A musician like Cory Case has the ability to give you a sense of calm and tranquility in an otherwise crazy world. Playing folk-tinged acoustic music, making use mostly of acoustic guitar and harmonica, Cory Case is just what the doctor ordered in this chaotic world. If you ever need to just chill out and escape all the talk of stock market crashes and swine flu, head on over to www.myspace.com/coreycasemusic and just listen for a good while to the tunes. Calming like a summer breeze, the music conjures up images of a simpler world where we don’t have to be constantly worrying about this disease or that, the declining economy, or other such worldly uncertainties. Give it a listen, and don’t say I didn’t tell you so when you find yourself drifting off to a simpler time, lost in the chords and imagery of the top-notch lyrics. Cory Case is a musician you’ll likely be hearing a lot of over the course of his career, so get on it quick before you’re left in the dust.

Billy Davis: Please tell us more about yourself and your background in the Orange County music scene. I know you play each guitar and harmonica on your tracks. When did you pick up each of these instruments and how did you learn them? (Self taught, lessons?)

Cory Case: I learned the guitar from my father. He’s been playing blues guitar since he was a kid. I was very young and living in Anaheim with my mom and dad. We lived in an apartment and my crib was in my dad’s room along with his Marshall amp and electric guitar. My parents said that I would just lie there all day listening to him play. The harmonica came much later. When I was about seventeen I was sitting around jamming at one of my buddy’s houses. He had one of the neck holders lying around that I use today. I picked it up and took a look at what key the harmonica was. It ended up being in the key of “G” so right off the bat I blew into it and out came Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold. After that I was hooked.

BD: How would you describe your music?

CC: I wouldn’t say I’m breaking any type of new formula. I’m just a guy with his guitar and a story to tell, and my story is non fictional. Every song I have written has been something I was going through or experiencing at the time it was written. In a word I would say my music is real. What you see and what you hear is what you get.

BD: What are your major influences, musically and non-musically? Why were these artists/bands influential to you?

CC: My family influences me a lot. They’re a pretty wild bunch. We party a lot and play music a lot. We also do a lot of traveling. We went to Italy last summer and I played some gigs out there. My girlfriend is also a very big influence when it comes to writing music. We were living down in Laguna when I wrote and recorded a lot of the tracks from my album. We loved Laguna. We could walk everywhere, and it was hard not to be inspired when a beautiful beach and such a charming little town surround you.

My main influences for my music are Jim Croce, Neil Young, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, John Denver, and John Lennon; mostly just old legends. This was my dad’s favorite music so I pretty much grew up with these guys. They’re influential to me because they’re artists with undeniable raw talent. From the moment I heard them I knew that they were the type of musician I would aspire to be.

BD: What is your songwriting process like? Describe each step for us, if you can.

CC: My songwriting doesn’t really have a process. It is always changing. I could draw inspiration from something hideous or beautiful, but I’m not on the look out for inspiration, I let it come to me. I don’t force anything. I never sit down and tell myself that I’m going to write a song today. I get out and take a look around and if something gives me feelings of content, fear or confusion I put it down on paper. The music follows the words, and is usually done in my head by the time I write my closing line.

BD: You won an award at the OC Music Awards for “Best Live Acoustic.” It must feel good to be acknowledged for your hard work and dedication to your craft. Tell us how it feels to be given an opportunity to not only accept, but perform at such an event.

CC: Winning “Best Live Acoustic” for the OC Music Awards was a very exciting moment in my career. Sometimes this profession can get you kind of down when things get slow and you find yourself trapped. I was waiting for something like this to come along, and wasn’t sure if it would come or not. When I got the news that I would be performing at The Grove in Anaheim, and accepting an award for my music the feeling was indescribable. As you said, it felt good to be acknowledged for the work that I put into my music. Performing at the event was incredible. The moment the curtains opened I looked out into a blinding white light just as I had always imagined it. The only thing I hadn’t counted on was a bum chord. I started strumming my guitar, and nothing came out. That was a little scary, but in a way I was glad that it happened. It gave me a chance to joke, and connect with my audience. After everything was fixed I played a song called Time Worth Saving. I wrote it when I was about seventeen. It was the first I had ever written. After the song was finished I got a wonderful reaction from the crowd, and accepted my award. I was proud to be accepting my award in front of my family who accompanied me that night.

BD: Are you signed? How many albums have you released and where would one be able to pick it up?

CC: I just came out with my first record on Dead Beat Records. The name of the album is “Waiting On A Remedy.” I’m not signed to any future deals; they just helped to make the record.

BD: Growing up and living in Orange County where such a magnanimous music scene exists, can it be a bit intimidating to be trying to make a name for yourself around so many other talented musicians? What inspires you to keep on doing what you’re doing? Do you have any advice for others who may be aspiring to be a musician in today’s declining record industry?

CC: I find that Orange County is a great place to start my music career. There are plenty of places to play that love to hear good music. I love the fact that there are many different types of musicians out there trying to make names for themselves. It makes it so that people keep an eye on what’s going on in the Orange County Music scene. I don’t look at other musicians as competition; rather I choose to view them as teammates. Were all going through the same struggle. To all the aspiring musicians out there I would say never give up, and give em hell.

BD: Finally, what is your most recent news?

CC: My new record just dropped and is available for sale at any of my shows, or via the internet. If you go to myspace.com/corycasemusic you will find a link that will allow you to purchase the Vinyl and the CD. I have all my upcoming shows posted on MySpace. One I wouldn’t miss is May 20th at the Slide Bar in Fullerton.

BD: Where can we find more info on you? Anywhere that fans can learn more about you or hear your stuff.

myspace.com/corycasemusic
Corycase.com
Facebook search “Cory Case”
dead-beat-records.com

I’ll be at the Slidebar show on May 20th, and you should be as well. Let’s do this people. Support an awesome musician.