Photo credit Karen Santos
Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
My tour vehicle varies. It’s usually our own cars traveling across country. For a few years, we used sprinter vans. We have been fortunate to not have to make any repairs and no breakdowns thus far…knock on wood.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
It’s pretty hard to eat cheaply on the road as I take my nutrition pretty seriously and that sometimes costs a bit more than $25.00 so I tend to lean into salads with a bit of protein and stay away from fast food. Every now again, I’ll find myself with a hot dog or ice cream, but not often.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I play guitar but not in public. Mostly to write my own tunes but I would not want to listen to my playing in public so I choose not to bring it to an audience. I have never broken a string so that may be an indication of how softly I play!
Where do you rehearse?
We rehearse at Redtone Records Studio, which is in a basement in a house in East Palo Alto, CA. The walls are red and the room is filled with vintage equipment used for recording. It’s quite large and roomy. While it can feel dark and drab, the music that comes out of there is magic. It’s located in a home that was the headquarters for Black community leaders who actually helped to incorporate the city of East Palo Alto and has a lot of history inside its walls.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
The first song I wrote was called “Find My Way Home”.
Sample lyric: I close my eyes and feel the bitter rain, falling on my skin
Keep, telling myself it’s all gonna be okay. You lose and then again, sometimes you win
I’m gonna keep moving on and find a place where I belong.
I’m gonna find my way home.
Describe your first gig.
I would say my first “gig” was in 2nd grade at my elementary school in Flint, Michigan. I had a pink faux silk jacket and red, shiny pants and my Mama had done my hair in a big afro puff. I had on lip gloss which was not normal so I was feeling extra special. It was an evening show for all the parents and each performer received 25.00. I never saw the money but my Mama did take me to get ice cream afterwards.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
I still have that job! I am a Social Director at a tennis club. I plan all the social events for the year and make sure that the events work around my music schedule.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
I am definitely bringing in more money than I ever have with music in the past 6 years. It is hard for me to speak to prior as I took a 14 year break from making music so there was nothing to give. I expect it to look a little different. With changes in the music industry in general, it’s difficult to know where the listener will lean in. I hope it’s into live performances.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
I’ve learned to really sit in the present and enjoy the journey. I am enjoying performing more than ever now because I know that music is healing and I don’t think I knew that when I first started. I could have saved myself from some unnecessary detours.