Pheaturing Darius Lux

I’ve got a very bad feeling about this. Hello, kids, welcome to the Phile. How are you? So, yesterday Logan and I went to Disney's Hollywood Studios, the same theme park where I work mind you, and were there for 12 hours. It was packed and hot, we both got sunburned on our necks, but it was Star Wars Weekends there so it was a lot of fun. The remainder of the Star Wars Month Phile's I will be posting pictures from Star Wars Weekends as well. Well, it is like I said Star Wars Month here but before we continue with that let's see what else is going on in the world. Oh, but the way, today's entry is sponsored by...

During his commencement speech at Liberty University, Mitt Romney revealed that his campaign staff loves Chick-fil-A. The other thing he revealed? That he doesn’t know what to say in a commencement speech.   Investors are now able to buy shares of Facebook stock for the first time ever. It’s great... now you can lose all your money in the same place you lost all your time. Speaking of Facebook, there's a new app tells your Facebook friends if you're not following your diet. Of course your friends could always figure it out that other way: looking at your photos on Facebook.  President Obama and Joe Biden spent more than four hours playing golf together. Joe Biden’s handicap is 20, while Obama’s handicap... is Joe Biden.  A new poll found that Mitt Romney is actually ahead of President Obama among female voters. That explains Obama’s new slogan, “I’m Barack Obama, and I loved ‘50 Shades of Grey.’”  There’s a new online reality show premiering this summer called “The Mormon Bachelor.” At the start of the show, the bachelor dates 25 contestants, and by the end he’s MARRIED 25 contestants.  Swedish researchers have discovered a new species of fish. Not to be outdone, Gummi researchers have discovered a new species of bear.  During a speech in Ohio, Joe Biden criticized Republicans for not understanding the middle class. In response, Mitt Romney was like, "That's ridiculous. Some of my best friends' gardeners are middle class."  CNN's ratings hit a 15-year low this week. In fact, things are so bad at CNN, Wolf Blitzer started renting out "The Situation Room" for birthday parties.   Well, I mentioned Facebook twice in the monologue and it seems everybody is on Facebook nowadays. Check this out to see what I found.

Well, as I said we went to Star Wars Weekends yesterday and they had this giant shop set up in a tent called Darth's Mall... I am not making this up. Anyway, I was surprised when I saw they were selling a video game I have never seen before.

I don't like this, I like Jar Jar. They were also selling a Star Wars inspirational poster that I thought was cool.

I am actually surprised Disney was selling this, especially with the language on it. Well, all month I have been showing you real Star Wars products that are out on the market. Here's the latest, if you need some help getting your Tusken Raider Taters out of the oven, this space slug is happy to help, just make sure you never make the mistake of thinking he is actually a cave.

And now, from the home office on Coruscant, here is today's...

Sent to me from a reader who didn't like Episode 1, it's...
Top Ten Reasons Episode One Blew
10. Jar Jar didn't stay stuck in the podracer engine.
9. Darth Maul died.
8. The Viceroys spoke with a Chinese accent.
7. No arms or hands were cut off.
6. C3-PO was in it.
5. Qui Gon Dies.
4. Sounds like Frank Oz forgot how to do Yoda's voice.
3. Jake Lloyd was in it. (ever seen Jingle All the Way?)
2. Strange clicking noises coming from Boss Nass.
And the number one reason Episode One blew...
1. Stormtroopers were replaced by droids.

I disagree with most of those by the way. Well, here's a character you won't see at Star Wars Weekends, kids. Straight from the Outer Rim, the infamous intergalactic comedian known as...

Thank you, thank you. So, you might be a Redneck Jedi if...
You ever heard the phrase, "May the force be with ya'll."
Your Jedi robe is camouflage. *
You have ever used your lightsaber to open a bottle of Bud Light.
At least one wing of your X-Wings is primer colored.
You can easily describe the taste of an Ewok.
You have ever had a landspeeder up on blocks in your yard.
The worst part of spending time on Dagobah is the dadgum skeeters.
Wookiees are offended by your B.O.
You have ever used the Force to get yourself another beer so you didn't have to wait for a commercial. You have ever used the Force in conjunction with fishing/bowling.
Your father has ever said to you, "Shoot, son come on over to the dark side... it'll be a hoot."
You have ever had your R2 unit use its self-defense electro-shock thingy to get the barbecue grill to light.
You have a Confederate flag painted on the hood of your land-speeder.
You have the doors of your X-wing welded shut and you have to get in through the window.
Although you had to kill him, you kinda thought that Jabba the Hutt had a pretty good handle on how to treat his women.
You have a cousin who bears a strong resemblance to Chewbacca.
You were the only one drinking Jack Daniels during the cantina scene.
Your business cards read "Billy Bob, Jedi Master".
You know Ewoks squeal like pigs.
You use your R2 unit as a beer coaster.
Your landspeeder had a lightsaber rack.

If you hear ... "Billy Bob, I am your father ... AND your uncle!"

Thanks everybody, don't eat the bantha.

Abdelbaset Al Megrahi
Apr 1, 1952 - May 20, 2012
As the cowardly loser responsible for bombing Pan Am 103, I hope he enjoys an eternity of playing horseshoes with Gaddafi in hell.
Robin Gibb
Dec 22, 1949 - May 20, 2012
Six hours. That's how long I spent trying to figure out how to work "Stayin' Alive" into an obit. Fuck it. He's dead.

The 17th artist to be pheatured in the Peverett Phile Art Gallery is Joey Spiotto, and this is one of his pieces...

Joey will be a guest on the Phile next Sunday.

Today's guest is singer and musician from New York whose new EP "Time Is Now" is now available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Darius Lux.

Me: Hey, Darius, welcome to the Phile, man, how are you?

Darius: Great thank you, lovin 2012 so far ;)

Me: You're from New York, right? Is that New York City, or New York state?

Darius: NYC, East Village. I spent my childhood in London.

Me: I'm the opposite, from London but spent my childhood in New York. You traveled across the world a few years ago, am I right? Where did you go?

Darius: Yes, it was a pretty extensive trip... backpacked for a year thru Hawaii, Thailand, Bali, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Italy, Brazil and Peru.

Me: And what in the world made you do that? I don't like going to my local CVS five minutes, let alone traveling across the world. LOL. Actually, I love to travel, but there's a million places I don't want to go to.

Darius: There are so many reasons. Partly wanted to break out the city after 9/11 happened. Also, just hungry for adventure and to actually experience so much of the world that I had just read about or seen on TV. I'd been caught up in a lot of writing for other artists and labels in NYC and gotten tired of it and wanted a clean break and new career path... it was a surprise to me that I came back round again with an album ready to bust outta me, I thought I was gonna open a yoga center or move to an organic farming commune or something when I finished traveling.

Me: Was it a good experience? And was it expensive? And a good looking and talented guy like you, Darius, I am guessing you met a LOT of women. Am I right?

