|
MakeaStar.com:
Welcome to the finals. Did you ever think you would get this
far?
M.B.:
When I joined MakeaStar.com, I did it primarily for the
Industry review. To be honest, I didn't understand the whole
concept of the contest when I signed up. I was very surprised
when I received an e-mail stating that my song "ONE
NIGHT" had qualified for the contest. I followed the
competition and simply couldn't believe that I reached the
semi-finals!!!! My biggest 'problem' now is that a good friend
and very good musician, Michael Mulholland, has also reached
the semi-finals. If we both get the votes for the Final, we
will HAVE a problem!!!
MakeaStar.com:
What do you think it is about your song that it has gotten
into the finals?
M.B.:
The Industry review for my track actually wasn't very good,
however I was not discouraged because this track does well on
various MP3 Sites like MP3.com. I have received a lot of Fan
mail from people pointing out this track in particular (mostly
women). I think my track is convincing by its' sheer emotion,
the rather unusual mixture of electronic and real instruments
and the production quality. My European descent and music feel
does the rest when it comes to voting from a more American
audience. I think my track simply makes a difference.
MakeaStar.com:
Have you been getting any e-mail from Fans? The Industry?
M.B.:
Again, I totally underestimated the traffic and response from
MakeaStar.com. I have received Fan mail from people I don't
know, who voted for my song and yes, I also got a label
contact through MakeaStar.com and the offer for guidance in
the American CD market!!!
I'm still in the evaluating process for this offer and
have exchanged several emails so far. The interest and the
offer are serious.
Most
e-mails mention my unusual combination of electronic and real instruments,
paired with compliments about my vocals, guitar playing
technique and respect for the production quality. Overall,
people are happy with my special style, which can't be easily
compared to other acts out there.
I think
I have developed my very own style. I have earned criticism
for the harmless 'pop' lyrics. Well, that's the nature of pop!
It should be entertaining. I don't intend to put out the
health-cure-message for all of the problems in the world, but
I produce songs with a strong meaning.
MakeaStar.com:
What do you think about MakeaStar.com's Industry review
service? What about the equal voting power being given to Fans
and the Industry in the contests?
M.B.:
The review I got was not only honest, but was written by a
person who obviously knows about music, production and the
music business. Overall, MakeaStar.com offers a very
professional service! All my weak points have been discussed
and I've received good advice. Not that all aspects mentioned
were totally new for me, but the reviewer simply did a
professional job! However, it turned out that the reviewer
didn't like my personal style of music very much and voted in
a lower range. That's honest and the right of individual ears,
but he was wrong as far as he didn't recognize the chart
positions and success I already earned on various music sites
on the net with this song. The equal voting system is great!
It is very interesting to see how the Industry reps and the
Fans voted. I think this is a fair system!
MakeaStar.com:
How did you develop your sound? Is there a primary songwriter?
Is it collaborative?
M.B.:
My musical development has been accomplished through my
many years with the band "Haschpapa and the Gabriels",
and various projects with sound designer and keyboarder Willi
Bopp, performance-artist Guntram Prochaska, the band TKTSSS...
and many others.
As a
typical band member, who has played hundreds of gigs with rock
bands, I tried to develop my own personal style by mixing the
elements of rock, jazz, pop, euro-pop and Techno. I was born
and grew up in Frankfurt, Germany, the capitol of Techno
music, the city where Techno-Icon Sven Väth created this
typical Frankfurt Techno style. I always wanted to combine the
electronic elements with traditional musicianship and the
sense of harmony/melody, while keeping it playable live.
All
recorded songs under the roof of my 'Mike Burn Solo-Project'
have been composed, played, produced and mixed by myself
alone. Of course, I also collaborated with some singers on my
tracks. For the future I'm planning to get more other
instrumentalists involved in my music, to share some other
vibes. This is something the MakeaStar.com reviewer also wrote
as a suggestion in his review.
MakeaStar.com:
Any influences you care to mention? What have other people
compared you to?
M.B.:
My main influences and idols are Jeff Beck, Genesis, Brand
X, Toto and Sven Väth. Other important influences and
sound-inspirations have also come from the last couple of
years and many sleepless nights at Music-Clubs like
"OMEN" (closed this year) and "U-60311",
"Cooky's" and "Dorian Gray" in Frankfurt.
MakeaStar.com:
What do you think sets you apart from other Artists in
your genre?
M.B.:
I think anybody who listens to my contest track or others
I have produced, will recognize a production quality without
compromise. I never put out a track that I am not convinced
of. Indeed, I'm producing my music for myself first. I like it
to leave the interested listener spellbound and to bring over
the 'goosepimple' feel I had myself when performing my track.
My thinking might be different compared to other musicians and
producers. Again, I don't produce for the crowd and therefore
think I can keep my special sound and originality. Maybe
that's why my music is so successful in the online world. I'm
there to make a difference and make the people say 'aha!'.
MakeaStar.com:
It’s obvious that your recorded material is great, but
how about the live show?
M.B.:
I have played uncountable live shows in the past and am always
playing somewhere, from small clubs and open mic sessions to
larger events.
MakeaStar.com:
Are you playing anywhere anytime soon?
M.B.:
At the moment, I am working with my band members on the new
'MIKE BURN' live show. This is in preparation of our large
stage show offer at the Popkomm Festival in Cologne scheduled
for August 17.
MakeaStar.com:
Have you released your music already? If so how, where and
when? If not, do you plan to in the near future?
M.B.:
In the past I made the same efforts as many other musicians
and bands. I sent out various demo tapes and CD's to major
labels, always to get the same response, “no interest.”
Three years ago, I decided to use the Internet to distribute
my music. All my CD's are available in MP3- and Redbook-Audio
format over various web sites. The most valuable service and
customer responses I have gotten are from MP3.com, MP3.de,
Javamusic.com, Besonic.com and Peoplesound.com. I
cannot rule out that a good offer from a label would catch my
interest, but I am somewhat reserved about the Industry. I
also produced and released my own music video for my track
'Starship Bobota', which is available online at www.zebox.com/mikeburn
, and was featured at NBC TV Europe.
MakeaStar.com:
Where would you like to see your music take you?
M.B.:
Through the Internet I have already reached a stage where
people know my name and my music. I have a solid Fan base and
have made various contacts with other musicians. In the
future, I hope that I can work more with other musicians and
performers. A dream come true would be to earn enough from my
music that I could simply make music all day and night long,
without ever thinking about how to pay my rent.
MakeaStar.com:
How realistic is that goal in terms of the immediate future?
M.B.:
It is hard to make a living from my Internet music presence,
but I already earn a big part of my income by mixing and
producing TV and Radio spots for major labels. Funny, isn't
it?
MakeaStar.com:
What one band would you like to follow in the footsteps of
down the road to success?
M.B.:
My one and only idol is the guitar player Jeff Beck.
|
