Interview with Doug Briney

Lamitschka:  Music has many new fans throughout
Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you
describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never
seen or heard you?

Doug Briney:  I tell folks I sing country music,
Positive Country. My style is a blend of traditional country sound
and a little edgy. As a person, I am very upbeat most of the time
and love to perform and have fun.

Lamitschka:  How was the last year for you? What
were your highlights?

Doug Briney:  This past year has really been
amazing! I released my first project, “It’s All Country” in
March of 2012 and since that time things just keep getting better and
better. I would say a highlight for me was being able to sing the
National Anthem at the start of the 2013 Iditarod Sled Dog Race in
Anchorage. Another highlight has just taken place as my family and I
have moved to Nashville Tennessee after living the last 21 years in
Alaska.

Lamitschka:  What is your latest CD and how’s it
doing?

Doug Briney:  Right now the only project that is
out and available to folks is “It’s All Country.” It is doing
great but I’m super excited to share that I have a new project
getting ready to release in October called, “Super Country Cowboy.”
That project I think will really take off and I think the fans are
going to love it.

Lamitschka:  What is the difference between your
last CD and your current one?

Doug Briney:  My first project was completely
self produced. From the photo’s to the art layout, song selection
and everything that goes into making a project. “Super Country
Cowboy” is being produced by Tate Music Group and my manager sifted
through hundreds of songs to send me only those he thought would be
best for me before I narrowed those down to the ones that will be on
this project. So I think the difference will be a much more
“polished” product and one that will really showcase who I am as
an artist not producer.

Lamitschka:  Who inspires you musically and how
deep do your musical roots run?

Doug Briney:  You know, right now I’m sitting
in a coffee shop that is playing some older Eagles music and I’d
say that even as I’m typing I’m listening to what they did and
thinking, “that’s cool, I could do that.” So for me, my
inspiration really does come from everything I hear. My biggest
musical influences however are folks like Toby Keith, Ronnie Dunn,
Chris Young, Trace Adkins and Vince Gill. My musical roots go way
back, I sang my first song in church when I was only two years old.
I grew up singing in church, went to college as a music major. So
music has truthfully always been a huge part of my life.

Lamitschka:  What do you think about today’s
music scene versus its past and where do you see it going in the
future?

Doug Briney:  I think the music scene is really
changing fast. With social media and programs like “America’s
Got Talent”, “American Idol” and “The Voice.” It seems
there are several folks making big before they are really ready to do
so. They are thrust very quickly into the limelight and aren’t
really ready for all that entails. I still think folks should have
to learn how to really perform in front of small groups, learn their
craft well before they make it big. However, I don’t think things
will change back to how they used to be. If anything I think the
process will become even more streamlined and what I think will
happen is we will see a lot more artists who make it big with one or
two songs and then fade never to be heard from again.

Lamitschka:  As an artist, you so many tasks
such as recording, touring, interviews. What do you like best, what’s
your favorite activity?

Doug Briney:  For me perfoming in front of folks
is my favorite. I love the instand feedback and interaction. I
enjoy being on the road and meeting new people as well.

Lamitschka:  Are you doing anything to take
music beyond its current borders or are you happy where it is?

Doug Briney:  My borders are constantly being
stretched and pushed. My sound, songs, even my stage presence is
constantly evolving. I want each and every show to be better then
the last. All the while staying true to who I am as an artist. I
like to try new things and when I hear or see something I think is
really cool, I like to see if I can incorporate that into my shows.

Lamitschka:  What moments in your career stand
out in your memory as highlights and achievements which you are proud
of?

Lamitschka:  Who is your biggest critic,
yourself or others?

Doug Briney:  Without a doubt, I am. I am very
hard on myself, yet I do allow myself to say, “Hey, that worked and
it was good.” So, for me being a critic is simply being honest
with myself. What can I do to make what I’m doing better.

Lamitschka:  Is there any place you haven’t
played that you would like to?

Doug Briney:  My dream is to one day perform at
the Grand Ole Opry. That would be an incredible honor and dream come
true.

Lamitschka:  Many music fans today get their
information about artists online. Do you have your own website and
what will fans find there?

Doug Briney:  I sure do, www.dougbriney.com
they can find my music there, a store with t-shirts and other fun
merchandise, links to my facebook and twitter feeds as well as a
brand new page that I just put up explaining some of the charity work
I do for our military

Christian Lamitschka (
CountryMusicNewsInternational@googlemail.com
)

www.CountryMusicNewsInternational.blogspot.de