BUZZNET Exclusive: Interview With Greg Raposo

A couple days ago, I had the pleasure of getting to chat with musician Greg Raposo.  Most of you probably remember him from the boy band Dream Street. He has been working on his solo career since then and released an album in May called Loss Love Life.  Being a huge Dream Street fan, this was such a great opportunity! Thank you so much Greg!  Check out the interview right here!

Ice Breakers

Favorite karaoke song:

Typically the ones that are in a lower range cause I have a lower voice.  So, a lot of the time I’ll pick a Red Hot Chili Peppers song.  Um, songs that I know like Under the Bridge, that’s like, my go-to karaoke song.  But if I’m feeling saucy, you know, when I’m with some friends and I wanna be all wild and crazy.  But at the end of the day, any fun song to make it work.  Depends on your motives, you know, if you’re going to karaoke to show off or have a good time.

One thing on your bucket list:

I would love to… I like to sky dive a lot. I’ve only gone a few times, but I love it.  And I’ve seen videos of these people in these wing suits and they look like flying squirrels.  And that is something I’d probably put on my bucket list. 

Favorite Superhero:

I have a connection with Spider-Man.  I’ve always secretly thought I was Spider-Man cause I like to climb things.  So, when I was younger people used to call me Spider-Man because I’d always be hanging on things and climbing things.  But the funny part is actually that I’m afraid of heights.  And I’d climb to the top of a tree and then I’d be freaking out.  (But now he’s skydiving… Even though he still claims to be afraid of heights… Alright Greg.)

Favorite class in high school:

Oh, I took a really cool acting class in high school.  It was probably my favorite class.  A bunch of my friends were in it.  We liked it so much that they hadn’t done it before and when the class was over we told them to do it again, like acting class #2.

Real Questions

So, you have been playing some shows lately. You had recently come to Pennsylvania where I missed you, and then went on to open for The Fray and Kelly Clarkson at their show in New York.  How was that? 

It was awesome, I mean.  They have great fans and I feel like our music, their style of music and my style of music, you know, relates to each other.  So, I feel like it’s a similar fan base.  So, I got a great reaction from the people there.  I got to meet some cool people and hang out.  Best part was I got to watch the show.  It was a lot of fun.  It was really exciting to have that opportunity.  

Is there an artist that you would love to go on tour with or have a collaboration with?

I mean I’m very open-minded, so probably very few artists that I wouldn’t want to tour with or collaborate with, honestly.  But, there are so many people it’s hard to say.  Right now I’ve been listening to a lot of like James Morrison.  Another favorite artist of mine is a guy named Marc Broussard.  Yeah, he has an awesome voice.  Um, you know, there’s Jason Mraz, Gavin DeGraw.  If I were to choose, you know, choose someone like that.  Maybe Bruno Mars. There’s so many people.

Are you still on the road doing more shows?  Where are you headed next?

No, I’m back here now.  Starting to get back in the work routine, but as for shows.  I’m always looking to play more shows and I’m fortunate enough that I still do get calls from a lot of people who are looking to book me.  I’m kind of like an open book, you know, whatever comes my way.  I’m always looking for opportunities, but as of right now I actually don’t have much coming up.

Your last album Loss Love Life was released back in May.  Are you working on any new music, since you are not on the road?

Um, good question, I actually have been writing some new music.  I just finished up a new song, yesterday actually.  So, I might do something different, take a turn.  Test out a new style, possibly.  Right now, I’ve been getting some interest in people, you know, being that the album Loss Love Life was recently released and we did the music video.  I’ve had producers actually contact me, who are interested in shooting some more videos.  I might do some more video stuff with the existing album that I just released, for the time being while I’m working on other music. 

I don’t know, I mean I just go with the flow.  So nothing I say is really written in stone, but I’d kinda like to do something less personal and deep and more fun.  Maybe like a dance album or electronic album.  I was actually listening to a lot of like house music and like dubstep type music.  Something along those lines, but something melodic and pop-y, catchy hooks that come out of me naturally and incorporating that with some house, flowery type music.  Like break it down into these heavy dubstep bridges.  I don’t know, something that’s gonna be fun for me. 

At this stage in the game everything I do as an artist is not for a label, it’s not for really anyone other than myself.  And it’s who I am and what I really love to do so it’s a great position to be in when you’re making music.  Because you want to and not cause you have to or you, you know, sign the papers that say you need to have a song every other week or whatever it is.  Everything I do is literally just what I feel. 

I love your song, That Day, you wrote for your fan you became friends with, which you went on to make your first single. I had no idea that was your first solo video, for some reason I thought there were more. What was that experience like?

