Transcript from an Interview with Don Sechelski, great guitarist based in Norcross, GA (USA)
I've been playing guitar for about 40 years and you'd think I be better by now.
I've been writing songs on and off for the past 25-30 years. Started performing in the late 70's when no one was listening to acoustic music, it was all about disco. Spent some time working as a studio rat back in the analog days of the early 80's and had some serious discussions with Virgin Records in the late 80's on some demos I put out but never signed.
Do you play live?
Upcoming show: Nov. 25 at the Old Tucker Fountain.
After taking some time off to record, I've been playing again with some friends and around at open mics. I'm working up a set with Wendy Dumond, an excellent songwriter and singer. I recently played a writers in the round with Wendy, Sharon, and Lee at Universal Sensations. We hope to do another one together at The Old Tucker Fountain in the winter of 2012.
I've played all around Atlanta including the old Freight Room (now defunct), Java House, Java Monkey, Hungry Ear, Moonsongs Coffeehouse, and the Dogwood Festival downtown. I played the festival several years in a row and it was always fun. Now due to the water shortage here, they've moved it out of the park to a nearby mall.....yuck!
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
the internet has had and is continuing to have a massive effect on the music industry. The big labels are losing control of the market. They haven't come to grips with the way the internet has changed the distribution of product. They can't stop downloaders without risking part of their audience. Pages like this one and musesmuse.com, ezfolk.com, etc give any musician the ability to interact with other musicians and fans and market his/her music directly to the world.
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
Again, distribution and marketing is what they claim to offer and they do have massive marketing ability. They also have control over product when you sign with them and I'm not sure I'd be willing to give up that control.
Your influences?
I'm influenced first by Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. I'm fascinated by the idea of a folksinger traveling around the country and reflecting the mood and events of the day.
Beyond that, I like a wide variety of music and it all influences me from Nat King Cole to the Beatles, Byrds, Lyle Lovett, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen, on and on. I think that, like it or not, I'm also influenced by movie music, commercial jingles and ambient sounds.
Favorite spot?
I love the southern United States. I was born in Texas and lived all over the southland including New Orleans, Houston, and Atlanta.
I really love the food and music of New Orleans.
I've travelled up north to New York and lived in Chicago for several years but I always end up coming back to the South...