Meet Jonathan Long AKA JayLong. Jonathan is a songwriter, vocalist, violinist, guitarist, and the frontman for the Los Angles based band Vulpes. Vulpes enjoys playing all sorts of music ranging from indie rock to R&B and hip-hop to electronic. Long has been playing violin since the age of five and does not plan on stopping any time soon. He has been playing for almost twenty years. Long also has a degree in Music Education and Music Performance from Xavier University and tends to focus on the “purpose” within music. According to Long his life is centered around that purpose.
Vulpes is actively looking to play shows so make sure to reach out to JayLong on Gigmor. They have a ton of work on the page including really great covers of massive pop hits like Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and Sam Smith & Disclosure’s “Latch”.
JayLong is a self taught producer. He taught himself how to use ProTools and is classically trained in violin as well as the art of acting– talk about multi-talented. With so many different influences, there is no wonder Long aims to create a fusion of as many genres as possible. For example, Vulpes would play live jazz while using 90’s hip-hop samples and a heavily syncopated dubstep bass in the background. Jonathan isn’t looking to find a specific sound, but instead a language that he can communicate through. He really seems like he’s going places between his smooth voice, talent on multiple instruments, and all of his production experience. Make sure to check out his Gigmor page and give him a follow!
There are new bands and artists joining our network of nearly 50K musicians and 1,000 industry pros on Gigmor every single day. When we find a band we really like, especially one that is established and has a lot of material, we at Gigmor like to shine the spotlight on their hard work.
Today’s post is on the band Chisler out of Crystal Lake, Illinois. They have been together for two years and specialize in electronic rock and blues. Lead by guitarist and vocalist Mo Chisler, the band is currently touring around Southern Illinois and Northern Wisconsin. Chisler also consists of drummer Hagop Mikaelin and bassist Zach England. Check out their cover of Citizen Cope’s “Bullet and a Target” below.
Mo and the band love playing covers but their originals have generated quite the buzz. Their single “I’m Gone” is well known throughout the communities they play in and is a true blues jam.
Chisler is openly looking to gig and jam with new people so if you like their sound make sure to give them a follow on Gigmor as well as check out their band’s website.
Despite Chisler being new to Gigmor they have done a lot to promote their band online. If you’re looking for some exposure uploading cover and original live videos onto the web is a good place to start; all emerging bands that have the opportunity to perform live should be utilizing Youtube and Facebook to upload their performances! It’s the digital age, and the more online exposure artists have will only increase the chances of someone discovering your music. (We get it you have an emotional attachment to your staple gun and flyer, but it’s time to for the stragglers to adapt, even if you do it begrudgingly.) Check out a couple more stellar covers from Chisler below.
Today’s feature is on Dan Turner and his band The deadbeatniks, a hip-hop/funk collective out of the nation’s capitol, Washington D.C. Dan, a Berklee College of Music grad, took some time to sit down with us to tell us about his musical roots as well as the band and their album Can. The band recently moved down to New Orleans to get “weirder and jazzier” and work on their new album. Check out what Dan had to say below.
Gigmor: Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us at Gigmor! First question, how did the deadbeatniks get started?
Dan: We have all been friends for a very long time, all kind of doing our own music. Then we said, “Screw it, why aren’t we doing this together?” I’m originally a sound engineer, one of us is a visual artist, and the other one is a classical jazz player. So we kind of just brought all three of those together you know, making music, making videos. As far as the name, it’s just kind of a joke at one point and we ran with it. Also, side note, the d is lower case.
G: Noted. What’s in store for deadbeatniks? Any new music coming out?
D: Yeah we’ve got some new music and videos coming out, we’re trying to have our album done by 2017. We should have some new videos out in the next couple months we’ll be sure to post them on our Gigmor page. We’ve got this new song about Daiquiris, we’ve been obsessed with them ever since moving down to New Orleans, and we’re actually going to the New Orleans Daiquiri Festival next weekend so we’re going to shoot the video for our song then.
G: Wow, very cool. So personally, what’s your musical background? When did you start playing?
D: I’ve played drums since I was 14 but really now a days I’ve been focusing on mixing–I’ve been doing sound engineering for about four years now. What I like to think about my musical career is–at this point–that I’ve got the ears for it, I’m more on the production side. We just moved down to New Orleans and I’ve been connecting with a lot of great brass musicians.
G: Do you have any solo work out?
D: I have some beats and stuff but pretty much everything I do is for deadbeatniks.
G: What/Who are your inspirations behind deadbeatnik’s songwriting? Kristen Ritter?
D: Pretty women yeah for sure Kristen Ritter is definitely an influence. But in terms of musicians…uhhhh… Gorillas, Portishead, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
G: What was the songwriting process of making your album Can like?
D: It wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t like we had songwriting sessions. We would just hang out and you know, we’d have a wall full of ideas… like a creative wall. So we didn’t force anything we just kind of let it play its self out. It was simply a group of great individuals with great ideas just bringing it all together. We didn’t really have a process.
G: Well you guys definitely have a great sound. Now in terms of Gigmor. How did you find out about the site? What do you like about it?
D: I just moved to a new city and saw an ad online about it. I just thought it couldn’t hurt to try and connect with as many new musicians as possible. What I like about it– it’s aesthetically pleasing and easy to find what you’re looking for. Keep it up!
G: Well Dan thanks so much for the input and talking with us today. Check out deadbeatnik’s album Can here and give them a follow to keep track of their upcoming releases.
