Crazy About Christen Sawyer

Christen Sawyer is not your typical college student. Well, when you look at her, she may blend in with the average college classroom. Blond, very attractive with an innocent smile, but she leads a double life. No, she's not a secret agent and even if she was, I couldn't tell you that. She is a very talented country singer/songwriter from Sugarland, Texas.

Christen attends Texas A&M where she is double majoring with her major in Economics and her minor in Business Administration. If that wasn't impressive enough, her single "Crazy" is currently in the Top 20 on the Texas Music Charts. Oh yeah, she's also a self-professed dork. More about that later!

I spoke with Christen recently about her budding career. "So far, it's been amazing. I actually may take a semester off from school because of how 'Crazy' has taken off at country radio, plus my classes are getting harder too. I feel really lucky for the response to the single, even though I was really embarrassed the first time I heard myself on the radio. I just couldn't believe it, I'm such a dork," said Christen.

I asked if she ever considered trying out for American Idol because she really seems to fit the format of what they are looking for. "I have had so many people tell me on my YouTube account that I need to audition for Idol and that I would be great on there. Actually, I thought about it but I was in school every time the auditions were near here. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Oh, I'm also terrified of Simon!"

Christen has a 3 song demo out that really showcases this young woman's vocals and songwriting talents. One listen to "Crazy" and you can imagine Sara Evans doing her own version of this great song. "Better Off Broken" sounds like something right up Martina McBride's alley. "I'm Already Gone" is also a great example of her storytelling ability. Her vocals have alot of emotion behind them and she knows how to convey an image to the listener of what she is saying.

"I have been singing forever. When I was little, I did ballet and gymnastics and it lasted about a month. Then, I started singing and it stuck. It just didn't feel like work to me. The more I sang, the more I began to believe in myself and now, here I am. I have met so many great artists along this journey. I went to a music seminar and met Jack Ingram, which was amazing," said Christen.

Our talk concluded with asking her what cd she would want to be trapped on a desert island with? "Wow! That's a really tough question. I have never been asked that one before. I guess I would have to say my Benji Davis Project CD. They have so many different styles on it and I don't think I would grow bored of it."

Christen is writing material for her full length CD which she hopes to have out by the end of the year. She is busy traveling all over Texas doing radio shows and performing acoustically on the air live. Fans of Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood should check her out at www.myspace.com/christensawyer or at www.christensawyer.com. This young lady has her plate full with all of her endeavors, but I don't see her that plate becoming too clean anytime soon.

Atomic Blonde Show The Bigboys How To Rock

The metal scene seemed to take American by storm back in the late eighties. It has mostly been a testosterone driven style of music that women have a hard time being taken seriously in. Whether it's metal or hard rock in general, women have had a negative stereotype brought against them when it comes to playing in this male dominated field.

Through the years, many female rock/metal bands have come and gone. Remember Vixen? The Donnas are still around. Lita Ford pops up from time to time as well as the never aging Joan Jett. There's a new force to be reckoned with on the scene. They are Nashville, Tennessee's own Atomic Blonde. They are a mix of pop, metal, punk, sexiness and attitude. The ladies brought their style of playing to the people in 2004. The band consists of Dacia on guitar and vocals, Kendra on drums, Fran on guitar and Danielle on bass. I spoke with Dacia recently about the band and what's going on in their career.

Being an all female rock/metal band, do you find that there is a double standard for women in this industry? "Yes, it is difficult at times, especially in rock music. You are constantly being told by the labels that there are no all girl bands doing this. You have to keep your focus and believe in yourselves. We don't want to be pop, so we are not going to change for anyone. Alot of legendary groups have similar stories. You stick to your guns and wait for that right person who believes in your vision with you," said Dacia.

The band has different influences and it can be heard in their sound. "We listen to alot of stuff. I'm influenced by everyone from Gwen Stefani to Sheryl Crowe to Nirvana and to Chris Cornell. Kendra loves Primus and Nickelback and Linkin Park. Fran tends to be into bluesy stuff like Hendrix."

The band has a six song self titled CD that is available on Amazon.com , CD Baby and i-Tunes. It can also be purchased at their official website www.atomicblonde.net. It is a great showcase for how talented these women are. there are too many stereotypes in this world, whether it's in music or not. These women give the men a run for their money. The rhythm section of Danielle's pulsating bass and Kendra bashing the drums gives them a tight sound that is way beyond their actual years of playing together. Fran is a beast on guitar and Dacia......it's hard not to be taken away by her beauty, but this woman brings it to the table each and every time she gets behind the microphone. This woman can sing and she demands your attention.

