[Bruno Ybarra] I'm not sure that I always do - as I always feel that things could be better (mastering, eq, mixes, etc.). However, I'm really glad that these things manage to go unnoticed from time to time. ; )

- How do you manage to balance the "business" side of the music business with artistic aspects? Is this natural? Learned? A combination of both?

[Bruno Ybarra] Well, I think that the disparate worlds of art and commerce have always been at odds with each other, fundamentally, but have somehow found a way to coexist in application. It seems to be mostly a case of one hand feeding the other in a revolving relationship.

I do feel that it's important for business and artistic concerns to remain as independent as possible, in order for them both to achieve their goals. I guess I enjoy the balance between the two - as they both represent different sides of the coin to me. Definitely a combination of experience in seeing situations from both sides ... and a strong dose of speculation, ultimately.

- Obviously, your music goes over well in SF, and NY, where your offices are located--why did you pick these two cities as home base? (as opposed to LA, Chicago, etc.)

[Bruno Ybarra] Well, I could really go out on a limb here to extoll the virtues of New York and SF's obvious similarity as proverbial 'points of entry' for culture, art and geographical locales. However, the reality is that we just 'happened' to live in these cities. Jay and Dave are true New Yorkers ... and I'm definitely got a case of Left Coastism ... so the real question is how we can agree to anything to begin with! ; ) Somehow it all works - thanks to the recent benefits of technology.

- Personally, I know my fave Naked Music releases and songs change over time. What's your current favorite release?

[Bruno Ybarra] Hmmm... probably one of my favorite Naked tunes at the moment is a track called 'When' that will appear on the Lisa Shaw album. It was produced by Eric Stamile and it's hands-down one of the most beautiful things I've heard in quite some time ... the production really conveys a sense of vulnerability that really hits you right in the middle.

- Who are some of your favorite artists (be they current or from the past) who are not on any of your label affiliates?

[Bruno Ybarra] I've had so many favorite artists in so many different phases of my life ... but some of the more consistent ones would have to range from the Clash, Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to Bill Evans, Radiohead, PJ Harvey, Lonnie Liston Smith, Chaka Khan, Elvis Costello, Miles Davis - and everything in between. There are tons of groups and artists that I enjoy single albums and/or tunes from - but it's a true test to find artists that have been consistently great over long periods of time. Not an easy task...

- If someone wants to book or feature one of your artists or projects, what's the best way for them to connect with you?