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Kori Linae Carothers
Cedar
City, Utah, seems a long way from California, but so was Minnesota and
Texas, just some of the stops along the way for pianist, composer,
singer Kori Linae Carothers. New Age music is also a bit of a distance
from the Contemporary Instrumental music and electronic music that she
is best known for and yet early on the music industry seemed to want to
pigeonhole her as a New Age artist, nothing wrong with that genre, but
that is not the essence of who she is. Complete loss of hearing in her
left ear and now taking injections to treat spasmodic dysphonia, a
condition she shares with two siblings, has not stopped her from
continuing her music career.
From her home in California, Kori Linae Carothers sat down with us to
talk about her life, her music and might we dare say a very interesting
date years ago, that resulted in her marriage to her husband.
“We moved to Texas when I was 15 and that was really hard. I didn’t do
change at that age. What was really interesting about that move was
nobody cared where I came from. There was not this popularity contest
that I had in Minnesota. We moved from Minneapolis to a very tiny
farming community southwest of Minneapolis and it was one of the hardest
moves that I ever had. People would tease me, because my hearing was
crappy, and it just was not a good time for me. That is when I started
writing music,” Kori Linae Carothers explains, continuing she says, “I
was thirteen and fourteen when things really started to come to my head.
Then we moved to Texas and things got much better for me. I lived in
Dallas.”
Before we go any further, let’s go back, way back, “My dad’s mom played
piano for the silent movies, and she would improv everything. She would
provide the music throughout the whole movie.
My other grandmother, on my mother’s side, actually she is my
great-grandmother. She was a very talented pianist in Salt Lake City.
She was in demand to accompany people who performed. She was quite
extraordinary.
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Ciara Grace - New Album Soon
A
few months back, a publicist friend of mine Mike Farley sent me some
information updating me on the artists he represents. I scrolled through
the list, some names familiar, others less so and I happened upon the
name of Ciara Grace. I was intrigued by the release of an album,
Write It Down, that at that time was still three months away. I gave
a listen to the music of the blonde, blue-eyed young woman, who I
guessed to be late teens or very early twenties and found I was pretty
close. Ciara Grace’s
music is earthy, edgy with some of the vocals and music being staccato
in nature. The themes we want to say mostly dealt with relationships,
but that would not be true, because the songs were all about
relationships! Even though they were written between her high school
years and the summer immediately prior to entering college, whether you
are sixteen years old, twenty years old or forty-two years old, there is
something here for everybody to sink their teeth into, both musically
and lyrically. Yes, we are hearing the expression of feelings from what
was then a teenage songwriter, and from a female perspective, but we
think we are correct in saying that many women out there are going to
listen and say, ‘I knew a guy just like that!” or ‘I remember that guy
who treated me poorly,” and “I can’t believe I fell for that guy.’ Now,
just so we do not give you the wrong impression, while some of these
lyrics do bear the signs of feeling jaded or angry at the time, it is
important to note that these are not angry songs, at least in our view.
There are enough images and metaphors that keep this from becoming a
dark brooding album and you can sink your teeth into the uneven beats
and vocals. We requested an
interview and Ciara Grace was gracious enough to accept our invitation.
Sitting on opposite ends of a phone, thousands of miles apart Ciara
Grace proved to be a woman wise beyond her years, very poised and very
affable. Although the musical styles are different her sense of knowing
who she is, being comfortable with who she is and being professional
reminds us a lot of actor, singer, songwriter Maya Hawke at the same
age. We wondered if
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Adrian Sutherland Interview
There is a place named Attawapiskat in the very far north of Canada, in
what is referred to as the sub-Artic zone. It is approximately 500
kilometers (a little over 300 miles) from the nearest town of any size.
Some days your best friend may be a caribou or the sound of the wind. In
the winter months ice roads are constructed and it links you to other
small communities and at other times of the year if you want to get in
or out, you have to fly. Located on the northern end of James Bay,
Attawapiskat is the home of indigenous (First Nations) singer,
songwriter and guitarist Adrian Sutherland. He joined me recently to
talk about his new album, Precious Diamonds, scheduled for release on
March 15 (2024) and his speaking voice is as smooth as smooth as his
vocals when he sings.
