Home > Archived Issues > 1998 Issues > Issue 1

Eden Automatic is always getting better

    I thought I'd start Underground Music Monthly in it's new format where I left off, with Eden Automatic.  Known as Somebody's Sister at that time, they have progressed, just as their name has.  I'm very impressed by this band.   The lead singer, Annette, is a very intelligent young woman, has a great voice, and as an added bonus is attractiive.  A rare, and great combination in the world of music.  If you don't believe me, you can take a look for yourself: 

Eden Automatic's music is inventive, and very pleasing to the ear.  I've had their CD for a while now, and I still throw it in my CD player every once in a while, when not listening to a new underground artists' CD, or listening to the Beastie Boys or Sarah McLachlan.  The bassist is excellent, and their music all around is very good.  They also have a new site, programmed by the lead singer, Annette.   That site is very easy to remember.  If you can remember the name of the band, you can remember the name of the site.  EdenAutomatic.com.   Pretty simple, don't you think?  Their site is informative, well-organized, and eye-pleasing all at the same tme.  Now that I've summed up Eden Automatic, let's get a little more in-depth, shall we? 

    Underground Music Monthly:  Can you update us as to what Eden Automatic has done since our last interview? Obviously you've changed your name, since it used to be Somebody's Sister.

    Eden Automatic:  We changed our name last summer because another band changed their name to Somebody's Sister and bought the Trademark for it. Even though they changed their name after we had used the name for a few years, we opted to change our name to better reflect the growth and changes in our music and style.

    UMM:  Bands often have many different reasons for covering certain songs. I heard your cover of "These Boots Are Made For Walking," and I was wondering why exactly you chose that song to cover.

    EA:  Nancy Sinatra was the original BAD GIRL. She was tough, defiant, sexy, strong, and ol' blue eyes daughter! I've always loved the song and always wanted to "rock it up" and once I got the guys to try it we all had a blast!

    UMM:  What was the inspiration for "14 months and 3 years?"

    EA:  Whoa...No one ever gets it...or even asks. Remember Susan Smith, the women who drowned her two baby boys (she rolled her car into the lake and watched it sink). Well, one boy was 3 years old, and the other was 14 months old. This struck me as one of the greatest tragedies...I cried when I heard about it and couldn't get the image of those poor little boys wondering why their mommy wasn't saving them out of my mind. The words poured out and this song still makes me feel melancholy. I think the guys did an incredible job on the music...it's beautiful and moving, with just a bit of an edge. A complete
opposite of what Susan Smith did, and hopefully a tribute to two innocent babies who had the misfortune to be born to a psycho-bitch.

    UMM:  Do the band members have personal favorite songs on the CD?

    EA:  Absolutely, My favorite would be Hotel Elegante, hands down.  Doug's favorite is Different Set of Heroes. Chris's favorite is Spy or Whatever and Geno's favorite is Candy Boy.

    UMM:  I believe we learn best from experience or talking to someone with experience, so I'm going to ask a question that might help new bands that are trying to make it in the industry. First, how did you go about getting on a soundtrack? Secondly, how do you go about getting your name trademarked? I know I had trouble getting my name trademarked, and never did get it done, so I'm sure other bands have had that problem as well.

    EA:  Well, as far as the soundtrack goes, Doug had made contact with a publisher who really liked our music. Not only did she say she was going to sell a song, she did. She eventually signed the entire album for publishing, and will most likely sign the next one, too. Her name is Susan Bader of DSM Producers, out of NY. They are a division of Warner/Chappel. Susan is great, totally supportive and as good as her word!

>

As far as getting your name trademarked just do a search for "patents and trademarks" it's a government site but I don't remember where. Make sure you trademark nationally, and not just locally. It's expensive, a pain in the butt, but worth it.

    UMM:  Speaking of getting on a soundtrack, how did it feel when you first found out you were going to be on one?

    EA:  We were/are totally excited. I bought six copies of the movie and gave them as presents to my family. I'm so glad it wasn't a porno though...how do you explain THAT to your kids someday?

