Tim Korry
The Fresh Coast's Favorite Son

Tim Korry is taking the Fresh Coast by storm. His enchanting music and thought- provoking lyrics are proving to audiences that Tim is a songwriter and entertainer who is shooting to new heights in the independent music realm.

Tim has always thought of himself as an “old soul” just trying to get his feelings out to the world through his music. He describes himself as “somewhere between heart and soul and glam- rock, somewhere between pot roast and caviar.”

Tim’s stage presence incorporates “a bit of the flamboyant.” On any given night, you may see him in a frilly poet shirt and one of his prized hats, complete with plenty of jewelry and lots of dark ‘guy- liner’. His look can be plenty edgy too when he’s in that mode. Tim thinks it is important for a rock band to look different than most people out in their audience, so he shies away from the typical tee shirt and jeans look on stage. “If I could dress like that every day and get away with it—I certainly would—my style would be that of electric vampire psychedelic warrior,” he says with a grin.

Tim Korry began playing drums and percussion at a young age when he lived in Miami. He soon found that guitar was his real love and has been perfecting his guitar- playing, songwriting and vocal style ever since. Some of Tim’s greatest musical influences include rock bands The Beatles, U2, Stereophonics and Coldplay; along with classic Blues greats B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Tim views his music as “feet in the dirt, head in the sky”… which means it is grounded but eclectic, and leaves the listener wanting to hear more. “It’s about knowing where you’re at and knowing who you are, and always wanting more and always wanting to learn more, and trying to put that out there in the music. The listener is going to hear loud rock and roll, electronic, and a little hint of World Music with some loops thrown in. Every song is a work- in- progress. Depending on who is playing with me and the mood at the moment, it can always be different and that’s what makes it interesting… and raw… and sonic.” Tim is adamant to ask why people listen to things that are force- fed to them on T.V. or the radio. “Why not choose for yourself on what you want to listen to and what you think is good instead of saying, ‘Oh my God… I saw that on American Idol’?”

Tim has played and collaborated with numerous rock bands over the years. He is definitely a crowd- pleaser— fronting animated and intense guitar and vocal performances… and always giving it his all. He draws the audience in with his voice and is, not to mention, extremely easy on the eyes. Tim’s ultimate goal is to bring joy into the world through his music. “It’s really hard sometimes to bring something really good and creative and positive into the world instead of following a formula that everybody knows is just going to sell tee shirts. It’s much more of a challenge to bring something creative and different to the table.” His five year plan is to have his music reach people all over the world. “I just want the music to get out there somehow and everyone to listen to it. It would be great to get my music into movies or T.V too—just more exposure for the music. I want to reach people and have them listen to it and if they dig it—all the better.”

When you see the Tim Korry rock band in concert, you will experience a band comprised of solid and diverse musicians. “Any cats I play out with are going to be solid—they’re solid on music, they’re solid on God—even though we may all be different colors and think differently, we all come together in this one thing and that’s what makes it beautiful and real.” Tim would like each concert to be a culmination of pleasing sensory stimuli, including a large screen with projected creative images and footage, incense and belly dancers. He also envisions occasional guest musicians with a flare for unique instruments.

Currently, Tim is tweaking his self- recorded EP “Between the Sun and the Moon” with some production and post- production taking place at the Fresh Coast’s own TAYLOR Studios in Milwaukee. The EP should be released and available for purchase by end of July. Next will be work on a music video and then on to bigger things. Tim says he is constantly writing new songs and will need to begin recording those as well. He is relentless in his musical endeavors… and it shows in his product. It won’t be long before he has swept through the Fresh Coast on his way to the East and West coasts. For more information about Tim and his music, please visit www.timkorry.com.

An Interview with Milwaukee's
Guitarist - Vocalist - Songwriter
TIM KORRY

“Hey Tim, it’s a pleasure to meet you …”
“You too … thanks!”

“It’s beautiful outside today, are you ready for the summer here in Milwaukee?”
“Yeah, I think I’m ready for the summer, I’ve had enough of winter … this is my favorite time of year, being a Florida boy.”

