Simply Six: Lila Rose

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? 

Yes but it’s not quite as epic as seeing Elvis or the Beatles… it was when I was in my room writing my first full song to some beats a friend had given me. I remember sitting there writing and singing and yoddling and thinking “huh… I think I’m a… singer!” I remember telling my partner at the time and feeing very very shy about it. It’s taken some self-convincing but now there’s no way out!!!

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

I’m normally listening to, or trying to listen to something new. One of my favorrriittte things is discovering new musicians. I have lists and lists of artists to check out and when I find a new one I dig I will listen to them endlessly for like a month and then move on. My current favorite is Florence and the Machine.

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

Wow. Good but touch question. Hmmm… Maybe it was at my album release party in Feb at The New Parish in Oakland… with a packed house, looking out at the end of a really intense song, and looking up to the balcony and seeing my dads gleaming smile. He looked so incredibly stoked and proud and I swear I felt my heart just explode in that moment. My dad is a hard one to please and I knew for certain I got him that night. It felt like a huge accomplishment.

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

Ofcourse it can and has changed the world, and continues to do so! If it only opens someone’s heart in the slightest way, the world has been changed, If it educates, and inspires through passionate and forceful lyrics, it can change the world in even more direct ways. I wouldn’t be able to measure how much music can influence current events ofcourse, but I know that people like Joni Mitchel, Bob Dylan, and Micheal Franti for instance have had tremendous influence in this regard. It is essentially immeasurable but certainly effective so we must carry on with our creative-making and hope its influence is fully experienced.

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

It has shifted the music industry in a plethora of ways, ofcourse. A really obvious way is that it is making studios go out of business. Now musicians (myself included) can record an album in their own bedroom because the technology is so advanced and the quality is so good and affordable (compared to old analog gear for instance). I would use the same example to describe how it has affected my career- the technological advances has enabled me to write, compose, and record in my very own home without the cost of renting space, or getting engineers for instance. Although I am an avid environmentalist, and I know the over-use of technology is wearing on our Earth, I also hugely benefit from these advances. It’s a catch 22. Ugh.

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

Ha. I’m way too cerebral for these types of questions because there is no simple answer like… ever… for me. Now I’m thinking super hard about this and I need to get it right… hmmm…  I think these no-name thigh high black pleather boots I have. They’re sexy, comfortable, and they go with everything.

Simply Six: Susan Picking

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 think back to when I was in elementary school and I loved vocal music. My favorite teacher was the teacher who had us sing everyday.   My mom took me to musicals and inside I thought I could do that, and would be fun.....and yet as a kid I studied piano and cello.

About 15 years ago in Long Beach CA, I was hitting some tennis balls with a 7 year old girl.  She sang a song for me on the court and told me she was taking voice lessons.  I got the name of her teacher and immediately started to study voice.  I was working as a flight attendant at that time, and could easily bring my voice along on my trips and practice singing on my layovers.  I would practice vocal exercises into my pillow in my hotel rooms.  As crazy as I knew it was, it was so energizing and fulfilling.  I continued private lessons and studied music at Long Beach City College.  It was at this point that it hit me. “ I realized it was my passion, when I could practice for hours in solitude in a college practice room and lose time and forget to eat.” At that moment It wasn’t about performing, it was connecting to my voice and my passion and realizing I’d found it,  both my voice and my passion. 

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


The    favorites list is sooooo long.  There is so much good music out there.  I love just about all genres from classical, to native ethnic, to any Americana, jazz, gospel R &B , hip hop to country. MY BIGGEST INFLUENCE IS  70’s folk rock.....Carole King, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits.  I also LOVE Willie Nelson and Ray Charles.  A few female jazz icons whom I adore are Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone.  Contemporary Artists that I listen to are Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, John Mayer, BrandyCarlisle, Cheryl Crowe, Alison Krause, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper..... I love to hear anything live, and listen to a lot of local Just to name a few......

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


There have been a couple of pivotal moments in my career this past year that confirm that I’m heading in the right direction.  One was my first appearance on eightWest  WOOD TV 8, an NBC affiliate in Grand Rapids MI.  It opened a lot of doors for me in Grand Rapids when I first moved there.  People took me more seriously as an artist.  Another one was being selected as a Top 10 Summer CD release in Grand Rapids by John Sinkevics writer for the Grand Rapids Press.  In Live performance there are always moments of feeling deeply connected.  One was performing as a vocal soloist and played the Bodhran,  with the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra.  I performed a Traditional Gaelic Irish Tune with a Celtic group.  Another experience that was moving was having a Developmentally Disabled elderly man come up to me after a show and tell me that my performance raised his spirits.  That’s why I do it.

