Inside the Mind of a Local Pennsylvania Musician
Up Close and Personal with Josh Crusan!
Josh started writing his own songs at the age of 13 and continued to do so until the age of 18, when he sat back and realized that the music/lyrics he composed where horribly shallow in his eyes.
Heading to college at IUP, (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) he began his search of local musicians. He discovered great insight on how to improve his work, by making it more poetic, thoughtful, and catchier, meaning more to his audience's interest.
This local, musician caught my interest. Wanting to know everything there is to know about an upcoming musician an interview was much needed!
Minds of musicians are fascinating, interesting, dark, completely on a different level. Composing and writing pieces that the common mind would never on its best day would be able to accomplish.
Asking Josh just that, how do you come up with your work, lyrics and music Combinations? He replies with "I start with a riff that I play on the guitar that I personally think sounds catchy."
I know exactly what you readers are thinking, what is a riff? Being ignorant myself to music terminology I thought the exact same, when he replied to this question. Immediately I asked him to elaborate more on this unfamiliar term. He laughed and responded with, "A riff is a series of notes on the guitar that sound good."
Interested in how musicians come up with the words to their lyrics I ask josh how he comes up with his lyrics and he replied "I have to have the song completely recorded before I start writing words so I know what kind of aura the music is putting out. Then I write about what the music reminds me of the most. This process can take me a few hours, but most of the time; a song will start writing itself MONTHS before the ending processes."
How in the world do musicians put together these crazy music combinations to insane lyrics, it baffles me! "Various bands from around here inspire me greatly. Their mindset is it's not just about the music, it's about being in a community of musicians and getting out messages to change the way people live their lives. It's about having fun and developing friendship. Sometimes, it's about complaining, dishing out your feelings, but it's mostly about togetherness and friends", Said Josh.
What determines what is good to play and what is not, I ask. Josh replied "The words and what the artist represents. I've come to the conclusion that people like music, but the majorities like the words to the point where you can pound on the ground, call it music, and write fascinating lyrics, people will still like it."
What resources do musicians use to get there music out into the public? I ask Josh next.
"One of two things I go about. You have to know people that run music venues and bars, or GOOGLE, GOOGLE, GOOGLE! That's how you find shows outside of your area. Google is in a way a musician's best friend. Also, social networking sites such as, Facebook and Myspace."Josh said.
I know I get writers block all the time, has this ever happened to you, and how do you deal with it or overcome it? I asked Josh. "YOU DON'T! When writer's block comes, it NEVER LEAVES! ha ha. Usually, if I start writing, and give myself a deadline, the first song takes a while to write, but then after that first one, they just start flowing. When I wrote my first CD, it took me 7 months to complete. It took me 5 months just to write the first song!" He replied with a smile.
An inspiration to me, learning a great amount in this interview process I am curious to know more about upcoming events in josh's musical career and see where he ends up in the world. He tells me I can do so by following him on Facebook, and Myspace. Josh will be posting where his next local gig is on both social networking sites, log in and friend him if interested in knowing more information!
, http://myspace.com/jcrusanmusic http://myspace.com/pickenngrinnen ,
Published by *Shell*
A young mother of 1 and expecting. Currently a stay at home mother enjoying the time spent with her son and husband and working on freelance writing, and freelance transcription. View profile
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