1RKO'S "SIMON DANIELS," INTERVIEW!!!!
AUDIODROME MAGAZINE, ITALY!!!
Photo (above)- Editor Enrico Navella
Credit: Interview by Editor/Writer Enrico Navella aka Henrykane Audiodrome Magazine, Italy
Since you were born they keep on telling you not to trust strangers or even talk to them. What a loss and a lack of knowledge! Sadly too often a lot of editors around the world make the terrible mistake of considering only the “big names” of music and not taking care of artist’s that are going to make it big in the music business. Personally, I’ve always thought of myself as a “rock n’roll gonzo journalist”. I mean, it’s way more important to live INSIDE the music and the unexpected events that happen in the core of it, especially from below. Did you ever ask yourself how many marvelous and brilliant human beings reality hides out there? One of them is surely Simon Daniels singer, songwriter and lead guitars of the brilliant 1RKO! A stranger, indeed. But a stranger who acts, speaks and makes music like someone who reached a superior conscience of the world and of his artistic means.
Nevertheless, I’m not just talking about an individual but also about a Californian rock n’roll earthquake called 1RKO!!! Simon and his unique named band 1RKO have delivered a consistent and uncontaminated piece of hard rock work that represents magnificently what will be acclaimed as a classic tomorrow. He prefers to sum it up with a modest “AC/DC, Kiss, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, The Beatles and The Stones influenced uplifting, pure energy rock n’roll”. But to my ears the story has not been so fluent as I was blown away by the 1RKO sound and the style of this band that will soon take off like a nuclear blast worldwide. Gotta be honest? Musically I’m not so used to being astonished these days. While 1RKO and their Personal Manager Leslie Monet are working hard to get a major deal, right now, as far as I’m concerned, all I can do is to spread the immense verb of this vibrating Los Angeles hard rock Revelation of 1RKO and of its charismatic leader and guru.
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing to you THE MAN Simon Daniels of the knockout Los Angeles based on fire rock band 1RKO who was able to lend me a new enthusiasm, a refreshed trust in mankind, a deeper love for music and life.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH SIMON DANIELS OF 1RKO!!!!
Picture: Simon Daniels
Photo Credit: Valerie Nerres
1RKO- ( left to right) Derek, Rich, Simon and Brian
Photo Credit: Justice Howard
Graphic Credit: Alan Hogg 747 Designs
1) Hi Simon! So glad and honored to meet “The Man”. Maybe the one who finally has got the power to re-establish something new and original on the horizon of the Sunset Strip rock scene still not compromising with modernity. So I ask you, how’re you doing? And how does it feel to be someone who still believes?
Hi Enrico,
I'm doing great and pressing forward.
It's not believing, it's knowing. Something in you keeps guiding and directing you towards a certain destination. I never felt alone in the journey and rock n’ roll is forever. I don't think much or plan out what to write. Trends don't matter to me, but only what comes to me naturally. What's natural at this point is a combination of everything I've been exposed to but mainly what I listened to in the way of rock n’ roll when I first fell in love with music.
2) Could you explain to the universe the genesis of this project called 1RKO which, as I know, goes all around you?
1RKO stands for First Round Knock Out. The concept of intention, victory and going for the kill and taking no prisoners with the energy of a nuclear blast.
Our soon to debut CD release 1RKO- First Round Knock Out is best described as timeless, dynamite, kick ass, uplifting rock n' roll that touches the very core of the souls of each listener, that lifts their spirits and moves them in a positive way. Adrenalin and excitement is what we crave. The response from our worldwide fan base is beyond amazing.
Simon on the cover of his solo project
3) Simon, what is your musical story about?....
At 11 years of age I was lucky enough to find out that music was something very natural for me. I started singing, playing guitar, piano and writing songs. Soon I was forming bands and playing in schools. The combination of a gift plus the attention I got were real motivators.
4) Honestly speaking what is it like living as a rock musician in Hollywood today? And which are the connections between you, your colleagues in other bands and the whole music biz?
It's not as glamorous as people think. It's a different scene and you got to do what it takes.
I see a lot of my friends from the industry here and there when I go out and we do have a good time, but rock music is not the trend in L.A. these days. Lots of people I know moved out to other states where rock n' roll is still alive and well. In fact, our Personal Manager Leslie Monet is doing most of her business for 1RKO out of New York City which says a lot as unremarkable rock scene is Los Angeles!
5) Your wonderful album is very difficult experience to describe. You’ve got such a special, unique, heaven-sent way of interpreting hard rock. But you must have some influences like every human being. Who they are?
Thank you very much!
Everything that happens daily will influence a songwriter. Also many times, things that happen in life to others close to you or far away from you will materialize in the form of songs in you. Rock n' roll does not come from the brain, but from the gut. In other words, It's not a thinking process, but a FEELING that you need to express.
Untamed, raw and wild emotions.
6) Which inspirations and experiences did you feel were taking you to next level while creating and realizing this musical masterpiece 1RKO- First Round Knockout? Or did it ever enter your mind this sentence: “Wow, I’ve created something I’ve never heard before!”?
