Misse Thomas: This is your second solo album. You were nominated for a SAMMY with your first album. What should listeners expect from this one?
Byron Cage: This is my second and I’m happy to be able to release a good project during this crisis we are all in. Listeners should expect lots of energy created by a host of great musicians. I took much more time on this record and it shows in the dynamics of the sound and songs. It’s all original music and arrangements. As for the SAMMY awards, I was fortunate enough for the nomination on the first album so we will see what happens with this one.
MT: You’ve toured worldwide and earned other awards. Tell us about that.
BC: I have been touring internationally since 2009 with several major artists. It’s a unique lifestyle and opportunity that very few people get to experience and I’m very grateful and blessed that I am still actively in the game. It is one of the things that has helped to mold me into the musician or artist that I am now. All the cultural influences and exchange played a big part in what I can do now.
I’ve won several SAMMY awards playing for other artists, have a GRAMMY nomination for an album I was on with Joe Louis Walker, been inducted into the NYS Blues Hall of Fame and none of it has changed the way I approach music. If you do it for the awards then you are headed the wrong direction. I do it because it’s who I am and what I love, the awards and recognition are great and we need some sort of reinforcement to know we are headed in the right direction. But do it for the love of the game.
MT: 2020 has changed a lot of the traveling but you’ve still had local gigs. How did you use this year to focus on your own projects?
BC: This year was a trying one. I used the time to focus on finishing this project I’ve been working on for sometime now and to revisit the way I look at making music. I also have another electronic project coming this year that is not a far departure from what I’m known for, but it is a different sound.
MT: Is there a theme to this album?
BC: The theme is the title, “The Price of Freedom.” What does what you want really cost? On a more personal and spiritual level. We all want to be free to pursue our dreams, love, desires, goals etc. And I believe we can all have those things. But there is a cost, even if just initially, to reach that freedom. Musically I never want to be pigeon holed to one genre or sound, but to book work you have to have “a sound”. I think I’m too talented to have to choose one lane. So apply the album title to that and everyone can draw their own conclusions.
MT: Are you releasing singles or dropping the album?
BC: I was going to do a few singles leading up. I released just one in August but I’m going to just drop the album
MT: Who else is on it?
BC: I have a great cast of musicians. Will Gorman and London McDaniel from the first record. The day one Syracuse Collective crew: Deyquan Bowens, Deion Patterson and Thomas ‘TC Carter. Appearances by Anthony Saturno, Don Martin, Edward Napper, Nick Fields, Andrew Carroll, Jabare McKinstry and very special guests Miles Schon and Phillip Young. All the hommies are on this in some capacity.
MT: Where can we get it?
BC: This album will be available on every major streaming platform after Nov 16th. Hard copies of CD and USB cards will be available on my website www.byroncage.net. Will also have vinyl available as soon as it’s pressed. That and other merch will be available at the CD Release Party at Wunderbar on November 19th. 6pm-9pm (POSTPONED DUE TO COVID)
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