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What inspires you the most when making your music?

Watching the news. I see the world for what it could be, and then I see it for what it is. I feel an emotional connection to everything around me. Whether it be the financial situation of so many, or the pain that we the people have put ourselves through for so many years. I see beautiful landscapes and have terrible nightmares that help me to turn my work into a living entity. The beauty and horror of our world is the wellspring in which I can pull my inspiration from.

What are you feelings towards your own music?

I become frustrated from time to time with things. But overall, I am proud of what I’ve accomplished. I started this project on my own after my old band deteriorated. We were together as a group for about 11 years, and time just sort of caught up with us all and we had to part ways. They continued to pursue their musical ambitions and I felt like I was left in the dust. Thus, ADH was created. Still being a solo project, it is truly the most challenging endeavor I have ever chased, but i think in the end it will be worth it.

Do you ever feel as if a song is ever really complete after completion?

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. I have times where I’ll create a new song and post it up for the public, and then hear something that I need to change, or a volume that needs to go up or down. Occasionally I’ll add something else to it. The thing is, that I listen to my work a lot. I’ll burn CDs to listen to in my car to ensure that the track is what I’m wanting to present, or that it has everything it needs and sounds right. I’m kind of obsessive over it actually.

Would you change any of your work if you could?

Sometimes i think about artists or bands that represent the lighter side of things. You know, Jack Johnson, Phish… just to name a few. I’ve been surrounded by happy-go-lucky music all my life. Most all of my friends prefer that kind of sound over my kind of sound. So no, I don’t think I would change anything. I think that for the light side, there must also be dark. Making music like my own is discovery. I’m seeing more and more of my soul with each piece I create. This is what I am.

Do you think that music fans unjustifiably search for reasons to compare you to other artists?

From time to time I do. I have been called names and have also been told that I lack originality. I am okay with these opinions, though I cannot say I agree. There are a lot of jaded appetites out there. Some people thrive on chastising things they do not fully understand or listen to. Most people who compare me haven’t heard more than one or two songs. But from time to time, comparison is taken as a compliment, so long as no one is saying I’m a hack.

Why do you think that it is so hard for the majority of society to view a musician as the artist themselves without comparing them to other artists?

Because the mainstream has a way of brainwashing people. The more people are exposed to the same old shit, the more they veer away from anything new. Change is frightening to many, and I know my work is frightening to many. This is why i have become so uncontrollably frustrated with popular radio and television, because it does not expose people to new things. In a predictable world, these things are expected.

If you did have to place your music into a genre, or had to create an original genre to label your art, what do you believe it would be called?

If the world was ending, my music would be the soundtrack. I want to make a new genre and call it either, “Doomsday Rock” or “Apocalypse Rock”. I’ve always been inspired by good movie soundtracks. I’ve always wanted to achieve an epic sound. Something that cannot be ignored. Do you think that originality is a dead concept? That, to me, is in the eye of the beholder. As a musician, if you think originality is a dead concept you need to rethink your career choice. There is always something original out there, its just a matter of tapping into it. Going back to radio and mainstream I can say this. It would be easy for someone to make a pop song that is catchy enough to get you some air time, the true challenge lies in making something that no one can say they have heard before and getting THAT on the radio.

Do you find it hard to travel and tour with the current state of the economy and with the climbing gas prices? What is your solution for this problem?

I lived on unemployment for about a year, and even now, with a job I have trouble making ends meet. If I had a label or something backing me with funds I would have no problem getting things done. But I don’t, so I make due with what I have. Now, it is impossible for me to get out and tour, but I hope I can soon. My solution would be to stop dividing our country into rights and wrongs and start working together to get ourselves out of this mess. Not much of a suggestion I know, but I’m out of ideas.

Do you think that humanity is doomed?

In our current state I do. We have grown lazy. We live off of prayers and American Idol. These things will not change our people for the better. We are too busy fighting and pointing fingers to see the forest through the trees. Our world is slowly dying and we are doing nothing to change that fact. I fear that only on the precipice of the end, will the people of the world want to change. By then, it will be too late.

What is your take on society as a whole?

Simple minded. Dumbed down by the media and its spin. Afraid of new things. Bitter and cynical, just like me. We are all struggling in our own ways, but I think the stress of it all is starting to show in all of us. Some of us turn off, and others rise above.

What is your outlook on the current state of the music industry?

