There aren’t many artists who would consider an office full of major awards, a slew of major #1 hits, a library of some of the most memorable pop songs in recent history and an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame to be “a good start.”
Diane Warren, however, isn’t like any other artist.
Starting as something of a child prodigy, Diane Warren began laying the groundwork as a teenager for a career that has spanned decades and exceeded all expectations… all except her own. She always knew she would end writing some of the biggest songs in music, and she has never waivered from her mission. However, she tells us she is really just getting started and the best is yet to come.
From hits like “Rhythm of the Night” to “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and “How Do I Live” to “Un-Break My Heart” and “When I See You Smile” to “Because You Loved Me” and “Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” and literally hundreds more, Diane Warren has written countless songs that seem to transcend time, appearing and reappearing throughout our lives, just when we need them. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. Her success in the US has been paralleled in the UK, where she has been rated the third most successful female artist. If Diane Warren says she is just hitting her stride, I suggest you believe her and buckle up.
We sat down with Warren to catch a quick glimpse into her relationship with her music.
Who exposed you to great music growing up? Were you taught to be analytical about music (for instance, did someone explain to you why something was great or not great)?
I was born almost 15 years after my sisters were born. When I was young, the played music all the time. My parents played records so I was exposed to all kinds of music early. I listened to the radio every minute I could. I wanted to write songs at about age 10. I learned by experience. Then in college I snuck into the practice rooms to play and write every chance I had.
DJ Rossstar: The Bridge to Your Favorite Artist
Nine years ago, an American University student grew sick of watching bands interviewed by the same Average Joe and asked the same mundane questions on a cliché set. “Why would I need to watch Green Day do another interview when they’re going to be asked the same questions again?” says DJ Rossstar, now in his twenties. Then the light bulb went off. “I’m in college. I have a radio station. I’m going to do an Internet show,” he proclaimed.
Rossstar then began reaching out to local artists, all whom were rather receptive. “Almost immediately I started doing shows once or twice a week,” he says. However, this was in 2002. This was before YouTube, MySpace, Facebook or Skype. Most people were skeptical of his project, declaring that the Internet would soon die off and therefore put an end to his show. Despite criticism, he created DJ Rossstar’s Punk Rock Radio Show – an interactive radio show where fans could call in and directly ask the bands questions.
And now here he is – having recorded over 1,000 shows with some of his favorite artists and currently living in Los Angeles, California, DJ Rossstar found himself on the phone with me, recounting the tale of his slow but sure rise to Internet fame. Let’s just say I was a tad bit nervous reciting interview questions to a guy who abhors cliché interview questions. Check out some of our conversation below:
Check out the interview with Foreigner’s Kelly Hansen and
Kings of A&R Dean Cramer..
Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world selling over over 65 million records. The bands total sales have exceeded those of The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, The Who, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Def Leppard, Boston, and most of their classic rock peers….
Also, pick up the new incredible record “Can’t Slow Down“..
David Bendeth is an A list music producer who has produced many acts you hear today including Breaking Benjamin, Red Jump Suit Apparatus, Hawthorne Heights and the most recent Paramore. Bendeth has long history in the music biz. He was also the VP of A&R at RCA where he signed Vertical Horizon, Crash Test Dummies and discovered KD Lang.
KOAR frequently visits Bendeth at his newly owned studio “House of Loud” in NJ and our discussions usually evolve around music shop.
David Bendeth is an A list music producer who has produced many acts you hear today including Breaking Benjamin, Red Jump Suit Apparatus, Hawthorne Heights and the most recent Paramore. Bendeth has long history in the music biz. He was also the VP of A&R at RCA where he signed Vertical Horizon, Crash Test Dummies and discovered KD Lang.
KOAR frequently visits Bendeth at his newly owned studio “House of Loud” in NJ and our discussions usually evolve around music shop.
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