lifeblood: listlogs: 2008-008a

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date: sat, 26 jan 2008 20:20:22 +1100
from: sherlyn koo <sherlyn@pixelopolis.com>
subject: emily interview from tallahassee democrat

hi folks,

here's an article & emily interview from the tallahassee democrat. you can=
read
it online at
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=3d/20080125/ent/801250316=

cheers,
sherlyn

---begin forwarded article---
back article published jan 25, 2008
limelight
'differences' bring indigo girls together
by kati schardl
democrat staff Writer

if you want to taste the best fried chicken in atlanta, you drive to decatur=
and
grab a table at Watershed, a former automotive repair shop converted into a=

spare, elegant restaurant specializing in nouvelle southern cuisine.

if you want to savor music that has the same satisfying blend of crunch and=

tenderness as the chicken, listen to the song that gave the bistro its name.=

it's from the 2000 cd "retrospective" by the indigo girls. emily saliers,=
one
half of the iconic singer-songwriter duo, is a co-owner of the restaurant=
and
author of the song.

local fans hungry for a feast of indigo girls hits are hoping "Watershed" is=
on
the menu at tonight's concert at the moon. the pair visits tallahassee as=
part
of its tour to promote its hollywood records debut "despite our=
differences,"
which marked a new way of working for saliers and amy ray.

"We signed the new record deal and worked with (producer) mitchell froom for=
the
first time," saliers said in a phone interview. "the recording space was
intimidating at first. i mean, this was done in his home studio. i had to=
sing
my vocals right next to the mixing board. everybody was just set up in their=

little area, and a lot of energy was flowing (in close quarters).

"but it was the perfect thing. mitchell is a genius producer. We'll=
definitely
work with him again."

saliers said she and ray are particularly attached to the tunes =97 a tidy=
baker's
dozen of them =97 on "despite our differences."

"We're very close to this batch of songs," she said. "sometimes, you get in=
a
writing period where everything clicks. these songs are like our babies and=
we
love them."

the longtime friends, who have been making music together since their
high-school days in an atlanta suburb, followed the same song-writing=
process
that's served them so well since their debut release (1987's "strange=
fire").
the two write separately, then collaborate on arrangements for their=
individual
compositions.

"i'm more pop and groove," said saliers. "amy's more rock =97 the energy=
that's in
her personality comes out as a rock sound in her songs.

"amy lives out in the country now, out in the woods, so her (new) songs deal=

with rural issues. i'm more of a city girl. i'm always writing about
inter-personal relationships. i get to live a whole other musical life=
through
amy.

"for whatever reason, we really have a keen knack for arranging songs=
together.
We get together and toss ideas around, and we always know when it's going to=

work."

after 20-plus years of musical friendship, what keeps the experience fresh=
for
saliers?

"We've always just taken it one day at a time," she said. "We have a great=
fan
base, and we still enjoy every show and every town. We try to make new=
records
on a regular basis, and we make up a new set list for every show. We take
requests, and people like (opening act) brandi (carlile) bring in fresh=
energy."

it also helps that saliers and ray lead full, separate lives connected by=
music
and friendship. ray is the founder of daemon records and has released three=
solo
albums.

saliers is one of the owners of the aforementioned Watershed, and she's just=
as
proud of the restaurant as she is of the rich body of work she and ray have=

amassed.

"i'm a big foodie," she admitted. "our chef (scott peacock) just won the=
james
beard award for best chef in the southeast. his fried chicken was named the=
best
in atlanta.

"much of the produce we use is organic and we serve humanely raised meats=
and
locally produced food."

in her off-indigo time, saliers has started performing with her father don
saliers, a united methodist minister and retired professor of theology and
worship who taught at emory and yale. the father-daughter duo co-wrote the=
2005
book "a song to sing, a life to live: reflections on music as spiritual
practice."

"i think all music is sacred, but we talk in the book about how secular and=

sacred music cross over," saliers said. "now we do programs where dad writes=

church music and i sing it, and then he becomes an indigo boy and sing amy's=

parts (on indigo girls songs)."

saliers keeps her ears tuned for fresh voices, which is how she heard about=

carlile.

"a friend sent me a song of hers, and i really liked it," she said of the
seattle singer-songwriter. "then (carlile) played a show here in atlanta,=
and it
turned out that she was a really big fan of our music when she was growing=
up.
We asked her to tour with us and became really good friends."

carlile blends her voice with saliers' on the new cd's final song, "last=
tears,"
and lends her band to the duo during their set.