Darius: It was an absolutely amazing experience that I'd love to do again, except I know it was unique and could not be repeated... this life and planet is truly magical! It was only pricey once I got to Western-influenced countries, otherwise, it was cheaper to live for a week in a lot of places than it is to just get a parking ticket in NYC. I did meet a lot of women, and have to say that the ladies are gorgeous ALL over the world... haha... I was also traveling with my favorite woman.

Me: Did you take a guitar and do a lot of songwriting?

Darius: The journey was part of a life crossroads where I thought I was gonna pick a new career outside of music afterwards. So, I didn't take anything musical with me and actually tried to block it out for a while, but the music just beat harder inside of me as I went round the world, I couldn't stop it.

Me: Speaking of guitar, how long have you been playing?

Darius: On and off for 15 years. Though in the last 5 years I have focussed on it more with being a live musician now rather than just playing in the studio.

Me: What make of guitar do you play?

Darius: Primarily Fender Strat... it is the most adaptable and expressive guitar that I know of. I love the tone. There is also the Taylor T5 which is an acoustic-electric hybrid, I like that I can get a real unique sound out of it... not too soft, not too heavy.

Me: You play other instruments as well, right? What instruments do you play and which one came first?

Darius: I first started taking lessons on piano and then violin as a small child. By the time I hit my teens, I was hungry to teach myself electric guitar, bass and drums... I found them more satisfying to play and less bound by rules.

Me: And who are your favorite guitar players? My son is learning to play guitar and is a huge fan of Slash. What do you think about Slash's guitar playing?

Darius: I'd have to say Jimi Hendrix is my all-time favorite, a predictable answer maybe but he gave me a reverence that made me feel like the guitar is this mystical portal of energy in a way that I don't think anybody else has since. Prince is pretty awesome too, I saw him at Coachella a few years back and his mastery of the instrument was breath-taking... he makes it all look real easy. Of course, I love Slash, and his playing in pretty much all his bands... there are so many styles and influences mixed up in his playing, he rips and wails with a perfect blend of technical ability and soul. Matt Bellamy of Muse is totally amazing... go see them! I really enjoy Jack White too... very innovative with his sounds. You know, John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is wonderful also, I saw him playing up in Oakland with the Chilis and he just filled up every dimension of the arena, so spontaneous and lyrical. I could go on and on... ;)

Me: Darius, hey, you should do an album with Darius Rucker. What do you think of that? The Two Darius'?

Darius: Shoot, I'm up for it if he is... LOL. I do enjoy his singing and its nice to see a genuinely great vocalist out there getting their dues.

Me: Okay, lets talk about your new EP "Time Is Now", which is a follow up to your album "Arise". How come the new release is an EP?

Darius: Several reasons: (a) budget = 6 songs is cheaper than 10, (b) I only had 6 songs ready and really wanted to take the band in the studio and cut it old school with everybody playing together and nailing it in 2 or 3 takes. In some cases, like "What I Feel", we got it in just 1 take. It was the way it had to be at the time. We'd been playing live a lot and were a tight unit. I wanted to capture that.

Me: How would you describe both releases?

Darius: The debut album, "Arise", is more a slick studio pop record that spans different genres and is mostly a statement of self-empowerment and positivity. The follow-up, "Time Is Now" is more of a raw, rock record that reflects playing live in the Los Angeles bars ands clubs for a few years, lyrically drawing from negative as well as positive experiences and observations.

Me: Did you write all the songs on them both, Darius?

Darius: Mostly, yes. There were a couple on "Arise" that I had written back In NYC with some other writers, and then I co-wrote some lyrics with my woman on the new EP.

Me: So, I have to ask, "time is now" for what? How did that get to be the album title?

Darius: Many reasons. I felt it's time for a major shift globally and culturally, for smarter decisions and ways of doing things. Spiritually speaking, the "now" is the most potent place to be and operate from, rather than spending too much time with your head in the past or future. Also, I felt that it was now time for me to get some recognition and money... haha.

Me: So, who plays on the new "Time Is Now"? Is it the same band that plays on "Arise"?

Darius: "Arise" was a studio album where I mostly played everything. In taking that first album to the streets I put together a trio that became the band that played on "Time Is Now"... it was nice to play with others, more of a cog in a machine and be limited to what only 3 people can do... that trio featured Miklos "Fingers of Fire" Malek on keyboards and bass and Keith "Hurricane" Williams, Jr. playing drums, both truly outstanding people and musicians.

Me: Where are you living now, Darius?

Darius: Atop a peaceful hill in Los Angeles. ;)

Me: I bet you play a lot of shows. Are you getting a big following?

Darius: From 2007-2010 I played a lot of shows, sometimes every 3-4 weeks which increased the audience but it's too much work to keep that up, make a living and run all the other aspects of my career. My focus now is growing online presence and booking festivals and events up and down the coast. Last year we made a good start on that and this year there's more.

Me: Okay, you've been compared to Maroon 5, Seal and Jason Mraz. Who did that comparison? You sound nothing like them! You can kick all three of their asses. Who would you compare yourself to?

Darius: Wow, thanks, a great compliment! The comparison comes from iTunes sales, similar YouTube viewers plus Jango and Pandora artists that have similar listeners. There are lesser known artists who also 'trend' with my music such as Matt Nathanson, Mat Kearney, Parachute and Joshua Radin... but I also think we're all very different in style and message. Beyond that, I, personally have no idea who to compare myself with...

Me: You also have been compared to Lenny Kravitz. That I can see. You and him would make some killer music together. So, who do you listen to, and what was your favorite band growing up?

Darius: I would love to record with Lenny and yes it would be KILLER. I'd actually love to help produce him too. A few years back D'Angelo said the same of Prince which seemed a little cheeky at the time, but I get it, young blood doesn't have to cancel out the old blood... just enhance and update it. As a kid growing up in London I listened to Jamiroquai and Radiohead cos it was all around me, then moving to New York it was a lot of hip-hop like the Goats, the Beastie Boys, WuTang and Rage Against the Machine. The beauty of music is that at any age you can access any era, hence also growing up on Stevie Wonder and Led Zeppelin although they had been released decades earlier.

Me: Darius, thanks so much for being on the Phile. Go ahead and plug your websites and anything else you wanna, and please come back again soon. All the best.

Darius: Thank you Jason for really interesting questions, I really appreciate that you have taken the time to check the music and considered many things in what you have asked... all the best to you too, matey. ;) My website is DariusLux.com and has links to all the different social networks. I also just released a video called "Way That It Goes" on YouTube. It's pretty groovy, baby.

Alright, that does it for another entry of the Phile. Thanks to Darius for a great interview. The Phile will be back on Wednesday with Andy Richards, lead singer from the band Uniform Motion. Next Sunday it's artist Joey Spiotto and on Monday it's Alumni Robert A. Medeiros from The Clarences. And coming up is the 500th entry with an interview with rock and roll legend Dion! Yep, Dion. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Make the phorce be with you.