Adrian Sutherland recorded two songs for this album in his native
language, Cree and others, while in English, share from his life
experiences and his heritage of which he is proud.
The album opens
with the beautiful song “Notawe,” (No Taw ee), and it is one of the two
Cree songs on Precious Diamonds.
Adrian Sutherland talks about the song “Notawe.” “It is a song I wrote
in my Cree language, which is the language that we speak where I live.
It is the first full Cree song that I have written, which is kind of
odd, because I am fluent in Cree.
With the place
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Fiona Joy Hawkins - New Music
It
was time to get caught up with Australian composer, pianist and vocalist
Fiona Joy Hawkins, as the last time we sat down with this affable and
talented lady was in 2020. We connected with her at her home in Kendall,
New South Wales, Australia. Although you do not often hear her mention
it, Fiona Joy Hawkins has performed in some of the world’s most
prestigious music venues.
Our conversation on this day, however, takes us far from those concert
venues and to the Arctic and how she has combined her music with nature
and video.
Acknowledging that her trip to the Arctic was a life changing event, she
says, “Absolutely,
it was probably the best time I ever had, and it was such an eyeopener
with the beauty there. I want to do it again, but there are so many
other things I want to do. It really made me aware of the problems there
and aware of the power of music and the power of suggestion. I was on a
boat that was full of writers, biologists, photographers and politically
involved and motivated people. We had really
famous political people and I can’t even say who. When I met all of
these people I said, all I could really do is my music. There is nothing
more that I feel I can do to help these situations. They said to me, in
some ways you can do more than many of us.
I was like, really?
Are you joking? For the last night they played my
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Actress, Singer Carmen Prados
When you are the understudy for the principal role in a theatrical
production it can be challenging both mentally and physically. Couple
that with a major musical such as Pretty Woman el Musical when
you are providing cover for Vivian (lead actress Cristina Llorente),
plus you sing and dance nightly in the ensemble and wait for it plus you
are Scarlett, just thinking about all of that is enough to make someone
want to lay down and have a nap.
Actress Carmen Prados originally from Córdoba,
Andalusia Spain and who has also called London, Paris, Barcelona and
Madrid home, is that very person and she was gracious enough to take
time from a busy schedule that often sees her performing twice per day
and at least once per week in the sometimes salty, but mostly endearing
role of Vivian.
How does she do it? Carmen Prados explains, “I have done two shows as
Scarlett and two as Vivian, one as Vivian and one as Scarlett. I have
done all the possibilities. It is challenging, but I really love it. Two
shows of Scarlett are tougher on the body and two shows of Vivian are
tougher on the voice. Doing both, I love it because it is super
challenging, and you have to be really focused.
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Electronic Firefly From Spain
This
story begins in Spain during the year 2017, when violinist Silvia
Carbajal Sanchez was asked to organize ten musicians and to be the
artistic director for a big New Year’s event in 2017. Silvia explains
what happened next, “That was not when I met Charlie (Perez-Íñigo now
her husband). I needed an electric cello for the project and another
person recommended that I call him. It was a difficult
time in my life and Charlie became my friend and he helped me in many
aspects of my life. At the time I was living in a small village called
Villarejo (located in La Rioja, Spain) and he started to visit me often. He also
recommended me for a show called “Music Has No Limits,” and that is when
we started to work together. We toured with them, and we started our
relationship. We have been together ever since. It was after we left
“Music Has No Limits,” that we started Electronic Firefly.” In 2023 their
daughter was born and for two performing musicians that has brought its
own challenges, but more on that later. The two world
class musicians have also expanded their music careers and in addition
to performing sometimes as a duo and other times for solo gigs, they now
also are DJs. Charlie takes us
down the DJ pathway, and how it began, “We like playing our instruments
with electronic music, |
Florence Dore
It
is difficult to know where to begin a conversation with Florence Dore,
as her creative and scholastic achievements are plentiful. She has
taught creative writing and American literature (fiction) at the
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill since 2010, during which time
she authored three books, raised a daughter with her husband Will Rigby
and most recently released a splendid album Highways and Rocketships.
