Steve Gaspar of The Hollywood Allstars chatted about their new music, and their forthcoming show at May 12 at the Suffolk Theater on Long Island.
Can you tell us about your upcoming show on May 12 at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead?
The Hollywood Allstars will be headlining The Suffolk Theater in Riverhead, New York on Friday May 12. The show will be featuring songs from our new album “Field of Grace” on Deko Entertainment.
In addition the set list will include songs by many of the artists that this amazing collection of musicians have shared the stage and recording studios with.
We’ve managed to put together a 90-minute set of music, which feels instantly familiar and fun, allowing you to see, hear, and feel a time capsule of sorts, from the beginning of our careers to the present.
How did your latest single “Field of Grace” come about?
The concept and writing of the project took place during the COVID lockdown. With nothing but time on our hands, and with no live shows taking place, we decided it was time to take the act to the “next level” and write & record some original material.
The project once finished, was immediately picked up by Deko Entertainment/ADA/ The Warner Music Group, and The Hollywood Allstars were signed to a three year deal. The result is our first EP “The Field of Grace.”
How does it feel to be an artist in the digital age? (Now with streaming and technology being so prevalent)
I actually had a record deal with Epic/CBS when I was a teenager. I grew up during the vinyl, cassette, and ultimately, CD age. Those were the golden days of Record Stores, Physical Product, Soundscan etc.
Yes, it was harder to get a deal, and the technology wasn’t there for anyone to be able to simply record an album in their living room, but there was certainly much more accountability in every aspect of the business. Now, there’s no barometer of what’s good or bad, and anyone can record a project and distribute it themselves.
One figure lists that as of April 2019, nearly 40,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify each day. Wonderful for the “part timer” who wants to write and record music, but it severely dilutes the streaming services and “artistic pool.”
Not to mention trying to get paid for downloads, even for the “professional” writer. It’s next to impossible to track all your airplay, let alone get paid for it. So to answer your question, in a word? Frustrating.
What is your advice for young and aspiring musicians?
I think this answer has stayed pretty much the same through the years. Follow your heart. If writing, recording, and performing music is something you can’t live without, if it’s your passion and a part of you, then follow that dream.
If you’re not sure, or just trying to be a rock star or the next big thing, save yourself a lot of time, money and grief, and quit now. Odds are very much stacked against that ever happening.
Having said that, music will never die. It’s always going to be a part of the human experience. It’s constantly evolving and so too will the artists who manage to break through.
What are some of your proudest professional moments?
Well there have been many, but the first one that comes to mind would be getting nominated for a Grammy. Right up there though, would be getting signed to a major label Record Deal as a young musician.
Also, having the privilege to share the stage with so many wonderful artists, James Brown, B.B. King, Edgar Winter, and Gene Cornish from The Rascals are among them.
What do your plans for the future include?
The Hollywood Allstars have been a passion project of mine for the last several years. It seems now, with the help of our record company, things are beginning to move forward.
We’ve been fortunate to have begun to gain some traction at Radio, both terrestrial as well as SiriusXM. My plans are to try and build on that, continue to support that with live shows, and build The Hollywood Allstars brand.
What does the word success mean to you?
I’ve been asked this question many times before, and always struggle with it a bit. My first “interpretation” of the question relates to career success. Of course, the easy answer is to say if your happy doing what you do, then your successful. True as that may be, it always feels like a bit of a cop out.
Back in the day, getting a record deal felt like a sign of success. Then of course, what good is a Record Deal without getting on the charts. Then, what’s good is being on the charts if your not Top Ten.
Then there’s the fight for the No. 1 spot. Then the biggest grossing tour. You see what I’m getting at? So putting all that aside, I’m going to take the easy way out (and say that the word success means, being able to support yourself doing something you love, being happy and healthy.
To learn more about The Hollywood Allstars, visit their official website.
