![]() Interviewed for GLAM Magazine She’s on the television series Drop Dead Diva, which just finished its fifth season, she co-hosts the weekly podcast Monsters of Talk with Jim Short, and now she’s hitting the road with her new tour, Mother. Margaret Cho started her career doing stand up in clubs in San Francisco. Her big break came when she was cast in a small role on the Golden Girls spin-off The Golden Palace, where she was mentored by the late Rue McClanahan. After winning the American Comedy Award for Best Female Comedian, a sitcom was created for Cho, called All American Girl, based on Cho's stand-up routine. After the show was cancelled, Cho faced struggles in her career and personal life, which she then used as material for her first one-woman show, I'm the One That I Want. She later developed that material into an autobiography of the same name, which recounted her difficulties breaking into show business because of her ethnicity and weight, and her subsequent struggle with and victory over body image issues and addiction. Since then, Cho has continued to spin her life experiences into gold, carving out a place for herself in our hearts, and showing us that being yourself is truly GLAM. I recently caught up with Margaret to talk about her new tour, the future, and how to get in bed with her. GLAM: I have had the opportunity to meet you a few different times through the years, at a Bam Bam and Celeste screening in San Francisco, a rally against Prop 8 in Sacramento, and a Girl in a Coma show at SXSW, and have seen you in parades and rallies at various times. You have really become a champion for the queer community, and I have witnessed your influence firsthand, so I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for being a voice for many of us. Margaret: Thank you! G: That being said, as the self-proclaimed "Prime Minister of the Gays," and as someone who has been outspoken regarding equal rights, and also body image, you have become a role model for many, contributing to increased acceptance for an array of people. Who are some of your role models? M: I take a lot of inspiration from Harvey Milk, who I saw in the very beginning, and whose brilliant career was cut short so tragically. I see a lot of amazing work from Chely Wright, who is trying to build an LGBT Center in Kansas City – so I have role models from my past, and role models who are with me right now. G: You have your new tour Mother, but you also recently recorded a musical comedy album. Are the two projects separate or are you incorporating the album into the tour? M: The projects are separate, but I may do one song from [the album] on tour, I haven’t decided yet. It’s a lot of fun to do, and it’s always great to do a sing-a-long! G: What is your album called how can we get our hands on it? M: It’s called “Unholy Love” and I will put it out early next year! G: You also have a new web series called In Transition, about 3 women recently released from prison. There has been a lot of buzz for another recent drama about female inmates. Do you feel they are stealing your thunder? Or that it will compliment your series? M: I think it complements our series! And our show is focused on the journey out, back into society, so it’s really different in its own way! G: If you were to be convicted in real life, what would be your crime? Who would you choose to be your prison wifey? M: It would probably be something I don’t understand like insider trading and I would have to try to find someone who could take care of me! I am way more wifey! G: On that note, you were recently in bed with Joan Rivers. What do I have to do to get you in my bed? M: Just ask! I love Joan, and all she had to do was ask! So yes! G: You recently came out as Chinese. How did your family and friends take it? Did anyone try to tell you that it was just a phase or that they had suspected it? M: We all found out at the same time, which made it a little less of a scandal, but it was scandalous all the same! Actually, the whole point of it is that national borders mean less to ethnic identity than we think, and that in a sense, we are all from the same race – we are all connected. G: I agree. You recently dressed as Catwoman to show your interest in being a host on The View. You've also expressed interest in doing a show with [redacted] Have you tried dressing as Catwoman for him? M: I have not dressed as Catwoman for [redacted], but [...] The View found [it] hilarious. I would love to be on The View! And on [redacted]! G: What musical artists are on your radar recently? M: I am all about joining Wilco – I want to be a one woman tribute band to them, “Wilcho”, which has been approved by Jeff Tweedy. I love them so much. G: Now that you have done stage, television, movies, music, and radio- is there any area of the business that you haven't done and would like to do? M: I just love stand up comedy. I will always do it. That is the only thing I really need to do for my sanity and my life. G: What about a soap opera? Do you have a favorite one? M: Maybe General Hospital? That was a great one! They even had a song! G: Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers? M: I can’t wait to get out on tour – it has been too long, and I love this life, this is where I am at my finest, my happiest. So she’s back on tour, doing what started her career, and who doesn’t love a girl who stays true to her roots, herself, and what makes her happy? We certainly Margaret Cho for it! -- Update September 2019: The name of a comedian was redacted from the interview due to the discovery of their inappropriate behavior with several women since the publication of this interview.
