Quick Q and A with Brittany Ann Tranbaugh
 by Kathy S-B  ·  17 May 2010

I had the chance to meet Britanny Ann a couple of times at NERFA and Folk Alliance and have kept up with her transition from high school student to college student at Temple University. It’s so much fun to get to know artists as they “emerge” onto the scene — watching their musical horizons expand and their songwriting and performing skills become more and more mature. It’s been that way with Brittany Ann.

Learn more about Brittany Ann on her MySpace page. Here’s a video of Brittany Ann singing her song, “Puzzle Pieces” at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village.

I understand that you are a self-taught guitarist. Really? How does one do that exactly? You pick up the guitar . . . . and. . .?

My dad used to play guitar and sing to me when I was a little kid. Lots of Harry Chapin and John Denver songs. So we had this Yamaha FG-300 and a book of chords he bought in college sitting in the living room downstairs. I was probably 10 or 11 when I first picked it up and started teaching myself how to play. I would figure songs out by getting the chords from books or online, then I started teaching myself songs by ear and writing when I was about 13. I was so hooked! I still am of course :)

Do you recall any of those ‘moments’ at which you knew that music was meant to be part of your life and your destiny?

Oh, I love those moments! I especially get them when I’m making music with others. When I was 16, I went on a church mission trip to the Dominican Republic and brought my guitar with me. I remember singing songs in Spanish with a bunch of kids under a tree in this little village called Zumbon and feeling that way so strongly. Similar moments of genuine connection with those around me have also been pretty regular since I’ve been at college. I’ve found some true musical soulmates here. A North Philly apartment living room filled with my best friends singing “Hallelujah” in harmony . . . total bliss. Being a musician, you go through a lot of creative frustration and doubt. Those beautiful musical moments are constantly happening to remind you that this truly is what you were made for.

Your list of musical influences is diverse and I’m loving how someone so young can cite Joni Mitchell, The Decemberists, The Shins, Bob Dylan, and the Weepies at the same time. When did you first really start “listening” to music and understanding its power?

My parents always had a pretty eclectic taste in music, and my sisters and I loved everything they exposed us to when we were little kids; lots of singer/songwriters with artists like The Four Seasons and the Beach Boys thrown in there too. I was obsessed with the Dixie Chicks in elementary school. But it wasn’t until I began playing guitar that I truly formed my own individual taste in music. I immersed myself in Bob Dylan, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell in middle school. My high school years brought a hunger for authenticity and truth in the music I listened to, and that’s why I think I was drawn so strongly to folk music and some indie rock too. High school is when I really started listening . . . I’d just lay on my bed, close my eyes, and soak in albums like “Blue” by Joni Mitchell and “o” by Damien Rice from beginning to end. I am constantly amazed by how much great music there is in the world, old and new. Lately I’ve been delving into Delta blues and the Anthology of American Folk Music. I’m in this phase where I want to hear who inspired the musicians that have inspired me so much.

You’ve been performing on stage for a while now. Were you at ease the first time or has it taken some time to get adjusted to singing and playing in front of perfect strangers?

I have been singing at family get-togethers and in church as long as I can remember, so when I started playing gigs it wasn’t that hard to get used to. I’m generally quite at ease performing. . . . I try to just think of it as sharing. Some of the bigger deal gigs can get a bit nerve-wracking beforehand, but once I start singing, everything else goes away.

I’ve been impressed at how well you seem to have assimilated into the folk culture and have gravitated toward some of the coolest musicians I know like Anthony da Costa, Joey Mutis, and Pesky J. Nixon. Fate? Good taste? How do you attribute this?

I think it’s just that there are a lot of honestly good people in the folk scene, and I’m fortunate to have been in the right places at the right times to meet them. What is technically “networking” with other musicians hardly ever feels like it. For example, I met Pesky J. Nixon in the lobby at NERFA in ’08 and then proceeded to jam with them all night . . . literally. They are great friends of mine, and it’s always a wonderful time visiting each other to play gigs. I’ve found most folk musicians to be remarkably genuine people who are enthusiastic about helping others out.

