Interview...

I love being interviewed! I like being challenged by questions, and I'm always curious to hear what people will ask. This blog post, isn't my own post, but rather, an interview from the Concerts in Your Home blog. Enjoy!

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Describe your most memorable house concert experience.

I played at two incredible house concerts this summer. I wanted to mention them both because while one was in Iowa, and the other in Wisconsin, they were hosted by sisters! Both girls used to babysit me when I was little, so that was pretty cool, especially because I got to spend some time with each of their families. Both concerts were outdoors, kid friendly, and had amazing energy. I'd take credit for the awesome vibe, but I'm pretty sure that the sibling hosts were responsible for that...

What's your best opening line? (from one of your songs, or one of your favorites)

"I came to battle my senses..." from 'Slow Down', off of my latest EP, with the same title.  And from a Dar William's song, "Go ahead, push your luck. Find out how much love the world can hold." from 'After All'.

What song is most likely to make you cry? (if you were the crying kind)

I am the crying kind...depending on the day. I think that's why I'm a musician. Music has always been a place for me to channel thoughts and emotions. I'd have to say, 'Rich Man's War', by Steve Earle. I cried the first time that I heard it, and I'm still so moved any time that I hear it. It's an incredibly well-crafted song, and so relevant. I'd also (again) go for Dar Williams, 'After All'. The first time I really listened to that song... I think I might have held my breath the entire four minutes and forty-eight seconds. Her line, 'Well the sun rose, with so many colors it nearly broke my heart...' makes me want to be a better person.

How many miles did you drive last year?

21,761. Give or take.

What is your favorite thing about house concerts?

The people! I love singing for an audience that comes specifically to hear music, and I love getting to hang out and connect with people as the night is winding down.

If you could no longer sell your music on CD, what would you do differently?

I'm not sure I know what this question means. I guess as we dive deeper into the digital age, this is a possibility, but I'll be keeping my CDs around for a while yet- even if they function as nothing more than a keepsake. CDs or no CDs, I'll keep writing songs, making recordings (digital and video) and I'll ALWAYS keep touring. I love the road.

When is the last time someone critiqued your song, suggested a way to make it better, and you agreed?

I meet with a few songwriter friends of mine every few months, and we'll critique our new songs. I don't always take their advice, but I always listen. Even if I don't wholeheartedly agree with a different idea it still serves a great purpose. It either solidifies my original thought, or it prompts a new one. And if their suggestion is better, I'm always really excited, and SUPER grateful.

Have you ever watched yourself do a full concert on video? If so, what did you learn?

I have not. I hate watching myself actually, and strangely enough (I guess?) I hate the sound of my own voice. Especially when I'm speaking. Man, it makes me nuts. I guess I'm lucky that not everyone has that reaction.

Is there anyone you like to go to for songwriting help or advice? If so, who?

Every once in a while I'll ask my husband to read through lyrics or listen to a song. If the message isn't clear or if something doesn't make sense, he'll tell me. He's a great writer, but he's not a musician, so he just goes on gut instinct, which is what I want. I want to write better and better songs, but I also want people to like them 'just because'.

What is the best stage name of all time?

Anytime people go by just one name, I think that's pretty cool. It was like 1999 before I even knew Jewel's last name. (It's Kilcher by the way.) Also, The Band, is pretty great. If that's your name, you're obviously amazing.

Car you drive vs the car you'd most like to drive.

I drive a 2005 Corolla, which I LOVE! I can't really explain why, but I think I'll drive a Corolla for the rest of my life. If they made a hybrid version, I'd be coveting it right now.

What percentage of your songs are about love relationships?

I don't write many traditional love songs, much to my husband's dismay. (Just kidding.) I write a lot of songs about humanity, people that I've met and that have inspired me, and I guess those could be considered love songs....if that's the case, I'd say about 80% are love songs. I you're only looking for romantic songs, I'd say about 5-10%.

You can bring back any dead artist, and be their apprentice for a month, who do you choose?

I'd go with Scott Joplin. First of all we share the same birthday. Second of all, he kept me from quitting piano when I was in high school. Third, he's awesome.

