A Conversation with Eddy Faulkner – HuffPost 9.3.14

Mike Ragogna: Eddy, you seem to have just started. What’s all this about how “I Won’t Give Up”?

Eddy Faulkner: Mike, yeah, so I started four years ago in 2010. Since then, I’ve played numerous shows around the northern Virginia/DC area at places such as Jammin’ Java [Vienna, VA], The Ramshead [Annapolis, MD], IOTA Club & Cafe [Arlington, VA], and many other places. I’ve recorded at a number of different studios with different producers such as Cue Recording Studios [Falls Church, VA] and Studio V Recording [Herndon, VA]. I got a record deal in 2013 and I graduated from college earlier this year. As you can see, it’s been a crazy roller coaster ride the past few years, especially this past year since the record deal. Anyway, also earlier this year, my record label released a song I wrote called “I Won’t Give Up.” This song has been doing big things on radio and has been topping the national radio airplay charts on several different charts. Thanks to its success on radio it has opened doors now to video. My record label Star One Records is partnered with Viacom. Thanks to that partnership all of the artists including myself are now on Viacom.TV and MTV.com. I have over now 2,000+ views on my Viacom page after only 5-6 days of it being up. It is such a blessing being in the position I am in right now. Looking towards the future, I’ll be doing a music video for this song and when it is released it’ll be streamed on Viacom.TV, MTV.com, VEVO, and many other places. It’ll be placed into consideration for airplay on MTV, MTV2, MTVU, and many other live TV major networks as well. Now, I just can’t wait to see what happens next.

MR: Were you surprised by the response to your recording and how many people it touched?

EF: When I wrote “I Won’t Give Up” during the Summer of ’13, I knew at that moment that it could potentially touch a lot of people around the world. With all of the songs I write they derive from personal experiences, life, and just love in general. In some songs, I write there are certain messages I’m trying to convey, some have multiple meanings, and some are just very direct and simple. In the case of “I Won’t Give Up,” it was about a girl I liked a lot at the time and I just really wanted her to notice me. I’m a bit more shy and soft spoken so it’s a bit harder for me to convey how I’m feeling towards someone face to face. But through a song I can say anything I want, and in this case how I really feel inside. That’s the amazing thing about a song though. It can tell a story, or many different stories in just a few minutes, and in return can relate to so many people around the world. Anyways, so after I wrote the song I looked back at the lyrics and said to myself, “Wow, this song can relate on so many different levels, and has the potential to relate to so many people around the world.” I chose this song to be my first single for 2014 and I was very surprised at the response that everyone gave to it from around the world. People said it changed their lives, inspired them, and even saved their lives in some cases. It shocks me how I even have the power to do that with a song I wrote in around ten minutes about a girl I liked. But I’m glad in the end that I can change peoples lives (in a good way), inspire them, and save lives. It’s amazing. The power of music is really amazing.

MR: What’s your musical history?

EF: I started in music at a very young age. I was introduced to the trumpet in fourth grade by my Aunt. She played it in her marching/concert bands when she was younger in school. My parents wanted me to get involved in music so I was like okay, might as well. I played trumpet for a number of years in various marching/concert bands. Many years later though, in 2008, I played a video game called “Rock Band.” This game really introduced me to a whole new realm of music I never experienced before. This led to me convincing my parents to buy me a drum set, which then eventually led to me writing songs a couple months later which completely came out of the blue. This then also eventually led to me picking up the guitar, piano, bass guitar, and singing after. I’m entirely self-taught.

MR: Who most influenced your style and approach?

EF: My style and approach were greatly influenced by John Mayer and Enrique Iglesias. I know you may be asking yourself in the case of Enrique, wait what? Eddy’s not Latino! Yes, but it’s just the way John and Enrique sing, the way John plays his guitar, the stage presence of Enrique, and how most if not all of the songs that they write can relate to so many people around the world. That’s what inspired me. Besides those artist though, I listen to literally everything. My friends always are surprised when I turn on some Metallica and listen to their songs, and then right after that, I turn on Boys Like Girls. Then after that I turn on some Taylor Swift. It’s quite funny seeing their reactions. But my policy is, as a songwriter, musician, and singer. Always be open and willing to try new things, listen to as much music as you can, and constantly evolve. You have to do this if you want to be successful, and stay relevant. Just look at all of the great artists who have done that and still play to this day such as Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and etc. I want to be like them one day. I never want to stop doing music, ever.

MR: You already have amassed not only a sizable following but also chart recognition. How do you get the new single even more recognition and a bigger audience?

EF: My next step is to get my music video out for “I Won’t Give Up” in early September which is the plan. I’ll be filming the video starting on August 23rd with a local media company called OZ Productions. Video is a great way of promotion especially with my label’s partnership with Viacom. We can get it streamed right after its released on VEVO, Viacom.TV, MTV.com, and many other places. It’s going to be a very exciting time next month once my label releases it. It’ll be placed into consideration for live TV as well on MTV, MTV2, MTVU, and many other live TV major networks as well like I said before. So I hope we can get it on TV that’d be great.

MR: Other than your pal Mikey Wax, who do you consider some of your other contemporaries?

EF: I consider my other contemporaries to be John Mayer, Enrique Iglesias, and Taylor Swift. There are so many others that I consider contemporaries, but those are the main three that come to mind. They all three have unique amazing voices, incredible songwriting skills, and are all fantastic musicians.

MR: What advice do you have for new artists?

EF: My main advice is ask yourself first, if you really love what you do. Then I would ask, what’s your goal with your passion, what do you want to do with it, why do you do it, and where do you see yourself in a few years? Very basic questions, but often ones that I’ve seen many artists overlook. Since they are either to focused on becoming famous, or whatever it may be. That’s not what it’s all about though. It’s about loving what you do, because that’s where success is born and comes from. The love for what you do. It is in your soul, your heart, and your emotions. You just have to reach in there, believe it, and follow it. Speaking of “believing in it,” you should always believe in yourself, and surround yourself with people who will always be there no matter what happens as well. That’s something that is even more often overlooked in my opinion. I know a number of artists personally who don’t believe fully in themselves for whatever reason, or surround themselves with people who really lead them down a path or multiple paths that don’t benefit them. You have to remember though that in the end people are always going to put you down, say a lot of things that will hurt you, but just simply believing in yourself, and surrounding yourself with great people can keep you on a good track in life. It can even change others in return for the better.

MR: What else are you currently working on and what’s the plan for the future? How do you see yourself five years from now?

EF: In a couple weeks, I’ll be working on my music video and in the meantime, I’m doing shows around the northern Virginia/DC area. Five years from now, I see myself doing the same things I’m doing now. I don’t really care if I become the next big thing, it’d be nice. But I want to do music the rest of my life no matter what happens. Music is an amazing thing.

MR: Finally, what’s your favorite animal?

EF: Mike, I love this last question. What’s my favorite animal? Well, I’ll have to say my favorite animal are dogs. They are cuddly, cute, and cool. I mean what is there not to like. Plus, I’m not allergic to them. Dogs rule dude. Man’s best friend. Woof.