    UMM:  Probably a question I should have asked in an earlier article, but still one I would like to have answered. How was Eden Automatic formed? That is, how did you all meet and what made you decide to form a band together and make the great music you make today?

    EA:  Doug and I started performing together about six years ago. We left Denver at the end of '95 to move to Dallas. We had met Geno in Denver (he was touring with a band (from Albuquerque) I had booked for Halloween.) After talking to
Geno at the club, both Doug and I wanted to have him join us, even though we hadn't even heard him play the drums (he was playing percussion with that band.) Well, Geno was planning on moving to Dallas anyway and so we planned on starting the band together! After we were all in Dallas, I rented a rehearsal room at Universal Rehersals...I happened to mention to the guy there that we were looking for a bass player...Well, he told me that one of the best bass players in Dallas had just left...looking to join a new band. Well, I called Chris...we talked on the phone for an hour...Chris showed up without his bass though...he had had a bad experience playing in a band with a female lead singer, but was coming down because he enjoyed talking to me. Well, Doug, Geno & I played a couple of songs together (for the first time as the three of us) and Chris was into it. He called his wife, Kara, and had her bring his bass over. The rest, is history. We work off of each other very well, and always
enjoy playing together.

    UMM:  I know you have gone into merchandising a little as well as selling your CDs and performing. Can you tell the readers how to get an Eden Automatic t-shirt and any other merchandise you have for sale, including the CD itself?

    EA:  We have a new web site going up within the next week or so:  www.edenautomatic.com.  All merchandise will be available for order. We have T-shirts, Cd's, stickers and a few limited-edition temporary tattoos!

    UMM:  First of all congratulations on opening for the B-52s and the Pretenders July 25. A friend of mine actually went to their concert here. How does it feel to be opening for them? (Sometime after the show, let me know how the show went)

    EA:  The show was great, although it was 106 that day! We had such a wonderful time. We would do it again, anytime! We have also opened for Cory Glover (former lead singer for Living Color) and Dread Zeppelin. All three of those shows were just in the last two weeks, so you can imagine what a trip it's been. Everyone we met was great! We also played live on MIX 102.9 for their live morning remote from Hurricane Harbor (a HUGE water park owned by Six Flags). That was a blast, although we had to get up at 3:30 am!

    UMM:  I really enjoyed your CD. It's one of the few CDs I have that actually gets rotation in my Car. What do you think of the CD, on a personal level? Are you proud, excited, etc.? Also, how well do you think the CD will sell?

    EA:  I love the CD. I think we did a really good job on it and it is an excellent vehicle for us to start out with. We have sold a lot of CD's so far at live shows...the stores are going a little bit slower. Still, as our name continues to be put out there, we expect those sales to increase.

    UMM:  I know this question is probably a little premature, but do you plan on recording a second CD anytime soon? Do you have any new material that you have been rehearsing or performing?

    EA:  Actually, we have already picked out several songs for the next CD. We are holding off hoping to find an independent label to pick up the costs of recording and printing. We are anxious to get back in the studio, though, and hope that we will be able to soon!

    UMM:  What does the future hold in general for Eden Automatic? Any long term plans, or any big events in the near future?

    EA:  If things continue as they are right now??? Who knows, it's going great and we couldn't be happier. If it all ended tomorrow, I'd feel like we had accomplished a lot, and achieved more than most bands ever have the opportunity to. Of course, we all hope that things will just keep getting bigger and better. We are excited to be playing New Orleans soon (Aug. 29 - Checkpoint Charlie's - 11:00 pm) and will be back in Colorado Springs, Oct. 1-3 at The Ritz. We do have a few songs up for consideration for another movie soundtrack, so.....

    UMM:  Final question. I noticed reading your bio that you have been around either as Eden Automatic or Somebody's Sister since 1991, which means you have been around a fairly long time, and have achieved some success. What advice would you give to some of the brand new artists and bands reading this interview and the rest of the e~zine? Any do's or dont's to avoid right away that you have experienced?

