Hi Marissa, how the devil are you today and what is the view from where you are sitting?
I'm sitting in my apartment. The view is the computer!
When was the first time that you realised music was going to be your career and what was it that ‘lit the spark’ for you to make that decision?
I think that it was around the time I was 18- though I've been playing since I was 15. Around 18, when I was in college, I was running off to do a lot of open mics and things like that. I felt a really direct emotional connection to the music and I felt at the time that I really wanted to make it a career. I've been at it for so long now that honestly it’s hard to remember exactly what led me to it other than just a love for song writing and a general feeling that I didn't fit in the day to day workplace!
What is the story behind the new record theme?
There isn't a direct theme to the record in terms of the fact that it’s not a concept album. All of my records are collections of songs. The story is telling the story of the people around me. It’s a very realistic bunch of songs, dealing with a glimpse into everyday life.
‘The Sister’ is your sixth album, how would you say if differs from your previous releases in the recording approach, new instruments used etc?
I would say the lyrical content and the relaxed feeling are both especially pronounced. It’s a really atmospheric record.
Just scraping into your thirties, how has your approach to song writing changed over the years and does your hometown or early years influence your music today?
I think my hometown and early years definitely influence my general outlook on life. I think that my song writing has gotten more realistic and inward as I get older. I used to make up stories and myths and characters in my songs, and put poetry to music, and I think a lot of that was to make myself and my life seem dramatically interesting.
Your songs are so quiet and beautifully fragile; do you even get the urge to ‘Rock Out’ either live or, recorded?
Yes, if I could have a different singing voice, I would love to sing in a really loud rock band. I always wanted a voice like Janis Joplin or Aretha, a soulful belting out kind of voice. But, I have the kind of voice I have and a while ago I accepted that it was what it was and learned to work with what I had instead of striving to fit into what I wanted.
If you were not a musician … what would you be?
I think I would want to be a registered nurse or a doctor. I'd have to go back to school from the very beginning if that was what I wanted to do because I went to art school.
What is your favourite radio station today and why?
I think WFMU in
Any plans to visit the
I'm pretty sure that I'll be over there soon.
Are there any bands / records that you are regularly listening to or, bands / artists you have seen live that you would like to recommend?
I love Allysen Callery, James Blackshaw, Glenn Jones, Arborea, Helena Espvall.
