Chase Coy Interview.

      Chase's new album just came out on Tuesday and I was ecstatic when I got the chance to interview him. I admire his music for so many reasons mostly being that he is an amazing writer. I wasn’t sure how to go about writing this article because I didn’t want to leave anything he said out. Then it hit me. I’ll just show you guys the whole interview by itself. So the wait is over! Here is what Chase had to say about music, his journey and his new album Indiana Sun!

BTSP: Name/age/instrument of band members

Chase: Chase Coy, 20, Vocals/Guitar/Piano
Lee Eisenbarth, 20, Vocals/Drums/Trumpet/Harmonium
Zachary Barr, 25, Vocals/Bass/Guitar/Piano/Cello

BTSP: Where are you from?

Chase: Greenwood, IN.

BTSP: Where/when did the band form?

Chase: I started making music around three or four years ago and recently added my friends Lee and
Zach as live members and studio musicians.

BTSP: What genera is your music?

Chase: Acoustic, singer/songwriter, pop, indie.

BTSP: Who are your Influences or inspirations? (Musically and/or personally).

Chase: Peter Bradley Adams, William Fitzsimmons, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, Owen.

BTSP: What was your first time playing as a band like?

Chase: It was a bit awkward at first, but the more we play together, the better we get as a band.

BTSP: What kind of obstacles have you faced so far as a band?

Chase: I've been picked up and dropped by a major label among many other ups and downs this past
year.

BTSP: What goals do you have for the bands future?

Chase: I just want to continue making music that I love and that people can relate to.

BTSP: If you could perform/tour with anyone, who would it be?

Chase: I'd really love to tour with Colbie Caillat. She and I sang a duet on my last album, and I think
it would be cool to play it live.

BTSP: What is the most fun/funny thing that has happened during a show or with a fan?

Chase: One time I battled this girl at Guitar Hero in between two bands' sets.

BTSP: What advice would you give someone who wants to start a band?

Chase: Just make sure you are making music because it's what you love doing, whether anyone else
ever hears or likes it, or if it's just for your own personal benefit.

BTSP: Biggest accomplishment as a band/best moment together?

Chase: Signing to a major label was a pretty cool experience.BTSP: Favorite things to do besides music?

Chase: I love playing video games and hanging out with friends, pretty typical guy stuff.

BTSP: What are you currently up to? (Recording, local shows, touring, sleeping in, ect…)

Chase: Just finished recording my new album Indiana Sun. Got back yesterday from touring in Canada, and working on doing a lot more touring in the future!

BTSP: What label are you signed to?

Chase: I'm currently independent.

BTSP: Info on the new album? (Title, release date)

Chase: Indiana Sun - April 12, 2011

BTSP: How would you describe the sound? Different than other music you’ve made? How?

Chase: It's definitely more upbeat and varied than my past albums. I drew a lot from older music for this album, and really tried to push myself to not write the same sort of songs over and over.

BTSP: Who did you work with to make the album? (Producers, writers, musicians)

Chase: My friends Zach and Lee both recorded instruments for the album, and I mixed and mastered it all on my own. I co-wrote one song, "Mallory," with a guy by the name of Dave Tozer.

BTSP: Inspiration for the songs/album title?

Chase: I've just been thinking a lot lately about home and how much I can appreciate it now that I'm a little bit older. I had a really great childhood and I'm glad that looking back on it, I have so many fond memories of the Hoosier state.

BTSP: Favorite song from the new album?

Chase: My favorite song at the moment would probably be "Mallory". It's about my girlfriend, her name is right in the title, and it makes me smile every time I get to play it live!

BTSP: What is the first single?

Chase: There are no singles really since I'm releasing it independently. People will get to choose for themselves what their favorite song is, I won't be trying to force feed them any particular track.

BTSP: How do you feel about the new music and the work you put into it?

Chase: I feel like I really took a step forward with the record, and I'm happy with how it turned out. I'm already thinking about how to make the next one better, but I am satisfied with the growth from the last album to this one.

BTSP: Where/when can it be bought?

Chase: April 12 at most online retailers, including iTunes Amazon, Shockhound, Zune, etc.      Well, now that you know how adorable Chase is, and where to buy his music, make sure you show him some support and get his new album! :)

Social Networking.