Can we expect to see these ladies burning up the road anytime soon? "I think we will more extensively in the fall. We want to play more shows so that we can win over our audiences. We have to do everything ourselves so maybe we can get them to help us carry our equipment?"

Speaking of playing live, I asked Dacia if she had any interesting road stories to share with us? "One of the worst stories would be at this venue that we played that was not set up for live music. Two songs into our set, we blew the breaker. We had no electricity. One of the better memories was when we played at a film festival and it was really late. There was a guy in the crowd moshing and he actually ran into our bassist Danielle and knocked her into our drum kit. The next thing we knew, she had taken off into the crowd and was ready to kick this guys ass!"

So, how has the band coped with this double standard that we spoke on earlier? "It seems like the whole entertainment industry, not just music, is so much about image. First impressions can be lasting ones. We always hear people scream out, 'Girl bands suck!' Then at the end of the night, they come up to us and tell us how good we were and that they didn't really expect us to play as well as we did."

With the music industry in such a transitional stage, I was curious as to what Dacia's thoughts were? "The industry has had a hard time keeping up with technology. Radio is absolutely dead! Labels seem to be unwilling to look at new things. In the eighties, labels would take a band and put money into them and develop them. That's not happening anymore. Most bands have to do all of that themselves. As an artist, doing both the management role and the creative role is very hard. This past year I have suffered from writer's block because of it."

My last question for Dacia was my stuck on a desert island with only one CD what would it be question. "Wow, that's a good question. I have to pick two if I can. One would be Linkin Park's 'Hybrid Theory' plus Justin Timberlake's 'FutureSex/Loveounds'.

Do you want a dose of sexy rock and roll with a punk edge plus catchy hooks? I dare you to check these young ladies out. Don't think about the fact that they are an all female band and the fact that all four look like models. What if you were blind and put on their CD? Forget the image aspect and just listen to them for their musicianship and amazing songwriting abilities. You will find yourself rocking out with them in no time.

Jennifer Benson: Rocking God's Message

Every now and then you hear a singer whose voice stops you in your tracks. I was searching through some bands and singers not too long ago on MySpace when I heard a female singer with an amazing voice. I did a little research and found out the singer's name was Jennifer Benson and this lady can really rock. I actually got to talk to Jennifer about her venture into music.

"I guess I was 15 when I turned to Christ and made my decision to follow him. I knew that I wanted to be a Christian artist but I had a few obstacles to overcome. I got married and then divorced, I made alot of wrong decisions. I had no support with my career. I had a baby and remarried and he's very supportive of my career. I feel like I am on the right track again," said Jennifer.

Jennifer's music draws upon her close relationship with God. Now, I know that some people may have a preconceived notion about contemporary christian music. I wish that people could just appreciate music for what it is: artistic expression. Jennifer's music is very positive and encouraging and I think that most people would be amazed at her style. You can definitely hear her influences on these songs. " My influences do vary from Pat Benatar to Superchick, the Barlow Girls and Pink and Avril Lavigne. My band Pierced and I have been together for about a year now. I have had trouble finding musicians that will stay committed, but God's calling for me to do this. I am focusing on my writing and moving on."

Jennifer seems to be focusing on delivering God's message through her music and she is determined to get this music train back on the right track. "I am focusing on getting ten good songs ready and putting out a full CD. I toured some last summer but the band fell apart and I want to make sure I have the right people on board. I will be auditioning for an A&R rep in May as a solo artist. I hope to get a record deal out of that and then start touring nationally. I want to share God's love through my music."

My interview concluded with my what CD would you like to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island? " Wow, that is a tough one. It seems like every period of my life is different. Right now I would have to go with Krystal Meyers CD "Make Some Noise", it's a great CD."

My talk with Jennifer really did make me think twice about how alot of people think contemporary christian music is not for them. I think too many people who are stuck in that mindset are really missing out on some talented artists like Jennifer. She has an amazing voice that is full of raw power and emotion. Her music is a great mixture of rock and pop and it definitely has God's message in it. Just listen to songs like "Oxygen" and "Run To Me" and you can tell that her music has a rock/alternative edge that sounds right at home with most Top 40 formats. It's very positive and encouraging and we all need a message like that in these times that we are going through right now. Jennifer is a very talented artist who deserves to be heard in this industry of manufactured stars.

