Dig Jelly Reviews

Stories and photos by Charlie Steffens, aka Gnarly Charlie, All Access magazine, Mar. 23, 2006

I had been hearing about Dig Jelly's live shows and read some favorable reviews of the band for quite awhile, but I wanted to know what the buzz was really about. When I heard the pumping energy and straight-forward raw quality of For Your Angry Inner Child, Dig Jelly's last release, I felt like I had been hearing something very good that needed to be passed along to the musically deprived or pop radio depraved. Maybe that mission would be an exercise in futility, but they say word of mouth is key, especially when it comes to up and coming bands (or their publicists) who are trying to crack the critic's often impenetrable crust and get their name out there in a city like Los Angeles that often whimsically raises and buries its musical talent.

I think that Dig Jelly just wants to play music whether you like it or not. On the heading of their My Space page it is written, "We suck. Do not listen." They have fans, however, who obviously don't believe that statement, because there was an assemblage of those daring, defiant,

Digees there at the Viper Room to see the show, which was set to go off at 12:30 AM., and did without a hitch.

When the band took the stage they owned the place immediately. There's a transfer of energy that takes place between a band and its audience that can be felt, and when you've got a high energy band playing really well, it elevates the human spirit. Having a beautiful woman singer like Rayko, who plays guitar and who owns a set of abs that could kill can elevate things as well. But pushing all that moosh aside, Dig Jelly spread the jam nicely, playing full-throttle rock with a fun, garage band attitude and great musicianship.

"CRAVE" their second album release is filled with energetic, strong hooked, mind driving songs. With 14 tracks that illustrate Rayko's ability to express herself in her song writing , with lyrics that their young/young at heart audience can relate to. For above reasons and many more, songs from "CRAVE," has been featured in quite a few films as well as MTV's "Undressed." The album was produced by David Dunn and co-produced by Rayko. Their third album is partially produced by Richard Kaplan (Korn / Slipknot / Limp Bizkit) but mostly produced by Rayko. Dig Jelly is getting ready to tour their their CD, titled "FOR YOUR INNER ANGRY CHILD." You can see even higher growth of Rayko's writing skills not only to keep up to-date, but to capture the attention of tomorrow's audience. And to hit youth market hard and strong.

If you enjoy live performances, Dig Jelly is special to watch. They have a blend of raw energy and sex appeal that grabs the attention of everyone in any given venue. Their upbeat personalities and showmanship on stage are not only well received by their audience but by anyone they meet. The band has recently completed a 45 city tour with Veruca Salt and their latest album has been picking up radio plays along the way. Centerline president Howard Lipp declared, "Look out for Rayko and Dig Jelly, this girl is on fire, coming your way to scorch your ass!"

This is Dig Jelly. So sayeth the biog from the band, so therefore so it must be true!!!

Well, without having heard anything prior to FOR YOUR INNER ANGRY CHILD, I really can't argue. But on listening to the latest release it's obvious that there is great talent at work here. Sure, it's easy to spot influences, Linkin Park come to mind for the ability to take the vocal from angelic to evil in one fell swoop. No Doubt are another, for the strong female lead, juxtaposed rhythm and sheer out and out determination to scream, shout and be heard. There is also a strong 'European' feel to the record, which is hard to pinpoint, but there's a defo undercurrent. Constant through all of this is melody, you can call it 'hooks' if you want but straight out of the box it has Californian sunshine breaking loose. It's the kind of melody that the Go Go's used to do, and of course Belinda Carlisle (Who was a Go Go). One term that comes to mind is a 'Hard Rock Bangles' and it's great once you get in on the ride...

Sure the band is hard, yes they rock, guitars are turned up loud. Track 8 (Forgiveness) is the foremost evidence of this, but the melodies remain. The title track sounds like a nursery rhyme on acid, a call to arms, a needle in the arms of parental suicide... The band have a cartoon cover to the record that shows them to be aware of their surroundings and able to utilise the whole 'Sexy Girl' with boys marketing, but this is not trading on looks, it's coming on strong with eleven good tracks...

