An Interview With A Singer-Songwriter
By J. Mann Woolley

Q: What is the one word that would best describe you?
A: Complex.

Q: And why is that?
A: Any other one word won't be enough to best describe me, other than "unique." And that's a word that applies to everyone.

Q: Does this show up in your writings?
A: Definitely. I go from writing one song to another of a different subject or emotion in my own ways.

Q: Do the lyrics come first, or the music?
A: It varies. I usually write them together.

Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: My current listening includes pop and rock artists like Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne, Melissa Etheridge, Sarah McLachlan, Shania Twain, Def Leppard, Jimmy Hendrix, Limp Bizkit, Evanescence and Linkin Park. I also appreciate AC/DC and Aerosmith as well as The Beatles and Pink Floyd. I play classical or country records in between.

Q: When did you start writing songs?
A: In High School, I played guitar. I was asked to lead many of our Glee Club members by helping arrange the contemporary songs we were to perform. Then one day, one of them played me a song she claimed to have written. All I can remember is feeling a sudden craving, jealous that she could do such a thing. After that, I spent hours trying to write one myself. I later found out that she didn't even write the song after all! But it certainly fuelled my desire and I ended up writing my first song as a result.

Q: What was the title of it?
A: "Should I." It was about unrequitted love. I didn't even have a boyfriend so don't ask me where that came from.

Q: Were you a sensitive child?
A: Yes. Looking back I was more sensitive than I ever knew of myself.

Q: Today, do you usually write from your own personal experience?
A: Not really. I have a song that was written completely from a man's perspective based on his story. It's called "My World's Greatest Grace." I also have another song that had to be revised from it's original male perspective, because I wanted to sing it.

Q: And what song is that?
A: "Don't Wanna Lose You," inspired by an 18 year old's feelings about his girlfriend.

Q: Eighteen? Is this where you would say you are complex?
A: I suppose. The simplistic part about it all is that I stay open. I write spontaneously with what comes to me, and that includes other people with their hidden gifts of trust and inspiration.

Q: What was the song you sang at the Miss World Pageant that made you win the Miss Talent title?
A: It was a folk ballad I wrote called "Seasons" that I played on acoustic guitar. It was about friendship, like seasons, how they come and go.

Q: How old were you then?
A: I was at the old age of 17.

Q: So are you ancient now?
A: No, I actually feel younger today, now that I am more open to life.

Q: Did you expect or hope to win that title?
A: Not at all. I simply wanted to get through the talent portion as well as I could. I didn't perform thinking about winning.

Q: Did you always want to sing?
A: No, and that's because somehow, I thought everybody sang. I also took it for granted that I had a good voice. I had dreams of becoming an actress. I thought that was different for me.

Q: So why the passion for music now?
A: I have no idea! Well no, that's not entirely true. I do have a deeper understanding of myself today, that this was the gift I got from my family. My family sang together. My grandfather was a renowned classical pianist and tenor, and my father and his brothers were into "rock and roll." Music surrounded us in all of the good times we had. I identify joy with music.

Q: You mentioned that you stopped singing and playing for many years. Why was that?
A: I got married! (laughter) I became an instant mother and I travelled with my husband. I got real busy with that. It wasn't until we moved to Seattle when I felt strange and removed from what I knew that I grew anxious. I then found myself desperately trying to play the piano and I didn't stop wanting for music since.

Q: The new set of songs you have, you say are all guitar based. Tell us more about that.
A: All I know is I love hearing the strings. A piano is a string instrument as well. I love hearing violins and cellos, but the guitar was my first instrument. I got my first guitar when I was 9 years old. Somehow something made me play the same old guitar in 2002 and since then, a whole new but familiar world opened up. I now have 6 guitars and lots of new songs. I am enjoying this journey.

Q: What do you hope to achieve in all of this?
A: I'm already having a great time with it, even when I just write quietly. However, it would be nice if I can keep doing this with some kind of recognition. You know, fruits of thy labor?

Q: What would you like to say in a song if it were your last to leave the world with?
A: "You pulled on my heart strings that even after I'm gone, you will hear my songs of love." How's that?

Q: Are you trying to tell us how very much in love you are?
A: I think that just tells you how very much in LIFE I am with my music.

Q: Do you intend to put out new albums with your new music?
A: No. I am happy to write the songs for now and hopefully hear them back through others. That would make me even happier than I already am.

Q: What song of yours would you say is your favorite?
A: Caught In A Dream. It's extremely passionate, sexy and wild!

Q: And what inspired that?
A: A dream. Ha-ha!


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