Giving music back to the musicians.
FULCRUM
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DAYFALL
(Rock)
(Rock)
Atlas Shrugged
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Zumanity
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Portobello
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Hey Vampires
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Wednesday Nov 12, 2008
Michael Zapruder | Interview
In today’s world of synthesized, electronic and digitally enhanced music, in addition to its carbon copy pop star counterparts, the heart and soul of the music industry has been ruthlessly compromised. Enter Michael Zapruder, a Bay Area, California based artist whose unique, earthy sound merges Indie with Lyrical and Folk Rock. Zapruder’s folk-like songs are calm, mature and reflective with occasional bursts of musical flair. Critics have linked the sound of Michael Zapruder to such artists as Rufus Wainwright and Andrew Bird. Zapruder himself claims that his biggest influences and favourites in the business are individuals who “have developed their own thing”, ranging from Elvis Costello to Bach.
Zapruder does not shy away from displaying his musical capabilities. His talents include penning and singing his own lyrics and playing multiple instruments. His words and their deliveries are poetic, rich, and thoughtful, with a touch of hypnosis. Zapruder reveals that the perfect lyrics do not always come easily at first. He attributes his ultimate success to his “compulsive personality”, as he writes and re-writes until everything seems to flow with ease. One of Zapruder’s unique gifts is that he has fun with the use of instrumentals, as soft chimes, violins, drum rifts and intriguing sound effects separate his songs from predictability.
While Michael Zapruder and his band mates savour their time in the studio, it is the experience of a live show that really drives them as artists. Zapruder claims that while “it's great to make something in the studio …it’s a real good feeling to have that thing connect with live listeners. Music probably came from that kind of immediate place.” The relationship between audience and artist is really what being a musician is all about for Zapruder. No matter what venue he is playing, large or small, if he feels a connection with the live audience, then that is when all the hard work pays off. “Any sort of venue will do,” states Zapruder, “as long as the music is working and people are taking it in.”
Making his way to the top has not always been easy, and audiences have not always been appreciative of his unique sound and gift. He reflects back on one of his earlier experiences as being “pretty grim” and discouraging. “I got kicked off the stage at an open mic once because I was trying to play a piece I had just written,” Zapruder remembers. “It was super ambitious, half-improvised and half-composed, and I think I seemed like I had never played guitar before.” Despite such rejection, he never gave up and now finds himself climbing the ladder of success. With six gigs already under his belt for just the first week of November, life is busy, exciting, and prosperous for Michael Zapruder. The band is currently on tour in the United States and their new album will be coming out soon.
Amid his current success, Zapruder remembers to keep himself grounded to what originally got him to where he is: his passion for playing and writing music. “The most prevalent struggle of an independent musician is becoming and staying excellent at their art,” Zapruder asserts. “That's the most prevalent struggle, period, and the only one that matters in the end.” Fans and critics alike have confirmed that Zapruder has indeed found this artistic excellence.
Alison Holditch
Associate Editor
Aralie.com