I was obviously influenced by the music I grew up listening to. It became a subliminal influence that was naturally incorporated in my character and how I express it. The songs on our debut CD release 1RKO- First Round Knockout are highly energetic and uplifting. That's what I wanted to accomplish. A boost for the soul to make the audience walk away feeling like they just got an injection of positive energy that lasts a lifetime.
7) Simon, your melodic hard rock possesses that sort of vocal, ethereal, dreamy vibe always heard only with California rock groups, since The Beach Boys, you have got it nailed down. Is there something in the spirit of that land that allows a musician to grow artistically beyond his ordinary creativity?
Well, the sunshine and the beaches certainly don't hurt. Just kidding!
Besides heavy guitars and riffs I'm very into melodies and harmonies. It's that tropical vibe, you know...
8) The L.A. chronicles and the imaginary of this town have always taught that if you want to make it, you can only make there. But today, who are the real pragmatic supporters of rock music there? I’ve heard of FlashRock being almost a corporative rock n’roll institution in L.A.
L.A. and Hollywood will always remain a place of dreams for movies and music but the scene is not nearly as supportive of rock'n'roll as it used to be in past years. If you make it here it is still possible to reach the world in one shot but executives don't really go to see bands anymore since they can watch videos on their computers. The live element is missing in the full blown rock scene here in Los Angeles.
FlashRock is awesome because they give new artists the chance of making a raw live video and promote it at no cost. FlashRock radio is also one of the biggest supporters for new bands in the Hollywood scene. I love those guys.
9) Simon, which songs on your new album "First Round Knockout", really mean a lot to you or have a special story behind?
All of them, but I 'll give you a few examples.
"The Man": taking responsibility for your acts, but living it UP, kickin butt every day and always being able to stand back up and rock.
"One more time": being aware that you made a mistake and asking for another chance (sounds familiar anybody?).
"Right now": living in the moment and not being sidetracked by anybody else’s negativity.
10) How do you see the future of 1RKO and of the L.A. rock n’roll scene in general?
It's pretty unpredictable, but 1RKO is here to carry that rock n'roll flag whatever it takes. Chances are good that we will be picked up by a major label in New York City and it can fireball from there worldwide meaning we're not counting on the Los Angeles music scene to launch 1RKO in a sense despite that we live in Hollywood.
11) On the song track called “So Alive”, which - as I’ve been informed by your wonderful manager Leslie Monet - will be your first single on a national radio campaign, you sing a gorgeous sentence: “the universe is on my side”. What does that mean?
When you follow your gut (or should I say your heart) you never feel like you're doing anything just by yourself. You're doing what the universe set you up to do. Therefore stay true to yourself and the universe will always be on your side. Our manager Leslie Monet has been in contact with the top ....U.S..... national radio promoters who selected " So Alive," as the first single out of three planned for promotion several months ago. However, that all could change now since we just recorded 3 more tracks to add to the 1RKO- First Round Knockout CD release that are strong contenders as singles as well. Music industry insiders have informed that our debut release is now packing about 7-8 singles. On the official 1RKO- First Round Knockout debut release there will now be 14 songs on it. So Alive is one of many singles...I am very pleased with the new tracks that blow away the listener as well.
12) 1RKO released an EP in 2007 that is available on your MySpace through CDBaby.com with original tracks and a cover of “Fox on the Run”. How did you choose which tracks were to go on this EP?
The tracks "So Alive", "Right Now" and "The Man" were a reflection of our state of mind at the time. We were coming back from a little tour on the West coast and a feeling of extreme confidence enveloped us. We immediately had to translate that into music and I wrote these songs on the spot. They had to be the ones to best represent 1RKO...
Now, "Fox on the Run" was always one of my favorites from the 70’s and we decided to make a modern version of it, heavier than the original version. We were really happy how it turned out and decided to include it on the EP itself.
13) Since your EP release has there been a change in your sound or choices of tracks for new releases and live performances?
Not a change, but simply growth...
The new songs are very powerful with influences from the new experiences that we've had since then...
14) What do each of you do with your time when you are not playing music?
We're all into athletics and we also have our small businesses in L.A. to take care of being self employed, Brian is a professional marathoner with victories such as winning the Boston Marathon. Derek is a graphic designer, Rich knows how to build things and I am bum. Just kidding! I am involved with songwriting, music production, investments, jogging and cycling...
15) Is there anything you would like to add that we have not talked about or you would like people to know?
Come visit 1RKO everyday at http://www.myspace.com/1rko to say hello to the band and for 1RKO updates.
16) Thank you Simon for taking the time to speak with me today about 1RKO- First Round Knockout for our worldwide readers. Truly appreciate the time you took out of your busy schedule to tell us more about 1RKO, that no doubt will hit the world by storm!
And, thank you very much, Enrico! You rock!! We love ya!
1RKO Website: http://www.myspace.com/1rko
Personal Manager: Leslie Monet
Leslie Monet Management
Website: http://www.myspace.com/leslie_monet
Email: Lmdaeda@comcast.net