Where are you from, originally and what brought you to Los Angeles?
I'm from New Jersey originally and came out soon after college because I always wanted to live in California.
What style of music would you say you do?
I
have done many styles as a songwriter from pop, dance, country, r&b
and rock, but my latest CD is alternative rock. As a singer, I prefer
to sing rock and pop r&b
What do you enjoy best - songwriting or performing and why?
I
don't know if I like either one better, but with performing I pretty
much know how that's gonna go. If I have an audience that's responsive
to what we're doing, there is nothing that feels as good as that. When
it comes to songwriting, it's always something new because I don't know
what I'm going to write or how I'm going to write it. I'm making
something out of nothing so it's always very rewarding when I finish a
song and it's good.
Who are your musical influences?
I'm
probably the only writer I know who doesn't have direct influence of
one other artist. I can't say how it all happened because I started
singing at 2 years old, as soon as I could talk. I started writing at
13, something that would have started sooner, but I kept blocking it.
Finally, I dreamed a song, got up and went to the piano and played it
down. It was like a message that I was supposed to be a songwriter. I
like many styles of music and if I need to write in a certain style,
I'll listen to it, not any particular artist, and then I'll write in
that style.
Describe your favorite song you have written and why is it so special to you?
It's
a pop/rock song called "Memphis To L.A." which is on my CD "Just
Another Day" . It's a true story and another song that happened
naturally where I sat at the piano and just played and sang it down. I
am always amazed when that happens because it seems like I'm having
some kind of help from the beyond! The song is very haunting, sad and
memorable. I love the way the bridge builds the song.
What are your goals for the next 5 years musically speaking?
I am planning to get a lot of songs placed and make a lot of money....:)
Tell us about your recordings and what's in store next.
I
don't know what's in store next, I never really plan anything because
it never seems to work out when I do. Usually, I'll just get a thought
and act on it immediately, which is way my latest CD came about. I
wasn't planning on releasing a new CD at all, but I put my rock band
Hemlok Bay together and released "Just Another Day".
Where can we buy your music?
What are your views about where the music industry is heading in your community, or on a global level?
There
are good and bad things about this and that is that anyone can make a
CD and put it for sale....that's the good and bad of it! I thank God
for music libraries and cable stations.
Anything pertinent you'd like to say about Songsalive! ?
I
love Songsalive and am glad I joined it. My first submission resulted
in a placement of the song "Just Another Day" in a movie.
Unfortunately, the production company ran out of money and the movie
hasn't gotten released yet.
I just wish I could attend more of the
events, but I'm a busy performer and frequently out of town. It's a
great way to meet other songwriters, make connections and get some
feedback on your songs and it was lovely to meet Gilli who is the
epitome of indie artist success.