Strung Out Episode 261: PLUMB THE SOUL-THE CREATIVE FORCE OF DOCTORSTARCRUMBS

Nic Nepomiachi (aka DoctorStarcrumbs) in his second interview, lifts the curtain on his creative process in making a song.  Nepomiachi is a great songwriter, arranger and performer.  The song takes front seat when it comes to how to present it.  Therefore, one can hear various influences in service to the lyrics and mood Nepomiachi wants the listener to hear.  He also creates with a great sensitivity to the artists who have come before him.  It is one thing to write a song in the style of Dr. Hook or Leon Redbone.  It's an entirely different thing to record in New Orleans to deliberately channel the energy of that town into the music. 
Nepomiachi's story is intriguing as his music is eclectic:  Running a club in Telluride, Colorado with his dad.  Playing drums in different bands in Colorado. Opening a club in Chicago. Closing that club in Chicago. Playing in bands in Chicago. Collaborating on albums.  Writing solo albums.  He is a quiet, reticent individual that when first talking to him, you would have no idea of where he has been and where next he wants to go. And in between songs and gigs he and his wife are raising a family.  A great example of what it takes to be an independent musician.  Don’t let his soft-spoken demeanor fool you.  He is definitely one of the more authentically lived artistic lives I have had the pleasure of hearing about in a long time. His latest album on his Spotify page (there are five featured offerings to pick from there) Horse Shirt has an Americana slant to it.  He is not afraid to channel Dr. Hook or Leon Redbone for a New Orleans-style song, like Winds in China on his self-titled Starcrumbs album (which you can hear on his YouTube channel) and his lyrics are witty and self-reflecting. 
His Facebook page is where you can track the comings and goings of this artist.  Where his next show will be and who he will be with. Or it may just be a picture of him being a dad.  Whatever you do, take the time to listen to his music and enjoy an authentic craftsman who is not afraid to experiment, borrow, improvise and call Chicago home.

https://www.facebook.com/nicolas.nepomiachi

Transcript

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:14:44
Unknown
Welcome to Strung Out, the podcast that looks at life through the lens of an artist. Your host is the artist, writer and musician Martin Lawrence McCormack. Now here's Marty.

00:00:14:44 - 00:00:34:51
Unknown
Nick Nepomniachtchi and he is known as Doctor Stark Drums. And if you watched the last, podcast, you'll, you'll get a little bit about his background and, going up to Colorado, how that influenced him and, the various influences with, some of the artists.

00:00:35:38 - 00:01:08:38
Unknown
I love the fact that you went all the way down to New Orleans to, to record, and because that's the place to do it. And we're talking about creativity, and serving the muse, on this one. Do you have a lot of songs that are just waiting in the wings? You kind of just you did the last interview at your phone, and I'm like, this is the kind of guy that probably has like 500 songs I do, or like fragments.

00:01:08:38 - 00:01:46:31
Unknown
Yeah. But I yeah, that's kind of how I would say I work is I have like, I would say a deal with the muse or just whatever is that like is sending you ideas. That's, trickster at the end of time that I monoliths, I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, I think when it when you as an artist give the idea like this could be a lyric or, phrase or, or whatever it is, you just kind of, like, sing it into your phone at that moment and then label it, or you label it, or at least label it, and then I can come back and be like, all

00:01:46:31 - 00:02:10:37
Unknown
right, now I've got a little time. Can I turn that into a verse or a song or, you know, what do I do with that? Or maybe I'm working on something else and I'm like, flipping through because I need something else. And I'm like, oh, this idea of like, this other song. And so let's see. And the, the genius of the iPhone, really, when you think about it, it's amazing.

00:02:10:44 - 00:02:37:45
Unknown
Yeah, it's it's opened up a world 1430, ideas, 1430 fragments. I like how you describe that. Yeah. Oh, the, the melodies or lyrics or or both or. They're both. How do you get. I mean, are you the kind of guy that will say, oh, you know, I've got a melody? Lyrics will come later. No, I'm always lyrics first, lyrics first.

00:02:37:49 - 00:03:02:44
Unknown
You know, in the lesson, if you ask if you're a writer. Because you strike me as one of these people that, you know, you, you have that writer's sensibility. I think there's always a musical phrase in your lyrical sentence and that whatever my first intuitive way of saying that comes out. Yeah, I'll try to follow whatever style of music.

00:03:02:49 - 00:03:28:48
Unknown
Right. Okay. So if something sounds, you know, New Orleans or whatever, like now that's that sounds right. Or I'll follow that train down that road. Well, let's give a listen. You know, we were talking on the last, interview that you had, you had some chocolate, a demo that hasn't made it out yet. And so, you're getting a strung out exclusive here with Doctor Stark comes this, this is, you know, rough vocal.

00:03:28:48 - 00:03:29:10
Unknown
So

00:03:29:10 - 00:03:35:10
Unknown
A1234.

00:03:35:15 - 00:04:23:12
Unknown
It was me and no. Cyrus and Jesus and Buddha and Elvis and Vishnu. You should have been there before. You could have all chanting hymns and screaming Hallelujah! And I own native language while speaking their tongues and singing our ancestors past down songs for.

00:04:23:17 - 00:05:18:48
Unknown
It was me and no. Cyrus and Jesus and Buddha. Sharing no hookah with some cloaked up onlookers. We're all chanting songs and passing round doobies. Brazil's throat on stage. Elvis points and yells, boobies! Jesus rips the sex and a Buddha starts drumming. If I had only had recorded the second coming of piano, Cyrus and Jesus and Buddha hands zoom!

