Martha Redbone
Interview 15 March
2005
Interviews Menu interviews
Tell me about the album, how long it
took to get together, how you feel about it.
Our new album,
Skintalk, came together pretty quickly as a creative process. Financially is
another story, but you know how tough it is for indie musicians to get such a
big project together...it’s gig, save money, beg and save money, gig and beg
again and so on! Haha!! I’m really excited about the work we’ve done, I
love the songs, the production, my band, the artwork, every stage is a moment
to treasure when you’re independent. Each stage of the development of an
independent record is an achievement, it’s my life’s blood, and the moments,
the struggles, the fun we had making it is something to treasure... It’s very
much like giving birth, really.
What tracks are getting
attention, a couple of tracks are getting attention in the UK, particularly
Future Street which I really really rate, and Children of love.
Yes, those are cool tracks, they were cool to record. Future Street I enjoy
because I love ol’ skool ballads and it gives me a chance to really sing. Just
Because is another track that allows me to show my range, the spirit of soul
ballads in a way that, hopefully will move people the same way as if they were
digging some favorite soul record. Children of Love is a wonderful experience,
I got to work with Dennis Banks, the founder of the American Indian Movement,
and probably our greatest leader of Native people since Sitting Bull. The track
was a great way to blend the traditional music of my mother with the
music of my father and what we listened to growing up in NYC. Both styles seems
to flow in to each other so naturally, then I was thinking to myself, of course
it does, both styles of music are coming from our spirit, our soul...
What do you know
about the UK scene, be nice to get you over
I LOVE the UK, London
was my home for a while, and of course my writing/production partner, Aaron
Whitby is a Camden Town dude, and one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever
worked with, and I’ve worked with A LOT!!! What I like about the UK is the fact
that music is appreciated because of its quality, or a great melody. You guys
know a little about almost every type of music out there, world music, rock,
blues, funk, Rnb, jazz, techno...There’s still great respect for music in the
UK. Sure you have lots of dance, techno, drumnbass, but there’s room for all
kinds, and all is appreciated. Sometimes here in the States we caught up in
formats and trends and corporations controlling what people get to hear or have
access to, that’s why so many of us are branded as “underground” acts. We’re
not underground because we want to be, it’s because we have to be in order to
have the freedom of expressing whatever vibe we want to get out there. I don’t
think any musician wants to make music that only a handful of people hears, ..
Tell me about the people
around you,
Aaron Whitby, my co-writer/co-producer is the main teammate and a true
blessing to have in my corner. An intern here and there...we have a lot of
wonderful fans/friends who are always looking out for us, trying to help us
find ways of getting our music out there. And I’m blessed with our band of
incredible funk maestros, whose discographies could take a yellow pages to tell
you about. To have the dedication of guys who also play with Alicia Keys, Angie
Stone, Chaka Khan, Miles Davis, etc is something one could not describe. It’s
not only an honor to know and work with these folks, it’s an honor to be their
friend, and have their support as well. Randy Brecker, Toby Williams, Fred
Cash, Mike Campbell, Alan Burroughs, Teddy Kumpel, Stephanie McKay, Raul Midon,
Tony Scherr, Jennifer Carr, Omar Faruk...man, what a dream...what a blessing.
Do you use the same
musicians live?
Yep, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
What’s your show like?
We have a blast at
all our shows, whether it’s stripped down acoustic, or 12 of us on stage p-funk
stylee, we know how to bring it. There are no egos, no divas, no prima donnas,
just music, music and more music.
Some old school
influences in there, but also some things personal to you. What was the
vision and the message for this package, what are you trying to get across?
What’s your musical philosophy?
Yes, I am old school, proudly, because I respect the craft of classic
soulwriting and production. I also respect machines and the wonderful textures
and layers computers have created in hip hop and techno and drumnbass. But when
it comes to the pureness, the essence of just getting some cats who master
their instruments (guitar, bass, vocal, keys, and drums), walking into a simple
wooden room with a mic in the middle, and throwing down...now THAT’S religion,
nothing there but true spirit. You just can’t beat that kind of magic. Personal
influences on the album? Well, I guess I try to honor my parents in everything
I do, they gave me life, encouraged me to cultivate my musical talent. My
friends are also my family, so the same applies...In Shawnee culture, my
mother’s nation, there’s a saying that whatever you do, always do good for the
world. So this is what I try to live by, because whatever we put out there we
get back tenfold. Putting music out there that honors my ancestry, honors so
many wonderful soul heroes that have inspired me, writing songs that honor a
movement of music that is still strong today... To me, this is my vision, my
philosophy.
