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Entertainment is not only an art, it is a business. Cleveland singer/songwriter Chris Nekvinda knows that via being the co-founder and artistic director of the Brick Alley Theatre in Cleveland from 1998 to 2000. On the music front, Nekvinda now has his first 10 track disc out, titled "Picture Show." OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts threw some questions at him regarding the journey so far. |
| OO: |
How did it all start for you? |
| CN: |
"I have played music ever since I can remember, third or fourth grade. I love listening to music. Hearing Simon & Garfunkel as a child was an inspiration. As I grew up, many Boston singer/songwriters influenced me even more. Ellis Paul has been a primary influence in my music." |
| OO: |
Are you a native of the area? |
| CN: |
"I was born and raised in beautiful downtown Parma and went to Benedictine High. I currently live in the West Park area of Cleveland." |
| OO: |
What national artists have influenced you? |
| CN: |
"As mentioned earlier, Ellis Paul has been a huge influence. His approach to songwriting is masterful and he is quite the wordsmith. I have also been influenced by Don Conoscenti and Glen Phillips. Phillips use to front the band Toad The Wet Sprocket in the mid to late 1990's." |
| OO: |
Ever play with any of them in concert? |
| CN: |
"I would have loved to play with Toad The Wet Sprocket. I think that Glen Phillips, the group's primary songwriter, did a great job of writing folk songs, but also presenting them in popular music format. In my opinion, they were a great band." |
| OO: |
Anyone from Ohio catch your ear like that? |
| CN: |
" have split many shows with many artists. I love playing shows with Will Cheshier, Brent Kirby and G.S. Harper. We try to act as a songwriter community and share audiences in an attempt to cross-market our music." |
| OO: |
Onto the disc. Where was "Picture Show" cut? |
| CN: |
"Strangelove Recording Studio in Lakewood. The producer, Veronica Darby, had worked with engineers there previously and she felt strongly about doing the project there. She was right. Adam Probert runs Strangelove Recording and they did a fantastic job." |
| OO: |
How would you characterize the sound on the disc? |
| CN: |
"The music I play is very close to me. I write stories and put music to them. I rarely have an outcome in mind when I begin writing, I just let the characters in the songs dictate the direction. Sometimes they are stories with happy endings, other times they are a more difficult outcome for the characters. That is the essence of folk music, story telling." |
| OO: |
Favorite Ohio venue? |
| CN: |
"Since the Brick Alley Theatre closed down a few years ago, the Barking Spider on Case Western Reserve University campus has re-emerged as the primary acoustic venue in the region. I love playing there" |
| OO: |
Long term plans? |
| CN: |
"I really plan on continuing to play music anywhere I can. I love playing totally acoustic with no sound at all. I can play on the street, in a club, at a coffeehouse, anywhere really. That is the beauty of acoustic music. I would also like to market my songs to the film and t.v. industry. I am working with TAXI to accomplish that goal. They are the world's leading independent Artist & Repertoire company. Since 1992, TAXI has specialized in giving artists, bands and songwriters real access to the people in the music business who have the power to sign deals." |
