The Holiday Cafe: January 2020

I can't tell you how much I love seeing stories where sports figures go back to their hometown and do some good. Last month, two specific athletes stories grabbed my attention. One New England Patriot (I know) went back to his hometown and paid off all the unpaid lunch debt for the students and another, a Pittsburgh Steeler, paid off 60 layaway's.

I know there are others, and not all are football players, these are just the two most recent examples that I happened to remember.

It shows a good example to the kids out there... despite some athletes saying they aren't role models and should not be treated as such, kids still hold them in that light.

We need more people out there willing to lend a hand and pitch in when they can. We need less that act like the recently let go Kameron Kelly . That diva (is it still diva if they are male athletes?) behavior is a thing of the past. You are replaceable and when you act a fool and get yourself arrested you will be out of a job.

Last month my sons school had an angel tree for in-need families. I was able to get a gift for someone that needed it. All-in-all 32 families received gifts. It warms my heart that the school was able to help that many families.

Photo Credit: Nicky Angelo Photography

As we close on the year 2019, I chose to do this month’s feature on Derek Woods, a multi-talented and diverse musical entrepreneur.

The more I got to know Derek over this past year I was lucky enough to see how on point he is. From the performance side of things to the business side of things he is a true class act with the upmost professionalism.

Not only is he noticed for his well-crafted original music, but he is also noticed for his signature look.

As you read thru the interview below, you’ll learn more about Derek’s background and the exciting year he had!

One of the things that is not mentioned in the interview is how the Derek Woods Band had the opportunity to perform at Yasgur Farm, the original site of Woodstock, for the 50th anniversary.

When did you realize you wanted to be a musician?

As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a musician. I never had a Plan B safety net.

Where did your love of music stem from?

Listening to music and creating music had always been a mutual bond & important form of expression in my family. I was exposed to some of my greatest influences in music at a very young age and that love only grew.

You have a new album out called “The Question”. Can you tell our readers when “The Question” was released? where one can get the album? What the album is about? Is there a theme?

“The Question” album was officially released on the 4th of July 2019 and is available in physical hard copy or digitally worldwide on Spotify, Amazon, etc.
I believe this release displays growth and maturity in the band’s sound, as well as songwriting technique. This album also displays that concept in the theme. It has a lot of symbolism in the song selection as well as the photography.

For example, in the album’s photography: we are in suits, there are flowers on the front cover, most of our past albums had a darker color scheme but this one is bright with a white background and vibrant additional contributing colors.
With the album’s song selection: the title track “The Question” is about a man proposing to the love of his life during an apocalypse and no matter the negative of what’s happening around them and her thoughts that this could really be the end, he keeps after her with hopefulness of a positive future if he just asks... the question.

Many of the songs on the album revolve in some way around the thought of taking the steps through to the other side of the storm, reaching new grounds of hopefulness & togetherness & maturity.
In the big picture, I have often compared being in a band to being in a marriage, you are in a relationship bonded by the mutual love of music. Although, you invest a lot of time & effort working together to better the unit, it’s inevitable that longer that you are together there will be times of ups & downs that can feel like a roller coaster. Longevity of the unit takes patience and working together to push positively through the ups & downs.

There are a lot of reasons why I wanted to do this interview with you, but one of the main reasons is I find it very impressive on how you are able to handle the multiple bands that you are in. Not everyone can do that. Some musicians cannot even handle keeping one band together let alone several. Can you tell me your thoughts on handling several bands such as the positives, negatives, and advice you would like to give?

All the groups that I perform in use my last name in a different way, Woods.
To simplify the idea of being in multiple groups: I see it as my last name is a “tree”... my songs are the leaves. The different bands are branches of the tree. Or another way to look at it is: that my last name is a company, the songs are the products of the company and the different departments of the company are the bands. I don’t see “all the bands” that I’m in as conflicting projects, I am always looking for new ways to get my musical expression universally heard in different outlets.

I do some of my original songs in multiple reinvented formats throughout the different bands as well, it keeps it fresh and exciting for both myself & the fans.

Aside from the multiple bands that I perform with, I also run an Artist Management & graphic design company called Into The Woods Management. I am the co-founder of an annual music festival called JamBrewzle. And I help with booking for multiple concert series & venues.

Bands that you are in:

Solo & acoustic lineups
Derek Woods Band
Woods Rising
The Woods Family Band

Can you tell our readers about each of these bands?

Derek Woods Band has been a group for 7 years now and is an Americana/Rock band, which also has tasteful hints of Jam for live performance. DWB showcases original music with 4 album releases to date. We have performed in venues, stadiums & music festivals both on the East Coast & West Coast and have directly supported many legendary artists such as Leon Russell, Jefferson Starship, Lisa Marie Presley, Cheech & Chong.

The Woods Family Band is a family band with my father Tim Woods, with a great solid electric band backing us. It hits on the genres of Blues/Rock/Roots showcasing both my father’s music & my music.

Woods Rising is an Acoustic Folk/Rock outfit with my wife Sara that showcases my originals, traditional songs and reimaginations of select more modern songs.

I have seen you play at some awesome events this year, and I know you have some great opportunities happening for you this upcoming year! Can you discuss some of things that you are looking forward to?

I am looking forward to continuing to record & release more new music into the future. Branching to new areas in which I haven’t performed yet and meeting new fans.

I noticed that you have an endorsement deal with InTune Guitar Picks can you tell us more about Intune Guitar Picks.

InTune Guitar Picks is the latest company that I am endorsed by as an artist. It’s an honor to be amongst the top-notch talents that they have on their roster and to now have a customized signature guitar pick. It’s also a great feeling to never be searching couch cushions for an extra guitar pick anymore: I am stocked, stoked & ready to perform.

For more information on Derek Woods please check out www.derekwoodsband.com as well as the following pages on social media:

Into the Woods Management & Design

The Woods Family Band

Woods Rising

Derek Woods Band

Natalie is the author of The Many Colors of Natalie, a book of poetry. She holds an associates degree in Specialized Technology Le Cornon Bleu Pastry Arts and in her spare time is an artist and percussionist.

The Holiday Cafe

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Letter from the Editor

Summer Vacation

Musings for Moms - Role Models

Derek Woods