Post by sierrach aka susierrach on Apr 10, 2012 15:01:29 GMT -4
Dallas Unsigned
by dtun1898
Jason Castro (left) and Ryan Edgar (right)
What do the Dixie Chicks have in common with Drowning Pool and Pantera? What do Stevie Ray Vaughn and Ryan Cabrera have in common with Kelly Clarkson and Jessica Simpson? The answer is not “good looks”, either. They were all unsigned artists in Dallas at one point in their careers.
While the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex isn’t exactly the most notable of birthplaces for famous musicians, many locals have successfully made national press in the music industry. Some have even reached the other side of the planet with their tunes!
Since 1880, an average of 5.2 successful musicians are born and bred in Texas every year, yet Dallas has managed to remain under the radar in the “rockstar department”. One such local success story is singer/songwriter Jason Castro, who made his impact on the world during the 7th season of American Idol, earning his way to the top 4 before his elimination. Two years later, Jason’s younger brother, Michael Castro, surprised his older brother by making it “to Hollywood” in season 9. Their success on the show is no coincidence, as they are both tremendously talented singer/songwriters with their own unique styles!
In a rapidly-changing music industry, the “old-school” ways of becoming a rockstar are out the door. With the internet at your fingertips and a recent surge of tools that artists can use to further their careers, not to mention the ability to create quality productions without breaking the bank, up-and-coming artists are finding new ways of growing their fan-bases and making careers in the music industry. Jason and Michael Castro were able to leverage the recent “talent-competition” trend to help launch their careers, and now they are both making a living with their music. The Castro brothers have launched an effort called Dallas Unsigned that gives local unsigned artists a chance to showcase their talent!
Dallas Unsigned is a monthly event currently being held at Jack Daniel’s Saloon on the second Wednesday of every month. Each month, Jason and Michael Castro give four to five local unsigned artists the opportunity to play a set in front of a full house and gain some local exposure. With their popularity, the Castro brothers are able to bring in an audience to check out new local talent!
Dallas Unsigned
interview with Jason and Michael Castro
What are your goals with Dallas Unsigned?
Jason: Dallas Unsigned is an idea that my brother, Michael, came up with. We had been meeting a lot of friends and getting to know a lot of musicians…really just stumbling upon them. Seeing how much talent there was here in Dallas, we just really wanted a way to showcase the "good stuff" that Dallas had to offer; using my little bit of notoriety around here to bring some legitimacy to it so people can come out and see that I'm putting my name behind all of these acts.. It's really an effort to showcase Dallas unsigned talent…and on a bigger scale, to help cultivate a musical community here in town.
What kind of impact will it have on the local music scene?
Michael: I don't know if it's going to have an impact at all, but hopefully it will!
Jason: Yes it will! (slapping Michael on the arm)
Michael: I had a lot of friends that were really good, but nobody really knew about them. How do you get people to notice you? And I know there's a lot of music that goes around now, and a lot of times you can go to shows, and it's just not that good. So I wanted to make something with people that I knew were good so people could come out every time knowing that it was going to be something really good--worth coming out for. Hopefully we can sustain that so everybody loves it every time. It's "quality control" that we're going for here.
Kirby Brown
Does performing at a Dallas Unsigned Event give artists a chance to become discovered? If so, how and why?
Michael: Discovered by who? It depends on what your goal is. That's one of the good things about Jason hosting it; he brings some people and each artist brings some people. There are at least 4 artists performing every time, so there are combined crowds. Another way we do the show is called "In the Round", which is kind of like a songwriting circle where artists alternate singing and talking about their songs. This way, people come out for each artist, but they get to see everybody the whole time. So it's not like you have a first set and then those people leave. That way everybody gets to see everyone the whole night.
Jason: I think also, long term, the artists will start being discovered. That is the hope; that the people we're showcasing, that we believe are talented, will go on and have careers in music. As time goes on, we hope that it establishes, like Michael was saying, a place you can trust will have good music every time. And eventually people with some "power" will come by and see them too. That's a big part of it; we hope the best for the artists that come out to our shows.
Do you plan on branching out from The Jack Daniels Saloon and having Dallas Unsigned in other locations?
