I like to ask musicians a question, it’s sort of a trademark with me. What’s your earliest memory around music? My earliest memory is probably seeing my parents singing around the house. They would harmonize together, my mom was a beautiful soloist at our Catholic church and my dad would play guitar and harmonica. I remember hearing them and music was always around. Both their influences definitely inspired me, their sheer love for it. Then probably like impersonating sounds that I heard on television. I like to ask because there is often a common thread with singers: church music and usually the parents or grandpar- ents had talent. It’s interesting how strong the Catholic church’s influence is
on my love for music. I can still sing the songs from those very traditional hymnals and while they’re not soulful, I definitely got the soul influence from what my parents loved to listen to. My mother was a church organist, so I can totally relate. Organ playing is really difficult, that’s cool she was the
organist. It was in a small Lutheran church and while they weren’t a passionate group, we loved to sing. (Laughs) Just like the Catholics.
Tell us a little more about what your musical influences were coming up. Aretha Franklin was probably the biggest and Etta James,
more during her very bluesy reinvention, sort of during her comeback later in her life. Mom listened to a lot of her ‘90s music, when it was “Come To Mama” and singing about being a voodoo priestess, stuff like that. Aretha, Etta, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, George Benson and Sly and the Family Stone, those were the ones that I really, really looked up to. Your career is truly amazing, you started so young and had your first chart topper at 13. Can you talk a little about what that was like for you? Sure. I recorded that album when I was 12 and was in eighth
grade. I totally felt like I was grown and that I knew everything, so I didn’t feel like a kid, even though looking back of course, I was. It was what I had dreamed of doing, I always wanted to travel the world and sing in front of people, do what I love the
most. It was never me being pushed into that light, it was what I wanted…I was very precocious. (Laughs) It’s part of what makes you such a great role model, for showing kids about going after the things that you love. Your parents encouraged you and also set limits for you. My mom definitely set limits and wanted to make sure that
my school came first. We had a tutor on the road all the time, I definitely credit her with me finishing high school, because I didn’t want to. (Laughs) I know what I’m doing and knew what I wanted to do forever. If you had any advice for your younger self, what might it be? I think it’s really hard to give advice to a twelve or 13-year-
old. (Laughs) I don’t think I would have really listened. If I could say something to anyone listening, it would be that if you get into business with anyone, don’t be too surprised or sad, when you realize that they are not your family. Make sure to keep those things separate. Always keep people around you that will be honest with you and don’t keep your blinders on. Stay focused on what it is you do. Reading about the process you had to go through and the fight to get your career back was pretty intense. Do you think that gave you a better sense of the value of it then you had before? Absolutely, without a doubt. I don’t think I could have
had this much gratitude and perspective that I have now, if it weren’t for having to sacrifice and do everything that I had to do to get out of that situation. I can only look back on it and think that it was meant to change my perspective on all of it. It makes it a lot more serious, more precious and I am so thankful to have it. You are part of a group of young women who have had to fight to emancipate themselves from tough situations. It’s an important story to tell, so that others might be able to do the same, because we don’t always encourage that. I appreciate you putting me in that conversation. I just wasn’t
going to sit back, shrivel and die. I refused to do it. (Laughs) I was going to be heard and that was that. It’s incomprehensible to me that anyone else can own your voice and prevent a performer from doing what they love. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to make the decisions about those things. Anything about money and my voice. I’ve discussed this with other artists about the need to educate young performers about the difficulties. Kelly Clarkson and Kesha are both examples of how difficult it can be. The state of California has things in place for some of those things, but it’s more about protecting them from greedy parents. Getting into a contract is something one hopes your lawyer will help you to avoid. But we’re dealing with people and it can be very convoluted. It’s never simple.
OCTOBER 2016 | RAGE monthly
27
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