earpollution - profiles - women in rock [page 2]

Page 2

Julie Andrews--Julie Andrews! She was absolute magic to me. My mom had a record of The Sound of Music and one of Mary Poppins that she would play for us. My sister and I would sing along to the records and march around the house. The first movie I ever saw was The Sound of Music and when the song "Do-Re-Mi" came on the screen, I began marching down the aisle singing at the top of my lungs with my sister marching right behind me.

Christy Bain
Theatre Manager/Actress

Lately I have been impressed with Ani DiFranco for her unstoppable-ness and commitment to her artistry.

Gospel artist Kim Burrell is the woman/musician that has most moved, inspired and influenced me for her whole concept of music. I love how in-your-face her music is and her vocal range and control is reminiscent of her super women predecessors, The Clark Sisters. Whoever hasn't checked out their music needs to.

I put gospel in a separate category, especially for singers because the level of vocal range, and control is so out of everyone else's league in popular music.

Popular artists coming out of that tradition are Faith Evans and Kelly Price.

Darrius Willrich
Singer, Pianist/Keyboardist
Source of Labor

Julie Andrews "Do
Re Mi" MP3
96kbs/44sec/528kb

I have been thinking about which ONE female has impacted me the most and it is hard for me to say because there are three who have influenced me in different ways:

Nina Simone for pure soul--she gets into the song and exudes sweetness often with pain. She is a pianist/musician first then a singer. Listen to "Seems I'm Never Tired of Lovin' You" written by Franklin...every time it gets me.
Anita Baker: for being brilliantly unique. In her time, no one sounded like her and she soared. She is also a musician then singer, her melodies and phrasings are amazing. She took part in writing the songs and was executive producer.
Madonna: for workin' it! She's an entertainer; continuously creating and recreating herself, pushing buttons, making the best of this short existence...she's the party girl I long to be sometimes.

I could go on about Joni Mitchell for obvious reasons, and Tina Turner to this day at 61 is rockin' it! Sade... All these women inspire me. I hope to reflect the influences and pay respect in my own way and someday inspire others for these reasons.

Nikol Kollars
Singer

Brenda Lee: she sounded to me like a female Elvis.

Freddie Dennis
Musician

Since I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Deadhead, I have listened to hundreds of hours of live recordings of the band with vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux, who sang with the band in the Seventies. Her merits as a musician are ever a source of debate within the Deadhead community, but I've always been a big Donna Jean fan. She brought a tremendous amount of guts and gospel-powered soul to the mix, regardless of whether she was in tune or not (which was often not her fault since she didn't even have a monitor on stage for her first few years with the band).

But to be honest, I'd have to say the biggest female musical influence in my life was my mom. While not a musician herself, she had a pleasant singing voice and would always sing while we drove around in her car, running errands. She has a wonderful sense of melody, which was demonstrated by her ability to make up songs on the spot. In fact, for many years she played a game with me where she would sing the lyrics to a song then ask me if they were real or made up. Mostly it was made up, but her innate understanding of melody allowed her to fool me many times into thinking they were real songs.

So it was that sense of and appreciation for melody that she passed on to me, and that manifests itself in my music every time I pick up an instrument. In addition, mom always sang when she was happy, which was quite often, so the link between joy and the emotional release of music was impressed upon me early on. My grandmother was the same, as she often sang old-time pop songs from her childhood. But I'd have to say mom was definitely a bigger influence on me musically.

Beau Gordinier
Mandolinist

Bessie Smith. She was my first experience of how powerful a woman's voice can be. The uncompromising strength of her voice is what moved me.

Cyd Smith
Guitarist/Musician

Anita Baker. Bonnie Raitt just because she's so versatile. Siouxsie Sioux because she's an innovator.

Reggie Watts
Singer
Maktub [click here to read the earpollution maktub interview. --ed.]

Janis [Joplin] because of the pure, raw emotions of her vocals. Pat Benatar because she was a loud rocker and was the first woman that I was exposed to that had something to say.

Shona Strausser
Educator

If you were stranded on a desert island, which female vocal artist would you want to be stranded with?

Hands down, it would have to be Liz Phair. Not only is she unafraid to speak her mind (you can't deny the almost raunchy lyrics from Exile in Guyville), but she's got some real soul and seems to have a grip on what's important in life (evidenced by her mellowed tone in her new album Whitechocolatespaceegg). Plus, men love her, and I think we'd be in for a quick rescue.

Amy Boyd
Attorney
Age 25

I guess it would have to be Madonna, as she seems so capable of handling the situation, and as she seems to have a good sense of humor (not to mention a great voice). I never thought I'd say such a thing, but she is who came to mind.

Allison DeFrees
Attorney/Puppeteer
Age 29

I would have to say Madonna. She is just all around rad.

Molly Egland
Student
Age 20

It's a tie between Sarah McLachlan and Madonna. Sarah because her music is beautiful and she could sing for entertainment, and Madonna because I think she'd just be cool and interesting, and I'll bet she's got some juicy stories.

Stacia Felicioni
Publicity Coordinator
Age 27

Bessie Smith "Me and
My Gin" MP3
96kbs/38sec/460kb

I would choose to be stranded with someone like, say, Grace Jones (yeah, I'm old school). I would choose her because her taste in music is more deep and resonating, not all screechy and high pitched. I also think she is more of a "survivor" than some of today's divas.

Allison Foster
Legal Assistant
Age 33

Martina McBride because she has such an amazing voice and I'd love to know her secret to success...

Robyn Graham
Account Supervisor
On the Scene Productions
Age 26

Courtney Love, because accidents happen...

Dawn Haber
Director of Creative Affairs
Age 26

Beth Orton. She's totally mellow and I think her perspective (what I know of it) would be quite nice on a deserted island.

Jill Mann
Sourcing Analyst
Age 27

Christina Martinez from Boss Hog. She has a great voice, seems like an interesting person to talk to, and, if we were really lonely, she's pretty sexy.

Amy Raymond
Actress

Emmylou Harris. Why? Her angelic voice...her complete class...and a maternal, natural beauty that never goes out of style.

Blake Smith
Television Associate Producer
Age 25

I have many answers:

Fiona Apple: she is long and slender and would make a great oar if I actually tried to paddle myself back to civilization.
Jennifer Lopez: buoyancy for survival.
Dido: because I think she has a beautiful voice and I love her music.
Mariah Carey: because if we were on a deserted island, man's law would no longer apply and I would be able to kill her in a sacrificial "Lord of the Flies" kind of slaughter and never be punished for it. Unless, of course, you believe in karma, but even the bigger picture/universe probably wouldn't weep for the loss.

Sean Smith
Writer
Age 26

<-Prev 1 2