Jamie Alimorad inspired by the 60′s and playing for today, an artist not to be missed.
Written By: Lynda on February 21, 2011
4 Comments
Inspired by music from the 60′s and personal experiences, like the loss of his grandfather, Jamie pulls his writing muses from many places. Now on his national tour, Jamie talks about his excitement for new experiences, but also about a great charity event he did that he was honored to just be a part of, read on here to learn more about this artist.
Tell us about your start in music – your inspiration-
I’ve been performing pretty much my entire life. I started singing when I was about three and began piano at seven. I always had thought of music as a career but I didn’t put it first until I was in seventh grade. That year I was exposed to the Beatles- I mean REALLY exposed to the Beatles. My uncle let me borrow the film Help! and I became captivated by these four lads from Liverpool. Whatever magic they had in the 60′s when they broke, they had on me in the 2000′s. It was an epiphany. I knew right then and there that this is what I wanted to do and I never looked back.
How long have you been writing music and performing?
I wrote my first song when I was nine years old. My grandpa had just passed away and the emotions I was feeling led me to writing my first song. I had this idea for a melody and the lyrics just described how I felt.
I did my first non-school performance with my first band in January 2002. It was a school dance and we played the middle set between DJ sets. It was a really big hit. We disbanded later that year but the few gigs we played were awesome and we had some good success for a middle school band.
When you write a song, is it about the music, the words, does it all come at once or change each time?
Each song is different. Trevor Rabin once said there are two ways to write a song; your way and the wrong way. The more I think about that statement the more I realize how correct he was. I studied music technology at Northeastern University and the major was compositionally based. Professors would try and make you compose the way they do and they’d tell you at the start of the semester that their methods are just guidelines. But then if you didn’t do it exactly the way they wanted you to, they’d give you a bad mark. I would try to incorporate their ideas into my style and they’d rip it. If I did it exactly the way they would, I’d get a good grade. That was a very hard thing to go through but it will serve me well in the long run if I have to compose for a specific outlet. But for my own music, it could come from a random melody I thought of or a chord progression I did on my keyboard. I rarely write the lyrics first.
Who are your musical influences?
I have a lot of musical influences that go across several genres but when people ask me to describe my music I tell them take the Beatles from 1964-1966, the Tubes and Rick Springfield, have them make a musical baby, that baby would be me. I write and perform pop/rock music that blends elements from the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s and put a modern twist on it. Catchy hooks, sing-a-long melodies, big harmonies, I LOVE harmonies and of course a lot of guitars. I’m a piano player but I’ve always wanted to play guitar. I can do rhythm stuff but I can’t solo very well. Guitar is a sexy instrument, ya know? There’s just something about a good distorted electric guitar. It gives me an excitement that piano doesn’t do. Most of my material is guitar driven and the piano/keys add to the texture.
What is your goal in music? What would be enough and what would be your dream?
My goal is to be a top-selling artist. I make no bones about it. I want to be the best and I’ll get there. I have a lot of drive and I know what I’m capable of, especially when I put my mind to it. A lot of people want to be rock stars, maybe even everybody, but most want to do it for the glory. I want to do it for the music. I want to connect with people, I want to make them happy. So on a dream level, being a multi-platinum recording artist is the goal, but on a personal level I want my songs to connect with people. Music is so important and special to me. It’s like a time machine and specific songs will take me back to a specific time and make me think of those days. It brings a smile to my face. If someone came up to me and told me my music did that for them, that’d make me the happiest person in the world.
What was your most memorable gig and why?
Definitely last year at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. I played there as part of Syracuse University’s Relay For Life. First off, I was truly touched to be asked to play at such an event. Relay For Life is something I encourage everyone to do at least once. You’re raising money for a good cause and it brings people closer together. The events at SU were beautiful and really moved me. The performance itself was a very unique experience as well. The stage was in one of the endzones of the football field and when you looked out you saw all these tents and sleeping bags and people playing catch. It was wild! I played at 2:00 in the morning and everyone was still buzzing. It was great! I’m trying to get back there this year but I’m not sure with my touring schedule if I’ll be able to play the event. Either way, kudos to Syracuse. Any other school that does Relay should model themselves after them.
What do you have in the works for 2011?
I actually just started the 2011 tour in January at the National Underground in Manhattan. A couple of hours ago I returned from the Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg, PA. You guys in Harrisburg know how to rock! Last night I played and the crowd was phenomenal! Myself and the band had so much fun meeting artists from all over the country and sitting in on the different panels. Last week I was up in Boston at the Hard Rock Cafe and it was great being back in town. I started my solo career in Boston while I was at Northeastern and it the gig was a homecoming of sorts. Great crowd, great energy. I’m in the works of booking dates for the summer all across the country and I also started recording my first full-length album last week while in Boston. It’s gonna be good!
Where can we find your music or here you play?
On February 26th I’m back in Manhattan at the Alphabet Lounge and have two more New York gigs booked for April 15th with the Live @ Best Buy Concert Series in Union Square and Arelene’s Grocery on May 27th. The tour is also taking me down to D.C. for the first time for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. My debut EP is available on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cornerstone-ep/id392888815 and Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Cornerstone/dp/B0043VIUWM/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298248832&sr=301-1. Those are some long URL’s but they’ll take you directly there haha. I’m on facebook at http://facebook.com/jamiealimorad, myspace at http://myspace.com/jamiealimorad and follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/jamiealimorad.
I’ve seen Jamie in concert several times and he seriously kicks ass! Great interview. Definitely check him out on iTunes.
Nice interview
I think this artist will go far.
Great music; makes you want to sing with him.
This is a great interview. I check out his music afterwards and I gotta say it’s really good. Catchy, fun and I think it appeals to a variety of ages. I’m a new fan.
A interesting post there mate . Thank you for posting !