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. 

2nd Look

In which we take a 2nd look at some great artists that appeared on our site previously.

And to kick off this new feature we are showcasing Jessica Dawn. We first met Jessica through a Simply Six interview back here. Jessica is a singer/songwriter originally from Virginia Beach now living in Nashville. Jessica started her song writing career as an eight year old on an old Casio keyboard and using her Mom's old tape player. Moving through school she took piano lessons and voice lessons and taught herself how to play guitar. "I started making my own tapes for my friends in elementary school. And while everyone was into Madonna, I loved Debbie Gibson because I thought it was so cool that she was only 17 and writing her own songs and played piano."

After graduating high school she started to play the local club scenes around Virginia Beach as a solo artist or as a member of one of the several bands she started and moved through. Realizing that she was only going to go so far in her home town she decided to make the move to one of the country's leading town for singers and songwriters and moved to Nashville.

Ten years later Jessica is still holding onto her dream and recording and releasing music. Her most recent release was the ep Graffito that came out last year. She remains true to her vision of her music. "I’m attracted to artists who I can respect and learn from as a musician and songwriter, usually people who have some longevity or aren’t trying to fit some generic mold…and definitely artists who take chances and are unique because they don’t compromise who they are."

Theresa Andersson

She put out one of the best albums of the year in 2006, but most people have never heard of her. Outside New Orleans she is hardly known, if at all, by most listeners. Her name is Theresa Andersson and she is another transplanted native to the crescent city. Originally from Sweden Theresa moved to New Orleans with her boyfriend at the time Anders Osborne. Anders is another local singer/songerwriter. After living together the two broke up and Theresa went her own way, first moving to Nashville than Austin until she finally found her way back home to New Orleans.

Theresa is a singer and multi-instrumentalist, playing everything from guitar to the banjo to her preferred choice the violin. But don’t expect sweet classical sounds to come from her violin. She makes her violin wail like a heavy metal guitarist does his guitar. Her singing style is reminiscent of Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams. She can sing anything from a sweet ballad to a more rocking tune.

To date she’s released four albums, from the debut titled Vibe to the now out of print No Regrets to Shine and her latest the self titled ep. Her most recent was supposed to be a full length but a little something called Katrina interrupted the recording process. Afterwards she decided to release what she had finished as a five song ep. This small album was one of the best pieces of music that was put out in the year 2006. Every song on it was a gem, from the Lucinda Williams cover of “Jackson” to the surprise cover of the Madonna song “Boderline”. If you’re not a fan of Madonna, don’t worry, this song does not sound anything like the Material Girl. I listened to it twice before I realized where I had heard the original song.

Theresa is not a writer of her own material, but she has a great ear for picking wonderful tunes to record. I think this is important. Too many singers want to write their own material, even if they’re not capable of it. I think it shows great wisdom for a singer nowdays to chose other writer’s material and not think they have to write all their own material.

In concert Theresa shows a lot harder rocking side than she has so far on disc. She makes her violin wail like a banashee in concert. Her version of Gillian Welch’s “I Want to Sing Rock and Roll” is a classic that deserves to be recorded.

She is currently working on a new record that should be out by the end of summer. This is a release you should mark down and make a point of getting when it comes out. If it’s half as good as her last one it will be great.

"Borderline"