Visiting the bands website, (www.digjelly.com) you will find clips from previous work that hints at the potential this band possesses; you do get the feeling that this record is the bridge to the million-seller in-waiting. Diverse, fresh, interesting, talented - are all words that you could use, but one that sums them up best is 'promising'...

Overall a very strong and listenable record, from the opening salvo of 'Jaded' to the awesome closer 'Alive' this band have created an album that gets better with time and I await the next album with much anticipation. Americans have seen what the band can deliver live, Europe is on the list for 2006, but I feel with the right push, and next time round, with a producer to fine-tune their sound, they could explode onto a market devoid of strong female fronted rock acts; they should write a song called 'What happened to Gwen' just as they step up to replace, there is No Doubt...

LAで活動してる女voの５人組バンド！Vo+G+B+Dr+Turntableって感じです。まえにもチョロッと紹介しましたが、このvoのraykoさんが日本人なんです！前にRaykoってバンドだったらしいんですが、音楽性の違いからメンバーチェンジをして今のDig Jellyになったそうです。ちなみにDig JellyとはSexって意味らしいです（笑）ジャンルとしては、raykoさんいわく、Rage Against The MachineがFoo Fightersと結婚して、Linkin Parkがいそうろうしてるって感じだそうです（笑）たしかにそんな感じです。ってか昨日届いたばっかなんですが、聴きまくってます！アルバム通して良いんですが、なんと言っても３曲目のBroken Trustと７曲目のWhatever(Radio Mix)がめちゃすきです。切ない感じが、良いかな。なんか最近レコード契約を果たしたみたいで、がんばってるそうです。そのうち日本（名古屋）でショーが観れるのを期待してます！CDbabyで試聴＆購入できます。９点
[official][Raykoさんのコラム]

最近はKMK、Masnada、V-Iceなんか買いました。ちなみに今回もらったのはTerror Tっていう男と女の２人組の奴なんですが、babyで検索しても出てこない･･･。Hip-Hopです。ってかMasnada、ＫＭＫどっちも良かったですよ！

It must be very daunting and bewildering to be a new band these days. I mean, what trends should we try to go for? With things changing at an ever rapid pace, by the time someone records an album in anticipation of being the "Next Big Thing", oftentimes said "Big Thing" is most likely yesterday's news. So, what's a fledgling band to do? Some just go for broke (literally) sticking with one sound that they hope will catch on, or they'll strike the right number in the roulette wheel of fame. Others try to broaden their chances by straddling many genres, hoping against hope that they can appeal to at least some fan's sensibilities.

Well if you're L.A. based band Dig Jelly, you combine influences from all genres of rock, including pop, punk, heavy rock, ballads and even hip hop (with thankfully an emphasis on the hip rather than hop) resulting in a schizophrenic journey through the land of modern rock. Fronted by Asian hottie Rayko, who possesses the pipes to belt it out and scream with the best of them, the band makes a distinct impression here as they skillfully move from genre to genre without missing a beat. Whether it's hard edged rockers such as "Jaded" or "The Ultimate," punk inspired fare such as "Broken Trust" or the alternative pop sensibilities of "Too Deep" or "Whatever" she shows her versatility as she moves from a sultry whisper to a full blown rock n roll scream (such as on the unnerving "Forgiveness") at the drop of the hat, while the band constructs a wall of sound behind her. The genre jumping can be a bit jarring, but it also ensures that the proceedings don't get boring, although a bit more cohesiveness will be necessary for the band to make a truly great album. Still, this is an extremely promising debut which showcases the talents of the band effectively. With a bit more time and seasoning they could make an impact in a huge way.

Boasting a phat, bass heavy production partially courtesy of Richard Kaplan, who's responsible for the sonic stylings of Korn, Slipnot and Limp Bizkit, this is sure to annoy the hell out of passing motorists if one were to blast this in the car. Which considering where the band was coming from, fits in perfectly with what's contained here. Given the right set of circumstances, with the tight musicianship and full blown energy contained on this disc, I can see this band making a big inroad into modern rock radio with this release.

