Anthony Dixon
Interview 9 July
2007
Interviews Menu interviews
Name
Style R&B Inspirational
Tell me about yourself, where you from,
background, family
Well...I was born in Glendale, AZ but
my family relocated to Panama City, FL where I was raised and got introduced to
the world of music by my Mother and her side of the family. The gathering
place was the dining room where there also sat a piano. It was a daily
concert when my mother and her sisters got together and I guess some of their
love for music rubbed off on me, my siblings and cousins as all of us play some
instrument or another and sing.
Do you still live there, if not where
are you based
I no longer live in
What are you working on now
I actually just finished my cd that streeted May 8th of this
year. I am now doing all the hard
work….doing show’s and selling the product I created (all outta words…) And
just trying to get folk who don’t know of me to come out to spend sometime at
my shows and buy the cd. I feel
myself growning with each show.
It’s very exciting.
Do you have a CD out or when can we
expect it.
Yup! It is available now.
It’s called “all outta words…” It’s available on my website www.anthonydixon.com
Folk can get it as a physical cd or they can download the album or individual
tracks there also.
How’s it going down – what tracks can
we look out for/do you like
Well now…that changes for me quite often as getting in the
listening chair on my project and divorcing myself from looking at it as the
artiste…basically I discover new interest each time. I’d say that “My Mistress Goes By The Name…” is my favorite
song right now…but I like performing “Where Have You Been?” most…and I get the
audience involved in the latter which is really fun.
Did you write the songs
Yes. I wrote them all.
I will probably invite in other writers and producers on the 2nd
project (*thinking ahead*...)
If so tell me about the writing process
It varies.
Sometimes I start with a beat and bass line…while at other times I begin
with a melody…or song idea. I also
re-write once I have the basic idea down because there is always a more
creative way to say something that has all ready been said…as there is nothing
new under the sun anymore. Well…so
I think.
And production?
I did all of the pre-production at home in lonely solitude
and then ventured out to the two main studios that I used to complete the
production. Inviting in skilled
musicians to replay some of the music lines I’d created digitally but with a
“real person” performance. I count myself fortunate to have enlisted the
talents of legendary jazz musicians’ Lonnie Plaxico, Marvin Sewell, and Abdul
Zurihameed. Now the final
production was done by my co-producer Mr. Shawn Lucas of Crazy Caps
Studio’s. I look forward to working
with him more so from the foundation the next time I take on such a venture.
What instruments do you play
I play keyboards well enough to arrange but I most likely
won’t be seen playing in a live situation…too much for me to think about all
ready. lol
Where is it obtainable from - www.anthonydixon.com , iTunes, CDBaby.com…the
usual indie selling suspects…ya know.
Tell me about your style, what you do
and what do you add to the rest of the stuff out there.
My style has best been described by Dexter Myers as “r&b
inspirational”…it’s not scripturely based but “most” of the messages are
uplifting. But I do love to sing a
sad ballad every now and again…I think their beautiful and healing in their own
way.
Whats your show like, what gigs are you
doing.
My show is ever evolving…I do some show’s where all you will
hear is my music with a four piece band and backing vocalist ( and a great
sound engineer hopefully)…while other shows I may do mostly covers of pop/jazz
standards and throw in a couple of my songs. I usually do this when I have to sing without backing
vocalist. Most of my songs arrangements
require having backing vocals so when I don’t have them I have to change up the
set list.
Do you use the same people live as on
your recorded material.
No I was fortunate to have the likes of Lonnie Plaxcico,
Marvin Sewell (jazz musicians who play with Casandra Wilson frequently). These two brother also have their own
show and cd’s so they are not available to me. Also the other players like Shawn Lucas don’t really play
live any longer so I normally use a totally new band. The only player from the cd that plays live at my show’s is
Do you write your songs, if so what do
you draw from.
I do write my own songs and I draw from
my own personal experience as well as those around me and sometimes I simply
roll with a story in my head that I’ve never experienced but want to write the
story and put it to melody. I hear
the stories of the characters and they want their story told…so even when it’s
not about me I’ll tell it…I’ll sing it.
