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LA’s Cindy Alexander is a real indie success story. Making her own music
on her own terms, yet working with some of the biggest names in the business
along the way, she has won a sizeable following of fans in Germany, as well
as the US. In the middle of recording her second album, she took a
break to answer some questions fired to her by Indiemonkey.com to continue
our feature on some of the best female musical talent there is on the independent
scene.
Hi Cindy. You are something of an inspiration for other indie artists.
You have won accolades for your music (LA Music’s Outstanding Songwriter,
1998), worked with top producers and get to tour frequently. What do you
put your success down to?
Success is always relative, isn't it? I've been doing this a LONG time.
I started on the L.A. club circuit about 8 years ago, but before that, it
took me a few years of THINKING about performing live and trying to find
the right musicians to put together a band. I've been writing songs since
high school but didn't take it seriously until after college. So....am I
successful compared to where I started (at square one)? Yes, I think so,
due mostly to the fact that I work VERY hard at what I do, and I make the
most of the gifts which God has given to me. But I have a lot more to which
I can aspire.
To answer your question more specifically though, I think that success in
any business can be greatly effected by strong social skills, tenacity, and
an element of luck.... or being at the right place at the right time. And
when you DO get to that "right place".... it helps if you are PREPARED.
It also helps if you're NICE and PEOPLE LIKE YOU. When I was asked to record
"American Girl" for Sugar & Spice, I had already recorded an indie album
and spent some time on the road. I had the social skills in order to
be able to promote for the movie company, New Line, as well as the performance
experience to be able to do a whirlwind promotional tour for the record label,
Trauma Records. New Line put me in the studio with Matthew Wilder.
Fortunately, David Darling (who produced most of my indie cd, "See Red")
gave me the confidence to go into a studio and be myself. But keep
in mind, before David, I worked with countless producers who ripped me apart
and spit me out again and tried to mold me into something that I was not.
So the whole soul searching trip and years of figuring out who I WASN'T,
paid off.
You mention your album 'See Red' - it was incredibly successful, won rave
reviews, and was produced by David Darling, who has worked with some of the
biggest names in the business. How did you both come to work together?
I met Dave while I was hanging out with my friend and songwriting partner,
Paul Trudeau. Paul was doing a session with Dave and I just tagged along.
Dave asked me what I did, I told him, he popped in a cd of a tune Paul and
I were in the process of recording.... and the next week we were working
together. Dave has been a great mentor and I know I am SO lucky to be able
to work with such a talent. By the way, not only is he a great producer,
check out Boxing Gandhis - Dave's old band. Dave is an amazing artist and
songwriter as well.
Last year you also got to work with producer Matthew Wilder, on your cover
version of Tom Petty’s "American Girl", which was the single from the soundtrack
to the film Sugar and Spice. Was that as a result of your work with David
Darling?
Are you ready for this? American Girl happened because I went to Club
Med 7 years ago and met Joe Nimziki, who became my friend, who ended up working
in marketing at New Line Cinema, and who thought of me when he was tossing
around the idea of a female cover of the Tom Petty tune to
"spice" up his movie. Mitch Rotter in the soundtrack department put me together
with Matthew Wilder and when Trauma Records decided to put out the soundtrack,
they picked American Girl as the single.
You have also just released a live Cd via MP3.com. How important do you
think the internet is for indie musicians and what effect has it had on your
own career?
The internet has been VITAL to my career. The exposure and distribution
are FREE and and as a result, I am self-sufficient and able to sell records
and build an international fan base without the help of a major record label.
The internet levels the playing field for artists and I am so thankful for
the opportunities sites like mp3.com and amazon.com have offered.
Speaking of that CD, it was recorded acoustically on your Spring tour
of Germany and you just toured there again. How was that tour for you, and
how did it feel competing with the likes of David Hasselhoff for the musical
affections of the German public?!!
You know, I think that David Hasselhoff thing is a big joke. I've heard German
radio..... and I don't believe I've heard him on there! The tours were both
great. I met my German manager/promoter through mp3.com and he has made my
"German Invasion" possible! ;) The Germans seem to really love acoustic American
music. It amazes me how even in a pub, 150 people will shut up and listen
to a ballad. That is rare in the L.A. scene where there is a "been there
done that" attitude and in order to keep people's attention, bands have to
keep the sets up tempo. In short, I love Germany and the people and my only
problem is the smoke! It's really hard to sing for hours at a time when you
are asthmatic and breathing in thick smokey air. But other than that, I look
forward to returning to Europe in the spring, when I'll hopefully be able
to visit the UK as well.
Are you working on a new studio album? If so, who will be producing this
time?
YES YES YES. I've recorded some new tracks with David Darling, Evan Frankfort
of Melodine, Eric Gorfain & Frank Scarpelli of Quiet Street Studios,
and I'm on my way to Nashville this weekend to record with Dennis Matkosky,
one of my new writing partners who won a Grammy for "Maniac" from Flashdance.
I'm kind of experimenting and trying a bunch of things - not sure which tracks
and which production will end up on the album.... but you can check out some
of my work in process at mp3.com.
I believe you have been writing with acclaimed songwriter Gary Harrison
recently. I love his work with Matraca Berg, so will that material be included
on your new album?
Gary is great - we wrote a song called "Only Love" which as of now, will
end up on the new cd. I'm hoping to write some more with him in the
future. We actually met while he was working as VP of A&R for Mercury
Nashville. He heard Heaven Knows and left me a message on my voice mail quoting
one of my lyrics. I won't give it away.... but check out the second verse
of Heaven Knows and you'll be able to figure out which lyric piqued his attention!
One of your heroines/influences is Carole King, and you got the chance
to interview her recently. Did you get starstuck?
Growing up in L.A., I have always been surrounded by the entertainment industry
and "Stars." However, Carole did make a great impression on me and you can
read my comments on that interview on my website (
www.cindyalexander.com) under Pnut's Ponderings. In some ways, that day
was a turning point for me, or a re-commitment to always be true to myself
as an artist.
Having tasted a bit of mainstream success with "American Girl", yet also
being successful on your own terms with your album, I assume you won’t take
any old offer from a major label. Do you still want control over your music
or do you think it is inevitable that you will take the step up to a major
label?
I go back and forth on that one. I'd like to be able to go to the next "level"
as far as marketing my music - and in order to do that I need money.
Major labels are like banks. Record deals are loans.....with strings
attached. But yes, of course I'd like control but I think that the more money
you take, the more control you give away.
Finally, if you had the chance to perform with any five artists/bands
past or present, who would they be and why?
It's late at night so I'm kind of pulling these off the top of my head (my
selections could be different tomorrow). In no particular order (and
it also depends whether I'm in an acoustic or electric mood!)
Bob Dylan
Tom Petty
Carole King
Aimee Mann
James Taylor.
They are all AMAZING songwriters and seem to be able to make musical magic
over and over and over again. I would like to perform with the Goo Goo Dolls
as well...... cuz I think Johnny is cute. ;) He's actually a good writer
too!
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