{"id":19515,"date":"2017-04-05T09:00:55","date_gmt":"2017-04-05T16:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.technet.microsoft.com\/dataplatforminsider\/?p=19515"},"modified":"2024-01-22T22:50:47","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T06:50:47","slug":"meet-sql-servers-biggest-fan-killadba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/sql-server\/blog\/2017\/04\/05\/meet-sql-servers-biggest-fan-killadba\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet SQL Server’s biggest fan, KillaDBA"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post was authored by Jennifer Moser, Data Platform Community Lead, Microsoft<\/em><\/p>\n

\"DSC_2067\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Atlanta-based Homer McEwen has been a database administrator for more than 20 years. But it\u2019s what he does in his spare time that makes McEwen, aka KillaDBA, a little different. The husband and father of three writes and records songs about SQL Server, the platform that helps power the travel company he works for. We sat down with KillaDBA and learned about everything from his top musical influences to his reaction when he found out he\u2019d be performing at SQL Saturday<\/a> in Redmond on April 15. After talking with him and hearing his music, even we\u2019re seeing SQL Server in a whole new light.<\/p>\n

Q: Why did you decide to write songs about technology?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: I\u2019ve always loved music. I was in the choir as a kid, played drums in high school, and before becoming a developer and database administrator, I worked for an independent record label. The company I work for now, BCD Travel, uses SQL Server as its main database platform, and as a DBA, I\u2019m responsible for understanding all of its features and benefits. I found that putting a musical framework around the things I needed to learn helped me remember them better. And if these songs helped me, I figured they could help others using the SQL Server platform. It\u2019s also a way for me to give back to the SQL community.<\/p>\n

Q: When did you write your first technology song?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: I didn\u2019t get serious until last year. I\u2019ve written songs in the past and had talked about writing and recording technology-focused songs for years. I even teased one of my fellow DBAs that we needed to start a band at work. But it wasn\u2019t until my birthday last summer that I made the decision to blend my passion for music and technology.<\/p>\n

Q: What kind of feedback have you received so far?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: I\u2019ve gotten lots of positive feedback from people, both in technical fields and non-technical fields. It\u2019s really overwhelming to hear people who aren\u2019t even in IT say good things about my music. Peers, friends and even complete strangers have expressed how much they enjoy my songs. It made me realize that I might really be onto something here.<\/p>\n

Q: Which performers are you influenced by?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: I have a pretty wide range of influences. I love Stevie Wonder, Outkast, Adam Levine and Maroon 5, Billy Joel, Peter Gabriel and Genesis, and Earth, Wind & Fire. And Dolly Parton and Lionel Richie because of their great songwriting ability. I\u2019m a huge fan of songwriters. It\u2019s just so cool to create something from nothing.<\/p>\n

Q: <\/b>Are you working on any new songs right now? <\/b><\/p>\n

A: I just posted a new song two weeks ago called \u201cBackup and Recovery.\u201d I\u2019m also writing a song called \u201cI\u2019m in Love With an IT Girl\u201d about a developer and DBA working on a project together and falling in love. You can check out my other songs, \u201cMicrosoft SQL Server 2016<\/a>,\u201d \u201cTypes of Indexes<\/a>\u201d and \u201cData Protection Song<\/a>,\u201d if you want a little sneak preview before SQL Saturday.<\/p>\n