00:05:18:53 - 00:05:42:34
Unknown
It was me. And no Cyrus and Jesus and Buddha. And the album said Vishnu. You should have been there if you coulda. We're all chanting hymns and screaming hallelujah! And our own native language while speaking in tongues and singing. Our ancestors passed down songs for zoom.

00:05:42:39 - 00:05:50:34
Unknown
We're all singing. Our ancestors passed down songs. Moses.

00:05:50:39 - 00:06:04:54
Unknown
We're all singing. Our ancestors passed down home. Songs for Zeus.

00:06:04:58 - 00:06:07:01
Unknown
Oh, well.

00:06:07:40 - 00:06:34:14
Unknown
Really cool. Really cool. And, one of the things going through my mind as I'm listening to it. You know, you describe this as a demo. When do you feel like it's done? I mean, when, I feel like there's a little. My keyboard player says he wants to fix a little something on that. I'm probably new to redo my old clothes.

00:06:34:14 - 00:06:58:21
Unknown
And then we gotta add, chords and then mix it. I feel like it's still a little bit scary. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's, I, I guess, like, I also have, like, you know, we were talking about, how, like, my 1400 ideas, I would say, like 200 of those maybe are for what I'd like to be able.

00:06:58:21 - 00:07:18:37
Unknown
What I like to do is, be able to sing and play the song on guitar when I can write it, and really. And. Yeah. So, like, why is that? I mean, it's just, I would say just because, then I have, like, the chords in my hand, then, like, then I can still change the styles. Yeah.

00:07:18:40 - 00:07:37:13
Unknown
Something I learned from Matt, my buddy drummer buddy, who was a producer who is just like, look, you can rewrite the song and then we can decide, what do we want this to be? You know, a rolling Stone song, or do we want it to be, you know, so I, you know, if there's just a million ways to record it.

00:07:37:13 - 00:07:54:03
Unknown
So he's saying, like, bring me the rough. And that's also like something from, like, Rick Rubin I always heard, which is just like, you got to be able to sing and play your song all the way through on guitar, and then we can build it from there. And a lot of times I would do that on the country record.

00:07:54:08 - 00:08:20:50
Unknown
I would sing it to a click track on guitar with, scratch vocals, and then we would build it around it and actually just pick up my scraps. I, I try to make records in a million different ways, but I, I do like having my, you know, demo idea and then I can, then I'll label it like whatever song final demo, final phone demo.

00:08:20:55 - 00:08:39:41
Unknown
Okay. You know. Yeah. And then I feel like I can move on and then are you the kind of person that, like, I have to listen to in my car? I have to listen to it through a stereo? Or are you just like, okay, so like, my buddy that mixes all my stuff is working with me because I'm like, very not precious.

00:08:39:41 - 00:09:06:07
Unknown
And he understands what I'm going for. So it's just like, I don't think I've had I don't think I have like the five records with me. I think I've had, yeah, like maybe two revisions and it's just like, do this tiny little thing, it'll be like an edit even, you know, you know, it's funny because on this, this demo you're describing, well, I, you know, I want to cut my vocals on there, you know, and if there's a little glitch that, you know, the keyboards, I'm like, I don't care.

00:09:06:20 - 00:09:22:35
Unknown
Yeah. I mean, I didn't hear the keyboard thing either. I can see what he's talking about. But I'm like, to me it's good enough. And I mean, my vocals are probably good enough to to get the point across, but like, I feel like I could probably do slightly. Well, I don't know, as an artist, I might just decide to just put it out.

00:09:22:36 - 00:09:41:33
Unknown
I do that a lot. I like that idea. I mean, I mean, that's when I was doing the, the weekly show. I had a, and at the, the apex of it, I was writing a song a week. Yeah. And producing it. I mean, just put it all together and slapping up and making a video to accompany.

00:09:41:38 - 00:10:15:15
Unknown
And I kind of got to the idea, like, here it is. Yeah. That's, you know, and, and I think in some ways that's, kind of maybe. Sam. Yeah, yeah. And I had a, voice teacher that said, you know, when you record and, it's a pitfall that some people fall in, but she said, you know, the recording should be of that point of your life timestamp where you're at, what you're doing and don't don't obsess about it, obsess about it.

00:10:15:23 - 00:10:34:03
Unknown
But so many people go in to the studio and there's so many bells and whistles. No, you know, and then they layer cake. It. I mean, for me, if I'm working on something a year later, I'm just upset and I just get excited because that's not what I was looking for, right? You know, I just so I'm getting to the point where I started out.

00:10:34:14 - 00:10:57:54
Unknown
So I'll for the songs that I write and write and write like final phone number one, I won't even like relearn them until I'm ready to record them to go back into service. Okay. Because yeah, I love the words. You using your songs, harvest them. I mean, so, you know, because if they're not ready, they're still. I still need to like, edit or like, change words.

00:10:57:56 - 00:11:20:44
Unknown
Right? Arrangement or whatever. I mean, but like from the final demo to, like, pull it so that I get ready to record it. Know on that particular song I thought was kind of interesting is you elevated Elvis to, a demigod at the very least. I mean, there's this great guy got a writer right now. This is an interesting synchronicity, actually.

00:11:20:44 - 00:11:51:28
Unknown
But Tom is, about occult, the occult, Elvis, all this interesting stuff about Elvis, and. Yeah, I mean, he's a fascinating character. And, like, if he's if he's not an American god out West and, you know, I have a couple songs about Elvis, actually, in a very, a very human American god, right? I mean, he's, he's a flawed, I mean, deity.

