Current mood:	happy
Current music:	NIN closer

events this weekend, new review!
The next few days are going to be wild. I hope some of you can come be part of the s00j-posse over the weekend. Not to be missed. Here's a bit of what's to come:

THURSDAY--I'm heading up to Nashville for 2NMC, a new kind of music conference. Not to worry; I'll be back, armed with lots of notes and hopefully new contacts on...
FRIDAY--for AMY STEINBERG at MGLCC at 7pm. You already KNOW you are in serious trouble if you miss this show. However, if you do have to miss it or would like an alternative, *grin* go catch my new brothaz RHYTHMYSTIK at the Mercy Lounge on Beale St a bit later on. I'm not sure what time they're starting, nor does the website list a time: www.rhythmystik.com. Guess we have to call up the Mercy Lounge and start asking questions. These two--Jonathan and Thomas, are inspired madmen on some drummin. They are incredible to see, hear, and dance for, as Sister Pokie and I found out this past weekend at Nashville PPD. If you can swing it, go to the Mercy Lounge and DANCE YOUR BOOTIE OFF in the name of OneLove. You will.
SATURDAY--brings the Cooper-Young Festival, of course. and no rain, RIGHT??? Right. I'll be performing on the East Stage, at Young and Meda, at 12:30pm, joined by Djembe brother Christopher Donovan. If you caught the Cat's Music show waaay back, he was my drummer that day. Great hands. *grin* Heh. Later that day, FreeSol, YesNoMaybe, Sons of Soil, and Rhythm Realm are also performing, on various different stages. Matter of fact, almost everyone performing at this year's Fest is already a friend of mine, or soon to be. There should also be some great vendors and opportunities to people-watch. Don't miss it.
SUNDAY--is the rain *ahem* date for Saturday and Cooper-Young. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. So meet me out at Dragonfly Meadows for Mabon. The mosquitoes are abating, and Omnisti will be home, hopefully grabbing a chance to spin some flames when darkness falls. Love to see you....

Now here's a new review/interview from her petite majesty Kama Linden, who went and ate Thai with me downtown not long ago... Check her out: www.angrichik.com

Hi. This is Kama Linden, singer-songwriter. I have just released my 13 track album entitled UNINHIBITED. www.angrichik.com. While on my travels in Memphis, I encountered fellow go-girl SJ tucker. She ever so kindly gave me her CD to listen to. She told me it would be raw, and wanted to know what I would think of it.

Her voice, even accapella, draws me in....for a young SKINNY WHITE CHICK she packs quite the power of a jazz diva, and the edge of Janis Joplin (on pitch, though). She bends notes at whim, melodically leading the listener through her tales: Mommy Medusa, and then gets the ANGRICHIK going in Stick it, and has you clapping and singing along In the house of Mama Draggon. Usually I would worry ((I took 4 years to put out my first CD because everything had to be radio ready and perfect)) when someone said they were LACKING in PRODUCTION, but THIS is LACKING of NOTHING! Her voice, her stories, her incrdible guitar playing, and fun just blew me away. I felt like I was in a live concert at Living room or a coffee house.

I asked SJ:
>
> 1) How this project was inspired, and what steps
> were taken to realize it.