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Interviewed for GLAM.
By the age of 21, New York City-based singer-songwriter Hillary Capps had released two full-length jazz albums: A Perfect Dozen (2008) and Playlist (2010). She then released her first work of original songs, the EP Maybe in the Morning (2012). Hillary’s upcoming full length album The Wishing Forest is set to debut in early 2014. Hillary has quite an impressive resume for someone so young, already placing herself as a seasoned musician, whereas many her age are just starting to find their footing. Hillary Capps began performing professionally when she was still in high school, and as a result, her music has grown with her, and it offers a fresh take on a classic style. Hillary just released her new single off her upcoming album. The catchy song “New Melody” adds levity to heartbreak, a topic which typically lends itself to darker songs. Hillary Capps’ voice has a gentle strength, and her new tune blends jazz vocals with pop instrumentals, to create a spirited anthem for the broken-hearted, conveying that they are perhaps the ones better off in the end. GLAM recently spoke with Hillary about her new single, upcoming album, and wishes for the future. You started singing at age three and then you sang with your dad in a jazz band? I was 16 and I performed at my first gig, a wedding, I think it was, which was a long three hour set of a ton of jazz standards that I’d been learning for a long time. Is the rest of your family musical? Just me and my dad, really. Everyone in my family is artistic in some way, but music is really just me and my dad. Obviously, your dad was an influence; who were some of your other musical influences? I have a lot. It’s kind of a broad spectrum. But some of the ones early on are Ella Fitzgerald when I was learning the jazz standards, Norah Jones, Paul McCartney and The Beatles in general. More recently, Adele, Ingrid Michelson, Sara Bareilles is a big one. And then I have some influences, who are not so similar to my music, but I think I draw subtle things from, like Katy Perry and Feist. Can you tell us about your new single? My new single is called “New Melody.” It was co-writtten by Anthony Farina, who is the guitar player in my band and produced the album, and it is, in its simplest terms, a break up song. (laughs) It was fun to release a fun break up song of the summer. It’s a pop song, but it’s influenced by jazz in terms of a lot of the melodies and the piano in it. I tried to integrate new pop sounds with sort of an organic jazz feel underneath it. And you have an album coming out early next year? That’s right. It’s going to come out probably the end of January and it’s going to be called the Wishing Forest. Where did you come up with the name for that? The name is actually also influenced by my dad. When I was little, I grew up in Vermont, and my Dad lived in this place called Pocoho Road and he had an enormous property that was basically a forest, and there was this cluster of trees that he, and I don’t know how he came up with it, but he called it the wishing forest. He would take me and my sister down there with him we would pick a spot, and pick a tree, and make a wish for our future, or tomorrow, or whatever, and then we would just go on with the rest of our day. It was just this fun, sort of magical, little wishing forest and I found that a lot of the songs on the album were tied to wishing in some way, whether it was wishing for something to be different in the past, wishing for something to happen in the future, and so on. And the song Storybook, which is one of the tracks on the new album, references the wishing forest, so in a way, Storybook is the title track, it’s just not called the wishing forest. I love that. That’s a great story. Thanks, yeah. I think so (laughs)! You mentioned Adele and you’re kind of already on the same track [as her]. You know, you’re young and you’ve already put out two albums and an EP, and you’re about to put out another album; speaking of wishing, where do you hope to see yourself, or what do you wish or hope for yourself in terms of your career? Let’s say maybe five years in the future, where would you like to see yourself? With each album, I’ve kept progressing in a, I think, natural growth kind of way, and this one is the first full length that is all originals, and reflects kind of where I’m headed, maybe more so than Maybe In The Morning did. So what I hope to do is to continue on that path and keep putting out albums that kind of reflect my natural growth as a musician. What I would like to do it have more and more people hear it as I go on, and I think this coming year I’m going to start doing some mini-tours, with some dates on the East Coast and some dates in California, and maybe in Austin... So I’m just going to gradually grow it and hopefully get on an independent label within the next year, that’s one of my goals. And get some songs in film and TV, that’s a great way to get exposure to share the music and just kind of go on this, hopefully, natural growth path so that, to the point so that I can just be touring and making money just by doing music only, doing what I love to do. Doing