Bodenbender – The band, BODENBENDER, is located in Vermont and is made up of Matt Viscido, (guitar, vocals, drums) Tyler Neilson, (bass, lead guitar, banjo) and Jason Kaye (lead guitar, drums)
Bodenbender
Interview conducted on Oct. 09, 2022
By Dan Locke
What is your upbringing?
I was born in Morristown New Jersey, but grew up in Vermont. I’m the oldest of 2 younger brothers. Growing up in the country, time has a slower pace, and it is a great place for creating music.
How did you discover music?
It just kind of happened. I mean how did you discover air..?
How did you start to write music?
Before I knew how to play any instruments, I would write poems. Then when I began drumming, which was my first instrument, I then began writing lyrics to songs, imagining the notes in my head, along with drum beats. Then, when I joined the Navy at age 19, I picked up the guitar and started writing full on songs. Songwriting is a craft I am constantly diving deeper and deeper into; always searching for a deeper crescendo and catchier beat. I’m never satisfied.
Describe your music.
I’m a storyteller. I want to relate with people on all levels and emotions. Sadness, Anger, Joy, Redemption and so on…are emotions that are shared by every human being. It is our emotions that connect us. My job is to act as a conduit and allow the songs I create to flow through me with as little effort as possible, so they can be relatable to others who feel the emotions that I have felt and feel.
What was your first performance like?
I was 15. Me and my buddy Steve drove up to Burlington (a city in Vermont) and we played an open mic. All I can say was the electricity I felt during that little show, defined who I would become for the rest of my life.. That feeling of living entirely in the moment, sharing something with others that you created, is nothing less than magical.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
I do not.
What makes a good songwriter?
The best song writers are those who are honest, and who own their own mistakes and flaws. Confidence doesn’t hurt.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
This brings me back…Officially the first song I ever wrote and recorded is entitled. “I’m held hostage” It was a little diddy, I recorded with an electric drum set, acoustic guitar and vocals. I would play the song in my head while I layed down the drums. I would then lay down the guitar. Then do vocals last. It was presented to our high school and it got a positive response.
What is the process of writing your music?
I used to write all my lyrics down, but these days, if something is good to me, I’ll record a quick video of myself playing and singing so that I have a reference to go back to if I forget a lyric or two..
Why did you pick an Ovation guitar?
I was recently at a wedding in South Dakota. I needed a guitar because my buddy asked if I would play. So I went to the nearest guitar store and there it was. My Ovation. I also play a Prs, and Gibson SG.
Why did you pick the name Bodenbender for your brand?
I named my band after a senior chief I had in the Navy. Hans Bodenbender. This man used his rank and power to try to inflict as much pain and suffering as he could. For years I hated him, and I wanted to expose him to the world. When I got out of the Navy, the name BODENBENDER just seemed like the perfect name for a rock band. A sticking it to the man, if you will..My only hope is that one day, he will apologize to me for what he did, and that we can move forward, and ultimately be friends.
How do you mix your music with your painting?
All the album covers, so far, are paintings I have done. I use acrylic paint with a pouring technique.
Tell me about your song “Black Sea”?
I wrote “Black Sea” to help those who are dealing with depression. I, too, know what it’s like to feel helpless. I want to tell those people everything is gonna be alright.
What are you feeling about streaming music?
Streaming music is great. It allows anyone to get their stuff out there. It also in turn makes it harder to be heard through all the noise.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
I didn’t even know that, Learn something everyday.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Digital.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
To be honest, all I’m thinking about right now are BODENBENDER songs and our upcoming album… right now.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Music biz seems to be doing fine now.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
It weeded out the fake from the real ones. I believe a lot of people hung up their guitars during covid.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Playing and writing music.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Stay away from people.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I discovered painting. I now paint all our album covers as well.
Recently the virus has come back with the Delta outbreak, then you Omicron, which as cause many people in the industry to worry about the future of live music.
How would you like live shows to be held and still keep you and fans safe.
I’m not sure.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Just keep your head down and work on your craft.
The show Star Trek introduced people to the holodeck: an immersive, realistic 3D holographic projection of a complete environment that you could interact with.
Today holograms are already being used in a variety of way, such as medical systems, education, art, security and defense
Performers like Tupac, Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Ronnie James Dio, Marylin Monroe, and Whitney Houston have done it already. The band ABBA just announced that they will be doing a comeback together after nearly 40 years as holograms on their next tour. With ABBA it was with the help of George Lucas .
If the cost was down to the point you could do it also, would you be willing to do Holographic concerts in our living room?
Sure.
In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
I’ll always do music. I suffer from PTSD from the military and bipolar disorder. Music literally keeps me alive.
What is your happy place?
Playing music, wherever with my band. My band gives me the confidence I need to break out of my shell.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180 song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited . Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offering by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
On January 19, 2021 Hipgnosis Song Management acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, covering the country superstar’s discography from his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams through 2017’s Live in No Shoes Nation.
Someone who was totally against selling his rights was David Crosby. He did not want to sell his publishing rights. In addition, it was not an easy thing for him to do. However, by making a deal with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, it took a big weight off his shoulders. He could pay off his house and cover other bills. Now he does not have to work for a living. It should be noted that David is battling tendinitis in his hands, which hurts his ability to play guitar.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
I think I will always remain Independent and distribute my songs on my own. But who knows. Time will tell. I would be willing to sell the rights to a song or two if they were to appear in a movie, or something along those lines.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Have a great day.