“Oh, so you’re not originally from Milwaukee?”
“No … from Florida, I’ve lived in Wisconsin a few times so I know what’s it’s like. I’m a little bit a traveler, I’ve lived in Ohio, the Midwest, and all that jazz, but I do like Florida quite a bit.”

“What brought you here to Milwaukee to pursue Rock music?”
“Well for start, my dad’s job brought us here after I graduated from High School, down in Cooper City, Florida. We moved here because my dad is a pastor, who came here on an internship to become a Chaplain. Soon enough, I co-founded a local rock band, began developing myself as a musician, and have been here ever since.”

“The word in the music industry is that you are the next upcoming artist in Milwaukee, Chicago, and throughout the Midwest … how do you feel about that?”
“Umm, I feel pretty good about that (humbly said) … but getting attention is the hardest thing to do as far as the music scene goes. It’s not hard to write it, and it’s not hard to play it, and it’s not hard to live it, but it’s hard for other people to be exposed to it. As much as a place says they support local music and local rock bands, it’s not necessarily true. It’s very hard for a lot of good bands to have a voice and be heard.”

“Let’s back track a little bit. What gave you the idea one day to wake up and say you wanted to be a musician and a songwriter?”
(he laughs)
“Well, it started out with the Beatles actually, when I was about eight I used to play along with my dad’s 45 records to “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” on some pots near the record player, and a few years later, my parents must of seen me kind of moving towards that or something. So one day, I was sitting down with my dad watching Solid Gold, and he said “Why don’t you become a rock star?”, and I was just floored … “really? Ok”. So a few years later I went the normal route with the Elementary School band and High School band thing and I was a drummer. It just sorted out that I played the guitar later on, but I always remembered my dad saying “Hey, why don’t you go be a rock star”, which was the weirdest thing for a parent to say.”

“Your style of music is like a unique mix of U2, Stereophonics, and Oasis, totally raw and pure. Throughout your life, who were some key artists that influenced you to develop your sound?”
“I would say aside from the Beatles, who I still follow very closely, other influential musicians would be Jimi Hendrix, Steve Ray Vaughan, Jeff Buckley, T-Rex, David Bowie, and the whole glam scene … I like the harder edgier stuff as well too, Stone Temple Pilots … down to Thrash Metal sometimes, it depends on the day, or just break out the Mozart! Lately, I’m really, really diggin on the World Music scene. Peter Gabriel really brought that out with his Real World Studios and his WOMAD Music Festival he throws every year ... I just admire that a lot. I love various music from around the world … I think listening to it makes one a way better and more informed musician than by only listening to the radio. Just search it out, you know, music from North Africa, Ireland, China or Bollywood - it’s just way more interesting.”

“What genre or genres of music do you consider your music to fall under?”
“In general, I consider it to be Rock, but with more of a trippy-groove type feel. I would like to move into the World Music area and have other people perform with us that play more ethnic sort of instruments, move into the Dance and Electronic area, add some heavy guitar into that, and maybe some African drums or didgeridoo. Overall, I guess I would have to say Rock, or very loud singer/songwriter tripped out sort of thing.”

“On a day to day basis, what inspires you to pick up a guitar and write your own songs?”
Basically, silence … especially when I am outside, I find that I write better music when everything is quiet, and I can hear the guitar, vocals, drums and melody in my head. Being a musician and a songwriter, I think music comes from God, so I couldn’t take credit for anything I wrote. I just try to listen to whatever’s going on in there, and if I can write it down, it will all sort out later with words, lyrics, or whatever’s missing ... that’s just the way it happens. It’s nothing that I think of, it just happens.”

“You have an empowering voice when you sing. Is there a particular singer out there that influenced your vocal sound?”
“The easy one to go with would be Bono. Secondly, I would say Jim Morrison, Michael Hutchence, and Peter Gabriel.”

“What is your vision? What are you trying to accomplish with your music and songwriting?”
“Hmm, I just want to get the songs out there. The people in Milwaukee and throughout the Midwest that have heard my music seem to really like it, and I would like to get it out to the masses so they can listen to it and enjoy it as well. I try not to write songs that are a drag, which would bring people down, I try to write song lyrics that make people feel good. You know music is powerful, you can get any type of emotion out of people if you want to, so why bring them down … I just want my music to be heard and make a decent living, it’s better than the day job, but most importantly it’s about having people hear us as Rock musicians, dig what we do, and make people feel good.”