what you love is something we can all aspire to! We look forward to seeing Hillary’s wishes come true. ![]() Mandy Musgrave portrayed Carol Lockhart on General Hospital, a former Day of Dawn member turned dog-owning waitress in the small town of Beecher's Corners, who took the fall for Shiloh regarding the death of Willow’s father, Douglas Miller. Michael wants her to testify against Shiloh and visits her at the diner where she works. Jason attempts to bring Carol to Port Charles but is thwarted when the small town police force turns out to be under Shiloh’s influence and throws Jason in jail. Sam goes undercover as a waitress in order to get Carol’s statement, in hopes of exposing Shiloh and helping Willow. I was able to chat with Mandy about her roles on General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, keeping in touch with her South of Nowhere cast mates, and working with her husband, Matt Cohen (ex-Griffin Munro, General Hospital). Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. Days of Our Lives fans will remember you as Bo and Billie’s daughter Georgia/Chelsea Benson, a role you played from January 2004 to December 2005. Was that your first acting role? My first acting role where I had dialogue was actually on Drake and Josh. I had one line “Hey, Drake, looking cool”. But my first in-depth, steady, job was Days of Our Lives. I even had my first on screen kiss there. Who was it that you shared your first onscreen kiss with? Brody Hutzler. Patrick Lockhart! I remember Chelsea was obsessed with him but I didn't realize you'd kissed. He was twice your age! (laughs) Yes, that was the one! He was twice my height too! But a gentleman and a true professional. There was a scene in a pool hall where my character was trying to drug and seduce his character and he believes that he is kissing another woman. How did acting on a soap opera prepare you for your acting career? Memorization! The skills that you gain from working on a soap in general help you to be ready for anything. Changes on the spot happen daily and you have to be ready to roll with the punches. Your most well-known role is Ashley Davies on the N’s South of Nowhere and you’ve been on shows such as 90210, CSI, and The King of Queens, but it's been several years since you were last on TV. I know you’ve been keeping busy as a stay-at-home mom to your son, so how did the part on General Hospital come about? Well, my husband (ex-Griffn Munro, Matt Cohen) and I planned on alternating jobs once our son was born. But he booked General Hospital just a month after our son’s birth. And that kept him busy non-stop for 3 years. So when he left General Hospital, it allowed me to go back to auditioning. General Hospital was one of my first auditions back and I just so happened to book it. Many people didn’t know that there was any relation between Matt and myself, as I go by Mandy Musgrave. What was it like returning to daytime TV so many years later? Fantastic! I love how well-oiled the soap machine is. Although it takes time to get in the rhythm. Especially if you haven’t acted in 4 years! Talk about jumping right back into it your General Hospital character Carol is tied to some of the most prominent characters on the Port Charles canvas. What was it like working with Steve Burton, Kelly Monaco, and Chad Duell? It was absolutely refreshing. Steve Burton is a true gentleman. You can tell that he is a valued part of the team. He never interrupts. He helps other actors if needed and he takes time to get to know everyone. Chad, what a kind professional with an intoxicating smile. I worked with him on a day where he had an obscene amount of dialogue. I truly don’t know how he did it; they have a blessing having him there. Kelly Monaco is so beautiful, it’s intimidating. Then she starts talking and smiling and she lights up the room. She was open to running lines with anyone and she was great at developing her character and making choices. You and Matt recently put out a short film called Mama Bear that you starred in as the title character and Matt directed. What are the plans for the full length version? The plan is for it to happen! I stay out of everything for the most part and just do the acting. Mama Bear has been Matt’s pride and joy. The writer Lee Ehlers is a wonderful writer with many other projects available. We have all been friends for many years and have found a good partnership with combined talents. They work well together because of their ambition, drive, and passion. Are you working on anything else that you can tell us about? Not at the moment. I am trying to slowly find balance between working and moming. It’s working out beautifully. If you could choose, what would your dream role be? This is always a challenging question because it changes. I believe that doing a comedy would be wonderful for me. I did love the action in Mama Bear. So a superhero would be fun as well. The last time I saw you was at the South of Nowhere reunion fan event we put together in 2013. At that time, we were trying to generate interest in a South of Nowhere reboot. You and several of the cast even filmed some scenes, showing where the characters may have ended up, that was circulated online. Is a reboot still a possibility? Oh, it always is. Just a matter of the right people being passionate along with us. But every cast member would happily return to South of Nowhere. Is there a chance we’ll see you as Carol on