00:11:51:30 - 00:12:22:00
Unknown
Yeah. I mean, he is. And also, I mean, at a certain point, I think it was easier for America to to we used to drop pamphlets over countries to, like, get, you know, be like, you know, your government is bad. You should let us you know, essentially take over your government and resources. Right. Instead of dropping pamphlets and saying, you know, you guys are attacking us, they realize, that they can just get some Elvis over.

00:12:22:05 - 00:13:01:23
Unknown
They want the American way. Right? And so I think that, like, very true, you know. Oh, Elvis is, yeah, maybe, our kind of. It's interesting you're bringing this up because, you know, as, as a creative artist and that, you know, what's what's your role in all of that? I mean, do you feel that, I mean, there's so much going on on the larger scale politically, socially, culturally, is it your responsibility to give that a voice?

00:13:02:05 - 00:13:28:01
Unknown
Give your opinion, not a folk singer. I don't think anyone should listen to anything else. And whatever they choose to follow. Really support every idea that anyone has, even, and like I said, I just. This is America, so we have to be able to be fighting about stuff like, that's what America is. It's free speech.

00:13:28:01 - 00:13:47:45
Unknown
Like, I will support you right to say the dumbest shit because like, if we don't do that, it's not going to happen anywhere else in the world. If it's not, that's true. And so like people I disagree with are the ones whose voices I don't necessarily want them the loudest, but I want them to be able to have it.

00:13:48:55 - 00:14:12:05
Unknown
And I get a lot of slack for that, and I get a lot of slack, like for my, one of my songs called Rednecks and Hippies, which is not about at all about the times right now. Yeah, it's about I actually was reading the Willie Nelson autobiography, and he was talking about how him and Waylon Jennings would throw parties in the 70s, Willie's property, and Willie would bring the redneck or Willie would bring up the bring the rednecks.

00:14:12:05 - 00:14:34:55
Unknown
And it's different if those people are, you know, they all have the same commonality. We have people we can see where certain freedoms, regardless of, like what political spectrum they're on. And so, I wrote the song called rednecks, and then the chorus is in a world of red and blue. The only answer seemed purple. And I feel like.

00:14:34:55 - 00:14:58:34
Unknown
And then like, I don't really read a movie like purple in a world that's like, I've been craving the sun or something like that. But, is that it? Has it made its way onto an album? It's on an album. Yeah. Well, maybe we can listen to that as the next song, but it's, I just feel like you got a lot of flack for that because it's like, oh, you know, you're, you know, letting the Red team or the Boogaloo.

00:14:58:39 - 00:15:21:10
Unknown
We have just I've had so many fights with just people, lot of political ideologies over the years. And it's like, look, everybody's right from their point of view. We all just want to raise happy, healthy kids. Oh, no. You know, I think there's two camps when it comes to, you know, that's interesting. You said that's like a folk singer, but, you know, the the idea that I have friends that are musicians that feel like.

00:15:21:10 - 00:15:44:47
Unknown
Yeah, I'm going to tell you my opinion. Yeah. You know, I think you should still get your opinion whether you like it or not. Yeah. But, you know, that's that's also very polarizing. Yeah. And there's musicians that say, you know, music should bring us together. Yeah. You know, so rednecks and hippie sounds to me like you're touching on that idea that we all have that commonality.

00:15:44:52 - 00:16:05:39
Unknown
I guess what, some people look at it like, Oh, you know, you you like the red team as much as the blue team or the Democrats as much as the Republicans, or as much as Democrats. It's like the arguments that I hear about. Right? You know, it's like, I don't think I think my, my job as an American is to hate anyone that's in charge at all times.

00:16:06:29 - 00:16:28:09
Unknown
I think in some ways, that's probably the best way of defining a, an American that I've ever heard is just to to hold a hold it all in disdain. Yeah. And and and at arm's length with a lot of scrutiny because I don't think there is, you know, I think as an artist, you feel that more keenly.

00:16:28:14 - 00:16:51:11
Unknown
Maybe. Maybe, at least for me, is it's just because you're, you're able to see so many different kinds of people and how they struggle. Yeah. You know, and everybody pretty much has the same struggle, right? You know, at least in the middle class. Yeah. And lower class overall. You know, it's a different struggle for the people. The you know, 1% millionaires.

00:16:51:11 - 00:17:33:47
Unknown
But they have a struggle to yeah. You know, but we didn't know red or blue is the name of the, I think the whole song is about, you know, I never was red or blue. Yeah. You know that idea, right? It's like, why? It's it's weird to just make it so, you know, we're we're off on a little tangent here about, you know, the, the, the idea that, you know, as an artist, you know, what is our rule, you know, is is it the I think, you know, for me, it's the idea that you try to bring people together through music and in that Kumbaya, but at least kind

00:17:33:47 - 00:17:59:29
Unknown
of say, hey, you know, I'm sure, you know, we can be at each other's throats and, you know, score points, but that's not going to solve anything. You know, at the end of the day, I, you know, I find those that kind of stuff, you know, much more, noble. But that's why I love music that brings people together.

00:17:59:30 - 00:18:24:47
Unknown
I'm a huge, you know, Grateful Dead fan. And I've seen Phish more times than I care. So Ted Nugent I like to Nugent too, man. I mean, you know, in fact, fish's song Mike song is, he admits that he stole it from you. But, you know, I don't know. I, I don't know, I, I like it.

00:18:24:47 - 00:18:51:43
Unknown
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, obviously you you draw upon all different kinds of influences to create your, your work. Are you the kind of person that sits and just listens voraciously? Then I do listen to a lot of music. Okay. Yeah. And that's and, I never understood like, I have a lot of really good friends. And actually those are always typically the ones that are like, the best are music.

