WORLD5

Not all that long ago, the idea of five individuals in five different locations around the world coming together to produce an album would have been impossible. Yet, for the members of the newly-formed band World5, today's advancements in global communication and technology has made the impossible possible. The result is the band's debut album appropriately titled Global Experience, due out May 1.

World5 is made up of Don Bruner, Steffen Goeres, Stephan Goessl, Raimund Breitfeld, and Roland Childs. Collectively, they live on three different continents spanning 19 time zones. from the United States to New Zealand. Distance did not deter them from tackling the project of producing an album, with each member recording his part of the music from his own home recording studio. While perhaps a little unique in their approach, World5 proves we truly live in a new age of musical discovery, and they are indeed a band for the 21st Century.

Recently, KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste had the opportunity to talk with Don Bruner, lead singer and keyboardist for World5. Their conversation took place using Skype(r). the same technology used by band members on their collaborative effort

Don is a native Californian who has played with several bands over the years and toured the world. He is an award-winning songwriter who wrote the number one single, “In my Wildest Dreams” in 2000. He has also opened for classic acts like ZZ Top, Bay City Rollers and Herman’s Hermits, to name a few.

Forste and Bruner discuss his beginnings in music and how he was drawn to it. How the collaboration with World5 works, and why the five members work so well together even though they are several time zones apart.

Listen To The Podcast:

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WHISKER-A-NOGO - Interview with Don 
direct link

World5 coalesced around the idea that music can transcend distance. The five members had all played together in various bands in the U.S. and Europe. Today, they live on three difference continents spanning 19 time zones from the U.S. to Australia.
Their new album “Global Experience” will be released on May 1st.

My rating: 7.7/10
I interviewed Don, the lead singer, today.  Here’s our Q&A:

Briefly introduce yourself, and the band:
Hi!  I am Don Bruner the lead singer for the band World5. We are a group of five old friends who all live in different areas of the world. Hence the name World5.  The other members of the band are: Raimund Breitfeld, (drums, percussion and lots of other instruments), Steffen Goeres (Guitars), Stephan Goessl (Sax) and Roland Childs (Bass)

What would you hope people think about when they hear your music?
I would love it if they would think…”This album is great, I’m going to buy one for everyone I know!”
Ok ok ok… the real answer is this: I think it would be great if people thought that the album was fun to listen to but also interesting musically and that could they find something that they could relate to from the lyrics…. and then buy one for everyone they know. Ok that might have been too much.  ;-)  

Have you ever bought an album for its cover? Which one?
I can’t say that I have, but there are some album covers that I think could get people to buy the album just because of the cover. .  I think that the picture of Adele on the cover of her album “21” is compelling. I like the Bruno Mars album covers. They are artistic but still “show biz”.
Old school wise…The Beatles “Sgt. Pepper” album.  I think the old “Yes” album covers by Roger Dean were interesting.

What do you think about the music industry today? What is one thing you wish was different?
The internet has really changed the music industry. If an artist is willing to spend the money and time to promote their music they can really make a dent in the music business. Not so true before the internet. For the listener it is great to have the choice not only to buy an album but to have the choice to buy any “single” from the album. I think the day of the “filler song” is dead. It’s on the artist to have a high standard for every song.. which is great for everyone. The internet has made it possible for the artist and listener to connect directly more than ever before. One thing that I wish was different in the industry. I wish it wasn’t so easy to copy an mp3 file.

Where do you take inspiration from currently? In terms of music and song writing, but also in terms of motivation to follow your dreams?
I am pretty inspired that music is heading back towards what I call melody and lyric driven music being at the forefront.  For a very long time I felt the type of music that I like to write and hear was long gone, but it’s back. I’m motivated by the chance to be a part of that.

What are your influences as a musician/singer/song writer/lyricist?
I would have to start with the Beatles and Randy Newman maybe a bit of Sting/Police, a bit of Billy Joel would probably be in the mix. I was a big fan of the progressive rock bands as well.  Anything I hear that is well written no matter what the genre that inspires me to write I would consider an influence.

