WILLL NEAL INTERVIEW

WHEN DID YOU START IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

We first started the group and performing in late 2007.

- WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Split Tone is Jacksonville....Most of our members were born and raised here. Our horn secion comes from Miami, St. Pete, and Atlanta.

- WHAT WAS THE FIRST SONG YOU DID?

I'm pretty sure the first song we played was a Pepper song, either "Stormtrooper" or "Too Much" What is funny is that we started very early on playing tons of Pepper and Sublime, while you will still hear the Sublime in us, Pepper is not as evident. Funny how that works.

- HOW DID IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

Our first show actually had about 200+ people packed in a small beer and wine bar. The support and just the feeling of performing good music was great and is what fuels our desire to perform still today.

- WHAT MESSAGE ARE YOU TRYING TO SEND?

I wouldn't say we have a distinct message or agenda, we just try to keep the positive vibrations, the energy, and the good times flowing.

- WHO DO YOU WANT TO REACH?

Our typical audience is somewhere between 16-36. We really don't focus on any one demographic. We just want to play music that we love and enjoy and do it to the best of our abilities. Hopefully with that as our main focus, the fans will all fall into place.

- NAME SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH?

We would work with anyone who vibes with our sound or and is positive. We have been fortunate to perform and share the stage with those from local acts and talents, to performers as well known as Tonto Metro and Devante, TOK, and Ludacris

- HOW DID YOU GET YOUR STAGE NAME?

Well we started as a cover band, but we played many different styles of covers from roots reggae like Capleton to west coast stuff like sublime, and tunes from other genres like cold play, citizen cope, dr. dre, outkast, jay-z, trick daddy, jack Johnson, and Dave Matthews. Because we play a lot of different genres we wanted to incorporate that into our band name. We felt that Split Tone did that, b/c it conveys to the audience that we are not just one standard sound like so many other bands gravitate to-

WHAT CAN YOUR FANS EXPECT FROM YOU IN 2010?

We would like to focus on recording new material in 2010. Most of the local scene, primarily Jax Beach, knows of us as bar band. People enjoy our live shows. However, we want to really showcase the high level of creative, musical minds that give the band its sound. Our Goal for 2009 was to expand our horizons all over Florida and the southeast. We feel that we have met and exceeded that goal. We know regularly perform in South Beach Miami, St. Thomas Virgin Islands, all the way up to the pan handle in Panama City Beach. Hopefully 2010 will bring us further than just the southeast.

- WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP STRIVING FOR YOU DREAMS?

All of the people who have touched our lives motivates us to keep striving to achieve our dreams. We feel we posses a unique talent and sound and have a conviction to cultivate it and let it grow to bring happiness to others
- WHAT DO YOU REP?
DUUUUUUUUVVVAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!
- WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO IN YOUR iPod?
Lots of things. Mostly reggae, but we definitely listen to a lot of old school Hip Hop, Funk, and Rock. Basically anything that rides and gives you that internal energy that forces you to move. Definitely avoid that emo crap though. Were tired of hearing about how sad grown dudes are because their girl left them.

- DO YOU LISTEN TO LOCAL ARTIST?

There are a couple local artists that we really like. We are good friends with Nathan Holley, Charlie Walker and the Lions of Jah. They are great musician/songwriters. We also like Hard Headz. They opened for Ludacris with us back in October 2009 at UNF. There are other great musicians and bands around town that we enjoy to listen to and hang with.

- WHAT THE NEXT PROJECT THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH?

We recently released a live project, “Split Tone Live @ Cypress”. This is a live recording we did at Cypress Recordings. Our next project will be a closed studio session. We are in the process of writing and pre-producing for this project. We are aiming to highlight the strengths of every member in the band. This project will be an even better representation of what the band has to offer as performers and writers.

- WHAT WAS THE FIRST SHOW THAT YOU DID AND WHERE?

The first show was put together by Ryan(lead vocals/Guitar) and Joey(keys/vocals/percussion) because they had been playing around at friends' parties for years and everyone wanted to know when they were going to put a band together. Some of our friends played a yearly gig at House of Jam every thanksgiving. It was a beer and wine bar that could fit 150 people comfortably. Our friends asked if we wanted to open up for them, and we decided to make it a full band deal. With a few weeks to practice and promote we got some guys together and played about 15 songs to over 200 people with more than 50 people waiting outside to get in. It was a good first show. Lots of support. I think we made $60 that night.

- WHAT INFLUENCED YOU TO BE MUSICIAN?

JOEY(Key): At 6 my parents made me do piano lessons early on and I hated it. I've been around music my whole life. My mom and her sisters sing every time they get together. My dad and siblings can play piano a bit too. I got a drum set and Ryan and I started playing together at 14. Djembe and keyboard came right around then too. I wanted to do what Ben Folds and Carter Beauford do, at the same time. Eh I was 14.
RYAN(vocals): My dad played music and I knew that since the time I could talk so I guess by default he influenced me. Also music itself influenced me, just hearing it is music to my ears lol.
Nick(trumpet)-Ever since grade school I have found it fascinating to be able to produce sounds that made people happy. I have been playing and performing since 6th grad and haven't stopped since.