Quick Q and A with Cindy Bullens
 by Kathy S-B  ·  20 September 2009

Cindy Bullens is my own personal s(hero)! She’s a phenomenal role model as an artist, mother, family member, and human being. Cindy’s still a rocker and can belt out a song with the best of ’em but then she can switch gears and sing the loveliest ballads you’d ever want to hear. Watching Cindy play the mandolin proves she can tear through a bluegrass tune and her harmonica playing proves she’s got a knack for the blues. What can’t this woman do?

She sings with Elton John, Delbert McClinton, and Red Sox pitcher, Tim Wakefield, on her latest CD “Dream #29.” Now she’s singing with Wendy Waldman and Deborah Holland as part of the Refugees. Check out their website.

Hope to see you all at the me&thee on Friday, September 25.

How did the name The Refugees come about? You went through one or two names before you came up with that one, right?

The name came up in conversation during a rehearsal when Wendy said something about “being a refugee from. . . .” I grabbed it out of the air and said that’s our name. We googled it to see if it was taken — it wasn’t. There was a name that Wendy and Deb had thrown around before I came into the picture but not worth mentioning!

Tell me about the song “Unbound.” It’s the one that actually mentions being a refugee.

“Unbound” is the first co-write of the three of us. It’s a very special song to us. I think it epitomized all we are about both musically and lyrically. It’s a slamming song about coming to terms with one’s life and realizing it’s all in our hands — that’s where our freedom lies. At least that’s what it means to me! You’d have to ask Wendy and Deborah for their own interpretations.

I have to tell you. You are one fine harmonica player (in addition to all the other instruments you play too) but you’ve impressed me so much when you play the harmonica. It really adds a very cool, very bluesy sound to the group and brings you up many notches on the cool factor scale.

It’s my ace in the hole! Thanks! I do like to surprise people with it.

The description of The Refugees as a female Crosby, Stills, and Nash with humor is pretty accurate. One certainly thinks of CSN as the epitome of harmonious singing but you’ve got one up on them — you’ve got both harmonies and humor!

The Refugees is my dream come true as a band. I started out as a background singer. Ever since I was a little kid, I always harmonized to the songs on the radio. In fact, I am always surprised to hear a Beatle song or something and the harmony I always sang with that song isn’t there on the record! So being able to sing harmony on every song with these two other incredible singers — and have it blend beautifully —is fantastic! And the blend of our three very different personalities is just amazing! I love both these women. We have so much fun! I am very grateful that they had the idea for this.

You’ve given a lot of your time and energy to charity work. Tell us more.

I continue to dedicate time to raising funds for our Jessie Fund formed after the death of my 11-year old daughter, Jessie, in 1996. The Jessie fund gives most of what we raise to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program for research and for psycho-social programs for kids and their families. We also provide funds so the caregivers, nurses, and doctors can attend conferences and seminars — helping them give the best care to the kids with cancer. You can find more information at HYPERLINK “http://www.jessiefund.org” www.jessiefund.org.

Could you fill us in about the documentary you were involved with recently?

Last year, I wrote the score for a documentary called “Space Between Breaths” — produced by Rosemary and Luther Smith, two very close friends of mine who lost two sons in one car accident 16 years ago. This is a very moving and uplifting film showing bereaved parents — including Jessie’s dad, Dan Crewe and sister, Reid, and me — talking about the experience of losing their children and how they have turned tragedy into triumph. It was certainly an honor to be involved with this film.