Special Interview
August
Paradorn Ansar
Michael: Do you remember your first gig - the venue and how it went ?
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Para: The first gig was at a friends venue called Secret Passions and it was awful. People were kind though. I was on one side singing and on the other side there were strippers dancing on a pole. I remember playing and singing "on voice". Later on i found out people were using mixers and i found out how to get a good set up and sound.
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Michael: Was there anyone here who helped you, or inspired you, during those early days?
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Para: Not really. There was venue called Traxx. They had a schedule on how to set up your gear for singing on sl. That helped a lot. And ofcourse youtube tutorials helped a lot too.
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Michael: Following on from that is there a gig you remember above all ?
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Para: First time i played on the well known venue of Brique. She does a lot of good work for Feed a smile. My friends and the people present at that moment gave so generously. I was really moved by that.
A good second is my first dualstream with my sl brother Trickylicks (a great artist in rl and sl btw). We did an Everly Brothers medly. We had such fun doing that.
Michael: Hi Para - thank you soo much for taking time out to do this interview with Toggle For Music.
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Michael: First up - Could you tell our readers something about your background - were you an established artist in RL before you got here - and how on earth did you get involved in the crazy world of Second Life?
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Para: Music was always in my life. My elder sisters and brothers were listening to country music and rock and roll, so i grew up with that. When i was fourteen i hung around with some older friends. They already played in a band. Through them i learned to play the guitar and start singing...kinda. That virus of playing and singing never went. I played in country bands and blues bands. Now i'm a singer/guitarplayer in an allround band in RL and hopefully for a long time. A collegue told me about SL. Curious is i am, i had to check it out. It was fun exploring and making friends at the start. But after a few months i lost intrest, got a bit boring and i was about to leave sl. Then i landed on a venue where there was a live singer. Up till then i didn't know there was a live music scene in SL. That's when i decided to stay and try singing and playing in sl.
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In our Special Interview this month we feature well known and hugely respected Paradorn Ansar - amazing vocalist and owner of the wonderful Sky Music Park
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Michael: Was Sky Music Park your first venue - or did you have others on the way?
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Para: Sky Music Park is not my first venue, but it is the first serious one. Thanks to Cazzy and Lacie it is becoming a well known venue. The venue is all about fun.
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Michael: Tell us more about Sky Music Park now please - you must be really pleased with how its going - do you have future plans?
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Para: As i said...i have a dreamteam with Cazzy and Lacie. They let me wear the boss tag, but those two are the real bosses. My work is stay out of their way :-)
Right now were doing great. SMP isn't about making Lindens but it's there for the music and fun. Everyone is welcome as long as they don't bash anyone.
Apart form the park we have a ballroom. We use that for special events like haloween or x-mas.
Cazzy will transform the whole ballroom in style of the occasion.
Don't know what the future brings, but we're hoping to maintain the venue as long as we possibly can.
Michael: IIts clearly hard for new performers to establish themselves in the SL music scene with so many performers already on the grid - yet this is something you have clearly done. Do you have any advice to new artists on how to break through and stand out?.
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Para: The only advice i can give them is to be persistent. Also record yourself and listen back. Be the biggest selfcritic. And most important ...have fun.
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Michael: You know the Second Life live music industry inside out by now. Do you feel it is in a healthy state at this moment in time ? If you could do one thing to improve it - what would it be?
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Para: I only know a small part because i'm on european time. I can't judge if it's in a healthy state. i only know i'm lucky i play on fun venues.
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Michael: Conversely what would you say irks you the most ? (aside from annoying interviewers)
Para: lol. Artists with diva behaviour.
Michael: Finally, in closing, is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
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Para: Keep supporting live music on SL :-)
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Michael: Thank you Para!
