A-LISTS rage rhythms
Beth
thornley
Exploring Emotions
from “A to Z” on Wash U Clean
by bill biss
thrilled that you like the song because I didn’t know how acces-
sible it was going to be. You know what I mean?
Rage: One thing I noticed is that you touch on not so very pleasant emo-
tions. You have a really good skill of exploring people’s emotions one-by-
one. What inspires you when you are writing songs?
BT: Just generally, like you kind of said…just watching people.
And of course, every song really, I don’t know how to get away
from it, is really about me. But, I take my ideas from what I see other people doing
and then apply how I think and feel about it.
This is Beth Thornley’s much-anticipated third CD set for major
Rage: There has to be a back-story to your song, “You’re So Pony.” That one almost has a Ting-
release on March 1. As an independent artist, many of her songs
Tings feel to it.
have been featured on a variety of television and film productions
BT: Yes. I kind of just wanted to do something ridiculous. That’s what came out
such as The Hills, Paris Hilton’s My New BFF, Everwood and more.
of just wanting to stop being so serious about music. I’m not saying I don’t take
Her sound is slightly reminiscent of Sheryl Crow but distinctly
the song serious because I wanted it to be a seriously good and fun song. I also
wanted to write something that I could just jump around the room to. I can’t even
her own as a singer/songwriter who, as she puts it “likes to step
tell you why but one day the phrase “you’re so pony” popped into my head and I
into some different musical shoes for inspiration.” To promote her
thought that might be a really good hook for a fun, upbeat and silly song.
latest set of songs, Beth will be appearing at Lestat’s in San Diego
Rage: One of the lyrics is so cool on that… “You shine like a Cadillac. If you got sold, I’d buy
on Sunday, February 21 with her producer/musician Rob Cairns
you back.”
on a double bill with singer/guitarist Michael Miller. Thornley will BT: I’m glad you like that! That was fun.
also be debuting the new release on Saturday, February 6 at the Rage: Numerous songs that you have written and sung have been utilized on television and
Hotel Café in Los Angeles with an extra large band.
in films [Scrubs, The Perfect Man, Beautiful People]. What was the first song ever requested
from you?
The Rage Monthly: The whole album is an enjoyable listening experience. The title track of
BT: Oh, it was a song called “I Will Lie” off my first album. That album came out
the record called “Wash U Clean” is quite a hipster song with that funky saxophone playing
in 2003. I remember setting the VCR to record the show. I watched it later and
throughout.
remember being completely surprised by it. But in some ways it was just like
Beth Thornley: I have always wanted secretly to write a song with baritone sax.
watching T.V. I don’t know if that makes any sense (laughter).
My producer majored in sax at Berkeley but yet he never pulled it out because he
Rage: Please share a bit of the experience of working with producer/musician/songwriter
himself is a composer with his own career. He’s always playing a lot of guitar, a lot
Rob Cairns on this?
of keyboards and bass…there is just not a lot of call for sax. So, one day I wrote that
BT: Rob is one of the first people I met when I came to L.A. He’s an overall well-
song and said, “Here. You’re going to have to dust it off and pull it out. I mean, I love
rounded musician. He is able to play almost any instrument you can name. He is
the Beastie Boys and it’s that kind of thing. It all came from that.
one of the hardest working people at making a song the best that it can be. His
Rage: One of my favorites off this is “Still Can’t Hide,” the string arrangements remind me of
attention to detail and desire to make the arrangement the best that it can be just
something that E.L.O. would do.
floors me every day.
BT: It’s kind of almost a throwback to 1970s soft rock in a way. We worked really
Rage: The best of success with this.
hard on those string parts. There’s some E.L.O. and Beatles-influence in there. I’m
BT: Thank you so much for calling.
16 RAGE monthly | February 2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80