Alex "Shmalex" Dontré (drums) Psychostick
What is your name and band/label/etc?
Psychostick!
What are your top five albums that were released in 2012? (In order 1-5)
- Meshuggah – Koloss
- Matt Skiba and the Sekrets – Babylon
- Exotic Animal Petting Zoo – Tree of Tongues
- All Human – Catholic Guilt and the Queerest of Thoughts
- Punch Brothers – Who’s Feeling Young Now?
What band did you discover in 2012 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Probably the Punch Brothers. They are the first bluegrass band I have ever gotten into. They are incredible musicians and songwriters, and it is really expanding my horizons as a music fan.
How will you remember 2012? (In terms of music)
It’s pretty amazing, actually! I have discovered a few new bands that have blown me away, most notably the Punch Bros., Bone Dance, and All Human, and then a bunch of my favorite bands came back and put out some fantastic releases as well.
What can we look forward to from you in 2013?
At least one new album, probably more, and several tours with some pretty epic bands along with us! Plus, we are going to try to do more international tours; that is the goal at least.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2013?
Joy Formidable, Dillinger Escape Plan, Orbs, and Alkaline Trio.
Fundraising sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have made a strong impact on the ability of artists to release music. Do you think this approach is a trend, or will it continue to shape how artists produce their material?
Psychostick has offered a few fundraisers independent of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, and it has worked out beautifully. I understand why people may think it is a going trend, but the reality of being a musician is this: 99% of bands never make a profit, ever. So if musicians want to continue to do what they love, they have to figure out a way to pay for it. Yes, they could get a job and save up, but that means it will take that much longer between releases. If their fans are willing to help out, that is nothing but good.
