http://insilentagony.bandcamp.com
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Eski: I grew up in Orange County, California, where I still currently reside. I became a musician after seeing the impact music had on people… I wanted to be able to draw similar emotions from people through art.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Eski: “In Silent Agony†was originally a song by my previous group, Morphine Killer. The song represented the struggle with trying to live your everyday life, knowing you are consumed with internal struggles, but still needing to put on a brave front.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Eski: I believe it is very important to at least offer some of your music for free when you first start. A lot of people are very skeptical to check out a new band, especially one you have to pay for. Services such as Spotify & YouTube are amazing opportunities to get your music online, without having people pay to listen to it.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Eski: Know what your sound is, and try to have something available for people coming to see you at your show. To me, there was nothing worse than playing a show, people liking your songs, and not having them available to listen to after the show.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Eski: Of course. Everyone makes mistakes, but the important thing is to keep going, and don’t make it obvious.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Eski: I don’t tour yet. Eventually, I would love to do small sets of shows, as opposed to a full-length tour.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Eski: Inspiration can and should come from everywhere. My intent for songwriting was to give a soundtrack to an emotion, a feeling. A song should be able to stand up instrumentally on its own, and the vocals should be the icing on the cake. My songs always start with a drum idea, or guitar idea, and expand on that, and lyrics usually follow, because the music will lead what the story is about.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Eski: http://www.insilentagony.com is the main website, but I’m also on Facebook, ReverbNation, Bandcamp, YouTube… you name it, I’m hopefully on there. The main platforms for sharing my music are Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and ReverbNation.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Eski: Taylor Swift & One Direction…. But I swear they are my daughter’s songs!
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Eski: Re-vamp my mobile recording studio, and take a vacation! I would love to find out what musical inspirations can come about while visiting new places!
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Eski: Right now, I’m trying to simplify my needs in the studio. I started off recording on a 4-track tape recorded when I was 12, so I’m very usually to keeping it simple! I feel like you become more resourceful when you have less to work with.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Eski: At the moment, because it is just myself, I find ways such as lyric videos, and posting studio updates to be the most effective until I can get out and play some shows.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Eski: My first choice would be one of my biggest influence of all time, Metallica. There is nothing in this world like a Metallica crowd, and it would be a dream come true.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Eski: I am finishing up a new EP, which will be called “Treacherousâ€. It will be a part 2 of my trilogy/triptych, which started with my first EP, “Villainousâ€, and will conclude with a 3rd EP… currently in the works.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Eski: Hopefully helping recording music! I really don’t know what I would be doing to be honest. But definitely focusing on parenting, and hoping my kid would one day have musical abilities.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Eski: The first album I remember purchasing with my own money is Prodigy’s “Fat of the Landâ€. I had heard the songs “Breathe†& “Firestarterâ€, and thought “I must own this!â€
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Eski: Being a musician, timing is everything. If you don’t set aside time to work on what needs to be done, it will never get done. And being a parent, kids always come first! But when there is free time, time for music!
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Eski: A new song in the next couple days, along with a new EP next month. And hopefully finishing up this trilogy in the beginning of 2017.