Pheaturing Alumni David Melbye From Heavy Water Experiments

You’re all clear, kid! Now let’s blow this thing and go home! Hello, welcome to the Phile on a Saturday. Man, I haven't posted on a Saturday in awhile. The reason I am posting today is because tomorrow I will be at Star Wars Weekends at Disney Hollywood Studios, which is where I have been for the last two days, but there I have been working. Tomorrow I am gonna have fun. As much fun as I can have with packed crowds and hot weather. Speaking of Star Wars, as you know all this month it's Star Wars Month on the Phile. But before we get into that, let's see what else is going on.  So, Betty White endorsed Barack Obama. I think I'm going to wait and here what Angela Lansbury has to say. As I mentioned in the last entry JPMorgan lost $2 billion in bad trades. They made bad investments... for example, those gay wedding chapels in North Carolina. What were they thinking? Mitt Romney once lost $2 billion. Then he found it in another pair of pants.  Speaking of Mitt, now they are starting to dig up stuff on him. One time he was arrested for disorderly conduct and being a public nuisance. It was when he was a kid. He had one of his hairs out of place.  President Obama raised $1 million at a fundraiser hosted by Ricky Martin. Obama thanked Martin for his contribution to the campaign, while Joe Biden thanked him for his contribution to Menudo.  Are you excited about the Olympics this Summer? Officials in London plan to use high-pitched and painful sounds to disperse large crowds at the Olympics this summer. Or as the cast of "The View" put it, "Looks like we're going to the Olympics!"  A man was arrested at the JFK airport with cocaine hidden inside bottles of nail polish and sticks of deodorant. The man might have gotten away with it if he hadn't hidden the drugs inside two other things you can't bring through airport security.  Police in California just burned 34,000 marijuana plants that were growing in a state park. The police were very angry about finding all that weed until the wind changed direction.  Well, this is sad... Ron Paul has announced he's no longer campaigning. He's dropped out of the race. Can you tell the difference? Ron Paul announced to supporters that he was discontinuing his campaign by email. There were two emails he sent out. The first one was blank and then he had to send out the other one. This was his third race for president. He ran in 2008 against John McCain and against Lincoln in 1860.  Virgin Atlantic announced that on a select number of flights, passengers will be able to use their cellphones to make calls. I think I would honestly rather they filled the plane with killer bees than allow this. Only six passengers will be allowed to make calls at one time, which seems like too many. But Virgin said it will only be used for important calls, like calling to say, "Guess where I'm calling from. Yeah, the plane. I'm calling from the plane."  Herman Cain endorsed Mitt Romney. This is possibly very important because as goes Herman Cain, so go the other two black Republicans in America.  Did you see the Newsweek cover I think it was when they called Obama the first gay President or something like that? Myself I prefer Obama as the first Jedi President.

Well, it's Star Wars Weekends at Disney like I said, and they are selling some odd products this year. Check out these two action figures they are selling.

You know, if I wrote Star Wars things would be a little different. It would have scenes like this...

Hey, it's so hot right now, I would love some ice cream. I am so happy Ben & Jerry's came out with a Star Wars themed ice cream.

Alright, so I just showed you two fake products... yes, the ice cream and action figures are not real. But all through the month of May I am showing you actual Star Wars products that are real. If you're looking to make lunch a little more force-friendly, then make yourself some Darth Vader toast, whip up some tuna salad and enjoy a darkside tuna melt. Finally your breakfast, lunch and dinner can all belong in a galaxy far, far away.

There's actually a "Watchmen" toaster coming out that I want real bad.  Okay, so, there's a lot of other blogs talking about Star Wars out there. Not all are updated three times a week, or are almost at 500 entries, or as entertaining as the Phile, but there's quite a few of them. So, I thought I would pheature one. So, please enjoy, once again...

The blog that gets the award is...

This is a portion of starwars77-80.blogspot.com:

I've only just picked up an issue of this Sci-fi fan favorite magazine and can only say that it's brilliant! The quality is top notch in comparison with the slew of cheaper magazines put out at this time. As well as covering the upcoming Star Wars sequel, issue #18 of Starlog also has a feature on Battlestar Galactica which I also like mainly as it stylistically borrowed so much from Lucas (probably down to Dykstra's involvement). There's also an update on the Star Trek motion picture which was in development at the time and several articles on monsters and make-up that one might expect to find in Famous Monsters of Filmland. The article on 'the continuing adventures of Luke Skywalker' is a very interesting read. I'm surprised that Empire had a name this early on (a good year and a half before the film's release), albeit a working title. Gary Kurtz is really hammering home the point that 'Star Wars II' is actually 'Episode IV' and it's interesting to see the discussions on how confusing this could get for fans in the future. We coped with it Gary! Although he keeps referring to a possible 12 installments... I'm kind of glad they left it at 6!


So, when you done reading this blog today go to starwars77-80.blogspot.com and check it out. Tell them the Phile sent you. Okay, well, all month I had my friend Jeff Trelewicz on the Phile to talk out the Star Wars movies and we are up to Episode 3. So, please welcome back to the Phile Jeff in a pheature I call...

Me: Hello, Jeff, welcome back. So, let's talk about Revenge of the Sith. It's my least favorite Star Wars film. Did you like it?

Jeff: Why in the world is Episode 3 your least favorite episode?

Me: I don't know, maybe because I only saw it a few times unlike the others I saw a lot of times. Maybe it was because it was the last Star Wars film. Maybe it was because I feel it was rushed.

Jeff: It answered so many questions fans wanted to know! Of course I liked it!

Me: Okay, what was your favorite part in the film, Jeff?

Jeff: My favorite part was when we saw the Death Star under construction for the first time. My inner nerd spazzed out quite a bit. Oh yeah, and the Obi-Wan and Anakin duel was particularly awesome, too.

Me: What did you think when Vader made his appearance?

Jeff: It was epic seeing Darth Vader for the first time. Though something like that shouldn't have been spoiled in the trailer. It could have had such a great applause if we didn't all know what was about to happen.

Me: Yeah, who saw that coming? Anakin turning into Vader? LOL. And what did you think of Mace Windu's death?

Jeff: The rumor was when Samuel L. Jackson found out he was going to die he asked George Lucas to not let his character die "like a bitch". I think it's safe to say being thrown out into space and drifting forever is a pretty fitting way to go.

Me: Some people didn't like General Grievous. Did you?

Jeff:  I was indifferent about Grievous. He wasn't great, but not bad either. He was definitely a smoker though. Kinda cool to lightsaber duel with 6 arms though.

Me: Alright, Jeff. let's get deep... in the scene where Obi-wan is about to leave for Utupau, Anakin apologizes for bring arrogant. Why do you think he did this? And does Anakin truly believe that the Jedi were plotting to take over?

