photo from Jamie Bright’s Myspace profileSince 2005 Jamie Bright, has played over 150 shows across Europe and 35 states in the U.S. in his band Silent Mind and recorded their first record, Acoustic Thoughts. Bright has played for any venue that was willing to allow the group to play including large venues, coffee shops, and even living rooms. Before starting Silent Mind, Bright had been signed onto a major record label (Lava-Time Warner) as a rhythm guitarist and backup singer. However, he found that fame was not what it was cracked up to be. After touring with Silent Mind, the band moved to Vermont and discovered the obstacles and love of music that Burlington has to offer.

How has touring benefited you as an independent artist and also what are the limitations?

“All the touring leads to getting attention not only from fans, but also the potential from radio, from colleges, the media. Independent artists or major label, touring is invaluable, it’s mandatory. As an independent artist you have to deal with a lot of obstacles that you wouldn’t have to deal with as a major label or it’s just because a lot of those doors as a major label are already granted.”

In what ways can independent artists interact with their fans that a major label band cannot?

“More than anything we do better gigs as a band now just because I call and represent my band from a record label, as opposed to as a band member.  By playing at colleges, they find out you’re on an independent record label and they kind of think that you have more credibility as opposed to being in a band all by yourself. Playing in a smaller venue definitely gives you the opportunity to interact with you fans on a more intimate level. A major label would pretty much tell you that you can’t play at that gig, or you can’t jam and get together with other artists unless you have consent because the whole goal there is this opportunity for money and they want to exploit that.”the whole goal there is this opportunity for money and they want to exploit that.

What are the greatest advantages to being on an independent label? What are its limitations?

“Record labels make the money off of record sales, artists don’t, they never have. We make money off of touring, and if we are smart enough about it we make money off of our song writing and publishing rights if we keep them. The biggest advantage to being on an independent label is having no money. When you have all kinds of people relying on your investment and making the right decision and having to make money to compensate for what you invested in. We take it a day at a time and really care about our artists developing into great musicians and into great bands. That used to be something major labels did and that why you got the Bob Dylan and the Bruce Springsteens and Jeff Buckleys and the Rolling Stones. It was just timeless. They helped to nurture the artistic sensibility and growth of bands and that just doesn’t exist on that level. We (Silent Mind) don’t care about anything but the music.”

When it comes to the creative process of being in a band, how does your label allow for you to be creative, while also trying to generate a profit from your work?

“This is the music business; bands are products that are being sold to consumers.  So when you really break it down, do you be an artist recording or do you be a smart business man?  I think you have to gauge that. Major record labels are where they are for a reason. I think their biggest thing is the way they look at it saying, ‘hey I invested $50,000 in you as a product and I think you as a product don’t fit what we have tested the market to be sellable.’ I think there is artistic interest more on the independent side, but in the end (major labels) are still putting something on the market to sell and I think any independent label that shies away from some of these basic principles of sales aren’t gonna be successful.”

Major labels are frequently criticized for being unwilling to adapt to the changes that new media have brought. Do you think they will ever becoming willing to adapt?

“All the whining and bitching and moaning coming from the major record labels is really from the fact they feel sorry for themselves and they are not willing to change their game plan. If they are stead fast in standing their ground with the old school they are going to fade into the dust but there will always be some giant corporate music label because that’s what makes the world go round. When one kingdom falls another has to take its place. These big corporations are really upset that they are not making a million dollars overnight so they can take their artist on crazy weekends on private jets to St. Bart’s to do drugs and get them women.”

If major labels don’t adapt to what the new media has brought, what sort of future will they have, if any?

“I see there being tons and tons of independent artist labels creating a sea of new music testing all the limits and testing all the chances and then I think its gonna come down to the real fans. I think there’s gonna be a lot of inmarketing.”

If you had the chance, would you sign to a major label?

“I’ve been on a major label (Lava-Time Warner) as a hired background singer and guitarist and it sucked. They patted us on our back and took us to really expensive dinners. They told us we were going to be the next big thing and they didn’t do shit for us other than that. So I have a really bad taste for major labels when it comes to that. They (major labels) make you feel like you’re a big deal but they don’t treat you like you’re a big deal. Behind the scenes when it comes down to the nitty gritty they don’t do anything for you.”I have a really bad taste for major labels

Would it be possible for an independent artist to sell millions of albums without changing for the mainstream?

“As a musician you work for your passion. I think those are the survivors. I think survivors are the ones that don’t get so overwhelmed with how difficult it is to make it in the industry. I have read about few artists that didn’t suffer through the trials and tribulations of making a living and surviving as an artist. I think in many ways because there are so many trite, selfish musicians out there now-a-days that think they just want fame overnight and they feel they deserve it and their egos have them all wound up. Those are the guys and girls that are going to bail after a couple years after their band doesn’t make it.”

With the corporate mergers of record labels increasing, and sales of music, as well as the variety of genres decreasing, what do you think the future of music is?

“The state of the industry right now is that it has so many artists that are totally misinformed in what it’s all about and they are still hungry to be on a major label and have a video and be huge. It’s like where the hell is the music and the community sense? Why are bands competing with each other, why would they even do that? If you’re even remotely in the same genre you should be supporting each other and create a great vibe that the fans can smell. As an independent artist I think we should all try and take the music back.”

Written by Jon Stewart with Brittany Hutton & Ryan Lowell