Interview with Dr. Space

November 11, 2024

Interview with Dr. Space

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Dr Space: Thanks Mick!

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 altogether different in your opinion?
Dr. Space: These are some big and challenging questions! I guess these days, that pivotal point is when you have enough income coming in from selling your music online or streaming to do mainly what you want as an artist. This is not really obtainable though for most people today with the way streaming works only for the company and not the artist. I think you have to stay focused on your target audience and keep them happy and hope you have the opportunity to expand it a bit all the time. Luck and having the right connections is also super important. In the old days you would have a manager who took 20% but they worked hard for you and this hardly exists today. The industry is so different and its goals as well, which is not to grow the artist, but to make as much short-term profit as possible and this works against the artist.

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?
Dr Space: I think I addressed that in the previous answers, but you have to engage your audience and fans as much as possible, take advantage of Bandcamp Friday to sell directly to the fans. If you are a prolific artist, get people to subscribe to you on Bandcamp and use this money to create more music and support your merch etc.…. Speak to your fans…. Find out what they want.

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?
Dr Space: I just try to be true to myself and keep making music that excites me with my solo projects and different bands and hope the fans continue to dig and support. I also try to make each record quite different from the one before, always moving forward and not looking back so much…. People are struggling today it is mostly the people in the 50-70s that have money to spend on music, so you also need to be aware of not releasing too much. I face this all the time….

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?
Dr Space: For me, not really…. I try to keep evolving and get better and better at what I do. I create music all the time but only 20% of it ever gets heard by anyone…except my wife.

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?
Dr Space: I make nearly all improvised instrumental music so I do not worry about lyrics at all. I have done a few spoken word pieces but not many. My process is very organic. Set up my synthesizers, have an idea and just try things out.

CV: What do you believe makes songwriting more honest and impactful...that something that both the artist and listener can share?
Dr Space: Just be true to yourself and try to be unique and not copy other people or trends. Do what comes naturally to you. That is the only real path.

CV: What do you feel has been the greatest contribution to your success as an artist?
Dr Space: Persistence and always putting out high quality albums with great sound and artwork. I find working with great artists is also crucial to my success. David Graham, has done more than 70 covers and album layouts for me over the years and inspires me. His art is always amazing and he can realize my ideas so effectively. We are an awesome team. Also, my partner in Space Rock Productions, Sabine, is a huge supporter of my bands and music and my audience in Germany would be much smaller if it was not for her.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming up?
Dr Space- I have several new albums coming out. In Sept, my next solo CD, Music to Disappear to and Dr Space´s Alien Planet Trip Vol 8- Space with Bass IV will come out. My group here in Portugal, Doctors of Space, we will release a new double CD called the Wisdom of CLowns in November. Øresund Space Collective (ØSC) will release Relaxing in the Himalayas on vinyl. It was released a few years ago as a bandcamp subscriber CD. West Space and Love, we will also have our 3rd album out in the end of the year.

Next year, the amazing new 3rd ear Experience record will be released and I play a lot of synths on it. Also, a collaboration with ex members of La Ira De Dios will be released, as well as another DVD and studio album but ØSC… Lots in the pipeline… ØSC, we will play a 20th anniversary concert in Copenhagen, Denmark April 11-12th, 2025. It is going to be a very special night with lots of musicians (at least 15 different) playing over the 2 nights and we will play 4 sets of music. Also, we will play the Spaceboat in Hamburg Germany May 23-24th, our 10th time…. We hope to have a tour in Sept and play in Italy for the first time ever. Lots happening next year.

CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Dr Space: Thanks Mick for this opportunity. Great questions!

Check out Dr. Space at:
http://oresundspacecollective.com

http://oresundspacecollective.bandcamp.com

http://drspace1.bandcamp.com

http://doctorsofspace.bandcamp.com

http://www.spacerockproductions.com

Http://blackmooncircle.bandcamp.com

Http://auralhallucinations.bandcamp.com

https://estudioparaisonasn.wixsite.com/my-site

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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.