00:18:51:47 - 00:19:10:55
Unknown
I feel like they're they all listen to a lot. It's weird that your friends are selective as far as what they listen to or. Yeah, or just like, I don't know, like my one friend in particular, I think it just doesn't really like to listen to music, but he's just like, got the most brilliant musical mind. It's weird.

00:19:11:00 - 00:19:29:15
Unknown
I wonder what that is. Do you have a theory as to why that would be? Is it because, you know, some musicians are afraid that, hey, if I listen, just as you said, you know, the casual fish or whatever is lifted a, you know, from Nugent, I mean, those guys that he listens to, music for sure.

00:19:29:19 - 00:20:01:07
Unknown
Okay. I feel like, but, Yeah. I don't know what that is. I, I don't know, I've just always been a guy that was always reaching out for new stuff. So, you know, to say that, like, you know, when you know, something comes into your mind, you're not thinking, oh, man, you know what I mean? I'm thinking, like, I'm going to steal that and make it my own and change that song, you know, like, or I wish I could have written the song or, you know, like, I wish I was doing this style of music, but, you know, I think a lot of artists do lift, though.

00:20:01:07 - 00:20:14:47
Unknown
I mean, I think that's the nature of the beast. I mean, I had I don't even think of stealing. I think it's like, well, I mean, people started making, well, I think and I like that amateurs borrow professional steal. Right, right. Like, if you're going to really do it right, you're going to have to learn how to steal.

00:20:14:47 - 00:20:44:47
Unknown
And like all the best records were made like that. Well, really, Willie Nelson talked about, crazy and how that first grades. Yeah. There was another song a guy had, baby, that I did, and I'm like, well, yeah, just it's just those intervals they don't almost. Right. You know, it's, you know, hey, I just did a song, where we sampled, the Seinfeld theme and a Grateful Dead song, and we mashed it up.

00:20:44:47 - 00:21:06:38
Unknown
And then, like, in between that, we put the the Tool Time. Like, that's, you know, it's from Tool Time. Yeah. And, and the Tool Time we like recorded is to not use the sample and I and we had this long discussion on like, does anybody on the phrase you know, or like, it's like, that's not copyrightable.

00:21:06:38 - 00:21:28:45
Unknown
Like, you can take that, you know, let's listen to another one of your songs and we'll get into, that and also I just want to I want to see where do you stand on, and all that kind of thing going on. Well, what do you what do you have? Why don't you give us something, off one of your albums?

00:21:28:50 - 00:21:33:32
Unknown
Sure. And, we'll we'll give it a good listen.

00:21:33:32 - 00:22:05:07
Unknown
I'm on the eternal quest for. Meaninglessness. Fill the pointless universe with pain. That life. In effect through life.

00:22:05:12 - 00:22:33:05
Unknown
Supply. I'm on the eternal quest. To see the price. And free the life. I'm on the eternal quest. Infinite takes one, I guess. Give and take a few more. Must try to live in a single sphere. To provide.

00:22:33:10 - 00:22:43:08
Unknown
An effect.

00:22:43:12 - 00:22:50:33
Unknown
For.

00:22:50:38 - 00:22:57:49
Unknown
Few. And.

00:22:57:53 - 00:23:03:14
Unknown
Free the I, you.

00:23:03:19 - 00:23:13:22
Unknown
And see. Price. I'm on the eternal quest to see life.

00:23:13:27 - 00:23:25:53
Unknown
From free the life.

00:23:25:53 - 00:24:03:19
Unknown
Hello subscribers, and welcome to Inside Views of Mardi Fine Art, where people are talking about their collected works by artist Martin Al McCormick. Like this planar watercolor titled River Bower, Donegal, Ireland, recently purchased by Cindy Roby. Her trip to Ireland was such a gift. Even more so is the forever reminder of the trip we had to. Marty's painting was a Bower Donegal.

00:24:03:24 - 00:24:31:53
Unknown
It is a beautiful rendition of a path we actually had the pleasure of walking. Marty masterfully captured the light through the trees, the gentle breeze and the brilliance of the soft colored leaves. It truly embodies the peace and tranquility of Ireland. We all remember it always, along with the friendships made and the memories that this unforgettable painting inspires.

00:24:31:58 - 00:24:49:51
Unknown
Thank you for supporting Marty Fine Art, Cindy. Additional originals and prints and merchandise of all of Marty's art can be purchased at Martin mccormick.com.

00:24:49:51 - 00:25:12:59
Unknown
aka Doctor Stark. Drums. And what was the name of this song that was free the light? Free the light. Is are you doing the vocal to, Yeah, I know that when artists do that and, you got a range of things, you know, now that that, you know, you in the last move, you were saying, like, I'm still searching for my voice.

00:25:13:03 - 00:25:40:47
Unknown
I hear your voice. I like that voice. You know, it's it's, it's a very, what's the right word for it? Trust me. Any kind of confessional on, you know, it's not like you're, you know, you kind of, like, almost, you know, again, this writer thing keeps coming into my mind with you. It's like you're you're almost reciting as much as you're singing.

00:25:40:52 - 00:26:03:24
Unknown
Kind of your philosophy here. Totally. And I love, that you, you really have this jazz sensibility of that kind of, kind of so far and everything I've heard to some degree, there's a little bit of a jazz sensibility, you know, percolating through stuff. Does that resonate with you or. No. I've been I've really heard people say that, but yeah, I think you're right.

00:26:03:24 - 00:26:23:06
Unknown
There is, you know, some jazz to it. And just the way you kind of, you know, you're pushing things, you know, just lyrically, I do a lot of like things where I'm writing and phrases and so I'm like that song when we had to chart it out. There's a lot of bars too, and stuff and just, things that carry over the beat.