      It's pretty much a known fact that social networking has taken over the world. That's all people do these days. If we do anything besides social networking, then all we think about the whole time is talking about it on Twitter or posting a picture of it on Facebook when were done.
      This has caused a divide in people. There are those who think people are wasting their time on the internet when they should be having real human contact, and there are those who take advantage of the opportunity to communicate with people all over the world through the internet. Obviously, we LOVE social networking, but it's all about balance.
       Now that im done with my rant, I will let you in on the purpose of this blog. Even though it hasn't been very long, BTSP has grown and we couldn't be more excited. We are constantly working on ways to improve and reach as many people as possible. In doing so, we have ended up on most of the main social networking sites. We do this because we want to hear from you. We don't make any money or get anything out of what we do. All we want is to encourage and inspire as many people as possible to follow their heart and dreams. We have so much faith in this generation and we are just here to give out as much love and support as possible so everyone so they can rise to their full potential. Below is a list of ways we can be contacted. We want to hear from you no matter what it's about. You can tell us about your band or a band you think we should listen to, or give us feedback on any of our blogs. You could send us lyrics you like or even talk to us about becoming a BTSP writer. We love, love, LOVE new friends, new music and new opportunities so contact us any time. :)

                                                   Hope your inspired,
                                                         --BTSP

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Email
b4thestorm@live.com

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Blogger Account
http://beforethestormpromotions.blogspot.com/

Everyone Knows a Song.

A song that gets you through the day. A song that makes you want to cry. A song that builds hope. A song that reminds you of a certain time. A song with such deep meaning you still feel it after it’s over.

As an aspiring writer, one thing I always pay attention to in a song is lyrics. Some lyrics are fun and easy to sing along to and some are so complex the meaning is debated for decades. I’d like to share with you a song that touched my heart recently. I ask that you don’t judge the song by if you like the artist or the way it sounds, but by the content of the story hidden in the simple words of the song.

On The Brightside

By Never Shout Never (Christofer Drew Ingle)

I met a man of two feet tall

This man was quite ambitious

In a world that is so vicious to us all

I said, “Hi,” as he replied

He said, “Listen to these words

That I have lived by my whole life

“You’re only as tall as your heart will let you be

And you’re only as small as the world will make you seem

When the going gets rough and you feel like you may fall

Just look on the brightside - you’re roughly six feet tall”

I met a man of 12 feet tall

He towered like a giant

In a world that was defiant of his height

I said, “Hi,” as he replied

He said, “Listen to these words

That I have dreaded my whole life

“You’re only as tall as your heart will let you be

And you’re only as small as the world will make you seem

When the going gets rough and you feel like you may fall

Just look on the brightside - you’re roughly six feet tall.”

I am a man of six feet tall

Just looking for some answers

In a world that answers none of them at all

I’ll say, “Hi,” but not reply

To the letters that you write

Because I found some peace of mind

Cause I’m only as tall as my heart will let me be

And I’m only as small as the world will make me seem

When the going gets rough and I feel like I may fall

I’ll look on the brightside - I’m roughly six feet tall.

I think there is so much to interpret from such simple words. This song/story has inspired me a lot. I hope you all find your own special meaning for it and it helps you through a hard day. Next time you hear lyrics that sound silly or odd, look for a deeper meaning. There’s no limit to imagination. (: I’d love to hear your interpretation of the song or if you know a song with lyrics that are meaningful to you, feel free to contact me here, facebook, tumblr (btsp.tumblr.com), twitter (@BTSPmusic) or email (b4thestorm@live.com).

                                                                Hope your inspired

                                                                                —BTSP

Live With Compassion.

 Before The Storm is very passionate about what we believe. One Belief that is super important to us is that people have the power to accomplish anything. Whether it’s through music or coming together and standing up for a good cause, we feel it’s important that we take responsibility for the world we inhabit.

Everything about our world is changing by the minute and if we want to have any say in those changes, we have to speak up. Just because something has “always been” doesn’t mean that’s how it should always be.

One organization we fully support in this is Peta2. In case you don’t know what that is, we’ll fill you in. PETA is the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Peta2 is the youth division of PETA that deals strongly with teenagers and young adults changing the world we live in for the better by promoting a life of compassion, love and respect for all the earth’s creatures.

What does this have to do with music? Glad you asked ;) There are so many bands that have caught on to the importance of loving everyone and exploiting and torturing no one (including animals). Peta2 is very involved in the music scene, being present on numerous tours including Warped tour, and has sat down with many artists to discuss various animal rights issues that we should all be aware of. By visiting their website (Peta2.com) you can watch/read interviews from some of your favorite bands or artists and see where they stand on important issues and why they chose to live with compassion.

 Some of you might be thinking…”OK, why do I care what they think about animals? Everyone likes animals…so what?” Its okay I have been there to. I didn’t understand why it was such a big deal when a band I liked did an ad or interview with Peta2 until after I watched the interviews. There are so many issues that greatly affect they we live and we don’t even know about most of them. Because so many bands/artists are taking a stand against animal cruelty, knowledge about what is really going on is spreading.

Do you know what kind of pain was suffered for your Big Mac? If you’re going to eat it then you should know about the life it had before you consumed it. Cows on factory farms live miserable lives only until they get hung upside down by their legs, and  have their throat slit so all their blood can drain out (sometimes while their still conscious) so they can be chopped and sold in the meat industry.