There is a plethora of elements conjoined in Dig Jelly's exuberant, energetic sound: hip-hop, indie, punk, hardcore, industrial, DJ ... all rooted in metallic hooks and all laced with poignant melody that could gratify emo kids. Dig Jelly's sound is a fist in the face and features enough dynamics to prevent boredom's onset and keep the crowd moving. I suspect a band like this would thrive best in a live setting as they come off as real crowd workers. But at any rate, with all the melody, drive, hook and deftly fused influences, it's a band to watch for.

My sister took me to Target to get some necessities when I was about five, and refused to let me wander around the toy section. Holding my hand, she walked me past the jewelry and watch counter while my eyes became fixated on a black watch with pink scuba fins on it. The plastic fins split to either side to view the digital time. It even came with a free pad of paper that was shaped like a life-vest. Obviously I had to have this five-dollar jewel. Before it was too late, I wriggled my fingers out of her hand's grip hold, and took off for the watch counter.

I snagged the watch and showed her how great it looked on my little wrist. She told me she wouldn't buy it for me and to put it back. I instantly began flailing my arms and twisting my body like a washing machine. Tears streamed down my red face as a high-pitch scream exploded from my mouth. Enter Dig Jelly.

Dig Jelly captures the essence of every angry child, and cleverly stuffs it onto a 44-minute album. For Your Inner Angry Child (how appropriate), somehow melds Evanescence-style modern rock, Gwen Stefani-influenced vocals and a rapping style like Zack de la Rocha's to completely reflect every child's angry fits. Of course, it's much easier to listen to.

"Inside Out," "Dramatic Suicide" and "Alive" bring back flannel shirts and Doc Martens with their '90s grunge sound, but most of the album is more intense.

Some songs on the album are modern rock (think Linkin Park, with a female singer), while others add more hip-hop.

If for some reason, you don't have a screamy, little brat around you and you want one, buy Dig Jelly's For Your Inner Angry Child.

Dig Jelly is a trip. Actually, they're multiple trips. Their schizoid sound bounds from matinee pop to hip-hop to punk to alternative to stoner metal. No disc in recent memory can claim such a ridiculous range of styles. Talented musicians Joey Felix (drums), Robby Lochner (guitar) and Rain Balen (bass) back mighty-mite Rayko, a barely five-foot tall doll - who writes all the music and lyrics and produced For Your Inner Angry Child, their new CD from Centerline Music.

Her energy is unbounded. "Music is all I wanna do. It's the only thing I can do!" she says with pride of a razor focus. "I don't wanna be a jack of all trades."

Born and raised in Tokyo, she left for America after junior high. "I had nothing, just a bag and my dreams." Her speech accelerates now. "If you're going to make it, you have to make it in America. So I moved in with some surfer friends. I learned English because no one would ever listen to the music otherwise."

[...] Working the merch. booth after her set at Hailey's in Denton, the words "awesome" and "amazing" were shot at her from every direction, people thrilled with what they saw and heard. "This tour (30+ cities with Veruca Salt) has been awesome! We've gotten tons of new fans."

hey, just gotta exclaim what a great job Rayko and DigJelly did in concert at the Masquerade Monday October 24th in Hotlanta.

Rayko's got a really strong, pretty voice and sounded good leading the second of three bands opening for Veruca Salt on their national tour. Rayko was masterful at getting the crowd pumped up, out of our chairs and moving to the music. she totally took control of the stage, sexily strutting, bopping her trademark long anime-style dual ponytails in time to the music and lights, somehow engendering camaraderie in the room as she delightedly waved to and saluted various people in the crowd and flashed her six-pack abs to great effect. (Rayko, if you did a training video to your music, I'd buy it!)

diminutive, yet with a powerful punch, Rayko raised the energy level to another order delivering her songs, many of which had great melodies. the guitarist did a good job, showing me some virtuoso sounds I'd never seen anybody wring out of a Les Paul before. on some of the songs, he doubled Rayko's vocal lines for some really cool effects.

the drummer kept a good beat, mixing it up for the different songs for a nice variety, and sang some tight harmonies. the bassist kept the energy mellifluously thrumming on the bottom end, and flashed some cute pecs halfway into DigJelly's set.

the songs were good and made me want to buy DigJelly's album, For Your Inner Angry Child ($10). I think DigJelly could go all the way if they stick together and continue to coalesce. there were several songs Rayko sang that I wanted to get to know better.

