Tag Archive: sunstar festival

1. KST Connects with Boca Chica

   March 5, 2009 9:19 pm Leave a Comment

   Boca Chica is one of those rare assemblages that does not allow its sound to be classified into a particular genre.

   Begun by childhood friends Hallie Pritts and Susanna Meyer, Boca Chica has gained popularity in Pittsburgh and beyond by blending sounds of folk, bluegrass, country and indie rock. Their debut self-titled EP is a collection of seven original songs and is a bold entrée to this young band’s beginnings as a distinctive voice in Pittsburgh music scene.

   Boca Chica’s front-woman Pritts, 28, of Pittsburgh, shared with writer Michelle Massie & KST Connect some of her inspirations and influences as to how she creates her unique sound.

   Genre: Indie-Folk

   Current project: Boca Chica

   Web site: www.myspace.com/bocachica

   MM: When did you become interested in music, and who were some of your earlier influences?

   HP: I spent a lot of time listening to my mom’s record collection when I was a kid.  Some of my earliest favorites were Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young; Carol King; Donovan; and the Beatles.

   MM: Which artists are you currently listening to?

   HP: Currently, I’m pretty into Andrew Bird and Dr. Dog.

   MM: What inspires you?

   HP: Seeing live music is really important to me.  If I didn’t see great bands on a regular basis, I don’t think I’d write songs.

   MM: What is the importance of recognizing women in music?

   There are tons of women doing really cool things out there, but it’s a bit harder for them to get their stuff recognized.

   MM: What sets Boca Chica apart from other bands?

   HP: We like to sort of dabble in a few different genres—folk, of course, but we’ve been a bit more rock and roll lately which is fun.  We also have been known to play a little country, a little “freak folk.”

   MM: What have you learned as a working artist that has helped you in your career?

   HP: I guess it’s important to ask yourself if this is really what you want to do.  If you knew that you were never going to get recognized for your art, if you were never going to make any money, would you still do it?

   MM: How important is it that you write your own material?

   HP: I don’t think I would have lasted very long if I wasn’t playing my own songs.  It’s fun to play covers, but it’s more cathartic to play your own stuff.

   MM: How would you describe your creative process?

   HP: Creativity comes and goes.  Sometimes you’ll write three songs in a week.  Sometimes you won’t write anything for three months.  It’s hard to chase it down.  You just have to wait for it to come.

   MM: Any new projects on the horizon? Can you tell KST Connect about it?

   HP: Oh yes.  We’ve got a new album in the works.  It’s about 75 percent done.  We’re hoping to put it out sometime this year.  We worked with Machine Age Studios in Polish Hill.  Christopher McDonald engineered it and is doing a lot of the production.  I’m really excited about it.  We have a great band and great songs and I can’t wait for it to be done.

   MM: What can your fans look forward to from you in the future?

   HP: A new album!  And new songs.

   MM: What would you like your legacy to be?

   HP: Wow!  That’s quite the question! I’m not sure how to answer that, but I would like it if someone picked up our record in 30 years and could listen to it and still think it was good, I would be happy.

   Boca Chica appears at SUNSTAR March 5, 2009 along with Joy Ike, Heather Kropf & Bianca Atterberry.

2. KST Connects with Joy Ike

   March 2, 2009 3:18 pm 1 Comment

   At a time when digital music downloads and streaming video are staples among consumers, Joy Ike is turning on the radio and finding inspiration from independent films.

   Ike, 25, of Pittsburgh is enjoying the overwhelming success of her current full-length album, “Good Morning” and will perform at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s inaugural SUNSTAR Women in Music Festival.

   Ike shared with writer Michelle Massie & KST Connect some of her inspirations, influences and insights into how she creates her soulful sound.

   Genre: Pop, Nu-jazz, Neo-soul

   Current project: “Good Morning” (released June ’08)

   Web site: www.joyike.com

   MM: When did you become interested in music, and who were some of your earlier influences?

   
   JI: I guess I was always interested in music. I was always singing as a child but I had no idea that singing and playing the piano would become such a huge part of my life. I grew up in a little bit of a bubble and didn’t really have a chance to listen to anything but Christian contemporary music when I was growing up. But I do remember one year in high school when I religiously listened to B94. All I remember is belting that one song by No Doubt: “Don’t speak. I know what you’re thinking. And I don’t need your reasons. Don’t tell me cause it hurts!”

   MM: Which artists are you listening to?

   
   JI: Sometimes I binge-buy music but lately I’ve just been overwhelmed by how much music is out there. So I’ve been sticking with the radio – WYEP specifically. Brooke Waggoner is always in my CD player though.

   MM: What inspires you?

   JI: People and stories. My best songs come from personal experiences or others’ experiences.

   I just finished writing a song inspired by Slumdog Millionaire. That movie was so beautiful that I had to watch it twice. And it took two visits to the theater to start and complete the song.