So horribly broken that the idea of new good music is a far cry. Remember when the Beatles first hit the mainstage? Or Elvis, or Led Zeppelin? These people represented a new era. A new sound unheard by any. Whens the last time we heard someone like that show up? Will we ever hear someone that changes things like they did? One can only hope. In our current state, the fat cat record labels are looking for money, not good music. I could go on for days naming all of the radio and television bands I detest. But lets not burn any bridges shall we?

Do you believe that it is more beneficial to be independent so that you can create expressively without people ordering or hassling you?

Absolutely, music should not be made under someone elses criteria. If you make music, it is yours. Your mind forged it with your imagination. You cannot by the materials needed to write a good song at any store. Your music identifies you. If it doesn’t you never should have made it in the first place. Never let someone hassle you. Never let someone order you around. When it comes to music at least…

You like a lot of other artists, are offering your music for free online. Do you think that this is helping artists or hindering them?

The thing about selling your music online is this. No one wants to buy a CD right now, people want to buy food, or pay there bills. Most of everything I release online is of demo quality at any rate, and its fully copyrighted. I think, that releasing music for free may be the best idea for any artist or band trying to make a name for themselves. I would much rather find 1,000 new listeners than make 50 bucks. But the money certainly helps, so I allow people to make donations should they choose to. Sometimes releasing work for free will generate revenue. I’ll sell my music when I have a larger fan-base, and the sun is again shining out from behind the clouds of this terrible recession.

Do you feel as if big business is killing independent art in general and making it hard to find an outlet for musicians to express themselves?

I don’t think big business will have enough of a grip on things to do that. They thrive on marketing, but nowadays, marketing yourself has become much more convienient. Maybe back in the 90’s they had a good hold on things, but I think there grip is starting to slip. Do you think that the internet is helping independent artists?

The internet is a wellspring of unheard and original music. In fact, I think big business is intimidated by this notion so they have started sticking there greedy fingers into this pie. In the end, I think that this could only benefit the musicians and artists. Because now, its Big Industry who has to look for something new. The internet will be there first stop, not the radio.

What is the hardest aspect of being an independent musician?

Doing everything yourself! Promoting, setting up shows, making entire albums alone! these things are the biggest challenges. But nothing could be as rewarding as knowing that you did it all on your own.

Out of all the artists you have collaborated with in the past, who has been your favorites?

I have collaborated with so many people I could not say who my favorite is. I collaborated with them because the songs we did together WERE my favorites. Tim Law of Archetypes is one. Hes a great guy from Australia I met online. We’ve worked on several pieces together and even created a side project called “The Defiant” that treats all of our work as a group instead of a collaboration. Tom Popperwell of Severn is another. He connects with my more violent side. We have made some killer pieces in the past and plan to in the future. Of course, I cannot forget working with my old friends from my former band “Duchovony”, Neil Cuvar and Aaron Reece are amazing musicians and we have made some stellar works together.

If you could travel back in time, what era would you like to exist in?

I would take a cd player and a few of my CDs back to the age of the Vikings and I would play my music loudly near battelfields and laugh as they all called me a GOD.

If you could play a show with any other musicians from any time, who would it be and why?

Hmm. Ever seen Back to the Future? Where MJF goes to the high school in the fifties and plays that rock song? I would want something like that. I would want to go back to the days of the Temptations or something and headline for them. Just so I could see the looks of confusion and fear on the faces of the audience. it would be like nothing they have ever heard.

What is your favorite venue to perform in? Madison Square Gardens…or some seedy local bar.

What are some of your favorite movies? I’ll just list a few… Sunshine 300 Vanilla Sky Requiem for a Dream The Truman Show The Fountain Eternal Sunshine for the spotless mind Dexter ((All of the seasons)) Sopranos ((All of the seasons))

Who are some of your favorite musicians? Godspeed You! Black Emperor Tool Radiohead Massive Attack Nine Inch Nails Ben Harper Sevendust Led Zeppelin The Beatles

What can we expect from you in the future?

Hopefully, some airtime on the local radio stations. Me and a good friend of mine, Tommy Brittain, have been working dilligently on creating my first studio quality album, so maybe by the end of this year I’ll have something to present.

Anything that you would like to close off with?

My music does not fit everyone, I understand that. But there are a lot out there I think that need to listen. I’ve connected with a good amount of folks from all around the world on here that hold my work high. It has been an honor to be held in such high regard. If you haven’t heard my work yet, maybe you should come and have a listen, take some of it free as a gift. You can download a lot of my work directly from my Myspace.

www.myspace.com/arrowdownhill1