Porselain followed and did a good job also. they sound like they're about ready to break for radio. Veruca Salt got up there and showed girls can have fun playing electric guitars, too. the lead singer sang a song about Spiderman, talking about how she'd like to pin him to her wall.... hope he doesn't meet such an inglorious end... you could understand the words and they were having a good time.

if you get a chance, don't miss catching DigJelly on their first national tour, and catch a rising star.

Dig Jelly's Rayko (vocals), Rain (bass), Joey (drums) and Robby Lochner (guitar) were found happy as clams in a parked RV behind Bricktown Live before their Oct. 16 date. The L.A. band is on a coast-to-coast, 40-city tour with Veruca Salt, the Lovemakers and Porselain. Dig Jelly's 2005 release "For Your Inner Angry Child" (Centerline Music) is representative of the complex blend of talent and personality the quartet boasts.

Influences include anim?'s J-pop, Niccolo Paganini, Kiss, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rage Against The Machine, Harpo Marx, Weird Al and Charles Mingus.

Lochner is a direct descendant of German composer Robert Schumann (1810-1856). Rayko said Robby's a virtuoso on several instruments. Dig Jelly's Japanese-American front woman is a mod Fujiyama Mama who uses music to channel emotions that might otherwise be as destructive as an atom bomb.

"It's therapy to let all my angst out. Music gets the anger out of me. I need it to live," Rayko said. "I write about being a girl in this business, political issues and everyday life." She aspires to mastering koto, a Japanese stringed instrument. Her earliest musical memory is jazz musicians hanging out with mom and pop.

"They invited them to our house and had jazz parties. Who knows what they were doing down there. I was the youngest and had to go to sleep at 8 o'clock. They played upright bass, sax and drums loud as hell," she said.

Dig Jelly's RV looked more like a rowdy sorority house than a rolling den of rock iniquity. "It's candy for me! I'd rather have Twix than liquor," Rayko said.

True to the genre, much of Dig Jelly's material is dark. Still, there's something about them that screams: "TV cartoon show!"

Tales of bad gig manners: "Once on another tour, the headlining band turned off half the PAs and stage lights because we were doing too good," Robby said. Joey fingered the ultimate rude boy: "It was the guy who opened for Don McLean and played 'American Pie' (8 minutes plus) during his set."

Rayko's a petite rock ninja. Her halter top read "Girl Powder." She's the high-explosive kind.

Rayko's a crotch-grabbing, sneering, grinning, winking pocket rocket who locks on your attention like a Tomahawk missile. The band sounded terrific together. Gentle ballads juxtaposed well with inferno anthems. They never sacrificed the message for an immature decibel level. Rayko's rap ripped the privileged class in a street-fighter titled "Aristocracy." Dig it. This band's pure jelly roll.

The local band scene in Los Angeles is jumping with homegrown Asian American talent. One worth checking out is rap-rock group Dig Jelly, who'll be hitting Slims in San Francisco on November 16 and the Key Club in Los Angeles on November 18. Recently, they signed with Centerline Entertainment in Santa Monica, and their new album, For Your Inner Angry Child, is out with a snazzy anime design cover. An otaku plus! Currently, they're creating a buzz in Japan and storming coast to coast in the States on tour.

I caught two of Dig Jelly's performances at the Pacific Media Expo. Rayko, the lead singer and front-person of the group, was a powerhouse of dynamic stage presence and strong vocals. She can scream like a demonic banshee or croon like an angel at will. Then, when you meet her offstage, she's the sweetest gal ever. When they busted out with a cover or two of some Rage Against the Machine songs, I screamed myself hoarse. I Dig Jelly!