00:26:23:06 - 00:26:46:00
Unknown
Or you could still hold your breath like that, but. Yeah. Do you, are you a fan of Jeff Tweedy or. Yeah. Well, I think it's great. Yeah, I love his, like, honestly, just like his output and his mentality on my songwriting. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I, I'm a, I'm a fan as well I think Glen Glen and you know it's ridiculous.

00:26:46:59 - 00:27:10:04
Unknown
Yeah. So I, I think I hear just a little bit of you know, his approach on that one and that song also makes me want to listen led to a ten minute version of it. Oh cool. Because you could, you could just for sure take off into the ether. Yeah. You know, and again, you know, that's it sounds like you have a stand up on there.

00:27:10:11 - 00:27:40:08
Unknown
Yeah. And, just the, the, you know, the lazy swish of the drums. I mean, it's one of those things where you feel like, 3 a.m. at a club. So that song was, Speaking of, like, how a song can change, I think I was, like, watching the original idea. I was watching some YouTube on Mars, and it was, they were talking about this weird geometrical shape called the Aliens or something.

00:27:40:13 - 00:28:02:57
Unknown
Maybe singing from Romanian. Yeah, the guy with whatever the guy's name is Romanian or something. Okay, so his pseudo sphere, which is this shape where, parallel lines intersect. And so, you know, parallel lines intersect like you think. Well, how can that be? But it actually is mathematically possible. Yes. Infinity. Well, yeah, that's kind of what it is.

00:28:02:57 - 00:28:20:32
Unknown
So that's what that song is kind of about is, that in the original version it was like way different. I think that was the same, like beat me at the bottom of the room in the, in studios and someplace where it just didn't work at all. Right? I was like, oh, man, I got to rework this idea.

00:28:20:33 - 00:28:43:04
Unknown
Like, he can't sing Romanian. So that's so, so but I, still write about the shape without saying if the shape. Well, so that was a that was a fun little challenge. This, it's that's it. Has that made its way to an album? Yeah. That's what what album was that ones, start from self-titled. Okay. Yeah.

00:28:43:09 - 00:29:06:22
Unknown
So cost is the record worth worth getting just to hear that. And, people can get your stuff on Spotify. And, or Apple or YouTube or. Yeah, just start albums. I wanted to ask you, you know, are you afraid of a, a do you or, like, you love it? Well, I am afraid of it, but I love it, okay.

00:29:06:31 - 00:29:28:12
Unknown
You know, so what frightens you about it? Well, I mean, like, you know, it's like, as long as we all get universal basic income, we can focus on Earth. I'm not afraid if it takes away everybody's job. But if it does, for all X men, you know, goes on because they don't need us anymore and we're just useless eaters.

00:29:28:12 - 00:29:50:33
Unknown
Then, like, I'm afraid of it. I'm here. And like, I see that, you know, John Carter's morning from Terminator. However, I met this free place in my life right now where, like, it's really fun to work with it. Like, I just spent all week kind of learning how to make videos. Yeah. And then like piece together.

00:29:50:33 - 00:30:18:53
Unknown
And I made a really funny little video, and I just had the best time doing it. Right. And so I, as an artist, I think it's really cool. You know, you still have to write the problems. You still have to feel like, how else can I make a video and, you know, spend 20 bucks doing, it's interesting you're saying this, and I love the fact you brought up universal basic income, because it's almost kind of like it has to go that way.

00:30:18:58 - 00:30:49:14
Unknown
It. Yeah. Or else. Yeah. But I think what the logical conclusion is, is that if you there's going to be an artist in class, you know, hopefully I think maybe I do hope that there is, but there might be a gazillion artists. So that's great. You know, like that's what we want as an artist. And resonant, resonant of, Renaissance, you know, and if we're all that's the cool one, where if we all don't have to worry about, you know, our food or whatever, could we be making some cool art?

00:30:49:19 - 00:31:08:52
Unknown
That's true. That's, that's a utopian kind of feeling, isn't it? I don't know how big you are. And like the Prometheus or, like, myth or whatever. Yeah, but, like, you know, like, really like to the world and but and and like, through, you know, fire can kill and, you know, be used to burn the whole world down, or you can use it to heat your home and cook the food.

00:31:08:52 - 00:31:35:03
Unknown
That's right. Like, how do we want to embrace technology now for the better? I love that, I love that analogy. I mean, it is like Prometheus, but Prometheus was kind of a nice guy. The people that are bringing AI are not necessarily right. They're the Olympians. Right? I mean, so, yeah, you know, there's there's that sense of profit.

00:31:35:03 - 00:32:00:43
Unknown
And right now it's the soup, the jury and the bubble that we can be on. But I mean, yeah, I don't trust them. If they're going to steal your identity, is it going to take a snapshot of your soul and it's going to be caught? I mean, you know, is that I hope so. Does it? You know, it's just like I look at it in a certain respect, like, if we, you know, not that they would steal your soul because I think, like, that's not going to go well.

00:32:00:43 - 00:32:31:42
Unknown
Somebody say, hey, look, you know, here's Doctor Stark friends and but here's Doctor Stark cons is I want to present Doctor Stark. I mean, that'd be an honor. Would you be honored? But, I mean, I don't think it will ever happen. So, like, when you never know, right? Yeah. I mean, we don't know what this future holds for me, but, you know, I don't mean, like, it'll, like, boost my ego, but I just mean, like, if your kids can talk to an AI version of you after your dad and.

