Music Review and Interview with TFP – Illusion

Illusion opens up with a heavily distorted guitar riff that gives off an aura of attitude and angst. The drums come crashing into the mix, then the lead vocal hits, and it was quite an unexpected vocal style to be honest. The lead singer adds a little bit of a Papa Roach sound to the music, for whatever reason I was expecting a more growling or Metallica kind of voice, so this was an interesting direction, and I think it actually made the song a little more accessible. The voice is easier to relate to, and it presents the melody and the lyrics really well.

There’s a lot of creative play within the music of this track, which is great to hear – everyone involved in the band seems to have their moment to shine and show off their creativity and skill. They sound well rehearsed and very together, like a real unit, so the music just works – it flows, it reaches you effectively as you listen, so there’s no concern and nothing distracting you from enjoying it and from catching the lyrics and the emotion behind it all.

The chorus wasn’t the strongest part of the song for me, though it did get more powerful as the track progressed. I think it’s a strong hook, it’s just quite unusual that it’s a slower section than the verses – I feel like there was a little bit of space around the melody in this bit, maybe for some more vocals, harmonies, guitars, echoes, added lines in the background – something to add a little bit more of a hectic urgency, a feeling of now, like this is it, this is the big bit. Having said that though, a brilliant guitar solo kicks in and makes you completely forget any thoughts you may have had about the chorus. As I band I think there’s a huge amount of positivity and possibility, I’d be keen to more from them – the subject matter is intriguing and quite fresh.

By Rebecca Cullen

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Chaos (of TFP)

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Chaos (of TFP): I grew up in central Ohio. Graduated from Lakewood High School in Hebron. Music became the center of my life at about age seven, starting with a trombone and choir. After spending all four years of high school singing with an eight-piece male A capella group I was hooked for life. After graduation I picked up a 12 string Alvarez acoustic and taught myself how to play guitar.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Chaos (of TFP): TFP started as “The Factor Project” with full intentions of dropping it to the anagram. We chose that name simply because it was a project that was a continuation of the band “Factor” that myself and lead guitarist Kevin “Chewy” Lawson had formed back in 2002. The chemistry never left between us musically so it seemed appropriate to utilize and honor our origin in some way.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Chaos (of TFP): This is the digital age! Online file sharing will never be something that ceases to exist. Having watched the internet grow from simple IP protocols to the HTML5 coding language of today, I am excited to see how easy it is to share one’s art form with the world. I am all for it! We often give away our music. The value of a new fan is far greater than the eighty cents for a track or even the $5 for an album. Of course we would love to sell millions of copies of out albums! But I would be just as excited to hear that a million people downloaded a free song just to hear our music. After all, we just want to be heard.

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?

Chaos (of TFP): No matter how “small” or “big” you are, or think you are, the sooner you approach your band as a business, the more likely it will become self-sustaining. In short: copyright your lyrics, register your songs with ASCAP, trademark your logo, and follow through with ASCAP. Most independent artists are unaware that you can get paid for playing your own music at your own shows if it is registered properly. Every penny counts when you are buying and keeping up with your gear!

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Chaos (of TFP): Inspiration is everywhere. Sometimes we set out to write new material and it flows freely. Other times I find myself pushing people out of my way in a store to find a notepad to jot down lyrics. Although thanks to smart phones, I don’t do that much anymore. I maintain eight different blogs for that. And I cannot forget to mention the inspiration that I find in the pages of ION Indie Magazine. I am constantly discovering new artists, new sounds, new styles. On occasion I run across something of my own from the past that calls out to me when Facebook reminds me of my past posts (generally poems or lyrics).

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Chaos (of TFP): Yes, we do. Our website is simple to remember. http://tfp.rocks

We use as many online platforms as I can find to share our music. MTV, Reverbnation, Number One Music (N1M), Bandcamp, and of course Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and so many independent online stations that support our dream as well. When I researched online music sharing platforms I found and endless list. I put us on about 80 of them before my hands tired. If you are on a site and can’t find TFP, please email me and I will fix that! [email protected]

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Chaos (of TFP): Well, a year off I wouldn’t want…lol I left my job in August of 2015 to pursue this full time. The money would be very useful. We would buy a tour bus and a trailer and hit the road. We have so much new music to share. All I feel we are lacking at this point is a passionate booking agent that wants to grow with us!

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Chaos (of TFP): We promote through every channel available, when it seems appropriate. Radio for local shows, Press releases and music blogs for releases and big events, Facebook and online platforms are all interconnected so they tend to cross promote as we reach out to our fans. We have even resolved (sadly no choice due to Facebook’s constant changes) to paying Facebook to reach the fans who have “liked” our page since they do not see our posts without “boosting” them.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Chaos (of TFP): What’s next? Well, we are currently about halfway finished recording our newest album at Sonic Lounge Studios (in Grove City, OH). You can expect it to be released late June of this year. We are also working on a music video for our new single, “Illusion”, which was releases globally on April 27^th of this year.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Chaos (of TFP): Bwahaha! Is that a real question? I feel like if this were an alternate universe that might be possible. Hmmm, seriously though, if for some reason I were to stop making music I am certain that I would still be a writer. Maybe I would write about music, maybe not. One thing is for sure, I am an artist through and through. Love me or hate me, I will still sing!

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Chaos (of TFP): Time management is everything. Communication between the band has to be solid at all times. That is how we make sure that all of the gear gets packed and loaded, and everyone makes it on time to gigs. We practice…a lot. On our own and as a group. This is essential. Although three of us live close to one another, our drummer has a two-hour journey one way to get to practice. That is why this year (once he bought a house) we have started alternating practice spots from his home to ours.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Chaos (of TFP): Everything! New Music, New Video, and lots of surprises for this coming out to the shows! Moody and Chewy are now wireless so you may find our band wandering the crowd during a set. And OH MY just wait until you hear some of the hypnotic beats that Kronik has been bringing to the table this year!