Dakota Roundhouse Interview with Muzique Magazine

How did you come by your stage name?

I chose the name because I spent time living out West in Wyoming and the Dakotas. This part of the country evokes a lot of imagery from the Old West and has a really different feel to it than most other parts of the country. It conjures up a lot of interesting ideas for songs and stories.

When did you discover your love for your craft and what made you realize you wanted to pursue a career in it?

I think I really began exploring music during the 80’s when technology started becoming cheaper, portable, and more accessible for the average person. I started out using cheap Casio keyboards and we even had a Yamaha DX-7 and a Tascam Portastudio 4-track cassette recorder in the house. I was hooked by the idea that I could actually make my own music although back then the bar to entry to a more professional level was still quite high.

To what or whom do you accredit your sense of style?

I would accredit my parents for my overall musical taste and sense of style. We have a lot of musicians in my family and they listened to a wide range of music when I was growing up. I was into a lot of music that maybe most people my age at that time wouldn’t have been. A well-rounded musical diet, if you will.

On your current project, how did you come up with the concept?

It had been 12 years since my last music project and I was itching to see what I could now. Things have changed a lot since then and we have access to an even wider range of tools online for creating music and distributing it. The concept for my current album project (which the single is from) was inspired by an amazing session musician I started collaborating with online this year. I decided to try my hand at something I hadn’t done before writing lyrics. I think it’s going well so far.

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Dakota Roundhouse Interview with Muzique Magazine

What are some of your greatest challenges, and what is your greatest attribute when it comes to your work ethic?

Some of my biggest challenges, as with most up-and-coming artists, are time and money. I’m not always the most patient person in the world and I sometimes have to resist the urge to do things in a hurry just for the sake of getting a project done.

I’d say my greatest attribute concerning my work ethic is my perseverance. I’ve failed more times than I care to admit in this business but I’m still striving for a ‘win’ somewhere down the road to make up for all that.

Are you the best at what you do in your opinion?

I can’t sing, never could and I’m no good at playing instruments. In the process of trying to make music, I’ve found that I’m best at writing lyrics and producing songs as opposed to actually trying to make music whether that’s playing an instrument or using desktop music software. Put it another way, I’m a better director than an actor.

What are your plans for the near future?

Plans for the near future hopefully involve earning enough money from this new single I’ve released to be able to finance the album it’s part of titled Stories from out West’. Beyond that, I’m hoping I’ll be able to collaborate with other artists on more projects or possibly get picked up by a label. I’m also looking to possibly write lyrics and produce music for other bands if any out there are interested in working with me.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank, any shout outs?

I’d like to thank everyone out there who’s been around and helped me on my musical journey over the years. They know who they are if they’re reading this.

How can fans find you?

Fans can find me here:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Flying.Jade.Dragon

What suggestions do you have for other artist like yourself?

It’s a tough business we’re in as it’s easier and yet frustratingly more difficult to get into due to how accessible modern technology makes the music industry. Here are my tips for other artists based on my own experience:

1. Educate yourself- Get to know this business and keep up with the changes. Things move quickly and what was the norm yesterday and is old news today.

2. Be ready to make painful choices- Take it from me, the music you love to play and hold dear may not be suitable for embarking on a successful career. Save the artsy, experimental stuff for after you’ve earned your stripes and have a huge following.

Your music should be suitable for the widest range of people possible based on whichever genre you’re into. This means you may have to change your genre and style. As I said, possibly painful.

3. Do not ever give up. Read it again. If you put your time and energy towards always improving yourself as an artist and listen to what others around you are telling you, there is not reason why you can’t be even moderately successful.

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