Influences, Performing

Meet the Artists Behind the Set List for Next Week’s Show at the Velvet Lounge in DC

I’m very excited to playing at the Velvet Lounge in DC next week! Doors open at 7:30PM on Thursday, September 29th – be sure to mark your calendars to make it out!

Not only am I excited to play at this particular venue, I’m also excited to play with two talented musicians -- Brian Walker (AKA: A Day Without Love) from Philadelphia, PA and Nina Casalena from Baltimore, MD. I wanted to offer you all the opportunity to get to know them some before the show, so I caught up with them and asked them a few questions.

Meet Brian.

Q: What are your biggest musical inspirations?
A: My biggest musical inspirations are as following: Radiohead, Brand New, Kevin Devine and City and Colour.

Q: How did you get started writing music?
A: I started at the age of 18 when I picked up the guitar and then started to take it seriously at the age of 23 before then I went to a lot of diff open mics and wasn't entirely sure of where I was going to go from there.

3. What's your favorite memory involving music?
A: So far my favorite memory has been playing SXSW in 2015.

Meet Nina.

Q: What are your biggest musical inspirations?
A: I'm inspired most when I get out to see local music performances and other works of art in and around Baltimore. There is always new and exciting work out there, and when I get a chance to see it fresh & raw for myself, I can't wait to get home and get writing.

Q: How did you get started writing music?
A: I always had an interest in music. Growing up, I was a part of a couple theater shows and bands with friends. We never played any shows, but I did get a taste for singing& songwriting at that time. Even after I had stopped playing music for years, the idea that I should be, never seemed to fade. There was always a voice in the back of my head that was pushing me to pick up an instrument and get started again. About two years ago, on a whim, I bought an acoustic guitar and finally got honest with myself about my dream. I haven't stopped since!

Q: What's your favorite memory involving music?
A: So far on this journey, my favorite memory is of a show I played at Ballroom Gallery, a collective art space in Baltimore, last spring. It was a great lineup, an incredible mood-lit space and a lot of my close friends turned out for it. It was a very intimate show & the vibes were killer. i hope to get invited back there for a show soon!