Do you go to the circus? Elephants are whipped with bull hooks that tear out chunks of their skin, all so they can be humiliated when they are sent out to entertain a crowd. They aren’t aggressive creatures and they don’t even fight back. If they were left in their homes where they are supposed to be we could easily find something else to entertain ourselves with.

There are so many cruel things happening to animals it would take forever to talk about. Fortunately Peta2 has it all covered.  If you want to know about any animal related issues please visit the peta2 website and educate yourself and your friends. This generation has so much power and influence. What we do with that is our choice. I believe that if everyone educated themselves and understood all the terrible things that are happening, we could make a huge difference and change the way we live, for the better.

Below is a list of some of the bands associated with Peta2. See any bands you like? Find out what issues they are standing up for and find out how you can help animals at Peta2.com.

                                                                                         Hope you’re inspired,

                                                                                               —BTSP

Bring Me The Horizon, NeverShoutNever, Anti-Flag, Kid Sister, Sean Kingston, Set Your Goals, The All-American Rejects, We The Kings, Sum 41,  Alkaline Trio, Carrie Underwood, The Bouncing Souls, Four Year Strong, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Summer Set, Escape The Fate, Chiodos, Silverstein, Saosin, Aiden, The Academy is…, A Day To Remember, All Time Low, A Rocket To The Moon, Attack Attack!, Bayside, hellogoodbye, Hit The Lights, Justin Beiber, Stick to Your Guns, The Maine, Tom Delonge (Angels & Airwaves and Blink 182) , Underoath, NOFX, Valencia, Big D and the Kids Table, The AKAs Cobra Starship, AFI,  As I Lay Dying, Good Charlotte,  Rise Against, My Chemical Romance, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dead To Me, The Used, Madina Lake, Good Riddance, Between the Buried and Me, Propaghandi, Cute is What We Aim For, Story of the Year, The Loved Ones, Fear Before the March of Flames, Sick of it All, Most Precious Blood, and so, SO many more.

Starting is the hardest part.

If you’re a human being, with at least an ounce of ambition, you probably have goals and/or dreams. Dreaming can sometimes feel better than reality but when you wake up you will realize that nothing can happen until you take action. Sometimes finding a place to start can be hard, especially if the odds are greatly against you. One specific dream im referring to is being a professional musician/band. As a musician, you face more than just having to be talented at your given instrument. There are millions of people all over the world who share similar dreams. In order to set yourself apart from them and come out on top there are a few of very important things to keep in mind (In no specific order).

      Individuality. Taking a look at some of the top artists right now, although you might not find their tactics appealing, they have things about them and their music that makes people interested in what they’re doing. Being yourself and letting your music be a reflection of you is always a good thing. If you’re a horrible person (which were sure you not (: )…well, then you should take some “self improvement time” then remember that music has so much more meaning that being rich and famous. It changes moods, changes minds and changes people. Coming to this conclusion leads me to my next point…

      Intent/impact.  If you only want to be in the music business for the fame and the cash…people can tell. Part of being a musician is sharing your music with the world and leaving it subject to opinions. It seems to work for other artists, making their songs relatable because it gives people reason to listen and keep listening. Of course the music is the most important part of your career but the close second should be your image. I don’t mean looking tuff in your iron maiden shirt and skinny jeans. When you put yourself in a position where people are always watching you (and they will be) you take the risk of badly influencing many people or releasing a reputation of yourself that you didn’t intend to. It’s important to consider what kind of effect you will have and what will make you likeable.

       Fans! (Duh?). It’s important to get and maintain a solid fan base. This is where BTSP comes in (: If you pay attention to your fans, they will pay attention to you. Because of all the new technologies, it’s easier than ever to see what your favorite celebs are up to. It would be smart of you to use this to your advantage. Although you are not a celebrity (yet…) people are always looking for the next big bands/musicians and they want to get to know the people behind the music. Before The Storm Promotions is a band promotion system that can help you get your music out to your target fan base.

      Using our connections and a variety of social networking sites, our goal is to help up and coming artists get the fans they deserve by promoting and recommending them to people we feel would be interested in the music. By offering exclusive interviews, pictures and info, it will give fans access to new music before it’s on the radio or TV and will help bands get enough exposure to get noticed in the industry.

      If you are a music fan looking to hear some new bands before their big break , check back here for exclusive interviews, photos and more from up and coming artists. You can also check out our Twitter for updates on these artists and what other projects were looking into at @BTSPmusic.

      If you are an artist or band looking to collab with us then we love you (: and want you to contact us here, on twitter (@BTSPmusic), search for us on facebook, and tumblr (btsp.tumblr.com) or shoot us an email at b4thestorm@live.com to set up an interview or just to give us your opinion on being a new artist. Even if your not interested in working with us you can still check for updates on blogs. Some of them will be band related but there will also be ones giving advice/opinions on the music buisiness. They arent aimed to tell anyone what is right or wrong just to give artists another perspective to look from.

                                                          Hope your inspired,
                                                                               —BTSP