SHREDnews

SHRED:  Tell us a little about yourself

Jay Rowland: Well, I am married and have four boys. I am currently attending Mott Community College to obtain an Associates in Graphic Design. I’m on a staff writer/photographer for school paper at Mott. After I get my associates I’d like to go on to get my Bachelors with UM Flint. However, as soon as I am done with my associates I plan on looking to find a job in editorial design or music design. I also plan on trying to build up some of my own client base with freelance work soon. I’m a nerd. I like video games, comics, anime, movies, RPG, music, photography, art, and graphic design.

SHRED:  How did you get started?

Jay: I got started with Shred News because one day I asked a fellow photographer on Flickr how she had gotten a photo pass to Warped Tour. I explained how I was interested in concert photography. She told me about having a friend that worked with Shred News that had an extra pass. I looked into ShredNews.com and then applied. At first I was going to see if I could just get a job as a photographer for the company. I found out that there wasn’t an opening for some one that only took photos. I had to step outside of my comfort zone and write as well as take photos. So here I am today.

SHRED: What was the first show you went to?

Jay: I hate having a bad memory. My first show? haha! Now that I think about it more… I’m sure my first show was The Oakridge Boys. But my first show that I actually chose to go to? That would have been Audio Adrenaline.

SHRED: What is your favorite show?

Jay: That’s a hard one. There are so many different types of shows, the small venue, the big fests, the huge venues. My favorite of all time though would have to be Green Day. You can’t beat that. They put on one of the best live shows ever. My favorite time seeing them was their most recent tour because I was right up front.

SHRED:  What’s the first record you ever purchased?

Jay: Every one that cares already knows it was Bjork – Post. I was drawn to her exotic look on the cover of the album and fell in love with her haunting voice the first time I heard “Army Of Me” on the radio. Then I saw the CD on sale at Best Buy and had to have it!

SHRED: How’d you get invited to be on the Shred staff? How do you know the other staff members?

Jay: I already mentioned how I had heard about Shred News. I ended up going to the site and finding how to “apply” for a position. I emailed my resume and a link to my photo portfolio. Kayley told me she would give me a try and was willing to work with me on my writing.

SHRED:  Favorite part of your job?

Jay: I’ll be honest. The free shows! Haha! I do enjoy being part of something though. It’s nice to have a constructive hobby. Video games just suck your life away. At least with reviewing CDs and interviewing bands I’m contributing in a small way to our culture. And I hope at least a few people read my stuff and get some thing out of it.

SHRED:  What’s the most recent interview you’ve done?

Jay: My most recent interview was with Take Notice. They are a Detroit, MI band that any one reading this should take a moment to take notice of. By the time this comes out I have interviews with Emilie Autumn, The After Midnight Project, and Flyleaf coming up.

SHRED:  Do you have a favorite interview?

Jay: My interview with Nick from The Swellers is my favorite so far. It’s just really great getting to talk to any of the guys from The Swellers because they are such friendly people. It’s always cool to talk to Nick too, because of how positive he always seems to be.

SHRED:  Is it tough doing press in certain places? (Big venues, small venues, big tours, etc)

Jay: Well, I don’t have a lot of experience so far. My only in person interview so far was with The Swellers. That was actually at a show at UM Flint. So we were able to just find a couch and sit down to talk. I have seen other people have trouble though. Especially at the larger venues when you have a photo pass and this security guard didn’t talk to that security guard and has a different idea of how a photo pass should work and you can’t get in the pit for all the bands. Press at smaller venues is easier when it comes to a camera, because they usually don’t care if you bring one in or for how long or when you take photos.

SHRED:  Do you have a favorite venue to do press at?

Jay: I LOVE the Fillmore in Detroit, MI. It’s an old theater with all the fancy statues, ceilings, and trimmings. It’s just as fun to just hang out in the lobby there as it is to actually sit where you can see the show.

SHRED: Where do you see Shred a year from now?

Jay: I hope to see us even larger with the ability to have paid staff and get bigger interviews when we want them. And hey, who knows, maybe we can even start printing a magazine. After all, I would like to go into Editorial Design. Hint, hint.

SHRED: What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod?

Jay: It’s most embarrassing that I don’t even own an iPod or any mp3 player. I listen to music sitting at my computer or in the car. I REALLY need to get an iPod and some sweet Skullcandy headphones to rock out to. But, as for embarrassing song… I have Miley Cyrus’ CD on my iTunes. That’s just the beginning… I have lots of music that I’m sure people would laugh at. shhhh.

SHRED:  Most embarrassing moment?

Jay: My whole life is one big embarrassing moment! Seriously, it was pretty embarrassing when I was getting VersaEmerge to autograph my copy of their CD and I got to the end and Sierra was there. And I didn’t realize she had just signed my CD. She says, “thank you” in her that small voice she has. What do I do? I just stood there staring at her like the moon eyed fan boy that I am sometimes.

SHRED:  Who is one musician, dead or alive, that you’d most like to meet?

Jay: I would love to meet Bjork. When I say meet, I want to sit down and talk with her some. Not just “hi” and then walk away. It would also be cool to meet Gwen Stefani and actually get to talk with her. My meeting of her so far consisted of quick autograph and quick snapshot.

SHRED:  Give us a random interesting fact about yourself.

I’m almost as old as Star Wars. I also sometimes find myself wishing I was a Ninja!

SHRED:  Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks to any one that actually takes the time to read my articles and keep visiting Shred News.