"amy and i are more portable as a duo," saliers said. "but it's fun to rock=
out
(with carlile's band)."

--
do not quote other peoples' entire messages when replying to the list.
indigo girls faq and indigo girls mailing list faq:
http://www.pixelopolis.com/ig

------------------------------

date: sat, 26 jan 2008 20:26:12 +1100
from: sherlyn koo <sherlyn@pixelopolis.com>
subject: another emily interview, from the birmingham Weekly

hi folks,

here's a nice interview from the birmingham Weekly. online at
http://www.bhamweekly.com/article.php?article_id=3d00626...

cheers,
sherlyn

---begin forwarded article---
music
blue harmony
emily saliers reflects on 20 years of the indigo girls

by: brent thompson
When high school friends amy ray and emily saliers parted ways to attend
vanderbilt university and tulane university, respectively, the two=
eventually
found themselves back home in georgia attending emory university. performing=

together under the name indigo girls, ray and saliers honed their skills in=
the
same college music scene that propelled r.e.m., the b-52=92s and the georgia
satellites to commercial success. twenty years later, saliers reflects on a=

career that has seen the duo sell more than 12 million records and garner=
seven
grammy nominations.

=93We just keep going,=94 saliers says, speaking by phone. =93We=92ve been=
doing it
for so long that we just think about what=92s coming next. if i do stop to=
think
about it, i feel really grateful for it. in this business =96 where it=92s hard=
to
stay alive musically =96 we=92ve had such a long friendship and partnership=
that=92s
it pretty awesome. We=92re really thankful for it. We just do what we do and,=

fortunately, we have a very loyal fan base that=92s stuck with us all these
years.=94

on sunday, jan. 27, the indigo girls will perform in the jemison=
concert
hall of the alys stephens center. singer/songwriter brandi carlile will open=
the
7 p.m. show. currently, the indigo girls are touring in support of despite=
our
differences, the duo=92s latest release on hollywood records.

in addition to enlisting carlile=92s talents on the new album, ray and saliers=

also collaborated with pink, best known for the hit single =93get the party
started.=94 saliers discusses the origins of the two collaborations.

=93you could write a song and right away think that it needs another voice.=
other
times, we have a whole group of songs and we know that we want a certain=
artist
to be on the record, so we=92ll find one. it was like that with pink. We said,=

=91pink would be great on this song =96 let=92s ask her.=92 We had sung on her=
record so
we asked her to sing on ours. We knew brandi would be great in a third-part=

harmony on =91last tears=92 - we knew brandi would kill that part. more often=
than
not, it works like that =96 you write a song and you think so-and-so would be=

great on that song.=94

While the collaboration with singer/songwriter carlile seems a natural fit,=
some
might be wary of coupling the indigo girls with popster pink. but recent
projects that have paired elvis costello with burt bacharach and robert=
plant
with alison krauss are reminders that genre lines continue to blur.

=93people are just open to that hybrid experience =96 we=92ve always been=
like
that. it=92s just more exciting to pull someone from a whole different walk of=

life into your music to see what happens. more often than not, there=92s a
chemistry there that you couldn=92t have anticipated. i think a lot of people=

think of pink as a pop star, but she has such a range. she can do anything =96=

blues, acoustic music, rock, hip-hop or whatever she wanted. i think when=
you
bring creative people together, it doesn=92t matter what their genre is, it=
works.
things can come together that can really blow your mind,=94 saliers says.

While ray and saliers have a fiercely loyal fan base, saliers admits=
that
the music industry climate is more challenging than ever. she sees an equal=

give-and-take as technology=92s role increases in the music business.

=93it depends on who you ask. for us, we=92ve always believed in sharing=
and we
feel like all these outlets are a great way to discover new music. but it=92s=
so
much harder to sell records now. there=92s so much out there and people have
opportunities to buy video games and other forms of entertainment - the=
market
is flooded. We=92re in the spirit of sharing and having it out there, but it=
is
more difficult to get your records sold and record chains are doing so=
poorly
and the internet sales aren=92t what the record industry thought they were=
going
to be. it=92s very challenging but very exciting at the same time that you can=

discover things you may not have otherwise. We=92ve never had to stand on=
radio,
but selling records is really important,=94 she says.

but while the music business is continually evolving, ray and saliers=
must
keep songs fresh that have been performed literally thousands of times. for=

songs that are destined to fall into the set list each night, the two have=
found
ways to rejuvenate their material.

