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· "This is a wonderful time to be T h e alive if you don't mind being confused." -- John Perry Barlow in MUSIC WEST: 35 M usic West '95: a major music C o n f e r e n c e days has a focus on the Internet and Music West '95 made it the buzz word of the conference. Arts Alive Marketing Coordinator, Blair Dewan, attended panels and workshops on the Net. His story on the next page will give you an idea of the possibilities that are out there for artists who want to market themselves in cyberspace. There were so many great events over the weekend that it would take a whole issue of Arts Alive to cover them. So we won't. If you want some more information on Music West, tune into their web site at http://www.musicwest.com or give them a "real" call at 684-9338. his keynote address regarding the vast amount of possibilities available to us via the Internet. · "Cyberspace is where you go when you're on the phone." Ibid. · "I'm not looking for a lot of the things you're not looking for." -- ani difranco, a "gritty folkster" who's popularity has grown dramatically in the last year, while speaking on a panel of artists who record with independent labels. |Aside: If you call difranco's record company. Righteous Babe Records, the woman answering the phone will likely be her mom.] · "If you try to follow the trend, you're probably too late." -- Joe Keithley, lead singer from the punk band D . O . A . advising against making music that is not what you want to produce, but what the record companies say will sell. [ D . O . A . was listed in the Music West program as "A world of punk, puke & panic. Shitheads unite.] · "I don't think you should be in the music industry unless there's pretty much nothing else you can do." -- Valley Hennell. on the independent label. Jester Records, reflecting on how difficult the music industry is to survive in. · "I always liked singing, but once the song was over, I would look at the people and think, 'Stop looking at me!'" -- Photos are of the drum circle on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Photos: Gloria Loree event for Western Canada took place in Vancouver in early May and Arts Alive was there to get the scoop. Music West is an international musical event which assembles world-class virtuosos and industry geniuses together for four days of music, melody and meetings. It was billed as the vital link in the networking chain for those interested in climbing the music ladder to success. The weekend was comprised of three distinct components: the conference, the exhibition and the festival. The theme for the conference was "Do It Yourself: The State of Independents," with producer workshops, songwriting workshops and in-the-round sessions. The exhibition showcased the latest musical instruments, equipment and related services with musical workshop sessions. The festival had over 300 acts at 30 venues. Musical styles were well represented; the scope of styles included Japanese avant-garde, country, jazz, big band, swing, rockabilly, reggae, hip-hop. punk and rock. The event also included the Slam City Jam (North American Skateboarding Championships). This event focused on the youth of the '90s and matched up wicked skating with a frenzy of live music. One band taking part in this major jam session was d.b.s. (who were featured in the last issue of Arts Alive). They listed themselves in the Slam City Jam Program as being: punk rock and still in high school. By all reports they did a great job. Other events included the world's largest drum circle on the steps of Vancouver Art Gallery. Any event worth its salt these In the meantime. Arts Alive staff took down some quotes to give you a taste of what was said. Enjoy them. Margo Timmins, lead singer of Cowboy Junkies about the anxiety she had around singing live during the early stages of her career. · " M y dad poured concrete for 40 years and I'm not working that hard, believe me." -- Jann Arden, winner of five Juno's including this year's best song, after being asked if she was feeling burnt out from working so hard. · "I think I've developed a writing style that makes me unquotable" -- Tom Harrison music critic for The Province. · "I don't want to be rich and embarrassed." Margo Timmins on why she won't do anything but sing on her videos ("I won't ride a horse, or dance, just sing, that is, after all, what I do"). · "If credibility is something 'suits' are trying to buy, hey, I'm selling." -- Jonathan Ponemen, cofounder of Seattle-based Sub-pop Records home of Seattle's grunge bands. Nirvana and Mudhoney. O S