The sound of wheels rolling onto ramps is almost deafening at the Long Beach Convention Center, and with an almost acrobatic grace they flip and spin on their skateboards. A young woman clad in pigtails, a black customized "Powder Girl" halter top with pink ties, a pink skirt, and black platform knee-high boots steps onto the stage.

Rayko is the lead vocalist of Dig Jelly, a high-energy modern rock band with a huge loyal following. Their sound is edgy and unique, with a blend of hip-hop added in. Dig Jelly consists of Rayko, who provides vocals, guitar and keyboards, Joey, who plays the drums, Robby on lead guitar, Rain on the bass and their DJ, Atley, on turntables.

They are just one of three bands that performed at the Action Girl Expo on Aug. 21 at the Long Beach Convention Center. This was not their first local event; Dig Jelly rocked the house at Club Cohiba in Downtown Long Beach on Aug. 19, closing the night with their brand new single, "S.L.A.M.," which is being played on the radio station KROQ.

Once onstage, Dig Jelly's charisma and fusion of talent is so intoxicating that people couldn't help but come and listen. Free CDs, t-shirts and guitar picks were given away to any fans that were able to catch them. The frenzy reminded me of bridesmaids rushing to catch a recently thrown wedding bouquet.

The Expo was hosted by Powder Girl and Action Girl, groups that promote and connect female athletes and performers. The expo also features a tradeshow that showcases brand names such as Black Flys, DC Shoes and Powder Girl, just to name a few.

Drinks were provided at the Tiki Lounge so that attendees could relax while watching the Concrete Jungle Fashion Show.

Ramps were set up for skateboarders to try out their newest stunts. Dig Jelly's Rayko is also an avid skateboarder and was riding on the ramps with her their fans before she went on stage with the band to perform.

A few extreme bikers were executing stunts near the stage where Dig Jelly was performing and some were testing out a new skateboard that supposedly makes one feel as if the rider were surfing.

The highlight of the entire event however, was Dig Jelly's energetic performance and songs that completely embodied the spirit of why the Action Girl Expo was originally created: to unite and strengthen women who are in the athletic and musical industry and allow their voices to be heard.

Avril sings about Sk8rz, but Dig Jelly's front woman IS one. Open the Cd & there's a picture of her doin' a 900 down a slope.

A perfect blend of Hip-Hop & Heavy Rock, Dig Jelly has captured the energy of their live show & detailed it out in the studio with excellent production & tight musicianship. Crazy fun, with intentionally lo-fi samples on the title cut, & overdriven vocals on 3Karmice sounding like a Marshall at 11, there's much more creativity here than you'd expect from a sk8 punk band. Pac Sun sportswear constantly has 'em on their in-house systems, 'cuz it stands up to repeated listening.

For Your Inner Angry Child is one of those genre-defining discs that could change your mind about this kind of music. It's that good. Even if you aren't a fan of heavy rockin' high energy music, you gotta check this one out. Drop it in your car stereo & it will make your wheels go faster. Stick it in your walkman & you won't need that second shot of espresso.

Go check out their live show & you'll be a fan for life. I think I got whiplash listening to this CD. It rocks so hard it will make even the most stoic prune bang their head.

It is standing room only inside The Gig on a Saturday night in Hollywood. The vibe amongst the diverse crowd is unmistakably electric, ready to spill out into the surprisingly empty main drag of Melrose Avenue. The usual weekend Melrose partygoers, weirdos, and rock/punk headbangers have crammed themselves into the dark club to witness the second coming of no-nonsense hardcore rock and roll. In this age of Britney lip syncs and boy band buffoons, true fans of crafty songwriting and real singing turn to places like The Gig, The Viper Room, and The Roxy in hopes of discovering a real band with a real singer who actually writes his/her own songs.

