Simply Six: Haikaa

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?

Much more than one defining moment it was about one type of moment that made me decide to become a singer. It was during moments I spent with myself - studying in my college dorm room late at night, waiting for a bus or just walking. Music always kept me company taking me to a reality that was bigger than the one I found myself in at the time. That transcending nature of music slowly grew on me until the point I realized that music was a path towards the freedom that my heart has always seeked.

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

I have different favorite artists for different activities. When I´m working out and cooking, I like to listen to Lady Gaga, Enrique Iglesias and dance music in general. When I´m meditating, I listen to real new agey music because in addition to relaxing me, it also helps me time my meditation. I love Krishna Das and Deva Premal. When driving, I listen to the artists who inspire me like Kate Bush, The Renaissance, Andrea Bocceli, Mark Knopfler, Tin Hat Trio, Yann Tiersen and Beck.

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

One moment that I remember very clearly was at the studio working on the song “Everything I Know About Love”. After months of pre-production, I was ready to drop the song because we had tried it like a ballad and it was sounding like Aerosmith, then we tried it faster and it just took away all the magic from the song. My producer, Ross Leitner, is a relentless person and he decided to call in a guitarist named Michael Bradley to just come in and play. It was a sweltering and sticky summer afternoon in LA and Michael was in a bad mood because like me, he´s very sensitive to heat. Ross briefly talked to Michael about how he was hearing the chords in his head and as soon as Michael started playing, I knew that his sound was perfect for the song.

In essence, music is nothing but waves and when you find a person who´s on the same frequency as your music is, then magic happens. As a songwriter sometimes you have already been living with the song for many months before going into studio. It´s very touching when the song finds the right arrangements because it´s like you have taken it home. Michael ended up co-producing the album and singing background vocals as well. Both Michael and Ross have become very dear friends and I feel very fortunate to have found them.

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

Music can inspire change because it is a powerful communication tool that speaks directly to people´s hearts. In my Work of Art Global Project, I was able to count on more than 40 collaborators around the world to help me do versions of my song Work of Art in 20 different languages. People opened themselves up to my music in a way they probably wouldn´t have had I been working on other causes, for example.

Having said that, the tool alone won´t do the job. At  an individual level, a song may inspire a person to have a different perception about reality. On a larger scale though, I think that once you get the message across through your music, you have to work to effectively promote the changes you sing about.

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

Absolutely, for one thing technology has made the music industry more democratic. Producers of all ages and social classes now have access to audio softwares. Artists of all types can create a website and a social network profile to share their music. Technology has made it possible for artists to find their fans directly without necessarily having the approval of the gatekeepers of the old music industry.

As an artist, I see myself as a "postwoman". I get the inspiration to write a song, I record it and then I have to make sure that that song gets to its final destination – the fan. The work is not complete without the fan because these songs were not written so I could sing them in the shower to myself. Technology has made it possible for me to interact with these fans who are undoubtedly the ones who complete the song. I see their faces, vacation photos, get advice from them and it´s a very gratifying experience.

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

Haikaa is the Japanese pronounciation for the English word “hiker”. If I were a shoe, I would be a good pair of hiking boots that would allow me to reach ever changing summits from where I could see and experience new horizons.

Simply Six: Krissi Moses

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’ve always been a singer, since I was a little kid.  When I was 17 I had my first big breakup and wrote my first song about it.  I’d be at parties and my friends would say, “Play that Playstation song!”  Eventually someone said, you should be a  pro singer!  So I got some of my friends who had a home-studio to record and produce the song, and the song called “You’re Forgettable”.

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

                I’m totally ADHD on music.  My playlists have everyone from Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Kreayshawn, to Rage Against the Machine, NIN, and Incubus.

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

                I played a show last summer for 2500 peeps.  It was epic!  Little kids were running up to me after wanting my autograph and everything!

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

                Depends on the music.  Vladimir Mayakovsky said, “Art is not a mirror to reflect the world, but a hammer with which to shape it.”  I think art can be both.  I think it’s harder to change the world to the better today, cuz almost everyone is over-stimulated and under-educated.  I try to do both with my music.

