Previously...

Music moves people. If not our bodies literally, It stimulates our minds bringing us the most pleasure out of the music we hear. Especially in Second Life since dancing in our chair seems less embarassing then actually getting up to mimic our avie's dance moves while knocking down all sorts of trinkets piled up on our computer desk or tripping over things in our way.

 Here in Second Life, we are bombarded by countless musicians at any given hour performing across the grid. Each with their own twist on things but after a while everything seems to sound the same. Choosing a Genre Is like tasting a variety of wine, there's always ones that will stands out with it's unique flavor.

 OneHempCat Oldrich is in a catagory of his own. He doesn't sing covers. Not that there's any crime against doing so, In fact he doesnt sing at all and that's ok because what he delivers at each of his performances is far more then words placed to a melody.

His music speaks for itself. it gathers up emotions in fans by sparking up their own nostalgic thoughts. Hemp greets his fans by name and always shows love to The SL Enquirer when we are in the house. That is One Side of Hemp.

  The Other Side is Mike Majesty from New Jersey,USA. Who has been playing guitar for over 20 years and creating his own orginals since 1990 til now at his home studio. With over 100 people in his group and over 200 live concerts under his belt, He is one of the seasoned musicians here in Second Life.

  Since meeting Hemp way back when he was pretty much a NOOB. I'd have to say, he's still the same person, different skins and name due to the obvious. I've had the pleasure of chillin with this rockstar on a few occasions, most recently with the equally pleasant company McMuffin Short.

During our last conversation, we shared many topics..like that beached Montauk monster that got Long Island's bloomers in a bunch ..... those legendary Bat People hiding in the mountains....bungee jumping from bridges ......who got the best guitars in SL.....SLife in general....Drama of all kinds....Giant Dragons...The Jersey Devil...and ok yall get the point.

 We just rambled on and did a whole lot of talkin about random stuff and it was a really cool. It's nice to meet peeps who believe in the boogieman like I do and this is why he's in my interview seat.

 Lanai Jarrico: Hi Hemp! Thank you for taking some time out of your busy Rockstar schedule to sit in the hot seat for some questions and stuff. Are you ready?

 Onehempcat Oldrich: Sure am Lanai!

 

 Lanai Jarrico: I'm always curious to know.... What brought you into Second Life and how long have you been a Shameless Addict? It's ok to admit it, that's the first step and you are not alone....

  Onehempcat Oldrich: I started SL when a friend of mine, who barely played SL, told me their was live music concerts. Commonly people say, A GAME? I did, until I reached the first live concert, and I said, WOW, this is not a game at all. This is real. That person (who played the first show) Just played his heart and soul out to all of us, from many different countries. So after that, it became my mission to figure out how to stream. How to bring my music to the world, which was not possible till I found SL. So, being sidetracked by hair, and clothing, and Muffin, and shows, and a house and land, and other artists, it took me 3 months to finnally get my feet wet.

 Lanai Jarrico: I agree this place is def not a game. You can get sucked in with all the clothes and whatnot and of course all the awesome peeps we meet from around the world like you both.

Lanai Jarrico: SO Tell me Hemp How has your experience here Impacted your First Life or have you always been involved in Music?

Onehempcat Oldrich: I started playing guitar at 9. SO I always been in music. Before that, my older brothers used to play with friends in bands, and try to keep me out of their reheasal spaces but I tried and tried again to get in and play an instrument. I have played in many bands and have seen all the fools miss practice cause of a girl, or cause they spent their gas money on drugs. THIS, here in SL, is a brand new frontier. Pushing the boundry of what a musician can share with the WORLD, from his/her bedroom.

 As for how did this effect my RL? HA HA HA, now I think or believe RL is a game, and SL is serious business. SO yeah, I go out in the dark only, and only a few times a week. And is fine with me. People suck out there ;) Here, they are always willing to say hi with a smile, I enjoy that, cause that is me in RL.

 

 Lanai Jarrico: Well I can say I'm an anti social hermit in rl myself so rock on! I enjoy going to your concerts and whenever I can try to sneak in for a few I'm there all swoonin up in the front and stuff.

*Stops the Tape*

It's no secret that we are just scratching the surface to the Virtual Music Revolution and those of us on the forefront are in for a great ride as we see more amazing peeps discovery their talents here in Second Life. Not just in Music, but in Art...Fashion...Machinima and even a newfound self discovery.

Back to the Interview.

 

 Lanai Jarrico: What was your first experience like here? Do rockstars get all nervous too?

