7 Questions is a segment of Project Backstage. The concept is simple, we send bands/artists 7 questions, they respond, and then we post them exactly how they were answered. Our goal is to provide some insight into some independent artists that do not get enough exposure for what they do.
Name:Derek Strait (D-ROCK)
Band: CANVAS
Location: KCMO
Members of the Band: guitars: Paul Schwerdtfeger (PAULY-C), drums electronics: Derek Strait (D-ROCK) , vocals: Shawn King (shawn wayne) , bass: Ryan Riggs (bass riggs)
The 7 Questions:
1) What is the KC independent music scene like and how do you think it can be improved?
Answer: Honestly it sucks right now. I guess things have changed a lot in 15 years! When We started out bands were not playing uptown , voodoo , we had to work on street teaming, and our own promotions fliers and word of mouth. now I see bands playing these venues , but doing all the leg work selling tix ..personally I think it’s a joke , and the way to fix it is to get new promoters ..anybody can pay to play and that takes something away from it….
2) What is the special nitch that you have that separates you from the rest of the artists in your genre?
Answer: I would say our nitch is our professionalism and how we try to put on the best show for anyone who comes to watch CANVAS and were just better than everyone else…lol
3) As a band that has been around 15 years, do you like the large shows, or the intimate shows?
Answer: I love large shows it get the butterflies going and your able to have more people hear you. Don’t get me wrong I do like smaller more intimate shows and I personally play as hard if theres 5 or 5000
4) Would you prefer to be “signed” or would you rather stay independent?
Answer: SIGNED of coarse after 15 years it might not happen but, I have seen bands, musicians that are signed or been signed and suck and I have seen great bands and musicians that have never been signed . to me it is not what you know but who you know……….
5) What is one thing about the band that would surprise many of your fans if they knew?
Answer: Paul our guitar player is a tennis pro and teaches tennis @ blue hills country club.. and I got a donkey and a mini horse on my property, they like it when we practice
6) Do you prefer to play local to your home city, or be on the road touring and why?
Answer: On the road because that is the goal of the band to spread the CANVAS sound to as many people as possible. We will always play KC
7) What would you say is the single largest influence in how you write your music?
Answer: Well right now I would say Patrick Mcbride from (HOURCAST) he
came into pre-produtions before we went into the studio and really gave us a crash coarse in what he and his band went thru when they recorded at NRG studios with Jay Gorden , and jay bombgardner ,who did the first COALCHAMBER alblum..it was a real eye opener and it gave us hope!!!!!
You can friend up with CANVAS by going to their Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Canvas-KCMO/111571115548469
Questions sent by Frank Arena, Project Backstage