Tonight, a petite yet physically endowed 20-something Asian woman stands front and center at the mike. She is dressed in an extremely tight sheer long sleeve top that both pulls at and kisses her full voluptuous breasts and a pair of blue jean short-shorts that ride up her backside. The blue spotlight casts a shimmering velvet glow across her toned smooth legs. She stands a couple of feet taller than the mike stand, supported by a pair of monster platform boots. Her guitar player Morgan Lewis, bass player Ralph Rivers, drummer Joey Felix, and DJ True rip into the first hauntingly electrifying opening chords of "Crave," the fifth song in a tight 40-minute set. She closes her eyes, feels the ear-shattering cheers of the crowd, wraps her small hands across her chest. With eyes closed, the painful opening lines float out of her mouth, her voice high and light like a little girl. "I will die for you/and if I die tonight/will you cry to see me go/And I'll lie--yeah, I'll lie to you tonight..."

Then without warning, as if out of a trance, she springs to life like a marionette whose strings have been cut. Her flexible body explodes into raunchy yet graceful gyrations as she launches into the song's abrupt and faster second stanza and chorus. Her voice becomes harder and more defiant, spitting out the acid lyrics in a thunderous yet sexy cry. "I will steal the sky/and I'll write your ugly name/and I'll spit all over you tonight..." The crowd goes wild, singing along and pumping their fists in the air. Charged by this burst of energy, she leaps into the air, her long wispy blonde hair glowing like a lion's gorgeous mane. Tears roll down her face, and she is visibly enraptured by the moment, at once conscious of and oblivious to the screaming fans. "And if I shoot and kill your many, many friends--nothing really matters/nothing really matters to you/Kill me daddy, I love you/Kill me daddy, love me back/When was the last time you saw my mommy's face--nothing really matters, nothing really matters to you."

Welcome to the hard rocking non-stop world of Rayko. A world of heartbreaking songs and blood, sweat and tears indie rock/pop with a lethal dose of hip hop punk, all delivered by a beautiful woman with brains, guts, mischievous angel's voice, and a body to die for.

Just two days later, Rayko strides into a nondescript cafe; in Old Town Pasadena for some midday coffee and conversation about music. Dressed in a pair of brown thigh-hugging jeans, black vest with a plunging neckline, and black sunglasses, Rayko looks more like a model than a girl rocker. "I did dabble in modeling and acting for a while when I came here," says the Tokyo, Japan, transplant. "That was seven years ago and all through that time music was always the main focus in my life." Listening to Rayko speak and move--her wide flailing gestures of arms and hands like a seagull flapping its expansive wings--one would have no clue that this is a woman who comes from a much more conservative and repressive culture. But that's where everything started for her, her native Japan. "I was a classically trained pianist, and my parents were into jazz music and they used to have these jazz parties," Rayko remembers. "At first I didn't really appreciate it, and like any other kid I wanted to be outside and play with my friends. I have an older sister and we used to play and write and sing together. My introduction to all styles of music really came from her."

That early formal education in music made a lasting impact on a young Rayko. It was only a few years later that she decided to follow her sister to the America. "Everything here was so cheap compared to Japan!" Reasonable rent and groceries notwithstanding, Rayko quickly realized the freedom that the United States offered. "The true reason I decided to stay here is because you can be different and be true to yourself, and people would accept you."

Once here, Rayko quickly parlayed her love of music into a passionate and no-holds-barred focus into turning her dream of becoming a rock singer into reality. Self-producing and writing her own songs, Rayko managed to produce her first CD and followed that up with the second breakout CD Crave. The "studio cats" who played on Crave were all accomplished musicians, some of whom have played with Paula Cole, Taylor Dayne and The Rembrandts. Right after the recording of Crave, Rayko assembled the current lineup and played every local and out-of-town gig they book. "You just have to go out there and give it everything you got," she says. "That's the only way you're going to build a following."

The hard work of touring and playing has definitely paid off for Rayko. The band's website rayko.com now boasts roughly 1,500 fans that have stormed her shows with infectious devotion and grassroots outreach. "There are always new fans of my music after each club gig, which is a great feeling. It's nice to know that the songs are touching people and that the word-of-mouth spreads out." Add to that three nominations for "Best Alternative Band," "Best Pop Band," and "Best Female Vocalist" at the prestigious 2001 Rock City News Awards. "I don't want to do anything half-assed. I want to put a hundred and fifty percent attention to my music," she declares.

