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JDT: |
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"Lovers, Lead the Way!" was pure joy to listen to. It's
charming... heartfelt... inviting. Is this a reflection of your
relationship with your songwriting partner/husband? |
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AR: |
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Thanks for the kind words! I think we
managed to create the sounds we heard in our heads, which is always the
challenge. I wanted to retain the intimate feeling of a home recording
but really make the most of all the latest technology we could get our
hands on, and somehow blend it all together.
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JDT: |
|
Is Viva Voce the equally mutual effort it appears to be?
Do either you or Kevin put more into the music than the other does? |
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AR: |
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It's mutual, 50/50, right down the
middle.
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JDT: |
|
You and Kevin not only combine talent and skill for Viva
Voce but somehow have enough genius left over to spill into your own
individual projects. Tell us about fraNcis and fräulein? |
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AR: |
|
Change is good. It's a nice break to play
bass and not sing in fraNcis, and stripping down everything musically
can be very liberating, and that's what fraulein is about. But the focus
is on viva right now.
|
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JDT: |
|
Please take us through a typical day of songwriting and
recording in the Robinson home. |
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AR: |
|
We do things differently all the time,
because we don't want to get stuck in a formula. I like to go by
instinct when I'm writing, and I don't question it too much. I don't
worry about what chords go together, or what key I like to sing in.
Often, I'll get an entire song with all the musical parts and vocal line
and everything and I'll hum it into my little tape recorder and figure
out how to play it when I get home.
|
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JDT: |
|
You have a pleasantly unique and creative sound. Is there
any person, place or experience you feel had (or has) a major influence
on your music? |
|
AR: |
|
The development of the independent music
scene has been a huge inspiration. I've always been the type to root for
the underdog, and there are all these bands making such great music and
they're just out there, under the radar. I'm from a very small town in
the south, and there was so little diversity in what music you could
hear and buy it was ridiculous. I'm making up for lost time!
|
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JDT: |
|
Beware of standard interview question to follow! What
equipment do you use? Guitars? Amps? Recording? |
|
AR: |
|
I didn't realize how many guitars I had
until recently, when we moved across the country. It was funny, almost
no furniture but a truck full of gear! I love old things with character.
My main guitars are polar opposites- a Gibson les paul custom and a
Hagstrom strat style guitar. On this record we used a Danelectro
baritone guitar as well as a Fender Music Master for bass. I love my
Fender bassman head and cab and I have a lot of small vintage amps that
I like for recording too. I prefer my amp to be clean and to get
distortion from pedals. I use two expandora distortion pedals for
different types of grit and an equalizer pedal for boost when I play a
solo. I like phase, tremolo and digital delay pedals, I have a bunch of
different ones. I've stripped down my pedal board somewhat for playing
live.
|
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JDT: |
|
Let's get a little personal. Did the husband and wife or
songwriting team come first and how did you meet? |
|
AR: |
|
It all kind of happened at once. When we
first met, we were each playing guitar in different bands and became the
best of friends. We were both writing our own songs and sort of yearning
for more creative control and together we found the perfect balance. In
more ways than one.
|
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JDT: |
|
What is it like working together as a couple? Give us a
best part is... worst part is... |
|
AR: |
|
Best part -neither of us has to stay
behind when it's time to tour. Worst part-there isn't anyone to stay
behind and pay the bills when it's time to tour.
|
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JDT: |
|
What are your plans for the future... as musicians and as
a family? |
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AR: |
|
We have some goals we're working towards-
we want a vinyl release, we'd like to do some overseas shows soon, and
we're working on the next record.
|
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JDT: |
|
Any final words of encouragement for today's female
guitarists? |
|
AR: |
|
Be encouraged! It's never been a better
time to be a female musician. There are a lot of open doors now that
used to be firmly shut. Take advantage of them & be yourself!
|
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JDT: |
|
Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with us.
Once again, "Lovers, Lead the Way!" was pure joy to listen to and you
are truly an inspiration to female guitarists/songwriters. |
|
AR: |
|
Thanks! |
