Bree Sharp – Interview

What are you up to?

I’m just chilling out. I’m going to my singing lady today. I have a voice coach.

Really?

Yeah. I’m just working, working, working. (laughs)

I haven’t really heard much about you in the last few months. What have you been doing?

I’ve been on tour mostly. Things slowed down around the holidays, but for four months I was in a different city everyday.

Wow.

Yeah, it was really, really crazy.

I was wondering if you are tired of talking about the song “David Duchovny”?

It is weird. It depends on what questions are getting asked. Sometimes you get the same old questions, and that can be rough when you have to keep the enthusiasm up, but I love the song so I’m really glad just to have a career. (laughs) So if it means talking about it, then I don’t have a problem.

Reading all the articles, you’d think that is the only song you’ve written.

Really? Well, I think the same thing happened to Alanis. Like anytime they talk about her on a countdown or whatever, about what she’s done, it’s “Oughta Know”. They call her this angry woman artist, but I think that is the only angry song on the record.

I know. The same thing has happened to this female artist Kelis.

Right.

Everyone thinks she’s so angry, but the album only has that one angry song.

Whatever gets your foot in the door, I guess. I never planned that to be the first single. It just happened naturally.

How did you get started in music?

It started by chance. I picked up the guitar when I was fifteen and started writing when I was in college. I was studying theater in college at NYU, but it seemed the more people heard me, the more it would urge me to sing more. I wasn’t really interested at first, but finally I got talked into making some demos and they got a response right away. I was very, very fortunate.

Being that you started so late, were you ever inspired earlier to write or inspired by other writers?

No, it was really a classic reason: I got my heart broken.

It’s pretty wild that you had such a late start. Most of the time you’ll hear someone getting started when they are like twelve or younger.

I know. I never really intended for this to be my career, but I’m glad it happened.

How long have the songs been kicking around for?

Most were written right before and after I was signed. “Walk Away” was one of the first songs I ever wrote and probably my favorite song on the record.

What were the demo songs Trauma Records heard?

“Walk Away”. I really got signed for “Walk Away”. I mean, they liked “David Duchovny” and thought they could do something with that, but they felt like I was a real artist because of the songs.

Were you rushed to write?

No, but I got signed faster than I ever thought I would have. I think that the pace really occurred for the recording, but when it was time to go in the studio, there had been a lot of writing done. I didn’t really write in the studio.

What about the music industry was different than you expected?

It was a lot more work than I expected. (laughs) That is the truth. Being on the road, tour, radio stations, is tough. I didn’t realize how much was involved, but it’s exciting. Like when it slowed down during the holidays, I was bored out of my mind because I didn’t know what to do with myself. I wasn’t really prepared going into the industry, but now I have a better idea of what’s involved.

Speaking of touring, what is a Bree Sharp show like?

They are a blast. (laughs) They are totally fun. I do a lot of acoustic stuff, but when I play with my band we totally rock out. People seem to respond to me very well at the live show, which is a real compliment. Sometimes when you buy a record and see someone live, you are disappointed, but a lot of people have told me they like me better live. That is a huge compliment.

So you are taking voice lessons. Is that to help your voice last since you have to sing every night?

Yeah. Well, I never trained and I don’t want a trained sound so I’m working with someone who is a little unnatural. More than anything, I’m trying to expand my range and keep my voice healthy because when you are on tour it is really taxing on your voice. With singing every day, not getting much sleep and your eating schedule gets thrown off, that stuff can be taxing, so when I have time I try to see her so I can keep it in shape and keep exercising.

It’s something you take for granted until you use it so often.

I know, totally.

In regard to someone that might want to make a career as a singer, what advice would you give them?

So much of it unfortunately is luck, but you have to concentrate on the things you can control, like your voice and your writing. But no matter what you want to do, like being an accountant, an actor, or a singer or whatever, do it every day. As long as you persevere, I believe that your time comes and you get your opportunity. I think if you stick with it, always improving, you’ll get it.

Are you working on new material?

Yep. I definitely am.

Do you write on the road or during sound check?

No, not really. I usually do it alone. Sometimes I collaborate, but it’s really a solitary thing for me. I do have fun when I work with other people because you do get to bounce ideas off of them.

Do you get the melodies running through your head and write to that or do some guitar chords strike up an idea?

I’ve had both happen to me. Sometimes I sit down and have to force it, and then sometimes I’m like, ‘I want to write a song about this.’

Do you carry a tape recorder with you all the time?

(laughs) No. I don’t know. I’m not usually too far from a guitar. I do put stuff down on tape, but I don’t carry a tape with me. The old trick I do is if you are out, you call your answering machine and sing the song on it.

So, what is the plan for the rest of the year?

Release another single and get out another video. I’m thinking about an acoustic tour, and when the video comes out maybe we’ll do a full band tour.

What is the next single?

Everyone seems to think that “Walk Away” is the best song on the record and I really want to get to that song, but we have to be conscious of the market. It is a ballad so I think right now it’d be difficult to release. I think it’d be better for the spring.

I have to say that even though I’ve only had a short time with the record, it’s damn good.

Well thank you.

I’m not kissing ass either. I had to take my father to the doctor’s office and no matter what I’m playing he complains about my ‘crap’ and asks me to shut it off. But I was playing your album and he was like, ‘Wow, this is really good.’ I was blown away.

I think what is really nice about feedback about the album is that parents like it, young children like it, and it’s not just for my peer group. That is really excellent because it means that the album transcends age groups. I do feel proud about that. I think that is the nicest compliment anyone could give me. I really appreciate that.

The best thing about the album is that it doesn’t die on you. It actually gets better toward the end.

You know the one thing I was striving for was to make different kinds of songs. Sometimes you hear one song on the radio and buy the record and the album is just ten versions of the same song. I was conscious of trying to do different styles and concepts on the album. I think there is a great variety of truth, fiction, fantasy, and media. (laughs)

Especially going from “The Cheap And Evil Girl” to “Faster, Faster” with a totally different vibe. I love that.

Thank you. Those are two of my favorite songs.

My favorite is “Faster, Faster”.

That is a Russ Meyer inspired song. Are you a Russ Meyer fan?

I don’t think I’m familiar enough to call myself a fan.

Well, he is a director and he made a movie called Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! All of his movies have these really thin waisted, large breasted women. This particular movie is about these girls on a crime spree in the desert. The language is really funny and stylized and in black and white. It’s really great. It was my sort of girl on a bike fantasy.

I love “Faster, Faster”, but “The Cheap And Evil Girl” is great too. It reminds me of “Austin Powers”.

It definitely has that ’60’s-B52’s thing happening. Every time it comes on, I can’t help to do the wave-swimming move. (laughs)

Well, I’m glad I got the chance to talk with you. I’d love to see you play live.

Well, book me and I’ll be there!

+ charlie craine