“Your look is edgy, yet collective. How would you describe yourself?”
(he laughs)
“Well I have two different sides, well maybe’s there more than two … there’s definitely a dark vampire side to me – see we have a full moon that’s coming up this week and that’s really disturbing – there’s sort of a dark sort of witchy side, and there’s the other side too, the Christian guy side… it depends what day or what hour. As far as dressing goes, I prefer to dress kind of flamboyant if I have a chance, if I could all the time, oh yeah - it’d be out there, but you have to keep things kind of calmed down usually, so I do the kind of preppy look with earrings, tattoos, and eye makeup (he laughs).

“I heard you’re a one man band. Is that true?”
“Yes, for quite some time, but I’m primarily a guitarist and a vocalist. On the first record Music from Earth, I was a one man Rock band … I played the bass, keyboard, guitar and drum kit. Now I’ve got to a level where I have some real serious cats from Chicago that’ll play out with me who have serious world tours under their belts, and they’re a real blessing, they’re really cool. The way the songs are initially recorded is I just play everything myself and present it to whoever’s playing live. We take the basic structure, and groove out new directions.”

“Often times, I see the Rock Band Rinocerotic linked with your name Tim Korry. Are you still involved with the band?”
“Yeah I’m still involved. Maybe once a year, or once every few years, we’ll get together and rock out some live guitar, vocal, drum, and bass grooves. We just did kind of a ten year after-breaking-up reunion which went over pretty well here in Milwaukee. We had a good run with live performances through the 90’s I would say, and we made it pretty far playing on the Jenny Jones show, playing with BadFinger, Black Crowe’s Show, and Green Day. It was a great way to get my chops in, and figure out what to do and what not to do when I was playing at live rock venues. That was a great experience and it was fun for everybody involved. We like to relive the old days every few years and get together, whip it up, and pretend like we are seventeen again.”

“Where do you record the majority of your songs nowadays?”
“Well, there all done in the basement here in Milwaukee. I’m working on revamping the home studio thing, but right now it’s kind of bare bones in the basement. It’s just very simple recording software that I use for the most part, and that seems to be the easiest way, so if I come up with an idea for a guitar part, vocals, or have been wanting to work on something, I’ll go down there and just start playing … that’s about it.”

“Are there any projects you are currently working on here in Milwaukee at the studio?”
“I’m currently working on an EP called Between the Sun and the Moon, which I am very excited about, and also working with Taylor Studios here in Wisconsin.”

“Who’s we?”
“We is … well, mostly me I guess! (he laughs) I’m playing on the bass, guitar and drums, songwriting everything, and am the lead and main vocalist. I am getting help from a few key people such as Jeff Taylor, Liza Korry, and Stefania Beaufrand, but once again I’m playing and composing the majority of the music. As far as outside of the studio goes, I’m still writing and looking at some of the other songs that weren’t chosen for this EP because out of twenty-four songs, we’ve selected five, and now there’s about thirty-something or more, and they just keep coming. Some of them need to be re-worked, so I’m working on those previous songs and newer songs with a different direction than what’s going to be released.”

“What is the album title of your next LP to be released here in Milwaukee?”
“It’s called Between the Sun and the Moon. It’s somewhere between the dark and the light, it’s definitely got some titles on it that could be considered witchy – I’m not a witch - (we laugh) but the message is very positive … so it’s a follow up to Music from Earth, and I’m keeping it celestial on this one.”

“Is there a release date planned for the album?”
“Not right now, I think Taylor Studios and I are looking towards the end of the summer as far as a release.”

“Out of the bunch, which two songs touch you the most and why?”
“Boy … I like Light as a Feather a lot, and yeah you might may think, oh “light as a feather stiff as a board”… I guess initially that’s how that song just popped in my head one day. I had this weird idea in my head with a dub reggae bass, and a marching snare, and this trippy Jeff Buckley-ish sort of guitar. I think Light as a Feather contains a feeling of hope, realizing why you’re here, what’s really important, the fact that you’re not always going to be here, and one day you will be spirit moving up into something else … energy cannot die.