What’s the latest on the CD? Do tell. We want to know!

Haha, excellent question! I started working on my debut CD last summer, and then the overwhelming new-ness and busy-ness of college delayed the process a bit. The good news is that it’s almost finished and should be out this summer. I am so very happy with what I have so far. These songs are such a part of my soul, and to see this album, this dream I’ve had for years, finally coming to life . . . . it’s surreal. To be kept posted on a release date, visit www.myspace.com/brittanyannmusic.

Quick Q and W with Amy Petty
 by Kathy S-B  ·  14 May 2010

Amy Petty has a voice. Actually I should say Amy Petty has a Voice. Or better still, she has a VOICE! As many have acknowledged, it’s not often that a debut CD has as much punch and power as Amy’s “Mystery Keeps You.” Amy’s classical training is evident in the way she weaves her musical tales with lush, harmonious vocals and pristine musicianship.

Learn more about Amy on her website. Check out this video of Amy telling the story about how she got her record deal and hear her sing her beautiful song, “July.”

For someone who was raised on rock and roll since your father was involved with a popular rock band back home in Michigan, what prompted you to study classical music / opera in college?

I’ve always loved all types of music. I loved choral singing, rock and roll, early music, punk, grunge, classical . . . I just loved music. While I liked singing rock and roll, I never really felt like I had the personality for it. I was a little too quiet, conservative and introverted to be a rock star. And I never even considered that I might be able to write my own songs. Classical music, opera specifically, seemed like a logical choice. It gave me the opportunity to perform, to become different characters, to live a life immersed in art and culture. And not everyone is capable of creating an operatic sound. I was and I was pretty good at it!

Did you pursue opera as a career?

I got my degree in classical voice, singing with various orchestras, chorales and opera companies while studying for my degree. I was learning operatic roles as a dramatic soprano, singing Verdi, Mozart and Puccini. I was accepted to The Academy of Vocal Arts, a prestigious opera program in Philadelphia. I moved to Philly and began working toward a full-time career as an opera singer.

What brought you to the singer-songwriter world?

It didn’t take long for me to start feeling a little stifled artistically as an opera singer. As a scholarship student at AVA, singing anything other than the assigned operatic roles was discouraged. I’ve always been a creative and artistic person, and I felt like I wasn’t able to do everything that I loved by strictly singing classically. I quit the program and devoted myself to learning to play the guitar. I found that I was able to write some interesting lyrics and melodies, so I kept at it . . .

Do you have any favorite tunes on your CD, “Mystery Keeps You”?

I love all of the songs on “Mystery Keeps You” (but I’m supposed to say that). I’m particularly fond of ‘Broken Record’ . . . it came to me all in one instant as I was driving down I-93 in Boston. It’s clever and catchy . . . and it never ceases to boggle my mind that I thought of it! I’m particularly proud of ‘Honey on the Skin’. It’s complex and intricate, musically, lyrically and emotionally. But I think ‘July’ defines me as a person, musician, performer and artist. It’s the story of my life and musical journey.

Do you enjoy the recording process or do you find it grueling and emotionally taxing?

I LOVE recording. The studio is my favorite place on earth. I really love performing, but I had no idea that I would love the recording process as much as I do. I get to be more than just a songwriter when I’m in the studio. I get to be a composer and use all of the tools in my toolbox, from songwriting to my choral music experience. And it doesn’t hurt that I’m working with the greatest people in the universe at Red Pill Entertainment in St. Louis. We’re currently working on my second CD and I’m loving every minute of it!

Quick Q and A with Reed Waddle
 by Kathy S-B  ·  14 May 2010

Reed Waddle is somewhat of a new musical transplant to the Boston music scene. He’s been making the rounds and playing all kinds of gigs around the Northeast and beyond. He’s collecting a whole lot of accolades in the process too.

To learn more about Reed Waddle, go to his website. Here’s a video of Reed performing “Piece by Piece” at the NY Songwriter’s Circle competition.

You’ve got four independently produced albums to your name. Have you learned a lot about songwriting and recording since you entered the studio for the first time?