If you are looking for some great music with a positive message, go check out Jennifer at www.myspace.com/jenniferbenson4u. You can also visit her official website at www.jenniferbenson.net. Her CD can be purchased at CD Baby and on i-Tunes. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the end results.

Melissa Bel - Canada's Newest Export

Most six year old girls are playing with Barbie dolls or watching cartoons and thinking how icky boys are. Melissa Bel was not your typical six year old girl. Now, outside of the boys being icky part, Melissa had big plans laid out. "I just remember looking into my mirror and telling myself that I was going to be a singer. I knew that was what I wanted to be. Of course, I did the normal standing in front of the mirror singing along to a song routine. I started playing the guitar when I was fourteen and I started writing my own songs then also," said Melissa.

Now, I know most of you may be thinking that kids always say things like that when they are little. Well, not only did Melissa say it, she also acted upon it. Through hard work and perseverance, she was signed to a distribution deal at the age of 19. "I was very torn at graduation about what to do. Should I pursue singing or go to school. My singing teacher got me to choose and I chose to pursue my music career. This is my second full year off from school," said Melissa.

Her EP was recently released and let me tell you, this young lady has an immense arsenal of talent that she brings to the table. Her songs range from heart felt ballads to bluesy numbers. "I write from personal experiences and my own crazy, emotional turmoil. When I was sixteen, I wore my heart on my sleeves. It's kinda funny, I seemed to have alot more of material to write about back then too." Melissa also covers a song called "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" that was written by Smokey Robinson. She shows that she also has a very sexy side on the delivery of this song. The emotion and power of her vocals on this song are amazing. "Distance" is another personal favorite of mine that really brings out a more bluesy side of her.

She draws her influences from a very wide and diverse group. "First and foremost, I would have to say that the Beatles are my main influence, without a doubt. I also love Alannis Morrisette and Jason Myraz. Oh, I really love blues and early Motown. There's also a Canadian blues artist by the name of Colin James who is amazing. John Mayer, he's someone that I would love to work with. I keep telling myself that if I say it enough times, it will eventually come true."

Melissa's hard work is starting to pay off in many ways. In 2008 at the Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards, she won Best Pop Album and also the Artist of the Year. Not too shabby for such a young artist on the rise.

I finished my interview with asking her my "trapped on a desert island with only one store bought CD what would it be" question and she did not disappoint. "Oh, without a doubt it would be the Beatles 'White Album'. That is such an amazing CD and there are so many songs on it that it would be hard to grow tired of it."

I encourage fans to go to www.myspace.com/melissabelmusic to check out her music. Her self titled EP can be purchased at her shows and she is currently in talks with i-Tunes to make it available there also. Give this young lady a listen. She has a ton of passion and conviction behind her voice and lyrics. I dare you to listen to her CD one time and not be hooked on this young artist. I double dog dare you.

Chrissy Coughlin Looks Ahead To The Future

Sometimes it takes a life altering experience to change ones life and make them refocus. This is exactly what happened to Chrissy Coughlin. She knew that she wanted to pursue music, but it was the discovery of a tumor in her leg that gave her a new sense of direction. "I started singing in the ninth grade and gaining musical knowledge. I started writing in graduate school. I moved to DC and started playing live and gaining confidence. I was working in the environmental field and about 5 years ago the doctors discovered a tumor in my calf. It actually gave me the inspiration to make a change in my life. It was then that I decided to put all of my focus on my music," said Chrissy.

Chrissy is one of those unique artists whose vocals can transport you to another place. She does an amazing cover of "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" and you feel as if you are transported to a smoke filled jazz club and she's lying on top of the piano singing to you. It's a very sexy translation of the song. "My producer works with alot of Brazilian music and I've always loved the song. I've never sung the song, but I thought that I should give it a try. There is a part that is sung in Portuguese and I was very adamant about keeping that in there. I think it turned out pretty good," said Chrissy.

Another standout track on her newest cd "Look Ahead" is an interesting choice of a cover song, Robert Plant's "Big Log". I asked her how that cam about. "I wanted to do a cover of a song by a male vocalist and I have always loved that song. I wanted to do something, but not one that everyone knew automatically but not one that was very obscure. I also wanted to put a female twist to it. At the time, Robert was in the news because he was working on his collaboration with Allison Krauss. I told Tim , my guitarist, about it and that i wanted to do a kind of bluesy cover of it."