Florence Dore received her doctorate in English from the University of
California at Berkley. Her life began in Nashville, and among the places
along the way that became home for a time, was New York City, before
finally settling in North Carolina.
After spending an hour and one-half in conversation with Florence you
come away with deep respect for her insightfulness, smile at her quick
wit and due to her warmth and generosity you come away ninety minutes
later convinced that you must have been friends in another life.
We decided to begin with digging into the roots for her passions for
literature, writing and music. Where did this all begin?
She thoughtfully says, “I think it was the music. I would say the two
things are similar parts of me. It is my love of literary beauty related
to whatever that kernel of joy is when you are really small and your
enjoyment of music and your response to beauty that maybe is irrational
beauty and artistic beauty. I think they are
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Kerri Powers Love Is Why
Speaking
to Riveting Riffs Magazine from her home nestled into the northwest
corner of Connecticut, Canton, to be more specific, singer and
songwriter Kerri Powers took time out to talk to us about her career and
her new album, shortly after returning from her European tour. Chuckling she
says, “Not too many people can find me. It is more private, which is
really nice. We have been here twenty-two or twenty-three years now. I
am originally from East Taunton, Massachusetts.” Ah that is the
accent that everyone once in a while visits this conversation.
So, tell us about
your European tour in support of your album, Love Is Why. “I must say I am really on a high from that. It usually goes very well, and I certainly didn’t expect to play to sold out venues. I went as a soloist this time and usually I play with a good guitarist from over there. I won’t say I was apprehensive, but you never know what to expect. The audiences over there were quite receptive and I couldn’t have asked for a better run of dates. The one thing I
like about (being in Europe) to tour is you have very appreciative
audiences. They are down to earth good people. Every time I am there I
learn more about what is going on and the culture. I just like the fact
that we are learning every day if we are open
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Maia Sharp and Reckless Thoughts
It
is always great to sit down, (even if it is over the miles) and chat
with Maia Sharp. The renowned singer, songwriter and musician, whose
songs have been recorded by artists such as, Cher, Trisha Yearwood,
Terri Clark, Bonnie Raitt and Art Garfunkel, will have just released her
new album Reckless Thoughts by the time you are reading this.
Maia Sharp is as candid, as she is thoughtful when talking about her
life, career and songs. She breathes fresh air into the world of music.
She is comfortable collaborating with other songwriters and she is quick
to share the spotlight and credit with them, even though it is her name
on the album for which the songs appear.
From her home in Nashville (yes, she did indeed move from California a
few years ago), she talks about when the seeds for Reckless Thoughts
were first planted.
“The first song that I knew was going to be the beginning of a new album
project was “Kind.” I wrote that with Mindy Smith and Dean Fields in
2019. When we were finished with that one, I knew I needed to start
thinking about another project, even though Mercy Rising (the
previous album) wasn’t even out yet. I knew that one was already
finished. I knew that “Kind,” wasn’t going to be on Mercy Rising.
It already set the wheels in motion and I thought I guess I am going to
be making another record.
“Too Far Now,” was the next one. Those two songs are so different from
each other that they really presented a challenge. How am I going to
write or look through
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Aida Ballmann - Actress - Spain
In
2019 Riveting Riffs Magazine interviewed actress Aida Ballmann, born on
El Hierro, one of the islands of the Islas Canarias (Canary Islands), of
German heritage (her parents) and completely fluent in German, Spanish
and English. Just a few months after that interview Spain, and much of
the world was plunged into the COVID pandemic and the film, television
and entertainment world came to a jolting stop. Fast forward to a few
weeks ago and we caught up with Aida Ballmann again, a very busy Aida
Ballmann we might add.
