Interview With ForeveR
Have you always been interested in music? What is your story and how did you start making music?
I used music as my weapon of choice for battling severe depression for nearly two decades. As a combat veteran of the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and an elite Parachute Infantry Regiment, i enlisted into the Army the day after the tragic events of 9/11. Unfortunately for me though, the biggest fight of my life was not what i was going to face in war during my combat deployments, which is certainly the most horrible experience any human being should ever have to endure in and of itself. It was what was waiting for me back home when my tour was over that would ultimately prove to be the biggest fight of my life. I started my combat tour as a husband and father. As a soldier i performed my duties exactly how you would expect one of our military’s most elite fighting force to perform flawlessly. However, as if that wasn’t hard enough to deal with, i had been informed that my wife had filed for divorce and had moved out of our home in Fort Bragg, North Carolina along with our children. The next several articles will describe some of the most pain and sadness life could throw at a person and how i turned to music as my only way of fighting back against the demons inside me.
I had never heard of the Texas based Rock Band Blue October before I deployed but on the day he returned to my home, now empty inside i recalled hearing a song on the radio named Hate Me and it was at that moment i discovered just how truly awesome the power of music can be and instantly felt a connection with the lyrical genius of Justin Firstenfeld, lead singer of Blue October.
“I was broken inside. I died that night in the desert. I didn’t know how to handle the pain. I had lost the only thing worth living for and being a soldier I couldn’t allow my soldiers to see that hurt in me. I was ashamed of myself, embarrassed. I wasn’t strong enough to cope with the hurt, so I put on a fake smile and wore that mask for years, and I buried it inside me until I heard their music. It’s difficult to explain but it was a song of theirs called Worry List that I finally broke down and cried the most painful tears of my life, I didn’t know it at the time but looking back at it now it was what saved my life because although the tears were painful and felt like acid, it was by far better than feeling nothing at all and so I bought a guitar and taught myself how to play and so that’s what the ForeveR Tribute Tracks are all about, I guess I had gotten to the point where someone heard a couple songs I played for them for the first time and they said how much they liked it and thought i had some talent and should pursue it further. And so I started learning how to be a one man band. Filming and recording myself and just kept learning more and more and more about everything it takes to go into a song you know. It’s what occupied my time and I was able to slowly release the pain and the journey it’s led me on has been unbelievable. I decided that I wanted to pay my respects to the artists and the musicians who helped save my life, as my token of appreciation before I would release my original music. My cover of Hate Me hit 10k views out of absolutely nowhere and just absolutely floored me. And although Blue October themselves may never know who the heck I am, it brings me so much joy to know that maybe I can introduce Blue October to the millions of people fighting with their depression everyday and how awesome the power of music can be!! I am truly humbled and can’t wait to see where the path leads me!”
What are you working on now? Any future releases we can look forward to?
Currently I am just finishing up the music for the last three episodes for the Washed in Blood Album, After that? I have a few projects I am really excited to work on with some amazing artists I’ve been able to cross paths with in the music app world, primarily through Bandlab and a couple others. The beginning of the year I started merging my brand ForeveR Music with MacReal whose pretty much a modern day Picasso in the Digital Arts world. So I kinda want to be a little more proactive in that area and try to stay on top of the super fast paced trajectory the music industry is heading towards.
What Is Your Ultimate Goal In The Music Industry?
In all honesty, if I can write a song that will provide some sort of relief or comfort to anyone struggling with depression like I was before I heard Blue October’s music and save a life, there’s no amount of fortune, fame or glory that could ever come close to that level of success the way I look at it.
What Has Been The Biggest Challenge In Your Career Thus Far?
Coming up with titles for songs absolutely kicks my ass. I know it’s not the sexiest answer but it’s the most honest one. It’s pretty embarrassing.
How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it or what’s Your typical songwriting process?
Yep, I hear the music in my head first and after a couple solid progressions I’ll start jotting down words or thoughts on paper that correlates to how the sound of the music makes me feel, but mainly freestyle for hip hop.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
Oh it’s completely revolutionized the way business is done in the industry. There’s just so many amazing artists with tremendous talent out there but just don’t have that plug you know to get noticed by major labels and it’s literally changing the metaphorical DNA ,if you will , of what the word Artist even means because today’s musicians have to be so much more than just a singer, shredder or spitter you know, they gotta hustle. They gotta learn how to market themselves. They gotta learn how to license themselves and all the million other little nuances that goes into a three and half minute song. And also, just the other ay, I read about how the accoustic guitar is pretty much on the endangered species list in terms of use amongst the younger humans.
List some famous musicians currently on your playlist?
HMMM loaded question!!! Because i make songs and write music for work, I try not to listen to any other people’s music, because then I am always finding myself starting to feel their flow and then I start dropping words to their stuff and then it just gets way to hard to remember my own lyrics then its just a disaster so…..
What Did You Do Before You Started Making Music?
I was a soldier!
Would you have any advice for young people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Two things, Analytical Data and SEO. Techies get it !!
If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
That about twenty more Radio Stations just like this will open up. And I am honored and at the same time humbled to be part of this. One of the subtle little things I really enjoy is answering all the awesome questions the fans ask. I cannot tell you how many times throughout the last couple years I had days where I’d be just dejected and thought what the hell am I even doing this for anymore and then I’ll look at my phone and just read all the comments and that’s oftentimes more powerful from an artists perspective as an arena full of 10k lighters in the sky and I’m really excited to get to work.
Is there anything else we should know about you? or Something that you would like to add?
Hmmm? I’m single, deathly afraid of spiders. Like for real, not even kidding DEATHLY afraid of spiders. Thanks for having me!!!
Links to Where Your Music Can be Purchased
https://www.forevermediagroup.com/