00:32:31:47 - 00:32:52:47
Unknown
Closer to, you know, I don't know, like, would you want to see, like, a, an AI performer? Like, would you, would you pay to see an AI is, These days, I have a really hard time with just leaving the house for any show you like, if I'm there because, like, I just want to be back home already, but, like,

00:32:52:51 - 00:33:19:56
Unknown
So probably not, but, maybe. Okay. I'd rather see clones. You'd rather see clones? I see a cloned Elvis. Okay, I like that we're going to take a little break. We're going to be right back. Continuing along this line of, creativity, the creative process, and cloned Elvis, I love it. You're, strung out. Okay. And three, two, one.

00:33:20:01 - 00:33:42:51
Unknown
We're back with Doctor Stark. Crumbs. And, Yeah, we know we were talking about cloned Elvis. Yeah, I don't know. I think a cloned Elvis would not be the same Elvis, you know? And I don't know, it's just so much training and. Yeah. Or would you. You know, I think the thing about AI that, I would feel bad for him.

00:33:42:51 - 00:33:59:04
Unknown
I feel like they just keep him tied up in the car, and then it's just when it's time to perform, you know, when Elvis comes out there and it's just sad. Cloned Elvis waiting to get backstage. And I hear a song. That's what I hear. I hear a song about cloned Elvis, which I think would be kind of interesting.

00:33:59:31 - 00:34:24:57
Unknown
You know, because, might be my third song about I think everybody, you know, well, and you like, you know, you look at Elvis, I mean, you you know what? What about him creatively, you know, inspires you? Well, I mean, first of all, I love what he did. Polk salad Army. I don't know if you know.

00:34:24:57 - 00:34:47:18
Unknown
You know that tune of. Yeah, it's a great song. I mean, and just like, you know, I mean, you know, Gillian Welch. Oh, yeah. She's got this great song. And I think it really encapsulates that, just that, like, he put on the clothes he put on this club with this clothes that is that his mom made.

00:34:47:22 - 00:35:12:09
Unknown
He went on the air and he shook it like a Harlem queen. And then I just thought that that's just like he really had to bring, like. Like the white dudes in America in the early 60s. We're not going to listen to a black dude, you know? Right. But they we're going to listen to a white dude dance like a black, right?

00:35:12:09 - 00:35:36:58
Unknown
And like, if that's just a little wedge into getting us closer to where you need to be. And then like Elvis did his job. Yeah. I mean, that's interesting. You know, tours, you know, as much as it was like co-opting black music, I feel like, you know, I don't know, I took maybe I'm wrong. Well, you know, it's a it's a it's an interesting thought.

00:35:36:58 - 00:36:04:22
Unknown
I don't think, I don't know that. I mean, Elvis co-opted black music in the sense that he consciously, not like Manhattan Transfer, right? You know, I mean, I think what he, I think he grew up in that environment and, and and I think he genuinely. Yeah, he loved it. Yeah. Of course, I mean, and he, you know, but it it did, it did help all the other black musicians.

00:36:04:22 - 00:36:28:38
Unknown
Of course. Yeah. Yeah. I mean more so than like, ushered in a wave, like, like the Rolling Stones. It could be argued they co-opted like blues and, you know, they they certainly give credit where credit is due, but it's a little bit of a difference. Elvis lived it, I think. You know what I mean? You know, but from a you know, I don't mean it in a bad way.

00:36:28:38 - 00:36:51:11
Unknown
I, you know, I don't think you do. I mean, I'm agreeing with you. I think that, that, you know, the, creatively, it was enough, you know, it was like, maybe, you know, it was it was really part and parcel, which, again, you know, we're off on a an interesting tangent about the clones. I mean, I'm co-opting New Orleans music.

00:36:51:11 - 00:37:08:17
Unknown
I've got nothing to do with New Orleans and just laying out like a handful of weekends there. And it's like, why did I was I drawn to do that? And is it fake even? It's like, yeah, it's probably fake, but like, I just always wanted to do it. I would do it and like, did it, you know, but like it.

00:37:08:23 - 00:37:26:53
Unknown
I think there's a difference though. Like, you know, when you do something like that, when just the words you, you brought, I'm doing an ode to it, you know, you're not, you know, saying, hey, you know, I, you know, I'm living and you know I'm right. You know, I'm from New Orleans. You know what I mean? Or something like that.

00:37:26:58 - 00:37:49:54
Unknown
And I think as an artist, we should be able to channel stuff. And influences. And it's just fun to explore it, you know? Yeah, I, I don't agree with, you know, some people will say, well, you know, you have no right. To, to, you know, do New Orleans music unless you're from New Orleans. It's like Irish music.

00:37:49:59 - 00:38:21:48
Unknown
Yeah. You know, I think, you know, one of the best bands I never heard of, but they were Japanese Irish band. They call themselves The Rice Paddies. And I thought that was like, brilliant. Was like, you know, that's kind of key. Yeah. The genre going better than anything, you know? And, you know, all these, the idea of, like, you know, canceling people because they want to, you know, get into a culture that's bringing people together.

00:38:21:52 - 00:38:47:39
Unknown
I agree, you know, the melting pot. And as a musician, I think we have a responsibility to some degree to what I like about you create a festival. What we're saying is to all the white guys out there, keep doing your reggae acts and just get it. You know, you know, see how far you go. You know, but, you know, it's just, that's that's I think, one of the interesting things about, creativity.

00:38:47:39 - 00:39:10:36
Unknown
I mean, you shouldn't be, felt, you know, like, your arms out, you know, hands are tied behind your back. Yeah, I agree, you know, and, and the fact that you're jumping different genres and bringing them into your palette, and, I like that, too, because you're, you're now giving the listeners an adventure with every album that you're coming out.