Jeff: I think Anakin was sorry. He wasn't trying to mislead him, or trying to gain his trust. Anakin doesn't believe the Jedi are trying to take over. I have a feeling if Palpatine told him that there was a whale in the sky eating pistachio ice cream he would believe him just because he wants to believe Palpatine can save Padme.

Me: That's funny, Jeff. Well, thanks so much for talking Star Wars. Are you going to Star Wars Weekends?

Jeff: I will be going to Star Wars Weekends next week, hoping to meet Ray Park again. He is there this week too but I know how crazy opening weekend is...

Me: Alright, Jeff, come back next week and we'll talk about Episode 4, the very first Star Wars film that came out. Will you?

Jeff: I most certainly will come back to talk more Star Wars. Later!

Donna Summer
Dec 31, 1948 - May 17, 2012
Last dance.

The 17th artist to be pheatured in the P.P.A.G. is Joey Spiotto, and this is one of his pieces...

Joey will be a guest on the Phile next weekend.

Okay, today's guest is a Phile Alumni who has been here twice already. He was last on the Phile on August 7th 2011. Since then his band Heavy Water Experiments has released a new album titled "Philosopher Queen" which is available on iTunes. Please welcome back to the Phile... David Melbye.

Me: Hello, David, welcome back to the Phile, for the third time. How are you?

David: Thank you, Jason! I am fine, thanks.

Me: I take it you are still based in Los Angeles, am I right?

David: Yep. I'm still here. (I'm ready for a change!)

Me: You have been pretty consistent releasing new music every year pretty much. You must do a lot of songwriting, am I right?

David: Well, it does take time to compose an album's worth of material. I say "compose" because I write and orchestrate all the vocal and instrumental parts... not just songwriting, per se. I'd love to say I get a new album out every year, though that hasn't been exactly true. There have been re-releases and older material recorded in conjunction with new material. I think I just distributed the releases across time so it would seem about one a year... in recent years at least.

Me: Your music changes though, your latest album "Philosopher Queen" is rather darker then the normal HWE stuff. What made you wanna record a darker album?

David: It's more than simply darker. I'd say it's "almost" a whole new sound. I am taking an entirely new approach to my own vocals for one, and then I've incorporated wordless female vocals as well. And, in general, the album is also much heavier and more over-the-top psychedelic than my past stuff. I am well aware that some of my past supporters may prefer my older approach, but this is simply the natural evolution of my artistic path. It certainly fits the band name better than the old stuff, ha ha.

Me: So, I have to ask, how did that song become album title?

David: It's not necessarily to announce that song as the title track. I just felt it would make a terrific album title as well. Perhaps I was just being too lazy to come up with a stand-alone album title, ha ha. 

Me: And who is the Philosopher Queen, David?

David: That's a little more open-ended, I guess. The album is a larger celebration of the night, and the Philosopher Queen could be the ruler of a society of night-worshipers. The lyrics develop this notion further. They are included in the vinyl and CD versions of the album on the European label Stone Stallion Rex (silly name for a record label, I know).

Me: Yeah, but a great name for a band. By the way, talking about who, who is that woman on the album cover?

David: That's the Philosopher Queen, my friend! It's actually taken from a sculpture I photographed, by Uruguayan artist Cecilia Miguez. For the vinyl release, you'll see more versions of her on the back cover art and on the album labels.

Me: Let's talk about the band Heavy Water Experiments...who is currently in the band?

David: As you know, I have had different players in my live ensemble over the years. Right now, I am working on new material with the same drummer who played in the early Imogene phase of this project. We've remained good friends all these years, though he's devoted himself mostly to his own band up to now. I'm very pleased with his playing so far. My former drummer and I had been working together for 5 years, and our relationship had become strained. By the end of 2001, it was clear to me that it was time to part ways. So far this year, I have been taking a break from playing local shows, but this could change as I've been invited to play some interesting events in the near future. So, at some point, when I feel the incentive is there, I'll bring in a bass player and a female singer back in to complete the 4-piece and we'll get back out there. Who knows, if the album picks up momentum in Europe, I might form a group over there and do some touring again. It's a little vague at this juncture.

Me: Are you doing a lot of the singing on the new album?

David: I'd say so. You hear my new vocal style on 9 out of the 10 tracks. You might also wonder why I took on this approach in the first place. It was simply this: my former sound was an attempt to marry a mellower "Floydy" vocal style with heavier music. This has proven to have an attractive quality on albums, but it was never so convincing live. My mellower vocals just couldn't cut through the heavy sound. At one point, I was even experimenting with passing the torch to a female singer completely. In emulating what I thought her voice would sound like singing my new melodies, I accidentally invented a new vocal style for myself. Ultimately, I've come to realize heavy music works best with an aggressive vocal... even if that feels like a "conventional" approach. Hopefully, my originality is still coming across... and I also counterbalance my new vocals with an ethereal female vocal. So that's also new.

Me: Did you do all the songwriting, David?

David: Indeed I did... everything you hear except the drum parts, which I also guided to various degrees.

Me: I have to ask, who is "Corbis and Cordelia"?

David: Because there are are female and male melodies interweaving in this one, almost like a conversation, I wanted to think up my own pair of "mythic lovers" akin to "Troilus and Cressida," "Tristan and Isolde" or "Pelleas and Mellisande." So I combined the names "Corbis" (from the film The Devil's Rain) and "Cordelia" (from King Lear), which flow together nicely.

Me: Where and when was the album recorded, David?

David: The drum parts were recorded last summer in an abandoned silo way out in the California desert. This is one of my personal approaches, you might say. The rather dramatic roominess achieved may not always be ideal, but it gives my albums their own unique sound. The rest of the tracking was executed in a downtown rehearsal studio (for the louder bass parts) and in my own abode (vocals, keyboards, and other overdubs).

Me: One thing I never really talked to you about before is the instruments you play. You play more then just the guitar, right?

David: You are correct, sir.

Me: What instruments do you play and which one did you learn first?

David: I started with the electric bass (french horn for a period before that). Then I pursued guitar in college, and piano after that. I've taken lots of music lessons over the years from a variety of different vocal and instrumental teachers. There are some rock-and-roll purists who want to believe that music lessons take away the "soul" of being self-taught or intuitive, as many rock musicians are. I totally disagree. Lessons only open up possibilities... they don't diminish creativity. In other words, creativity is either there or it isn't. Lessons don't squelch your talent... they develop it. I just started up classical piano lessons again recently. (Hopefully, I won't get sidetracked this time.)

Me: What instrument do you play on stage mostly?

David: An 8-string bass. It's a rather unusual instrument, invented in the 60s, that never really caught on. (I have 4 of them, ha ha!) It's the same principal as a 12-string guitar... with a higher octave string for each of the 4 main strings. It is certainly not in the same camp as 5 and 6-string basses, typically associated with modern jazz or modern metal. I'm not into those at all.

