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Music
STRINGS ATTACHED: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE HARP TWINS EVENTS TEAMBUILDING WORKSHOPS CAMPS BOUTIQUE PARTIES YOUTH
A: “There are companies who act as the ‘middle man’ to get licensing from the publishers for musicians to legally cover songs. Those licenses cover streaming and downloading sites, physical albums, etc. It’s not difficult to obtain, but it can get expensive! Releasing versions of public domain songs or original compositions is definitely a better move financially! Most social media sites have their own deals worked out with publishers for cover versions. Those deals are constantly changing and your cover could be removed at any time – even if you have paid for licensing!”
Alaska Scottish
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alaskanscottish.org
SATURDAY & SUNDAY,
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TICKETS ADVANCED DISCOUNTED Highland
Scottish for the 42nd Alaska online, at Fireside Games are available in The Book Shelf Books in Palmer, Bosco’s in Anchorage. Eagle River, and
EVENT GUIDE INSIDE:
PAGE 9 >>
Residency Tour 2023 Hope Cassity AK OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE
Painting Workshop Mark McKennaOFOilMAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE MORE ON PAGE 7
Games Guide & Map Scottish Highland OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE MORE ON PAGE 9
The Harp Twins An Interview With nt Musicians Strings Attached: ed As Independe What It Takes To Succe
Eagle River 2023 Bear PawOFFestival, THE PEOPLE’S PAPER MORE ON PAGE 7
MORE ON PAGE 4
business or the time for the trouble making set aside a of your career, try to get a reasonable of your ‘not fun’ aspects We’re as possible. We day for that portion whenever possible. certain time of any amount of sleep that we as humans and we don’t drink our job. Often the things that most need to be also vegetarian for we feel works best avoid are the things alcohol, which done.” health and lifestyle. an expensive enabout a time when be Q: Can you talk tour and Q: Touring can as planned on for up-and-coming things didn’t go deavor, especially share any practical with it? you how you dealt active, musicians. Can enjoyed staying for a tour? “We’ve always in nature. tips on budgeting your means! We have spending time healthy working out, and A: Don’t out-spend we try to stay as touring musicians Even while touring, get a reasonable by tourheard of (and witnessed) try to some big mistakes as possible. We possible. We’re who have made of sleep whenever drink any vacation. on amount are they stores, ing like and we don’t shop at grocery also vegetarian for our for While on tour we we feel works best “shop around” alcohol, which rarely eat at restaurants,and accommodahotels health and lifestyle. planned, we the best deals on well things are save wherever out “No matter how happens that is tions, and just generally tour bus, don’t need that eventually something once died many can. Maybe you Our touring van musicians! For of your control. way or a bunch of back-upwith our mom in a we were on our just in Nebraska when California. We lost a years, we toured in we got to performance key steps in builda a few years ago, to the then drove Just were and mini-van. sat us down Q: What a new van, a venue owner both locally and day, had to get to make the point where Joshua Fryfogle overnight stops told us that we ing your fan base had Submitted by need help.” He straight with no nationally? in time. We also and said, “you of venues to nationally/inter at too large of performing, all and it to our performance for our Christmas were performing Media Company, A: “When we began and that we were power outage in our area. As Make A Scene venue ourselves, venue a events A Scene the local Make by everything do gigs were followed only 3 people. circle, so of mak- our our flagship publication, much work for show in Colorado, spread in a wider that same doing way too people. built on the ethos word of mouth injured during We started creating with 2 additional Magazine, were happen owner getting outside So, we now tour and music scene personally stood did our performances.to clients and eventuas long as we could! ing a local arts windstorm. We show at a theater with However, we waited is more. The music videos to the middle of winter) every car who really find them as well. here, locally. (in to less touring see I started two Sometimes myself, others to meet in a global creativity are As a musician intrinsic ally no lights or power let them find us! We live Q: Business and to Alaska as an advice do gigs started to the concert and audience is things. What musicians coming of the Alaskan music are just showed up for an international very different postponed. Those age, so finding audience, creativity and part of the growth know that it was to share just have to finding a national as music. you have for balancing so we’re happy Sometimes you just as easy as as universal and arts scene, aspects of music? a few examples! pair of that the business with this plucky especially in a market your niche and the important to realize We artists, this interview go with the flow!” to find . A: “We think it’s recognized touring Harp your All you need is is going to be ‘fun’ internationally continue to follow Kitt, AKA, The not all of your work work if you love what have tenacity to Camille and Kennerly ‘it’s not hear a lot that READ MORE OF THE 8 OF dreams.” physical being an independent Twins. PAGE maintain your gracious ON you However, . were do do’ sitting INTERVIEW you How are Q: Camille and Kennerlyown questions, mean that you MAGAZINE while on tour? my musician doesn’t your instrument all day MAKE A SCENE active, and mental health with enough to answer several questions that enjoyed staying in musical bliss If you have A: We’ve always in nature. and I also included other local musicians, just falls into place. spending time by healthy and the rest working out, and were submitted end of we try to stay as included at the Even while touring, the latter being this interview.
MID-JUN 2023
Q: What’s your approach to sound checks and dealing with sound technicians?