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

                There’s a lot more opportunity out there now, from what I understand.  But the labels kinda require you to actually build yourself up (image, music, fans, etc) before they even look at you!  That’s why there are hundreds of semi-famous new artists, and only a couple brand-new HUGE artists hitting the airwaves.  Labels don’t want to gamble!

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

                4 ½” Leopard print pumps, with chrome bottoms and hammered stainless steel stiletto heels… with army boots for back-ups.

Concert Review: Weezer

I’ve never been this close to a stage at a concert in my whole life, ever.  We had general admission tickets and, when the gates opened, just sort of sauntered up to the front row:

It was sweltering.

Though I have a few Weezer albums on my iPod, the Blue Album is the only one I’ve listened to substantially in the past decade and a half…I mean, it’s the one everyone has listened to substantially, right?

I don’t even think I officially owned the Blue Album—on cassette, no less—until college, now that I think about it.  The songs had been around long before that, though, and the lyrical self-loathing, the quirk, the rock, the all of it always resonated with me.  I don’t miss high school.  I do, though, miss being the exact age at the exact time songs like “Undone” were released that I could appreciate them the most.

And I wasn’t even one of the alterna-kids.  Yet, I’d made it through the 1990s and my life without seeing them in concert.

This show?  Took me back there.  Way back, to the school bus, to my car, to my dorm room, to friends I’ve not talked to in over a decade.  A concert really has never done that to this degree for me before.

Thus, by the time Rivers Cuomo ran out on stage wailing “Hash Pipe,” I was in full-on teenage-Holly mode—complete with the hair-slinging I used to do in my car on the way to school—thanks to my rapidly-growing-longer-but-probably-never-that-long-again hair.

And look at how close we were to the band!

And Rivers ran by and gave me five, and then later!  He splashed water on me!  I mean, he splashed water on all the people up front because he had several bottles of water up there he was slinging around.  But, at one point, he came around to our side of the stage and individually pelted the two cute girls to my right because, well, they were cute and obviously hot and sticky like the rest of us.  I looked up hopefully and he took pity on not-quite-as-cute-but-at-least-wearing-cute-glasses me, and that’s when an alternative legend looked into my eyes and threw water on me.

That’s also when I remembered that I had, indeed, once had a pretty good crush on Rivers Cuomo years ago, and also when I decided that I still did.  I mean…he’s manic and adorable:

I can’t give you a very good music-critic analysis of Weezer’s music through the years.  I just know they’ve been a steady backdrop for a long time, and Friday night brought it all together for me.  They did several songs from the Blue Album, a song or two from Maladroit andPinkerton and the Green Album, and some of their more recent hits, such as “Pork and Beans” and “I Want You To,” which featured some guy from Louisville who’d won a radio contest and got to sing (really well, I must say) onstage with the band.  They also did a Lady Gaga/MGMT cover mashup.

Energy out the wazoo, stellar musicianship, and years of memories.  One of the best and most fun shows I’ve seen in a long time, possibly ever.

HW

Simply Six: Purple Tree

Purple Tree is a group from New York and Chicago.  The questions are answered by band leader David Perry.

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?

It was seeing my Dad perform in his band when I was real young. He was a lead singer and musician.

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

I listen to Julian Lennon allot. Once in a while some early Floyd. Something like Meddle or Obscured by Clouds. I also find myself listening to Jet, the Beatles, Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, and various 80's one hit wonders. It depends on my mood. I could probably listen to Dylan for days. His words dig deep.

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

Playing my first gig in NYC to find the place packed with folks there to hear music I wrote. That's a good feeling of achievment. NYC will always be my favorite city for music.

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 the easiest way to connect to all types of people. Music does change the world a little bit at a time. It reaches into areas of our heart, soul, and mind that nothing else can penetrate. It helps us to understand different cultures and personalities without prejudice. Every generation of music reflects current events to a degree. As far as changing them we've proven it is possible. Bob Dylan proved it with his song 'Hurricane'. John and Yoko also proved it with the song 'John Sinclair'. All it takes is the right artist speaking for the people at the right time through song.

