Singer-Songwriter Q&A
How old were you when you started playing guitar?
12.
What was your first guitar? Did you buy it yourself? Do you still have it?
It was a Washburn electric and it got smashed at a show.
Did your parents or grandparents play any instruments? If so, what did they play? Did you ever get a chance to play with them?
My uncle played banjo, my other uncle harp and my grand dad had a good singing voice...we had porch jams.
What are the guitars that you play? Do you have a favorite? If so, why is it your favorite?
I have a Hamer Diablo I put a Seymour Duncan on. I play a Dean resonator and a G&L tele.
Kristian with his Hamer Diablo.
Kristian with his Dean resonator.
Kristian with his G&L tele.
What strings do you use (brands and gauges)? How often do you change your strings?
D'Addario and every few weeks.
Do you use a pick? If so, what brand and thickness?
Yes usually stock picks, medium gage.
Do you use any effect pedals? If so, what are your favorites?
I love my Big Muff and Canyon Delay and Ibanez Screamer.
Do you work on your own guitars or do you bring them to a guitar tech? Are there any guitar techs that you would like to recommend?
I do my own.
Do you have a favorite guitar shop?
Music Unlimited in Kingston, MA and Be Music in Rutland, VT.
Music Unlimited - Kingston, MA
Be Music - Rutland, VT
At what age did you start writing songs?
16.
Photo credit: Tina Marie Enos Wedge
What is your songwriting process? Is it the music or the lyrics that usually come to you first? Do you write old school on paper, or electronically?
Just in my head. Ideas come and I pick up a guitar.
Who are the top three musicians or bands that have had a major influence on you?
Peter Gabriel, Chris Whitley, and Brad with Sean Smith.
If you could jam with one person, living or dead, who would it be?
Peter Gabriel
What are your top three “desert island” albums?
Living with the Law by Chris Whitley, So by Peter Gabriel and Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy.
What was the first concert you attended?
Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers.
The Beatles or the Stones?
Beatles all day everyday.
Where and when was your first paid gig? How much did you make?
10 dollars at the Ranch House in Marshfield, MA.
What has been the highlight of your musical career so far?
I've recorded 4 albums in 3 years…that took a lot!
Kristian in the recording studio - The Studio at Strawberry Fields Lane
What has been your worst gig so far and why? (You don’t have to name names).
The Stone Pony in NH they didn’t have mics...I had to buy Radio Shack mics to get the show done.
What are some of the venues you enjoy performing at the most? What things make the venue enjoyable for the performer (location, equipment, setup, organizers)?
I've played the festivals and town fairs here in VT, always cool people.
How do you work out your setlist?
Every show.
Is there any advice you wish someone had given you when you were first starting out in the music business?
Yep...dont take your talent for granted...some rich kids with more resources will get ahead because you're lazy...gotta go get it!
Do you have any suggestions for a guitarist or songwriter who might be stuck in a musical rut?
Live your life, songs will come.
Photo credit: Tina Marie Enos Wedge
If you weren’t a singer-songwriter, what would you be doing for work?
A fisherman.
Please list some of your upcoming shows, plug your music and provide links to your merchandise.
Photo credit: Tina Marie Enos Wedge
The new single from Kristian's fourth album, Lower County Outlaw.
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