To make up with the delayed sequel of his interview, I’ll be posting here his three latest videos. They are all instructions on how he played his guitar from his cover versions of Oasis’s “Wonderwall”, Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This”, and Damien Rice’s “Cannonball”.

Wonderwall

If You’re Reading This

Cannonball

My blogger friend would really love this howto. Thanks Chris for sharing us these wonderful videos!

Please visit his YouTube Channel and his MySpace page.

I’m really sorry if this post got very late. I’ve been really swamped with stuff in my day job. Nonetheless, here’s the second and last part of Chris’s email interview.

CoverCove: Can you tell us more how you’ve become to loving music and decided to share it with us through YouTube? I saw you having original songs in your channel, and they are awesome!

Chris: I remember going to my dads gigs from the time I was still in a stroller. He plays the sax in a 4 piece called Jones and Company. The do more of an easy listening/ R&B thing. He always had Tower of Power of Chicago basting on the radio. When I was in the 6th grade I signed up for trumpet in the middle school band and excelled all the way through my 1st year in college. I went to school on a Jazz Trumpet Scholarship actually. When I was in the 7th grade I picked up a friend of mine’s Acoustic guitar and couldn’t put it down. I convinced my parents to let me buy a guitar by cutting grass and was the proud owner of a ratty Ovation soon there after. I played till my fingers bleed and haven’t put it down since. I didn’t really start singing until I was a freshman in school… you know to impress the ladies, and I guess it worked because I met my wife of 7 years my senior year.

CoverCove: I also noticed from your videos that you have months of gaps in-between publish dates of your YouTube videos. What’s more intriguing is you make a couple of videos in one session, and post them all at once. Do you plan these video sessions, or do you just go in front of the camera when you have time, and sing your heart out?

Chris: Yea I have a very busy schedule so I record them when I have a day off, which is not that often. I record a lot at once because I don’t know when I’ll have the chance to record more. I have a lot more to get done but when I have the time.

CoverCove: One crazy video I saw from your channel was the cover of “Hey Ya!” by Outkast. What got into you that made you cover such a weird song, and even make it your own? That was the most incredible cover I’ve seen in YouTube so far, BTW!

Chris: Unfortunately I cannot take credit for the cover’s originality. I found a video of a man named Matt Weddle do it before me on youtube and was totally blown away. I learned and began to cover it myself. You know how I like to twist songs into something new so this was quite the treat. I also give him credit for the cover in my video description.

CoverCove: Do you have a band or a group, or set of friends working for the music industry? I just noticed you have complete equipments / instruments when you shoot your videos.

Chris: No I don’t really like the band thing. With a band you have to organize practices and everybody has their idea of what a good song is and what is not. As a solo musician you have so much freedom on stage. If I wanna drag out a song or add a few lyrics there, I can. In a band you have to stick to what you practice. Plus you have to split the paycheck. I currently use a Jewel signature Taylor guitar, a Shure Bate 87A Mic, Shure E2 in ears for monitors, a Fender Acoustasonic Jr. amp, a 4-channel Beringer mixer, and a Boss loop pedal for my whole setup. Its simple and very effective for the venues that I play at.

CoverCove: Do you expect to make it big someday? Even dream of being a recording artist? I saw a YT comment asking if you have some sort of an album.

Chris: I don’t really have a desire to make it big. I feel that once this is achieved, an artist is forced to perform as his label demands. As a local bar/internet musician I have genuine fans who enjoy my music for what it is. I can play what I want when I want. I would love the money that “making it big” brings in but I’ll pass for the enjoyment of doing what I love. I would like to be a huge internet sensation with millions of song downloads. That would be a dream. I currently only have four original songs… I am a frustrated songwriter. So I do not have an album yet… someday I hope.

CoverCove: If you were to make a song right now, and promise to sing it with all your heart, what would be the song’s story? Of course you don’t need to make it now.

Chris: That life is what you make it. There are no excuses for being unhappy in life. If you don’t like where you are, your job, or your current relationship, change it. Make a plan and execute that plan to make your life yours. Only you can make yourself happy.

If you have more questions to ask him, you can send them by MySpace’s personal messaging or his YouTube channel. The links are provided on the “much coveted” sidebar.

And here is the video I asked about. It’s his cover version of the Outkast’s hit “Hey Ya!”. Enjoy!

Please do support his original tracks by downloading his music from his MySpace page. You can go here MySpace Site, or view his videos in his YouTube Channel.