Simply Six: Hope Waits

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?


That moment came at a very young age. Going to church with my mom and hearing those singing voices, that was just it for me. I'd been singing since I could speak, but to realize that people actually got on stage and sang in front of an audience, and that you could MOVE people with that, and at the same time it could make you, the singer, feel as though everything else in the world made sense.  Gosh, that was such a revelation.

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

your favorites?

I try to get my hands on as many new artists as possible. I love showing up to shows where someone is playing whom I've perhaps never heard of. A lot of the times I am so pleasantly surprised. Other than the secret gems around the city, I've been listening to Adele, The Be Good Tanya's, Steve Earle, & Lucinda Williams.

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

or live?

Wow, that's difficult. I think I'd have to say performing in front of Jeff Buckley's mother at a benefit to help raise money for instruments for school children in Los Angeles last Fall. We were asked to perform a song that honored the memory of Jeff, and one that inspired us when remembering him. I chose Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday. It was the scariest and most freeing moment I've ever experienced on stage. 

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something   to  listen   to?

How much can music influence current events?

 Absolutely it can change the world, and it does. Bob Marley and John Lennon caused a revolution through song. Now its Taylor Swift and Dr Dre creating an influence through gorilla marketing tactics. Artists sell more merchandise now than actual music. I'm not saying one influence is good or bad, I'm just saying there is an influence through music.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected

your career as a musician?

Technology has shifted the paradigm. Major labels are sweating, and anyone in the world who wants to be in this business can be. There is no longer a wall holding back those who wanna make a record. In- home studios are the new standard, and so are independent labels, or no label at all. Napster changed everything. I'm still trying to figure out if I'd even have a budding career if we were still in the old way of doing things. Its a double edged sword. Without all that free music, maybe 50 - 60% of my fanbase wouldn't continue to follow me, or come to the shows, or tell their friends about me. A hard copy CD on a shelf just doesn't reach as many people without a million bucks standing behind it.

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

shoes would you be?

 Ballet slippers. Soft pink with the silk ribbon ties that wrap around your ankles.


Tour dates:

Tues, Oct 25 | Vienna, VA (Washington DC) | Jammin' Java

Wed, Oct 26 | Hartford, CT | Black Eyed Sallys

Thur, Oct 27 | Somerville, MA (Boston) | Johnny D's

Fri, Oct 28 | Ardmore, PA (Philly) | MilkBoy Main Stage

Sat, Oct 29 | New York, NY | Rockwood Music Hall

Simply Six: Van Muller

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?

 Well, I've been singing since I was a kid and I've had a few bands growing up, but for me my defining moment as a singer was when I saw this scene in the Scorcese's documentary about Bob Dylan, when he had just turned electric and people were calling him ''judas''. That scene touched me in so many ways and it felt so inspiring  watching Dylan breaking boundaries and facing the crowd, who felt totally betrayed, and yet he was absolutely passionate about it and believed in whatever he was doing and opening doors for. That was when I sad: That's it for me. That's the life time inspiration I needed to make sure I wanted to become a real artist.

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

Well, I kinda dig  classic, melodic rock and folk music, so you'll always hear me mentioning The Stones, Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow. But I also like to hang out in the Lower East side and listen to what's new, find new bands and new favorite songs. Depending on my mood I even listen to Coldplay, Jeff Buckley, Oasis, what I listen is directly related to however I'm feeling in that particular day. But I guess I really dig music in a general way.

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

 I would say both: having the chance to work and co-write songs with my amazing producers (Ken Rich and Tomek Miernowski) and share the stage with these awesome musicians that have been teaching me so much along the way. 

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

I'll take Friederich Nietzsche's quote for that: Without music, life would be an error. Music is inspiring , it's such a magical tool that has the power to heal people, it brings them hopes and dreams but just like any other kind of art, it could express bitterness, darkness and take emotions to a very obscure path. Well, that's why we're fortunate enough to have freedom to express ourselves, I just think that artists should know better how much of this wonderful power they hold in their hands, so that they could try to make a brighter and more colorful world out of it. 

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

These are revolutionary times in a way, internet, itunes, mp3, social networks. So it's really about making the best of it, using these gates to expose something good about yourself and your work, so that your fans will get to know you better and they will respect and support you even more for that. It's not about exposing yourself , it's about sharing the dream with as many people as you can. I don't see this revolution as a bad thing for Indie artists at all. There has never been in history of music so much freedom to create and expose your work the way we can do now, so it's really a matter of how you manage all that.

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

 

Oh I love this question! I would be a pair of country boots for sure! I have quite a collection of them, I really love it

French Quarter Fest: John Boutte

I should know by now that I am going to be amazed at a John Boutte show.  Everytime I have seen him live he pulls some song out that just leaves my mouth hanging open with the sheer artistry of it.  The first time I ever saw him, not really being that familiar with him I was literally blown away by his version of "City of New Orleans."  That was always a song I loved by Arlo Gutherie but after hearing John Boutte sing it live that song now belonged to him.  In fact I was so taken with that song by him I made it my phone ringer.  Than at a New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Show he did a version of Paul Simon's "American Tune" with just Paul Sanchez on guitar that again left me speechless.

Today's show was supposed to be another of Paul Sanchez's Rolling Road shows.  Paul acts as the ringleader for these shows, but he always brings a lot of guest musicians.  John Boutte was one of those that was supposed to appear with Paul today.  Unfortunately Paul was too sick to attend, so the show fell on John Boutte's shoulders.  You could tell that he wasn't prepared for this to be a solo Boutte show.  The musicians and he weren't on the same page of what songs they were supposed to play.  They braved their way through it, with a lot of long pauses between songs while they conferred on what to do next.  Up to that point I was enjoying the show, but it was really nothing spectacular.  Honestly they were taking too long inbetween songs when they only had ninety minutes to do their show.

Than John let the other musicians take a break and he did an Acapella version of Lennon/McCartney's "Blackbird."   Again he was creating art as he sang.  The band came back and he brought one of his sisters out to sing.  She did a couple songs and proved that talent did indeed run in the Boutte family.  Than again the band left and he did "American Tune" with no instruments but his voice.  Again he has taken a song best known by another and made it his own.

Than he did something I thought almost impossible.  He sat down at the piano and began the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah."  Now once upon a time I liked this song, but over the last year or so you can't escape it, especially Jeff Buckley's version of it.  Every TV show has to feature it at some point.  Truthfully I've grown tired of the song.  But as John played at the piano and sang I heard the wizardy in this song again.  As he sang Susan Cowsill came out with John's sister and they started providing harmony.  This song took on a new life.  I could only wish that these shows were taped like at the Jazz Fest, but regrettably are not.

Afterwards the band came back and they finished with a few more numbers.  It's shows like this that help me realize why I love music so much.