General Hospital again? You know as well as I do. But yes, it is possible. Maybe down the line you and Matt could both re-assume your roles on General Hospital and Carol and Griffin could rival Aiden and Ashley for best couple- the fans would go wild! (laughs) That would be fun, wouldn’t it?! Matt said the same thing! Speaking of Matt, you’ve had the opportunity to work with him on several projects, both as actors playing off one another and also with him taking on producing and directing projects you were acting in. What’s it like working with your husband? Is it different to be directed by him or do you both just "get in the zone?” At first we both feared the positions of power that we were in. Neither of us like being told what to do. But he is a talented director with a vision. He trusted my instincts and I trusted his. He allowed me to explore and have time to myself to get into character and I had to remember to give him space and turn off "spouse mode." We worked surprisingly well together in those roles. Since we’re talking about working well together, you still keep up with your South of Nowhere on-screen love interest Gabrielle Christian and you worked with fellow South of Nowhere cast members Aasha, Maeve, and Valery Ortiz on Cowgirl Up, would you be open to doing another web series with the South of Nowhere cast? What plot or premise would you like to take on? Oh, of course! I would love to work with them again. Any and all! It would be fun to do a “Bridesmaids” type of project with them! We always have so much fun together. So, you and Matt are both actors, Matt directs and produces, you also sing and paint, and now Matt is hosting for Entertainment Tonight. Your son is still young, but does he also like to create and perform like his parents? Do you foresee him following in your footsteps and being in the Entertainment business? We honestly had no desire to push him into our industry, but he is a natural entertainer. He sings and acts out scenes all the time. He loves having an audience. He has not one shy bone in his body. We actually took him on a commercial audition once and he booked it. We ended up turning it down for various reasons, but again, he is a natural. Well, who knows, maybe we’ll see him pop up on a soap one of these days, like his parents. Thanks again for talking with us! Thank you! It’s so nice to talk with you again. The Young and the Restless actors star in new film written and directed by former Y&R scribes12/9/2019 Interviewed for Soap Central. We talked with Across the Room director Mellinda Hensley and writer Matt Clifford about the film, which was made possible by things they learned while working on The Young and the Restless. Written by Matt Clifford, former script writer for The Young and the Restless, and directed by the show's former associate head writer Mellinda Hensley, Across the Room stars Cait Fairbanks (Tessa Porter) and Zach Tinker (Fenmore Baldwin), as well as their fellow Genoa City costars Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) and Tyler Johnson (Theo Vanderway), in addition to actress Karisa Tate as the woman who catches Zach's character's eye while on her own out-of-sync date with Tyler's character.
Soap Central: Can you tell me a little about the film and how it came about? Mellinda Hensley: It was Matt's concept from start to finish. He came to me one day and [asked], "What would you say if we did a short that was almost all subtitles and facial expressions?" Soap Central: I saw the Instagram post where you wrote that he started the conversation with "I've got this crazy idea." (laughter) Matt Clifford: I just walked up to her and said "I need an honest opinion right now." I love writing comedy. I cut my teeth on sitcoms before coming to Y&R, so I love writing comedy whenever I get the opportunity. Across the Room involves two couples who are on their first dates, not a blind date, but they met on a website, and it's a disaster. [...] Two characters just happen to see each other across the room and are aware that the other is on a disastrous date. They vibe immediately, but they do it through their facial expressions, and it's like they can understand each other. We're going to convey that to the audience through sub-titles. Mellinda said, "I want to direct this," and she just got on it. She said, "Let's make this our date to get the script done, I'd love to book the venue by this date, and have the actors locked down by this date." She really took control of it, and we were able to do it. She kept it entirely organized throughout. It was fantastic, because you know us writers can procrastinate. Soap Central: I'm married to a playwright, and I'm a producer, so we bicker because I'm always on her about how much she's written. She likes to remind me that it took Lin-Manuel Miranda a year to write one song. Clifford: Did he really take a year for one song? Soap Central: It took him about eight years to write the whole musical. So, the next time you feel like you're not working fast enough, think of how long it took to write Hamilton. Hensley: I feel pretty good about myself! (laughter) Soap Central: I saw your previous short, Apuelogy, which has a dark comedy tone to it; would you say Across the Room has a similar tone to it? Hensley: I would say it's still in the same vein. It still has Matt's touch to the comedic voice, so there's a lot of quick back-and-forth, silly dialogue, but because this