Music! — Page 3

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Originally posted by: die-jarjar-die
hahahaha

Franz Ferdinand!!!!

My flatmates cousin is the Drummer!

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July 31, 2004
Interview with Lana Lane
Lana Lane, the voice, the power, the woman. Lana s rich melodic voice combined with the symphonic sound of her music creates an unmistakable harmony that crosses the boundaries of class and genre. For over a decade Lana has been an icon in the world of melodic rock, with her readily identifiable voice. Now with two recent releases: Return to Japan and Storybook: Tales from Europe and Japan, we were able to talk to Lana about these new releases, her music, and the voice that mystifies us all! Be sure to check out the official Lana Lane site www.lanalane.com



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1. First we would like to say thank you from all of your fans for taking the time to do this interview. We would like to start by asking you to tell us a bit about the woman behind the velvet voice.

Wow - what a nice metaphor :-) Well, I come from quite a musical family, so music has been a very important part of my life for pretty much my whole life. My mother and her sister were singers in a vocal group in Europe when they were in their early 20s. They sang with a big jazz
orchestra much like Count Basie and Duke Ellington. My older brother is also a singer and piano player and my cousin, Davy Vain, had quite a popular Glam Rock band in the 90's called "Vain". Growing up I can remember my mom always singing - she still does, actually. So becoming a singer seemed a natural career for me.

2. The music you create and perform is an eclectic mixture of many different genres; do you have a particular favorite style of music you prefer to sing?

I really LOVE two specific types of music: Melodic Hard Rock and Big Band Swing (like Ella, Frank, Tony, etc.). I know that probably sounds kind of geeky - but it's the truth!

3. You have a very powerful, rich voice; with the demands of singing this style of music, how do you keep your vocal chords healthy and strong?

I do vocal exercises on a daily basis when I'm touring, otherwise I do them about once a week. I try to get enough rest and not to party too much. Rest is probably the most important thing for a singer. If you're body is fatigued, it is very difficult to sing well.

4. Your recently released double CD, Return to Japan, is a chronicle of your last four Japanese Tours that includes live music, acoustic performances and full band versions of In the “Court of the Crimson King" and "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll.” Is there a particular part of this project that you enjoyed more than the others?

The cover songs are always a high point for me. I love when we play a popular (or not so popular) cover song live and I look out into the audience and see the faces light up - it's such a rush.

5. Tell us about your "Storybook: Tales from Europe and Japan" what can the fans who haven’t seen it yet expect from this DVD? And for the fans that have seen it, please share the muse that inspired this project.

This DVD will take the viewer on a 6-year road trip :-) Not literally, of course, but they will see footage from various concerts over a 6 year period. I think this is what makes the DVD a bit more interesting than a DVD of just one particular concert. The music and songs that we
chose were ones that we felt were very representative of the space we were in at the time.

6. Each artist has their own unique way of writing a new piece of music, the steps from start to finish vary for each artists and even each song. As a songwriter do you have a method or style with which you develop a new song? Do you start with a melody and develop the lyrics, or start with lyrics and shape the melody around the words?

Usually I start with the melody first, then the lyrics. There have been times when a lyric or sentence will come to me and I will try to write a melody for it, but that's rare.

7. There are many styles of rock music, yours is typically described as Symphonic rock, can you tell us what your interpretation of Symphonic rock is and how it applies to your music.

To me Symphonic Rock is melodic hard rock with an emphasis on arrangement and song structure. All the pieces have to fit without one overpowering the other. All these elements are used in my music.

8. If you were not making music, what would you be doing instead? Was there ever anything else you wanted to do when you “grew up”?

I would love to own a winery and be a Sommelier. I could also see myself being a Veterinarian.

9. With the variety of projects you are working on and your busy tour schedule, what do you do to maintain the high energy that your life demands?

I love to cook, which is a great tension reliever. It is also very creative and keeps the creative musical juices (for lack of a better word) flowing as well. I also try very hard to balance my professional life with my personal/family life. It is very important to me to stay grounded and
focused.

10. It’s nice to see that you have a few shows scheduled here in the U.S. all on the East coast. Do you have any plans for a longer tour in the U.S. in the near future?

We sure hope so! We have actually played a few shows in Los Angeles recently, and we think that the East Coast shows will definitely help with adding longer tours in the future.

11. Your music has taken you across many continents and to many countries and cultures. Is there a special place that you go back to again and again?

Japan is pretty special to me. Probably because the Japanese fans were the first to really get into the music of Lana Lane. They have been very loyal and have afforded me the opportunity to continue doing music for a living. And now Europe and the US are following, which is truly a great feeling.

12. Is there anything that you would particularly like to say to the fans today?

I would like to say a big "thank you" for having an open musical mind and giving my music a fighting chance. Also, thank you Kathy, for taking the time to interview me. Journalists like yourself are key to spreading the word :-)

Posted by Kathy at July 31, 2004 05:44 AM

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