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


 Change starts from within on a singular individual basis. In other words, change happens when people change.  Societal or cultural  climate change occurs when collectively humans come together and create a shift.  Music can definitely influence a mood or a state of mind which can then influence change. Musicians and Artists are often at the forefront in leading this type of movement.  Historically musicians and artists have been visionaries who suggest different ideas and different ways of being through their art. Music can be inspirational and can inspire people to create change in their worlds.  It is also just something to listen to, if you are not open for change.  ;)

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


Technology has had a huge effect on the music industry.  From recording technology we have gone from very expensive studio recordings to DIY in home computer studio recordings making it affordable for all musicians. With DIY recording being so accessible to any musician......one does have to consider the varying expertise of this accessibility.  Technology has also made free music accessible corrupting the ability of musicians to make money off of their art, with piracy.  Technology has also made it accessible for the creative Indie Artist to make a living through various streams of social networking.  It has definitely assisted me through social networking to be able to reach larger audiences through the internet and social media.

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


I like making a statement while also being sensible.  I like a versatile shoe that is comfortable for the miles that I walk through life, as well as exhibits some personality of the wearer.  Ultimately I like it to have a lot of SOLE.  Chuck Taylor meets, Born, meets Manolo Blahnik, all with a reasonable price tag......DSW or Zappos.

Simply Six: Margaret Bernstein

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 was in a natural food store in California several years ago when a lady approached me and told me with certainty in her voice, “You are a singer!”

I shook my head, but she insisted that she was a physic and that she knew that I was a singer. I shook my head again and she gave me another hard look and exclaimed ‘Then you want to be a singer!” I realized that that was a true statement-I did indeed want to be a singer and be the voice of the many songs that I had been writing for years.

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

I love so many styles of music. Having been brought up on classical music, I particularly love Beidrich Smetana’s “Moldau” from the “Ma Vlast” collection of orchestral tone poems. I also love Brahms Third Symphony, Beethoven’s seventh symphony, Dvoorak’s Slavonic Dances and Rachmaninoff’s Piano concerto #2 in c minor and of course, the music of JS Bach! In terms of songwriters, some of my favorites throughout the years have been Dan Fogelberg (especially the “Home Free” album), Cris Williamson, Indigo Girls, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, Carolle King, and Tori Amos. I also really appreciate the neo-jazz sounds of Paul Winter Consort and Lyle Mays. Honestly though, most of the time when I am listening to music these days, I am listening to my son practice his marimba and violin or to the car radio playing anything from the latest pop hits to the local college weekly Indian music radio show.

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

There have been many great moments in my music career so far so it’s hard to choose. Some of these moments have included playing flute on a recording produced by the Who’s Pete Townsend and also singing my original songs with my awesome band to auditoriums of cheering middle school students as part of the SAFE through the Arts program.

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

I absolutely believe that Music can change the world and that the power and influence of music is not to be undermined or underestimated! I hope to bring about positive changes through my music, one song at a time. Every time that a middle school chorus sings my song “Believe”, I can feel the positive energy that is being transmitted through the energy and words of the song and I feel so grateful that my music is able to positively affect and inspire others in this way. My ultimate goal is to help to bring more love and compassion into the world through my music.

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

Technology has changed the ways in which we create music, listen to music and sell and buy music. The most noticeable way that technology has affected my career as a musician has been the use of the Internet, which has enabled worldwide communication and sharing of music, especially through the social networks. It has provided a platform in which I can be more involved and control in the business aspects of my music career. The downside is that the wide spread use of music via the Internet has also deflated the monetary value of music.

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

I would be a classy lace up low heal boot with orthodics inside. This choice of shoes would enable me to be in style while still being practical. The orthodics would give me extra support whereas the low heals would provide me with plenty of comfort. This boot is a perfect analogy for me because I am always making forward strides in my career in the most practical way possible, while still stepping out with plenty of style! J

Simply Six: Sheley & Cal

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?

Shelley:  My mom tells me that when I was 4 I came into the kitchen and announce that I was going to be a singer.  I am sure that singing at this early age with my family was totally giving me a love for music and vocals.  I don't remember it though.  So, for an actual event that I remember:  My brother took me to a Heart concert when I was in the 6th grade.  It was their Dreamboat Annie tour (their first record, which made them stars with 4 hit songs including Barracuda).  They came out on stage playing mandolins from opposite sides, and started in on Barracuda.  They had me at the first note.