 Onehempcat Oldrich: It is like getting a tatoo, the big guys say it didn't hurt. It's a lie, multiple needles goin in and out of your skin real fast hurts. You can't get a artist to admit to fear or nervousness here in SL. Although, sometimes you can HEAR it in their voice. My first shows, were a mess rolled up in a ball of stuttering and bad playing with some pretty music I had pre recorded to play live over. And some how, those first people there that day, are still in my group. Go figure. Is that camera on? **makes funny faces, while waiting for next questions**

 

Lanai Jarrico:Yesss The camera is still on and recording lol....

So....You are Affiliated with MUSIC NOT POLITICS, Which is an awesome group of very talented Musicians and of course management , How did that come about?

Onehempcat Oldrich: I met Throughthesewalls Moody, MUSIC NOt POLITICS president at a Mikelec concert in the then famous French Quarter sim.

 I loved Mikelec to death, so we followed him around on his grid wide tour for weeks. Moody was always in the crowd, willing to help any NOOB to hear the music, and even helped me in a few ways also. So little by little I started to tell her I played music too, and actually came here for it. She did not really reply much at that point except for "when you are ready, come talk to me"

  Weeks later, I made great friends with Mikelec, who at that point, wanted to make a live show in SL, with drummer and keyboardist. SO I took on the role of drummer, and actually made some lindens off it. By the time I had my first song ready to be heard. Moody had already committed to signing me to her label. She would say things to crowds at the shows, that I was her artist too BUT never heard me play a note yet. It was SLove for music, that made us see eye to eye. The rest is SListory.

Lanai Jarrico: Yes Ms. Moody is cool peeps and so's everyone I met so far thru MNP. What's awesome about Second Life Music is you get to have 100% interaction with fans and try new things like collaborations with other SL Artists here. Last year You and KevinMThomas Carpool started a Collaboration which I think Just rocks. What was that like to put together since you are in different states?

 Onehempcat Oldrich: Yeah, Kevin is a rare gem. I give him music, and no matter what it is, he makes words to it, and in my personal opionion, he does it just friggin awesome. I love what he did with his own music, before we even met. I seen him a few times,and just loved the awesome voice he had.

One day, I was at TRAX Resource Music center, with Bones Writer, Tangle Gianno, and Moody, and Kev came to see his brand new flashy Musicians board Moody just got him. We got to talking and he made it a point to head back sometime to hear my tunes.

WELL, a few days later, he IM'ed me and said GET OVER HERE. I ran to TRAX, thinking something was wrong, and he made me put voice on, and started screaming, THIS ROCKS, THIS IS YOU, you play heavy metal too? I answered yes of course to all these questions. WELL, he said he wanted to sing to it. I emailed him a file, thinking, oh boy, Kev is goin to have a hard time writing to that. He sings acoustic tunes and stuff. Little did I know, he had been playing in many bands of different genres for many years.

About 12 minutes later, he came back to me with what the fans know as PZ Now, our first tune.

 McMuffin Short: He's not exaggerating when he says 12 minutes later, he finished the song.

Lanai Jarrico:Yup Yup Kevin Rocks too, maybe I should get him in the Hot seat next.

( Heads up kev :P )

 Lanai Jarrico: Do you have any new projects coming out with him or anybody else?

Onehempcat Oldrich: Other projects? HMMMMM, well it is not for lack of me wanting to play with others. I have requested to perform with many artists, and so have a few of me. But as with anything, sometimes fate and the moon need to align perfectly over our careers, and make it happen. Unfortunetly, My hempcat solo stuff and MMFKMT keep me so busy, I have yet to spread myself further. But stay on the lookout after the summer is over!

Lanai: ooooo def something to look out for! So where can Fans sample, Purchase your Music and Book you for their events & venues?

 Onehempcat Oldrich: It is amazing, my tunes can be bought many places, LMAO. Even if you look in the right spots, you can get a lot free! But I have 2 boths at Trax Resource Music Center in SL. Both booths have 3 sample songs, and the cd's for sale. One is for Hempcat solo, and the other for the MMFKMT project.

You can also contact my manager Throughthesewalls Moody to book me or Kevin.

I can take on some booking duties to just stay up frontt with the venues, but Moody handles the schedules, calendars and stuff. Also you can visit music.onehempcat.com or

 ITunes (search Mike Majesty)

 

Lanai Jarrico:Enough about your Music... It's Time to dig a little deeper.

Soooo Hemp....Inquiring Minds wanna know whatchu be upto behind the scenes when your not on stage. Do you get into the whole role play scene here?

