By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) All the usual suspects like Marvin Gaye, Adam Cooke, Al Green, Prince, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross and Donny Hathaway.
Q) We’re seeing you in a 3-month residency at the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto. How did you come to be a featured artist with them?
A) My manager connected with the owner, and they discussed starting a new night of music on Thursdays. I thought the room was cool and the history of the venue is legendary. The rest is history.
Q) What did this incredible opportunity mean to you?
A) At the end of the day, I LOVE performing for folks and this was another opportunity to do just that. Any real artist just wants to share their gift. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to do that on a regular basis.
Q) What was the process for you sitting down to figure out the set list for your nightly performances?
A) The process happens on the spot, actually. I have an amazing band that knows my material very well. I make the call on which tunes to do on the fly. It’s exciting to do AND it allows me to react to the room. If people are up and dancing, then I’m able to call tunes that I know will KEEP them dancing.
Q) Certainly “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone” is a fan favorite. What are some other songs that you enjoy performing for your shows?
A) I enjoy singing my originals “One In A Million,” “Weekend Lover,” “Drink” and “Rub.” I also love doing anything by Otis Redding or Marvin Gaye. Sam Cooke’s song “A Change Is Gonna Come” almost brings me to tears every time I sing it.
Q) Do you have any pre-show performance rituals that get you prepared for hitting the stage?
A) I like to have some quiet time to just chill by myself. I also have a set up vocal warm ups I do before show time.
Q) What do you hope audiences take away from coming to see you perform live? Is there an emotion or message you’d like to linger with them?
A) I just want them to leave feeling happy, uplifted, optimistic and free of whatever bad vibes that met may have come in with.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) Honestly it doesn’t matter. It’s not about the location. It’s about the end result. Did I move the crowd? Did I inspire them to FEEL something? Did I add something positive to their lives? That to me is what really matters.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Bruno Mars
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I love what Doechii is bringing to the table. Her artistry is on a whole other level compared to her contemporaries. You can tell she put incredible amounts of thought into EVERY aspect of her art. It’s inspiring to see and hear.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) I’d just like to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. This industry is NOT in the best shape right now, and it can be the opposite of inspiring on many days. But I have a core group of people who support me and show me love every time I hit the stage, and I am so grateful for their love.