Jeff Witzeman picked up his first guitar around the tender age of twelve and started to strum, then life moved in, and thank God it did -- When you lean back and listen, Witzeman treats you to his rich life experience...making music this smooth ain't always that easy...but it's all just a part of this singer/songerwriter's journey....

So what's next?

We're headed back into the studio in January to record the new CD, so I've really been making a push the last couple of months to get together the best of the material I've written this past year.

Same guys in the band? You know I always wanted a band band, but as a singer/songwriter I realize the nature of this business lends itself more to temporary relationships. It's like working on a film together and then going our separate ways. Maybe we get back together to play, but people move on, and I'm really happy with the guys who'll be with me in the studio on this new CD.

Do you have a title yet? No, I like to get into the studio first. The theme is definitely related to my experiences in the music biz this past year. It's all about growing up, growing up and becoming an adult. I'm working with Howard Rosen, who helped to promote "The Middle Of The Riddle" last year. We had a number of labels interested, but there can be huge trade-offs with a record deal. You lose control of how the product is marketed, financial renumeration -- of course you get the advantage of exposure and connections -- but you might be entering into relationships with people who aren't necessarily trustworthy. I can be happy making my own CDs, doing the promotion. We're selling our CDs online through our site, Amazon, CDnow, pretty much everywhere.

So, what happened with "Middle of the Riddle"? We were the most requested unsigned band of 2001. We did really well in markets like Oregon and Massachussetts. Smaller towns. But we just didn't pop in the big markets. Our music is subtly cool. One of the things that I learned this year is that it's okay for an artist to have a couple of songs on a CD that are flashy, to bring out all the bells and whistles.

Making music that's accessible to everyone?

While maintaining our integrity of "subtly cool." Then once the album's done we're hittin' the road! We'll do the college circuit and I'll do some solo shows.

One man band? Me and a guitar.

When did you first pick up a guitar?When I was twelve or thirteen, but you know the crazy part was I thought I didn't have permission to play. You know? It wasn't until nine years ago when I started on the road to recovery that I gave myself the permission to do this.

If not you, then who? Exactly.