Interview with the Band Talkradio

July 05, 2024

Interview with the Band Talkradio

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to TheCosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Talkradio: Thanks very much for the opportunity.

CV: Every artist experiences highs and lows. Many struggle just to move from one level to the next, and some, unfortunately, never do. What would you consider to be a pivotal point in an artist's career which would take them from one level to the next that a struggling artist should be aware of? Is it an individual mindset or does it equate more to opportunity? Or is it something all together different in your opinion?
Talkradio: It’s interesting that you say “some, unfortunately, never do”. The reality is that the vast majority never do. One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that there isn’t one “pivotal point” that will take any artist to the next level. It’s different for everybody. There is no magic formula that will ensure you get to where you want to go. First, you need music that’s going to appeal to enough people to guarantee financial success. Then you need to somehow get noticed. You now need to sink more of your own money into promotion than ever before, and most of us can’t afford to keep throwing money into a bottomless pit. Then, even if you have the first two, the third and final thing you need is to be noticed by someone who has the influence to propel your material into the mainstream. That third one is the hardest and most unlikely thing to happen these days. It’s actually a big problem. I remember seeing an interview not long ago with a music industry professional who summed it up quite effectively. Before streaming services, recording label A&R staff were like a filter. They would pick acts they thought had potential and sign them up. If that happened to you, at least you would know that someone believed your work was worth backing financially. Now, there is no longer a filter. Anyone with a little bit of money can get themselves published on streaming services, whether good or bad. It’s now an infinite sea of content, and it can be very easy to become fatigued going through what’s out there… especially if, like my stepson says, most of it is “crap”. This also makes it impossible to know if your own work is any good.

CV: What do you feel an artist can do right now to stay relevant, especially in an environment, such as the present, where performing in front of a live audience is not an option?
Talkradio: I think I’m the wrong person to ask. I’ve never written music to “stay relevant”. I write and record, and also play live gigs with my acoustic duo, because it’s what fulfills me the most. There is nothing more satisfying to me than being able to sit back and say “wow, I just created that!” or to see a crowd getting something out of your performance. If I didn’t do these things, I probably wouldn’t be able to tolerate my day job. The music I write is obviously a big amalgam of past influences, as is the case for most artists. I simply write the kind of music I would love to hear if some new artist were to emerge right now. If people like it, it’s a bonus.

CV: What have you found to be the balancing point between relevance and over saturation when it comes to being an artist? Is there a fine line between the two or can it be looked at to some degree as the two essentially being one in the same?
Talkradio: The lines between the two have been blurred for some time. Mainstream music has sounded the same for many years. They often have a playlist of the latest hits playing in the gym and I often sometimes think I’m listening to the same song for an hour. It sounds electronic and is auto-tuned so much that you gotta wonder how bad the singer’s performance actually was. I don’t think that AI produced music will be a big transition, because music has sounded AI produced for over 10 years already.

CV: Is there any level of consideration, or even concern, to deliver on expectations, whether it being your own or that of the fans, when working on new material?
Talkradio: Not really. For me to get back into the studio, the songs have to be of a certain quality. If I can listen to an idea a week later and still think it’s amazing, then I keep it and finish the song. If I have even the smallest doubt, I move onto something else. I don’t compromise by standards due to anyone else's expectations.

CV: For you, what’s first when it comes to songwriting…is it a matter of lyrics melody, chords, beat, attitude? Or is it more organic than that where the moment dictates the process and outcome?
Talkradio: Melody is the most important thing to me. I also have to be in a certain mood/mindset, which is hard to describe. The first thing that happens is a melody turns up in my head. I start by humming it into my phone’s voice recorder. If I listen to it the next day and I still think it has potential, I go to my little studio at home, record it on a track in Pro Tools, then work on the instrumental tracks, starting with the guitars. Although I work the drums out last, they obviously get recorded first when I’m ready to do the proper demo (which is what I take with me to a studio when recording). Lyrically, I’ve always written about some experience, whether it was recent or from the past. I can easily spend an entire day working on a song without noticing. Sadly, I don’t often get whole days because I have a day job.

CV: What do you believe makes songwriting more honest and impactful...that something that both the artist and listener can share?

Talkradio: I think it can be one of two things. It can either be a melody that sticks in someone’s head, or it can be a lyric that the listener can identify with, possibly an experience both they and the writer have had. As a listener, I’ve experienced both countless times, as I’m sure most of us have. If the listener finds both in the same song, they probably carry that song with them in some way for the rest of their lives. Sometimes it’s also a reminder of a certain period of their lives that they don’t want to forget. The song can become something like an anchor or bookmark.

CV: What do you feel has been the greatest contribution to your success as an artist?
Talkradio: I can’t honestly say that I’ve had success. Success to me would mean I could give up my day job. I’ve had many people tell me they love what I do, and have had a surprising amount of positive reviews globally, but that doesn’t equate to a big rise in streams or even an increased following on my social media. Smaller artists can’t afford the kind of marketing blitz that labels can. As I mentioned previously, I do this because I love to create, and I can create the music I enjoy listening to, rather than waiting for the genre to come back. Interestingly, a recent podcast mentioned that the last 20 years have been the longest period in 100 years that rock has not been a dominant force in popular music. You have to question whether or not the labels will ever allow that to happen again.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming up?
Talkradio: I’ve already started writing for my next recording. It will be a 5 track release, rather than a full album. I’m not putting a deadline on it, though. Whether I finish this year or next, will depend on how I feel.

CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with
our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Talkradio: Thx again.

Check out Talkradio at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkradio.aus

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.