Me: Also, your music is very psychedelic sounding. Who are your influences, David, and who did you listen to growing up?

David: I listened to a lot of Zeppelin when I was a kid, but also Black Sabbath and, later, Iron Maiden. For a time, I collected a lot of underground metal: bands like Venom and Manowar, the latter of which actually inspired me (despite their Viking outfits) to obtain my first 8-string bass in later years. I don't listen to metal at all anymore, but perhaps it was this impressionable period of my life that is finally speaking through me now. In any case, I didn't really start listening to 60's psychedelia till I was in college: Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Moody Blues, Donovan, and so many other classic rock artists. From that time on, I've collected that sort of music, especially the obscure stuff, with a passion. I also collect a lot of film soundtracks from that era, and those have had a lot of influence on my compositional approaches in recent times.

Me: So, David, what do you have planned next for HWE? A live album, perhaps?

David: I'm working on a new album in the same dark/heavy vein. No, it's not for everyone. (One guy even described the music as a "bad acid trip" ha ha.) But that's what I want. I want it to be aggressive... even abrasive. Totally over the top. Pull out all the stops. This larger disposition also coincides with my new vocal approach--again, not for everyone's tastes. Love it or hate it! For the moment, at least, I am interested in creating extremely dark and heavy music, but without all the juvenile "metal" trappings, if this makes sense. More like heavy art rock, I guess.

Me: You should do an an album of covers done your style.

David: Ha ha. Like the Pat Boone heavy metal album? Actually, HWE has typically included a cover song in our live sets. It is always a rare psych track, however, that very few people recognize. To some degree, I always feel a sense of loss when I pursue such covers because it only serves to demystify the pleasure I experience as a listener/collector. And then I imagine if I recorded any of these songs, I'd end up preferring the original anyway.

Me: Thanks so much for being back on the Phile, David. Please come back again. Go ahead and plug your websites and anything else. Take care.

David: Thank YOU, Jason, for having me back again! Let's do it again ASAP! New HWE album on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/philosopher-queen/id512841267. New HWE album on vinyl/CD: stone-stallion-rex.de. Official HWE website: heavywaterexperiments.com. Facebook: facebook.com/heavywaterexperiments.

Well, that about does it for another entry. Thanks to Jeff and of course David Melbye. The Phile will be back on Monday with singer Darius Lux and then on Wednesday Andy Richards from the band Uniform Motion, then next weekend it's artist Joey Spiotto. I say next weekend as I don't know if I will be working next Sunday or not yet. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. May the phorce be with you.

Pheaturing Pascale Frossard

Hello, kids, welcome to the Phile, brought to you by...

Yes, as you all know by now, all through May on the Phile it's Star Wars Month. I’m a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan. Yeah, right. LOL. Before we get into the other Star Wars stuff, let's talk about what is going on in the real world.  Mitt Romney has jumped to a seven-point lead over President Obama in a national poll. I think Romney's starting to get cocky. Today he threatened to pin down Joe Biden and pull out all of his hair plugs.  President Obama was in Nevada this weekend. Finally some good news for the Secret Service... a place in America where prostitution is legal.  JPMorgan announced they lost $2 billion last quarter. That's 133 Obama-Clooney fundraisers. You know who the real J.P. Morgan is, right? He's Captain Morgan's drunk brother who's bad with money.  So, do you know anyone who is in college? The average college graduate now leaves school $27,000 in debt. But the good news is that now it means they are more than qualified to work as financial advisers at JPMorgan.  The New Jersey tanning mom now says she wants to pose nude for Playboy magazine. Well, Playboy says they're looking for women who are hot, not burnt orange.  The Octomom has finished her porn movie. The producers saved a lot of time on the credits because nobody wanted any.  NBC unveiled their new fall schedule. The biggest surprise? NBC is going to be back in the fall.  CBS announced they're canceling the show "CSI: Miami." I can't believe it. I called and said, "Are you kidding me? There's nothing more entertaining than watching bodies being dumped in the Everglades." Television is cruel. You know how the cast of "CSI: Miami" found out they were being canceled? They were doing an autopsy on a guy and they found the pink slip in his stomach.  Okay, and now for some Star Wars fun. In the last entry on Monday I showed you that Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan have been talking on Facebook. Well, it seems some Stormtroopers have also been talking on Facebook, and here's proof...

You know, I have been blamed for ripping off other people on the Phile. Letterman's top ten list, Oprah's book club, every talk show's monologue... but no one complained or said a word about George Lucas ripping off Dr. Seuss. If you don't know what I am talking about, check out the pages from a little known and rare book.

So, you know how much I love inspirational posters, right? Well, I found this Star Wars one I really love.

I know, I totally agree. Alright, well, we all know George Lucas has no problem putting the Star Wars brand on any object. So, all through May I am showing you real Star Wars products that are available and that you might not be aware of. If you like your coffee black and you like your force to be dark, what better way to blend the two than with this gourmet coffee blend that has been hand roasted by Stormtroopers? It's a perfect accompaniment to some droid Os.

And now from the home office on Coruscant, here is today's...

Top Ten Ways Lando Calrissian Could Die
10. Goes for a nice morning jog and forgets that he lives in a city in the clouds.
9. Sickle-cell disease.
8. Hunter mistakes his Afro for a mynock.
7. The Ugnaughts fiddle around with Lobot's "good/evil" switch.
6. Greatly offends Jabba with a "Yo' mama's so fat" joke.
5. Beaten to death by crazed Tommy Lee Jones fans for that stupid Harvey Dent portrayal.
4. Tells a crowd of Rebels that Alderaan had it coming to them.
3. Informs Nien Nunb that he should, "say it, don't spray it."
2. Does a gleeful victory dance as Han is put into the freezing chamber and falls in with him.
And the number one way Lando could die is...
1. When he's hanging over the Sarlacc pit and Han tells him, "I can see a lot better now," taunts him by saying, "Ha! Bet you couldn't hit me, blind man!"


And now all the way from the Outer Rim, the one and only intergalactic comedian, everybody's favorite...

Thank you! Luke and Obi-Wan are in a Chinise restaurant and Luke's having trouble. Finally, Obi-Wan says, "Use the forks, Luke."  Suddenly in the middle of the fight, Darth Vader pulls Luke to him, and whispers "I know what you're getting for Christmas!" "Luke exclaims, "But how??!?" "It's true Luke, *breath* I know what you're getting for Christmas." Luke tries to ignore this, but tears himself free, screaming, "How could you know this?!" Vader replies, "I felt your presents."  Two Gamorrean guards are walking down a narrow, deserted canyon when suddenly a Krayt Dragon comes out and starts chasing them. One of the Gamorreans stops to put on his best running shoes. "Don't waste time," shouts the other one, "you can't outrun a Krayt Dragon with those!" "I don't have to outrun the Krayt Dragon," says the first one as he finishes lacing his shoes, "I just have to outrun you!" Thank you, don't eat the Bantha.

