George Cahill has been a fixture on the Philly scene for years. If you're willing to put all political correctness aside, his music is incredibly fun, hard-hitting and edgy. There is a bluesy vein throughout his music, but his lyrics are so conversational, it's as if you're hanging out with him in a coffee house as he tells you about his day. And what a day it typically is! George recently celebrated the release of this album ‘Songs of Redemption.’ It's eleven tracks of brutal honesty with tight acoustic arrangements. While some of his songs sound downright bitter at times (a bitterness he can fully justify), all bear his signature lack of restraint, honesty and thoughtfullness. The production is not over-done and is appropriately lo-fi for his style and choice of song topics. Now, his single 'I Just Want And American', a song about the frustration of calling up a company and getting a foreign-speaker on the line, has been a surprise hit. And that is perhaps the best way to describe the man behind the music- a surprise hit. To the jaw. Lauren Thompson recently interviewed this George to get an inside look at his musical inspirations and plans for the future.

LAUREN: When When did you first discover your love of music?
GEORGE: I couldn't have been more than ten years old when I heard Stevie Wonder's ‘Fingertips.’ I liked the song so much I started singing it for my hoodlum wanna-be corner boys. One day a crowd gathered in the school yard we hung at and I started singing ‘Fingertips’ for the crowd. The crowd started clapping and from that point on I was hooked on music.

LAUREN: Your song 'I Just Need An American' is receiving a great listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
GEORGE: Totally blown away and so proud!

LAUREN: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
GEORGE: The frustration I and so many of my family and friends experience when they call for technical support and a foreign-speaking person answers the call.

LAUREN: Would you say that the mood of your other songs is in the same vein as your debut radio single?
GEORGE: Admittedly, ‘I Just Need An American is tongue and cheek.’ And yes, four or five songs from my album, ‘Songs of Redemption’ are in the same vein.

LAUREN: How would you characterize yourself as a musician? (ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving...)
GEORGE: As a musician I am totally serious especially in the recording studio (time is money!). I am however, fun-loving too. One example of fun-loving- listen to my song ‘You Left Me For Another Woman.’ LOL

LAUREN: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
GEORGE: I hear it over and over from other musicians how other members of their family influenced them to perform. This does not, however, apply to me. No one at all in my family has musical background.

LAUREN: What do you find most rewarding about being a musician? What do you find most challenging?
GEORGE: I find the crowd reaction the most rewarding especially during live performances. Getting people to actually listen to my music is the most challenging (yes, even family members!). Even they run and hide when I tell them, ‘I have a new song for you to hear.’ LOL

LAUREN: Who are your role models in music?
GEORGE: Bob Dylan, John Prine and Keith Richards.

LAUREN: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
GEORGE: See question number One. Without a doubt that performance was the most memorable due mostly to the spontaneity of the performance. Getting almost total strangers to interact and applaud was both priceless and heartwarming.

LAUREN: Do you have a music video for your single? If so, what can you tell us about it?
GEORGE: Yes there is a music video. We shot the video on a shoe string budget and unconsciously we have the Philadelphia ‘Philly's’ baseball banner as the backdrop in the song. I thoroughly enjoyed shooting the video and getting the finished product out there was so rewarding.

LAUREN: Excellent! I look forward to hearing it. I wish you continued success and good luck!

http://www.reverbnation.com/georgejcahillsingersongwriter

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