Collector Tom Marino holding a New York Knife Co. display knife
Met a new collector friend at Parkers Show near Gatlinburg, Tn on Friday. As I roamed the isles, I passed Tom Marino’s table and couldn’t help but notice this huge New York Knife Co. display knife featured front and center. It was etched “Hammer Brand” and had bails on both ends so it could be hung.
Tom is a member of the Northeast Cutlery Collector Association and sets up at shows throughout the eastern-half of the country. As I admired his NYKC display knife, we got to talking. He is a huge George Schrade and Push Button Knife fan. The minute he started telling me about them, I recognized his passion immediately and pulled out my iPhone to record all the nuggets.
Allow me to introduce Tom Marino, as he shares his passion for the Push Button Knife and George Schrade, its inventor.
This interview is posted at the CutleryNewsJournal YouTube Channel.
The hardness of Within Temptation with a soft pop sound Erica Shine outshines the rest. Her album I Will Wait for You is in stores now. Let’s find more about this indie rock goddess:
1.) How did your music come about?
ES: My music started when I got a record deal with my twin sister, Lisa, in 2003. We weren’t happy with the song writer that the record company assigned to us so we started writing our own music. It was very challenging because we had to write not average songs but hits, and in three languages.
In 2008, five years later, I have gotten better and completed a 4-song EP.
2.) Asian artists like BoA and Utada Hikaru have caught a hard time in the American music market. Are you givien the same diffculties as these artists have faced?
ES: Well, first of all, thank you for comparing me with such successful artists as BoA and Utada. Second, my music doesn’t have any K/J-pop influence. I don’t really know K/J-pop artists as I don’t listen to them. I had only listened to BoA’s and Utada’s English albums but I thought, “I prefer Evanescence and Linkin Park .”
3.) You have a very unique blend of rock and pop. What gives you the drive to create this kind of music?
ES: Well, since I am “unsigned,” I have freedom of musical genre. I became what I liked. I am driven by the mixture of electric guitar, strings, and piano sound. Although I have done some acoustic songs, Evanescence music would describe perfectly as to what “I like” musically. Vocally, I like Kelly Clarkson style.
According to Jango airplay, most of my fans also like David Cook, Cold Play, Evanescence, Kelly Clarkson and the like.
I had been approached by Japanese record companies; they tried to convert my music to J-pop. When they gave me a few tracks to write with, I lost my passion for music since I didn’t like what I had to work with. I realized I was happy only when I had freedom of musical art.
4.) Often I feel that the fans take musicians to be idols instead of people. What is one thing you would like for your to know about you outisde of your music?
ES: My friends know me as a dork. I tend to make people laugh all the time. I not only have an animated personality, but I can also play the “start-ass.”
I will give you an example. I would ask my camera guy to start rolling (without telling him what I was going to do) and take a piece of tissue out of my bra to blow my nose and fold the tissue to put it back to my bra while looking around to make sure no one saw me. J
When I was growing up, people preferred me telling stories because I made funny faces and exaggerated my voice tone. I have little bit of Jack Black quality in me. J
5.) In 2008, you released Oxygen, which was my favorite song. Before that you were working with your twin sister and created the duo Fantasy Twins. What is the difference between Fantasy Twins and you as a solo artist?
ES: There is a difference in genre. Fantasy Twins was a DANCE-POP group where Erica Shine is a POP-ROCK solo-band.
6.) According to your website you have performed in different parts of the world. Do you feel that is different between the American and international audiences?
ES: Very much!! International audiences like the world cup whereas American audiences like the foot ball. Oh, we are not talking about the sports?
The international audiences were more open to “eclectic” of music whereas Americans are specific of their favorite genre. For example, in Europe, people who love urban music would also like rock.
7.) Any upcoming news and events you would like for you fans to know about?
ES: iTunes just added my album and I am finally on the market! So please support the indie musicians. J
8.) How can people get in touch with you?
ES: People can get in touch with me through my myspace page myspace.com/officialericashine
Or they can visit my website at www.ericashine.com and click on CONTACT.
