Simply Six: Charlotte Sabina

Charlotte Sabina is a ten year old wonder from New York City.

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 actually didn't want to be a singer at all.  I just wanted to write music, and that I wanted to do ever since I started playing.  I used to make up classical pieces and play the piano at school during choice time and my class would listen and I liked having an audience.  They and my teachers are the ones who wanted me to add lyrics and make them into songs and sing them. Now that I do sing, I love it.   

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

I listen to lots of different kinds of music including classical and old time country and some punk rock music, but rock and roll and pop music are my favorite.  I like girls like Katy Perryand Taylor Swift a lot because they write their own music and they work really hard.  But I also like older music that my friends can't stand like Guns n Roses, Joan Jett and Fleetwood Mac.  I listen a lot to Coldplay, Bon Jovi, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Elton John.   

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

When I played "Partner in Crime" for my little brother David.  I wrote the song for him and as soon as I played it he knew it and gave me a big hug.  

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

Did you see Beyonce and Chris Martin perform Halo in the Haiti relief concert?  Just him on piano and her singing, nothing else, not even an audience.  I think that song changed the world.  Artists who become successful can do a lot of good with their influence and many do.  I hope I can some day.  I do give money to Doctors Without Borders.  I hope that helps a little.

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

Jeff, my producer, tells me stories about the old days when it was harder to record. Maybe if I were a musician a long time ago I wouldn't have been able to record my music, which would make my life different. I don't know what people did before the Internet because I use it all the time to learn new chords or to listen to different songs, and to send my music to my family and friends.  So I guess the technology is good.  But there's always another side of the story. I know it's harder now for artists to make money because people listen to so much music on YouTube and don't always buy the songs.  

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

Converse sneakers that I could paint and design however I want. 

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.

Simply Six: Heather Edwards

Heather Edwards is a singer/songwriter from New York.

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?

When I was 6 1/2 years old my parents bought a piano.  I was trying to play a song but it wasn't going the way I thought it should or wanted it to.  I asked my Mother what the problem was and she explained that I had to take piano lessons.  My Father was a high school math teacher and asked his students if any of them had a piano teacher that they really liked.  One girl told him that she had a piano teacher and she really liked her and that is how my parents found my piano teacher.  After my first lesson I ran to the piano once we got home and tried to play the song.  I exclaimed to my parents that the piano lesson didn't work.  They told me I needed to take more than one lesson and so I kept going back.  Four months later I gave my first recital (playing at a fourth year level, which I didn't know was a big deal at the time).  After that performance I was on Cloud 9 and knew that a pianist/performer was what I would be 'when I grew up'.

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

Instead of generating a random (and very extensive) list of artists that I love to listen to, I've created alphabetical listing just for fun (but not a complete listing by any means)!

Aerosmith
Beatles
Chet Baker
Damned
Eurythmics
Fleetwood Mac
George Gershwin
Heart
India.Arie
Journey
Kronos Quartet
Led Zepplin
Meatloaf
Nat King Cole
Ozzy Osbourne
Prince
Queen
Rush
Stevie Wonder
Tom Waits
U2
Van Halen
Who
Xavier Rudd
Zappa

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

It is really hard to say I've only had one greatest moment.  However, one of the highlights was a show that I gave when I was 18 years old - my Senior Recital.  The first hour was Classical music in chronological order based on when it was composed and ended with a piece I composed.  The second hour I came out with a rock band and we played an hour of songs I had written.  I loved the complete change in mood and the crowd had a great time.

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

I believe that music has power that we may sometimes either be unaware of and/or take for granted.  Music therapy has been proven to heal.  Lyrics have inspired and taught people around the world about major events.  Music fundraisers are events that can help raise awareness and funds for medical research, disaster relief and other important causes.

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

I believe that technology has been a blessing and a curse.  Because of the internet, music is more available and accessible to people around the world.  Music searches and social networking have helped my music reach people globally whereas without the internet, I don't know that I'd have fans in places like India, Ireland and Bulgaria.  The downside of the technology is that music is easier to steal and has put traditional record stores out of business.  I read that it was estimated that because of online piracy and illegal sales of copyrighted works on the artists who create them, artists lost $12.5 BILLION and 71,060 jobs last year.  Those are pretty terrifying statistics.

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

If I were a pair of shoes I would be the most flattering, comfortable, never-go-out-of-style pair.  These shoes would be the kind that a person would do anything to keep around because this paid of shoes is her absolute, can't-do-without favorite!