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Interviews Oct 2006
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An interview with Courtney C Patty |
Indieguitarists.com Interviews | An interview Steve Ditzell |
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1. Describe the early years of your musical roots and how your talent was nurtured. My musical background was established through piano lessons and continued to grow through opportunities at my church. As a child, I begged and begged for piano lessons, and my mom finally relented. (Piano lessons were a burden for a single mom, but she found a way!) By the time I reached high school, I was active in my church music program (both as a vocalist and a pianist) and that's where my musical 2. Where there any events or people that have been musically influential? As far as recording artists go, I've spent my life loving and listening to all different kinds of music and my influences are as varied as my interests- Rachmaninoff, U2, traditional Irish music, etc... My more immediate musical influences are acoustic female artists - Indigo Girls, Shawn Colvin and Ani DiFranco. I've also had the pleasure of working with some incredibly talented musicians - some famous, some unknown, 3. How many songwriting awards have you been awarded? I had to go into my website archives to try to answer this one for you and even then the answer has proved to be elusive. There are nine thatI can find record of at this point. Unfortunately, none of those are Grammys. 4. What was it like to win the West Coast Songwriters' Association 2004 Song of the Year Award? It was a bit of a surprise, actually. 2004 was the third year in a row that I was a contender for the award. I had gotten used to the disappointment of not being named after the previous two years, and I had finally "let go" of my expectations regarding the outcome. Sometimes, I think we just have to let go of our dreams so God can give them back to us. 5. How would you describe your sound? "Acoustic music with folk roots and pop sensibilities." How's that for concise? 6. How involved are you in past and present recording projects? Probably more involved that I should be! I do have a background in audio production (I'm a graduate of the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences and have worked as a studio engineer/producer), and sometimes I think I know too much for my own good! Like most artists, I have strong feelings about how I want my material to sound. Being 7. How do you prefer to record your guitar parts? When recording, I want to capture the way my guitar sounds to me, when I'm writing at home in my living room, or bedroom. For me that means a great, well-placed pair of stereo mics in a good acoustic space. 8. What recording equipment have you used and where have you recorded? I've worked with most every format imaginable - from 2" reels, to 16-bit ADATs, to almost every version of Pro Tools that has ever existed, to a Fostex 4-track. Likewise, I've had the pleasure of working in world class facilities like Studio D in Sausalito, CA, and in friends' project studios. In my mind, there is no "right" or "wrong" way to make a record. If the end result is great, the means are arbitrary. 9. What projects are you currently working on? I'm currently working on an acoustic-duo project with my longtime friend and touring partner, Jennifer Yax. There's been a demand from friends and fans to have a CD release that reflects our live, acoustic-duo performances. So, we recorded a live show just a few weeks ago. We have a lot to work with in the rough tracks, now we have to decide 10. Do you own your own label & publishing company? I technically own my own label and publishing company, CCP Music, although I'm the only artist to be released on it so far. 11. How may CD’s have you released to date as a solo artist or with a band? Let's see, that would be 4 solo CD releases (Silhouette of me, 2004; I Am, 2002; Waiting on the Universe, 2000; Seasons Change, 1998). If you go way back into the archives, there is a cassette release that I did with a friend in 1995. Now, if all goes well, there will be a new CDrelease out before too long (see question #9). And there are a number of projects out there in the world where I've been invited to make a guest 12. Are you affiliated with any music associations or unions? You bet! My memberships wax and wane depending on available funds when fees are due, but I've recently had or currently have affiliations with: West Coast Songwriters' Association 13. What are some of the highs & lows of your career so far? A creative career is filled with lows! Bad shows, unkind people in an unkind industry, self-criticism, writers' block... I could go on and on! My highs include working with some of the industry's best: 14. Are there any people that you would like to mention here who have helped your career? There are really too many to mention, but I will thank the key players: Jesus, my savior; Jeff, my husband; our family, my encouragement; Kelvyn Guitars and Santa Cruz Guitars, my sponsors; the fans, my support; and the musicians, engineers, producers, and friends who have shared the experience of the journey and have lived to tell about it.
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Fell in love with the blues the first time I heard it when I was about 15 years old. When I went to Chicago, my big influence was Sammy Lawhorn. 2. Where there any events, people or catalyst(s) that Jamming with Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan. 3. What does your live set up consist of? Amp is Fender Hot Rod DeVille and the guitars are custom Strat, custom Tele and a 1959 Gibson Melody Maker. 4. Shortly after moving to Chicago in 1975, you were These opportunities arose as a result of going to all the places in Chicago where people told me I would get my throat cut or get shot or both. I didn't have a manager or booking agent. I was just chasing those blues. 5. In the 80’s you went on to play with: Stevie Ray It was fantastic touring and playing with all those great artists. I was just going to the next gig, mostly. 6. What music associations or unions were you Fenton Robinson, Koko Taylor and Junior Wells. 7. When did you begin to write, record and publish In the early '90s. 8. In 1993 you formed your own band, Steve Ditzell This was when I first embarked on my own career as a band leader and frontman. 9. Do you have your own record label and publishing No. 10. Have you ever been signed to a major record I've recorded for Alligator Records on 3 albums. 11. How many Rockford Awards have you been presented with? 5 Best of Rockford awards. 12. How many CD?s have you recorded with Blue One. 13. Have you ever needed legal council regarding your music. If so, which entertainment lawyers have you been happy dealing with? Marty Salzman 14. Which cities have been highly receptive to your All of them, really. 15. Do you presently have a tour manager, personal No. 16. What has been the highs and lows of your career Being on tour with and associating with Muddy Waters, Albert Collins and all the other great musicians I've had the privilege of hanging out with. There is such a long list of lows that I won't even bother. It would fill a thousand page book. 17. What advice can you give other aspiring Don't get hung up on trying to sound like any one particular person. Get your sound from a number of different artists, then make it your own. 18. Who are the members of Blue Lightning? How did Dave Kaye on bass and Marty Binder on drums. I met Dave just gigging around Chicago, and Marty was with Buddy Guy & Junior Wells when I joined the band.
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