Jason: Yes. Part our dream vision is creating the brand "Dallas Unsigned", in which we will be able to even take a couple of acts on the road that we can "show swap" with other markets. Let's say someone's doing the same type of thing in Austin…maybe we can trade shows. We can bring the crowd here in Dallas for them, and they can bring the crowd down in Austin us. That's kind of a "bigger vision", so that we can keep taking the unsigned artists and helping them establish careers. The fact is, you can make a living being an unsigned artists these days. It is a very real possibility. We definitely hope to do that. That's probably a little bit down the road…but for now, just establishing a great monthly event whose name means something.
Michael: I think that "being unsigned" used to be a negative term. "If you're not signed, you're not good enough". But now, a lot of people that do music full time are unsigned. So it's also showing that there are really good unsigned people doing it, too!
Do you feel that your careers will effect future Dallas Unsigned events?
Michael: That's kind of why I brought Jason into it in the first place. I figured he would have some kind of draw in the area, giving us more credibility. Because without it, we would be just another plain event. Why would people come out? At least this gives people a reason to come and check it out.
Jason: Because it's something they know. I guess that's the power of "celebrity"…or whatever you call it. People feel like they already know you so they want to check out whatever you're doing. This is something that I'm doing, and something that I believe in, so hopefully a lot of fans will come check it out! That's what I can bring to the table; I want to share my audience and fans with all of these unsigned artists!
When is your next event and how many people do you expect to attend?
Michael: It is usually the second Wednesday of every month, so whenever that is.
Jason: The next one is on April 19th at Opening Bell, and doors open at 6pm. And you know, it is a Wednesday night, so it can be a tough night for people to come out. But we've been having about 50-75 people or so. It's great, because the environment we create there is one for listening. We prefer a smaller audience that is really engaged in the music to a "sold out" show where most people are talking amongst themselves. So its a really cool environment to come, sit down, and actually listen to songwriters tell their stories and sing their songs. That's the cool part about the way it's set up…the "writers in the round" thing. It's just really intimate.
Michael Castro
Where can we find out more information about Dallas unsigned?
Michael: Right now the information is on facebook.com/dallasunsigned.
Jason: Be sure to follow us on Twitter as well…@dallasunsigned.
Do you feel that the economy has effected fans' abilities to go see live performances?
Michael: Of course! Music is a luxury item, so it definitely suffers. But it really depends on the level of fan. You know, you have some people that may not have very much money, but they are such a big fan that they will go ahead and spend the money on it anyway. It's tough, that's why we aren't charging right now. What we have is a $5 suggested donation, which just helps us cover costs. Sometimes it can be hard to get people to come out to shows, because money is an issue.
Jason: Personally, I feel that it has. I mean, how couldn't it? It's getting harder and harder to not only find a job, but keep one! Money is getting tighter for everyone and it's affecting everyone. I'd have a concert at some of the places I grew up going to, but it would be more like a charity event! I feel that no one would pay to come, so I'd lose money! I think the economy is actually strangling the music scene!
In the early 90's, Deep Ellum had over 60 venues and clubs, to the point where the city had to shut off some of the roads because of traffic. This doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Do you feel that it can return to it's bustling state?
Jason: I think things have definitely shifted, but we have some great new venues now like House of Blues, The Palladium, The Loft--over there at Gilly's on Lamar, so it's kinda spreading out. It's not the same as when it was just Deep Ellum, when you could walk to every club. That was a really cool time, but Deep Ellum is still a really cool place! Trees opened up, and The Door is still down there, so I think it is coming around!
What is your favorite place for live music here in the city?
Michael: It depends on the show. I like House of Blues because they have a nice big stage. I also really like The Loft…they have a really great sound! Those are probably my two.
Kirk Thurmond
Has there been any local shows that have had a major impact on you as an artist?
Jason: Growing up, I did frequent Deep Ellum a lot. You know, I grew up playing drums in rock bands and stuff; so I remember, there were a lot of performances that really blew my mind. One band in particular, called Greatness in Tragedy, specifically Kirk Baxley. He has become a friend of ours, and he played at the first Dallas Unsigned show. But he was one of the first performers I saw that really inspired me. He was better than most of the major bands that I had seen come through town. It was really cool to see a "local guy" with so much talent!