The 17th artist to be pheatured in the P.P.A.G. is Joey Spiotto, and this is one of his great pieces...

Joey will be a guest on the Phile in a few weeks.

Today's guest is a a French singer... I know, I know, I am English, what I am doing interviewing someone from France? Anyway, she's a singer whose latest album "Juste Jouer" and her previous album "Clique & Clac" are available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Pascale Frossard.

Me: Bonjour, Pascale, welcome to the Phile. How are you?

Pascale: Hello, Jason…. I’'m well. Thank you.

Me: I am English and you are French. I hope you still want to do this interview. What part of France are you from?

Pascale: Of course, I want to do this interview, with pleasure. I’'m living in the east of France and I’'m often in Paris too.

Me: Do you live there now? Ever been to America?

Pascale: Yes. Now I live in France.  No, I never been in America… I had a tour date in 2008 around Miami in Florida. But it was cancelled because I had a terrible crash car the 25th December 2007. The Christmas day.

Me: Well, I am sorry to hear that, Pascale. So, my last name is Peverett, which is French. I like your name, Pascale. Does it have a meaning?

Pascale: Pascale is a name of Latin origin and religious means "one who is born on Easter" or that relates to Easter.

Me: I downloaded your two albums you have up on iTunes, "Clique & Clac" and the latest "Juste Jouer". I noticed you sing in both French and English. What do you prefer?

Pascale: I don't prefer neither the first nor the second, I like both and I like to sing in French and in English too. It dépends the songs that I sing.… For example I sang in my first album "Clique & Clac" the incredible song "Georgia On My Mind", I loved to sing it in English and I have had many congratulations for my version by some great American musicians and American Jazz peoples too. It was fantastic for me and I never forget that…. Special thanks to Poppa E from Black Owl Music in Miami and Grange Lady Haig Rutan from NY, author of "Death of a Bebop Wife". In my second CD "Juste Jouer", I wanted to do a full CD in French with original music from me and lyrics that I wrote. In the same time I wanted to record it in English because I know that I have a good audience in the USA but I did’n't have time to do it…. I have adapted three English songs and rewrote all the lyrics in French…. It'’s "Inner City Blues", "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and the wonderful Jazz standard "Angel Eyes".

Me: How would you compare both albums?

Pascale: My first album "Clique & Clac" have been to do for my public who followed me in concert…. It’'s why there are in this CD many cover songs in English as "Georgia On My Mind", "Walk On By", "Calling You", "Just a Gigolo", etc...… Some cover songs in French as "Mamy Blue", "For Me Formidable", etc, and two original songs from my composition with my French lyrics. It was recorded in a small record studio and it was only for my public inspired by the set list that I performed in live concert at this period in the years 2005 - 2006. My second album "Juste Jouer" was more a real CD with all my original compositions…. 12 titles mixing soul, jazz, funk with French lyrics that I wrote and in bonus there are a DVD with 10 Videoclips. This CD was recorded in a good recording studio (Downtown Studio in Strasbourg France). We recorded the rhythm section in live session in the studio and we added some guest in trumpet and a brass section for some titles. The takes were very good and we made the mix in another studio with a good sound engineer.


Me: What does "Juste Jouer" mean anyway?

Pascale: I wrote the lyrics from "Juste Jouer" in thinking to the game in the casinos. I often sang in the casinos and I was inspired by all the people who play in this place. And the music inspired by the New Orleans music is very good with my lyrics.… "Juste Jouer" is in English "Just Play". It’'s a words game who sounds as good with music that the game.

Me: When you write, what language do you write in?

Pascale: I write in French but I like to write in English too.

Me: How long have you been performing, Pascale?

Pascale: I began to sing on stage as lead vocal in 2000. I have many tour dates since 2004 until 2008. After I took time to record my CD and to do shootings for my videoclips, at the same time I had some gigs. Now I would like to find gigs to promote my CD's.

Me: You were once a chorister, is that right? What exactly is a chorister?

Pascale: I was chorister during some years because in the beginning of my career. I wrote lyrics for others and I liked to be chorister but one day I decided to write for me and to sing as lead vocal. Chorister is the work of backing vocals, it’'s very interesting but it’s also a style of voice. My voice is more adapted for the lead vocal. I have true low frequencies and also very high. I'm classified as soprano. Often people said from my voice that she’'s deep, husky, stellar and bluesy, with a sensual touch.

Me: When you were growing up in France, what music did you listen to?

Pascale: When I was growing up, I listened some artists as Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Claude Nougaro, Mike Brant and I liked all the musical comédies from Broadway and the music from the American and Italian black and white movies.…

Me: You kinda remind me of a cooler Celine Dion. Are you a fan of hers? You are cooler, she would never agree to be on the Phile.

Pascale: I don’t know if I remind you Celine, but it'’s the first time that someone told me this : ) I’'m not fan of her but I respect her as singer, of course in this style of voice I prefer Barbara Streisand. I like many singers as Patti Austin, Ella Fitzgerald, Patricia Barber, Laura Fygi, Natalie Dessay, Eliane Elias, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Jon Hendricks...

Me: What about rock? Ever heard of Foghat?

Pascale: No, I don’t know Foghat…. I don'’t listen many rock music. I listen soul, blues, jazz, funk, latin and classical music. It'’s already much… as rock music I like Van Halen, Yes, Queen, Led Zeppelin and of course some artists between rock and soul as Tina Turner or Joe Cocker.

Me: Are you working on anything new? You must be I am guessing.

Pascale: Yes, I work for two or three CD's. I write lyrics everyday to get the songs for 2 new CD's with original compositions. The music is already done and I must finish to write because we must begin to record a part of these songs in June 2012. It’'s a long work. I work also jazz music because I want to record a next CD which will be jazz and blues. It'’s my personal projects, I have other projects with some great artists that I met in 2010 I have a CD project with Chris Birkett who worked with Sinead O'Connor, Tony Visconti who produced David Bowie.... With Chris we must release an album in 2012. I have a project with Jean Claude Bertrand, I was invited to his opening of his Painting Expo, It was great. Jean Claude makes jazz and voice painting. Our project is to create and find tour dates to do a show together: jazzpainting.com. I have a project with Jean Alain Roussel who worked with Sting, Joe Cocker, Bob Marley and many others…. Jean Alain is a great arranger and producer too: jeanroussel.org.


Me: Pascale, thanks so much for being on the Phile. Go ahead and plug your websites. And why do you have like a half dozen Myspace pages and Facebook pages?

Pascale: Thank you to you, it was very interesting to answer to your questions. I have several Myspace because I could not put all my matériel on one Myspace. It’'s not a website. Myspace is only a blog.