=93We do get tired of some of the material, but it seems to just be a
temporary thing. We=92re always bringing back old songs from time to time. for=

songs like =91closer to fine=92 or =91galileo,=92 those are really big sing-along=
songs.
hopefully, the audience isn=92t tired of them. for =91closer to fine,=92 we=
usually
have the opening act or audience sing the third verse. so there=92s a lot of
participation that keeps the song fresh.=94

in closing the interview, saliers sums up the twosome=92s 20-year career=
in
succinct fashion.

=93in every way you look at our career, we=92ve been fortunate at every=
turn. i
don=92t know why that is =96 we=92re just trying to respect it.=94

on sunday, jan. 27, the indigo girls will perform in the jemison concert=
hall of
the alys stephens center. singer/songwriter brandi carlile will open the 7=
p.m.
show. get tickets by calling 975-2787 or go to www.alysstephens.org

--
do not quote other peoples' entire messages when replying to the list.
indigo girls faq and indigo girls mailing list faq:
http://www.pixelopolis.com/ig

------------------------------

date: sat, 26 jan 2008 20:28:18 +1100
from: sherlyn koo <sherlyn@pixelopolis.com>
subject: emily interview from red & black

hey folks,

here's yet another emily interview, from the red & black - uga's student
newspaper. it's online at:
http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2008/01/24/outa=
bout
/indigo.girls.kick.off.tour.in.classic.city-3164640-page2.shtml

cheers,
sherlyn

---begin forwarded article---
after more than a decade without playing in athens, the indigo girls play=
the
classic center tonight.
indigo girls kick off tour in classic city
by: sami promisloff
posted: 1/24/08
What is the element that validates your everyday bar band? is it surviving a=

night without getting beer all over your shoes? perhaps the assurance that=
your
equipment isn't damaged or stolen?

maybe it's hoping someone will sing along to one of your songs that night.

in the instance of the indigo girls, it'd probably have to be its grammy=
awards,
ever-growing catalog and signature brand of earth-toned girl power that's=
been
sweeping the nation over generations of listeners since its start in the mid=

'80s.

"but really," emily saliers insisted, "we're just a bar band. at the root of=
it
all, we want people to have a good time at the show."

and a good time athenians will have, as saliers and songwriting partner amy=
ray
take the stage tonight at the classic center. the show, supported by brandi=

carlile, marks the group's first performance in the area in almost a decade=
- a
rarity considering its early and exceedingly strong ties to the classic=
city.

"We are totally excited to be back in athens," saliers said.

With respect to her band's blossoming start in decatur, she feels as if=
athens
is a sister city.

indigo girls
When: 8 tonight
Where: classic center
more information:
www.classiccenterathens.com or www.indigogirls.com
price: $25
"We recorded our first independent album there and then eventually 'strange=

fire' at [local producer] john keane's studio," she said.

"We had lots of support from michael stipe and r.e.m. and have very fond
memories of love tractor, the b-52's and old establishments like the uptown=

lounge. it was such a creative and supportive time and community."

the show tonight kicks off indigo girls' final tour behind 2006's "despite=
our
differences."

"this is a great time of the year and we're ready for a new record," saliers=

said.

"it feels refreshing to tie up the season and start a new chapter."

much like the rest of their comforting catalog, "despite our differences" is=
an
album that continues to showcase signature harmonies, soulful songwriting
scripture and the classically folk rock political statement or two, such as=
on
the album's opener "pendulum swinger."

in the wake of potential change this year, saliers is enthusiastic about
promoting subtle politico throughout the band's performances.

"When you think about it, it's just so exciting," she said. "We'll be on the=

road voting absentee, visiting different parts of the country. right now=
there
is a distinct vibe politically and it will definitely be more of a 'hey,=
what's
up' kind of approach, nothing massive."

outside of the country's political climate, saliers also recognizes a great=

change in the significance of good-hearted girl power throughout her 20-plus=

years in the band.

"girls haven't had many role models in rock music. there's almost been kind=
of a
resistance towards it," she said. "i think that now there's a bigger=
landscape
and changing opportunities for girls to find their own voice, be authentic,=
and
really catch the world if they want to."

timeliness aside, the duo's most die-hard fans can rely on ray and saliers=
to
play their biggest hits proudly.

"i still enjoy playing 'closer to fine.' in fact, we always hand the last=
verse
to the audience to sing themselves," she said."When it comes to putting our=
sets
together, we always find balance between tempo, dynamics, crescendo and
release."

like any great bar band, saliers is sure to always keep one crucial=
performance
element in tact.

