The DML Conspiracy is the true embodiment of rock & roll by nature. The band is dynamic, creative, and outspoken. They have a pop-sensibility with regards to melody, while musically entrenched in the traditions of southern rock & blues. Top that off with a nod to today’s Texas country and you have true diversity. Having such a broad base of inspiration to draw from, The DML Conspiracy are well prepared to step into any musical arena with a sense of purpose and belonging.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with DML about their music, technology, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from, and what style of music do you create?
I was born in New York City, but my family moved to Los Angeles when I was young. I was raised in L.A. for most of my formative years. Eventually, my father was offered a job in Texas, so we uprooted and ended up in Houston. Each of these cities has had an influential effect on me. I love New York, and go back as often as I can. It’s one of my favorite cities. I still have family in Cali, so I try and bounce back there as much as I can, but Houston is definitely my home base.
My musical style is as diverse as each one of these cities. I grew up playing in hard rock bands, but I eventually decided that I wanted to be a legitimate songwriter, which to me, meant that I should be able to write in a variety of genres. I am constantly challenging myself to write outside of my comfort zone. There are certain things that are a constant in my writing style, but I think the songs I write are all unique in their own ways. I joined the Nashville Songwriters Association a few years back to try to improve as a songwriter. I’ve tried my hand at writing country, pop, and some rap too. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some people that I truly admire. Ultimately, no matter what type of song I write, my writing always shows its rock & roll roots, and that’s cool with me.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
My father was a music lover and a musician too. He played guitar and harmonica. He laid the foundation and desire for me to pursue music. He had an old beat up acoustic lying around the house. He refused to buy me an electric guitar until I learned the fundamentals on the acoustic first. I practically slept with that guitar when I was growing up. We would have jam sessions at the house playing the blues. I would play guitar and my father would play his harmonica. He was a much better harmonica player than he was a guitarist. We would just hammer out 12 bar blues for hours.
Music has always been my greatest passion. Even to this day, music is such a major part of my life. The creativity of writing motivates me. Some musicians focus on their stage routines and rituals, but me, I’m always trying to write that magical song that finds its way into your soul and sets up permanent residence there. Its one thing to be heard, but I want to be remembered.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
The goal is always the same, try to put out something that is better than your previous release. I wasn’t necessarily trying to accomplish anything specific. I didn’t really have a plan going into this project. But, ‘An Act Of Defiance’ was the first set of songs to be recorded in my home studio. By the end of 2015, my band, The DML Cartel, was disintegrating and eventually fell apart. We had a good run, but we just ran out of gas in the end. So, in grand fashion, I decided I was going to take a year off to collect myself and my thoughts. I spent my free time traveling and seeing other parts of the world. But while I was home, I had begun building my own recording studio. It was supposed to be a project studio, but over time, it just kept growing. During this time, I met Shawn and Landyn, who would track bass and guitars respectively. Shawna and I had been singing together for years in previous bands. I was writing songs for her so she could release her own solo CD. We had all of this great music, but no band. So I decided that I would put a new band together. Truthfully, I just wanted to play these songs live. In the process, I met Marty, Steve, & Lance playing in a band called the Texas Retreads. I pulled them in and sweet-talked Shawn, Landyn, and Shawna into joining the band, and the rest, as they say, is history.
This is my favorite release to date. The songs are very personal, and the songwriting process was very therapeutic. That’s not to say I don’t still love the songs on the previous records. This particular record was just a magical process. Over the four years that I spent writing and recording these songs, so much stuff was happening in my personal life. The inspiration came in waves, but the waves were spaced just right. So by the time that I was mixing the first batch of songs, I would be writing the next batch, and so on. The whole process took a little longer than I wanted, but the energy of these songs is worth it. There were a lot of songs left over that didn’t make the record. We could have released a double album if we wanted.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you?
Technology has helped the indie artist exponentially. It has opened up a platform for artists to take their songs to the public direct. There has been so much great music that has come out of this, but at the same time, there are many bands that are releasing music prematurely. What I mean to say is they aren’t putting in their due diligence to make sure the songs are the best that they can be.
With the DIY methodology, there typically isn’t an A&R rep that’s guiding artists to perfect their craft. So what you end up with is a lot of mediocre or generic music. The market then becomes oversaturated, and the challenge is trying to get people to find US in this massive sea of music. Another challenge is major labels, although not as prominent as they once were, still having a lot of influence over distribution and radio. Bands are finding ways around this conundrum, but it’s still a slow process.
It is also very tiring sifting through the con artists that would take advantage of naïve artists for their own personal financial gain. There is always someone trying to fast-talk you into giving them money to help promote your career. Sometimes a legit opportunity comes along, but we become jaded after being ripped off, so trust becomes a joke. These snakes exist everywhere.
What are some of the new bands that you’re into?
I have been really getting heavy into this band from Canada called The Glorious Sons. Their music is very hook-laden and I like it a lot. I have also been listening to Roxanne. They just released their first record in 30 years. It was released in 2018, but I have just discovered them and I’m completely digging their sound and style. There is a whole documentary about their journey on YouTube. I also like the Struts.
Other bands that I’ve been turned onto recently include Dirty Honey, Badflower, and Dorothy. There are more, but this is what comes to mind.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
For the warmth of the sound, I prefer vinyl, but we are in a digital age now, so I find that MP3’s are more the norm. CD’s are great for live shows. There is something more intimate when you’re meeting a band and fan-talking music over their CD. But everyone listening to music these days is getting it from their favorite streaming provider. So preferences aside, it’s better to be a rooted in everything that is available.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
My “New Music” source has been Apple Music. No particular reason, I just started there and I’m more familiar with the process. But I have been getting into Spotify more as we are becoming part of people’s playlists. YouTube is another source for finding new music. It’s hard to stay on top of the current trends because they change so much. But I am grateful that there are avenues for new music to be discovered.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
I am a social media junkie. I manage our Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram pages, so I am constantly tweeting and posting pics. We push our ReverbNation page a lot because we have been in the Top 10 on the Houston Rock Charts for the last sixteen weeks.
Typically, our website is the best place to see what’s going on with the band. We stay pretty connected. We answer all questions that are sent to us. We also have a traditional email list that we correspond with on a regular basis.
You can find us at all the usual places.
www.facebook.com/dmlconspiracy
www.instagram.com/dmlconspiracy
Anything else before we sign off?
Yes. Check out the new CD, An Act Of Defiance. Trust me, you’ll love it. We are all just waiting for the green light so that we can play live again. I am confident that we will be doing a heavy regimen of live shows.
Tell us where you like to hang out and we will bring the music to you. Also, follow us on all of our social media sites. We’d love to hear from you.
Remember that rock & roll is like a full contact sport. It’s bruised ribs and scraped knees. It’s an admiration for all of the bands that have come before you, and a respect for all of the bands that will come after. When you have the ball, it’s your responsibility to play hard and push boundaries. Shine your light on as many people as you can and make a name for yourself. It’s our turn to pick up the ball and take it as far as we can. When we are done, we will hand it off to the next wave of musicians that follow. That is rock & roll.