Me: Hmmmm... never thought of that. Thanks again, Pascale, continued success and you are welcomed back anytime you want. Au revoir.

Pascale: Thank you so much I appreciate very much. Hugs and kisses to all.

Oh, boy. Sometimes with interviews you just hit gold. What a very interesting interview. Can you count how many times she said jazz? LOL. Anyway, I would love to have her back on the Phile again. Thanks to Pascale. The Phile will be back on Saturday this week as Sunday I will be at Star Wars Weekends which starts this Friday at Disney's Hollywood Studios. On Saturday the guest will be Alumni David Melbye from Heavy Water Experiments. Then on Monday it's singer Darius Lux and a week from today it's Andy Richards from the band Uniform Motion. Spread the word not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. May the phorce be with you.

Pheaturing AJ Paglia

Hello, kids, welcome to another entry of the Phile, for a Monday. This is Red 5, I'm going in. As you know it's Star Wars Month on the Phile. More on that in a minute.  Newt Gingrich said it would be "inconceivable" for Mitt Romney to choose him as a running mate. Romney issued a statement saying, "Yep.”  After just one term in office, French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost his re-election bid because he was unable to fix his nation’s economy. Or as Obama put it, "Uh-oh.”  In an interview, “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek hinted that he might retire in two years. Or as he put it, "Born in 1940, this game show host wants to sit around in his bathrobe eating ice cream.”  Ryan Seacrest just put his house on the market for $11.9 million. The house has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and 6,000 mirrors.  In the last year, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s approval rating has gone up 12 points. That's impressive. Usually, the only time he picks up a dozen is when he goes to Krispy Kreme.  A new study found that most people can’t go 10 minutes without lying. But since the study took 20 minutes nobody knows what to believe. Most people can’t go 10 minutes without lying. We have a name for those 10 minutes... “job interviews.”  Director James Cameron announced that he is planning to release three sequels to Avatar. But come on... none for Titanic?  As you probably know, Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to endorse same-sex marriage. Obama said he thinks same-sex marriage should be legal. Then he said, "Okay, now where's my show on Bravo?"  Nestle is releasing new Crunch bars in Girl Scout cookie flavors like Thin Mint and Peanut Butter. And to make it even more authentic, Nestle’s CEO is having his parents pressure their coworkers into buying them.  Well, I have a really good artist that is a guest on the Phile today, and I have been showing his really cool work. But I found a Star Wars poster that I really like, I have no idea who did it, but it's clever. Oh, I am being serious by the way. Check it out.

It's cool, right?  So, the other day someone at work asked me about races in the Star Wars Universe. I tried to explain but I couldn't, until I made a pie graph, and you know how much I love those, to explain. So, here it is.

That should make things clear now.  Everybody it seems has Facebook nowadays, even some characters from Star Wars. If you don't believe me, here's proof.

All through Star Wars Month on the Phile I have been showing you real products that Lucas that okayed to come out with the Star Wars brand. I don't know about you, but when I think about droids, I don't think about munching down on their delicious nuts and bolts. For some reason, the marketing team at Kellogg's during the 1980's did though and this bizarre part of a balanced breakfast came into creation.

Ooooh, it comes with a free Star Wars mask though. Or do you have to order it? Remember when the toys and cool stuff actually came in the box? Alright, now from the home office on Coruscant, here is today's...

Ten Ways You Know Your X-Wing Is In Trouble
10. Your targeting computer whacks you in the back of your head.
9. You turn it off only to have it poke you in the eye.
8. R2 unit says "Oops".
7. R2 unit says "uh-oh".
6. R2 unit seen hailing a taxi.
5. Your X-wings open and close randomly.
4. You hit the Hyperdrive and go BACKWARDS.
3. You try to fire torpedoes but only hear a grinding noise.
2. You just fired torpedoes into the thermal exhaust port... and stall out.
And the number one sign you know your X-Wing is in trouble...
1. You've just landed after destroying the Death Star... but the hatch cover is jammed shut.


Okay, they can't all be winners and funny. Speaking of funny... a few months ago I introduced a new character to the Phile that is fond of puns. I let him come back at the beginning of the month for some Star Wars puns, but he wasn't that funny. So, I thought I would give him a second chance. So, please welcome back to the Phile...

Me: Alright, PUNisher, I am giving you another chance. Let's see what you have.

PUNisher: Hey, bastard, which Wookiee was on the fast-track to mouth cancer?

Me: I don't know. And that's not very nice.

PUNisher: Chewbacco. Why was the feisty droid unstoppable?

Me: I have no idea.

PUNisher: Because he washard-to-de-tour.

Me: What? Washard-to-de-tour? Oh, R2-D2... that was a stretch.

PUNisher: Why was Captain Calrissian so stupid?

Me: I don't know, and I don't think he was a Captain...

PUNisher: Because he was from Clod City.

Me: Okay, is that it?

PUNisher: How did Yoda deal with difficult, whining customers when he worked at a gourmet coffee shop?

Me: I don't know, PUNisher. He probably spoke backwards about something.

PUNisher: He said, "Boo or boo not; there is no chai!" Are the inhabits of the Third Moon of Endor now cooking Japanese food online?

Me: I say yes probably.

PUNisher: You are correct, yes, they're using their e-woks!

Me: Okay, PUNisher, that's enough. Get out of here. The PUNisher, everybody! Man, I don't think those are puns at all. Alright, now for sad news.

Donald 'Duck' Dunn
Nov 24, 1941 - May 13, 2012
Went from goat piss to gasoline.

Carroll Shelby
Jan 11, 1923 - May 11, 2012
Stalled.

Today's guest is the 16th artist to be pheatured in the Peverett Phile Art Gallery. He is a graphic artist and illustrator, and designs fonts. Please welcome to the Phile... AJ Paglia.

Me: Hello, AJ, welcome to the Phile. How are you?

AJ: Better everyday, thanks for asking

Me: AJ, where are you from, sir?

AJ: Providence, Rhode Island, USA, big city in a little state

Me: I have to say, you are one of the most diverse artists I had on the Phile. How long have you been a graphic artist, AJ?

AJ: Design-wise since college, art and illustration-wise since I was old enough to doodle with a crayon on the back of my kids menu placemat.

Me: You do so many kinds of work, from designing fonts, t-shirts, concert posters, advertisements. What came first?

AJ: T-shirts came first, in high school a lot of my friends were in bands, or starting bands, and I would design the shirt or sticker they wanted to sell at their shows. The doodling became a favor, the favor became a request, and the requests became a business. After that everything was connected. I needed to create a poster for an ad campaign, which needed a logo for the poster, which needed a font for the logo, etc.

Me: And what do you like to do the best?

AJ: Apparel design is my thing right now, but illustration will always be first true love, even if it hasn’t accepted my relationship request on Facebook.

Me: You did a lot of art work for the band Blink-182. Did they approach you or did you approach them? Have you met the band?