--
do not quote other peoples' entire messages when replying to the list.
indigo girls faq and indigo girls mailing list faq:
http://www.pixelopolis.com/ig

------------------------------

date: tue, 29 jan 2008 10:55:43 +1100
from: sherlyn koo <sherlyn@pixelopolis.com>
subject: anderson independent-mail article

hi folks,

here's an article with both girls from the anderson independent-mail in=
anderson
sc. it's online at:
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2008/jan/23/indigo-girls-still-going-str=
ong-
after-20-years/

cheers,
sherlyn

---begin forwarded article---
indigo girls still going strong after 20 years
by russell hall
Wednesday, january 23, 2008

it=92s been more than two decades since amy ray and emily saliers teamed up to=

form the indigo girls. fifteen albums later, the duo is still going strong.=

their most recent release, =93despite our differences,=94 finds the atlanta=
natives
brandishing the sort of punk-inspired rockers and folk-pop ballads that have=

marked their career from the start. the re-enervated duo =97 who recently=
signed a
five-album deal hollywood records =97 will perform at the classic center in
athens, ga. on thursday night and at asheville=92s thomas Wolfe auditorium on=

february 8. in separate phone interviews, ms. ray and ms. saliers talked=
about
the secrets behind in indigo girls=92 longevity.

russell hall: the two of you began playing music together at a very young=
age.
at what point did you realize you had a special chemistry?

emily saliers: that was a gradual thing. musically, we are very different.=
our
influences aren=92t the same. amy has more of a post-punk influence, and=
therefore
her music tends to be rawer and more edgy. my music, the other hand, tends=
to be
more in the singer-songwriter vein. We also like to do different things with=
our
time. fortunately, the ways we are different have complemented each other=
and
worked to our advantage.

rh: Who are some artists who have influenced you?

es: my parents had albums by people like the kingston trio, and peter, paul=
and
mary. i was particularly drawn to that. and they were also really into jazz=
and
classical music, which i listened to as well. but the first album i ever=
bought
was an album by the jackson five. i=92ve always liked soul music and rhythm=
=91n=92
blues. and then, as i became a more serious songwriter =97 when i was 18 or 19=
=97 i
discovered joni mitchell.

amy ray: mostly i listened to albums my sister had =97 things like the=
jefferson
airplane, strawberry alarm clock, and lots of =9160s and early =9170s=
psychedelic
music. i also liked neil young, james taylor and crosby, stills, nash &=
young.
but then at a certain point i heard patti smith, the replacements, the=
clash,
and the sex pistols. at that point my feeling was, =93oh, this is what i=92ve=
been
waiting for.=94 the post-punk bands really liberated me, in a sense.

rh: do the two of you always write separately?

ar: pretty much. every now and then one of us will ask for help with a line.=

emily might say something like, =93i have this extra section, and i don=92t know=

whether to make it a bridge, or an introduction, or an ending.=94 and i=92ll=
give an
opinion. but that=92s rare. songwriting is pretty much a lone process for each=
of
us.

rh: the indigo girls=92 sound has tended to become more expansive with each=
album.
how much of that has to do with your travels, or with the associations=
you=92ve
had with various cultures?

es: it all has to do with our travels. our songs have lots of references to=

traveling and to places we=92ve been to and to things associated with being=
away
from home. they have to do with the people we=92ve come across =97 native=
american
activists and others who=92ve educated us. We met these people because we were=
on
the road, and we write about things we think about or experience.

ar: seeing various cultures has certainly put us in touch with different=
types
of music. but more than that, it=92s given us a sense of freedom. We=92ve seen=
lots
of people who=92ve taken enormous risks for what they believe in, and who have=

much less, materially speaking, than we do. that triumph of the spirit makes=
you
look at your music kind of differently. you start taking more risks with the=

music, and stop being so precious.

rh: the indigo girls have always had an exceptionally strong core following.=
as
the two of you became more and more successful, did your diehard fans start=
to
feel they were losing their =93pocket=94 band?

ar: our fans aren=92t like that. i think that=92s because we=92ve always been very=

obvious about not changing. We stayed in atlanta, we toured in a van for the=

first year, and we played and recorded songs they were familiar with. and we=

didn=92t change our sound drastically. i think our audience, in general, has=
been
very supportive of what we do. We=92re lucky for that.

e.W. scripps co.
=a9 2006 the anderson independent mail

--
do not quote other peoples' entire messages when replying to the list.
indigo girls faq and indigo girls mailing list faq:
http://www.pixelopolis.com/ig

------------------------------