Cal:  The defining moment for me was some time when I was a freshman in high school.  I had  become hooked on MTV when they used to play music 24/7.  The videos were clean, and artistic.  I watched the Police, Duran Duran, Prince, Cyndi Lauper, The Who, all of this great music I had never heard.  I was never afraid that my parents would walk in the room and disapprove of what I was watching.  Well one day, I picked up my dad's electric bass and played along with ZZ Top "Gimme All Your Lovin'".  It was such an easy song, I picked it out right away, and was hooked.  This instrument was something I never took interest in until then.  I knew right there, I knew I wanted to be a musician.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to?  Who are some of your favorites? - We have a wide palette of taste.  We listen to our satellite radio on our TV on the smooth jazz, reggae, classical stations.  We love Jonathan Butler.  We also listen to a variety of classic CDs that we own.  Music like Heart, Joni Mitchell, Carpenters, reggae, jazz, worship music from all over.  We keep the radio on the local 70s 'oldies' station which plays a lot of dance music we love like Earth Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson, Chic.

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

Shelley:  In 2006, I was asked to sing with the Escovedo Family Latin Jazz Orchestra at the Disney Concert Hall in LA for their Christmas concert.  We had become good friends of this incredible music family, so it made the time so much fun, because we had time before and after to enjoy each other's company all while doing this great music for Christmas.  The concert hall is amazing, and it was truly an honor to get to perform there with such legendary artists who inspire and encourage me.

Cal:  I was asked by Peter Michael Escovedo to be the bass player in the band he was putting together for legendary bass player Andy Fraser (Brit rock band Free).  It was an all star band performing live, with cameras for a DVD show in an incredible theater in Temecula.

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

Music is one of the most powerful forces in creation.  There is so much positive that comes out of music, though people often don't even realize it when it is happening.  Music can bring people together, and cause them to release much pent up energy, or create revenue, and flow for hurting people in the form of fundraising events.  I think music influences current events for the better one event at a time, promoters, and planners using the medium of live music events to bring awareness and revenue for various needs.  In the context of church, music inspires and heals.  People go out and do great things because the music helped them be in a positive emotional space to hear the word that lead them to aspire to make a difference.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  

Technology has made recording possible for indie musicians in a way like never before.  Shelley and I recorded an entire album at our home.  To date, it is some of the best memories of our marriage.

How has technology affected your career as a musician? - We have been able to reach many people all over the world because of the internet.  We look at our downloads on CD baby and people have purchased our music from England, China, Japan, Australia, the list goes on.  That was never possible a few years ago.  This is music we recorded at our home studio, mixed and mastered ourselves.

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

Cal:  I think I'd be a pair of Nike running shoes on Andrew Wheaton, or Jordan Hasay from the University of Oregon track team.  The joy I'd experience winning races would be just great.  

Shelley:  I'd be a white pair of tennis shoes worn by Sheila E. on one of her gigs.  What a blast to help on the drums eh?  

(She wears high heels to walk out on stage so she looks hot in her outfit.  She then sits at her drum set, takes them off and actually puts on tennis shoes to play so she does not continue to have back problems she developed while playing in Prince's band in high heels for years.)

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

Spotlight: Emily Smith

Dumfries & Galloway’s EMILY SMITH is one of the leading singers of the contemporary Scottish folk scene. Her powerful, clear vocals have gained her award winning, worldwide recognition. As a songwriter Emily has been likened to ‘a Scottish Joni Mitchell’, but as a passionate collector she is equally adept at presenting fresh and evocative interpretations of traditional songs on her upcoming North American Tour.

Emily’s childhood was spent dancing to music, rather than performing it, in her mother’s dance school.  She grew up assuming everyone knew how to do a highland fling and weekends were spent dancing at ceilidhs rather than nightclubs.  Aged seven she started out on piano, moved onto snare drum in the local pipe band and subsequently found a passion for piano accordion, where at the age of eighteen she was National Mod champion. But it wasn’t until a solo with the school choir in her late teens that Emily discovered her singing voice.  She moved to Glasgow in 1999 where she gained an Honours degree in Scottish Music from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.  With principal study of Scots Song, she also studied accordion and piano.

