Get It Done Right!
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Gabrielle Cope
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Rockstyle
749 Dundee Road - Wheeling IL
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Nancy Vitare
Rockstyled
it’s all part of the narrative, where I started
out as just a guitarist, but I’ve made the
migration from the typical left to the more
difficult center stage. But I was happy with
the way the last two records were. But on
this one, the music is more emotional, and
it’s more dramatic. So I didn’t think quiet
vocals would have worked. But there’s a
song on the record called “My Eternal,”
which started off with just a trumpet and a
synthesizer, and I built a song on top of it
based on a dream I've had where I’m being
chased. But it was good to listen to what
was coming out of the speakers and deter-
mine the fate of the material accordingly. I
think I’m on the right track with all of defines me, and that the era of the protest
singer was back again. Especially after
hearing the older generation talk about
Brexit. I had to get involved and clarify
what it was I stood for. Like everybody
else, I feel like things are very, very bad
today. But the heartbreak comes from that
so many people voted against their own
self-interests for this kind of horrific
change. So there’s the corruption of
democracy and an all-out attack on the
media – which seems to be the only branch
holding anybody accountable these days –
and I realized that, no matter what, they
can never take my mind or take my music.
So I saw how fortunate I am to have a voice
these songs, and I wanted people to hear
them for what they were and not make a
big deal about the lone guitar hero 30 years
on. That’s just a bit of a narrative that goes
hand in hand alongside all of this. In hind-
sight, I think I did improve my technique
and was finally able to expand on it. But
now I like the way my voice sounds as
much as my band, so I do feel like I found
myself on this one. But it was a situation
that was called for by the songs, really,
some of which address the current political
climate while others discuss climate
change. in such a difficult time. Which doesn’t
mean that all my songs are expositions or
answers? But I have a lot to say if people
want to hear it. And I really think that peo-
ple are desperately looking for answers
right now. I just hope I can offer a few sug-
gestions.
us on
(847) 808-STYL Rockstyles.com
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HOBART
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Hobart, IN 46342
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Just remember,
we look forward to
seeing everyone
once this whole thing
blows over.
Until then,
be good to each other.
IE: You said there was a conversation you
had with your wife that spurred you to
outdo yourself.
JM: My wife and her friends were dis-
cussing Brexit, and I just recognized some-
thing in her attitude, something I hadn’t
noticed before – a longing for some kind of
positive, creative process, not just from me,
but in general. So I just got to a point in my
life where I realized the philosophy that
34 illinoisentertainer.com february 2020
IE: How is your new home base, a studio
that’s the entire top floor of an old ware-
house?
JM: It’s great. It’s slightly out of town, and
it’s got a ‘60s/Rauschenberg vibe that real-
ly adds to its appeal. I really needed a new
place to make music, and this was it.
IE: What have you learned about yourself
through this whole process?
JM: That’s a good question. I feel some-
what unchanged, but decidedly a little dif-
ferent, too. But I think that records made in
the aftermath of an autobiography like
mine was will always take on a life of their
own. And my book did pretty well in the
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