Storm

Storm

Interview conducted on December 02, 2020

By Dan Locke

Storm, is a dual nationality German/South African born singer, songwriter, and actress living in the USA. She is known locally for her singing and theatre work.  Storm began performing as a child, singing  and acting in school plays, community theatre, student films and writing her own songs.  Storm plays the guitar, bass guitar and drums. Storm has recorded music in Nashville with some incredibly talented and accredited  musicians.

You are from South Africa.; What is your upbringing?

⁃I was born in South Africa and lived there until the age of five. I then moved to Beijing, China for four years. After China, we moved to Stuttgart, Germany for one year and then to Budapest, Hungary for two years. My family and I have been living in the U.S for the past eight years now. My song “Gypsy” is actually about all the globe-trotting in my lifetime.  As a family, we were very fortunate to travel and get to see and experience so many amazing places.  Travel has always been a huge part of my life. I love my international upbringing and the opportunities it has afforded me and the people it has allowed me to meet.

How did you end up in Nashville?

⁃I have been living in the South for eight years now and I currently live in Atlanta. However, I produce all my music in Music City! I was fortunate enough to meet Preshias Harris at a music seminar in Birmingham, Alabama.  Preshias lives in Nashville and is my music consultant, hence Nashville.

How did you discover music?

⁃I would have to say my parents. They introduced me to every kind of music genre. My mom used to be somewhat of an encyclopedia when it came to music!

How did you start to write music?

⁃Basically through Preshias. I still have to chuckle at what I said when I first met Preshias. I told her, “I’m not a writer. I just want to sing.” She widened her eyes and said, “Baby girl, we will see!” Since then, I have never looked back!  I love writing and bringing a song to life.

Describe your music:

⁃I like to think that I am genre-fluid. I cannot be put into a box. I listen to such a variety of music and am influenced by so many artists that I don’t want to be confined to just one genre. Maybe thought out my career, I will look back one day and see the evolution! But for now, I am mostly putting out rock music with its many subgenres.

How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?

⁃I got my first guitar in Budapest, Hungary.  My parents were supportive, but cautious not to spend too much in case It was a fad. Here I am, seven guitars later! Yes, I do still have my first guitar. It has signatures from many talented artists I admire and hanging on the wall in my bedroom.

What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model? And does it have a name?

⁃That’s a tough question! I love guitars and it’s so difficult to choose. For my next guitar, I have my eye on a few different options ranging from a PRS SE Custom, to a Gretsch Players Edition Broadkaster Jr., to a Fender American Pro Strat, to an Ibanez Premium Series to name a few. Out of the guitars I currently own, my favorite electric is my Lzzy Hale Gibson Explorer, and my favorite acoustic is my Taylor 12e Academy.

Any words about Eddie Van Halen?

⁃I appreciate and admire their music. Eddie Van Halen was a killer guitarist, and his absence will be sorely missed in the music community. Eddie also released some awesome music gear like his Wolfgang and Stripped Series guitars.

Why do you use just your first name?

⁃My last name is pretty difficult to pronounce and Storm kind of just has a better ring to it. So, for the sake of simplicity and impact coupled with Privacy, I choose to use just my first name.

How was your first ever concert in Beijing back in 2005?

⁃Freshly ground! Ahhhh what a wonder. I was in heaven. We were lucky enough to hang with the band and have dinner with them afterward, as well as a private concert in Beijing. They were incredible! I knew that one day I wanted to do what they did! Make music and entertain people.

What makes a good songwriter?

⁃Being authentic. I once read “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” That is incredibly powerful. If you are authentic, people will see that and relate.

Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association?

⁃I belong to ASCAP.

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

⁃“Rock the Night Away.” It’s a cheesy summer anthem that I recorded myself using garage band at the age of 15 or so. I had no clue as to what I was doing, and it sounds horrendous! I’ve actually been toying with the idea of giving it new life now that I know better and have the resources to help me make it what it should be.  I am proud of it regardless and it helped me crack the ice!

Have you done any writing on Music Row yet?

⁃I have written a few of my songs in an office on Music row.  I currently have one in the works with Timo Sommers. Maybe one day, someone will acknowledge my work. I plan to keep on until it happens. They say Nashville is a ten-year city…I’m four years in so let’s see!

About a year ago, you released a song called The End. What is the story behind the music?

⁃The End was written with a talented friend of mine, Caleb Bowers. It’s about “The End” of a relationship, recognizing the wrongs, and hopefully finding new beginnings.

Tell me about Project Rhino Storm. Are you a Rhino Warrior?

⁃Project Rhino Storm is something very close to my heart. I am very connected to my South African heritage. We go back to SA almost every year (Covid has changed that up a bit), but all my family is still there. Every time we visited, we would go on a safari and observe these amazing animals in their natural environment. The first Rhino I saw poached on Social Media was Hope. It struck a nerve with me and I kept asking myself “what could I do to help.” I soon realized that I could use my talents and skills to convey this important message. I co-wrote “Ghost” with my mom, who is also very passionate about Rhino’s and wildlife in general. This project grew from a small idea into the wonderful project it has become. I am thankful to be backed by the Chipembere Rhino Foundation and Dr. William Fowlds, a renowned wildlife vet in SA. I also commissioned a very talented street artist, Nathan Sanan, from SA to paint a huge canvass, which will go on auction and help raise money for the foundation. It has been an awesome experience and the song has featured on South African radio stations, as well as in several articles.

Why did you release 2 Christmas songs? Jingle Bells in Minor Key and Hallelujah?

⁃Why not right? I am very nostalgic about the holidays and as a family, we have taken with us the best from each culture we have encountered along the way and made it into our own special mix.  

Both songs are a bit different from what people know. Why did you decide to make them your own?

