The interviews with the performing artists from the AITP Music Festival just keep rolling in, and we’re doing our best to publish as fast as possible. Chase Walker of the Chase Walker Band got back with us today and we want to say “thanks.”
Walker’s band is sponsored by Heil. If you know of Bob Heil, you know what an honor it must be to be sponsored by him! I’ll tell ya straight, there’s a reason… This kid (he’s only 14) totally kicks ass!
MTM: Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a little about yourself. how and when did you start making music?
CW: I had Piano lessons from the time I was 8 to 10 but never really loved it. I quit piano and music all together until I picked up my dads guitar about a year later. For Christmas when I was 11-1/2 I got my own guitar and was hooked. I started playing every waking hour.
CW: I play and write music because I love to do it. I also love performing on stage. Whenever I feeling down. Playing music always picks me up.
MTM: What were some of your early influences and what inspires you today?
CW: Two of the earliest influences was a band called The 44’s and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The 44’s were the first band that I saw live that inspired me to become a performer. Just like a lot of other young guitar players, when I heard SRV play I wanted to play like him and spent hours learning all his licks and songs. As my playing matured I moved on from SRV to learning guitar styles from Hendrix, Warren Haynes, Tab Benoit, and Gary Moore. I have also studied some of the country pickers like Albert Lee & Chet Akins. When I was at a blues festival in 2012 I got a chance to meet and see perform Gino Matteo. Gino became a major influence in my guitar sound and my song writing. Besides Gino Matteo my song writing is influenced by Bob Segar, Jim Croce, Amos Lee, Tommy Simms, and Anders Osborne.
MTM: What was the last song you listened to (disc in the car or what-not)?
CW: Blackberry Smoke – Scare the Devil out of you.
MTM: How did you connect with Artists in the Plus and what attracted you to working with them?
CW: I came across it white surfing the Internet. It seemed like an innovative way to put on a festival.
MTM: Last year’s festival was a huge success and changed a lot of things about music on the net. Were you a part of that?
CW: No, this will be my first AITP
MTM: What would you like to see as a result of the festival, this year?
CW: I have no expectations. I hope to put a great performance on and make some new friends with the other artists performing in the festival.
MTM: Have you been using services like Hangouts On Air, U-Stream, Street-Jelly, or others to perform live via video on line? What kind of reaction are you getting?
CW: No, this will be my first live video online, other than when I have performed on broadcast TV
MTM: Village Studios in LA will be hosting the festival, this year and there will be a studio stage in North Carolina and another in Norway. Will you be travelling or performing remote from your own studio?
CW: I will be performing at the Village on the 28th
MTM: If you could ask one performer to join you on a record, who would it be?
CW: If we could go back in time, Jim Croce. But performer still alive, Warren Haynes.
MTM: What one thing would you change about this world, if you could?
CW: There would be no more back track lip syncing. The top musicians would all be able to actually play instruments.
MTM: Where can we find you and your music?
CW: All my tour dates and recent information can be found at http://ChaseWalkerBand.com or at https://www.facebook.com/
MTM: In closing, is there anything you would like to add or anyone you would like to shout-out to?
