Wow, what a long time it’s been since i’ve been able to welcome people to check out a project i’ve been doing! I’m Xander, the host of Local City Soundtrack, and I thank each and every person that checks this page out. I expect to see a lot of new faces in and out of here, as well as on the live show on Ustream.
Let me explain to you about why I decided to do this show. It’s important to me that you understand that. The things that we do in life- going to work, paying bills, raising our children- they all cause stress, and they’re not easy. Everyone I know- friend, relative, boss, teenager, boy, girl- ALL look to music for common reasons. Maybe it’s getting your heart broken, and someone singing about getting hurt makes you feel a little more identified with. Maybe you just need to feel horrible for a while until you can move on.
Maybe you just heard a song with a pounding rhythm and screaming guitars that makes you drop your foot a little lower on the gas pedal and gets you to your destination a little easier.
The reasons are all different. The purpose is generally the same. You want to hear some form of expression.
Some of the best songs include stories about real life- real life experiences, feelings like love, hate, confusion, sexuality… it goes on and on. But who are you used to hearing those stories from? Chances are, the stuff that record labels have paid the most money to radio stations to play is what you’re hearing.
Music is becoming something it was never meant to be, in my opinion. It, like the internet, is becoming digital and computer-controlled. Imperfections in vocals are automatically corrected to “perfection” by tools like auto-tune, missed chords are corrected without ever having to replay them, and the people who make these songs are steered by record labels, assistants, representatives and consultants alike on which way they should present themselves to get the highest dollar, the most listeners and stay “on top”.
To avoid making this post a book, let me make it as clear as I can- I can’t stand to watch music die a horrible death anymore. We’ve become so corporate-driven in the music industry that local artists and bands- the small-town, everyday people who want to share their music with the world- hardly ever even have a shot to tell that message to anyone because they don’t get signed or even paid attention to unless they have a certain amount of hits on MySpace and FaceBook, draw a certain number of people at local venues, have already played shows with nationally touring acts, and that record label is sure they can make a lot of money while doing the least amount of work possible.
Music was not meant to be this way.
There is a story- an honest story- behind the stages, in the warehouses and practice spaces, at the restaurants and dive bars, in the vans. It’s the story on the way to the stage, told by the people that made it- their inspiration, their dreams, their heartbreaks… told before the fireworks and multi-million dollar contracts and international tours.
These people are as close to you and I than you’ll ever get- and they’re the story behind the soundtrack of our lives.
That’s what Local City Soundtrack is all about.
Can’t wait for you to experience it on January 31st at 5pm. Keep checking the site for updates, and thank you again for the interest.

Much love,
-Xander