HOW SHE ROLES: AN INTERVIEW WITH
“I have people, like a kid or a teenager, sending me messages on Facebook saying, ‘I’m gay and I’m coming out and you’ve helped me,’ or ‘people like you are helping me.’” by brad shaw
Singer and actress Haviland Stillwell definitely embodies the Shakespearean adage
that “all the world’s a stage,” as she has spent a great deal of her life being one of its many players. Whether it’s starring in Broadway shows, such as Les Miserables and Fiddler on the Roof with fellow out actress Rosie O’Donnell and Glee star Lea Michele, or stepping onto a soundstage for TV projects, which have included Eastwick and the recent Lifetime movie The Client List, she has made a happy home for herself among the floodlights. Stillwell has also been making time on the concert circuit, playing coast-to- coast venues and even took her act onto the open seas with O’Donnell’s r family cruises. Now with the release of her new CD, How I Role, she is taking a treasure trove of her
favorite songs, including Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out,” Gladys Knight and The Pips’ “Midnight Train To Georgia,” and Dolly Parton’s “Here You Come Again” (among others) and giving them her own distinctive spin, so to speak. Among the musical odes on the CD, which drops on September 12, is “Until U Love U,”
written by songwriting vet Diane Warren (and was first recorded by The Pussycat Dolls), who has penned tunes for the likes of Cher, Celine Dion and Christina Aguilera and many others in the music biz. Stillwell spoke with The Rage Monthly about her life in the entertainment world, and the affable double threat basically let us in on how she rolls.
The Rage Monthly: How did you go about selecting the songs that you are re-interpreting on How I Role? Haviland Stillwell: Some of these songs were ones that I had performed in concert
before, and some of them were songs that I had always wanted to. As I was starting to put things together, I was speaking with my music director, Steven Jamail (who is incredible) and I would throw things out to him like, “Hey, um, is there a way to mash-up John Cougar Mellencamp with Lady GaGa?” And he’d go, “Ah, ok, I can make it happen; it may take me a minute.” So, we kind of did it that way. The way that I’ve always done my concerts is I pick all of the songs that I wanted to sing, and then figured out what’s the through line and how can I connect all of them. And where do I need to add something in to tell the story
HAVILAND STILLWELL
better or where do I need to take something out that isn’t necessary?
Rage: Which song would you say is the most reflective of who you are as a person? HS: I would probably say that the one, which is the way the album starts, is “I’m Com-
ing Out,” because I love the line in it “I’m spreadin’ love, there’s no need to fear, and I feel so good everytime I hear I’m coming out.” It’s a very positive and fun, light song—which is what I’m trying to do in life. Keep things light and positive.
Rage: What was it like to work with Diane Warren, and how did that come about? HS: She is a friend of mine and we’ve known each other through personal connec-
tions. When I started working on the album she said, “Are you going to sing a song of mine? You need to sing a song of mine!” I have massive respect for her, because at this point somebody in her position could
say, “I’m successful and I don’t need to court any more work.” But, she’s always creating and always wanting to work with new
artists...and ultimately wants to get her music out there and have people create with her.
Rage: Does your acting background, especially having appeared on Broadway, lend itself to performing music live on stage? HS: Definitely it does. I always think of my concerts as being stories that I’m weaving
through (the performances). I don’t think I’d be capable of getting up and singing a song without thinking about what it’s about, or connecting to it; so it’s a vital part of the process. I feel like a lot of it has to do with different sides of myself, and the way that all of us
play different roles in our life. The style of singing I do is very reflective of the mood that I’m in, or what character or persona I’ve decided to play that day, which makes it sound like I’m crazy and have multiple personalities (laughter).
I don’t think anything comes in black and white; I
think everything’s in shades of, and I don’t want to say gray, everything is in rainbow shades! (laughter)
SEPTEMBER 2010 | RAGE monthly 53
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