September – Tarsha

Tarsha - Lead Vox , Darren Edwards - Drums , Patrick Morgan - Bass , Jimmy Douglas - Guitar

Welcome to Septembers Artist Of The Month! This month we bring you Tarsha; an “up and coming” rock star who once toured with a band named Addlers Appetite, who apparently had a drummer who played for Guns & Roses?? Too good to be true? We were keen to find out! Having started up his own band, appropriately named ‘Tarsha’, this LA based hard rock outfit are geared up and ready to do big things! This month we were innundated with questions for the man himself. If your question(s) made the page, congratulations! A ninja backslap is en route! Enjoy!

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Piewatch - Hi Tarsha! Let’s start with the question everyone has been asking. Why did you decide to leave Adler’s Appetite?

I joined Adler’s Appetite in 2005 and at the time, it seemed like my big break. I mean, there I am, the lead singer in a band with the drummer of Guns N Roses! Next thing I know, I’m traveling around the world, playing sold out concerts, signing autographs, living like a rockstar… It was surreal! After a few tours however, the reality started setting in that it was not the overall success I had intended.  On our European Tour in 2006, Steven’s drug usage spiraled out of control, and he left me and the band stranded in Germany with no money and no way home. After hitchhiking across the Atlantic Ocean, I began writing and recording material for my own band. Then, earlier this year, Steven was apparently sober and he asked me if I would go on a US tour with him, performing the old GnR songs again. I did the tour, but quickly realized my heart was in making my own music. I wished him well and moved on to continue working with my own band.

Piewatch – Do you think the experience has set you up for independent success?

Absolutely. It got my name out there and I made a lot of connections.

Piewatch – What are your aims to achieve outside investment?

We are spreading the word via MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, etc… The response has been great and there seems to be a lot of people that are interested in investing.

Piewatch - Would you be able to use your previous contacts in terms of production/promotion etc?

Definitely.  I’ve maintained relationships with agents, managers, promoters, and several media outlets that continue to support my band’s efforts.

Piewatch – How far from being ready to record the album are you?

We’re ready now!

Piewatch – Any chance of sales figures for the 2006 album please?

From the start, I realized that the Prophecies CD was going to be more of a preliminary promotional effort to find my target audience and develop a fanbase. With that goal in mind, I focused my efforts toward Internet radio, online reviews, and making new fans on MySpace. I sent the music to over 5,000 Internet radio stations and mailed out over 1000 CDs to various industry contacts. While the actual sales were only enough to recoup my expenses, I was able to achieve chart status on the Rock Top 30 Internet radio charts for 77 consecutive weeks and accumulate over 750,000 plays on MySpace.

Piewatch – Why do you feel you deserve to achieve finance and what are you aims in terms of success?

It’s been said that if you can make fans, you can sell records, and we’re all about making new fans! Whether it’s playing live or promoting online, we’re very active when it comes to reaching out and turning people on to our music. Achieving finance will make it possible for us to reach a much larger audience and expand our current fanbase.

Piewatch – A lot of the members of STP are from the UK. What is your opinion on the music that’s coming out of here at the moment? Also What do you feel is different about the US & UK metal sound?

The UK seems to have always been on the forefront of popular music. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath… these are bands that more or less shaped the sound of all bands to come thereafter. That’s not to say that the US hasn’t had it’s share of influential artists. Where would we be without Van Halen, Guns N Roses, and Nirvana? I think there’s been a healthy stylistic exchange between bands from the US and the UK that has caused music to grow and evolve.  As far as the differences, the musical approach of bands from the UK seems to be more organic in nature as opposed to the more commercialized approach of many US bands.

Piewatch – Who is the main songwriter in the group, or is it a collective team effort?

I am the sole songwriter in the band.

Piewatch – Describe Tarsha’s sound in 5 words.

Hard rock blended with metal.

Piewatch – What’s the best gig you’ve played and why?

The best gig I’ve played so far was a sold out concert in Argentina with Adler’s Appetite. Being on that stage and singing for all those people was one of the most amazing experiences. The crowd knew every word to every song and sang along, at times louder than the PA! It was awesome. When our album is finished, I’d like to go back and perform there again.

Piewatch – What would you say is your biggest achievement to date?

Touring the world with one of my idols.

Piewatch - Who do you currently like in the charts?

There’s a lot of great music out there. My favorites right now are Muse, Shinedown, and Kings of Leon.

Piewatch – If you could have any super power what would it be?

I’d have the unlimited-funds-to-record-and-release-albums-independently-and-headline-sold-out-stadiums-for-the-rest-of-my-life super power!

Piewatch – Elvis dead or alive?

Let The King rest in peace already!

Piewatch - Any irrational phobias?

I can be a perfectionist at times.

Piewatch – Mcdonalds or Burger King?

Golden Arches!

Piewatch – Any last words for the fans?

INVEST!

Love Tarsha as much as we do? Make sure you catch them on…