March 2, 1997

Brian Martin, of East West Disc and Tape, has been one of the strongest supporters of the Central Florida music scene for the past eleven years. His store carries hundreds of local artists and labels, leading music shoppers, including myself, to the best of the Orlando scene. I convinced him to share some of his views about the state of local music now and into the future.

Do you feel that there is an Orlando Sound?

It is developing extraordinarily rapidly, it exists, yeah. But I think people are looking at it in a more alteristic fashion, more artistically, more creatively and not looking at it as a race. There are a handful of inventive bands making a living in this town, but they are not just doing it for the money.

Which bands are these?

Ah, I can't really name names.

Do you feel like Orlando could potentially become a hot-spot for the music industry?

Yeah, I certainly do, but I think there is an attitude that has to be developed. A school of thinking; whenever a city of this size gets on the verge of doing it, bands on the brink of being discovered like to feel as if they're the biggest thing happening. Then you drive outside the city limits and no one else cares.

Like Seven Mary Three ?

YEAH, but now there starting to say otherwise. "Oh, we're not really from Orlando." I'd say make up your mind. WJRR has a 'Native Voice' segment that has commercials for their local music segment, which lists Collective Soul, Seven Mary Three, and Matchbox 20, as the bands that are rooted in Central Florida. Collective Soul is really from Georgia, but they BROKE out of this city.

Who with any significance has broken out of the Central Florida, Florida area in the last five years?

I can't point at anyone specifically and say they did a really good job. The only other band that has done something to get people thinking in Florida would be Marilyn Manson. Of course they're not from this neck of the woods, the Ft. Lauderdale area, but it was so unlike anything that was going in any area.

What music do you feel is most dominant in Orlando?

That's a good question! I shouldn't split it up, but it's difficult to give you one blanket answer and say that's the case. It highly depends on the age of the audience.

Say 18 to 25 year old venues.

I would say the Rave and Ska scene are relatively dominant here.

Justice Mitchell Loves: Art & Photography, Mom & Dad, Eileen, Friends, Music, and Film. Hates: Dan Leeds and his army of satanic, homophobic, undead girl scouts. Other Articles I've Written