You can recruit anyone in the world to manage your artistic career, who is it?

Probably Louis C.K. I don't think it would be a wise career decision, but we'd laugh a lot...

You can work with any living record producer. Who do you choose for your next project?

I already have him. I have done my last four projects with Chris Cubeta at Galuminumfoil Studios, and only want to work with him. He's an amazing musician, fantastic songwriter, and very creative. Even after I've hit it bit, I'll be going to him. Well...unless Rick Rubin calls. Then they can co-produce.

You must personally destroy every instrument you own, except one. Which do you keep? Which do you destroy first/last, and why?

Nope. Can't do it. I wouldn't even hypothetically destroy the flute that I never picked up again after 8th grade.

Top item on your bucket list.

I'm living it!

Cat, dog, or goldfish?

I love all animals. My first pet as a child was actually a frog named George. He's now 21 years old and lives with my parents in Green Bay, Wisconsin. And I'm a HUGE fan of my rescue dog, Chip.

Writing retreat. You can go anywhere in the world for 2 weeks, where do you go? One instrument, one suitcase - what do you bring?

I'd go to a cabin somewhere in the woods. Some place where I could have a fire, and also had an unlimited supply of wood already stacked up indoors. It would have a piano in it...that way I'd only have to bring my guitar. I'd also bring lots of notebooks, a lot of Dixon Ticonderoga pencils. They're the most wonderful pencil.

Plan B, or no Plan B?

I think I might even have a Plan Z! I have a million plans. That way if one thing doesn't work out, I have many other great options. They're all music plans though. So if by Plan B, you mean getting some kind of 'real job', then no Plan B.

What's going on?

When I'm mad, sad, scared, excited, happy, you name it, when I am it, I usually write a song.  Even if the song is never played in public, I usually write a song.  It makes me feel better, gets things off of my chest, and sometimes evolves into something worth sharing! Though it doesn't happen often, I've been pretty cranky these last few weeks.  The end of 2012 was rough for a lot of people, and I guess I was no exception.  Now, I don't mean to whine, or beg for pity, I'm just telling you.  I've been cranky.

As a songwriter who writes and sings about hope, I'm often asked to sing at funerals.  It sounds weird, but it actually makes a lot of sense.  (After all, when do you need hope the most?)  So it was an honor to be asked to be a part of multiple services and remembrances that were held to pay tribute to the lives lost at Sandy Hook in December.  It took its toll on me a bit, but I was happy to lend any kind of comfort that I could through music, to families that needed it.

Of course, the last few weeks have been peppered with conversations about gun control, mental health issues, and school security, the debates have been ongoing, and will continue.  Sandy Hook, will forever conjure up certain images in all of our minds, and will always be cited as a reason for and against different things, but that's not my issue.

I take issue with the fact that gun sales of a particular military style weapon have gone through the roof.  People are spending thousands of dollars on a gun that freaks the crap out of me.

Whatever, spend your money on what you want, own what you want, I don't really have a problem with you.  I think it's a weird hobby, but you probably think I'm weird for opting out of hair-brushing.  (We can get into which hobbies have an overall negative effect later - pretty sure dreadlocks have never killed anyone...)

I'm mad, angry, disgusted, offended, the list continues, by the people who are making tons and tons of money off of a tragedy.  There's no denying it.  Because the Sandy Hook shooting happened, gun sales have gone up.  And because gun sales have gone up, owners and producers of guns have made more money.  When they file their taxes, they will file a larger income, and they will have a school shooting to thank.

The link is that direct.

I hope you're proud of yourselves.  I hope you sleep well at night.  Enjoy spending that money.

I'm also mad, angry, disgusted, offended with the NRA, the gun lobbyists, and the pro-gun organizations that are telling people that gun control means gun elimination.  People: THESE ARE BULLIES.  These are the kids that picked on the kid with glasses, or these might even be the kids that had the glasses and are now happy to have some power.  Either way - they've gone the way of the bully, and they don't deserve the power that they're allowed to wield over this country.