Winning BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Music of the Year Award in 2002 gave Emily the confidence and impetus she needed to pursue a career in music.  In the same year she met New Zealand born multi-instrumentalist Jamie McClennan who had travelled to Scotland to pursue his own music career.  Jamie joined Emily’s band initially on fiddle and has been an integral part of her sound ever since, helping to arrange and produce Emily’s albums and has now settled into the role of lead guitarist in her band.

Emily soon found her interpretation of traditional Scots songs coupled with her own compositions were gathering appeal both in the UK and further afield and the last eight years have seen her regularly perform to audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, USA and Canada.

Emily has released three solo albums with a fourth scheduled for early 2011. Each album has seen her continually develop as a songwriter, drawing inspiration from the rich local history and ever changing landscape of her home in Dumfriesshire, south west Scotland.

She became the first ever winner from Scotland when her song ‘Edward of Morton’ won the Folk Category of the USA Songwriting Competition in 2005. Another of her songs, ‘Always a Smile’, about the life of her Polish grandmother, was short listed in the final ten.

Her 2008 release ‘Too long Away’ again brought awards when in the same year she was named ‘Scots Singer of the Year’ by public vote at the Scots Trad Music Awards.

In 2009 Emily and Jamie released a duo album titled ‘Adoon Winding Nith’ to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s bard Robert Burns, who at one time lived only a few miles from where Emily grew up.
Reflecting her experiences on the road, the theme of travel is threaded through the material for Emily’s (almost finished) new album.  Traditional songs sourced from the travelling people of Scotland blend with new compositions written on tours overseas throughout 2010.  Covers include Rick Kemp’s ‘Somewhere Along the Road’, which Emily recently performed on BBC1’s ‘Songs of Praise' to an audience of two and a half million viewers, and ‘Waltzing’s For Dreamers’ by Richard Thompson, for whom Emily opened two UK shows in 2009.  In 2010 Richard specially requested Emily to perform in two shows at London’s Meltdown Festival during his year as curator.

Guest musicians feature an international line up including Nashville’s Stuart Duncan on fiddle (whom Emily met when she performed on the TV series “Transatlantic Sessions”), Dublin’s Alan Doherty on flute and whistles, Australia’s James Fagan, Icelandic/Scot Signy Jakobsdottir on percussion. Regular band mates Duncan Lyall (double bass) and producer Jamie McClennan (guitar and fiddle).
Alongside her solo career Emily has worked with an array of artists from the folk scene and beyond including Phil Cunningham, Eddi Reader, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Karine Polwart and Chris Wood.
Recent TV appearances include:
• BBC Songs of Praise
• Transatlantic Sessions 4
• Scotland’s Hogmanay Show (broadcast live from Edinburgh Castle)
Frequently performing in the same line up as her musical heroes, and earning increasing respect and praise from audiences worldwide, Emily Smith’s star is most definitely in the ascendant.

SIMPLY SIX: Steve McLeod

Steve is a singer/songwriter from California.

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?

For me it was Prince's Purple Rain. I was too young to understand the depth of it but it got me hooked. That was it. I saw what I wanted to be doing with my life.

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

Richie Kotzen, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Prince, Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, John Coltrane, Van Halen, Funkadelic, Empire of the Sun, Australian Crawl, Stevie Wonder, The Black Crowes, Taxiride, N.W.A...So many I could go on and on...

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

Definitely the greatest moment so far is working with Richie Kotzen on a song called "Beautiful Life" for his Wilson Hawk album. He is one of my idols and I have learned so much from him. He is a true genius!

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

I think music can change us as humans. It's inspiration can be instant and powerful. But to change the world, we'd all have to like the same music and want the same things for our world.

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

Technology has been great for me. As a fan and musician. Through the developments of technology I have been able to become studio savvy and record my own records how I want to and when I want. Also, I have discovered so many great bands and artists that I may not have if things were how they use to be.

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

A pair of Nike Air Jordan Cement III's. My favorite shoe of all time. Why? The shoe to me, because of Michael Jordan's greatness, represents passion, drive, persistence and authenticity. The things I try to develop on everyday in my own life.

SIMPLY SIX: Jessie Murphy In The Woods

Jessie Murphy In The Woods is 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?

Singing sort of found me through songwriting. There was no defining moment where I first wanted to sing however there very much was a moment like that when I realized that I wanted to play guitar. When I was a Senior in High School I was dating a kid who was already a gigging blues guitarist at 17. One night I went to one of his gigs at this crappy bar near the airport in Newark, NJ. I was utterly transfixed. I knew that I didn't want to be the girl out there watching - I wanted to be up onstage doing THAT. And so my torrid affair with the electric guitar began and some how I ended up an acoustic guitar playing songwriter...That said I think I hear my telecaster calling and will likely have to answer sometime soon. Telecasters are tempermental, if you don't take their calls they're prone to tantrums and fits of beating you over the head with their headstocks.