    EA:  Well, I have a friend who is a very talented singer. She is 16 and has incredible potential. She calls and asks why she hasn't been signed yet, but she doesn't even have a band, yet. The point is, you can't sit around and wait for THEM to come to YOU. You need to put a solid band together, and look at it as a business, not a party, not a chance to meet guys or girls, not a chance to get wasted and be worshiped. Music is hard. It is sharing your deepest feelings, be they good or bad, or just silly, with whoever is nice enough to listen. No one owes it to you. You owe it to yourself to take it as far as it goes. Pick a sound, and an image, a name, a logo, create something new, look for a niche where YOU fit in and still STAND OUT. Then do the absolute best that you can do at all times. Remember that your represent THE BAND at all times and be conscious of that. Treat THE BAND as a separate entity from yourself. Remember, everyone has different taste, and no one likes everything. If someone doesn't like what you're doing, don't take it personally, take it as constructive criticism, and file it accordingly. Be
proud of what you do but don't lord it over anyone. No one likes a sore winner. Put the money the band makes back into it. A business will grow if you feed it. $10-$50 bucks per person per night is nothing compared to adding it all up over a few months and being able to record your first tracks, or make your first T-shirts. Then, put that money right back in. And don't sign the
first management contract handed to you. You don't need a manager who charges you money. You need shows, exposure, experience playing out. These are things you can get for yourself. Ask around...ask bands that you watch regularly. And, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. But, most importantly...enjoy what you do. Share your music with your friends and
families and enjoy every chance you have to perform. A great audience response is the best reward there is...and it is priceless.

    Well, that's the interview.  I hope you enjoyed it.  I certainly did.  Thank you Annette for taking the time to answer my questions, and to the rest of Eden Automatic for doing what you do best, make music.  To the readers, enjoy the rest of the issue.  Underground Music Monthly will grow and improve each and every issue.

Wakefire and Underground Music Monthly Go Through Some Changes

    Obviously, the first thing that happened that is news to the "Underground Music Monthly" reader is that I stopped writing it.  I don't really remember what happened anymore.  I just got too busy with other things I suppose.  I started working full time and other personal circumstances got me away from what I love to do, make music, and write "Underground Music Monthly."   I've been meaning to get back to it for a long time.  I finally can do it now, and do it right.  Both by using Microsoft Frontpage, and Corel Photo-Paint 7.0 for the graphics, and by getting UMMusic.com. 

    The next major event in Wakefire history was the moving of the studio to Lexington, KY.  It's actually just south of Lexington in Nicholasville, but is still in a much more central location than Liberty was.  Plus, the new studio is bigger and better, and has the latest in digital sound technology.   It finally opened early this year, and is starting to do well.  In June   it broke even for the month, and has improved every month.  It also changed it's name from Applebarn recording studios to Wakefire Studios!  The studio is not only an audio studio but has the capibility to do video as well.  They have now done a few commercials for local businesses in the Lexington area.  My producer is the main person in charge there.  If you are a band in the Lexington area, and wish to record there, call toll free 1-888-881-0208 for more information.or 881-0200.  There is also a Wakefire.com which right now is under heavy construction.  After I get UndergroundMusicMonthly.com up and running I will likely have the responsibility of designing Wakefire.com.  If anyone would like me to design their website, email me and we can discuss pricing, etc.  Obviously I'm not going to charge as much for a pesronal website that I design in a day or two as I would for a professional website that could take me 3 or 4 weeks. 

    Let's see... oh yes, the next major thing to happen was me going back into the studio.  I have recorded 3 new songs, "Man With a Plan," "America," and "You Gotta Want It."  They are much more dynamic than the music on my first album.  I'm hoping to release a second album late next year, and it will be a double CD, with about 30-35 songs between the 2 CDs.   I have already written the lyrics for 30 of them, and most of those have music to go along with them.  I experiment a little more and try to expand the horizons of my music.  It will be lots of fun.

