First of all, we’d like to thank you for the interview! You’re a fashion designer and musician. I find it really impressive and inspiring that you haven’t put one talent on hold in order to focus on the other. How do you juggle both professions?
Oh my...it is a juggle indeed. I have currently been trying put the gas petal more on my music to accelerate in that career, but it has been a huge challenge. Because I work for a small firm, I have always worn several hats besides just designing. Sometimes it requires late nights in the office. All companies are trying to recreate themselves to generate capital from new areas now because of the current economy and technological changes. The squeeze keeps getting tighter, and the number of hats keeps growing. It's tough. The plus side is I have learned this incredible trade, and that I have been able to pay a mortgage and finance my record through my job in fashion. I love both fields, but my heart finds more joy in the expression of music.
There are several musicians that are also known for their unique fashion, for example, Madonna, Elton John, or more recently, Lady Gaga. Are there any such musicians that you look up to or have inspired you?
Oh definitely Madonna. I love her. She is always creative, and has such sassy, tasteful class. There is nobody that does it better than her. I admire her on many levels. In the early years her shock methods were brilliant. She is an incredible artist and a brilliant business woman. She has always tested the limits by using fashion, dance and current urban trends, to make her music more than just music. It was an entertainment experience. Michael Jackson was also a huge inspiration for me regarding this. That mans talent blew my mind.
We were all blown away by your song “Expectations.” (Actually, it’s worse than that. It’s stuck in our heads, and we’ve been singing it constantly.) What’s the inspiration behind it?
I believe it started out by wondering about myself and a bunch of my single female friends... There seem to be many attractive, and successful women here that just can't seem to find steady romantic partners. I find it to be somewhat of an urban epidemic here in NYC. Ha. New Yorkers are extremely friendly despite their reputation. However, many people here have, "what do you want from me?" shields held high, guarding them. Most people live here because they have big dreams, big expectations, therefore agenda is priority. In addition, our society influences many people into feel a false need to constantly upgrade, setting their expectations high on ego and materialistic status symbols. From their cell phones, to careers as well as personal relationships. The choices seem unlimited, so turnover is prevalent. In a nut shell, it's about all the expectations of all these outside influences that we place on ourselves. I believe it's deceptive. It's much more fruitful to focus on our happiness from within.
Many modern musicians have songs that deal with social issues. However, you’ve done the same without making your songs sound corny or repetitive. On the contrary, your lyrics are poetic, frank, and, overall, impeccable. All I can ask is, how do you do it?
Wow, first of all, thank you. That's an incredible compliment. I really have to pressure myself to write. I'm a bit of a procrastinator, or some like to call it a percolator. :) I book studio time a month ahead, then I casually think about what I will write about for a couple weeks...but I never really start writing until around the 3rd week when the heat is on. Then, I'll hit coffee shops, and sometimes bars, and starting writing everything going on in my head. I will write for hours and let the world around me disappear. Then, ...well, sometimes this part actually comes first, it depends,....I will sit quietly in my apartment, without looking at anything I wrote and I will just feel what comes. Usually a major piece of the song just comes to me in lyric and melody together. It's sort of a third eye, out of body channeling that occurs. I usually hear it in my head first, then pick up the guitar and work that part of it out. Finally, I labor over the lyrics 1 or 2 days before the studio session (sometimes stay up all night) to work around that part of the song that came naturally. Many times I'm still writing in the studio. Also, I go back to my pages of journaled writings from the coffee shop and pull bits out. It's only recently I've starting picking up the guitar first and working out different progressions I like.
When did you become interested in music? Can you remember the first song you ever wrote?
Ever since I was a little girl, I 've always been in love with all types of music. I remember the first time I actually thought I could sing. I was at my best friends house....I was probably about 7 yrs old singing "On The Radio" by Donna Summer at the top of my lungs. Music never really propel me at that time because soccer took over my world as a young girl. I then became turned on again later at the end of my Senior year in High School. I started singing for my church as a song leader on Sundays. I had a really slow start in writing songs, because I had no musical training, and I wasn't sure where to begin. I think I wrote my first song around 1995. I wrote two songs back then, and yet again time got away from me. I was busy climbing the corporate ladder in the fashion industry. Then, after my Mother died of an inoperable brain tumor in 2003, I really woke up and realized that life is extremely short. You have to go for all your dreams right now, because you never know when your mortality card is up. So, I literally started manifesting making an album. I started taking guitar lessons, and through my guitar teacher at the time, Karyn Kuhl (formerly of SexPod), I met my producers, Barb Morrison and Charlie Nieland, who I knew could help me achieve my vision.
Who or what is the inspiration behind your work?
Well, besides the obvious repetitive single NYC woman challenges and stimulus, there are a couple other variables. One being, as I mentioned above, that my Moms death really had an effect on me to utilize my creativity and my voice, with all my soul, while I have the opportunity to do it. The second inspiration has been music artist Sarah McLachlan. There is something about her music, her voice, and her songwriting that has continued to propel me to keep moving forward. As an active philanthropist with Lilith and women's rights, her music school SMMO in Vancouver, and ASPCA, etc., she has inspired me to keep it real and make my music more than just a pretty love song. Music is incredibly empowering and healing. It seems obvious to tie in charity whenever possible.
Anyone you’d really want to duet with?
That might obviously be Sarah McLachlan. I would also like to duet with Billy Joel.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I intend to get a lot more performing under my belt. I am current working on figuring out a way to free up more time to tour. I will continue writing, of course. I would like to make this more of a disciplinary part of my schedule. In addition, I would like to start designing some specialty leather and faux leather jackets to offer under my own label. It's all just the beginning.
You know what to do ;)
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Track to download: "Expectations" It will get stuck in your head. Don't say I didn't warn you.