With recent films, and series completed in the past couple of years and
more in pre-production, we decided to start with one that was filmed
during COVID, a short film titled Five Minutes, written and directed by
Genesis Lence.
“I knew Genesis Lence from her photography and television series and
then she started writing and directing. This is not her first short
film. I think it is her second or third. She says she is very proud of
this (film) because it represents the way she wants to talk with her art
and it (reflects) her personality.
It was a very hard piece to shoot, because it was during the time of
COVID and we had to cancel it twice, before we could shoot it. That also
meant we had to do the rehearsals using Skype. The co-protagonist is my
sister Serai and it was the first time that we acted together. That was
great. She is younger than me and she has not done much (acting), but I
was really surprised to find out what a great actress
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Rachael Sage - New Album
The
first single that was released from Rachael Sage’s upcoming album
The Other Side is “Whistle Blow,” a beautiful, retrospective song
with a slow tempo. It is accompanied by an equally beautiful and
artistic video. Under the direction of Jenny, He and with the Director
of Photography Daniel Cho onboard, both seemed to be in complete unison
with Rachael Sage’s lyrics and music.
She talks about the song, “One thing I wanted to convey with “Whistle
Blow,” is that moment when someone is able to find the inner strength
and to summon the courage to confront someone in a greater position of
power, whether it is in a workplace or in a relationship, when they know
that inappropriate boundaries have been crossed. When they have been
abused or wronged in some way. There are innumerable examples of this
every day when we watch the news. I have also experienced these dynamics
and just as a witness in society I see it recurrently. The story in the
video is interpreted through movement by the wonderful director Jenny He
and (we) were able to convey that specific moment when a human being is
able to say ‘No this is not right. I am not going to accept this anymore
and I am moving to a more positive space and away from this negative
energy and negative person.’
I had not worked with Jenny before, but I saw some examples of her work
and I was blown away. I have never actually worked with a female
director in this capacity and it was exciting for me. She is very
talented and she trained at NYU. When we talked, we had a lot in common
and we shared a feminine sensibility and a specific sensitivity to music
that led to a wonderful collaboration. I hope to work with her again.
She was wonderful.
Jenny was not only open to my ideas, and when I pointed to different
examples of things I appreciate visually. She presented this wonderful
presentation with her own ideas.
It is very important to allow the viewer to interpret (the video) in a
way that resonates with them. It is important for a music video and
really anything in music. It is less about me trying to shove an idea
down somebody’s throat than for me creating art and then have people
interpret it in the way that it connects with them the most.”
Rachael Sage could be called a lot of things, a visionary, an eclectic
innovator, a human rights activist, without ever deliberately intending
to be one, but I think the best description we could provide of Rachael
Sage is she is a woman who is very comfortable in her own skin and the
values she holds close are incorporated into her music, without
necessarily sounding like loud statements.
She also has a tremendous talent for painting vivid word pictures with
her lyrics that make it very easy for someone to imagine what is taking
place.
“One of the most important ongoing lessons is to be able to take in at a
sensory level everything around you in any situation. It is no different
when you are writing, you are accessing some sort of muse or inspiration
that is ephemeral and can’t be explained. From there the craft of
finding details that do depict a time and place, an energy, a visual
imagery
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Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon
Sitting
and interviewing one music legend is special. Having the opportunity to
interview two music legends at the same time rarely happens, and yet
this writer was fortunate enough to do just that recently when Tom
Paxton and John McCutcheon sat down with me to discuss their new album,
Together.
The most poignant song from this beautiful and heartfelt collection of
songs is “Invisible Man,” and Paxton and McCutcheon would be quick to
tell you that this song is also about the invisible woman and invisible
child too. With words such as, “I am the invisible man / This really
was not my plan / Wherever you don’t look there I am / I am the
invisible man.” The song is
about the homeless, or the person you work beside that you never speak
with or some other person that society has overlooked or forgotten,
perhaps an elderly person. It draws attention to our need to do better.
