An interview With Amy-Dixon Kolar 4.27.09  (continued) by HolleyHall, 10 Apr 2009 07:39 PM

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HOLLEY: What inspires you to write music? How do you go about composing songs?

AMY DIXON-KOLAR: Anything and everything can inspire me. My children, the Dalai Lama, fate, insomnia, the wind, the news, my car breaking down, what I observe, what I experience – it’s all game. Doesn’t take much to get me thinking. When I write a song, it often starts as a short phrase or idea that comes to me and I’ll build upon it. That can be either a phrase of words or a phrase of music. Music and words don’t often come simultaneously to me. I have pages of words still waiting for music, and probably the same amount of musical lines still waiting for words. Some songs come about quickly, but others will take months or years to get to the point where I can send it out into the world.

HOLLEY: Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

AMY DIXON-KOLAR: I’m a sucker for Celtic music and like to study various styles of Celtic music – Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton. Almost any folk or traditional music turns my head. Just recently, I had the honor of performing with a fantastic world music band called Funkadesi – a mix of Indian Raga, Reggae, African, and Latin music. They brought me back to my interest and delight in world music. We’ve been listening to their music almost non-stop in our house for the past month.

HOLLEY: Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician? Just one?

AMY DIXON-KOLAR: That’s hard because I know so many incredible musicians I think the world should hear. To name drop, I’d say folks should try out Mark Dvorak, Sons of the Never Wrong, Funkadesi, and Jennifer Armstrong...

Okay, if I have to pick only one, right now it would be Scottish singer-songwriter Jim Malcolm. This man’s music is amazing! Not only does he write the most wonderful music, he’s also one of the foremost interpreters of traditional music in Scotland today. He has a voice to make you melt, and he plays an incredible guitar and mean harmonica. I’ve never heard anyone play them at the same time better than Jim. He used to be the lead singer for the band Old Blind Dogs, but is out on his own now. All his CDs are good, but I guess my favorite album is “Live at Glenfarg”. You hear how much music one man can make without any embellishments. It’s all just Jim. His website is http://www.jimmalcolm.com

HOLLEY: When is your next live performance?

AMY DIXON-KOLAR:  I’ve just finished a couple of benefits/fund raisers and a local show at the Lake County Folk Club. Coming up will be a few shows in April at McHenry County College, Someplace Else Concert Series (the info is on my website) and a fundraiser, and then in May I’m off to Philadelphia. I was invited to sing ‘Rosa Sat’ and other songs with the oldest feminist choir in the US, Anna Crusis, on May 30. We’re also working to set up a few other gigs out east at the same time and some additional shows in Vermont and Maine in August. All the info will be on my website as soon as it’s available.

HOLLEY: Do you have any advice/experience you would like to share with fellow artists you think would be helpful?

AMY DIXON-KOLAR: Keep learning, keep practicing, play alone, play with others, and don’t give up on something you really want to do, no matter the setbacks. If the music makes you happy, then that’s what it’s about. It’s not about CDs and gigs and performing and audiences. It’s about community, sharing, give and take, learning, growing, teaching, and the satisfaction - in my case the JOY - it all brings. It’s about the music. If it’s not about the music, why do it? 

CC: Forums http://ezfolk.com/forums/forum36/7245.html