By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) Your voice is often described as a bit Americana and a bit country. How would you describe your sound?
A) I think my sound reflects my influences and all the different genres I’ve listened to. In particular, when I was young I focused on trying to imitate country singers such as Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers and blues singer Leadbelly.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) In addition to the above mentioned artists, I’ve listened to a lot of early jazz – the great jazz vocalists. I love Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Billy Holiday, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and so many more. I also listened to a lot of old-time hillbilly stuff. I busked on the street in Eureka Springs and in New Orleans with bluegrass and blues bands. I’m influenced by my friend Gina Gallina and her record collection and the songs we’ve played together over the years – all kinds of great swing and old-time tunes.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “The Way I Remember You.”
A) This song started coming in when I was on tour with the Wonder Women of Country a couple years ago. I was just thinking about how often times the way we remember someone is not exactly an accurate picture, especially an old flame who you wish to recall in a fond way, remembering back to the times when love was young and the passion was alive.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think we all look back in this nostalgic way on past loves.
Q) This marks another collaboration with Theo Lawrence. What is it about his singing or his musical abilities that makes him such a pleasure?
A) It is a lot of fun to sing with Theo in harmony. His voice is beautiful and strong and fun to blend with and it makes me sing better singing next to him. It was a pleasure writing with him as well. We do really well bouncing ideas off of each other for songs. I think his youth and his fresh energy of not being jaded by the business or exhausted by life [laughs] was inspiring. We started off only planning on writing a couple songs together and we were having so much fun that we kept going.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) Usually a line comes to me that I think would make a good theme for a song and then the melody forms itself around the first line. Then, I just let the song flow out from there with lyrics and melody usually coming together pretty quickly and easily. I don’t use an instrument, normally, but allow the song to come into my mind and I start singing it until it is familiar. Then, once I have a little piece, I will record it into my phone so I don’t forget it. Sometimes I will write a lot in my head right away, sometimes I put the first bit away and finish it later.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) Quite a bit usually. For the songs with Theo we both had a lot of say so with the production. We decided what instruments we wanted on each song, with the help of engineer Andrija Tokic (Bomb Shelter). Chris Scruggs and Thibault Ripault helped a lot with arrangements. This is pretty typical that the band will help arrange a song. Theo and I decided we wanted to record live in the room with the band. I’ve done that before on Daddy’s Country Gold and it creates a very raw and magical vibe to the recordings.
Q) You’re out on tour now with JD McPherson. Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) I’m excited to play Nashville at Basement East. I’ve lived there before and have friends there. First Avenue in Minneapolis and the Bowery Ballroom in NYC will both be very special venues. They are both historic. I feel like when a club is around for a long time, has good energy and reputation and great atmosphere and acoustics, it always makes for a great show. I will be playing a lot of rooms I haven’t played before. Grey Eagle in Asheville is a great venue. That area of NC has a great radio station WNCW and they play my music. Folks show up there knowing my songs – always nice. I’m looking forward to the whole tour because JD and his band are amazing and every show is going to be so fun! I have an incredible band I’m bringing out as well. We are all ready to have a great time and celebrate the holidays and bring around some much needed cheer!
Q) Your new song “Made With Love” is so heartwarming! What songs off your new LP A Very Carper Christmas will fans be getting to see you perform live?
A) I will play most of the album in my opening set – pretty much everything besides the two Christamas classic cover songs that I recorded. I will squeeze as many of the thirteen original songs into the set as I can, rotating a few in and out.
Q) What are some of your favorite timeless holiday songs you love to sing?
A) “White Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas…” I really mostly love to listen to the greats sing these each year on the old recordings!
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) I’ve been enjoying collaborating with Bonnie Montgomery, an amazing singer and writer who lives twenty minutes from me. We recorded a couple songs we co-wrote that should be coming out next year. Looking forward to continued collabs with Bonnie!
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) Bonnie Montgomery – powerful, beautiful, soulful voice and songwriting. You can feel everything she sings, gorgeous melodies and arrangements.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you for listening, supporting and spreading the word about my music! I feel like my fan base is very dedicated, compassionate and loving. Ultimately, they are the reason I keep doing it. Whoever receives some kind of joy or therapy from the music– this is the whole reason for doing it!