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7/22/2002 Keyz, Enigma Online Enigma Online Interview

(Hey Riverbend Get This Band !!)-Keyz Keyz: What cities and towns do the members of the band come from? Lynette: I’m from Spearfish, SD. My guitarist is from Paducah, KY. My bass player is from Jacksonville, FL. My drummer is from Elkhart, Indiana. My background vocalist is from Ottawa, Canada. Keyz: How did the band hookup? Also list the current lineup and what each plays. Lynette: Steve Alexander (bass), Laura Alexander (vocals) and I went to college together at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. I met Brett Vantreese (guitar) through a recording studio I used to work at. Russ Swift (drums) answered our ad! Keyz: What did you study at Berklee, how do you feel that Berklee or a music ed helped you in your songwriting and performance? Lynette: I got a degree in songwriting with an emphasis in vocal performance. Nothing can replace just the sheer experience of music, but music education gave me a lot of tools to utilize, that might have otherwise taken longer to obtain. Keyz: Yes - I agree 100%... music is like a journey.. you will get there but a music ed gets you there quicker (btw - I came from Berklee too). Keyz: The quality of the CD is really good - could you tell me exactly how it was recorded and edited - meaning did ProTools or Cakewalk come into play? Lynette: We used a ProTools format. We recorded in two different studios. Most of it was recorded at the Groove Room, which is a part of Sound Stage Studios here in Nashville. The Groove Room is a great studio for bands with a nice big drum room. The second studio is called A Room with a View which is in the United Artist Tower. There we did several overdubs, including vocals. Keyz: How do you approach your songwriting? Do you write lyrics and then add music or do you come up with the music and add lyrics last? Lynette: By myself, I write lyrics and then put music to them. When I cowrite with Brett, generally the music comes first and lyrics follow. Keyz: Speaking of Brett - I hope he is there too? Lynette: Yes. He was the one describing the recording process. Keyz: I really like Brett’s guitar sound, one that stood out immediately was “Reach the Stars” - what kind of guitars does Brett play? Lynette: Brett’s main guitar that he plays is a Fender Stratocaster. Come to think of it, the Strat is all he used on the CD. He used three different acoustic guitars though, a Taylor, an old Alvarez, and my Guild. Keyz: He is a really strong player and tasteful too - good catch! Lynette: I know:-) Keyz: How did “Emerald Girl” come about? Lynette: Musically, we were inspired by the movie title track “That Thing You Do.” Lyrically, I drew on my experience from working at the jewelry counter in Sears when I first moved to Nashville. Keyz: What about “Peterborough Street?” Lynette: That song is about the first apartment I ever had as a college student in Boston. When I moved to Nashville, I found myself homesick for that time in my life. Keyz: How long did you do odd jobs before landing in the music biz? Lynette: It took a year before I landed an internship at a record label called Star Song. Keyz: “Postcards from a Dead Man” is pretty stirring.. how did that one come about and the meaning? Lynette: Here we go... My dad passed away when I was eight years old. A few years ago, my grandma surprised me by sending a package that contained postcards he had written to her before I was born. I read them eagerly, hoping to find out more about who he was, or how he viewed the world. Instead he pretty much just wrote about the weather. The title is a spin on an old west legend from where I grew up. Wild Bill Hickock was shot in the back while playing poker, and the cards he held are now known as the “Dead Man's Hand.” In the second verse, I ran across a couple of old letters from a previous girlfriend to my husband. Keyz: The cello on “Lost Daughter of the Land” was a nice touch - who’s idea was that and do you include a cello when you play live? Lynette: Brian Steckler produced an earlier demo of that song, and I believe it was his idea to include the cello. No, we don’t include a cello when we play live, but Steve mimics the cello part on the bass. By the way - Brian Steckler’s claim to fame is he is the voice of “Er” in the original Bud Frogs commercials. Keyz: If someone offered the band $250,000 cash with no strings attached - how would you spend it to achieve your musical goals? Lynette: We would probably put a lot of that toward promotion (including radio). Also, we’d like to get a home studio going. Keyz: What were the three favorite gigs the band has played, where and why did it stand out? Lynette: Workplay - Birmingham, AL: The best stage we ever played, plus a really good sound system and sound engineer. The Loft - Columbus, GA: I love the room and the atmosphere, and the staff there is incredibly supportive. Seanachie’s - Nashville, TN: We did a gig there the weekend of River Stages, so the entire venue was filled with music fans, and they were a blast to perform for. Keyz: Where can readers pick up your CD? Lynette: lynettevantreese.com and amazon.com (Tower Records on West End in Nashville TN). Keyz: For those just starting out (younger readers) what advice would you give them in pursuing their musical dreams? Lynette: Take advantage of every opportunity to explore your craft. Practice, practice, practice! Don't let fear or other obstacles stand in your way. Keyz: Finally... I really enjoyed the CD and look forward to your next one... is there any additional comments you would like to leave with the readers....? Lynette: First, I would like to thank you for your time. I appreciate your encouraging comments, and the thought you put into the interview questions. For the readers, I would like to thank you for your interest and support. July 8, 2002 - www.enigmaonline.com - Chattanooga, TN

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