The Cosmic Surfer is the magical moniker Canadian musician and song-writer Arthur Zilkowsky has picked for himself. No surprise his past 20 years have been a fun ride on the waves of the music realm. He first picked a guitar when he was a kid. It was only to prove to himself that he can learn to play it. Two decades later, The Cosmic Surfer is still chasing his passion, still learning new skills, still writing and improving. Living a life filled with music, he’s definitely not giving that guitar up. Keep an eye on him and drop him a line if you need a film score, he shared that’s among his most recent passions.

Hello! Tell the world about yourself. How did you grow up to become the musician you are today?

Hi Folks, I’m very pleased to meet you. My name is Arthur Michael Zilkowsky, a.k.a. ~The Cosmic Surfer~.

I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Earth.

I’ve loved music for as long as I remember and presently love it even more than ever. I remember laying in my crib and hearing Anne Murry sing ‘Snowbird’ on the radio. My father played guitar and sang a lot back then so, I absorbed quite a bit of music over time by osmosis. When I was sixteen, I began to play and sing one summer. One of my younger brothers was picking the guitar up and I figured if he could do it so could I. I played at a few variety shows and I guess that taste of the limelight really lit my fire. Right out of high school I became a shrimp fisherman and gave it 10 years before retiring to land. I had some cash so, I was able to get some nice instruments. I just kept at the music, through calm and storm. I gave up that way of life back in 1995 when I met my wife, June. I decided to give the music a real go. That was 20 years ago already. Since then I’ve kept busy playing the guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, writing songs, singing, composing tunes, playing in various bands, teaching and co-writing songs internationally. I continue to evolve.

Introduce your current musical projects and tell us what makes each one special for you!

Currently I play with a few bands. The most recent configuration is an 8 piece group called High Tide. We play 1970s rock and roll and some of my originals. My wife and I play some local coffee houses and various other gigs. I also volunteer a few days a month to playing for nursing homes. I am also co-writing some songs with a Japanese couple from Tokyo. For the past while I’ve been studying music scores online and getting tips and information so I can get into film score writing.

You have been playing music for a long while! How do you find the drive and inspiration to keep going all this time?

I have always been self driven. I am very inspired by the Universe and strive to stay active and healthy so that I may continue the play and create as long as possible.

How is your local music scene in your perspective? Do you feel like you belong there?

There’s alway some kind of music scene around here great gigs are rare though. Youtube is an awesome resource but it’s hurt the business of many musicians. People are not going out as much, preferring to take it easy at home. There are tons of videos online so you can watch and learn about anything now. I think ‘live” interaction will become more popular again as time goes on… It’s all cyclical.

What is your all-time favorite record and how did it change you as an artist?

One of my most cherished records is: K-tel’s ‘Dynamite’. I love 1970s music and this record was full of hits. When I lived in an apartment I used to drive the neighbors nuts with my singing attempts.

What are your favorite software and hardware tools for music production?

I use my computer, PC, Band in a Box, Magix Music Maker and some conversion software. As my computer is older and doesn’t have the power to run fast, I’ve become a master of manipulating what I have in order to create.

What is your songwriting process like?

It could start with anything – a melody, a groove, a song title, a line of lyrics. When the inspiration hits the music just flows. Sometimes I write a warm up song or two. It usually takes me about two hours to completely arrange a song. Once I wrote six songs in one day. Technology is a great catalyst!

Out of all the live shows you played, which one was the most memorable, and why?

When I was just beginning playing the guitar in my last year of high school, I played a variety show in the gym. I had only been playing for a few months and was nervous as hell. The place was packed and you could hear a pin drop when I came on stage. I kicked of ‘Heart of Gold’ by Neil Young with the guitar and harmonica and the crowd went nuts. I was instantly hooked.

What is your biggest musical goal?

I wan’t to be big in Japan!

How has being on Drooble helped you as a musician?

Exposure to such a treasure trove of talented people, getting peer feedback, making new friends
and music, music, music. Thanks!