An interview with Todd Shipley, (Jan. 2007)

Q: When someone asks you "what style of music do you play?", what is your reply?

A: I play something you like.

Q: Why is that?

A: I think people like various styles of music. So, I write songs that intend to move people. If they're moved, then they might want to understand more. Once the lyrics are added to fill out the melody, I only hope to inspire a thought provoking credibility.

Q: Who is your biggest influence?

A: My father, because he listened to various styles of music. As a kid, I liked the way he would wear big curly chord head phones and murmur lyrics off key, not being able to hear himself, while playing air guitar.

Q: Who were your father's first influences?

A: The British Invasion, mostly pop music, when whatever began selling on the airwaves was considered pop.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration to write songs?

A: Stealing.

Q: Come again?

A: It's a tough point to make, but I write songs about people who don't even know I've taken something from them. I take to the potential in people who have dreams. So I don't literally steal from people, I just want to find an abstract way of confirming someone else's place in the world by justifying it in a song, thereby justifying my own experience. I try to expand on the depth I find in people.

Q: How do you justify this approach to song writing?

A: I would like to believe that those artists who have influenced me would like my music, and know that I too, have as much reason to believe in it.

Q: Just what is it you feel that you "bring to the table," so to speak?

A: Involvement. I have a difficult time believing that anyone in the audience is having near as much fun as I am. So the more responsible I feel for relaying my music to the audience, the more fulfilling the overall experience becomes. It's a very collaborative approach, through which I hope to inspire feedback.

Q: Are you suggesting that criticism has helped you?

A: Absolutely. My good friend and musical mentor Junebug told me years ago, "every musician brings something to the table", so to speak, and therefore can never be defeated for having tried. Taking resposibility for creative energy and performing, is something that opens every artist to criticism. Junebug helped me understand that the best lead guitarist in the world, is the guy backing you up. Without that kind of faith, you might just lose the respect you'd hoped to gain.

Q: What kind of influence do you hope to convey?

A: My three rules are: respect yourself, respect others, and respect your environment, and it all comes down to positive energy. The less feedback I receive, the less I'm inspired. I constantly need to shove myself into someone else's shoes and understand that the dreams we share, are all the only potential we'll ever have.