American Singer/Songwriter Elizabeth Cable is a phenomenal, world class performer who has traveled to Ireland, France and Canada to perform and record. Born and raised on the West Coast where she opens shows for the likes of John Hiatt, the late Warren Zevon, Patty Larkin, Paul Weller, John Martyn, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Joanne Rand, The Little Big Band, Leftover Salmon, Reggie Garret and the Snake Oil Peddlers, and Darden Smith, Cable has earned her keep.

Elizabeth lives in her home town Eugene, Oregon in the northwestern United States. Cable performs solo and with various local musicians while teaching voice and guitar out of her South Eugene studio: Studio B Music. Elizabeth is also the director of Parker Vocal Ensemble. Cable helps produce music at the Oregon Country Fair and has done so for the past twenty one years.

Guitarist/vocalist Issa Koberstein has a fairly new band called ISSA. I recently got to interview him to find out more.

MM-Tell us a little about the history of your band?

Issa-This is a band I formed after my trip to Arkansas in Jan. of this year where I recorded with some Grammy winning musicians John LeCompt and Rocky Gray of Evanescence,

and Phil Taylor of Future Leaders of the world. I had a clear idea of what I wanted for this band and who to get for the project, so I asked them and off we go. We are a heavy melodic metal band and we are all convinced that this is the project we have all been working for our whole lives. It's magic when we work together! We are a four piece band. I play Lead Guitar and vocals, Jayson Breeton on bass, Kevin Wayne lead vocals, and Alvin O'neal on drums. We do a lot of vocal harmonizing along with very dynamic songs and try to be as professional as possible at all times. We are all very serious hardworking musicians who also know how to keep it fun, we love it!

MM-What were some of the first albums you really got into?

Issa-Some of the first bands I got into were Pink Floyd The Wall & Dark Side of the moon ", Jimi Hendrix Experienced, all of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Black Sabbath Masters of Reality and Paranoid, All the Led Zeppelin's albums and many more. I later ventured into more heavy things like Metallica Ride the Lighting, Master of Puppets and Kill Em All, Megadeth all albums, Testament, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Alice in Chains (all) and Pantera. I am still heavily influenced by all of them.

MM-You recently got to travel to Arkansas and record with John LeCompt and Rocky Gray (former members of Evanescence) and Phil Taylor from F.L.O.W..

How did this opportunity come about and what was the experience like?

Was everything written before you went there or did you go there and figure things out?

Issa-Yes! this trip to Arkansas was one of the most inspiring things I have ever done, I am very greatful! It all started when a band called Machina came through town and played at the Samurai Duck here in Eugene. I had heard that some of the band members were from Evanescence ( John LeCompt and Rocky Gray) and Future Leaders of the world ( Phil Taylor )I got a chance to meet them. I loved their music and was very inspired by their professionalism.

Anyway, a couple months went by and then I contacted them about an add the had posted for collaboration and recording. I was stoked when they said fly on out to Arkansas and record some of my original songs and collaborate on a song together. I knew that John LeCompt and Rocky Gray were both Grammy winners so Needles to say, I flew out and Stayed for a week at John LeCompt's house where he and his family made me feel right at home. we worked around the clock on these four songs starting the very day I got there. "Triton", "Reign", "Smokey Belly", "Dogwind".

Reign is the song we all collaborated on, and Triton, Smokey belly, and Dogwind are my originals that I brought with me. Triton is a song I wrote on the acoustic guitar abouy 4 years ago. Smokey Belly I wrote most of it a few years ago but finished it in Arkansas, I actually wrote the lyrics for it with the help of Phil Taylor at John's house.. Dogwind is a song me and my friend Bob Kessler wrote together a few years ago.

The whole time I was down there it felt like a dream, it was pure magic working with these guys! they inspired me so much and what made it evan more surreal is that they said I inspired them!

It was great being so close to where I grew up too witch is in Summertown Tennessee.

MM-Your current project just started early this year I believe. How did this come about? How did you find the other bands members?

Issa-Yes, I formed this band within 2 weeks of getting back from Arkansas.

I knew I had a Rare opportunity being on this EP, so this was the perfect time to finally get this original project off the ground. While I was down there I already had an idea of who I was going to ask to join the band, they are all people i have worked with in the past.

They are all dedicated and seasoned musicians.