Jeramie McCloud: Shadow Kill Clan

This is a special piece on a long time student, Jeramie McCloud. He is in a band called Shadow Kill Clan. I like to promote as much student doings as possible. Jeramie is a very promising student and musician. He was a "Student Spotlight" of mine back in October 2010. He has been very busy since then. His band is a hard rock/metal band that is a take on classic, modern and industrial type metal. He and his band mate, Matt Green have been working on the new Shadow Kill Clan cd. I sat down with Jeramie and talked S.K.C. and music.

John Berret: How long has Shadow Kill Clan been together?

Jeramie McCloud? About 9 years or so.

JB:Who all is in the band?

JM: Myself and Matt Green.

JB: Why and how did you two get together?

JM: I enjoy music and growing up and high school and being an angry kid music was my outlet. The band started with many members at first. Matt originally came in as a replacement player. Matt was in the band a year and we never spoke. Never talked at all. We would come to jam and the most we ever said was "hi." After a year we started talking music and just got closer over time. We both figured out we paid for everything and did all the work so we might as well just do it our selves. Now we live apart, he lives in Washington D.C., and we just do all the songwriting and recording online.

JB: How is the new cd different than the 1st cd?

JM: Matt is more involved now. He plays keyboards and dj's so there is alot more keyboards and synths. The songs are more epic, with a more electronic/industrial feel.

JB: What's your goals with the new cd?

JM: To get people who aren't into our style of music listening. Break down more walls and get people into more metal.

JB: Will there be a new cd in the works once this one is done?

JM: We have 40 plus songs wrote and 1/2 are completed. We will have another one for sure.

JB: Any advice for any students looking to release a cd someday?

JM: Have as few people involved as possible. Get yourself involved in the recording process. Don't limit yourself to just one style of music. And also get your self involved in as much of everything else involved with your music as you can. Strive to be as independent as you can.

Here is a link to their website http://www.shadowkillclan.com/

Here is a link to their new song...it is killer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ft0DXBZcxU

Student Spotlight: Jeramie McCloud

This months student spotlight is on a 25 year old self professed "army brat" Jeramie McCloud. Jeramie has been playing guitar seriously for 11 years now. He has been taking lessons from me since February 2010. He is an accomplished metal player. He is part of a band from Texas called "Shadow Kill Clan." The band has released a full length cd and it is brutally terrific! I will send you links at the end to check it out. Some of his influences are Slayer, Korn, Slipknot, Pink Floyd, Micheal Jackson and Sade. Being a military brat he has lived all over the country. His dream guitar would be a custom 7 string Gibson Les Paul with Seymour Duncan Blackout pick ups. I asked Jeramie with all the places you have played what places would you like to play? He told me he would love to play in Antarctica because its a cold desolate place, Japan because that's a stop for every one that's a metal great or even space!!!! If he could play guitar for anyone that's ever been around in history it would be Micheal Jackson. He is a self professed Micheal Jackson freak! If he could tour the world with any band it would be Prodigy. Jeramie got into playing guitar because his grand dad played. He wanted to play metal because there are not too many black people represented in metal. Another thing that got him into playing was seeing Hall and Oats on a TV Christmas special playing Jingle Bells and the white stratocaster being played mesmerized him. The Van Halen video "Hot For Teacher" was also a turning point. Seeing the close up of guitar god Eddie Van Halen got him the guitar bug. Why did Jeramie want to come get lessons? He wanted to unlearn bad habits and be more than just a "metal" guy. He just wanted to get better and be able to convey more emotion in his music.The things Jeramie have gotten the most out of lessons? He has had alot of his questions answered and it is just plain exciting to come. The most embarrassing thing on his ipod? Britney Spears and other bubble gum pop!! Jeramie is an accomplished metal player with the desire to expand his musical horizons. I am pleased to be his teacher. Shadow Kill Clan is a great band. I enjoy it .If you like metal you will too. He is an easy going guy with awesome musical aspirations and hopes to be part of our countries armed forces. So here is to you Jeramie....Keep Rockin.....Keep Playing.......and Keep Having Fun!!!!!!!

to check out Shadow Kill Clan go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdC6isMCKuA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R749RMwdzQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58qUXwvmqv4

http://www.youtube.com/shadowkillclan.com


http://www.myspace.com/shadowkillclan