1) Your current solo material is significantly different from the music of your band. Where did the musical change come from?

It's not so much a change as an expression of a different side of me. The band is where I get to play rock and roll and jam out where my solo material is a but darker and deeper. I have always had this sort of multiple personality thing where I am different in different situations - I think we all sort of do that. At any rate my music follows that pattern. Kind of a Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde thing.

2) Who are your influences, musical and nonmusical? Why?

This is always a tough question because my tastes are so varied and my music does not necessarily reflect my influences. Growing up I was a big fan of Peter Gabriel, U2, Led Zeppelin, Prince, Sting, Nine Inch Nails, Snead O'Conner, Soundgarden, Ice Cube, Cocteau Twins, Pet Shop Boys, Bjork and so many others. When I buy a new CD I listen to it constantly for like 3 weeks, absorbing every note. Then I put it in the CD case and I might pull it out once a year after that. But it has entered my subconscious and is part of the stew that influences my music.

As far as non-musical influences go...I would say that the writer Charles Bukowski had an impact on me, as did Alice Walker. They are really different writers but they both write with such brutal honesty, sometimes I would be reading and my mouth would just hang open. I would also say that Martin Scorcese films - especially the Last Temptation of Christ - have influenced how I view the world. Again he puts so much of himself into his work that I really connect with it.

My influences have taught me that it is ok to expose your soul, even the deepest darkest corners - that people will understand and relate to what you are doing.

3) Do you draw from different sources when writing different kinds of material? Do you write from a particular instrument, strictly from within your head, or from elsewhere?

I tend to draw from my own experiences and feelings more than anything else. You will probably never hear me get into politics or make any kind of statements in my music because that is just not who I am. So I draw on a lifetime of really interesting experiences and use those to feed my material.

When coming up with a song I usually start with either a few guitar chords or a rhythm and bass line that I create on the keyboard. Sometimes I have a melody in my head that I have to get out - like for instance I recently had a dream where I came up with this instrumental melody, so as soon as I woke up I pulled out the guitar and got it all down on tape.

My songwriting always starts with the music though - lyrics tend to come much, much later. In fact I have performed songs on more than a few occasions that did not have finished lyrics, because for me that is the hardest thing to finish.

4) The solo material is significantly more computer-based. How does the writing / arranging process differ with your solo material?

In terms of writing, the process for developing my solo stuff is virtually the same as the band stuff. But the process from that point where the song is written to the end product is totally different. Because my solo material is computer based, I get it all into the sequencer on my keyboard, and then I work with a producer or engineer in a midi studio to fine tune all of the sounds and sonically expand what I have come up with. Sometimes we add in samples from older material as well - for instance in "Lay My Head" the drums and bass during the verse are a loop from an old Police song.

5) What does the future hold for Dax, musically and otherwise?

I am looking at 2003 as the year when I really get my solo stuff out there. Right now I am developing a plan of attack, looking at all of the things I need to do to become successful with my music and planning out how to accomplish each of those things throughout the year. One of the things I do with my day-job is help companies plan and execute marketing programs. So even though I don't have their budgets, I am approaching my music career the same way: defining a goal for myself and outlining what I have to do to accomplish that goal, including timelines and deliverables and all of that.

I am singularly focused on making this happen - so I don't really allow myself any other options in terms of what the future holds. I am actually pretty happy with my life and could probably drop this and settle down into it. But this is not possible because I have this drive to succeed in music - which I have had since I was 16. It has never let up and it is always pushing me to try harder. Sometimes it really sucks, ha ha...

6) Do you have any advice for musicians interested in a career in music?

1. Make sure your music is great before you play it for anyone - people have a hard time hearing how good something could be, you really have to blow them away.

2. Learn the business. They call this "Show Business" for a reason, you have to understand how to cover all of your bases and to protect yourself. I would pick up the Donald Passman book "All You Need to Know About the Music Business."

3. This is going to sound really cheesy, but...stay off of the drugs. I have seen more music careers completely fucked up by drugs and alcohol than anything else. Yes this can be a fun lifestyle but you need every edge you can get, and there are about 1,000,000 other musicians ready to take your place if you drop the ball - which you are bound to do if you make it about the partying.

Lastly - this stuff is hard work. You really have to be dedicated and understand that what you are thinking about doing is really, really hard. If you are up to it the rewards can be fantastic, but never forget that you have to keep working at it.

7) What would your last meal be?

Without question - sushi from Sushi Nozawa in L.A. Eating there is like receiving food straight from the hand of god.

Visit his website for more information and to download music. Photos courtesy Jeb Thomas.