   MM: What is the importance of recognizing women in music?

   JI: I think there are so many talented women in music who sometimes don’t get the same recognition as male artists.

   MM: What have you learned as a working artist that has helped you in your career?

   JI: Nothing is more important than connecting with your audience and maintaining relationships.

   It’s been very rewarding to build a strong fanbase in Pittsburgh—to know faces at shows and keep in touch with people via Facebook and MySpace. It means a lot to me that people care to know more about me than just my music.

   MM: How important is it that you write your own material?

   JI: This is so important to me. In fact, I’m pretty stingy with my lyrics and have a hard time collaborating with people for this reason! If I can’t write my own music and lyrics, I feel like I can’t put my heart and soul into performing a song. Every song I write is personal…even if it’s not specifically about me.

   MM: How would you describe your creative process?

   JI: I usually wait to be inspired. I know a lot of musicians who are consistently writing new music. But as for me, I probably only write 8 songs a year. Songs don’t come that easy and it probably takes 4-8 weeks for me to come up with a solid piece. And most times writing and arranging the music is 95 percent of the “problem.” I always do that first because it takes more time, and is a little bit harder for me. Lyrics come last and easiest.

   MM: Any new projects on the horizon? Can you tell KST Connect about it?  What can your fans look forward to from you in the future?

   JI: “Good Morning” has only been out for 8 months and I think it’s still got a lot of shelf-life left. I probably won’t be putting out another full-length album until 2010. So for the time being, I think I just want to work harder at having better live shows and building a wider audience.

   MM: What would you like your legacy to be?

   
   JI: I want to be remembered as someone who spoke honestly and truthfully about the world. I hope my music paints pictures of broken people who are healed by the grace of God and the love we extend towards each other.

3. KST Connects with SUNSTAR Heather Kropf

   February 19, 2009 1:01 am Leave a Comment

   Heather Kropf has been singing since she was barely out of the womb, now she’s thinking about her legacy and hoping to bring tears to people’s eyes. Kropf, 37, of Pittsburgh recently released her third CD, “Hestia,” and is slated to perform at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater’s inaugural SUNSTAR Women in Music Festival.

   The piano-playing folk chanteuse shared with writer Michelle Massie & KST Connect some of her inspirations, influences and insights into how she creates her indelible sound.

   Genre: Singer/Songwriter; Acoustic, Pop, Folk

   Current project: Just released third album “Hestia.” Previous albums are “What Else is Love” and “Sky.”

   Web site: www.myspace.com/heatherkropf

   MM:When did you become interested in music, and who were some of your earlier influences?

   HK: As the story goes, when I was 2 my mother came in to my room after my nap and found me singing to myself, so I guess I liked music from the beginning. But because my parents limited my exposure to pop culture — I was allowed access to public radio and public television — the world of popular song was a later discovery. Early pop influences include Simon & Garfunkel, Sting “Dream of the Blue Turtles,” Joni Mitchell “Court & Spark,” Kate Bush’s debut album, “The Harder They Come” movie soundtrack and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Favorite albums include Miles Davis “Kind of Blue,” Simon & Garfunkel “Bookends” and The Replacements “Happy Town.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

   MM: Which artists are you listening to?

   HK: I get in artist “ruts” where I listen for years to a certain artist or album. Right now I’m interested in Mindy Smith and Kathleen Edwards. But Me’Shell Ndegeocello “Peace Beyond Passion,” Lizz Wright “Dreaming Wide Awake,” The Replacements, and David Sylvian “Dead Bees on a Cake” isn’t ever far from my CD player. I recently re-discovered Susan Werner’s album “Time Between Trains.” She’s an amazing writer. Recent albums/favorites include Corinne Bailey Rae, Rebecca Martin and k.d. lang.

   MM:What inspires you? Moments of transition, moments of reconciliation, all the stuff that happens in between the lines and spaces. Acts of altruistic kindness inspire me, as does the shadow of longing and melancholy. Our deeply human nature. MM: What is the importance of recognizing women in music? So many things are important in recognizing women in music, but I think the most important thing is that the female gaze and voice is so necessary to enjoying a balanced and thriving culture. I think when we celebrate the outstanding work of women we are bringing wholeness to the world.

   MM:What have you learned as a working artist that has helped you in your career?

   HK: Even as you seek the attention and approval of an audience, hold that desire lightly. Money is arbitrary and in the end doesn’t denote value. A large crowd or small crowd doesn’t mean you are better or worse. Follow your muse. No matter what. Give yourself a break. You are not what you do. How important is it that you write your own material? It used to be much more important than it is now. I have found that songs have come slower as I have gotten older. I don’t know why that is. Maybe that will change in a few years, I don’t know. In the meantime, there are so many great songs out there, and I’m finding I love learning them. Someday I hope to have a huge repertoire of songs under my skin. And rather than write banal songs just to keep writing, I’m perfectly content to let my own work simmer along until something surfaces.