This was basically the first big piece of my dream
come true. I moved to Memphis three years ago, my
sole intent being to DO this thing, to get good and
get my music realized and out there. And here it is.
In June of 2003, I had a mysterious and beautiful
opportunity that allowed me to record in Memphis for
the first time, for free. Suddenly I had a new
four-song EP to sell in order to raise money for a
larger project, new contacts, and a studio that I
really liked working in. The group that helped me out
was Zarr Entertainment, and the band that adopted me
and became my big brothers and my session players for
the EP was Stout. I don't get to see or talk to any
of them much anymore--we've all gotten VERY busy,
which is great. I'll never forget it.
Last November, I had raised enough money to be
confident enough to sign up for the Performers
Recording Co-op at Memphis Records/Young Avenue Sound,
the aforementioned studio. With the help and
encouragement of engineer Willie Pevear and execs Don
and Cameron Mann, I signed on for two days of
recording time in the smaller studio. With the Co-op,
all I would have to pay up front would be packaging
and replication. To pay the studio back for my time,
I had but to buy the CDs from them, a box at a time,
as I was able, until the debt was cleared.
We got started, and three hours into the first day,
the console in Studio B fried itself and had to be
mailed back to Mackie. Willie was appalled. I was
mostly grateful, since I'd been rather tense so far
that day. We agreed to wait on Mackie and reschedule
when the board came back.
Three weeks later, the board wasn't back yet. Willie
was fed up with waiting and decided to take me into
Studio A (the big expensive nice one), waive his
hourly rate, and charge me as if we were still working
in Studio B. The album was complete in basically
three days' time, with incredible amounts of love and
professionalism, by three people: Willie, my conga
player, and myself. Hence, Haphazard. I've been told
many times over that it doesn't sound raw or rushed,
just sparse, and I'm pleased with that. As many
comparisons to Joni Mitchell as this CD has gotten me,
I really cannot complain!
The CD release party went on in Memphis on March 28th
and was a strong success. I had already paid off the
studio completely by the time I left for my first run
on the road this past May. I've got no distribution,
no booking agent, and we're still in the first
pressing of 1,000, but I've never been so happy, nor
have I ever felt so accomplished. I'm ready to start
the next one.

> 2) What thoughts were behind writing certain songs,
> ie: Mama Dragon, etc.

Mama Dragon-- Personal friend and experience. Someone
actually asked me to write this song about a friend of
ours, and I did. I didn't feel I knew our friend well
enough at the time to do it justice, though, so the
best part of its creation was a massive
storytelling/brainstorming session in a cabin in the
woods.
Tattoo Grrl is all about lesbian tendencies, good
friends, love at first sight, angst, all the good
stuff. It was inspired by listening to a lot of Ani
and watching Tank Girl once too often.
Crystal Cave is all about the search for
self--spiritually and mentally we're hunting. You
have to go to the Underworld. You have to lose the
fear of exploring your own head before you can get
anywhere.
Stickit, believe it or not, was not directed at
anyone. It fell fully formed into my lap one
Christmas Eve, when I was about as far from angry as
you can imagine! Really!
Face Down was inspired by an Incubus song, living in
Memphis, a bad break-up, and Jeff Buckley's drowning
in the Mississippi River, right at our feet. All
sorts of frustrating things.
Cross-section is a pretty clear message for whoever
THINKS they've fallen in love with you to WAKE UP.
Hopefully, it gets the point across.
Heart Beat came out of a beautiful spiritual
experience that devolved into a sort of panic. Hence
the dual nature of the song's arrangement.
....how's that? (there are some other descriptions of
songs on the Music section of the website if you want
a little more--just click on the Lyrics link for any
given song.)

> 3) Why a Raw album vs an over produced one.

I wanted to be honest. What you hear on the album is
very much like what you'll hear at any given show.
Since I'm just now building up my fan base, I want my
fans to know what I really sound like so that they're
not disappointed or unpleasantly surprised when they
hear me, or when they hear the album for the first
time...I don't think it'd be all that likely that
anyone would be unpleasantly surprised, but you
know...*grin*
It also helps just to have your shit together and go
in and get things done in the simplest, quickest way
possible, when you're on a non-existent budget such as
mine.

> 4) Favorite music/influences, etc.

This could take days.. Classical--Stravinsky
Ladies-- Tori Amos, Ani Difranco, Joni Mitchell
Boys-- Jeff Buckley, Chris Cornell, James Taylor
Bands-- Tool, Soundgarden Jazz-- Nina Simone, Ray
Charles That's the short list...*smile*

> 5) Favorite travels

Just got to tour for the first time--Portland OR and
Denver CO treated me so well it was very difficult to
come home. I honestly can't say which one was better
to me; I think if I'd gone to CO first I'd have liked
OR better, instead of the other way around. I have
wonderful new friends in both places and can't wait to
get back to visit and sing.

SJ Tucker can be reached @ www.skinnywhitechik.com

Kama Linden can be heard on M3Radio, and other internet and local stations,and can be reached by contacting her @ www.angrichik.com