⁃When I chose the two songs, I decided that making them my own and different allows for that traditional feeling, but at the same time making them stand out among the countless other versions of the songs. Judging by this question, I guess I accomplished just that!

What is your favorite track on the album?

⁃This is a difficult one. Each song was written at different emotional states and has its own meaning, which makes it tough to single out one of them as my favorite. They each have their own strengths to bring to the table and make up a part of my style and who I am as an artist.

How do you stay healthy while touring?

⁃When I tour one day, I will let you know! 🙂 Starting off one’s career slap bang in the middle of a pandemic has certainly changed the way one introduces themselves into the world of music. I hope one day to be on the road!

What are you’re feeling about streaming music?

⁃When you are a small timer like me there is no money in it. Hopefully, that will change one day as I grow my organic following. On the flip side as an independent artist with limited resources and means, we would almost be nonexistent if it were not for the opportunities that streaming services afford us.  You would never be able to see what I am about if it were not for one of the streaming platforms you accessed.

How can people forget about the origin hashtag # Sharp in a musical score?

⁃Haha! Honestly, I’m not entirely sure! I guess with the invention of phones, the “hash” or the “pound sign” became common among the rest of society and then once social media rose to power, it was adopted into their language. Also, I guess many people don’t know how to read music or have never really read a music score before, so referring to a hashtag as a “sharp” become obsolete.

Digital vs. vinyl?

⁃I listen to most of my music digitally because it is more portable, but there is nothing quite like listening to a song on vinyl. Over the years, I have collected quite a number of vinyls.

Is there 2 United States?

⁃Ha! Just one, although it can feel very divided.  I do believe it’s a beautiful country and land of great opportunity. If you speak to people on the streets they are friendly, inviting, and kind. However, it can feel like two separate countries if you see how mainstream media portray it and then how you experience it yourself.

What is the mental health situation of the United States? How can the public help the doctors and nurses on the front line?

⁃I think the mental health depends on if you have experienced a loss due to Covid, be it your livelihood, a loved one, or your own health.  I also don’t think that the pandemic fatigue is unique to the US. Having family in both Germany and South Africa helps me to see that we are all in the same boat and suffering. We can all help the doctors and nurses on the front line by listening to the safety guidelines: wearing a mask, washing our hands, social distancing, sanitizing regularly, etc. I would even go so far as to say, if you really don’t have to go somewhere then don’t! I am not saying shut yourself up like a prisoner, but weigh up the risks and calculate them as best you can and then decide if it’s worth it! If you do go out, WEAR YOUR MASK!!!! Even if it is not 100% effective, so what?! Neither is a seat belt, but we wear it anyway. Neither is covering a sneeze or a cough, yet we do it anyway!

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

⁃Two songs that I’ve been listening to quite a bit lately have been “Yours Truly, 2095” by Electric Light Orchestra and “Those Were the Days” by Mary Hopkin. Besides being fantastic songs, I think their meanings describe today’s society very well. “Those Were the Days” is a lovely ballad about growing older and how your life and relationships change as you go through life. However, in 2020, we could also relate it to how life was before the pandemic. “Yours Truly, 2095” is a great song, that I believe, shows our dependence on technology and how we often choose it over real human interaction.

Both Pfizer and BioNTech have concluded Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the vaccine it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?

⁃Boy that’s a tough one.  It’s going to be a very personal choice for people.  I hope that if people do decide to take it, they do it as recommended by health professionals.  I am interested to see how it will be carried out in South Africa versus the U.S and Germany. What I can say is that I truly hope it’s the answer.  But more importantly, I hope we learn to stop exploiting animals in such a way that we do as humans for their sake and ours.  

Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

⁃I believe that the virus will still affect the music industry in the near future. I don’t think live concerts, or the way we used to know them, will be back soon. I don’t think it is all bad though. It has given musicians not only time to breathe, but also find new and interesting ways to connect with their fans. Once the vaccine is introduced, however, it will be interesting to see if it is needed on an annual basis like the flu vaccine or if this virus will evolve. I just don’t know! I do hope that the music industry will be able to go back to some sort of normalcy. We all just have to play our part in the meantime.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

⁃I have been busy. I study full time, I work almost full time, and I write and record. Besides at the very beginning of the shutdown, I have not had much downtime.

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

⁃Over the summer, my dad and I have taken up mountain biking as our new hobby. Watching Netflix or Hulu has become a hobby of mine again! Getting my homework done on time has also been part of my life this past semester!

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?

⁃Probably Netflix, but I do also watch quite a bit of Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.

The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.

How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?

⁃I think it’s important to have your intellectual property protected.  As an artist that is extremely important to me.  So, with this approach, I do hope that it forces artists to push themselves to create original content, which is what I have had to do.  With covers you have to make sure you don’t regurgitate someone else’s work and style. Covers are great, but make sure you do it properly with the correct licenses and put your spin on it to make it your own. I am hoping that this stance helps artists trust that major platforms will help do their best to protect your intellectual property.

How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?

⁃I think true die-hard fans of any particular band will always support them.  I still support mine. Sure, there will be a dip in sales for these bands, but I hope most of them can weather the storm and come back stronger and more appreciative of their fans. Without fans we are nothing.

Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like playlist on the internet?

⁃I believe it is, but there is nothing like the real deal in person concert.

What about Holographic concerts in our living room?

⁃I love watching my favorite bands any way I can, and I think that is very innovative, but again, nothing beats a real concert or in-person gig.

If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?

⁃Musical Theatre since that is what I am currently majoring in!

Anything you would like to say in closing.

⁃As an independent artist like myself without a big machine behind me, I am thankful to everyone who gives me an opportunity to get my art out there. Building an organic following is a slow intense process, but I am in it for the long haul. Thank you Unsigned Magazine for this opportunity!

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