Tell me about the team of people around
you.
hawn Lucas was my co-producer on this
project, and Ado Coker is the most consistent band member so far. I’m independent so the majority of the
work and promotion I do on my
own. I’ve been approached by a few
folk who are interested in managing me but I like having my arms around this
biz for now. I want to know what I
need management for before I take them on. As I do all of this myself I’m learning what things I’d like
a manager to handle and what I’d still like to handle myself.
Whats it like getting yourself heard,
and getting stuff down as an independent.
Hard as all get out…frustrating at times but I slowly see the
momentum building and I KNOW I’m talented and have a voice/message to
share…some will hear it …some will not…nonetheless I don’t know how not to
share it. It’s difficult getting
your songs airplay as well as getting it in retail and getting folk to buy …I
sell best when I actually do a show then it give the listener that chance to
hear what their getting before the purchase.
Who are your influences, currently and
from back in the day
Currently I am soooooo in love with Vivian Sessom’s and her
band “Albright” love their work so much that I intend to tap them for a
production or two on my next project.
Back in the day…I was a big fan of all the balladeer’s like Luther Vandross, James Ingram,
Jeffry Osbourne, And I’m anxiously
awaiting the new Maxwell, and Trina Broussard projects.
Who else have you worked with?
Jennifer Holliday, Melba Moore, Diana Ross, Tyler Perry,
Robert Giluame,
What else have you done, how have you
got where you are now?
I’ve done musicals like Purlie, CHESS, Ain’t
Misbehavin’. I don’t consider
myself an actor but in most of those show’s they were looking for a vocalist
who could get by acting…but my voice got me the role most times. lol
Has music always been in you from an
early age.
Definitely, church and school chorale played
a big part as well as many musical family members.
Are you in it full time.
No I still work a 9 to 5 to make ends meet but I may take a
leap of faith in 2008…got some things in the works.
What other independent artists are you
feeling.
P.J. Morton, Brown Baby Girl, Ledisi, Vivian Sessoms, Daniel Beatty, and
Lisala
What’s the scene like where you
are.
Many indie artist and musicians but
there are only a handful really making some progress in this game. Mostly
R&B, Neo-Soul are the shows I attend but there is also a lot of Rock. It’s hard but I put myself in the
making progress area.
What is your following like locally.
It’s small but growing.
One show may be packed while another is a wee sparse. Lol…I know the
masses will come in time.
What do you know about other markets,
Not much but I plan to find out more in 2008. I was just added a few weeks ago to www.garagebandjapan.com It’s a good look cause I’ve been getting
lots of hits and buys from
How do you see Soul Music right now?
I don’t really know.
People say there’s no real or good music out anymore but there is…it’s
just not always found mainstream.
I know it’s overused but “it is what it is.” lol
What are your ambitions?
To eventually make my living completely from my music…be it songwriting
for others, selling my cd’s, performing my show and maybe even revisiting the
musical theater again.
Whats happening next?
Well I’ve a listening party with ONUTSS tonight and I plan to
do a few more show’s this summer. And just working the cd as much as I can here
in NY and the east coast…possibly venturing out to the west coast or across the
waters to keep the momentum going.
Is there something adventurous you
might like to do but haven’t yet with your music?
Mmmmhmmm…but I’m not tellin’ right now.
What do you enjoy most about what you
do?
When someone tells me they were moved
by a lyric or felt a little better because of something they heard in the music/messages
that are channeled thru me…even if it’s only one person. Then that is when I enjoy what I do the
most. The exchange.
What other things do you like to do.
Write a book of fiction.
A few random one word things:
Favourite artist? Right now…Vivian Sessoms and albright
Film? The Wiz
Actor/Actress? Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett
Food? Just about anything Thai with ginger in it!
Drink? B&B strait up with a splash of sour mix.
City? There no place like home…
Country? Hmmmm…I haven’t traveled enough to know but
Sport/Team?
Anything else you’d like to say?
For any artist who is desirous of advancing in the music game
and is willing to do it without “The Machine.” I can tell you this “it is possible”
Good luck and thanks for your
time. Thank you Mike
Visitors: