Facing The Competition: Artis Wodehouse
is a pianist and music historian in Bronx, New York. Her advice for women
who dream of a career in music, "Don't dream. Work your little ass off."
In this interview, Artis talks about the intense competition women in music
face.
Breaking New Ground: Wendy Van Dusen is a producer,
singer and guitarist with the band Phoenix Thunderstone, in San Francisco,
California. She describes her music as, "total emancipation from trained
thought. I want to see people's mind converge with chaos and see them thrown
into total moral confusion... and hopefully evolve from that." Read about
how Wendy is pursuing her dream of a career in music.
Music Stopped Her From Losing Her Edge: Sharon
Anne Allitt, of Beachwood, New Jersey, is a guitarist and singer, who says
her music looks at the unique human ability to love and hate, "We can be
so wonderful to each other and so spiritual; then we can be the most horrific
individuals, who would destroy anything to achieve what we want." She says
song writing and performing has helped her keep her edge. "I think I started
to lose a little of my edge, as I turned 30-ish. This art has reminded me
that you live life by living. Don't be complacent or compliant, it won't
make your life or anyone else's any better."
Turning Reality On Its Ear: Halley DeVestern,
of Brooklyn, New York quit an acting career to pursue a life in music because,
"I can't imagine doing anything else. If I didn't perform my music, it would
jump up and down inside me and yell at me." She says the message in her songs
is: "Don't take yourself too seriously, turn reality on its ear, have fun,
question everything, enjoy your feelings...even the bad ones, don't be afraid
to go to the scary places in your mind."
Better Than Sex...Better Than Money...The Thrill
of A Life in Music: Meet Jeannette Louise Kantzalis, a singer and songwriter
with The Chubbies, a group in Lake Elsinore, California. Jeannette has 20
independent releases internationally, and has been touring nonstop for the
past six years all over the world. Where does she get the inspiration for
her music? "Life. I live a lot, I live like a starving pig. And then I write
about it."
Be Your Own Hero: Meet Julie Ann Bachman, the
singer and song writer with the band, SnackCake, an all-girl trio based in
Los Angeles, California. Her advice to women who dream of a career in music,
"Be your own hero! Go out and start playing. It gives you a sense of confidence
that our culture doesn't promote for women."
Meet Julie, a singer, song writer and guitarist with
the Los Angeles based band, The JULIES: Julie has written such songs
as "He's Got Sammy Davis Eyes," "Dog Boy,", "The Kindness Of Little Dolls"
and "Are We Even Here?" How does she handle the competition in the music
industry? "I don't think of it as competition. There's nobody out there doing
exactly what I'm doing and I don't feel threatened by other bands or musicians.
When I hear of a success story that only makes me realize how real the
possibility of my own success is."
Linda Relph is a fiddle player and backup vocalist
with a Celtic rock band in Dallas, Texas. Read how the band endured a lot
of negativity when they tried to do innovative things with a traditional
style of music.
Women in Music: Strange bizarre stage antics
is the specialty of Ariana Love, of Indianapolis, a lead vocalist for the
past eight years. She says she writes her best songs when she is emotional,
"the words come quicker and make more sense."
JJ Gonson is a project producer in Portland,
Oregon and has worked in the music industry for 13 years. She started her
own label in 1995 and has released five full length compilations.
Debra Cowan, of Springfield, Massachusetts is
a singer of traditional American and Celtic folk ballads. "Singing is my
soul....I found that when I am not singing, I lose a piece of myself that
is essential for me to feel complete."
An interview with Caroline "Blind" Bokman who
sings, plays guitar, writes lyrics and music for the Sunshine Blind, a live
performing band. She writes about spirituality and the complexities of love.
"Nothing else interests me much, and what else is there?"
An interview with Randi Reed, a former agent
assistant and independent artist consultant in Los Angeles, CA who has worked
in the music industry for 14 years. Her advice for women in music, " know
who you are, because as a woman in the music industry you're going to alternately
be called a bitch or told you're 'too nice' depending who's talking."
Women in Music: Meet Linda Dauwalder-Dachtyl,
of Central Ohio, a percussionist, keyboardist, composer and arranger, who
believes many female musicians "are afraid of being too aggressive and who
through this passive attitude end up dealing with a lot of unnecessary
nonsense."
Julie Moffitt, 40, of Harrisburg, PA, writes
and plays vocal and instrumental pieces for the piano and guitar. Her advice
to others who dream of a career in music? "Learn about the music side of
the industry... Don't waste your time playing in bands with people who have
a different vision than you...and don't let deadbeats with drug and personality
problems waste your time.'
Teresa Anderson, guitarist with the all-female
pop group Amanda Jones talks about the challenges of being a women in music--and
how sex appeal can sometimes hurt female performers.
Jan Leder of Yonkers, NY tells about her music,
her message, her mission, and the feeling she gets speaking the language
of jazz, "despite 20 years of struggling with stereotypes and not being taken
seriously and playing a rare instrument in the smallest part of the industry,
the music itself is its own reward."
An interview with Phoebe Lewis, a vocalist and
songwriter.
Meet two female musicians who are not waiting around for big recording
studios to get what they want.
Meet Angelique and Debbie from Neutron Cafe.
They write songs to get you pumped, make you think, and take your heart and
soul on vacation.
An interview with Jennifer Wills Stinnette
on her Christian Contemporary music, the transition from being a private
person to a public person, and why nothing else in the world makes her as
happy as music. |
Contest:
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