How do you see Soul
Music at the moment, moving back in a positive direction?
I have never seen
soul music disappear, at least not in NYC. I think soul music has always moved
forward, and yes, at different speeds like anything else in the world, but
according to whatever the corporate bigwigs having so much control over what
people read, think, and buy, one would think of soul music as “moving back” in
a positive direction. Every soul music lover I’ve ever run into has never
stopped investing in soul music, there has always been some wonderful artist or
band or vibe out there whose music we enjoy and buy, it’s never stopped moving.
I think what is actually happening is that the masses are catching onto
the fact that mediocrity is at an all-time high, so they’re searching for
something real, or familiar, something that brings comfort to the soul.
Who out there do you
like now.
I love Stevie Wonder’s new track, he’s showing all of us that he’s da man!!
I like so many people, Anthony Hamilton, we’re sharing the stage this year at
New Orleans Jazzfest. I love Joss Stone and watching her throw down old school,
I love that fact that so many of us are digging into the classic stuff, it’s
where everything comes from...Steph McKay, and Raul Midon, a friend and an
incredible voice and guitarist whose signed to Arif Mardin’s label. Wait til
you hear that!!
What’s the New York
scene like and where do you fit in
There are sooooo many scenes in NYC, and I like to have a taste of all of
them. This is New York City. EVERYTHING’S here! Whatever music you’re looking
for, you’ll find it. I love NYC for its diversity. I play in all sorts of
venues. In the soul family, I play in Brooklyn, at BAM Café and Frank’s, in
Manhattan, SOBs and Joe’s Pub, Cutting Room, there’s a bunch of us. I am also
part of the Native community, so play at the American Indian Community house,
charities for children, museums. There’s also a big coffeehouse scene here, we
we call the downtown “anti-folk” singer/songwriter scene. Soul music is pure so
it transcends genres. Artists like Norah Jones, Jen Chapin, Toshi Reagon, Noam
Weinstein, Jesse Harris..we bring soul to all these places and the response is
just as passionate as any other type of music. It’s great to have so many
places to do our thing.
What’s it like being
independent. How difficult is it?
Being independent? Freedom of expression is wonderful. Making own decisions,
working with who we want, when we want. Touring is an absolute blast. Being
able to watch something blossom, enjoying the fruits of our labor, from the
creative process to sharing with music lovers...enjoying the wonderful journey
of where this music has taken me and where it’s going to take me...it’s a
blessing being independent; it’s the only thing I know.
Hmmm...how
difficult is it? It’s a full-time job. I think when you work for yourself, you
don’t really see it as work because it’s doing something you love. For me
making music for a living is a privilege, not many people have the luxury of
following their dreams, there are a lot of people who are just trying to
survive, eat, pay bills, and so on. To be able to make music and earn a living
from it should never be taken for granted. It’s an honor and a responsibility,
because we are putting it into the universe for people to hear and believe.
If I made music because I want some kind of receipt, like being number
one on the charts, or flossing ice, or riding round in a jeep, etc. I would be
making music for the wrong reasons, for myself. I make music because I have to,
because I think that’s why I’m here.
And its advantages?
Pretty much the same reasons.
This is the second
album, how has it progressed since the first one?
Our second album is a
continuation of the first. On Home of the Brave, I had a way of using humour to
express my views of the world. Injustice, entitlement, relationships, religion
and sexuality. These are things that I addressed on Home of the Brave.
Before the making of SKINTALK, there were personal tragedies, September
11th, there’s war across the globe, there’s all kinds of things that affect the
way I feel, think and hear. With so much cynicism in the world I felt the need
to create some form of healing. This is all in the music.