A: “When we started releasing music online and touring, we primarily shared covA: “Be nice! It might sound obvious, ers of rock, metal, soundtrack music, etc. because most of the time, people are proHowever, as we grew, we began to share fessional and lovely! However, sometimes our original music because we have loved musicians encounter a sound technician writing our own music since high school. who might be difficult to work with, doesn’t We were nervous about the reaction of our believe that we know what we’re talking followers since they found us through our about, or is just having a bad day. However, covers. However, the reaction was incredwe have found that kindness generally ible! We have been told by SO many people wins out. We once had someone tell us that that they enjoy our original songs much we were ‘almost violently positive’ after more than our covers. We now focus most working with us for an entire weekend at of our arranging and writing time on creatan event. We found that quite amusing!” ing more original music. However, we still Q: How do you handle disagreements or enjoy releasing covers and will still continue conflicts within the group on tour? to do that!” A: “We make the offending party get Q: When it comes to original music, what out of the van and walk to the next venue. does your writing process look like? Just kidding! We get coffee! Seriously, if A: “Writing every song is different. For someone seems cranky, they usually just some, we write the lyrics first, and then need food or sleep! Thankfully we get along write the music. For others, we add lyrics super well. Otherwise, touring wouldn’t after the music is finished. Many times, work because we spend soooo much time our original songs begin with some little together!” melody idea and grow into a song from Q: What are the biggest misconceptions there. When we have lyric or music ideas, about touring that you’d like to clear up for we will grab our phone and jot some notes new musicians? or hum the tune so that we don’t forget our A: “The biggest misconception that we ideas. It amazes us at how often we will be have seen from people is the thought that simultaneously working on the same piece touring is glamorous. People see the highand what we’re working on just fits seamlights on social media and view touring like lessly together. We have such similar souls it will be that sunshine, roses, and trashing and that seems to shine through when we hotel rooms. Lol. However, touring is a lot of write music together. We love that writing hard work and long grueling hours on the is an organic process for us and that every road. You have to be okay with enjoying song or piece was written by both of us.” the little moments and realize that most Q: When recording cover songs, how do people can’t tour like a rock star. ;) ;)” Q: Harp Twins are known for beautiful interpretations of well-known songs, as well as original music. How do you strike a balance between the two?
you go about getting legal permission to record those songs? Are there legal and financial considerations that most musicians might not understand?
of others. We love creating music just for ourselves, but there is something so special when we hear that our music has helped someone going through a hard time, calmed anxiety, or given someone a moment of joy. The greatest gift we could have in life is bringing light to someone.” Q: Andy Mullen asks: What is your definition of success?
A: “Joy and contentment with where we are at the moment is our success. Being able to create music for a living is what we dreamed of and we’re so happy to have the privilege of doing that. We know we’ll never Q: What advice would you give young be the most successful musicians in the musicians that you wish you had been given world, but we don’t mind that! We can still have continuous goals for the future while early on in your careers? A: “Learn the business side of things! We being happy where we are now.” have degrees in Harp Performance from a Q: Van Horn Ely asks: Top 3 must-do’s to University Conservatory of Music, and we share your art widely? weren’t required or even encouraged to A: “1) Release your music on streaming take a single business class. We also know / download platforms, 2) Post regularly on of very few people who were at our conser- social media, 3) Create music videos – all vatory who now perform full time. We think you need is a phone!” it is extremely important for independent Q: Becky Bloomquist Oviatt asks: What musicians to learn basic skills in managing was your defining moment? When you went a business, finances, etc. It should be some- from “garageband” to national recognition? thing that is taught in music schools and A: “We’re not sure we ever had one conservatories, but if it isn’t, seek out that defining moment. We’ve always felt a bit knowledge and those skills on your own.” like the tortoise in that old children’s tale. The media loves those stories of instant Below are some questions that were stardom and people love to hear about submitted by other independent musi- someone who blew up “accidentally” on cians who live in or work in the Alaskan TikTok. We’ve just kept making music and music scene: kept doing what we love, and our career Q: Elicia Pettit asks: What are the compro- has continued to grow and expand. We still don’t think of ourselves as being famous mises you are glad you made? A: “Spending less time at home so that at all!” we can tour. We think it’s easy to become a Q: Rod Rongstad asks: Do you think interbit of a homebody – especially for artistic views contribute to your success? people who can tend toward the introA: “It’s interesting, because we have verted side. However, we have found that commented to each other that we never a compromise between home and the know when or how someone will discover road is very rewarding! We appreciate our us! Some of our biggest long-time fans time at home and on the road so much have found us through interviews on tiny local news sources! So yes, we definitely more! Friday pizza night while watching OnPatrolLive or Doctor Who on the couch think interviews can help contribute to your is so much more enjoyable when we’ve had success!” shows every Friday night for 2 months and Harp Twins will be performing, along finally get that pizza and tv night!” with the Volfgang Twins, at the 2023 Q: Hope Cassity asks: What’s made you Alaska Scottish Highland Games, June 24th and 25th, at the Alaska State Fair the happiest out of all your work? A: “We think the happiest times of our grounds (see next page). Follow them careers have been hearing the positive online for other special performances impact that our music has made in the lives they’ll be doing while touring Alaska.