Chrissy's cd "Look Ahead" also contains very personal songs that touch on the human emotion element of everyday life. "I write about whatever captures my eye. Whether it's observations of people in my life or just walking down the street and seeing something that catches my attention. Some of my songs are about personal relationships. I want to write more about emotions and not necessarily about the environment." Listeners need to look no further than to standout tracks such as "Do It Out Of Love" and "Perfect Time" to hear fine examples of these.

So, who does Chrissy site as being inspirations in her musical journey? "I love Lucinda Williams. I love her grittiness and she just says it like it is. Her lyrics are very simple yet so powerful at the same time. I also love Patty Griffin. She is a poet with very soulful lyrics. You can actually picture what she is singing about because she's so elegant in her delivery. I think Stevie Nicks' vocal ability is just amazing. I think U2 is one of the few bands around who can actually get it all right."

Chrissy's sound is also one that crosses different classifications. She's a little pop, a little country, a little adult contemporary. Songs such as "Perfect Time" or "Back To You" actually have a Sara Evans kind of feel to them. "Look Ahead" also has a certain Sheryl Crowe feel to it. "I don't really follow country closely, but I do know it. I think country fans are some of the most loyal fans out there. I love the comparisons."

Chrissy hopes to do a few mini tours around the Boston, Portland and DC areas to share her music with the masses. No big tours are in the plans right now, just smaller, regional ones. I concluded my interview with Chrissy by asking her if she was trapped on a desert island with only one cd, what would be her choice? "It would have to be something powerful. Probably REM's 'Murmur'. That was such a great release for them. The songs just take me to another place, it definitely relaxes me. Their earlier stuff was just so amazing."

It's easy to listen to Chrissy's cd and hear her influences. Her vocals have a calming, soothing sense to them. Just like her influence Patty Griffin, Chrissy's lyrics do enable the listener to see what she is singing about. Her lyrics touch you and you can feel and hear the emotion in them. Check her out on MySpace or her personal website, www.chrissymusic.com.

Kerri Edelman: Psychologist By Day, Rockstar By Night

How about a game of word association? Let me throw a few words at you and you say the first thing that comes to mind. Singer. Powerful voice. Very compelling, dynamic and personal lyrics throughout her songs. Maximum security prison. CD cover that has a person dressed in black. Now, at this point I am sure that just about everyone has yelled out Johnny Cash, but I want to let you in on a secret. The artist in question, who does share alot in common with Mr. Cash is a newcomer to the music scene by the name of Kerri Edelman.

Kerri is not exactly your typical singer-songwriter. You see, Kerri graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology as well as a Masters and Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology. She is currently employed as a Director and Clinical Psychologist in a maximum security prison. So, did your jaw just drop? Now, when you hear all of this, you may envision Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs. Then, you look at this very petite and beautiful woman and you really are confused.

I was intrigued and actually had a chance to talk to Kerri in order to settle my own curiosity on a few things. "I guess you could always say that I've been different. I was somewhat of a tomboy when I was growing up. When I was 11, I started surfing competitively. I was the only girl out there and of course I got resistance from some of the guys. Eventually, my persistence and hard work payed off; earning their respect. I am approaching my venture into music in a similar way," said Kerri.

Proving people wrong seems to be a reoccurring element in her story. "It seems like everything that I do, especially getting involved in music, has been done on my own with very little assistance, support and encouragement. Not alot of people think that I can do this and I guess that I am just going to have to demonstrate as I have in the past that with persistence and hard work what is perceived as impossible can be accomplished," Kerri said. A quick footnote to reference would be the track on her CD entitled "Vanilla Skies" which really captures the whole "I will prove you all wrong" spirit that she has.

So, how does one make the change from being a clinical psychologist by day to alternative rocker by night? "Well, it was about six or seven years ago that I began writing. I've tried putting a band together on dozens of occasions and it eventually fell apart for a variety of reasons. I have a very strong work ethic and I am a real go-getter. It's hard sometimes to find other musicians who share the same goals and aspirations that I do. It hasn't always worked out. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Chris Matty on this project. We have created some pretty amazing songs and I am very proud of what we have accomplished together," Kerri says.

I have to admit that I did expect her lyrics to be alot darker and disturbing than what I initially heard on the album, given her background. "I think some of my lyrics may be a little negative. I have had people tell me that they were shocked by some of the things I was singing about. I write about difficulties that I have been through and past relationships. People seem to be surprised that I have this darker side to me. I mean, I love horror movies and I love trying to figure out why people do the things that they do. It's kind of like Hannibal in Silence Of The Lambs. Stuff like that really intrigues me," said Kerri.

