Notebook.

Clayton, New Jersey birthed the almighty wordsmith "Notebook", an independent Soft Rock virtuoso. With a number of self-produced albums under his studded-belt, he is surely a force to be reckoned with.
"I don't get the problem with doing what I want to do just because I want to. Everybody needs a reason when there isn't one...for some reason."

Though his style is eclectic, his sound is contemporary, which promises mainstream marketability without public hesitation. With a highly influential online presence, Notebook continues to perform rogue gigs and release new creations for all his fans to feast their ears on.
"As one experiences each of life's challenges, his/her faith should expand to the point of knowing that all is happening as it should."
Can he sell millions of original records? Yes. Will the world respond to his metamorphosis like those who have followed his progress thus far? Stay tuned. - CHENTCO

Exclusive Interview

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
I’m from a really, really, small town in South Jersey called Clayton. There’s not much of a music scene, but more-so a lot of people who just enjoy kicking tunes out as a hobby. But I’ve managed to take that as an opportunity/advantage to peak my head out from the crowd, you know? With that said, it took a lot of inner-growth, consistently refining my craft (constantly writing, recording, stepping into the performance world a bit more, etc), and overall having fun with everything while maintaining focus.

Tell us more about the current song you are promoting to everyone.
The most recent song that I put out from my upcoming album dropping in the second week of April, skylines | nightvibes, is a track called 1963. The goal of it was to really try to pull the listeners into the vibe of a few psychedelic experiences that I’ve went through. I wanted to paint an image in the minds of whoever’s listening, hopefully inducing the actual feeling of what I was witnessing but on a smaller scale. Going into it, I had this crazy Woodstock 1969 in 2013 picture in my head and wanted to detail it in the best way that I could (ha ha).

Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
One of the hardest challenges I’ve faced thus far is trying to get more and more people to pay attention to what my whole “thing” is about, man. Most indie/underground heads have this “screw the mainstream, I’m going to consciously try my hardest to differentiate myself from these guys to the point that I sound like every other ‘music rebel” attitude (ha ha).

But, while my material is very left-field, I approach it way differently. I want to build bridges from where I am into the strangest places that I possibly can reach into; just because I’m a very experimental artist. So, the toughest thing is definitely trying to get people to break out of their shells and dive into this new space that my music is in. That’s changing rapidly, though.

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
If I had to be completely honest, I don’t think that I’ve had any true setbacks. There’s been times where I’ve tried out different sounds that made people who identify with “real hip-hop” so closely feel uncomfortable and stop listening to me, (ha ha). But, that’s just how it goes sometimes. Some people will evolve with you, some don’t.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?
Artists should be careful of the thoughts they’re thinking, beliefs they hold, and expectations really. I feel that it’s extremely important to be positive and think good things, so that the path between where you are and where you want to be shortens heavily. From what I’ve come to experience in life first-hand and learn from close friends, myself, and other knowledgeable people, there’s nothing more trapping/crippling than a negative belief system. So, it’s good for an artist to keep a close eye on what they have circulating throughout their minds.

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
For other artists like myself, I’d suggest to never compare yourself to anyone appearing to be more popular or much wealthier than you. It doesn’t really mean anything. It’s more about being happy on your path and enjoying the special little details that unveil to you along the way. And if you just so happen to aspire to have a life like those guys “bigger” than you, it’s not impossible. It’s better to perceive them as a symbol of what you’re moving towards or becoming rather than something to hate on.

What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
I’m a huge internet geek, so I’m pretty much on every social network promoting my stuff. But, I love performing for people. It’s the best way to really get music-lovers interested and take you seriously as well. Along with that, it’s just an amazing feeling to be on stage in front of crowds; so, you’re killing two birds with one stone.

Where can people visit you?
You guys can come find me at the links below!
Homepage: http://www.notebooklives.com
Bandcamp: http://www.notebooklives.bandcamp.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NotebookLives
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/NotebookTracks - WWS Mag