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

Technology has affected the music industry by forcing record labels to slowly become obsolete. The advent of the MP3 has changed how we obtain music and how it is controlled. It has also changed the music industry by making anyone with a computer a potential musical artist talented or not. This has over saturated the market with choices, many not so good. This also buries the good with the bad making it hard for a talented, dedicated band to get noticed. 

Technology and the Internet has affected my career by allowing me to acquire new listeners without having to constantly gig or go on tour. Having a website has changed allot too.

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

Probably a pair of Sandals with Chuck Taylor's coming in as a close second.

SIMPLY SIX: Elizabeth Tryon

Elizabeth Tryon 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?

I pretty much knew I wanted to be a singer from a very young age. I used to sing around the house and record little songs on my record player until I drove my grandma crazy. But when I heard a great singer named Natalie Dessay live in NYC, it sent chills down my spine and inspired me to have the kind of discipline it takes to really study singing.

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

Right now I’m in a Lady Gaga phase. I especially enjoy 80’s and early 90’s pop music, Madonna, and movie soundtracks – I love them. I also listen to other types of classical music.

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

This might sound funny, because I’ve been enjoying so many moments recently, but I’d have to go with the time I was ten years old and sang in front of the whole school for the first time and got a really enthusiastic response. On that day my private wish to be a performer went public for the first time, and it felt phenomenal.

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

I definitely believe music can and does change the world and profoundly influences current events. Just look at what a huge part The Beatles played in the USSR. Music influences people every day, and people shape events.

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

Technology has had a profound effect on the industry, both good and bad. In my own case technology has enabled me to realize my vision for the production of my songs without needing to be financed by a record company and without having access to a major studio. It allows me to get my videos in front of people via You Tube and it makes my songs available to the world via iTunes downloads. I believe that if record companies had not been so slow to embrace and set a fair price for music downloads they would not have suffered so much loss due to technology. 

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

A pair of Jimmy Choos. Something in a sandal. 

SIMPLY SIX: Family of the Year

Family of the Year is a group from California. They are

Vanessa Jeanne Long - Vocals
Joe Beaulieu Keefe - Vocals, Guitar
Sebastian Keefe - Drums, Guitar
James Buckey - Guitar
Christina Schroeter - Keys
Brent Freaney - Bass

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?

Joe: The moment for me was when I heard the guitar break in Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly. That's when I asked my dad to show it to me on the guitar. I was probably like 8.

Seb: The first time I knew I wanted to be a musician was when I was homesick from school one day, and my sister's CD player was out. In it was led Zeppelin IV and I listened to "Rock and Roll" for hours.

Vanessa: Mine was when i got a karaoke machine in 2nd grade. There were five songs on it, including "Nine to Five" by Dolly Parton and "Conga" by Gloria Estefan, but the one that really made sense was "The Words Get in the Way" also by Gloria Estefan. I was in love with my best friendKeith and it just really related to me.

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

Well we listen to a lot of Top 40 and talk radio. NPR, AM640, Fleetwood Mac, Taylor Swift, Jay Z, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Beyonce... And we've recently gotten into podcasts and we're kind of addicted.

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

Opening for Ben Folds and the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall in Boston was probably the most amazing moment we've had as a band. It was only our fifth show or so, and we were so honored when Ben and Pops conductor Keith Lockhart handpicked us out of about 700 other bands.

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

Whoever is changing the world is probably pumped on some pretty good music.
Music can definitely bring people together, but a big part of music influencing current events probably depends on how much attention the media wants to give it.

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

Technology is kind of the reason we're able to do anything. All the music we've released was recorded in various apartments of ours or our old practice space on an old computer. We don't have a budget for a fancy studio or anything, not that you really need it these days. Where's The Sun and Songbook were both self-produced and mixed, and we're able to release all our music digitally on iTunes and Amazon with Tunecore.

As far as getting the word out, technology has helped us a lot there too. Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, and every other social network there is has allowed us to promote ourselves and keep in touch with fans. Now we're fumbling around with Google Wave and trying to see how we can use that to connect with people too.

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

Joe: barefoot
Seb: bright green Tivas
Brent: Clark Wallabys
Samesy: combat boots
Schrodes: tap shoes
Vanessa: many pairs of Jeffrey Campbell shoes