Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to the beginning of another work week here on the official blog of Haulix. We started this blog out of a desire to share the people behind the best music coverage with the world, and today we are continuing those effort with a brand new Blogger Spotlight feature we think you are going to love.
This blog exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you would like more information on the content in this article, or if you know of an industry pro you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
In a time where every single music blog with a news section spends the majority of any given day copying and pasting press release details into so-called ‘original content,’ creating original content in order to drive traffic is more important than ever. When you can find the same information basically anywhere you look, it’s up to the author to find a unique/creative way to deliver that information that allows them to stand out from their competition. To do this, content creators need to think outside the box and challenge themselves to step beyond their own comfort zones. I wanted to showcases someone doing just that for several weeks now, and I think we’ve found the idea role model in Soundcrave Magazine team member Sarah Mankoff.
In just over a year’s time, Sarah Mankoff has evolved from being a diehard music fan just like anyone else, to becoming one of the most influential voices in hard rock blogging targeting people ages 16-25. Through her writing and video interview efforts, Sarah has developed a unique voice in music journalism that has quickly garnered international recognition. I’m not so sure she has put a ton of thought into making a lasting career out of this endeavor just yet, but I have all the faith in the world that she could achieve such a status if it’s what she wanted to do with her life. Sarah is a driven in a way we should all hope to be, and in the interview below we’re given some insight into how she makes her way through the business on a day to day basis.
Sarah is constantly creating new content, so keep an eye on Soundcrave Magazine for her latest features. You can also follow Sarah on Twitter. Additional questions and comments should be left at the end of this post.
H: Hello, Sarah. Thank you for taking time to speak with me today.
S: No problem! Thank you.
H: You’re in Los Angeles, correct? How are things there?
S: Yes. It’s hot. Very, very hot. haha.
H: I’m curious. I know your work, but I don’t know your history. When did you first fall in love with music?
S: I’ve always been really into music. I started playing guitar in fourth grade or so, and that is when I realized I really loved it. I was not thinking about the journalism industry at that point however, I wanted to be a rockstar. (laughs) It evolved though, and I realized that I wanted to stay with the group of people I came up with, but I wanted to take my own route in life. I’m really glad I did. It might not have been what I set out to do, but I’m glad it took me to where I am now.
H: So, did you mess around in bands before writing? Are there some demos out there with Sarah’s music on them that could surface online one day?
S: I never really recorded anything. I was in a couple of bands, but nothing ever stuck. For me, I hate drama, and I think that’s one of the reasons I took to this side of the music business. Maybe one day I will though.
H: That’s fair. Do you remember your first concert?
S: Oh gosh. That’s a tough one. I think I was 13 or 14. I think it was Soundgarden. If not, it was Bullet For My Valentine.
H: Okay, let’s try albums. Do you remember the first album your bought?
S: Jeez. Okay, let me think. I think…Yes, the first album I remember buying was ‘Scream’ from Tokio Hotel.
H: Really? That’s not the type of record I would have guessed.
S: Yea, I was really into them for a little bit.
H: Let’s talk about writing. When do you think you first took an interest in writing about music?
S: Well I’ve always been a fan of writing. I’ve done poetry and creative writing for a long time. I remember trying to figure out how to blend together everything I loved, including music, writing, and photography. A friend of mine suggested that I try applying to a music outlet, which was almost exactly a year ago, and I thought it was a great idea. I reached out to the people at Soundcrave, offering to write reviews, and things took off from there.
H: So you started with album reviews?
S: Yes, I started with album reviews, and then one of the bands I wrote about had a show coming up in LA and I ended up going to interview them. I loved it.
H: Do you remember what your first review was?
S: It was the most recent release from Eyes Set To Kill.
H: Great record. I’ve spun it a few times here at HQ. Have you gone back to look at that review and compare it to the work you’re doing today?
S: I have, and it’s pretty interesting to see how much my writing has changed over the last year. I’ve become more comfortable with my writing, and I think I’ve learned a lot more about music, which hopefully comes through in my work.
H: That’s great to hear. I want to talk a bit about your video interviews, as they are the reason I first learned of your efforts. You seem to create a lot of video content.
S: Yes (laughs).
H: So who was the first band you did a video piece with?
S: It was actually Eyes Set To Kill.
H: Oh wow, so that worked out perfect.
S: Yea it did. It was a very awkward interview on my part. I had a list of questions in front of me, I was completely uncomfortable, and yea – it was a very humbling and exciting experience for me.
It’s weird to go back and watch that video now. I’ve gotten a lot better at interviews, and I feel a lot more comfortable with myself on camera.
H: It’s really hard to look cool or intelligent with a piece of paper in your hands.
S: Yea it is! Now I’m way more prepared, and I practice days ahead of each interview.
H: Do you have camera person or team that creates this content with you, or is this a project you manage on your own?
S: It depends. Sometimes I have someone come with me to ensure sound goes well and that everyone is in frame. When I don’t, I just stop randomly to make sure everything is going well. There is usually someone with me, but it’s not always the same person.
H: Do you know how many video interview you’ve done up to this point?
S: Oh, I’m not sure. I think it’s 30-something.
H: That’s one every other week. Very cool.
S: Thank you.
H: As someone who has worked hard and grown so much over the last year, what is some advice you can offer to people who may be considering doing their own video coverage?
S: I think it’s very important to know a lot about the person you’re interviewing, including release dates, tour dates, and everything in between. Also, you need to let the person that you’re interviewing control where things go. Ask a question, see how they respond, and base your next question off what they have to say. Let them decide what you’re going to talk about and things will go a lot smoother.
H: I know a lot about Soundcrave, but I know you’re very much still trying to get your name out there. Can you tell us about Soundcrave and what you do that sets you apart from your competition?
S: Soundcrave is an online music magazine. We focus on all aspects of rock, offering news, exclusive photos, videos, interviews, and the like. What sets us apart is our passion for local bands. We work with small bands because we relate to them. We are trying to get out there with no money, just like a lot of bands, and we go out of our way to help artists on the rise.
H: So you’ve done a year of Soundcrave, and I assume you’re in for at least another year, but have you given any thought to your longterm plans? Do you want to make music journalism a career?
S: I’ve thought about this a lot, and it’s definitely a passion of mine, but I’m kind of just going with the flow. I will go as far as this will take me, see where I end up, and then go from there. I don’t have a set plan, or a schedule for when I’m going to do certain things. I do what seems right in the moment.
H: How about your goals? I assume you have a few of those at this point.
S: Yea, definitely. I want to get our name out there more, and I want people to be able to see Soundcrave and think, “Because of them I discovered this great band.” Getting to the point where people recognize our efforts is a big goal of mine right now.
H: Great answer. I don’t have any additional questions, but do you have any upcoming interviews that you can promote?
S: I have 3 interviews that in the process of being edited. One is with a band called Firing All Cylinders, which I did at a festival in Long Beach a couple week ago. The other night I spoke with Michael Vampire of The Killing Light, which will be out in a few weeks. I also did one with Our Frankenstein, which is a brand new band.
H: Sounds exciting. We will certainly be looking forward to those. Thank you for taking a few minutes to speak with me about your life.
S: Thank you. It was a lot of fun.
