Quick Q and A with Bernice Lewis
 by Kathy S-B  ·  28 February 2007

Why do you make music?

I believe that making music is one of the most human ways to pass time. I make music for so many reasons. . . to express myself, to console myself, to keep myself company, to challenge myself, to communicate with others, to collaborate with others, I could go on and on.

Who are your influences?

I have all the usual influences of my generation. . . the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor. Also, when I was young, I memorized the music to every Broadway Musical I could lay hands on. . . Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma. I love old standards and cover then whenever I get a chance. But I think that my biggest influences now are the other singer/songwriters in my life. Many of them are friends and colleagues. I also have recently developed a secret weakness for country music. . . .

How long have you been playing and singing?

I have always been a singer. I sang the lead in “Carmen” in seventh grade. I was in choruses and always knew every song on the radio. I had a guitar and taught myself a few folk songs. I’ve been writing poetry since I was in second grade, but didn’t write my first song until after graduate school.

When did you come back to music?

My guitar was stolen when I was in high school, and I didn’t get another one until I was out of graduate school. I was teaching high school then, and I used to sit up late after correcting papers and sing for myself. Shortly after leaving that job, I caught the bug again and realized that all I had ever really wanted to do was to play and sing. I went to my first open mike while I was living in Phoenix, and I knew exactly what I had to do.I quit my day job and moved to the south rim of the Grand Canyon, where I began performing for tourists, wranglers and cowboys.

Tell me about your recordings.

At this point, I have released six professional recordings. My first demo cassette “Spider’s Web” was recorded in Flagstaff, Arizona. My second recording, “Paisley with Plaid,” was released on cassette and LP in 1985. I recorded my first CD in at Fishtrax in Portsmouth, NH. It features appearances from Harvey Reid, Cosy Sheridan, Suzy Burke and Dave Surette, Cormac McCarthy, etc. Both “Isle of Spirit” and “Religion and Release” were recorded here in the Berkshires and produced by Adam Rothberg, who also produced Dar Williams “Honesty Room.” Guest appearances include Dar, Ellis Paul, Brooks Williams, and Jennifer Kimball.

I just released a new CD called “She Undoes.” It was recorded last year in Nashville, Produced by Grammy award winner Charlie Chadwick, it features 13 original songs and an unusual cover of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You.” There is also a duet with Cliff Eberhardt.

Between my last CD and this one, my husband and I adopted a one-year-old baby girl from Romania. She’s in first grade now, keeping us very busy!