Rip Van Finnegan
Junior’s Cave Golden Isles Online Magazine spoke to Joe McDonald of the Indie Celtic Band Rip Van Finnegan about the band’s music. We discussed the band's phenomenal musical journey. We are delighted to learn more about this band and know readers of this online journal will enjoy this spotlight too. This webzine presents the entire discussion for everyone's reading pleasure.

Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?

Rip Van Finnegan: We enjoy setting our own agenda. It's very conducive to creating the music exactly how we like it.

Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have built up over the years about you in the process?

Rip Van Finnegan: We'd probably sign, just to see what it would lead to!

Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?

Rip Van Finnegan: The "it" factor for us is in the fact that we don't feel that we're competing with anybody. Competition tends to make competitors resemble each other. Not competing can lead to more originality.

Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to your music?

Rip Van Finnegan: We bring Celtic and roots instruments to singer/songwriting.

Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.

Rip Van Finnegan: We've all survived by doing whatever gigs we could. I saw myself as a "processor of musical information", and just plugged away at a craft.

Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?

Rip Van Finnegan: As I was growing up, I thought musicians like Paul Simon & Peter Gabriel were interesting the way they brought music from other cultures into the mix.

Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?

Rip Van Finnegan: Yes, the respect is there. The Internet brings the fans from far away without any extra expense for them or for us.

Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?
 

Rip Van Finnegan: I would make it easier to collect on use of intellectual property. A small income stream can make a world of difference for a struggling artist!

Isaac: Do you think in the near future that DIY artists/bands will be the norm and big record companies will be very limited?

Rip Van Finnegan: I think DIY and big record companies will both be around for a long time.

Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?

Rip Van Finnegan: We're still new so everything has been positive from fans and critics alike. I'm sure we'll attract a more balanced critique as we become more well-known!

Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.

Rip Van Finnegan: Yes, music is something we committed to many years ago. It would be painful to change now...