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An Interview with Arlene Kole 5.24.09
by HolleyHall, 24 May 2009 06:53 PM |
Arlene Kole: CC EZFOLK Forums: http://ezfolk.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=7347&forum_id=36EZFolk Profile Page: http://c1.ezfolk.com/Arlene_Kole/ Video: http://c1.ezfolk.com/Arlene_Kole/?video=569 Arlene Kole - Guitar/mandolin/vocals Bill Kole - Guitar/bass/mandolin/banjo/vocals Rob Hewes - piano/dobro/guitar/vocals Skyeler Kole - Vocals/keys Chance Hazelton - guitar/bass/vocals I found Arlene Kole on EZ folk about a year ago. In admiration, I could really relate to her mission; That is that it is never too late to carry out your dreams. She has a stunning voice and a very talented Musician & Songwriter. After years of living life she stuck with her dreams and recently came out with new CD "One Day". All of her songs are very well written, arranged and produced. If I had to pick one favorite song (ok 2) it would be tie between "One Day" and "End of a Dream" though I highly recommend listening to them all! You'll be hooked-in line and sinker and want to get her CD! Thank you Arlene for the beautiful music and the honor of this interview. Please keep those lovely songs coming and most of all... pursuing your dreams! HOLLEY HALL: What is your music background? (Who are you and your band members? Tell your story.) ARLENE KOLE: I have been singing as long as I can remember...singing at talent shows, church and in school I used to put on the one-woman show at recess for anyone who would listen. I received my first guitar from my girlfriends for my 16th birthday (I still have the guitar) and I started writing songs immediately. It would be that same year that I would start a family, my daughter Brandy was born. I had all these dreams of singing and I wasn’t going to give up so I found a band that would agree to have a s mall child on the road and that’s where I met my husband. After a year and a half on the road I left the band and went to study music at a music college in Canada. I sang in weekend bands, had more babies, ran a recording studio where I sang on dozens of albums, commercials and television tracks. I raised my family and waited until they were grown to pursue my dream of being a performing singer/songwriter. HOLLEY: Do you prefer to play music as a profession or a hobby? ARLENE KOLE:This is my profession and my life. HOLLEY: When and how did you first become interested in music? How long have you been playing music? What instruments do you play? ARLENE KOLE: When I was seven years old and living in Nova Scotia and I would watch my brother practice (he was 10 yrs older than me and the singer in a successful local band) in the basement of our home. He would always tell me how expensive and complicated the equipment was so “don’t touch!” I just watched him turn everything on and when he wasn’t home I’d copy what he had done. My Mom & I would steal down to the basement and turn on the PA and play “rock stars”. I play guitar, mandolin, piano, & I have attempted to learn the fiddle. My voice is my primary instrument and I have studied and worked very hard to get to where I am now. HOLLEY: Does anyone in your family play music? ARLENE KOLE: I mentioned my brother was a musician, all my kids have played various instruments and they all sing. My two daughters sang background vocals on my CD and we as a family have a wonderful vocal blend. My husband who is my producer is now producing our daughter, Skyeler. She’s a wonderful singer/songwriter and we are both so excited to see her make her way in the musical world. HOLLEY: What are your songs about? ARLENE KOLE: There seemed to be a real theme running through the music and one morning on a bike ride I said to my husband, “What if on the cover I was on the floor with a wash bucket daydreaming?” When we looked at the song titles, “One Day…” just seemed to scream out “PICK ME!!!” This record really is about getting to that elusive “one day” that we all dream of. The dedication on my record reads: This music is dedicated to women everywhere. To wives, mothers and girls like me…those seeking to redefine themselves while being told that their best years are behind them. To all who have dreamed of “one day…” This is that day. This is one day. That pretty much says it. For me, this is my “one day”. HOLLEY: Do you write your own songs? Do you have any particular songs you consider your favorites? ARLENE KOLE: My husband Bill is my main writing partner and I think he is brilliant. He’s been my mentor and I now feel I am really coming into my own as a songwriter. Most of the songs on the new album are collaborations with Bill with a couple written solely by him or I. I used to beat myself up over the fact that I didn’t complete more songs on my own, but I came to realize that most of the great songs written throughout history have been collaborations. It can be a lot of fun to write with other people and so often the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Favorite song mmmm, I love them all. But I think if I had to choose one today it would be the most recent one written, “Time Stands Still.” It’s about wondering if “I still got it” at this stage of life. I think of myself as a fairly bright person, but like every woman that has moved past their 20’s, I’ve fallen prey to wondering if I still have any sex appeal. I have been with my husband Bill for three decades and thankfully he still looks at me the same way he did when I was 20. That’s reflected in the songs lyric. HOLLEY: Who are your musical influences? ARLENE KOLE: My first influences were Motown based. The Jackson Five, Sly & the Family Stone, and I loved Ike & Tina Turner. In high school when I started to learn how to play the guitar I was into what was termed “Country Rock.” I loved Neil Young (the first song I ever learned was his), the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffet, CSNY, Flying