I do admit that the judging a book by its cover reference is going to pop up many times in her career. Kerri is definitely a walking contradiction in the visual sense. She stands, I'm guessing , not much over five feet tall. She has flowing, wavy auburn locks of hair. She seems like her voice would squeak like a tiny church mouse, but then you hear her sing. WOW! The power and emotion that comes out of her tiny frame is mind blowing.

Her CD entitled "Leave It All Behind' showcases Kerri's amazing voice and writing ability. She draws from her musical influences that include 3 Doors Down, Evanescence, Incubus and Staind as well as heavier bands such as In This Moment, Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin and Finger 11. Her songs do not contain the darkest lyrical content that I have ever heard, but song such as "Overcast" are somewhat personal. "This song was not written about one person in general, but deals with many people in my past as well as the present. The concept of this song is that every time you work hard and things begin to go in a positive direction, there is someone there that has something negative to say about your efforts and attempts to succeed," said Kerri.

Other songs seem to be bonded by the theme of relationships. "The song 'Goodbye' could be applied to getting involved in any type of a relationship where you really care about someone (boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, etc.) but you are then led astray. The intentions that you thought the person had was ultimately wrong. Another track, 'Sinking In', was written about a person who puts on a facade and acts like he or she has your best interests in mind and at heart, but then you realize the person was being manipulative and deceitful," said Kerri.

I personally think that her CD is really good. It does have elements that are familiar to today's sound. Fans of Evanescence, Breaking Benjamin or Staind are invited to give this talented young woman a listen. Her CD can be purchased at CD Baby, i-Tunes, Amazon Music and other digital distribution mediums as well as on her website www.kerriedelman.com. To learn more about Kerri, you can visit her website and My Space page at www.myspace.com/kerriedelman. I encourage people to give her a listen and really pay attention to her powerful yet thought provoking lyrics. You can relate to the things she sings about and it really helps to make a personal connection between the artist and the listener.

The music industry needs a good dose of artists like Kerri. Even though she is a total package artist, she is more substance over style. An amazing voice and deep, meaningful lyrics show that she is talented enough to be around for the long haul. They say that dynamite comes in small packages and Kerri sure does make that statement true with a capital TNT.

Johnette Napolitano: Revisting Hollywood

Once in a while an artist comes along out of nowhere that touches you. Whether it is with their look, their sound, their voice or their songwriting. They seem to fill a void in the industry. It is a welcomed embrace, kind of like the feeling you get when you put on your favorite sweatshirt or climb underneath a warm blanket on a cold, rainy day. Johnette Napolitano is one of those artists.

Johnette was the voice of the alternative band Concrete Blonde. They attacked the music scene in 1986 with their self titled debut and won over fans across the world. The three member band, which consisted of Johnette on bass and lead vocals, Jim Mankey on guitar and Harry Rushakoff on drums, offered a fresh sound that was unlike any around at that time. They combined elements of pop, rock and punk to merge a sound that complimented Johnette powerful lyrics. The band toured and released other cds through the late eighties and early nineties. They hit their "commercial" peak in 1990 when their single "Joey" hit the Top 40 off of their biggest selling album "Bloodletting". Just a footnote, that release featured the drumming expertise of the great Paul Thompson of Roxy Music.

The band broke up in 1993, but reformed in 2001. They released two new studio albums and one live album before retiring in 2006. I recently caught up with Johnette to talk about her solo career and life beyond Concrete Blonde.

Well, first off I do want to thank you for taking the time to answer some questions that I have. Being a huge fan myself, when can we expect something new from you? "I'm in the last stage of a 3rd edition of a series I do called 'Sketchbooks', which is basically cleaning out hard rives once in a while with ideas or demos, things that don't really fit anywhere, not done but probably never will be and too good to toss. I do 1000 and sign them and www.cdbaby.com sells them and the fans seem to like it. This one will be enhanced," said Johnette. Her first two releases, "Sketchbook" and "Sketchbooks 2" sold out very quickly and I personally have had a hard time finding a copy. Every now and then, one surfaces on E-bay for a hefty price.

What was the one defining moment when you knew that you wanted to go into music? "I've been playing music since I was eight, it's just really what I was born to do. Being from LA, I've been around studios and music people all my life and I'm talking about people like Gordon Jenkins, who was Frank Sinatra's arranger. I went to elementary school with Steve Porcaro, whose family is pretty legendary in the music business. Dave Gold, owner of long gone Gold Star Studios, who created and developed Phil Spector's echo chambers. I worked for Leon Russell, who influenced me tremendously. He lived in such a creative and eccentric environment, I knew I wanted to live life that way as well."

