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was promoting it through my local following and local public radio station. With my latest release, I
targeted an audience outside of my local area with the help of “Another Blues is Knocking Radio
Promotions”. Finally, my music was being heard internationally. For my latest album, I went to a
different recording studio (Trebla Studios in Melbourne, Fl) and worked with an engineer who

understood my “sound” and what I wanted to do with this album. The songs on Help Wanted, like
all my originals, are a mixture of soul, rock, and blues.

ND: What is the music scene / blues scene like where you are in Florida?

GR: I live in Brevard County Florida and, in this area, there is not much of a blues scene or original

music scene at all. Sadly, most of the gigs available are at restaurants and bars where cover bands
rule. There is a much stronger music scene for blues and original artists in Northern and West Coast
Florida. I hope, after this pandemic is behind us, that I can travel to those areas and perform.

ND: And what is your opinion of the music business?

GR: As with any business, making money is key. In the music

“business”, the musician becomes the marketable product. When
the musician is independent, providing they can afford to self-
release their music, and control their path, I think they are in a
much better position. Under some recording deals/contracts and
management agencies, you are at their mercy as far as what
image they want, what music they want you to release,

what “box” they want you to fit into. I love that artists can
now gain success independent of the “business”.

ND: What plans do you have for the future?

GR: I am going to be heading back into the studio

very soon to start recording my fourth album.
Ultimately, I would love to be able to perform at
festivals and music venues where the music is the
focus. Perhaps a small tour outside of the United States.
That is my vision. I have only just begun.

ND: Anything else you want to say?

GR: I really want to encourage people to go after their passion and their dreams, no matter what
others may say. The title song from my first album, Fly On is all about that. My own story will
hopefully inspire others. I spent many years fronting cover rock and roll bands. I made a good living
from it. I was rarely out of work, and I did not aspire to anything beyond that musically. I took a
brief hiatus from music, performing part time versus full time while attending college and getting a

degree in nursing. After that I combined a life as an ICU and Emergency Department nurse with
music for many years. About 7 years ago, feeling very frustrated with trying to start and hold
together my own band, I decided to take some guitar lessons so that I could perform independently
of others. I started getting solo work locally about 3 years after starting lessons. I wrote my first
song four years ago and have three album releases with a fourth starting up shortly. The takeaway
is that there is no expiration date on when you can go after your dream. Fly On!

Norman Darwen

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