{"id":7550,"date":"2016-03-31T07:00:23","date_gmt":"2016-03-31T12:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?p=7550"},"modified":"2016-03-28T12:58:36","modified_gmt":"2016-03-28T17:58:36","slug":"he-may-be-family-but-im-still-saying-hes-talented","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/2016\/03\/31\/he-may-be-family-but-im-still-saying-hes-talented\/","title":{"rendered":"He may be family, but I’m still saying He’s Talented"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Cody<\/a>

Cody Sparks Band Album Cover<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Anytime I went to my Aunt Kathy’s house in small town panhandle\u00a0Perryton, Texas<\/a>\u00a0, one of the things I would look forward to is seeing my cousins play music. I thought it was the coolest thing they were musically talent… because I am defintely not!<\/div>\n
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\"Cody<\/a>

Cody Sparks Band<\/p><\/div>\n

Long story short, my cousin, Cody Sparks decided to make music his life. Recently, his band, the Cody Sparks Band,<\/a>\u00a0which includes his younger brother, Seth Sparks, has taken off right here in the music capital of the world. In the month of March alone, they played all week during SXSW, put out an album on itunes<\/a>\u00a0titled “Sinners and the Saved,”\u00a0and are playing every chance they get.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0After being in this class, I became more intrigued in his career. Therefore, I had the privilege of sitting down with my cousin and getting to understand his personal story and what it really took to devote his life to his passion, country music.<\/div>\n
\nhttp:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2016\/03\/Oklahoma-Fool-Cody-Sparks-Band.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div>\n
(Above is a track from their\u00a0album titled Oklahoma Fool)<\/div>\n
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What got you interested in music?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Music for me was something I liked since childhood, but never knew it would be such a huge part of my life. When I was a Freshman in college I saw a guy playing acoustic guitar at a venue in Colorado and immediately became fascinated. \u00a0I asked my parents for a guitar for Christmas and thankfully got it. \u00a0Little did I know that seeing that show would completely turn my life around in such a different way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When did you know that you wanted to make music your life?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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\u00a0For the longest time I never actually thought that I could make music such a big part of my life. \u00a0Before music\u00a0I was coaching High School football and basketball and very much into that. \u00a0I just suddenly realized that I might be good enough to try this music thing out. \u00a0Lucky for me, so far so good. \u00a0Like I always say, I can always go back and coach when I\u2019m older. \u00a0Im not always going to be so young and \u201ccool.”<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Why country music?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I think being born and raised in a small Texas town most definitely set me up for country music. \u00a0There wasn\u2019t really a lot of other genres that I was really into. We really don\u2019t have to get into my \u201cpunk rock” phase. \u00a0Texas country music just seems more real to me than any other music out there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How long did it take for you to get your foot in the door?\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n

Getting our foot in the door hasn\u2019t been the easiest thing. \u00a0We truly have been blessed with opportunity though. \u00a0 I think we have come a long way since we first moved to Austin 3 years ago. \u00a0We still have a long ways to go to really get to where we want to be. \u00a0But like with any career, the harder you work, the greater the reward.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How does living in Austin, the music capital of the world, benefit the band’s career?\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Moving to Austin was a big decision for us. \u00a0We had long discussions about it and knew that it was the best place to be for what we wanted to do. \u00a0A lot of bands are based out of ATX and we are happy to be one of them. \u00a0There is always something going on everyday of the week in the music world here. \u00a0It really helps for networking. \u00a0And in this business, it helps to have friends that do what you do. \u00a0Advice and guidance from other musicians is vital. \u00a0We are proud to call Austin our newest home. \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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You guys just finished your first album. What was the hardest and best part of the process?<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Our album is finally finished and we couldn\u2019t be more proud. \u00a0This was a learning experience for sure. \u00a0I think the hardest part was figuring out the process. \u00a0There are so many little things involved that I had no idea even existed. \u00a0Some people think that it takes a few weeks or even a couple of months to complete but thats not the case at all. \u00a0There is so much more that goes into it than walking in and recording some songs. \u00a0I think the best part of the process was actually doing it, completing our project and getting our music out there. \u00a0It was great to see us all come together creatively. \u00a0We really grew closer as a band and as friends. \u00a0Learning is always a positive thing and we experienced a lot of that.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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What is your favorite song on the album?<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
I think my favorite song on the Album is the title track \u201cSinners and the Saved.\u201d \u00a0I put a lot of time and effort into this one. \u00a0It is a song written about my two grandfathers and most definitely most meaningful to me.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
(Below is the a piece of the track!)<\/div>\n
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