    Recently I have begun emailing college radio stations and asking if they would play my music.  I have sent my CD off to about 15 of them now, and expect to send more off in late August when school starts again for most Universities, and the radio stations open up again.  I found a great site for finding radio stations with websites and emails.  It is  http://www.ilg.de/ilgwdusa.htm  .  The site is a german site, but is completely in English.  It lists all the staions alphabetically by state, then by city, then by call letters.  It has a brief description of each one, including whether or not it's a college station, and what kind of music it plays.  It's a great resource to underground musicians and independent labels trying to get heard by the public. 

    Finally, the most recent item of note is the one that is allowing you to read this article.  I have gotten the page UMMusic.com and hopefully won't run into any other problems that will keep me from making this e~zine better each and every month.  I plan on trying to sell advertising in Underground Music Monthly soon.  I will limit the ads however, and will always have more content than ads.  I need someway to make the revenue to keep this site going however.  I don't want to lose it, and I hope there are a few readers out there who don't want to lose it either.  I will accept any donations anyone would like to make.  Just email me for the details on doing that.   Any amount is much appreciated.  No matter what, though, there will NEVER be any necessity for a subscription.  I do Underground Music Monthly to help underground artists gain exposure, not to make money.  If I required subscriptions that would greatly cut down on the purpose of this e~zine and this site as a whole.  We underground artists need all the help we can get.  If we don't help each other, there's not much chance at success.  Big record companies certainly aren't looking out for your benefit.  There out there to make money.  I will always do music, whether I'm making any money doing it or not.  Music is what I love.  That's why this site exists, and that's who I am. 

Thank you for your time in reading this article.  I know the information in this article probably doesn't mean as much to the reader as it does to me, but I hope someone cares about it.

VoxPop.co.uk is a revolutionary new way to buy underground music

    Well, I just checked out www.VoxPop.co.uk.   It's a great site.  The basic purpose of the site is selling underground music.  The concept behind the site is wonderful.  You can custom order CDs with the tracks you want in the order you want, for about the same price as a normal CD.   The price for the custom CD that I almost ordered when going through the process cost 12.74 English pounds.  I don't know exactly what the conversion rate is, but I think that makes the CD about $16 U.S.  I didn't have enough time to go through every detail of the site, so I don't know what the length limit of a custom CD is.  I tried ordering 4 albums as well.  They cost 8.50 pounds apiece, except the second one was half-price at 4.25.  I'm not exactly sure why.  It's possible they have a buy one get second half price deal going on.  At any rate, the prices are pretty affordable, and VoxPop has detailed info on all their bands. 

    VoxPop has done just about everything right with this site.   Not only do they have the detailed band info, affordable prices, and easy shopping, but they have a quick RealAudio server, with full song soundclips, instead of just 30 second or 1 minute soundclips.  Because of the server actually being on the site, it's even quicker to hear a 6:30 soundclip on their site, than it would be to hear a 30 second RealAudio file because you don't have to download and save it.  They do have a sizable collection of Underground Music as well, and a small list of e~zines.  I haven't checked them out personally, but I'm sure they're good as well.  If I had a star rating I'd probably give it 3 and a half out of 4 stars.  The only thing I didn't really like is that the prices were in pounds, but it is based out of the UK, so it's understandable.  They probably even convert the prices to US Dollars once you get to the payment form, but I didn't get there.  I don't have any money to order any CDs right now.  This site is a must for anyone who really wants to hear some new underground music.  All the songs I listened to were quality songs, as well. 

    I had more information on VoxPop, but with my computer failure, I lost it.  I will get more information from them, and do a follow up article on them for the September or October issue.  The site is definitely worth checking out.   If for no other reason than hearing soundclips of a bunch of great underground musicians.  They've done their job right at VoxPop.  If any of you check out VoxPop's site, please give me your feedback on them by emailing me.  Thank you for your time in reading this article.  Some of the information I do remember, such as the conversion rate from pounds to US dollars being 1.6 dollars per pound.  They have updated their site since I last checked them out, and I apologize for the short article on them this issue.  Things will improve assuming I have no more major computer trouble.