Q: Hello Mike, how are you today?
A: I’m good thanks, pretty nervous and excited but good overall.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
A: I’m a singer/songwriter from a little town in Oxfordshire in the UK. I’m also a student. So either way you look at it I sit around doing nothing quite a lot ;-). I’ve been singing and writing songs for about 5 or 6 years, used to be with a band but I decided to jump ship and go it alone after about 2 years with them so now I wander round the country playing, just me and a guitar.
Q: Who would you consider the biggest influences for your style of song writing?
A: Well, mostly I’d say American alternative/rocky/poppy bands like Lifehouse, the Goo Goo Dolls, vertical horizon. But recently i’ve been getting into the British indie scene; Frank Turner, Damien Rice and such. Pretty varied stuff, which I think helps. My stuff can be quite folky or more rocky or somewhere in between.
Q: What instruments do you play?
A: I play guitar, electric and acoustic and bass. I can also play a little piano but I wouldn’t say I’m any good. I do a lot of programming for “virtual instruments” when I record, like drums. I’d love to be able to play drums one day.
Q: What are your current goals?
A: I’d love to share my music with as many people as possible really. I’d love to do it as a signed artist, obviously – it’s the dream, after all – but if that isn’t possible then I’d love to do it all myself. But my current goal at the moment is to make the best CD I can, which is why I’m heading off to Texas for a month to work with producer Cary Pierce (of Jackopierce) on my new EP.
Q: What do you plan on doing to achieve those goals?
A: Ah, ha, as I say I’m heading off to record this CD. After that I’m planning on selling it and sending copies to various reviewers, managers, promoters, venues, labels and “industry people” as possible. I want to keep playing shows, as many as I can in as many places as I can, to get myself out there in the minds of people.
Q: Any other developments going on in your career?
A: Well I’m studying to be an engineer and producer, so I think in the long term that’ll help me with things. Other than that no, I’m pretty focused on the new CD at the moment.
Q: Do you have any records out yet? And if so, where can we buy your music?
A: As a solo artist I’ve released 2 cd’s – one self-titled and quite badly recorded EP and another single, a song I have called “That’s me”. At the moment the only place you can buy the songs is online as I’m no longer producing the CD’s. The best place to know where to get them from is to check my myspace page – www.myspace.com/mikefinley – I’m always adding new places to get them.
Q: Do you have a website, and if so, what’s the address?
A: There’s www.mikefinleymusic.cjb.net but that’s rather outdated at the moment. I need to sort out a new one. I’d say the best place to go at the moment is my myspace page, which is www.myspace.com/mikefinley. It’s the best place to find out about me, and I always do my best to respond to every message and comment so if you ever want to chat then go for it!
Q: If you could pick one band or artist that you could tour with, who would it be?
A: Lifehouse (ask me again in 5 minutes and I’ll say Goo Goo Dolls).
Lets just say you can’t decide
Q: Why?
A: They’re my musical inspirations – it would be an honour to tour with them. Also, they seem like great guys who’d be immensely fun to hang out with. And I suppose as we have a similar music style then the fans would like the songs, which is always an advantage
Q: Okay, a few random questions now.
Q: Day or night?
A: Hmm day
Q: Club venue or arena venue?
A: club venue
Q: CDs or digital music?
A: CDs
Q: Okay, one more question. What are your thoughts on people downloading songs, both legally and illegally?
A: Well downloading certainly has some fair advantages. How often don’t you get home with an album and you end up liking only one or two songs. But unfortunately illegal downloads have a negative impact on the music business and as a struggling musician I need every penny I can get. I try to put up some songs for download to encourage people to check out my other stuff.
Thank you for your time Mike, it was a pleasure talking to you
A: I’m good thanks, pretty nervous and excited but good overall.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
A: I’m a singer/songwriter from a little town in Oxfordshire in the UK. I’m also a student. So either way you look at it I sit around doing nothing quite a lot ;-). I’ve been singing and writing songs for about 5 or 6 years, used to be with a band but I decided to jump ship and go it alone after about 2 years with them so now I wander round the country playing, just me and a guitar.
Q: Who would you consider the biggest influences for your style of song writing?
A: Well, mostly I’d say American alternative/rocky/poppy bands like Lifehouse, the Goo Goo Dolls, vertical horizon. But recently i’ve been getting into the British indie scene; Frank Turner, Damien Rice and such. Pretty varied stuff, which I think helps. My stuff can be quite folky or more rocky or somewhere in between.
Q: What instruments do you play?
A: I play guitar, electric and acoustic and bass. I can also play a little piano but I wouldn’t say I’m any good. I do a lot of programming for “virtual instruments” when I record, like drums. I’d love to be able to play drums one day.
Q: What are your current goals?
A: I’d love to share my music with as many people as possible really. I’d love to do it as a signed artist, obviously – it’s the dream, after all – but if that isn’t possible then I’d love to do it all myself. But my current goal at the moment is to make the best CD I can, which is why I’m heading off to Texas for a month to work with producer Cary Pierce (of Jackopierce) on my new EP.
Q: What do you plan on doing to achieve those goals?
A: Ah, ha, as I say I’m heading off to record this CD. After that I’m planning on selling it and sending copies to various reviewers, managers, promoters, venues, labels and “industry people” as possible. I want to keep playing shows, as many as I can in as many places as I can, to get myself out there in the minds of people.
Q: Any other developments going on in your career?
A: Well I’m studying to be an engineer and producer, so I think in the long term that’ll help me with things. Other than that no, I’m pretty focused on the new CD at the moment.
Q: Do you have any records out yet? And if so, where can we buy your music?
A: As a solo artist I’ve released 2 cd’s – one self-titled and quite badly recorded EP and another single, a song I have called “That’s me”. At the moment the only place you can buy the songs is online as I’m no longer producing the CD’s. The best place to know where to get them from is to check my myspace page – www.myspace.com/mikefinley – I’m always adding new places to get them.
Q: Do you have a website, and if so, what’s the address?
A: There’s www.mikefinleymusic.cjb.net but that’s rather outdated at the moment. I need to sort out a new one. I’d say the best place to go at the moment is my myspace page, which is www.myspace.com/mikefinley. It’s the best place to find out about me, and I always do my best to respond to every message and comment so if you ever want to chat then go for it!
Q: If you could pick one band or artist that you could tour with, who would it be?
A: Lifehouse (ask me again in 5 minutes and I’ll say Goo Goo Dolls).
Lets just say you can’t decide
Q: Why?
A: They’re my musical inspirations – it would be an honour to tour with them. Also, they seem like great guys who’d be immensely fun to hang out with. And I suppose as we have a similar music style then the fans would like the songs, which is always an advantage
Q: Okay, a few random questions now.
Q: Day or night?
A: Hmm day
Q: Club venue or arena venue?
A: club venue
Q: CDs or digital music?
A: CDs
Q: Okay, one more question. What are your thoughts on people downloading songs, both legally and illegally?
A: Well downloading certainly has some fair advantages. How often don’t you get home with an album and you end up liking only one or two songs. But unfortunately illegal downloads have a negative impact on the music business and as a struggling musician I need every penny I can get. I try to put up some songs for download to encourage people to check out my other stuff.
Thank you for your time Mike, it was a pleasure talking to you