  Onehempcat Oldrich: ROLE PLAY? Whats that? Where you act to be something you ain't? Ummm, I am still waiting for someone to show me how/where/why to do that. SO no RP for me, although to each his own, and if thats your thing, have fun at it. SL is for fun ONLY, and I love how there are so many things for EVERYONE. But I am all real here. I keep busy with a few select friends I have made. I LOVE to see artist as much as I can. And I have recently started to build stuff in SL. Scripts, and other fine trinkets. Otherwise, I just have a chicken farm that I tend to in my spare time as well. LMAO You read right, a chicken farm.

Lanai Jarrico: A Chicken Farm? Now I've heard it all lol.

Lanai Jarrico: No Rockstar Interview is complete without this question so, for the groupies' sake...Do ya got a Girl?

Onehempcat Oldrich: YUP, I am entirely happy with my closest friend McMuffin Short.

 

 Lanai Jarrico: all of a suddent the spotlight turned into a heat lamp?

 McMuffin Short: Hahaha

Lanai Jarrico: With Drama making The Virtual World Go around, Have you ever been subjected to soap opera scenes? If so spill the beans but please know we aren't responsible for the hate mail you will recieved due to exposing any clowns...

 Onehempcat Oldrich: I try to stay free of drama, I have a rule, when drama starts, I mute ya ass.

*Stops the tape to ramble*

About the drama.. I been here long enough to write a book on a lot of the drama that goes down in SL and I gotta say Hemp is a Smart Avie and aint affriad to cut an avie off...ya hear that Drama Kings and Queenz..the man aint playin.

*presses record*

Lanai Jarrico:Recently there have been concerns about where Music is Going in Second Life, do you wish to add your observation? Where do you see things going in the next couple years?

 

Onehempcat Oldrich: The future of SL original music is a huge market for many up and coming establishments. I do firmly believe, MNP is going to be a full management and recording company in the near future. Moody has many things planned and I think it will launch eventually. Anyone who ain't part of the original indie genre, may not have the same success.

 

Lanai Jarrico: it's going to be very interesting to see what MNP has in store for us.

So, What do you think about the Censorship in Second Life in regards to those teeny bopper child avies, age varification and the forced shut downs of many of the adult shops scattered about? Will it affect you in any way?

 Onehempcat Oldrich: Yeah, I hope not. I do get keeping anyone under 18 or maybe 16 from us cursing sex crazed fanatics. Let me put it this way, if it were my 12 year old, he would not be sitting playing SL for more than 5 minutes before I seen it and delete the computer from his childhood. I do believe it will and can have some outcome on how people view many things. SL is not for children, in my opinion. NOW, will that hurt me?

Sure it will, we will see less people at shows, less people will be able to go to shops and other events. But, it may be what is right, when you see some of the stuff that is said or done at any random event. But I think Linden Labs will do a great job of keeping it "safe for kids" and acceptable for adults. Me myself, I have used a child avie, and it was great fun. So I am not speaking of the avatar as much as the person sitting behind the computer.

Lanai Jarrico: Well said Hemp. Now for the rumors... Let's settle them once and for all shall we?

"OneHempCat once tried to sell a piece of toast on Ebay that resembled Elvis"

Onehempcat Oldrich: Yup, and it sold to an SL'er who ate it.

"OneHempCat was caught on more then one occasion with his Xcite Equiptment undiscreetly displayed outside of his pants while performing on stage"

 Onehempcat Oldrich: NOOOOOO! but I have had that nightmare in RL once or twice. It quickly turned into a fantasy though, so I knew it wasn't real.

 McMuffin Short makes sure I tuck it away after use.

"OneHempcat is one of the more spoiled Rockstars who is livin it up and lovin Slife, dispite being forced to take public transportation for a couple weeks.

 

  Onehempcat Oldrich: Hell yeah, if I ain't spoiled, Moody ain't got her reps doing their jobs!!!!!!! And I wear gloves and mask on public transportation.

Lanai Jarrico: Now with all those rumors out the way is there anything you would like to get off your chest or share with our readers?

Onehempcat Oldrich: Yes, thank you for reading this, and the support I have gotten in SL. I would be playing my music to myself without you, and we all know, that is like clapping with one hand, or jumping with just 1 leg. Not as much fun. LOVE YA ALL!

Lanai Jarrico: LMAO! As Always, its a pleasure to chat it up with you. Thank you so much for taking the time to chill and give the readers a peek into your SLife, you Rock!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

OneHempCat will be Performing at The SLE Concert Grounds On Thursday June 4 @ 7 pm SLT. Come Early and reserve your spot in the shameless Groupie Section!