I think you are always learning in regards to the songwriting process as well as recording. Day in day out, you are always changing and adapting to all elements of the music business. The first two albums were done in my attic with my dad. The other two were done in professional studios, so I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum. The ones I made with my dad are obviously very special for me, although they might not sound as pro as the others. There is more of a soul there, because there had to be. I could go on for days about the recording process and how I have grown. It is such a different environment for making music than playing live. You have to know that and understand that before you go in, I believe. Through time I have seemed to grasp that. For instance, singing on a really expensive mic in a studio is completely different than singing on a BETA or something you would sing on live . . . much more attention to detail, a totally different way of getting the good stuff out of your voice. I’ve also learned that you have to know what you want . . . exactly. If not, the recording process can be a bit painful. Maybe it’s supposed to be that way, like having a baby (not that I would know). A very time consuming, important thing and part of your life, a bit stressful finding the magic, but all worth it in the end.

Do you have any vivid memories or recollections of favorite moments on stage?

Many good ones, bad ones too. I’ve played a lot of bars, so I’ve seen my fair share of train wrecks. I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida, so I’ve played to some amazing scenery . . . white beaches with tremendous sunsets that a lot of people would pay a lot of money to see. It’s kind of nice when you get paid to add to the ambiance! The best was about a year ago. I played for a very special benefit for a young boy that passed away. He was very close to my family and the place was packed — probably 2,000 people in a great space. People were clapping along and participating in the healing process through music. To be a part of that process for that family and his friends was very powerful. It was a very special feeling that I will never forget.

You’ve won a couple of pretty impressive songwriting awards recently — like the New York Songwriters Circle and Mountain Stage New Song competition. Those two contests elicit a multitude of applicants. Congratulations! Have those honors helped open any doors for you?

They have both been a tremendous boost for my career. Such great honors to actually win both Mt. Stage and the NY Songwriters Circle..both are amazing organizations that are all about bringing good music to the forefront. It’s opened many doors just on the amount of people I’ve gotten to meet. Great producers, publishers as well as AWESOME musicians. I just recently toured with Caleb Hawley, an amazing songwriter. We met through the circle. Later this summer, I am going on a west coast run with another superb talent, Liz Longley. We met at Mt. Stage. That’s half the game . . . getting out there and meeting people, networking and building through that. It’s a very exciting time.

Tell us about how you met John Oates and how he came to be involved in your CD.

I met John a few years back. I used to live outside Aspen, Colorado where he resides. I started working on my most recent album, Piece by Piece with a great producer there named Jamie Rosenburgh. Check his studio out (SICK!!) . He had worked with John on his solo stuff and took a liking to me. He told me he would play my music for John and I thought . . . go for it! I’m sure I will never hear anything about it. I was wrong. I moved back to Florida and got a phone call from the Maneater himself. He said, “Hi Reed, this is John Oates. I was wondering if you would like to come out to Colorado and write a song with me.” I thought to myself, let’s see . . . Grammy winning, one of the most successful songwriters EVER . . . done. We wrote a song called “Goodnight Los Angeles” in a day. It was one of the coolest moments of my career to be able to work with him. He’s a master of his craft and an incredibly generous guy . . . plus he has a herd of paca lamas . . . and he lives across from where Hunter S. Thompson used to live. SCORE!

He has been more than generous since then, recording background vocals for free . . . putting his two cents in on the tunes and he even let me open for Hall and Oates last year. He’s a very gracious man and I am lucky to know him. He’s throwing a songwriter’s festival later this fall in Aspen and he invited me out to be a part of it. A guy of his stature didn’t have to do anything like that, but he did. For that, I’ll always be grateful.

Have you had a difficult time adjusting to Boston? And what about the music scene here? Do you find that it’s competitive?

I like Boston a lot. Big city, small town. It’s a major jump from North Florida, but I was at a time in my life where I needed to do something completely new. Boston was it. The music scene is really good for songwriters here, especially in Cambridge. It, like every new scene is competitive, but welcoming at the same time if you put yourself out there. I’m still the new guy, but things take time. I’m enjoying New England so far, especially since it’s starting to get warm!

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