John McCutcheon talks about his personal inspiration behind the song, “I
think I had just finished reading Ralph Ellison’s book Invisible Man (editor’s
note: not to be confused with HG Wells book of a similar title),
which of course is about the black experience in the United States.
During the pandemic, I remember contemplating the whole term of
sheltering in place and I thought there is a whole class of people who
have been sheltering in place for years in this country. Nobody knows
them. They are absolutely invisible.
Again,
it was creating that character that isn’t me and isn’t Tom and giving
them a voice. I have no idea who came up with the line “wherever you
don’t look there I am.” Tom and I said, God wrote that song. We aren’t
that good.
It is not just the homeless down the street, it is the guy you work with
in your office or who shines your shoes or who picks up the garbage.
They are like accessories to most people. The guy who mows your lawn and
you pay him and you have no idea what his last name is. That is a kind
of invisibility. We are just looking through the other end of the
telescope to give a voice to that person.
Tom Paxton joins in, “I love that line too, but how about the line that
precedes it, “This was not my plan.” (In unison the three of us say
“Yes.”) When you think about it, nobody plans to spend their life at an
intersection begging from the cars.”
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Beth Bombara Releases New Album
It
All Goes Up
is the title of Beth Bombara’s new album that will be released this week
(August 4) on Black Mesa Records, and Riveting Riffs Magazine gives two
thumbs up to a fabulous collection of songs, that once again demonstrate
Bombara’s superb musicianship and delicious vocals.
Confessing that she is really excited about this record she says, “We
were sort of coming out of COVID and we were getting back to normal.
When I wrote “Lonely Walls,” I was reflecting on my feelings and the
past year or so.
It started out as me reflecting on the pandemic, but I really wanted it
to be more open than that.”
The lyrics are open enough to interpretation that the listener might
find themselves thinking about a relationship or perhaps a difficult
time in their lives. It may also be as easy to interpret them as that
time during the pandemic that separated so many from the ones they
loved, whether they be romantic relationships or familial.
Beth Bombara goes on to say, that it (the song), “morphed into this
longing for one person.”
The melody meanders, an easy tempo, that sets the mood for more
reflections than missives.
She says about the fourth track, “Get On,” is a mixture of being about
procrastination, someone who is afraid to move ahead and just finds it
easier to make excuses for not moving forward.
“When
I was writing this one, I was writing it to myself (she laughs lightly).
It was a reminder for me to not worry about what is in the past and to
just keep my head forward and to keep going. That’s what matters. I tend
to get stuck in procrastination and overthinking what I should have
done, but that is all in the past. When I was writing this (song) I was
giving myself advice,” she says.
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Ben Brown - King of Air
Ben Brown from Austin, Texas is a deep thinker, who also happens to be a
terrific songwriter and musician. King of Air is his second solo
album following Sayonara Sorrow. Although at one time it was
considered risky for an artist to release an album that cannot easily be
pigeonholed into a specific genre, that may be more a thing of the past
than it is an absolute today. Certainly, Brown’s new record, King Of
Air, a collection of eclectic songs does a lot to dispel that myth
and when combined with today’s purchasing habits of music fans who tend
to listen more to single songs that they like versus buying an entire
album King Of Air has arrived on the scene at the right time. In
fact, those who regulate the radio airwaves are themselves almost a
thing of the past, with listeners and artists alike enjoying numerous
ways to access and distribute music that simply did not exist thirty
years ago.
Ben Brown, an excellent guitarist, bassist and keyboardist is joined on
King Of Air, by saxophonist Tim Cappello (Tina Turner – “We Don’t
Need Another Hero,” Carly Simon, David Bowie and Peter Gabriel), Mick
Flowers who doubles as the drummer and producer, Matt Hubbard who also
plays keyboards, as well as the theremin and vocalists, Sally Allen and
Bianca Lugo. Jared Wenkman who also sound engineered Sayonara Sorrow,
is at the controls once again.
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