The other song Retrograde I like because it’s just kind of kooky. It starts out with this kind of break-dance beat, goes into a Ringo Starr rhythm, and then gets Beatles-y. It has a catchy little chorus. The song is about when Mercury moves into retrograde, and how it seems like everything gets so screwed up … everything, with communication and traffic, just gets slowed down. It’s that kind of a relationship-type song that seems like Mercury is in retrograde, and everything is getting all screwed up - but I can’t wait to see you when this is all over, and everything is sorted out … a sense of longing and hope. ”

“I hear that you are getting ready to shoot a major Red Cam Video at Taylor Studios here in Milwaukee. Have you decided on what song you are going to use?”
“No I haven’t decided on the song yet, but I’m very excited about this entire project. This is the biggest video undertaking that I have ever been a part of, and I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t know what to exactly expect, but I know the capabilities of this studio. I don’t know when or what song we’re going to pick at this point in time … we have to wait until we are done finalizing the EP.”

“These are some off the top of my head questions. Do you think you can hang? They’re not too crazy.”
(he laughs)
“Yes! I wasn’t sure if that was a question …”
(he laughs)

“Besides you being a songwriter, guitar player, drummer, vocalist, and musician, what type of music do you actually listen to … besides Rock?”
“Oh that’s a good one. Right now I’m listening to this guy from India called Rabbi Shergill, I like listening to a lot Lebanese Belly Dance music (he laughs), I still like U2, but I like to get my ears out there and experience other things. I dig a lot of music from Ireland, Celtic sort of songs, I like Irish Folk music, I’m listening to a lot of Glen Phillips right now and a little less Rock type stuff … it could be Mozart or Beethoven one day, or I could be listening to Demon Hunter, Skindred or something like that.”

“What is your all time favorite Rock Band?”
“Now that’s really tough!” (he laughs)

“… Or you can narrow it down to two or three favorite bands.”
“There are two that are just – well, there’s three, cuz they’re all very different. For one, Led Zeppelin is the ultimate Rock Band ever! The showmanship, and the guitar playing, and the songwriting – it still till this day cannot be touched by anyone; no matter how hard they try, or try to sound like them.

The next is the Beatles. They changed music forever and the songs can’t be touched, they are absolutely golden … the harmonies and just the way the music is arranged, everything is just phenomenal.

Then I would say another rock band that kind of changed music, especially in the recent decade is U2. They completely changed the guitar sounds for everybody that wasn’t playing heavy metal, and the way that people kind of approached the songs and all that … they just still impress the hell out of me.”

“What is your all time favorite music artist?”
“I’m a huge Neil Diamond fan! (laughing) I’ll just tell you straight off, I’ll go see Neil Diamond any day … talk about songwriting, that cat still puts on a show. So I’m gonna have to go with Neil Diamond.”

“What about a singer?”
“There are so many that I like so much, but I’m just a crazy Peter Gabriel fan. I love his voice, and how he uses it as an instrument, and how he uses it to create a particular feel. The words and lyrics don’t even have to make sense to me sometimes … he’ll just belt out something odd, and it just works perfectly with the song.”

“What about a female singer?”
“I would have to say I really dig Anne Wilson (he laughs), I mean her voice still kicks ass. Her voice is pure, and strong, and wicked. There are other female artists I like, but just right off the bat that pops into my head.”

“What about songwriter?”
“John Lennon … hands down.”

“What about guitarist?”
“Steve Ray Vaughan, not a doubt in my mind. I’m just the biggest Jimi Hendrix fan in the world, but I think Steve Ray Vaughan did what Peter Gabriel did to World music, and did it with Blues Rock. When he came out, this little white boy out of Texas, he brought out all the old guys from the 30’s and all that, who nobody had ever heard of, nobody ever gave them credit, nobody ever paid them, and he brought their names to the forefront. He’s like - listen, this is what I’m listening to, why are you not listening to them? You wanna see where I come from? – just look at it. I think that’s cool aside from him being just a really cool dude, an excellent guitar player, and like the best guitarist I can think of.”

