Simply Six: Glass Wave

Glass Wave are from California.


Responses from Christy Wampole, lead singer of Glass Wave

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles' appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

I became a singer completely by accident.  I was sitting in a coffee shop in Texas reading a book and I heard a French man speaking on his cell phone at the table next to mine.  I am a graduate student in French literature so I was happy to hear this language in a place that has historically not been so hospitable to the French.  He came and asked me about my book -- The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison -- and I answered him in French.  He instantly asked, "Est-ce que vous chantez?" ("Do you sing?")  I answered that I sing only in my car and in the shower.  And badly in both instances.  He asked me to make a cassette singing something in French (I was familiar with basically all French pop music from 1950 to 1980) because he was looking for a French singer to accompany him in his jazz performances at bars and restaurants.  So I made the tape and the rest is history.


   2. When you're not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

Lately, I've been listening obsessively to the Paul McCartney and Wings song "Jet" over and over.  For some reason, I find it completely empowering.  On any given day, I might be listening to death metal (Job for a Cowboy), French pop (Serge Gainsbourg), classic rock (The Kinks, Fleetwood Mac), random post-rock (Timonium) or nineties bands (The The).  My consistently favorite band is Led Zeppelin.


   3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

The greatest moment was when I sang with Glass Wave for the first time, even before we had our name.  I sang "Creature," and when the last chord of the song rang out, the composer Robert Harrison looked at me and said, "You're our new singer."


   4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

Of course.  I can name dozens of instances in which music actually influenced a major decision I was about to make.  This influence extends beyond the individual to the collective, I believe.


   5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

Without technology, I'm not sure anyone would know who Glass Wave is.  It is almost purely through digital media that we have found listeners around the world.  I've been so surprised to see who is listening to our music and where they live.  According to their own claim, our biggest fans are two brothers in the Ukraine.


   6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

To speak for myself, I would probably be a pair of beat-up, brown leather boots with dust and salt from twenty countries folded in the creases.  As for the band, we're probably steel-toed stilettos.