one has a touch of romance, it's a slight twist on Matt's voice. But I still think we keep that fast-paced humor intact. Soap Central: Is this in any way an outlet from writing dramatic soap material? Hensley: We are both naturally drawn to comedy. ... All of our shorts are comedy. We currently have a romcom feature that we're trying to find a home for. Clifford: Writing comedy is something I really enjoy. Because a lot of heavy material has to be hammered out, everyone on Y&R has a great sense of humor. They're very smart. ... They're the hardest working people I've ever had the privilege to learn from. Hensley: There are so many skilled people [working on The Young and the Restless] who are fantastic. Soap Central: I agree. Clifford: You have to have some fun with it. They're coming up with five to six scripts a week, and it's so easy to get drawn into the thinking, "Oh, no, we're on such a tight schedule" that you lose focus on what could be fun, but they always have a way to keep it interesting for the cast, crew, and everyone in the production office. It was an amazing experience to watch in action. It's an extremely well-oiled machine. I am in such awe of how they do it. Hensley: It's a prime teaching ground. I had never directed anything before [Apuelogy], but I loved watching our directors work. The way that they organize things and the way they were able to get what they want and needed and [were] able to communicate that effectively to the actors in such a small space of time was admirable to the point that I wanted to do it. I shadowed one of our directors for a few episodes to get down on the floor and see what that was really like. So, when I saw the script for Apuelogy, and it was only three actors, I knew if I'm ever going to try, it has to be in this contained space. Soap Central: Like you said it's a well-oiled machine. It sounds like you took things away from that; you shot Across the Room in only a couple of hours? Hensley: Yes. I in no way want to sacrifice time for quality. I want to work out a way where we get both and the actors feel they have enough time to get everything. So, we do a day of rehearsal so everybody knows their marks. Since we were dealing with a short, there's not a terrible amount of dialogue, especially when working with actors from Y&R, based on the sheer amount of dialogue they memorize on a daily basis. We wanted to make something and challenge ourselves and give the actors an opportunity to do something they're not used to doing, either. I'm really thankful to have had the experience [of shadowing a director at The Young and the Restless] and to be able to use my time wisely. Clifford: We did twelve pages in less than four hours. The actors knew their dialogue. The DP was on it, and Mellinda had blocked out every scene beforehand, so it went really well. It's always fun when you have a group of professional actors, who, you know, twelve pages for them in one day is nothing. On Y&R, they could be given 25 to 30 and hammer it out in no time. It's amazing how professional they are and just what they bring to the table and [their ability to] make it look so effortless. It was fantastic to watch. Soap Central: Can you tell me a little more about the roles the actors are playing? Is Christian playing a waiter? Hensley: Yes! (laughter) He is an absolute hoot. He does improv and is just a class act. Clifford: He is great at improv, but he did the dialogue as scripted. You never know what to expect with him. Hensley: He only brought out an accent twice. Clifford: That's right. You never know if he's going to show up with an accent -- what's going to happen. That was all part of the fun. He's such a delight. Hensley: But to your question, it is Karisa and Tyler's characters who are on one date, and then Zach and Cait's who are on the other. Then Zach's character, Ben, makes eye contact with Karisa's character, Alex. Clifford: They're able to get away with this eye contact because Cait's character, Callie, is the sort of actress who will allow herself to go on an audition that she hasn't booked yet because she's willing it into the universe for herself via crystals, and Zach's character, Ben, is stuck there thinking, "Why did I swipe right?" Tyler's character is across the room on a date with Karisa, who plays Alex. He's a lawyer who is so engrossed in himself and his job that he's on his phone the whole time, which allows Ben and Alex, through facial expressions and subtitles, to connect with each other, despite their disastrous dates, and they end up bonding. Soap Central: That sounds like a lot of fun, and it seems like everyone worked really well together. Hensley: I can't say enough good things about literally everyone I've worked with on the past two projects. Our DP Jordan McKittrick is fantastic. The fact that he just speaks my language is something that I am so thankful for. In the planning process, I'll send him scenes of other movies and say, "Hey, is there any way we can talk together to create lighting that looks similar to this or a feeling that's similar to this?" He's totally giving and wonderful. Alexandria, our sound person, was amazing. She was so communicative. She got mics on and off people like it was nobody's business. We understand that everybody's artistry is important to them and that everybody should make the thing that they want to make, because you'll find your people. Like our actors from Y&R. When I approached them, I was like, "We're doing this for fun." They were open to coming out, and they loved the script, which is half the battle. They liked what we were doing and were interested. It really takes everybody to make something great. Some of the questions in this interview have been edited for brevity and clarity. Christian LeBlanc has played Michael Baldwin since 1991. Cait Fairbanks joined the cast as Tessa Porter in early 2017; Zach Tinker took on the role of Fenmore Baldwin, Michael's son, last Christmas; and Tyler Johnson brought Theo Vanderway to town this May. Originally published in GLAM Magazine, November 2013