Michael: I used to go to Deep Ellum a lot too, but it didn't really effect me in the same way. You know, I didn't pick up music until way later. What really brought my love for music out was just the whole experience of going to see bands all the time with my friends. I used to love going and just watching random bands. I feel like people don't do that anymore, and that's another reason why Deep Ellum is suffering.
Michael, do you feel that you would still be a musician if it weren't for Jason?
M: That's an interesting question…
Jason: (interrupting) Here's a funny story: I was in 5th grade, and I think Michael was in 4th grade. Our birthdays are a month apart, so we would always have joint birthday parties. One year, we really wanted a go-cart…I remember asking for one. So my dad was like "you can either get a go-cart and share it, or you can each get a musical instrument and start taking lessons. That was a pivotal moment in our lives, because we both "went for the instruments". So we started playing music around the same time.
Michael: I quit shortly after. I did play saxophone in middle school, but then that was it until I was 20.
Jason: I think it took root with me right away. It was a passion, and I just loved it. Even then, I went through phases where I would stop for a year or so. But when I was playing, I would play for hours every day. Drums mainly; I didn't start singing until college. So I was always obsessed with music.
Michael: …and I was playing video games. But to go back to your question: more recently, why I started music…I was in college and I didn't really like it there. I just wanted to get out. Then I watched Jason try out for Idol and saw how far he got. I actually said this on Idol, and people gave me a hard time about it: "Well if J can do it, anybody can do it!" That sounds mean, but he's my brother. Other people watch Idol and are so amazed at his singing. But we were living at the same place, he had barely started singing, and I was like "I can do that, I can sing at least that good!". So that is what made me go and audition for Idol. They aired my audition, and just from that I got like 600,000 plays and 10,000 friends overnight. So I took that and ran with it. So I guess my answer would be "no, I wouldn't be a musician if it weren't for Jason". It was an indirect thing; I saw him do it, so then I went and tried it myself.
Jason: He won't admit it, but he always wants to be like his bigger brother.
Michael: No.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
Jason: I've had too many to count. I had a pretty embarrassing moment this morning when I was pulling up. I was backing up and almost hit this car! But you know, I don't really get embarrassed anymore these days. I used to always get embarrassed about things, now I just accept it.
Michael: I don't remember anything specifically…maybe because it's so embarrassing that I just decided to forget it!
Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Jason: Five years isn't too far off, so I would hope to be on album #4 by then and still touring. I'd like to be playing theaters…that's kind of my "sweet spot".
Michael: This is a weird question for me, because i've been doing the "artist thing", and it's going well and growing at what you would consider a "normal rate", but I'm thinking about heading out to Nashville for a little while. I've been writing a lot, and I actually got my first song placement on a TV show on ABC Family! I do want to grow things here in Dallas with Dallas Unsigned, but I think it would be best for me to be in Nashville. So it will be hard doing both. I love writing, and I know people who make a great living by doing song placements. I do like being an artist, but I have to pay the bills! I'd be perfectly happy writing, or would be perfectly happy playing shows. I don't know where I'll be in 5 years, I could kinda go anywhere right now. You'll just have to check back in 5 years.
Jason: You're still going to keep doing Dallas Unsigned.
Michael: Yes, I'm still going to keep doing Dallas Unsigned. It will continue.
What is something that people don't know about you guys?
Michael: Nothing by now.
Jason: Yeah, our lives are pretty public right now. I don't know if there are any "real secrets" anymore.
What is the craziest thing a fan has done to you?
Jason: It's always crazy when they come up to you and smell your hair.
Michael: I've never had my hair smelled. I get my braid examined on occasion, but that's pretty much it.
Is there anything you want to tell your fans?
Jason: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support! Our fans are what makes our worlds go around, so we are super grateful and can't wait to get on the road and see them!
Michael: Yes. That's what I would say too.
dtun1898 | April 10, 2012 at 12:40 pm | Categories: DTUNE Spotlight, Events | URL: wp.me/p1UkZh-85
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