Interview with Tubefreeks Vocalist Paul van Valkenburgh
By Mick Michaels
COSMICK VIEW: Hello Paul! Welcome to the Cosmick
View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it is
greatly appreciated.
CV:
What drives you to continue to create?
Paul van Valkenburgh: We just love to rock…. so when new riffs and grooves come
up, we document them, pick the best ones and eventually record. There’s nothing like completing a full-length
album that you can leave behind even after you’re dead and gone. But it’s gotta be COOL!!
CV:
Was music your first love?
PvV:
I grew up with music in my life at a young age, so I would say yes!
CV:
Would you say music has made you the person you are today?
PvV:
Absolutely! All of my long-time friends are
from playing music.
CV:
Could you see yourself doing something completely different other than music?
If so, what would that be?
PvV:
I’m actually a computer programming nerd too so I’d do engineering work.
CV: Which artist has inspired you the most?
PvV:
It’s hard to just say one artist as we literally have hundreds of
influences. But if I had to list some,
from older to newer, I might say Black Sabbath, RUSH, A-Smith, Beatles,
Skynyrd, Yes, Zep, Heart, Metallica, Priest, GnR, AC-DC, Scorps, Nirvana, STP,
Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Pantera, Godsmack, Rage Against the Machine,
System of a Down, Limp Bizkit, Infectious Grooves, Linkin’ Park, Foo Fighters …
happen to like POD, Saliva and lots of currents bands too.
CV:
Non artist…who has been your biggest influence?
PvV:
Probably my Mom… ha ha!!
CV:
Was/Is your family supportive with your musical pursuits?
PvV:
Absolutely, I come from a family of musicians, so it’s been in my blood since
Day One!
CV:
What do you find inspires your music the most as a songwriter?
PvV:
I just love heavy grooves… you gotta start with that. But then add some kickin’ drums, solos,
harmony vocals and there you have it!!
CV: What's your go to album for motivation? Why that album?
PvV:
Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath…one of the greatest of all time
CV: Some of your favorite artists... past and present, who are they?
CV: Some of your favorite artists... past and present, who are they?
PvV:
I’d say the ones listed above but lots more too!
CV: The one album you feel every
Metalhead should own and why?
PvV:
Metallica – Kill‘em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets… if you don’t
know those 3 albums inside and out, you’re not really a Metalhead!! Ha ha ha!!
CV:
What do you consider is a defining moment in Heavy Metal history and why is it
significant… how did it impact the genre?
PvV:
Well there have been lots of them…. And
not sure they’re all about Heavy Metal, but just rock in general. One that sticks out was when Nirvana splashed
into the mainstream with “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, it kind of turned the world
of rock upside down and ushered in a new era.
Obviously the deaths of some also really shocked things like Hendrix,
John Lennon and Kurt Cobain
CV:
Who would you like to work with if given the opportunity?
PvV:
Oh man, I’m totally into the band Gojira from France right about now … would
love to work with those guys, they’re sick.
CV:
What do you feel are the top three things it takes to make it in the music
business as an artist?
PvV:
Ha ha ha!! Perseverance for sure … a
little luck, lots of hard work, and the ability to survive on no money for a
long time!!
CV:
There has been a lot of remarks among established rockers these days regarding
young, up and coming bands, that they don't stand a chance at making a career
with music into today's industry... what do you think?
PvV:
Well, I dunno about all that. Music will
always have new upstarts.
CV:
As an artist, what do you feel are your strengths?
PvV:
Me? I’m a big picture guy… so I’m not
great at any one instrument, but I’m dangerous enough to put it all together.
CV:
What do you think separates bands of today from bands of the past?
PvV:
Not much… if you like to rock, DO IT!!
The ways they distribute music has definitely changed… but riffs and
beats and grooves have always been there and always will.
CV:
With so many iconic women eligible for induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of
fame, such as Cher, Stevie Nicks and Carly Simon many among others, why do you
think they are being overlooked?
PvV:
Well, they shouldn’t be overlooked at there are tons of fantastic women in
rock… two of my favorite musicians of all time are Anne and Nancy Wilson from
Heart. Those two can go punch for punch
with any rocker out there, male or female.
CV:
We hear so much negative commentary regarding today's overall music industry.
What's your take on it? Is Rock really dead?
PvV:
No, rock isn’t dead. It’s just things
have become so fragmented these days.
So, when Led Zep was big in the 70’s, that is what EVERYBODY listened
to… so they were so huge and worldwide.
But these days you have so many different sub-genres, each of them can
only get so big.
CV: What’s next for you?
CV: What’s next for you?
PvV:
Tubefreeks is finishing up some tour dates for 2018 and we’re planning to start
recording a new album this summer… can’t wait!!
And anybody who wants to hear any of our existing stuff, head on over to
tubefreeks.com….
CV: Thank you again Paul for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I
wish you all the best and continued success with all your projects.
PvV:
Thanks a ton for having us on!!!
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