Johnette has worked on several film scores since being with the band. How did this opportunity present itself? "In the early days of the band, the films came to the label for music, there are fans who are directors and writers and alot of the time they come to me. I think I'll be working on a short film soon, the writer contacted me, so I've been lucky like that. Most of the recent film work that I've done with Danny Lohner, formerly of Nine Inch Nails, who happens to be one of my best friends and probably the most talented guy I know. He upped my game considerably", she said.

Can you tell me about your art and how that is going? "It's going pretty well. I'm working on the art for 'Sketchbook 3' and getting back into drawing and painting, in the last few years I've been really into wood and metal, tin, reclaimed materials....I still am. I just finished a portrait of Julia Butterfly-Hill for an auction for her new Love Wins organization. I used 100% reclaimed/second wood and paint. I'm starting up some clay work again. I try to take a break to work on something everyday, I realize how important it is."

Johnette has always been praised for her songwriting ability. Her lyrics are very introspective and full of powerful emotions. How much of that is autobiographical? "In the early days, alot of it was, but as you get older, ideally, you become less self-centered and start to see the world and the people in it in a different way. Also, I moved out to Joshua Tree seven years ago and was in a more introspective phase of my life. I'm just now spending time in Hollywood again, which is my hometown and revisiting some of the old lyrics and the stories behind them. It's been a trip! I'm subletting my tour manager's place for a while and splitting my time....it's turning into much more than I thought it would be. I'm also working with David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) on a record of old standards from the 30s. We toured a bit together and I'm loving that because I don't have to write. All I have to do is enjoy being a singer and use my voice in ways I can't do in rock, and as I told David 'wear a nice dress'."

So, what was a highlight and low light of the years with Concrete Blonde? "Well, the fun, and I would say this to any band, is when you're getting there. When you're broke and you all have the same goal, nothing to lose, and the first time you hear yourself on the radio, see yourself on MTV or whatever. When it gets to the point you're making money everybody turns into assholes. Everybody wants something, you get sued, people spin out of, it gets weird and it's really hard to stay in touch with the source."

The band did disband in 1993 and regrouped briefly in 2001. What made you reform and then stop again? "I needed to make a record, I needed to do it fast, I was having some emotional instability and it just seemed like the thing to do. I hadn't been aware that the guys had been going through the same sort of problems, so we made the record a few months before 911. It was weird. Some of the lyrics on that record 'Group Therapy' are very eerie in hindsight. Then Harry blew it and split again, but I sort of anticipated that may happen and pulled in Gabriel Ramirez from the Roc en Espanol group Maria Fatal, who I play with to this day and we went to Brazil for the first time and Peru, which was great. We made 'Mojave' out there in the desert, which was great and I just felt like we had done all we could do as a band. I was tired of being in a band, writing for a band, touring with a band, I really needed to stretch out."

A friend of mine saw you in New York a few years ago opening for Paul Weller. Any chance of hitting the road again any time soon? "Not soon, that's for sure. I burned out touring a couple of years ago, but I probably need to get to Europe later in this year and Australia. David and I want to do the standards show, we're probably going to do a couple shows in Hollywood, but we're just trying to work out details of all that now."

My last question was, of course, my stranded on a desert island with only one cd, what would it be question? "I would probably answer that question differently if I were asked weekly, but Gershwin's 'Rhapsody In Blue' or 'Slaughter On Tenth Avenue' or Robbie Robertson's 'Native American' records." Technically, that's three, but who am I to argue with a woman whom I idolize?

What an amazing interview this was for me! I was so excited for this opportunity. I got to see Concrete Blonde on their "Bloodletting" tour back in the day. Johnette is such an amazing woman. The talent that comes out of her is almost speechless. Whether it is her artwork or her music, she is inspiring to all lovers of music. Her two "Sketchbook" releases are next to impossible to find, but you can still find her other solo cd entitled "Scarred" which is also unbelievable. It's been over 20 years since I was managing an independent record store called Sounds and Stuff in my hometown of Martinsville, VA. It was there that I discovered the talented Johnette Napolitano. She had a voice like none other and lyrics that I had never even imagined in my life. An artist like this is a rarity and is sorely missing in our music scene today.