This time, we get to know Judah Sevteen. Inspired by the likes of Prince, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith,
and other popular acts, Judah blends blues, rock and funk in the search for an original dynamic sound.
The track "If" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
I'm currently living in Istanbul, but I'm originally from Venezuela. At the moment, I'm in the writing stage of my second EP, and I expect to be able to release it in approximately 6 months.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
I started playing music when I was about 11 years old and got inspired by the album Supernatural by Carlos Santana. I just fell in love with the sound of his guitar. Luckily, one of my uncles had a very old acoustic guitar, which funnily enough, was given to him by my mother when he was 11 or 12. So my mother unintendedly got me my first guitar a bunch of years before I was born.
In 2014, I moved to Istanbul and unfortunately had to lose touch with making music, left my band back home, and actually had to sell my gear to afford the plane ticket to leave the country. But in 2020, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So I started making music again, then I bought a keyboard and taught myself how to play it, then I got a bass, and the same thing. I then started getting used to working with DAWs, production, and mixing until one day, I realize I could record myself, and have enough songs to make an EP, which eventually became Missing.
𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?
There are a lot of them and they keep changing, I like to believe I can get a lot from listening and incorporating different styles. But when we talk about the biggest influences, I am fascinated by Stevie Wonder, Prince, Santana and of course classic rock acts such as Led Zeppelin, and Aerosmith among others. I am also influenced by Latin rhythms and traditional music from Venezuela.
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
In the beginning, I just wanted to reconnect with the music. I felt I needed to start writing stuff, it was basically only to make me happy. After I realized I could get this out there, my goal became to be able to make my music heard. If people liked it, it'd be nice, that was about it. Now, after I released If, my first single of 2023, I'm thinking seriously about putting a band together maybe for the summer when I have more free time in my hands and see what happens.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
I generally start with a single instrument, generally a guitar riff, a drum beat, or a bass idea. When I have something I like, I switch instruments and try to think what idea complements the basic one and move on from that with each instrument.
I never come up with lyrics first. Vocals and lyrics are always the toughest part for me because I'm only singing for the last 2 or 3 years. Back when I was playing in bands, I used to make the music and that's it, no lyrics, no singing that was the singer's job. That being said, I consciously make an effort to make catchy vocal parts, and backing vocals.
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
This is going to be a bit of a weird choice, but it has got to be Sonido Bestial by Ritchie Ray and Bobby Cruz. It is a salsa song from the 70's I think, but the blend of styles is so masterful, you can't find it anywhere else. The pianist Richie Ray smoothly blends jazz and salsa with Rachmaninoff and Chopin, and you can still dance to it. It is a classic of salsa music.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
It doesn't matter how good you are with your instrument, how fast you can play your guitar, how skilled you are at whatever, if you can't make a song, nobody will listen. It's great to feel you're really good at playing your instrument, but most people won't listen to 3 hours of guitar shredding.
8. Proudest accomplishment?
Considering that I had no intentions of releasing it at the beginning, my proudest accomplishment is having written, recorded, produced, and released Missing, my first EP. It might not be The Dark Side of the Moon or The White Album, but to me, it does mean a lot.
9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?
Back when I was starting my band, I was around 16 years old. I had bought a second-hand Digitech RP3 multi-effect pedal, I was so excited and to me, it sounded great considering it was my first effect pedal. When I was playing at home, or rehearsing with my band it always worked but the first time I tried it onstage it would not work. I started playing a song and 3 seconds later it would turn off and on again, and of course, my guitar couldn't be heard, being the only guitar player in that band I felt really bad. It kept happening and I decided not to use it, the stares from everyone, the audience, bandmates, the sound guy, and bar staff felt horrible. In the end, the gig was less than ideal, but we could pull thru without the guitar effects.
𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
My lowest point was having to sell all the gear that took me years to get, my amp, guitars, and effect pedals to be able to leave Venezuela. At the time, I got an opportunity to move out and since the economic situation was getting worse every day, for me and my family I needed to get out. Of course, leaving the country and family was hard, but for me leaving my band and my music was especially tough. I knew that I could always go back to my family, but as soon as I leave my band I wouldn't be able to go back and play with them.
My two highest points were one, playing at a festival in my city. It was in front of around 1000 people. I was so happy to be there, I spent the whole time dancing across the stage. Easily one of the happiest days of my life.
And two getting reacquainted with music. It brought me joy to spend the whole day in my bedroom studio just playing my guitar and watching videos on how to play keys and drums. Admittedly, I still have a long way to go with keyboards and drums, but as long as I have the time, I'll keep practicing and playing.
Stream "If" now
https://open.spotify.com/track/1YudAQ8x6kmcjrncQRT7iD?si=qDFpUB8XQwONhT_qTOHUPA&utm_source=copy-link
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It's so nice knowing more about you, "if" is a lovely song and your composition is excellent
Ahhh the Digitech RP3, me too and at the same age. What is it about those processors that have a lock on that 16 year old market? It's like they have that demographic dialed in really well. Even my son, without any influence of my own found his way to one as well, lol. Same age.