If you could go back and change anything in your career, what would it be?
I had the chance to be the keyboard player for an artist who was famous as an actor but not as a musical artist in the states so I turned it down thinking he’s just an actor. As it turned out he went on to have multiple hits and won a grammy. At best I could have furthered my career as a singer/songwriter/musician. At worst I could have had great time and made a lot of money.  Can we change the subject now?  

Do you feel like you sell more music online or at shows?
As I mentioned earlier we all live in separate parts of the world and have not played any live shows yet.  So I can safely say that we have sold more music on the internet.

How do you feel about the new “facebook timeline”?
I must admit I’m still getting used to it. I am more familiar with the old facebook page. Ask me again later

If you could interview any musical celebrity, alive or dead, who would it be?
John Lennon

Are you guys signed to a label? What are your thoughts on that?
We are not signed to a label at the moment.  Since we are not signed it has been entirely up to us to do the promotion. It is an incredible amount of work which has nothing to do with music. Perhaps in the future we would sign but I think it would have to be a very good deal.

What are your thoughts on the current status of the music industry?
I hinted at it earlier.  I think that the industry is more listener and artist controlled now and less controlled by business executives. As a result the quality of the music has become more important. The industry seems to be going through a change. I think that with increased quality that is artist to listener driven it can only be good for everyone involved.

Curious, since you’re the singer in the band, what’s the first concert you went to?
The first concert I went to was an Elton John concert. I can’t really say that that influenced my singing but Elton put on a great show.

What’s your favorite show or tour story?
My story is not a World5 story as we haven’t gone on tour yet but I do have a story from when I was touring with another band in Germany.  We had played a show the night before and we were booked to play a small Sunday morning show at a club in Frankfurt about 80 miles away. We were to start at 10:00 am. We got up at 6 am or so and we were on our way. Our manager had just bought a used bus for our equipment and the guitar and player took it while the others were in another car. This bus lost power and finally just stopped.  The others turned around to find us on the side of the road. We got a hold of a tow truck to come get us. The tow truck came. It was a very unusual tow truck that had a crane that lifted the van up entirely off the ground and then set it on a the tow truck bed. We arrived at the gig just about the time we were supposed to start playing. This club had big windows across the entire front of the building so all people that came to see the show saw through the windows the tow truck pull up and then the crane set the bus on the ground. We had decided that because the show was a small one that we wouldn’t need roadies for this. The crowd started laughing as they realized that the bus was the band bus with the equipment and we were the band setting up late. The show turned out fine but the beginning was a bit embarrassing. We looked like big rock stars that day.

Any advice to up and coming bands?
Artistically find a way to touch people and be ready to not only write, record and tour but be ready to promote it yourselves.  Find a good manager you can trust.

In no particular order, list your top ten inspirations, even if they’re not musical.
The Beatles
Surrealistic Art
Yes (the band)
Stevie Wonder
Lake Shrine
Mario Feninger (concert pianist)
Craig Ferguson
Mozart, Bach and Chopin
Core Transformation
It’s a Wonderful LIfe

What’s your favorite thing about being in a band?
The Exchange of musical ideas

What’s your least favorite thing about being in a band?
The Exchange of musical ideas

Do you play in the band for a living?
No but I do play live music at a dueling piano bar

What’s one place/venue in the world you’ve always wanted to play?
I would love to do a show at “The Greek” in Los Angeles. That is a great venue.
It’s not the biggest, but I really like atmosphere.

Random question- Who do you think would win in a fight: Drew Carey or Drew Barrymore?
Before Drew Carey lost the weight I would have said Drew Barrymore because she could move around faster as long as Carey wouldn’t sit on her, but now I’m not sure.  Barrymore probably still has the advantage just because Carey might get distracted by Barrymore’s looks. It could be very creepy if they started to wrestle. No Seriously!!!

@whiskeranogo

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- Interview with Stephan  (german language)