Can you
tell us how you became involved
into rockabilly ? Who (or
what) was the shock that decided
you to become a singer?
I grew up in a very musical
household. There seemed to be
some kind of music playing most
of the time. My mother’s
record collection was huge--chock
full of blues, jazz and rock n
roll. It was hillbilly &
rockabilly that struck the
strongest chord with me, moved me
the most. I started writing songs
when I was eleven, really with no
intentional goals that I can
think of. It wasn’t until I
started working at a record store
as a teen, that I discovered the
more obscure rockabilly music
which made me even love it more,
and that was when I decided to
get a guitar and eventually start
a band.Nowadays
what are you influences and what
are you listening to ?
My influences are always
expanding. They’ve always
spanned across many genres of
music, not just rockabilly.
Lately I’ve been listening
to alot of old western swing,
mariachi and Hawaiian 78’s,
plus a lot of Jazz & vocals
like Nat King Cole, Ella
Fitzgerald and Kay Starr. I just
got back from playing a festival
in Australia where I picked up a
few CDs from some of the current
rockabilly bands out there, so I’ve
been listening to those lately as
well--The Satellites and The
Satellite V are two bands to look
out for... really good stuff.
Reading
an article about Whistle Bait, it
seems you had a wide range of
influences (from Wanda Jackson to
the Ramones).
Hmm, where’d you find that
article ? Yes, if I tried to
list all of my influences it
would take months and scrolls of
paper! I have shelves &
shelves of records & CDs and
I’m continually buying new
stuff all the time.
Could
you tell more about this band and
how did it sound ?
Whistle Bait was my very first
band. It was actually all of the
members’ first band as well.
I started it when I moved to LA
in 1992. It was an all-girl
rockabilly band, and believe it
or not I hadn’t had the
intention of starting an all-girl
band...it just sort of happened
that way. It was a four piece--lead
guitar, upright bass,drums &
myself on Rhythm guitar &
vocals. We were extremely raw
sounding --as first bands usually
are.
Any
chance to see an official release
of the demos recorded by Wally
Hersom ?
That’s a frequently asked
question...still, after all of
these years... But honestly, I
really don’t know if those
recordings will ever be released---I
can’t foresee putting them
out in the near future.... Maybe
after I’m dead or something?!
I guess I probably shouldn’t
mention this, but there are live
videos of us too.
(If you want to hear some
tunes by WhistleBait you can go
to their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/whistlebaitgirls )
Why
did Whistle Bait break up ?
Mainly because we wanted to go in
different directions musically. I
wanted to stay traditional
rockabilly, I think the others
were aiming more towards a harder
edge/alternative sound. We also
had some disagreements on the
business side of things which I
won’t go into.
Is
it true that it was just before
you were due to play Hemsby ?
Gosh, you know everything, don’t
you ? It’s a classic story.
Our last show ever was at The
House of Blues in LA on Elvis’
birthday for their annual benefit.
Unfortunately we didn’t know
it was our last show when we were
playing it! Soon after, we had a
band meeting or fallout--whatever
you want to call it... I had been
unhappy for a long time with the
music situation, and at that
meeting a lot of «certain»
business issues came up...we all
left pretty pissed off. I decided
that it was best if the band didn’t
continue... I wasn’t even
sure what the hell I was going to
do. I had absolutely no plans of
doing a solo thing--probably just
starting a new band. Whistle Bait
had one final gig to do--we were
committed, the contract was
signed, it was Hemsby 16.
Unfortunately the rest of the
girls refused to follow through
on the booking commitment. I told
them that we should at least do
this last gig, but they wouldn’t
budge (cause they were still
angry with my decision to quit
the band)... so I called the
promoter of Hemsby and told him
that the band broke up, but if he
wanted, I would still come over
and do the show alone. I’ve
been a solo artist ever since.
Your
first album is straight (and
first class) rockabilly. On the
second we can hear a touch of
country with the presence of the
steel. Does it something you did
consciously ? Would you like
to go more in that style (with
fiddle etc.) ?
Now that I look back, I realize
«As is» was just myself coming
full circle. In my earlier years,
I was really more hillbilly
sounding, but no one really knows
this because the first recording
that everyone has heard is ‘Hot
Rod Girl’... I never «consciously»
plan the songs I write, they just
come out. «As Is» was just a
product of the songs that came
out of me at that period of my
life. You see, for me, I can’t
just sit down and say «well gee,
I think. I’m gonna write a
rockabilly song today’, my
songwriting goes much deeper than
that....it’s influenced by
what’s going on around me.
The arrangements (e.g. steel
guitar) just come to fruition as
I get together with my band. I
happened to have a steel player
there at the time, and I just
liked the way it sounded. I have
a hard time with genres.
Unfortunately they have to
categorize us somehow. I really
just play the music that is deep
in my heart, and that just so
happens to be categorized by
people as rockabilly...so when I
slightly stray from that it
worries some people--I don’t
know why--hillbilly rockabilly--honky--tonk--whatever
you want to call it--it all has
soul, and that’s what I like
creating---music with soul.
Being
a rockabilly artist is surely not
easy, I guess. But is it more
difficult to be a woman on that
scene ?
It’s both-- Working with a
band, club bookers and sound guys
is more difficult in that males
tend to hate being told what to
do by a woman..in the end we are
always considered a ‘bitch’
where as if I were a man, I’d
be considered assertive and be
respected to a greater extent.
But it’s also easier being a
woman in that we have higher
recognition on the scene because
there aren’t as many doing
it. So, lot’s more press and
photo ops!
In
your lyrics you sound like an
anti «Stand By Your Man». Could
you tell us more about
that ?
Wow, do I?? I never thought about
it. I guess my lyrics just
reflect my firm belief in that
you can’t change someone. If
you are unhappy, then leave! Don’t
just stick around and be
miserable just because you love
them. I do love Tammy Wynette
though--and I like that song?!
You
produce your records and you run
your own label. Is it to have
more control over your
recordings ?
It’s entirely to have total
control over my recordings. I
have total accountability for
everything. I know exactly how
much and where every last cent is
going from my CD sales earnings.
Ask any artist who is with an
Indie label, and they probably
haven’t even seen $10,000
bucks so far.... and if they
have, they are probably wondering
if they’ll ever get anything
else. Ask any artist who is on a
major label and they probably
haven’t even seen one penny
because they are still paying off
their massive debt to the label.
It’s sad but true.
Would
you like to produce other artists
on She-Devil ?
I don’t think I would ever
have enough time! Plus I don’t
think I’d like to be
responsible for other band’s
income... Too much of a pain and
too much work!
The
swing movement made a big hit in
the USA. Do you think the same
thing could happen to rockabilly
as it did 20 years ago (even
though lotsa bands weren’t
real rockabilly)?
I highly doubt it,(especially if
you see the crap that’s on
the charts in America today) but
possibly the right band might be
able to land themselves on the
Billboard charts and start a new
craze. It would probably be short
lived though.
Did
you play with rockabilly singer
of the first generation as Wanda
Jackson or Janis Martin ?
Oh yes, I’ve played with
Wanda before - she is still just
as rockin as ever - and what a
voice?!
What
are your projects ? Any chance to
see you in France in the near
future ?
I would love to do a European
Tour. I’ve never been to
France and it would be great to
play there. If you know of any
promoters that are interested in
bringing me over, give them my
contact info!
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