00:39:11:23 - 00:39:37:38
Unknown
So Doctor Stark claims people are tuning in to you now because, you know, your, your, you know, Americana artist because who you are. I like that, you know, and I like that too, because I think that it's the same like Beck. Yeah. You know, thing like, that's kind of why I'm always wanting to check out what is newest thing and, you know, and stuff comes out, you know, in one year he got that Americana album in the air, and I was like, yeah, I'm off, you know?

00:39:37:38 - 00:40:06:46
Unknown
But not that I even, I kind of don't like that part of the whole. I like, just like the second last one, that hyperspace like, oh, you know, so there's, you know, he's he's you know, he's experimental, and not afraid of, you know, he's not afraid of the industrial part of it. I want to ask you, you've been doing this for a long time, and you grew up, you know, surrounded by music.

00:40:06:46 - 00:40:33:03
Unknown
You literally grew up in the bars. What is your advice to people that are looking at you and saying, I want to be like Doctor Stark. I want to be that kind of artist. Don't know, I don't know, I just, I think just like making lots of rules of the road. I mean, if somebody was here right now and saying, hey, you know, Nick, I really want to know, how do I do this?

00:40:33:03 - 00:41:09:49
Unknown
How do I do what you're doing? Well, saying saying, I remember when I was in college and I was in like a funk band was 19 and, I had somebody actually, like, took our record and, like, made vinyl copies and sold it. And, and we didn't get paid. It was like some weird back over to you. And then, but right around that same time, the guy that was singing the one of the bands was like, made something that struck a chord with me was just like, you can't like this idea of a starving artist, like, impossible.

00:41:09:49 - 00:41:36:43
Unknown
And so make sure you're never starving as an artist. Because if you're starving, you're never going to be able to make, create art. And so I was always of that mindset that like, you know, you kind of, you know, do what you have to to do what you want to do. And so I've always just kind of had a job or, you know, something where I could mindlessly think about music.

00:41:36:48 - 00:42:09:19
Unknown
Isn't the starving artist what society wants to put out? I think probably that's probably a psyop, right, right. I mean, you know, like or like, you know, the industry which, you know, the, the industry with a capital like wants you and I to be miserable. I would say what a lot of people that first start out, you and I, even I do this probably 20 times where it's like I'm in this band, I'm, we're going to make this demo and then we're going to, it's going to do well or whatever.

00:42:09:19 - 00:42:27:49
Unknown
And you put all this effort into this one thing and it's just like you could have put, you know, not as much effort into it and then made way more, and then just not let it right on that. And then also just like it's cool to just have it and then like, it doesn't need to go in.

00:42:27:54 - 00:42:46:23
Unknown
Right. You know, I think that's so important to where just like I think actually my biggest, my most depressing days are the days that I put something out. Was it just because it's like now it's out there and it's done and like the letdown? Yeah. Like you say. Yes. And then like, you know, then you're like, oh, wow.

00:42:46:23 - 00:43:13:51
Unknown
You know, 70 some people listen to this thing I spent, you know, six months on and, well, like, I'm grateful for those 70 whatever and whoever. And if somebody likes that, awesome. I'm super into that. But, I just have to, like, constantly remind myself I don't do it right. Like. And so, like I said, I think every moment from the moment of writing is just more pain for an artist.

00:43:13:56 - 00:43:35:54
Unknown
Interesting. I mean, that's because you have to now you've got this idea down. You're going to have to work on it in the studio and or teaching it to musicians or recording it, and then you gotta edit it, and then you got to mix it, and then you got, you maybe make some art for it, and then you put it on, upload it to this thing and then get it out there or make a video or whatever.

00:43:35:54 - 00:43:52:45
Unknown
It's just like, I just, you know, I don't want any of that. I just you got tired. I mean, you have to do it, and it's painful. You have to do it. Yeah, it's on the way. It's part of the process of of, you know, I mean, if you were a visual artist, you got to paint, put the paint to the canvas.

00:43:52:50 - 00:44:15:24
Unknown
And I mean, you know, people then ultimately have to show it, right. You can't be an artist, you know? Well, I'll just paint and put all my pictures in the basement. Yeah, well, like, when, like, somebody discovers them four years later, I don't know, I mean, hermits, yeah. Yeah, I mean, but that's, you know, I think you're, you're bringing out some.

00:44:15:29 - 00:44:36:52
Unknown
I really, I want, I want our listeners to hone in on exactly. You know, what you're saying about the idea that you have to remind yourself while you're in it. Yeah. You know, but if you if you're in this for any other reason, then because I have to do it, you might be in trouble. Seriously. You know, because it's it's not an easy road.

00:44:37:51 - 00:45:20:56
Unknown
And that, you know, if there's a common theme that every independent musician musician has is I have to do this regardless, however, it turns out. Yeah, you know, and, let's listen to one more song as we, bring this podcast, to an end, I would like you to pick something that you would if a first time visitor to Doctor Start comes, to to napalm Miyagi and and, and, you know, what if you had to say, okay, this is my portal song into my universe.

00:45:21:11 - 00:45:27:47
Unknown
I know, that's, I guess, asking hard thing. Maybe.

00:45:27:52 - 00:45:31:51
Unknown
Yeah. We'll play the first song on, the star group self-titled. Okay, cool.

00:45:31:51 - 00:45:49:09
Unknown
For.

00:45:49:13 - 00:46:15:18
Unknown
My time in space went out on a lunch. And so I got boiled down in my spiritual pension. And just when I was starting to feel fenced in, I dipped my toes in another dimension.