That was awesome, I mean we had so much fun. I was really working with a great production team and video company.  So, it’s just such an awesome, you know, experience to have.  And it was really special, you know, especially because of the circumstances and what that song means and stands for.  It was just really nice that, you know, I have so many people come and support the message and relate to it and want to share it.  I did that video really cheaply.  Everybody involved to make it happen was really doing it, you know, because they related to it and wanted to help, rather than being this job, you know.  I literally could not have even recorded the album or shot the video if it wasn’t for the amazing support I’d been getting from fans, friends and band members and producers. It’s so humbling. 

You said you might be making more music videos.  Do you know what song you would want to make your next music video?

I have a lot of ideas.  I actually, I mean Loss Love Life, I put sound effects in between all the songs.  Most people wouldn’t know this but I did that purposely because I had this like concept album idea where I would shoot videos for every song, out of order.  Nobody would really know until the end when you had 10 music videos and they could be put back to back and it would transition seamlessly into one another making like a story from beginning to end.  When I listen to the album I hear the story and I can visualize it and see the story.  That’s why I put those sound effects in there, was because to entice listeners to come up with their own stories.  But yeah, I originally did have an idea of making 10 music videos.  Almost make it a short musical. But again, I’m a big idea guy I have so many ideas.  But it takes a lot of time and a lot of money to do, that I couldn’t afford to do 10 music videos, you know.  It depends, if there is some music guy or investor who comes and sees the project and potential and wants to make it happen then, of course, then let’s do it.  But it’s not something I’m really expecting to do and then again, you know, I can probably sit on this album making music videos for years.  But how I mentioned earlier I always have so many new things come up in my mind I feel like it’s just a matter of time til I’m gonna want to work on some new music. 

One of the songs off my new album I wrote years ago, but just never recorded or released it.  So, I decided to put it on this album.  But yeah, I mean I really feel like a new direction I’m going to go, like these songs were from really personal places. And it’s one thing to record it and put it out there and share it like that and it’s another to be touring and playing it every night like some of those songs I have a hard time singing them just because of where they bring me in my mind, you know.  So this is an album that means a lot to me, to make, to put out there, to make as a dedication to my cousin.  And hopefully, I felt like, honestly, it did, it was very therapeutic experience for me.  It really helped me through a hard time.  With having that music and helping me, my real goal was that it would do for others what it’s done for me.  That’s the real purpose of LossLoveLife, is really to just provide inspiration, strength or whatever it is to other people.  But moving forward, you know, write some music that doesn’t make me want to cry when I hear it, you know.  And I’m a fun guy.  When I’m on stage, it’s always a good time.  So, that’s what I was going with that whole electronic dance thing.

Now I know you always get asked about this, but I was a huge fan, and still listen to the CD, so I must ask about your Dream Street days.  Is there one moment from being in the band that sticks out to you? 

There are a lot of those.  I’d say, well actually when we shot the Dream Street music video there was a moment where… Even though we were only around in the public eye for a couple years there were still a couple years before that where we were working really hard at it.  So there was a moment when we were shooting the music video where we really felt like all the work and years that we put into it really, like paid off.  We had these fireworks going off behind us and it was on the 4th of July.  And they built this stage and all these cameras and it was like the best moment.  I don’t even have words, everything that I can’t think of.  Got all teary eyed and we had to stop production for a second to kind of all just, you know, have that moment together and then get back into shooting. 

Do you still keep in touch with any of the guys? 

Yeah, I’m still in touch with everyone. 

Your sound has definitely changed from your boy band days.  How would you describe your sound to people who aren’t familiar with your newer music? 

I’d say it’s pop-rock

What should we all be looking forward to from you soon?

Just a lot of creativity and realness. I like to keep it real.

Is there anything you would like people to know?   Where they can reach you?

I’m very easy to be reached.  You can reach me through Twitter, Facebook, ReverbNation, YouTube, all of that.   So if you write a message to me, it’s really coming to me and it’s actually me writing back to you.  I love hearing from people and like I said earlier if, literally, if it weren’t for the support that I have for so long from so many people I literally couldn’t continue doing everything that I do in the professional manner that I am able to.  I will always be writing music.  I will always be performing.  I will always be recording.  But, it’s the support from friends, fans, family that makes it, you know, the potential of becoming something.  I’m just incredibly thankful to have the support and I hope people realize how impactful their support really is.  For not just me, but any artist.  So, if there’s an artist you like, showing your support and giving them your support is you know, the best thing you could really do.  It’s love, you know, having love from people.  Treat me like I’m your friend, it makes the world go round.

Thanks for checking out my interview!