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

When I walk around the city and feel to tired to drag myself from Subway station to destination I like things like Chromeo, Michael Jackson, Jay Z... At home you can find me spinning Ray Charles, The Beatles and Joni Mitchell on Vinyl... Conor Oberst, Maria Taylor, and T Rex on CD...Recent MP3 purchases include Bon Iver, Ray LaMontaigne, Rosemary Clooney, and Midlake

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

I think our most recent show was our best so far - at The Living Room in NYC - but we seem to be hitting a benchmark like that every 3 or 4 months. We keep growing and brightening as a band and every few months we kick it up a notch. Thanks for asking.

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

I think music has a profound effect on both the individual and the collective audience. In a complete and transcendent listening experience, the listener feels so sympathetic to the music, so resonant with it's frequency that the music seems to becoming from within them rather than from an external source, that it seems to be their own voice singing to them and not the voice of a distant other. I believe it is through each individual's awakening to a larger consiousness that real change will be manifested in the world. Music already has and will continue to play an important role in this awakening.

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

God Bless Garage Band.
MP3s are so fun and practical.
and as Gillian Welch put is so profoundly in her song...

"Everything is free now
That's what they say
Everything I ever done
Gonna give it away.
Someone hit the big score
They figured it out
They were gonna do it anyway
Even if doesn't pay."

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

I"m going ot answer for all three of us woods on this one (that would be me, Jessie and Amy and Marcia)

Jessie: Nike Free
Amy: Prada Red
Marcia: Ballet Flat

SIMPLY SIX: Ariane Mahryke Lemire

Ariane Mahryke Lemire is a singer/songwriter from Edmonton, Alberta Canada.

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?

There was no particular defining moment. I started making up songs as soon as I could talk and later put on recitals and plays along with my cousins that lasted much too long. I decided I was going to be a writer after reading "Anne of Green Gables" when I was about 12...I had forgotten about the music. It came again, later, when someone asked to use some of my poetry to put to music. When I went to the concert and heard how my writing had been butchered, I decided that I would be doing to composing and singing from then on.

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

Dad was a classical guitarist so there was always something playing on the jukebox or the stereo. My standard go-to s are the 60's classics (everything pop to Jimi, Janis, Jethro, King Crimson...). Other staples: Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Ricki Lee Jones, Tom Waits, Ryan Adams, Djavan, French singer-songwriters, and then there are the up and comers: Eamon McGrath, Andrea Lindsay, Geneviève Toupin, Scott Cook, Derek Frank, Madame Moustache, Joe Nolan...the list goes on and on and on...

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

The circus that is producing TWO albums at once! It's almost over, they're almost finished, and it's been one heck of a ride. From picking the songs to organising the recording sessions, to handling the budgets (and lack of budget), working out the arrangements, and the absolute thrill of seeing it all come together.

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

Music has always played an imperative roll in society. It used to be a way to transmit news from village to village, to transmit heritage and tradition from generation to generation. It can soothe or torture...Governments have used music to influence the population: rally songs, party songs, jingles...anthems. Music plays a powerful roll in triggering emotions. Just as it can put a baby to sleep, it can compel a group to battle. My 87 year old great uncle told me being an entertainer was as important to the a society as a bus driver, a lawyer, a teacher or a loaf of bread. He says that for many people, seeing a play, a movie, or going to a concert makes the rest of the week worth living.

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

Technology, its accessibility and relatively low cost, has allowed pretty much anyone to make their music accessible to the masses in one form or another. It's the doubled edged sword. On one hand, there is an increase in people listening to a larger variety of styles, languages, etc.. Labels and the music industry are no longer dictating what we listen to. Music can have a global reach much faster. The resourceful can make a career of what they love doing. On the down-side, it is becoming increasingly difficult to create a long lasting bond between the listener and the creator. Everyone is constantly bombarded with a plethora of new artists. Then again, this could also be a good thing since it pushes us to work harder at upping the quality, originality, and honesty of what we put out. I guess what I'm trying to say, in regards to that question is.....?.

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'd have to be some weird cross-breed of spiked heels, skate shoes, flip-flops, and mid-calf boots.