Woody Woodiyaki

Story

I have played guitar for approximately 20 years now. My first band was a punk band called "Noise Vandals", we recorded an unreleased album of all original material in the early 2000's. After that, I was in an alt-rock band called "Stoneface", and we released a full length album of original material in 2011 called "Smile At The Natives", which is available in many digital music platforms, including Spotify and iTunes. Most recently as a guitarist, I was in a modern hard rock band called "Awkward Silence". In 2017 we released an EP entitled "Cue The Crickets", which was also released to many digital music platforms. None of the above listed bands are currently still in existence, but I do have two new projects (one brand new, and the other new to me) that I'm playing guitar in now: One is an alternative rock / grunge rock band named 5 Body Blade, and the other is a doom/thrash stoner rock/metal band named Gunmetal Grey. I have played bass for approximately seven years now. My only experience in playing bass with a band has been my current band "Ice Cold Domestic", which was formed originally as a cover band in 2011. We do covers and interpretations of many 90's and 00's rock bands (Weezer, Green Day, Foo Fighters, etc., etc.), and have just finished a full length album of original material called "On Tap", which will be available through CD Baby's digital music platform partners in October of 2018.

Profile

Instruments

Genres

Influences

Equipment

What is music to you? What does it give you?

Music is may things to me. I use it as a means of expression, often for my own thoughts on things that I don't quite understand. Music also serves as a way for me to find common ground for relating to others. Music is great therapy too, because nothing can help alleviate the BS of a tough day like a song that we know and love. Music is an answer for questions that we don't even know how to ask. Music is an explanation for feelings and emotions that don't quite get covered by normal words.

What is your music dream?

I don't even know how to answer this, but...... I want to be playing a show, and see people that I have never met jamming and singing to my songs. Then after the set I want to talk to them and ask them the first question from this interview.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

Minimizing the size and scope of the government. I'm not naive enough to think that we could function perfectly in an ungoverned society, but government is the beast that continues to feed itself, and the bigger it gets, the more it needs to feed. The average person is the one who suffers most from this.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

That's easy...... "Metal Health" by Quiet Riot. My oldest sister played it for me when it came out, and it was my first real introduction to rock and roll. It's my theme song to this very day.

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Slayer, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Against Me!, Dream Theater, Weezer, Foo Fighters, Helmet, Soul Asylum, Machine Head, Pearl Jam, Collective Soul, Eve 6, Phish, The Toadies

What inspires you to make music?

The unique combination of experience and emotion.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

Whatever you do, whatever you care about...... give it everything that you have. To do any less is to sell yourself short

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

I've done this enough now that it really depends on the audience. I feed off the energy of the audience. The more they dig it, the more I dig it :)

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

I'm not sure what this question is asking, but my response would be that the music "industry", just like everything else, is evolving and adapting. Musicians have to be able to evolve and adapt with it.

What do you think of Drooble?

I'm still quite new to it, but so far so good. I like the Karma system, and the way that it encourages users to interact.

What frustrates you most as a musician?

The fact that it is so hard to make a living doing it. As such, so many of us have to maintain steady employment in unrelated fields, and they typically are a disappointing slew of uninspiring nonsense.

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

Absolutely. I attend local shows. I befriend my fellow musicians. I work with my fellow musicians and other members of the local community to plan and sponsor events, including charity benefits. I buy music and merch from bands, and provide honest and constructive criticism to them when they ask for it. I like and share their pages and music on social media.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

What I am learning more and more is that we have to be willing to adapt to different formats and plans for the entire process...... from songwriting to recording to performing to releasing content, we have to find the platforms and formats that work best for us.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

Reliance Code - Stigler, Oklahoma TVH - Roland, Oklahoma The Alive - Fort Smith, Arkansas Solidify - Roland, Oklahoma Sovereign Dame - Tulsa, Okalhoma Vore - Fayetteville, Arkansas