00:46:15:23 - 00:46:41:26
Unknown
I summertime in Larry. Over by the sycamore tree, I called out Tina remembered. Well, they all know me. Standing is as easy. It's a big flea. Those letters of words rearranged to name those entities.

00:46:41:31 - 00:46:48:15
Unknown
First.

00:46:48:20 - 00:46:55:41
Unknown
I tried to. Do.

00:46:55:45 - 00:47:10:42
Unknown
Tock tick tock. To try to find my sister. I.

00:47:10:46 - 00:47:29:06
Unknown
Just. I took over. Just. I took her word. I took.

00:47:29:10 - 00:48:13:45
Unknown
The around house. The sacred cow of sunrise race in the ancient cantina. Yeah. I can't put into words. No. All the things that I've seen. So she'd like to shower in the form of the past. Like a wizard kicks his feet up. He does the math and has to lamb. I had to, I just have to.

00:48:13:50 - 00:48:21:04
Unknown
Control.

00:48:21:09 - 00:48:25:23
Unknown
What?

00:48:25:28 - 00:48:30:59
Unknown
I'm not.

00:48:31:04 - 00:48:41:36
Unknown
I'm. I'm.

00:48:41:41 - 00:49:30:45
Unknown
Not. You know. I'm not in space when I'm, I love charging, so I double down in my spiritual pantry. I just when I was starting to feel sense, to keep I eyes to turn into another dimension. I put my God in my spiritual power, child. I keep changing a lot of sense.

00:49:30:49 - 00:49:34:53
Unknown
Wow.

00:49:34:53 - 00:50:02:17
Unknown
don't know if it encapsulates, like, what you were saying. You know, it's all in one song, but I think I definitely, like, sing and, you know, throw some esoteric hints in their own tunes and breadcrumbs, and that jazz song. I guess you're really good writer. Yeah. I mean, the, you know, the the way you put together your lyrics, I think you kind of invite the listener in the.

00:50:02:18 - 00:50:32:29
Unknown
I mean, it's the kind of song that I would want to. I'm sure if I keep playing it back, I'm gonna keep finding some little nugget or something going, oh, wow. Oh, and you're also a very good arranger. You know, because you have this nice there's a little bit of that New Orleans kind of vibe in that, too, you know, which is a great vehicle for getting across the song and those, the backing vocals yours.

00:50:32:29 - 00:51:08:47
Unknown
That was or literally and his wife. Okay. That sounds great. Yeah. Sounds great. Crushed it on that. I think, you know, anybody listening to this, I hope, you know, you dive into the rest of, Doctor Starcom stuff because you're, you're just going to go off on a great journey, and you're one of these artists that I can honestly say you deserve to have, like, you know, a half a million listeners listening to you all the time because, you know, the not only the thought process, but the quality that's coming out of this thing.

00:51:08:52 - 00:51:26:40
Unknown
So I hope you're not that artist tournament that's, you know, well, I mean, I'm put it out there. I just can't put any effort into promoting it because it's just so much work. So it's that you could be doing writing and recording. Promotion is, it's a nightmare. Yeah. You know, and it's, and there and it is that is the game.

00:51:26:40 - 00:51:44:23
Unknown
So it's like, it's just going to say there, there in lights, there be monsters, like the slippery slope of, of this whole business. And, you're right. I really like where we've done because, just to kind of wrap things up,

00:51:44:28 - 00:52:09:56
Unknown
If I could see your approaches get as much done, as much as you can, as good as you can. Yeah. And be too precious. And don't be too precious about it. And if they discover you, great. But they will discover you eventually. And I think that's kind of a nice way to to put it out there, you know, or at least your family and friends will get to know who you are.

00:52:10:05 - 00:52:32:31
Unknown
You know, I love this. This will be an amazing legacy. But eventually people will discover, I mean, that's the kind of thing that's hopeful, you know? Yeah, it's well, I think, I think that, if we don't have that hope, you know, to some degree, you know, it's it's just kind of like if a tree falls in the forest.

00:52:32:31 - 00:53:04:35
Unknown
Can't of that. And I think, you know, one way or another, it won't be found. Yeah. Maybe this is one small step, just, you know, talking on this podcast, you know, that I want to salute your artistry. I want to salute the fact that you're, you're making, you know, a calling. You're answering this calling. And as I always like to say, you know, if you're going into this, it's like being a priest, you know, it's about poverty, chastity, obedience.

00:53:04:40 - 00:53:27:14
Unknown
And that's. And that's the truth. I mean, if you look at it, you're kind of like, oh, man, you know, he's he's right. But, you know, so but don't you know, listeners and viewers, you know, this is, meant to inspire you, to, to if you feel it after listening to us talk about this, then, you know, you're on the right path.

00:53:27:25 - 00:53:52:11
Unknown
I think that's the best, you know? And, again, thank you so much, man. Thank you for coming. And, we're going to have another artist. From next suggestion. That's how this game goes. And so, you know, it continues. And we we keep uncovering more and more fantastic independent artists. Get out there and see them listen to their stuff.

00:53:52:15 - 00:54:04:23
Unknown
And please give these artists feedback. Everybody, you know, we want to hear from you. So, so that's it. Till next time. Take care. Bye bye. Thanks. All right. You're welcome.

00:54:04:23 - 00:54:22:06
Unknown
Thank you for listening. For more information about this show or a transcript, visit Martin mccormack.com while there. Sign up for our newsletter. See you next time on Strung Out.

00:54:22:11 - 00:54:34:58
Unknown
It's so strong. Spain, we feel, makes no sense at all. The swan song wasn't part of the deal, was no good. All giving no choice. Giving us a.