It’s the kind of story that movies are made of, two people from different backgrounds come together and fall in love. In the case of Starnes&Shah, it’s the stuff albums are made of. The New York folk/rock duo, comprised of Dania Abu-Shaheen and Zilpha Starnes, partners both on stage and off, are set to release their fourth full-length album, Shilling for Dreamtown on November 9, 2013. The album, comprised of 12-tracks, including the previously released single “24 Million” and current focus-track "Gatling Girl", explores the themes of loss, new beginnings and the journey of indie musicians. Shilling for Dreamtown features the duo’s signature sound: plucky synth paired with thick guitar and interwoven with poetic lyrics. GLAM recently caught up with Starnes&Shah as they prepare for their upcoming album release. How did you two meet? D: We were introduced a handful of times while we were both students at Sarah Lawrence College, but it wasn’t until the year after I graduated and needed a roommate that a mutual friend put us in touch. Zilpha was starting her senior year, had failed to sign up for campus housing, and, as a result needed a place to live. Z: Even after we were living together, our paths rarely crossed. I was keeping crazy college hours (staying up all night doing papers and art projects and sleeping all day) and Dania was working 9 to 5 and in rehearsals for her band in the evenings. But when we were both home together, we discussed common interests and music was one of them. I invited Dania to see me sing with "Treble in Paradise" the all-girls a capella group at SLC, and Dania shared with me her previous recordings. And what led you to pair up musically? Z: Each of us knew the other could sing, but it wasn’t until I graduated and we moved to Queens that Dania and I begin to work on material together. We were both unemployed and looking for work, and, as a result, home together a lot. Dania, had also recently parted ways with her band and was beginning to work on more singer/songwriter acoustic material. D: One day I was working on a song and had an idea for a harmony. I asked Zilpha to come and sing a few bars so I could hear it. She put her own spin on the harmony, and we clicked right away. Our voices sounded unique, so we started performing in the NYC folk scene. That is how Starnes&Shah began. Do you come from musical families? Z: Yes. I remember going to watch my mother and a group of women from our church perform the music of The Great American Songbook in lipstick, feathers, and the full regalia, complete with choreography and costume changes (all done behind a portable partition that the hauled to every gig). Their venues were Dallas social clubs and nursing homes, but I think her group was definitely my working model for gigging in NYC. And I am sure my mother’s Ziegfeld costume with all its sequins and feathers played a large part in my creation of my own “on stage” look. D: My mother is also a big music lover and she nurtured that in me. She plays piano and sings. One of my earliest memories is riding in the car with her singing at the top of our lungs to Whitney Houston's "My Name is Not Susan." She introduced me to a wide range genres and artists that are still among my favorites like Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor. My four older siblings are also big music lovers but none of them ever learned to play an instrument or sing. My mother tried to get all of us to learn to play the piano, but it never stuck. At age ten, I decided I wanted to play the drums and then moved to bass and then guitar. Zilpha, I grew up in the Dallas area of Texas, as you did, and I found it difficult being accepted there. What was it like for you growing up? Z: For me, being involved with music was key to feeling a sense of belonging. Sure, I may have had different viewpoints from some of my peers, but when it came to singing all of that took a backseat. That's what is so great about music. It brings people together. Dania, you come from Lebanon where being gay is seen as a criminal act. What was it like growing up in that environment? D: I loved growing up in Lebanon. I lived in a small town and had an idyllic childhood in the country. As I grew into my teen years, I knew that I had differing opinions and beliefs from many of the people around me. I knew I was opposed to the traditional ways in which sexuality in general was treated. But, home is where the heart is--even if it has its complications--and you've got to make it work. It was important for me to be surrounded by like-minded people who valued critical and progressive thinking. Luckily, it was pretty easy for me to find those folks because I was involved in music. The people I met through a shared love of playing and listening to music were all about progressive and