“What about a drummer?”
“Drummer … ooouf. It’s somewhere between John Bonham and the crazy Keith Moon from The Who, because both of those guys played with such a natural feel. They just stomped on it! They weren’t going to drum clinics where they have all of this modern stuff we have. You could tell when Bonham would come up there and play with his hands on the drum set, this guy could feel it, this was natural and when that foot pedal came down, you were gonna know it. It’s the same with Keith Moon; I think he drummed faster than a machine gun or some crazy stuff like that - somebody measured it. You know it’s like these cats are just stellar … I mean they might of been a little out there here and there, but again, nobody can touch it.”

“What do you do for fun besides being a songwriter and musician in Milwaukee?”
“I’m a cooking guitarist! I like to cook, I like to cook a lot … probably too much. I think that’s another way of expressing myself, a form of art that can have a cool effect. I don’t like to eat it per say, I just like to cook, it’s more fun.

“Is there anything else you do for fun?”
“I like to attempt gardening, it’s good to see something you’ve planted yourself grow and that’s good to eat. I like to get out … I should get a bicycle. Actually, I really do like bike riding, but I don’t have a bike (we laugh), ah, that kind of ruins things there. I like nature, and like being out in the woods and all that, so I guess hiking would be that sort of thing.”

“Do you have any other passions besides being a singer-songwriter and a guitar player?”
“Hmm, well I don’t know. I’m pretty much like a one-track mind. I’m always focused on being a musician. There are other things that I really like a lot which changes daily I guess, but there are things that I do feel passionate about, like good causes. I mean not b.s. causes that somebody made up to advance their political agenda … I mean real causes where there’s real people involved. Maybe it’s a passion just to try and improve yourself everyday and not be a hump. I know how many people in the world that just go by, and sit on their sofa, and watch Dancing with the Stars every night, eat their McDonald’s … and that’s their life, then they go back to work. So I guess that’s a passion, trying to always be better the next day … and it doesn’t always work, you know we’re human, so it doesn’t work a lot of the time.”

“You seem to be deep, and a spiritual kind of music artist. Do you believe in God or a higher force?”
“Yeah I’m down with God. I’m down with God all the way … there’s no doubt in my mind. That’s the only way to be, that’s the only place the music comes from, it’s the only place the feeling of the music comes from … no doubt in my mind. People can call it what they want, I know it’s the same power, the same creator.”

“Alright, I’ve got two last questions and we’re done, I promise. (he laughs) If you had three words to describe Tim Korry, his music, and his Rock Band, what would you say?”
“Well I came up with the Raw, Pure, Sonic because that’s what I feel I want to express, and I feel like that’s what does get expressed on stage and live performances … it’s not plastic. You know, some nights can be good, some nights not so good in Milwaukee or for a rock band. The recordings shouldn’t be all plastic and auto-tuned like almost everything you listen to on the radio. It should be more sonic and tripped out, and more from the heart, instead of just a product - which is the problem with music and musicians right now.”

“If you had one wish come true, what would it be? – think on a deeper level.”
“I don’t think anybody can ever be prepared for that question. I don’t know how to say it, I can’t really sugar coat it, but I wish everybody would just get there shit together around the world. Just get your shit together man. You know, quit hating other people because you feel insecure with yourself, and persecuting people, and all that other b.s. Quit being so friggin’ greedy … and I sound like a hippy, but I’m totally not a hippy (we laugh). Yeah, I mean, if everybody could just get over themselves for even just like one day, there would be a very noticeable change. I think that’s the problem with everyone, including religions and governments, including everything, even ice cream stands … I mean really, everything.”

“Wow, this was an amazing interview! Thank you for stopping by, and I look forward to hearing your new upcoming release album Between the Sun and the Moon.”
“Thank you so much, it was really nice!”

Korry hopes to take his music to the next level

 

Posted: March 31, 2010 |(0) Comments

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Brad Trick Photography

Tim Korry’s “Between the Sun and the Moon” will be released by May.

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Brad Trick Photography

Tim Korry’s “Between the Sun and the Moon” will be released by May.