Some strong lyrics, how
do you put songs together and what do you draw from
I learn a lot form
the world, from everything around me, from friends, family...I try to write in
the hope that people can identify with the feeling, or the emotion. We only
have a sort amount of time to create an expression in a song. As a lyricist,
I’m always striving to “sing your song”, so to speak. I hope that somehow, in
those few minutes of music and production, we can create something that
expresses a particular emotion, and hope that it can touch the heart of the
listener in such a way that they want to hear it again, and again, and again.
This, of course, is my life’s passion.
Tell me about Aaron and
what he has done to help and some of the things he has done
Aaron Whitby makes all our ideas, no
matter how far out, make sense, and feel great. If you want someone who is
incredible at getting the best out of any musician, be it singer, guitarist,
etc., Aaron is your man. His music vocabulary is mind-blowing; as I said
earlier, being from the UK with exposure to all kinds of music styles, Whitby
can do it all, and his thirst for music knowledge makes him a real treasure.
He’s worked with so many people, from Natalie Cole to George Clinton to
Classical artists, but the North London soul boy is always number one! He can
play everything, and he’s not an egoist...what more can a girl ask for??
How did the first one
do, got some good accolades.
Home of the Brave was
critically acclaimed; won a Native American Music Award for Best Debut Artist,
2004 Indian Summer Music Award for Best Album, A Silver Arrow Award from Native
Radio, multiple nominations for Just Plain Folks Award, and some really cool
write-ups in music publications and press that I never imagined ever being able
to get a look in with being unsigned and indie, The response was awesome, and
grows more and more each time we’re on the road touring form state to state.
I’m really grateful for the belief and all the support we’ve been getting.
Tell me about yourself,
where you from, what’s your background
I’m born in NYC,
raised in BK and Kentucky; mother is Native American; Shawnee/Choctaw/Blackfeet
nations; my father was African American and Lumbee nation, North Carolina.
Tell me about some of
the other things you have done, leading up to the first album
I was mentored by
Junie Morrison of Pfunk and Ohio Players, this is where Aaron and I first
teamed up, Junie called us Jr. Funkadelics. We made demos, sang, played,
learned studio techniques, learned about the music biz knee-deep from the
get-go!
You’ve worked with
George Clinton (Aaron was telling me how crazy he is!) and you were mentored by
Walter 'Junie' Morrison of the Ohio Players so the funk is instilled in you eh!
Abso-funking-lutely! These guys are geniuses, and they accept nothing less
than your best, so right away you want to give 150% all the time. It’s a
privilege to KNOW these guys as family, let alone have the chance to work with
them. There’s no time for half-steppin’, it’s all or nothing with PFUNK.
What’s happening
now..promoting the release?
everything is in the
beginning stages of promotion, so lots of touring, festivals, mini gigs, press,
radio, etc. They’re playing some of the tracks in clubs in the UK, which is
awesome! To have these opportunities available as indie soul musicians is
really cool, so there’s lots of energy and a beautiful vibe all around soul
music here, esp with all our friends doing the same thing, it feels real
good...it’s just beginning, who knows where we’ll be in another year or so?? As
long as we’re working hard and having fun and making great music, I’m happy...
What’s next on the
agenda?
Right now , the only
way people can get our CDs is through my website, http://www.martharedbone.com
Hopefully there will be a way to get over to the UK to do some shows for the
folks who are diggin the music. I’d love that to happen...also, looking for
some kind of larger distribution so that people can find our CDs in any store
in the world they walk into, that’s probably a much longer term agenda...We’ll
just keep on keepin’ on, try to stay healthy and happy, and keep the faith!
Is the time right
for you do you think?
I’m not really fatalistic, so I try not to think in terms of “the right
time” for my music. If I do this, then I have to assume that there is also a
“wrong time” for my music. I could never think that...
Anything else you’d like
to say?
I want to thank you and everyone in the UK for taking a minute to
listen to a sista’s music! Without you guys, indie soul musicians would never
get a look in. Thank you for believing in us, for supporting us, for spreading
the word, for creating a network, something we can contribute to...and keeping
real music alive. You are a blessing...pass it on.
Good luck, thanks for your time
Thank you! Peace, bro.
Mike
e
Visitors: