Being a bit of a power pop historian as well as artist, how do you feel the genre has changed since the late 90s?
KS: Sadly, for a genre based on some of the greatest and most successful groups of all time (The Beatles, The Who, The Byrds), power pop is always going to be a niche market and that certainly has not changed albeit there have been some acts who have broken through to garner real hits (Fountains Of Wayne/"Stacy's Mom") so that's a great development. In each decade, there's always a strong crop of new power pop music, just a shame that the public at large does not embrace the genre as it should. Of course, My space and Facebook have added much needed ammunition to the indie power pop artist/group chances for garnering attention direct from potential listeners, another giant leap forward for the genre.
Did "Sonic Crayons" take a long time to produce?
KS: Yes, "Sonic Crayons" took on its own life, I recorded some music back East and then after moving to L.A. recorded sporadically, finally finishing up the CD this year. I'd love to put out more CDs. I'm always writing songs However, being a solo artist with no one to divvy up responsibilities--creative and financial--it's a heavy burden, which is one the primary reason I don't put out as many CDs as others. Having said that, I'm really proud of the record and think it's a solid progression from my first two CDs.
Obviously some songs are tributes to your rock and roll heroes. Was there a musical style you wanted to do, that didn't make the album?
KS: I don't intentionally try to emulate my musical heroes, but I guess my love of melodic rock--The Beatles, The Who, Raspberries, Badfinger, Todd Rundgren, Cheap Trick, ad infinitum is just in my DNA. What is strange is I'm also a huge Elvis Presley fan but nothing I write sounds like his stuff.
How was making this album different from "1301 Highland Avenue" and "Happy Accidents"?
KS: I hope that with each album I'm getting better and better as writer, musician and performer. I think the songs that make up "Sonic Crayons" are a bit tougher and harder edged while still retaining cool and surprising melodies.
If you could collaborate with any one person (dead or alive) on a new album, who would it be?
KS: Okay, I'm gonna cheat a bit and give you a few...
Dead:
I would have loved to have worked with John Lennon (who wouldn't?) and George Harrison, two of my biggest heroes. Let's throw Elvis in there too.
Alive:
More cheating...How about a few? Paul McCartney. Pete Townshend. Stevie Wonder. That's a pretty stellar group right there.
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