And what about the highly personal lyrics? Do her fans connect with her mostly autobiographical songs? "Yeah, it's all about me, especially 'Crave' and 'In Your House,' Rayko explains of the two amazingly raw and emotionally naked tracks from the Crave CD. "My father died this past January and we became the best of friends in the last 10-15 years. He was a very smart man, very hardworking individual. My dad had some problems within our family. My sister, my mother and I experienced some difficulties with him. I had never explained that to him in words, because in Asian culture you don't really talk as father and daughter. We don't talk to each other and say, "I love you" when you leave the house. I got to express my anger and feelings through songwriting. After all that was said and done he's been the greatest guy; I miss him very much. I'm so very happy that we got to be the best of friends. He had complete faith in me making it in music than anyone else."

Since she's been writing, producing, and singing her own music, Rayko takes the anticipation of signing with a major record label all in stride. "I really admire bands like Creed and Green Day because they moved a lot of units before they were signed," she offers. "They toured a lot by themselves and built a strong fan base. Record companies see that so they negotiate really good deals with those bands. Of course you're going to lose a lot on the first record deal but I don't just want to have one record. I want to be able to have at least five, six records. I want to get to the point where the record company will have faith in us by our success with the units we're able to move and our live shows."

Now hard at work in the studio recording the third CD, Rayko has little time to breathe. "I have no second life. This is what I do. I never leave home without the new promotional CD for the third album," Rayko says, leaning in and taking off her sunglasses for maximum effect. "I don't want to be another chick band. I want to be one of the dudes so I need to keep up with it. It's still a chauvinist world out there. So I have to be heavy and energetic and kick-ass. I take all that stuff, all these obstacles into a positive thinking. I'm Asian and I'm a girl and I kick ass."

I went to the Eat'm Music Conference in Las Vegas one summer. Hundreds of artists there but one made the biggest impression on me. I noticed her first because she's gorgeous, but the other stuff quickly made that unimportant - and there's an inspiring lesson in here. Her name is Rayko. A musician from L.A originally from Tokyo Japan.

She was going up to every single person at the conference introducing herself, getting into great conversations, finding out what everyone does, taking notes. Every time someone handed her a business card, she grabbed her pen and wrote down notes about that person on the back, to help her remember. She probably befriended hundreds of people in 3 days, including me.

Whenever she has a show on the road, her and the band goes in the day before to do countless meet-and-greet interviews, in-store appearances, flyer-promotion, and every other promotion tool you've ever heard of. She gets right into the crowd after every show to sell CDs and sign up hundreds of people to the mailing list. She answers every fan letter with a hand-written letter. She immediately sends a thank-you card to every biz contact she meets. And all the while, she's constantly practicing and writing and recording new music.

I was on the receiving end of this when, the very first day back from the conference, she called me in New York to take care of getting on to CD Baby. Who knows if she called 200 people that day, but damn she knows how to make you feel like you're the most important one. (And yep - 2 days later her whole package with CDs, shirts, videos, and purple handwritten letter were at my door.) This is exactly the same success story I've heard is behind Garth Brooks and Madonna (and even Bill Clinton, actually.) Meeting everyone. Remembering everyone's name. Developing relationships. Following up and constantly keeping in touch. Treating everyone special. Who knows if this is just part of her personality, or if it's a trait she developed because her career is THAT important to her.

So - the real point of giving you all these details - is analyzing your own networking and promoting efforts. I've heard many great records at CD Baby. But I've only seen a few great promoters. Maybe there are people out there promoting their butts off and I just don't know about it - the same way I wouldn't have known about Rayko if I wasn't in that room at that moment. If you care about your music, and you really REALLY want - in your heart and bones - to become incredibly successful at it, you're going to have to go meet tons of people and "plug away" with tireless drive, and joyful determination every waking moment.

Meet every person you can and treat them the way you'd love to be treated. And still somehow balance this with making the best music you can and constantly improving your songwriting and performing skills.