really like it here and it's something new for me.


6. You list all your influences on your Myspace and these include Ozzy to Johnny Cash. How do these artists influence you and in what way?

I try and pull inspiration from everywhere I can just about find something that I like in all genres (the music playing at my place is all over the place {laughs}. With these two I love Ozzy because he was one of the pioneers of heavy metal and Johnny Cash did the same for rockabilly and rock and roll. I loved what these guys did for music.


Thanks so very much Craig for taking time out from your busy schedule to answer my questions. I wish you the best of luck for your future!





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Pamela Pachal
Pamela Pachal on Myspace


pamela pachal, candian, songwriter, myspace
The delightful Pamela Pachal

This Easter I decided to post my interview with the always delightful singer/songwriter Pamela Pachal!

Pamela was one of the first artists featured on Gigs ‘n Reviews over two years ago. (hasn’t time flown?) I’m glad to report Pamela is still writing and making music while having a great sense of humour. On her Myspace page you can hear her songs that are so personal and catchy. I personally like Love Song, which could be easily become a hit if Pamela ever ventures out to the big wide world.

You’ll see how Pamela doesn’t take herself and making music too seriously in the following interview! It was such a joy reading and editing this interview, so I hope you’ll enjoy it too!




1. What have you been up to in the last year? How was New York? Has the trip influenced your writing?

The last year I've been very busy playing shows, putting together a band, networking, and basically trying to make a name for myself on the East Coast of Canada. My trip to NYC was amazing! met a ton of great musicians and had a blast at the awards show... it was a little overwhelming but I would do it again in a heartbeat! {smiles}


2. Cheating Bitch and Nasty Clothes have a bluesy feel to them. Do you like the blues?


I love the blues... I think every musician, no matter where they start, always ends up steering towards the blues when it comes to music. There's just something about the blues that's so real and true... it's like the one genre that will never disappoint you.



3. On your Myspace page you have a video showing you having fun performing Cheating Bitch. At your gigs do you have fun improvising?


{laughs} I always have fun improvising at gigs. That's the best part about playing live. It's also one of the biggest aspects that separates the 'great' from the 'good'.



4. Who remixed Butterfly?


It was actually me who remixed 'Butterfly'. I bought a loop pedal a while back and I started doing upbeat/dance versions of my songs at shows. I would just loop a bit of me beatboxing, then go from there.... I had so much fun I went to Melody Valley Productions and worked with Nate Ecker on the track. We started with me doing the beatboxing just how I would do it at shows and then added different synth samples and effects. Nate did a great job putting all the tracks together and adding effects... he actually ended up recording a bit of a drum beat as well. He's a great producer/engineer.
pamela pachal, candian, songwriter, myspace



5. Lady GaGa. Genuis or freak?

{laughs} Hmmm..... I don't know, I like some of her songs, and I actually think she's a good musician... but it's really hard to say ‘cos you don't know how much of 'everything' is her or her record label. From what I've seen of her live(playing the keys) on YouTube I think I like her!



6. Do you think it’s important to have a sense of humour in the music business?

I think you definitely need a sense of humour in the music business.... You need a sense of humour in every business. If you don't have one then you're just going to be stressed all the time and end up going crazy... For example: Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, etc...


7. Can you tell my readers the story about your song about Peggy “Perfect”? It’s such a sweet story.


I worked in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada with special needs adults and one of the adults I worked with was a 55 year old woman with Cri Du Chat (a very rare diagnosis). Her speech and motor skills were very limited but she LOVED music and absolutely loved the guitar. So when I started bringing my guitar into work I became one of her favourite people {laughs}. She actually started calling me 'A-Ding-A-Ding-A-Ding-A', {laughs again}. That meant 'the guitar girl'. She was such a beautiful person and one of the most purest souls I've ever met. She inspired me not only to write the song 'Peggy/perfect' but to also enjoy life more.... She just passed away two weeks ago.
My deepest condolences Pamela.


