By: Lisa Steinberg
Photo By Oswaldo Cepeda
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) Timeless pop songs, with a soulful minimalist piano accompaniment, symphonic southern strings and a world-class vocal.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
The greats from the past; Stevie, Etta, you name them!
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Alone Tonight.”
A) Jerub and I were in the London Dalston Music Studio, setting out to write a Christmas song in Summer for my annual Christmas album. When we finished writing and recorded the vocal, I paused midway and asked Jerub if he really felt we did our best work – because I didn’t feel chills like I usually do.
We both decided to scrap the song and use the last forty minutes to write a new song. I sat at the piano and played a few chords and suddenly Jerub came up with this incredibly moving chorus idea – I felt the chills. I thought of “hugging strangers, homeless people, random lonely people,” how that connects you to the universe, and how that, especially during the holidays, really reflects the essence of the holiday spirit. We decided to write the song about that and the lyrics just poured out of us. In the forty minutes we had left we finished writing and recording “Alone Tonight.” The song felt so universal that we took it off the Christmas album and imminently released it as a single.
Q) The two of you also worked together to reimagine Madonna’s “Living For Love.” What is it about his voice or his music making process that makes him such a great collaborator?
A) Madonna gave the highest praises after I sent her my Jerub version of our song “Living For Love.” Jerub did such an amazing job!!
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) “Alone Tonight” is just a very universal message that is much needed in these times of political division. The politics really don’t reflect how people are still very caring, loving and down to earth, despite the horrible news these days.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) We kept the music video very simple and just tried to capture the essence of the song with great lighting and intense colors, so that audiences can focus on the voice and the music.
Q) As a prolific songwriter, what is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I start with the lyrical “takeaway” from the song. Once I have identified a hook lyric, something that’s intriguing and feels like it matters, I think it’s very easy to build a song around it.
Q) You are also a music producer. Why is it so important for you to be so hands on with the music you make instead of maybe grabbing an outsider’s perspective?
A) Half of my many records have other producers on it. I am open to getting the best talent for the job, but on the Piano Diaries records I have dialed in the sonics and know how I want it to sound. I still use another mixing engineer though, such as Ed Boyer.
Q) Is there a full album or EP possibly coming in the near future for you?
A) Yes, absolutely. “Alone Tonight” is one of the singles leading up to a 2027 Piano Diaries – Originals album release.
Q) You have worked with a number of iconic musicians in the past. Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) There are so many gifted singers out there and recently I am open to new talent as well, as in the case of my last Piano Diaries single, “My Love For You Will Stay,” with Hanna Effron. I love to work with artists who have something to say and have a unique recognizable voice.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I love listening to piano improvisation (Keith Jarrett) and sitar (Ravi Shankar). My recent album releases with Cellist Dave Eggar are fully improvised concerts. I am thrilled with this new collaboration. This music has become the soundtrack to my life. Listen to THE EUREKA CONCERT, the SUMMER CONCERT and upcoming AUTUMN CONCERT by Dave Eggar and Toby Gad. [smiles]
Q) As a successful songwriter, what advice would you give to artists just starting out in the music industry?
A) Do it for the love of making music. It’s a long road and if your music becomes successful, that’s the bonus, but your happiness should be in the process of making music.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the beautiful music you make?
A) I am grateful that my records have found such a wonderful new audience and I am thrilled to see many of you at my live concerts. That is happiness to me these days.