singyourselfagrave - St. Paul, MN

Every so often a band comes along that challenges what you think about XYZ genre. singyourselfagrave (lower case) isnt a band. Foster Kardos has been making music for 7 years under various monikers, sometimes with a full band, sometimes on his own, and sometimes a mix of both. Hailing from the twin cities, Foster has put up with long Minnesota winters, short summers, heartache, and politics, using them to his advantage in his makeshift basement recording studio. Having developed an affinity for analog and the folky style that seems to go hand in hand with it, Foster's new project (singyourselfagrave) has a gritty, soulful sound that other bands try for and frequently fail. AND he's releasing a new album for FREE here!

Mr. Kardos plays in a pretty swinging indie rock band called Hotel San Sebastian as well.


He's not too shabby of a dude to interview either.

M.I.D.W.E.S.T.: You've been playing music since I've known you, but when did you first pick up guitar?

Foster Kardos: I picked up the guitar roughly when I turned 14/15. When I first started playing it was on a right handed guitar turned left handed. It was the only guitar my pops had in the house and I just played it not even in tune just figuring the little bugger out. I started learning blink 182 and Alkaline Trio songs as soon as I started learning how to read tabs. From there on I studied the Coheed and Cambria cd "In keeping secrets" and went from there.

MW: Right on. So you're style seems to have changed from the more punk rock influences that started you out. What made you turn into a folk(ish) singer?

FK: I was going on a trip to Chicago to visit you and a buddy of mine showed me the Bright Eyes cd "I'm wide Awake It's Morning" I think I was .. 16 then? I mean.. my old stuff was always kind of "folk" I figured but I'm no longer screaming which I geuss is the only way to do punk music. And, I kinda agree. From Bright Eyes I just kind of got way more into acoustic music. Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Mason Jennings, M. Ward and more recently Neutral Milk Hotel and Matthew and the Arrogant Sea

MW: And does being from Minnesota, home of Dylan, give you any help with that style?

FK: I've learned more from Minnesota than I would say Bob Dylan. This is probably sacrilegious but, I've never been able to really get into Bob Dylan. I like a couple tunes but really never dug him. Minnesota is a very woodsy state and it's very beautiful. I would like to think I draw lots of influence from this state.

MW: How's the music scene in Minnesota? I mean, you play with your band (Hotel San Sebastian) all over the place, but is it easy to make contacts and get shows?

FK: The music scene we're (Hotel San Sebastian) in is very very awesome. We're actually friends with the muscians we play shows with. It's not like.. we're only playing music with eachother cause we draw a huge crowd cause that's not true really. I mean, people come but it's not outrageously better for any single band. The music scene in Minnesota is really good and both really bad. The best bands in this state are the least recognized ones. The big popular scene in minnesota isn't very cool in my opinion. Everyone is trying to be louder and more of "A fucking rockstar!!" In my opinion music isn't about who has the most distortion it's about who tells the best stories with a groovy vibe. Most of these bands I feel lost that aspect of music. They just want to drink whiskey and have sex. Don't get me wrong I love both haha but, theirs a time and a place for the two. We're, I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by wonderful people who make incredible songs. And I often find myself more of a fan than anything.

MW: Atmosphere is one of the louder Minnesotan groups that are all about sex and drinking, and it seems to work for them...

FK: Atmosphere is good, Black Star is better. OH RIP BURN... I use to really love Atmosphere, I'm not talking about them though

MW: Atmosphere is kind of boring live though. Speaking of live, first show in 2 years coming up for your solo stuff. Are you excited, nervous, or is this just part of it all?

FK: Words don't describe how incredibly stoked/excited I am for this show. It's really fun playing this music live it's going to be challenge with all the harmonies/ random stuff. But, we're going to make it work out. I like to get rowdy at shows and sometimes play the songs differently. I get room to do this now

MW: I take it you're having back up musicians/singers?

FK: Woody the drummer from Hotel is going to be filling in on aux/drums and our basist richter is going to be playing bass/guitar/ harmonies.. well both of them are doing harmonies, it's going to be a fun fun fun time!!

MW: Right on. Good luck with the show. Any parting words?

FK: Thanks for everything! You're a really kinda okay dude!!!! haha

FK: oh

FK: shout outs to Al Kelly. he helped me record these tracks for ya and the last two songs on the cd. (that's why they sound better)




and here are a couple tracks singyourselfagrave did for M.I.D.W.E.S.T.:

singyourselfagrave - Relationship Sinking.mp3
singyourselfagrave - They Want to Suck You Dry.mp3
singyourselfagrave - Taxi.mp3

(to download, right click and "save link as" or "save file as")

Stay real!

-Wyllinois!

THRILLINOIS!

What up G money?

There comes a time in every young Midwestern boy's life where he feels like he needs to take charge of his life, stand up, and make a difference.

Shortly following this decision, he will then settle on blogging, because it takes far less work, and its more than likely very shitty outside.

It's hovering around 80 degrees today, clear skies, birds singing, not too humid, and yet here it comes anyway. Someone has to do it, and since so many others are going at it there is really no excuse. Either way, the world is no longer free of a blog by Wyl.

But there are so many direction that this could go. Certainly comedy isn't my forte, nor is relationship advice, nor are movie reviews, restaurant critiques, inspirational speeches, photography, erotica, or even one of the thousands upon thousands of pointless rambling bullshit "a day in the life of..." accounts that seem to clog my interwebs all day every day. Although it seems as though I,m caving on that last one...

The plan, as it stands, is to get local artists to come into my kitchen, play a couple songs, do a good sized, albeit ridiculous, interview, and to use commas as often, as, fucking, possible, .

ARTISTS AND CONTRIBUTORS WANTED!