AJ: The merchandise promoter actual contacted me, which is common given the band’s size now. It was actually spec work, which although I’m not a fan of, made an exception given the requester. I did actually meet them, only it was 1999, I was in the eighth grade and snuck out with friends to catch their show. At the time the most I could do for them was make a really killer ball point pen comic strip, which I’m sure they would have loved.

Me: Let's talk about some of your art work. I first discovered you when I saw the Han and Leia Gustav Klimt piece. What was your inspiration behind this? Is Klimt one of your favorite artists?

AJ: Admittedly, no Klimt isn’t. In fine art I’m a big Da Vinci fan. The inspiration came from trying to create merchandise that would not only be great looking, but also sell. In college, EVERY girl I knew had the Klimt kiss on a poster, print, wallpaper, etc. I noticed that as a popular trend and romanced it with another equally popular trend. The use of Han and Leia to better express the Klimt scene worked extremely well, and I loved how it came out. The initial sale was very successful, and a lot I believe has to do with the subjects chosen.

Me: I interviewed so many artists who all do some kind of Star Wars themed project. Why is that do you think?

AJ: It’s fun to say, but Star Wars is hot right now. I’ve had this conversation and reasoning with colleagues, and we all agree, it comes down to supply and demand. The original Star Wars was released from 1977 to 1983. When its mainstream popularity started to slow, it was amped up by the re-release in the late 90s. Then the (unfortunate) prequels were released from 1999 to 2005. Then the cartoon show, and now the 3D release, etc. So the franchise has been in your face for the better part of 30 years. That covers “supply”, but the “demand” is unique. Because of the current licensed merch is focused on promoting the Episodes 1-3, the fans are demanding merch that promotes Episode 4-6, mostly because they’re better. This demand has forced us independent creatives to whip up new stuff for the nostalgic fan that has little supply. In any case, I’m just happy I get paid to draw Ewoks.

Me: Are you a Star Wars fan, AJ? What was your first Star Wars piece?

AJ: Absolutely, I’ve been a fan since I first watched the trilogy when I was 6, back to back, on a grainy VHS. Haven’t stopped making lightsaber noises since. The first real seller I made was Yoda The Grouch, a Muppet-mashup of Yoda and Oscar the Grouch.

Me: I have a picture of that here.

Me: I am a huge Muppet fan so it's great that you do a few Muppet designs. I love the Sesame Six piece you did. I almost wish it was a real comic or show. When and how did you come up with that? It needs more issue covers made.

AJ: Along with being an (obviously) uber-Star Wars fan, I’m also a Marvel nerd. I grew up just hanging at my local comic shop and have a lot of pride in the golden age of Marvel. The original Fantastic Four cover I used as inspiration was always a goal of mine to parody, and the merging with "Sesame Street" just clicked. I found pure entertainment in the imagery of something so innocent, like Elmo, all of a sudden being a bad ass superhero. I agree with the idea of more covers, perhaps they are in the works? (insert maniacal laugh)

Me: AJ, did you go to school to be a graphic artist?

AJ: I did, graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in 2007 from Rhode Island College. Ate a lot of ramen noodles.

Me: I mentioned you design fonts. How does someone come up with fonts that has not been done?

AJ: It’s difficult; you can only do so much to a letter until it’s no longer a letter. On the unavailable commissioned fonts I’ve created, I typically start with by physically sketching the full typeface.

Me: If someone uses your fonts do they have to get permission?

AJ: Many do, and while I appreciate the emails and donations, especially from companies, none need to. All of my fonts I’ve made available were created or modified to compliment the design I used them in, only I no longer have exclusive use for them. I see no harm in letting someone else use something I just created to help along my own design. In my experience, the more you help everyone be better, the more you push yourself to be better.

Me: Have you ever been out and seen one of your fonts being used?

AJ: I have, it’s a fun side effect of making a font free and available for commercial use. With their budget in mind, those are the fonts ad agencies and companies aim for using first. I’ve seen them on TV commercials, billboards, web ads, and even the packaging of my favorite yogurt. The best is when I walk by the design exhibit of a local university or school, and find a few used, creates a very Marty McFly smile moment.

Me: You also do some video editing. Was that one of your jobs before you became an artist?

AJ: Opposite actually, I taught myself some minor editing in order to create a video that promoted a design. I liked the result so I kept at it, and am still learning!

Me: I have to ask you about this, you are a former indy pro wrestler commentator? When was this?

AJ: I grew up going to indy wrestling shows as a kid, until one day (2004?) a local group advertised a chance to get training by a couple wrestling legends, including Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. It was a blast, and liked the group so much I started hanging out after shows, joining the ring setup-takedown crew, taking weekly lessons, and eventually doing commentary for the actual shows.

Me: What is indy pro wrestling anyway?

AJ: It’s the small time of pro wrestling. It’s the small town rock show to the mega-city concert. Most involved are working towards the bigger picture (WWE).

Me: You make a lot of ad's and different labels, and one thing I love is your Peter Cottontale beer. I interviewed an artist named Winter and we talked about micro brewery beers, AJ. Do you have a favorite?

AJ: I do, Revival Brewing. They are based in my hometown, have product perfect for the season, and taste wicked good... revivalbrewing.com.

Me: Speaking of beer, didn't you design neckties for a beer company? That seems rather odd. What was that about? 

AJ: Narragansett Beer, also local for me, does annual sale of neckties for Father’s Day. This year’s features a pattern I created with various nautical themes and Narragansett branding. In New England, we dress formal, but we like to party.

Me: So, being a graphic artist, I have to ask you what you think of the Phile's logo? Do you like it, with the font and colors? Looks great, very 60’s super hero-ish!

Me: If you were gonna design a logo for the Phile, what would it look like?

AJ: Same filing cabinet, only with WINGS OF FIRE.

Me: I like that. AJ, I have to ask, what tools do you use?

AJ: Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop, pencil, paper, scanner, lightsaber, etc.

Me: Do computers make it too easy to design?

AJ: Of course, but they’re only a tool. If a carpenter makes a table that’s crooked and wobbly, they’re letting the tools do the work. The same applies to design.

Me: Thanks so much for being on the Phile. Please come back again soon and keep up the good work. Go ahead and plug your website, AJ.

AJ: (VROOM) AJPAGLIA.com (cue FIREWORKS).

Me: Take care, and thanks again.

AJ: Thank you!

Well, that about does it for another entry of the Phile. Thanks to AJ Paglia for a great interview. I'd love to have him back on the Phile again. Anyway, the Phile will be back on Wednesday with French singer Pascale Frossard and then on Saturday with Alumni David Melbye from Heavy Water Experiements. I will be at Star Wars Weekends on Sunday, so the Phile will be posted on Saturday instead. Then on Monday it's musician Darius Lux. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. May the phorce be with you.

Luke Skywalker, made by Logan Peverett.