   MM: How would you describe your creative process?

   HK: It works in a lot of different ways. I’m a pretty reactionary writer, in that I often find I get ideas when I go out and see live shows. Some lyric or musical idea will resonate with me and I’ll immediately get a spin-off concept and run home after the show — or leave early — in order to jot it down. I often write when I’m driving, especially on long road trips. Those are great for working out words and melodies without the limitations of my style of piano-playing. Sometimes I’ll get the music first, when I’m noodling at the piano. I also keep a box of paper scraps with words or little phrases that come to me throughout the day. When I’ve got a music idea but no words I often rummage through to see if something will catch my attention, and build from there. I’ve done some writing on GarageBand. It’s good for working out arrangements…especially for building from the bottom up. My writing takes on a totally different direction when I focus on rhythm and texture first. But that also has limitations, so I use it sparingly. Any new projects on the horizon?

   MM: Can you tell KST Connect about them? Well, I’ve just released my third album “Hestia.” It’s a project I embarked on mostly because of significant fan requests for something more like my live performances…meaning something without the band. It has 11 songs, both old and new, and I’m really surprised at how well this album wears. I wasn’t tired of it when I was song mixing it, which is extraordinary. So my project this year is mostly booking lots of shows, trying to get album reviews and radio play, and such. My next project is already percolating. I’m hoping to keep a lid on it until I give my best effort to helping “Hestia” get into people’s hands and on their iPods. In terms of performance, I’m hoping to pare down my band and maybe introduce some new players and instrumentation. I am also working with my producer/bassist on a side project of Bossa nova influenced tunes, cover tunes as well as arrangements of my songs. We may or may not record some of that. Secretly (not so secretly now) I’ve always thought Bossa nova is the perfect style for my voice so I’m really excited about working on this, in a way that I’ve never been excited about anything else.

   MM: What can your fans look forward to from you in the future?

   HK: I suppose a little bit of everything. I usually follow my nose when it comes to making music. I hope to put out a really lush, soulful Neo soul project someday. I also want to continue exploring ambient acoustic approaches to arrangement. I also have a small, but growing, collection of straight-up pop rock songs. I do hope to travel and perform more and get out of western PA. I also hope to do more painting, and make good on my B.A. in Fine Art. 🙂 Some people have bugged me about sheet music, so I might release a score of a few of my songs and make that available.

   MM:What would you like your legacy to be?

   HK: This is a crazy question, and a good one. It may be lofty but my hope is that my songs create a sanctuary of beauty in sound and space, and that in the space of my songs one can find solace. The most meaningful feedback I receive is when someone tells me a song helped them cry about something they needed to cry about, or gave them courage and comfort, or helped them remember something about their own life that they had forgotten. Songs can be a doorway, and if my legacy can be that my songs are a doorway to the courtyard of the Self, then I’d be pretty grateful. Yikes.

   Heather Kropf appears at SUNSTAR March 5, 2009 w/ Joy Ike, Bianca Atterberry & Boca Chica.

4. I Got Thunder

   February 14, 2009 4:34 pm Leave a Comment

   this is a great book for music lovers w/ some great interviews. i started reading it and thought it would be great place to start our conversation about women in music today. Barnett, interviews black women songwriters, whose insight on process is meaningful to any artist.

5. some of my favorite sunstars

   4:24 pm Leave a Comment

   roberta flack, patsy cline, nina simone, sade, chaka khan, alison hinds, angie stone, aretha franklin, sarah vaughn, etta james, dinah washington…lauryn hill, erykah badu, ethel cee, astrud gilberto, musinah…mary j. blige, angie stone…so so many beautiful songs…these artists and many more are the inspiration for the SUNSTAR Festival.

6. Toshi Reagon @ SUNSTAR Festival

   4:06 pm 1 Comment

   the first time i saw toshi reagon perform was at the Black Lily Festival in Philadelphia and fell in love with her music. she’s an incredible musician with a beautiful voice.

   [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlsUx2GAt3A]

7. Women & Musicianship

   February 2, 2009 1:04 pm Leave a Comment

   this is a great interview with author LaShonda Katrice Barnett on her research on women in songwriting.

   LaShonda Barnett Interview – Women and Songwriting

8. this track takes me back…

   February 1, 2009 6:02 am Leave a Comment

   [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyGUesyG7bU]

9. bahamadia

   5:53 am Leave a Comment

   so i’m super excited about opening our sunstar festival with a night dedicated to women in hop…it’s an homage to the days of female mc’s on the video waves (Yo MTV Raps or Rap City). i asked my nine year old stepson if he listened to female MCs and he said, “yes” with lots of confidence. so i asked him to name one, just one. his response, “Beyonce.” i’ve got a lot of work to do.
   [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq2L2RRByuE]