Summon The Moon – Interview

Interview with Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (http://petesrocknewsandviews.com)

PD:  How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?

STM: I would describe Summon The Moon as a band that is largely just looking to make music that we enjoy without the constraints of being tied down to a label or management company. We’re not chasing trends, and we’re not over-extending ourselves financially in order to achieve what is commonly perceived as “success” in the music industry. We just want to have fun writing and performing music, and nurture a positive atmosphere at our shows amongst all parties involved (i.e.. band members, other bands we share the stage with, guest performers, venue owners, promoters, etc.)

PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.

STM: Summon The Moon started as a studio project that was written and pre-produced by Brandon Bell (me) in the wake of the Covid pandemic. With nowhere to play shows, and scheduling rehearsals becoming a challenge, writing an album at home seemed like the logical option for the time period. But as covid restrictions lifted, I found a genuine enthusiasm from peers and show goers to put the music I had written on the stage. I was able to fill out our live line-up with my incredibly talented friends – Danny Bell (drums, backing vocals), Chad Grant (bass guitar), and Dale Sheppard (lead guitar). We are also often joined by other musicians in the Nashville area who feature on the recording, which really lends this project to being more of a community effort than many bands I have been in before.

PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?

STM: Musically, I’m often inspired by what I hear on the radio. I have been listening to a lot of the artists playing on Octane as of late. Bands like Memphis May Fire, Beartooth, and Pop Evil all were influential factors on the music on the new “Persona” album. But I also have a lot of influences from the 90’s grunge era, and the early 2000’s nu-metal and metal core scene. Lyrically, I tend to write about life experiences. Sometimes I’ll write about situations I am currently going through. Sometimes I will know that something in my life will make a good song topic, but I will wait until the right musical composition comes along that matches that mood. I always like for the music to match the lyrics, and vice versa.

PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?

STM: At this point in my life, I really just want to have fun writing songs that I enjoy, and have a good time performing those songs with my friends. I do want to push the music I write to a larger audience. But that is mostly because I am proud of the work that my friends and I have done in preparing these songs for release. There is always a young rock star inside of me who dreams of fortune and fame, but I don’t base what I consider success solely on those parameters anymore.

PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?

STM: My proudest moment in my musical career to this point is probably what I’m doing now. I’ve been in bands that were signed to labels. I’ve gone on regional tours in the U.S. Those were all great achievements for me at the time. But to be able to accomplish many of these same things with a project that I built from the ground up, with no outside label support or financial backing, and generate the same kind of momentum and enthusiasm from my fans has felt like the greatest thing I could achieve as an independent artist.

PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms in the day of the home studio. How is that going?

STM: Social media and streaming services have allowed everyone with an internet connection to have a voice. This is great, but it can also create challenges. When everyone is shouting at the same time, it’s hard to hear an individual voice amongst all of them. Keeping up with social media algorithms, engaging with fans, and letting them know that you appreciate their support, is key in a musical landscape where everyone who listens to your music expects to have full-time access to you. Personally, I try not to over-think it. When I’m excited about something my band is doing, I post about it. When we have a new release, I share it across all platforms. And I try to be on the look-out for opportunities that cater to independent artists. There are a lot of promotional opportunities on the internet that don’t deliver on promises, even after they have taken your money. I try to do as much of the work as I can on my own, then find trustworthy people with contacts and connections that I don’t have that can take my music beyond my own circle of influence.

PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?

STM: Booking live shows has been kind of a blessing for Summon The Moon. We have only had to book a few shows on our own. The majority of the shows we have played have come from another band or a promoter asking us to jump on a show that they have already put together. Promotion for these shows is fairly simple, given all of our options on social media. I have cultivated a large circle of influence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok during my 20+ years of playing music. Thankfully, my audience seems to be enthusiastic about any project I perform in, even if it is a new one. Summon The Moon has the following shows booked currently. We’re planning on adding a few more before the end of the summer:

June 17 – Roxyglass – Cave City, KY

June 24 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN

August 5 – Springwater – Nashville, TN

August 26 – 404 Bar & Grill – Nashville, TN

September 1 – Cobra – Nashville, TN

PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?

STM: Downloading and streaming are a mixed bag. The pros are that your music is easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Spreading your music to a large audience has never been easier. However, Spotify and other streaming services have made capitalizing financially on music pretty difficult. As musicians, we are currently creating an art form that the general public no longer wants to pay money for. With so many free, instant options for entertainment, it can be difficult to direct your audience to the online stores where they can actually be a patron of your music. But this is the system we are currently working in. You just have to make the best of it, and hope that a larger streaming audience will translate to a larger audience attending your live shows.

PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?

STM: That’s a hard one. Probably “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses. The music video for that song is most likely what set me down the path of trying to be a rock star. Brilliant composition, brilliant videography, and a personality that says “I can be classy, but I don’t really give a f*@k.”

PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?

STM: With the rise of streaming and online purchases being available to independent artists, I feel like a lot of the issues with the music industry are starting to be irrelevant. A practice record labels have conducted, that I’m not sure is even around anymore, is the way artists no longer own the rights to their own music once they enter into a contract deal. There is no guarantee that a record label is going to be able to elevate an artist to a point where they can be a career musician. If a contract agreement with a record label doesn’t work out, artists should at least be able to walk away with the music they wrote, and be proud of that accomplishment in itself. I think musicians should own the rights to the music that they wrote themselves. Period.

PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?

STM: We just completed the new album, “Persona”. We are currently working on generating more listeners for the songs online, and focusing on delivering solid performances at our live shows. We will be writing and recording a third album in the future, but that will probably be a while from now.

PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?

STM: Summon The Moon is on the following social media platforms:

facebook.com/summonthemoon

instagram @ summon_the_moon

You can stream or purchase our music on these platforms:

Spotify

Bandcamp

iTunes

Apple Music

Amazon

Summon The Moon links:
Band/Artist location –
Facebook – You Tube – Bandcamp – 
Instagram – Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer –
Check our page for Summon The Moon