critical thinking. We loved bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, we played fun rock shows, and we even put on annual music festivals featuring local bands. At the festivals, it was great to see people from all walks of life coming together. Like Zilpha said, music has a wonderful way of bonding people and breaking down boundaries. It was an exciting time because I felt that we were really making a difference and leaving a meaningful imprint on our beloved home. For me, the subculture my friends and I represented gave me hope. Where there's a progressive community - no matter how small - there's hope. Throughout my life, I have been truly fortunate to know people who are allies in free thinking and tolerance. You have to hold on to those people and celebrate them - they are what makes the world go around (and what makes it get better)! Have you been back to your hometowns recently? If so, how was that experience? Z: Dania and I have traveled to Lebanon twice together, and we visit Dallas regularly. The experience is not very different from anyone else's experience of going home. Our memories of being younger make us feel nostalgic, but they also remind us of how much we thought we wanted to get away. You argue with family and friends, and then you have good times with family and friends, and then you leave knowing you'll miss it. Visiting Lebanon with Dania was an amazing experience for me. I had so many fears because it's of its history of instability, but I was amazed to see how people could combat such constant uncertainty with community. The strength of the bonds between family and friends was astounding and inspiring. It was a very warm and welcoming place and you felt safe in your community no matter what was going on politically. D: We both love and value our hometowns, and we're committed to maintaining our connections. If you disappear from a place just because you're different, there will never be any change or diversity. Who are some of your musical influences? D: So many...here are a few: Oasis, Pearl Jam, Bonnie Raitt, The Cars, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, Ani DiFranco, James Taylor Z: Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Martha Wainwright, Neko Case If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? Z: Learn a sport and stick pre-calculus out D: Relax, it gets better, then worse, then better, then worse, then better and so on...just go with it have fun when you can. What is the greatest piece of advice someone has passed on to you? D: My sister once told me that your life is your own and you can't wait for anybody to give you things you want. You have to do the work and hope for the best. That was really great advice. Z: Misting your face with hairspray before a show can keep make-up from running. I sweat like a pig. Can you tell us about your new album? Z: We're very excited about this one. It's our fourth, which is hard to believe! In the past, we've imposed a misguided sense of urgency on the recording process. This time around, we threw out the schedule restrictions and our habit for haste. The resulting freedom allowed us to further refine our arrangements, focus much more on post-production, and just have fun. The way you are feeling while you're in the studio comes across on the recording. We were feeling good--relieved really--to be recording, and that is apparent when you listen to the album. D: The songs on Shilling For Dreamtown are also much more introspective than our past albums. With this album, we share more about ourselves and what life has been like over the past eight years of performing together. The title refers to promoting a way of life that is assumed to be great--on the outside. In NYC, where there is a lot of competition for industry attention, it is easy for music to stop being fun and become more like a rat race. We used to feel a lot of pressure to hold ourselves to some external definition of success. This album was our way of reconciling our frustrations with our initial love of creativity. For us, being able to sing and perform in front of an audience is the dream. You were recently married. How do you feel your relationship influences your music? Z: Being in a relationship has really characterized this project. It's our joint labor of love: love for music, love for performing, and above all love for each other. Sure, we argue and fight - what couple or band doesn't? – but, at the end of the day, each of us knows the joy that music brings the other, so we press on. When you love someone, you want to see them happy and at their best. For us that's when we're making music. On the logistical side, it's great being in a busy band with your partner, because the many hours spent rehearsing and touring are hours spent together. We feel very fortunate for that. Being in a band is time consuming and it can be difficult to keep up with a musical life and a family life. For us, they're one and the same. Anything else you want to share with our readers? D: Thanks for reading! Z: We hope you enjoy “Shilling For Dreamtown.” Starnes&Shah continue to tour in cities around the northeast. Their previous records include an acoustic EP titled Here Again on the Island (2006), as well as full-length albums, Summer in the Woodshed (2007), and Pink White Blue Green (2009), which featured full band arrangements, and Red Brick Tide. |
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