Interview: Dustybonez (Written)

Midwest rock/Southern rock artist Dustybonez recently released his new single, ‘Back To Start’. We spoke to him and learned a little bit more about who he is and what he does.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

Growing up with a single mom with 7 kids on welfare, life wasn’t easy. I got involved in drugs and alcohol at an early age. Being a 3rd generation musician, grabbing a guitar at 13 seemed right. Forming a band with my brothers and cousin called The Starving Artists or TSA. The nights got longer and the partying got worse. Having gotten married and having a baby girl, things needed to change.

My wife and I decided to quit drinking and partying to give our daughter a better life which led us back to the church I grew up in. Within a few years, I became the pastor of the church I grew up in. I reformed TSA as The Savior’s Army and set out to bring hope to the hopeless through Jesus Christ. After over a decade of relentless performing and ministering, I now set out on my own as dustybonez to bring a message of hope in a sometimes hopeless world. Singing songs of redemption, healing and rising up out of depression, addiction and despair. Dealing with the toughness of life and learning to stand through it all.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

Well, I have been called Midwest rock, Southern rock and Americana amongst others.

3. What’s currently going on in your camp? New releases? Tours? Etc.

I have 3 new singles that I recorded at Castle Studios in Nashville will producer, Kene “Ghost” Bell. The first of which, “Back To Start” was released Oct. 18th. I am currently trying to but a band together for next year. I will be traveling to Pennsylvania next week to be a part of Hugs wrgg’s awards ceremony at which I am nominated for best new male artist and best record.

4. What has been the most positive experience of making music to date for you?

Meeting new people all the time and hearing their stories and hearing that something in my music helped them in some way.

5. Likewise, what has been some of the more challenging aspects and how have you overcome them?

The most challenging is getting heard and finding your audience. In today’s music it takes a lot of time and money to promote online…I don’t have much of either lol…but I just keep grinding in hopes that something will click.

6. How do you handle the modern expectations of being in a band? Always online, having to put out content constantly, your success measured in likes and follows?

All I can do is keep recording and attempt to promote the best I can.

7. What’s something that really ‘grinds your gears’ about the industry/business these days and what would you propose is done to combat it?

It would have to be the streaming aspect and how these companies make so much money and the artist barely makes any. Not to mention it has taken that intimate relationship away between artist and fan…where you used to go buy a physical album…take in the artwork, the lyrics, the album as a whole piece of work…where now, it’s just another track.

8. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support your music?

The biggest is just listen. Take it in. Then of course, follow, subscribe, add to playlists, share…all that stuff.

9. Outside of the music, what’s do you do to relax?

I collect toys, I love movies, I love to hike with my wife and just love spending time with my family.

10. Where can people find you?

I am on all the major platforms under dustybonez or on dustybonez.com.