By Mike Brannon
Though she accompanies her husband, experimental guitarist Dave Fiuczynski in
various contexts and has her own group in New York, Lian Amber is admittedly
not yet well known outside the cities she's performed in (New York, Paris,
Rome etc). This should soon change once "Lotus Flower", her debut CD is
released this Summer and she tours to promote it. Those accompanying her
include, Fiuczynski, (Screaming Headless Torsos), Gene Lake (Meshell Ndegeocello), Neal and Al Evans (Soulive) and many others. Her sound has been
described as an eclectic mix
of jazz, blues, soul, gospel, world/international and folk but Lian's is a
voice that transcends category and her music refuses to commit to one style
or genre, but the soulfulness of both is always intrinsically apparent.
Standouts are the surprising cover of, yes, "Free Bird". Whether or not you
liked the original, forget your pre-conceptions. Lian's heartfelt version
makes you wonder if it were written in the 40's and sung by Nina Simone
and/or that maybe Lynyrd Skynrd were the ones doing the cover after all.
What this all says most clearly is that, cover or not, Lian Amber makes a
song her
own, first and foremost. You quickly forget a particular vehicle was first
done by another and willingly default to her version as it's definitive.
Quite a feat. And her originals are striking and deeply in touch with the
blues and jazz traditions, yet with a sense that she's in touch with post
modernity by choice, not by virtue of marketing necessity. Like recent find,
Norah Jones,
Lian's truly one to watch. Catch her now before hype has a chance to affect
your perception of
a truly singular and original new voice.
Recently back from Paris where she performed in duo with Fuse Lian returns to
work
on her debut recording, due this Summer. She was kind enough to take the time
to discuss it's progress, her background and the music business in general.
AAJ: Could you talk about your original and current influences?
LA: Well, I grew up in a musical household, my mother, Maye Cavallaro is a jazz singer and
both of my grandmothers were musicians, an opera singer and a classical
pianist. I remember being around 8 and having my own 'chart book' - I sang
'What a Difference a Day Makes', 'Satin Doll' and other such chestnuts. My
first record was the Jackson 5 Live, which is still own, I wrote my name on
it in that funny little kid writing. I was always a funk and soul fan, and
at around 18 became heavily interested in international music, leading to an
early twenties gig as a buyer for Tower Records and then onto a used record
store. Before I started in record stores I had a 6,000 album collection, so
my influences are pretty vast! I of course love all the masters, and also
love the musics of other countries.
AAJ: Man. 6,000? That's amazing. Got me beat. Now all you have to do is get
them all on CD! What's your education and background?
LA: Well, I've had a few unsuccessful music school runs - I am just a bit
too
iconoclastic to really thrive in that environment. I was always trying to
do my own thing, and as my mother understandingly told me when I was a kid, I
'don't suffer fools gladly'. So, SFSU and New School/Mannes double drop out!
:)
AAJ: It's not for everyone, but hey, good places to dropout of. Can you
talk about you recent European gigs with Fuse? How were they and what was the
response?
LA: They were great! It was quite an experience to do a duo, which Fuze
had never
done, but it was great to really be able to hear myself, instead of
fighting the band which I feel I have to do sometimes. And the response was
wonderful. In Paris, it was so refreshing to have a full house that was
totally silent through my whole set. One gentleman even came from Brussels to
see me!!
AAJ: That's great; a true fan. How did you get into website design?
LA: Well, I wanted to make a site for David, and so taught myself how to
do it, and
people just seemed to like my style, and started to ask me to do sites for
them,
and suddenly I was a web designer!
AAJ: Just add water. Regarding your new release, how did you chose the
tunes,
like "Free Bird", for instance? I don't think I've ever heard of that being
covered.
LA: My new release isn't done as yet. Most of the tunes are originals, at
this point 'Free Bird' is the only cover - and actually, I picked 'Free Bird'
because I was once at a nitrous oxide party - dating myself - and while we
were all giggling over the nitrous someone mentioned that I was a singer.
Some chick with a bad attitude said 'oh yeah, can you sing "Free Bird" To
which, of course, I had to bust out with it, and since it was such a success
I realized that it was a great
tune for me!!
AAJ: Yeah, it really is. That's too funny. Lucky it wasn't Helium, things
might've turned out differently.
LA: The rest of the material is all originals, which I wrote with numerous
collaborators: Fuze,
David Manley, Adam Rogers, and many others. It has a great variety of
instruments on it and delves into my interest in international music in the
arrangements and instrumentation.
AAJ: Can you discuss your process of writing, arranging and recording?
LA: Well, I am very much an 'inspiration hits' person. My tunes usually come
out whole, then I add the elements to support it later. I record everything
at home, and produce and arrange it all myself, which can be wonderful but
can be limiting, but at least there is no one to argue with!
AAJ: For sure. You and Dave have your own label, websites and do your own
promotion and recording production. How did you go about learning those
things and do you enjoy it?
LA: Well, I learned it all by just jumping in and doing it, and yes, I
enjoy it to a
certain extent but now I am finding that it is really keeping me from
finishing my CD, and I also find that I am not viewed as an artist the way I
would like - people seem to view me as a business person rather than a
musician, which is something I am trying to change with my work, which I feel
is of a high enough caliber to get at least a bit of respect!
AAJ: Absolutely. It is. What can you pass on that would help others who are
trying to do the same thing?
LA: Research and follow up are the two key words...and don't give up. The
personal
touch can be surprisingly helpful. I just called magazine editors directly
and they were all incredibly nice and willing to help... and of course, give
great phone.
AAJ: Ha! What are you listening to currently?
LA: I listen to alot of MS Subbulakshmi, a fabulous South Indian singer. I
am loving an advance copy of Meshell Ndegeocello's Cookie CD, Kim Burrell,
an absolutely astounding gospel singer. I love Chocolate Genius' Black
Music, Anonymous 4, a medieval group... it's really hard because I listen to
so many different musics that to nail one down is really rough!
AAJ: Right, same here. I lean towards pretty eclectic choices, as well.
Besides your CD, some of the discs that've lately impressed me have been
Norah Jones' Come Away with Me, Scofield's Uberjam, Mike Formaneck's
Wide Open Spaces, Toni Price, etc. Do you have a philosophy of music and
creating?
LA: Do it from the heart, and don't listen to critics. If you love it,
then it's right. My music is intensely personal and I think that's why it
moves people.
AAJ: Right. I think besides the depth and range of your voice, the intimacy
is very attractive and provocative. I sense those qualities being the case in
a number of good projects lately. Norah Jones might be a good example. What's
coming up next for you both?
LA: I am going to sell my soul to a major label :) - kidding...going to
finish and
release my CD!!! And Fuzy has re-released the two Screaming Headless Torsos
CD's
on our label, he also has a CD by KiF coming out, a new Screaming Headless
Torsos, a new trio, and a project with Dean Bowman called Vox Populi...
AAJ: Cool Sounds like you both have a lot going on. Thanks for your time,
Lian. Really
looking forward to the legit release. Keep us posted.
For more information, visit Lian's website at www.lianamber.com.
Mike Brannon is guitarist/writer for the Synergy Group. The latest release is
"Barcodes" w/ Trey Gunn of King Crimson and Jeff Coffin of the Grammy-winning
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Synergy's followup, "Later", w/ special
guests, Harvie Swartz, Paul Wertico and others will be released in late '02.