Burrito Brothers, Little River Band and Marc Jordan. HOLLEY: What live performance experience have you had? ARLENE KOLE: When I lived in Canada I did numerous shows; Performed for 100th Year Celebration of Ukrainians in Canada & with Juno Award winning Luba, Performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra with Juno Award Winning Tom Cochrane (Red Rider), Performed with the Calgary Symphony Orchestra, Toured with Canadian Recording Artist (RCA) Jenson Interceptor, Toured numerous bands across Canada, Performed with Los Angeles based bands playing festivals, corporate and commercial gigs. Los Angeles Women in Music has showcased me a few times and voted me as one of “Best of the Best” 2007/08. I’ve been involved with “Gina For the Missing” and was featured on their yearly web show in search of missing people here in the US. I recently booked one of the main stages at the 2009 Bufest Festival presented at the Paramount Movie Ranch in Malibu, CA. May 30/31st. HOLLEY: What are your musical goals? ARLENE KOLE: My goals are continually shifting. Short term, I would like to firmly establish myself as a viable artist and get on to playing higher profile venues, opening acts bigger listening rooms and record the next record. I have a great core band and a lot of songs already gelling. Long term I hope to continue to write and contribute musically. Our daughter is coming into her own and is a very talented songwriter. I would love to collaborate on her CD and write for television and movies. HOLLEY: Have you recorded any previous CDs or posted any audio files on the Internet? ARLENE KOLE: No this is my first CD! It has been a lifelong quest… the inevitable next level for any serious musician. I’m in my 40’s and the dream is finally being realized. It’s interesting that it comes now at a time when most think it can’t be done. I have sung on a lot of other people’s CD and sang demos for different writers. We started this record project several years ago and recorded some 20 songs. We eventually whittled the list down to the 11 that seemed to fit together best. My husband Bill, who is a full time music producer (and produced this CD), had to worry about feeding our family so my project had to be completed a bit at a time between his other production commitments. I thought the project would be done years ago so my goal now is to give myself until I am 50 to establish myself as a recording artist. HOLLEY: Where do you have your music posted online? ARLENE KOLE: My music is available on my website, CD Baby, Itunes, and almost all other online download services-Amie Street, eMusic, Rhapsody, etc.…16 in all. HOLLEY: How do you sell your CD’s/Audio Files? (Consignment? Live sales? iTunes et al, Distributor? Ezfolk?) ARLENE KOLE: All of the above! These days an artist has to look at all and any angle for selling music. HOLLEY: In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music? ARLENE KOLE: I don’t believe a place affects your taste or the music you create. Experiences, life and the other people affect you musically. It is your connection with the world that affects your writing. If you don’t connect with people and their life experiences then there is no truth in your writing. HOLLEY: When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it? ARLENE KOLE: I am continually writing…I have my digital recorder filled with ideas for my next CD. I mostly write in snippets and then I keep coming back and massaging them. If I feel I am at an impasse I bring them to Bill and we take it from there. Sometimes he walks away and comes back with his ideas and sometimes we work them out together. It’s rare for me to have a complete song in one sitting. I always admire those songwriters who talk about how it just came to them in 5 minutes (my husband is one of those). I really take a long time. I have been working on one song about my mom & dad for a year now. 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?) ARLENE KOLE: I listen to everything! I love fiddle music, I've been listening to some old standards via Dinah Washington and I just got back from the Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis where I experienced all kinds of great music! I'm originally from Canada so I checked out a lot of Canadian artists; I loved a group called Madison Violet and Annabelle Chvostek. Recently I discovered Sheila Nicols who reminds me of an Amiee Mann meets Annie Lennox...cool stuff! 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? ARLENE KOLE: Marc Jordan! He’s from Canada and is a brilliant songwriter. He has a few of his songs covered by famous artists (Rod Stewart recorded “Rhythm of My Heart”) but very few people have heard of him here in the states. I love his voice, his melodies and his lyrics always connect with me. HOLLEY: When is your next live performance? ARLENE KOLE: I perform weekly. I have about 7 Farmer’s Market’s I perform at, a few coffeehouses, I do a lot of showcases with other songwriters and I am planning on working the Santa Monica Promenade (it’s filled with street performers). I’ve been working hard trying to get into the festival circuit and I have a big one in May. Bufest at the Paramount Ranch in Malibu. 3 Days, 4 stages and it should be a great weekend May 30th/31st. I’m also trying to connect in the house concert circuit. HOLLEY: Do you have any advice/experience you would like to share with fellow artists you think would be helpful? ARLENE KOLE: There is this great song and lyric written by Leonard Cohen, “ A Singer Must Die.” And all the ladies go moist, and the judge has no choice, A singer must die for the lie in his voice. And I thank you, I thank you for doing your duty, you keepers of truth, you guardians of beauty. The audience knows when it’s not real. “A Singer Must Die for the lie in his voice.” Too many times I see artists as a caricature of someone they want to be. Expect nothing and in return you will feel something. |