So I'm coming for you.  You bullies.  I have formed the 'Just Be Nice' political party.  But on days like today, I'm announcing the formation of my Folk Army.  And we're coming for you.  We're going to use words, and conversation, and debate, and intelligence, and thoughtfulness to show the world who and what you are.  So get ready.  I'm coming.

Question time!

Happy Thursday!

I have a really cool house concert coming up in St. Paul, Minnesota, which I'm SO EXCITED ABOUT.  It's going to be in one of my college roommate's living rooms, with a dancer and a poet.  Can't wait.

Anyway, to promote the show, she asked all of us questions, and as I was writing them, I thought, 'I wonder if anyone else is curious about these things?'  So here are the answers in case you were wondering.  (Also - if you ever have any other questions - even if it's about my favorite color - you know you can ask, right?  Purple, by the way.)

Here are the answers to your questions:

1. What's inspiring/exciting you these days?  

To be honest - because that's what this is all about, right?  The political and social moving forward-ness of this country.  I think that the election was a huge success for human rights, equality, and hopefully social justice.  I still have almost no faith in our government to get anything done, which is why I prefer small, grass roots, scrappy insurgency-type non-profits and will support them forever, but I love that it seems that folks are excited by goodness, rather than afraid of fear tactics.  That's been incredibly inspiring to watch.

2. What were you thinking about when you wrote/made what you're sharing? 

Almost all of my songs are inspired by underdogs.  Two of my favorite songs (which I'll be playing) are 'Dear Mister', which takes on our government's inefficiency and willingness to let politics get in the way of serving the people who need them, and 'Moving On', which was inspired by a group of kids in Fairfield, CT, called The Loft.  The kids of The Loft are amazing, and I'm a huge fan of them.  They formed out of necessity when a young teenager in Fairfield committed suicide after being bullied incessantly for being gay.  Her friends needed a space to mourn their loss, as well as a space to feel safe, so they've created one.  After attending their first annual Lavender Lights Vigil, which was held to honor the lives that we've lost to anti-gay bullying, I wrote this song.

3. What's something unrelated to this work that folks might not know about you?

There are probably a lot of things that people don't know about me because I can be kind of a weirdo.  I truly believe that I have a super power called super gravity, and I use it when my husband and I have 'wrestle mania'.  Sometimes our dog gets involved, and it's truly what it sounds...a wrestling match.  I usually end up winning by cheating and tickling him, that is if my super gravity has failed me that day.  Other than that, I watch dark TV shows like 'Bones', 'Law & Order: SVU', and 'Criminal Minds'.  I'm not sure a lot of people ever know what to do with that information since I'm a pretty chipper person.  Last thing...I have a pet frog named George.  I got him when I was 10 and he's still alive, which makes him 21.  The world record is 28, so at this point we're just riding it out for the win!

4. What do you do when you're not writing/dancing/singing?

When I'm not singing, I'm usually at the computer trying to convince someone that they should have me sing.  I do all of my own booking, promoting, etc, so I'm usually trying to sell myself to the masses.  It's really fun, because I get to connect with people, which is one of my favorite things about music.  If not at the computer working, I'm usually watching one of my dark shows or reading, and if not those things, it usually means that I'm away working with Simply Smiles (Bryan's (my husband) non-profit) in either Mexico or South Dakota, but I usually try to work some music into that as well.

I think that's it.  Thanks for asking! K
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Thank you, Ellen.

So...it's day 3 of my Post-Campaign, Ellen-Campaign, and people are still sending her e-mails, rocking her facebook, and sending her sweet tweets and I couldn't be more happy, humbled and grateful. For those of you who've sent in e-mails, thank you.  A lot of you have then been so kind as to forward along the words that you shared with Ellen's staff about me.  I can't believe how nice you people are!  I mean, I know we're friends and everything, but man, you folks are really kind.

This has been a great few days.  I'll keep going strong, if you're willing to stick with me, and the moment the show calls - well, you just might hear the excited yelps from wherever you are!

I love you and I thank you, Kristen

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