Artist
Information
Instrumentation
Geoff Koch - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, Harmonica
Biography
Geoff's CD, "Throwing Rocks At Your Ghost"
was released in March of 2005. He quickly became the featured
artist on several radio shows, including; McGraw Millhaven's
and Ken Williams'. WVRV 101.1FM The River has featured "Chasing
After You." In July of 2005, Geoff headlined his venue
at The Midwest Music Summit in Indianapolis. He's had the honor
of playing shows at several high-profile venues, including Mississippi
Nights. In September of '05, Geoff was awarded First Runner-Up
in The Recording Academy's "Grammy Demo Review" held
at The Pageant in St. Louis. He was a featured artist of the
week on WVRV in St. Louis. Geoff played 50 shows in 2005, gaining
respect throughout the area. Most recently, "Chasing After
You" made it to Round 3 of the International Songwriting
Competition, out of 15,000 songs. His music is being played
on radio stations in over 50 markets.
You're a regular one man band here, how do you manage?
I think that's just how I'm wired. Someday I would like to have
a band, but I'm taking this time to develop a buzz about my
music, get better at writing songs, and develop a strong and
consistent live show. It's not like I'm burdened by being a
solo performer, I think it's a lot of fun.
Do you plan on ever going to a full band one day?
Yes someday I'd love to have a full band behind me to fill out
these songs. Drums, keys, strings, bass, and another guitar,
more vocals. Right now it's fun playing these songs live and
playing them how I imagine they'll sound with a band in my head,
but someday sooner than later I'll get the ball rolling on recruiting
musicians who'd like to be in a band with me.
Where
were you born?
I
was born and raised in St. Louis.
What kind of childhood did you have growing up?
Well,
my mom left me and my dad when I was 1. My dad raised me and
got re-married when I was about 7 or 8. I can't imagine my life
with my birth-mom in it, I always used to think that her leaving
us was the worst thing that has ever happened to me, but I've
realized in recent years that it's the best thing. I call my
step-mom "mom" and have ever since she married my
dad, she's great.
Is anyone in your family musically inclined?
My
great-grandpa on my mom's side used to be a pretty great bassist
and guitarist. Legend has it he used to be a session guy for
Johnny Cash, they'd use him for things either live or in the
studio every now and then. I don't know how true that is about
him and Johnny Cash, but it's alright to have a little mystery...
When did you start learning guitar and keyboard?
I
really took to playing guitar when I was a sophomore in high
school. All those Nirvana videos on MTV really triggered something
in me and I wanted to do that! Their music and passion has really
influenced me to explore the power and potential of music and
to give that back someday. I've always said that I want to make
people feel the way Nirvana made me feel about music.
Did you take any lessons for them?
I
took a beginning guitar class my senior year of high school,
but by then I knew how to play basics and this was just a matter
of sight-reading notes and simple chords. Not too long ago I
went half-way through Piano III at a local community college.
I was really cruising along, then something happened and one
day it's like I opened the book and couldn't grasp all the inverted
chords and the tricky stuff the class was teaching me, so that
was about the limit of my keyboard learning...
What are some personal interests of yours outside of
music?
I
do like to try and stay healthy, and not just in the summer
months. I don't drink or smoke, I guess I live my life pretty
idealistically in certain areas. I go through love-hate phases
with running. Most of the time I don't feel like doing it, but
most of the time I mentally tell myself that I should be going
for 10 mile runs, which probably has something to do with me
not liking the idea of running... I have a history of volunteer
youth work, although I'm not doing that anymore these days.
I really identify with the jr. high and high school-age students
and like being someone that can help them navigate the transitions
in their life. I think volunteering in general is really great.
Nobody's waiting at the end of the day for some kind of hand-out.
Afterall, what kind of giving of yourself are you doing if with
the other hand you're waiting for something in return?
How has your EP "Throwing Rocks at Your Ghost" been
received?
I
think it's been received fairly well. It's gotten a small amount
of press. I mean, when we got done recording it I thought it
was great, but now a year later I cringe at most of those songs
cause I realize the recording is really not representative of
the songs anymore. When I play the songs off that cd live, they're
much less tame than how the cd portrays them to be. I know,
I know I'm my worst critic...There are a couple songs on there
that do sound really great and by default they have become the
'singles', so to speak.
When do you expect to release your first full length album?
I
expect to start recording demos for things as soon as July.
I've got all kinds of songs waiting to be put down on tape.
I'm excited to do the full length the right way. I don't want
to rush it, if it takes 6 months or longer than it takes 6 months.
Whenever it's done, I'm determined not to be talking a little
trash about it a year down the road. If I had my way and all
the recording went perfectly, I'd say be ready for the full-length
between Halloween and Christmas '06.
How many songs do you have written already?
In
my life I think I've probably finished about 50 or so. For the
full-length album I'll be recording a lot of new songs, and
probably 3 or 4 older songs that aren't obsolete.
What do you think are the most important qualities of a good
performer?
I
always look for whether or not the performer really cares about
the songs they're performing. Whether or not the songs are actually
good or not, If I start to hear too many missed notes or their
body language bottoms out, then that's enough for me or anyone
to start questioning their passion and desire to prepare for
the performance. I don't like it when, by their cues, I'm invited
to disengage from the show. If they don't care, why should I?
What do you think has been the most effective promotional tools
at your disposal so far?
MySpace
MySpace MySpace. I've dabbled in the Independent Artists Company,
STLPunk.com, PureVolume, and GarageBand. Didn't take me long
to abandon all of them. MySpace delivers. I would have never
heard about the Midwest Music Summit last year if not for MySpace,
and I applied and was accepted, as the only singer/songwriter
from Missouri to perform there in '05. It puts me in touch with
people I would have never met otherwise. I can ultimately deal
with their advertisements for kissing Johnny Depp knowing that
MySpace opens doors for me every time I use it.
You've got shows lined up through June so far, what do you have
set up after that?
I'm
eyeing June/July to start recording for the full-length. I think
I'd like to record all the songs just me and guitar first, to
see how they sit, and also to shop that demo around to musicians
who'd be interested in playing on the record. I'll probably
play shows here and there in June and July, but those 2 months
will be phase one of the recording process. I'm thinking about
touring in August and/or September, but at this point I don't
have anything set in stone.
What do you do when you are not performing or on your way to
another gig?
There
are always cd's in my stereo in my apartment. Right now its
Elliott Smith/XO, REM/Out of Time, Sigur Ros/Takk, Neil Young/Silver
and Gold, and the Band of Brothers score. In my car I've been
listening to all the Rage Against the Machine albums, Owen/I
Do Perceive, and Jeff Hanson/Jeff Hanson.
Where would you like to see yourself in the next 12 months?
Either
uprooted to a city like Chicago, in talks w/labels about a record
deal/distribution/tours, playing with a full band supporting
my finished full-length, or a combo of all that.
Are there any final thoughts or words you'd like to share with
our readers?
Fear
The Mullet.
Thank you very much for your time!
Website
http://www.myspace.com/geoffreykochmusic
Discography
EP - "Throwing Rocks At Your Ghost", 2005
Single
- "Chasing After You"