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Musician: Tim Korry

Who's who: performs live with bassist John Owens III and drummer Cliff McGrew

Web site: www.timkorry.com

Latest project: "Between the Sun and the Moon," EP to be released by May

He says he sounds like: U2, Stereophonics, Coldplay, Jeff Buckley

We say he sounds like: Great lyrics, excellent stage presence and amazing riffs.

Describe your look: Always changing, but not as much as Lady GaGa.

Band name back story: The music is me and I am the music. Sounds kind of artsy-fartsy, but I want people to pay attention to it and know who's behind it.

Sell yourself in 20 words or less: Raw. Pure. Sonic.

Day job: Wouldn't you rather just think I'm consumed by the music all day and all night, like Mozart? It certainly presents a more interesting image. Plus I am.

What he's reading: "The Shack," and tidbits of different books and magazines. I guess it's my ADD nature. Can't . . . sit . . . still.

Favorite film: If you ask my wife, she will tell you this changes with the wind. Right now it's "Gods and Generals," again.

Unofficial band beverage: I'm partial to Smithwick's (ale).

First gig: Anytime Fitness grand opening in Kenosha. Thank you to Louie and Jimmy for believing in me and asking me to play.

Worst gig: Um, I don't want to go into details, but those who were there will remember. Usually as long as there are people there who dig the music and I feel good about the performance, it will never be the worst gig.

Weirdest fan encounter: You would be surprised where some people want autographs.

What's the greatest song ever written?: "Avengi Ja Nahin," by Rabbi Shergill.

Song you've written that you're most proud of: "Is This What It Is?"

Biggest band achievement: Realizing the vision. This year's upcoming EP and video production with Taylor Studios will be a highlight.

Why do you do this? The music comes from God. I just write it down and perform it.

Next gig: 10 p.m. May 15, Vnuk's Lounge, 5036 S. Packard Ave., Cudahy; followed by Rhinocerotic reunion show at 11 p.m. $5 cover for the night.

Featured video on Expose Kenosha! Click on the link.

‘Music From Earth’ is Korry and company’s new effort From the Journal Sentinel Posted: June 19, 2008 Band name: Tim Korry Band Who’s who: Tim Korry, vocals, guitar; Timmy Wolf, vocals, bass; Don Hazlett, drums, percussion. Korry spoke for the band via e-mail. When formed: 2007 Web site: www.timkorry.com Latest CD: “Music From Earth” They say they sound like: U2 We say they sound like: U2, Oasis, Stereophonics, Coldplay Describe your look: “Dressed-down glam.” Band name back story: “It was actually suggested by someone else that I use my name. . . . So I went with it.” Sell yourself in 20 words or less: “ ‘Music From Earth’ sounds a bit like Bono singing for Oasis with Jeff Buckley on guitar.” Day job: “Aurora St. Luke’s. Looking for a marketing job.” What he’s reading: “Psychic Development For Beginners” by William W. Hewitt Favorite film: “Shaun of the Dead” Favorite way to say goodbye in a foreign language: “Slan” (Gaelic) Unofficial band beverage: “Harp, Pabst” First gig: “Anytime Fitness Grand Opening in Kenosha. Didn’t expect that one, did ya?” Worst gig: “I think a gig is what you make of it. If you still have good friends around, it’s not a complete flop if it’s kind of dead. As long as you can sell at least one CD, it’s cool.” Weirdest fan encounter: “We signed a friend’s rear after a Rhinocerotic show a few years ago. Some band members were a little more comfortable with this than others. Names need not be mentioned.” Song you’ve written that you’re most proud of: “Is This What It Is?” Favorite cover song in your live show: “Running to Stand Still” Biggest band achievement: “Playing ‘The Jenny Jones Show’ with Milwaukee band Rhinocerotic.” Why do you do this?: “I’m possessed. No, seriously.” Where do you want to be in five years?: “In your MP3/CD player.” What’s the greatest song ever written?: “ ‘Dust in the Wind,’ dude.” Next gig: 7 p.m. Saturday at the Maxfest at Zad’s Roadhouse, 438 S. 2nd St. — Frankie Latina, Special to the Journal Sentinel