8. When do you write the most? Is it everyday?


My writing is very sporadic... it usually coincides with my personal life; {mocks herself and laughs} surprise, surprise. Sometimes I won't write for months and then sometimes I'll write 10 songs in 3 days.... I actually wrote 'Peggy' and 'Cheating Bitch' in the same week, there's a piece of scrap paper I used to scribble the lyrics that has 'Peggy' on 1 side, 'Cheating Bitch' on the other... {laughs}, I thought that was kinda cool when I pulled it out of my 'Song Box'.



9. Dillusional is a really great track. Have you tried getting it out there in the radio world?


I haven't really pushed any tracks for the radio... I'm very critical of myself and don't think my recorded versions of my songs are ready for radio yet. Next album though... they'll be ready! {winks}



10. Are you planning to release a follow-up to your debut album Chapter One?

Yes, I am getting ready to record Chapter 2. All the songs for Chapter 2 have been written for a very long time, I'm just waiting for some financial backing to get back into the studio... Last album was very low budget but this one...I'm going full out for! (and then I'll be ready for radio play) {winks}


Thankyou so much Pamela for your candid answers! I’m positive you’ve won a few more fans here in Australia!


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New Music For March

March 27th 2010 03:12
gorillaz, bruce willis, stylo
Stylo by Gorillaz is a groundbreaking video yet alone having a very cool performance by Bruce Willis. Gorillaz have turned their cartoon characters into 2D figures who involve themselves in a car chase through a desert.

The video is just amazing! It is a bit like a Quentin Tarantino film with fast cars and guns blazing. It also has supernatural themes in it which makes the video even more cool. However, I’m guessing we won’t get to see it on Video Hits. A bit of violence is far worse than sexualising women afterall!

Have a look for yourselves:

Stylo
Gorillaz

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New Music for March - Lifehouse

March 6th 2010 03:56
lifehouse, band, hanging by moment, halfway gone
an older Lifehouse

Everyone remembers Lifehouse’s breakthrough hit Hanging By A Moment? It was and still is a huge radio favourite!

[ Click here to read more ]
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Bon Jovi Give Back

January 31st 2010 00:26
jon Bon Jovi , Richie Sambora, live
Richie & Jon doing what they do best
After watching Bon Jovi’s latest live DVD Live At Maddison Square and didn’t like what I heard and saw, I’m pleased to say that Jon’s voice seems to be back in shape.

Superman Tonight is Bon Jovi’s second single taken from their latest album The Circle and it happens to be my favourite track on the album. It was released in America on January 25, but as yet there is no release date for Australia


[ Click here to read more ]
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The Ultimate Chick Song

January 30th 2010 02:37
broken heart, clipart
I just am digging this song! It sums up what every girl feels like when her heart has been stomped on. It’s the ultimate revenge to sound terribly sweet but say those two words!

Go Lily


[ Click here to read more ]
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An Upcoming Gig Worth Mentioning

January 29th 2010 02:20
bernard fanning, clare bowditch, youngcare, benefit, concert
Bernard Fanning & Clare Bowditch supporters of Youngcare

Tickets went onsale today for the Youngcare Benefit Concert 2010. This is a concert organised by Bernard Fanning (aka Powderfinger’s lead singer) to raise financial support and awareness for young people with disabilities living in nursing homes.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Gigs 'n Reviews' Myspace Discovery

January 11th 2010 08:27
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placebo, bright lights
Placebo
Placebo are back with a new single and album. The first single is called Bright Lights and it definitely shows how Placebo have matured.

The video is really smart! It starts with the band being in the dark but as the video goes on, the band are lit in brighter surroundings until they are in the sunlight


[ Click here to read more ]
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Gigs 'n Reviews' Myspace Discovery

December 15th 2009 10:13
Spaceship Days

Since doing this feature I have come across some fantastic artists and bands who are making damn good music without the support from a labels. The indie movement seems to be taking off all over the world


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Single Ladies
The Pigs

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I have no other blogs :(
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