lifeblood: listlogs: 2009v11n055-news

ig-news-digest saturday, july 4 2009 volume 11 : number 055

today's subjects:
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[ig-news] amy interview from the standard-examiner [sherlyn koo <sherlyn@]
[ig-news] amy article from deseret news [sherlyn koo <sherlyn@pixelopolis]

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date: sat, 4 jul 2009 14:33:26 +1000
from: sherlyn koo <sherlyn@pixelopolis.com>
subject: [ig-news] amy interview from the standard-examiner

hey folks,

here's an amy interview from the standard-examiner in ogden, ut.

you can read it online here: http://www.standard.net/live/news/177576

cheers,
sherlyn

- ---begin forwarded article---
friday, july 3, 2009
indigo in demand at red butte garden

linda east brady
standard-examiner staff

it's been two years since the indigo girls played red butte garden, and it was a sold-out show. ticket sales are healthy, as well, for this year's indigo/garden show on tuesday.

"i know we've been there something like five times, maybe more," said amy ray, half of the singing/songwriting duet that also includes emily saliers. "it's almost a tradition to play red butte by this time for us. people come from all walks of life, out to have a good time."

the band is touring on a double-cd set, called "poseidon and the bitter bug," that came out in march. after 10 major-label albums, the duo released its latest as an independent project.

"it depends what kind of music you make, i guess, but if you are doing a songwriter-based thing, building a community around you, it can be death to be signed by major labels.

"even back when we first did it, signing with a major label was the death of certain artists," said ray. "and now everyone agrees that, for certain types of music, the indie route is generally going to be better -- at least until the labels get their act together and remember how to develop artists."

indigo lives

saliers and ray first met when they were about 10 in atlanta. they started singing together in high school chorus. they agreed to form a duo, playing first for friends and in school, and then finally, with parental permission, for local open-mike nights. both left atlanta for college initially, but both returned to the city to finish their education.

"we finished out college together and playing continuously throughout college, too. we played the atlanta bar scene -- there were these punk clubs that kind of changed to left-of-the-dial music."

the group made a self-funded indie album in 1987 and was signed the next year by epic records. a major label opened doors previously closed to the band.

"we saw it as a big opportunity to tap into resources we didn't have to put our records out. back then, you really struggled with distribution, struggling to get it all down -- it was a welcome blessing to sign. things kind of took off for us as a result of that deal."

the album went gold and earned the duo a best-folk-recording grammy.

the double cd

after 10 solid albums with sony/epic, and one with hollywood, the indigo girls found themselves without a contract.

"actually, leaving our label was a blessing, too, because we were pretty unhappy and felt better on our own," said ray.

their friends and contacts helped them achieve their dream of the new album, said ray.

"it gave us a chance to do what we wanted, and cheaper than we might have, because when you are independent, people cut you a deal."

mitchell froom, a producer of note (elvis costello, paul mccartney and los lobos, to name a few), had worked with the indigo girls on their last album, "despite our differences" in 2006.

"this time, he was playing with us as well as producing," said ray.

ray said she and saliers go their separate ways and write material, then get together to arrange the parts and work out harmonies.

"then mitchell joins us for a little while and works with us alone, and then we bring in the bass player (clare kenny), and then we go into the studio and work with the drummer (matt chamberlin)."

the group finished the album in three weeks' studio time -- two versions of 10 songs each, one album of acoustic versions featuring the duo alone, and one with the full band.

said ray: "it was challenging, recording it that fast. but we had done a lot of work upfront, too -- all the time arranging and writing. it forces you to be present in the moment when you record that quickly. and that ... is the biggest challenge for me anyway -- getting things correct but not so correct it ruins the whole show."

preview
who: indigo girls
when: 7 p.m. tuesday
where: red butte garden, 300 wakara way, university of utah, salt lake city
tickets: $42; $37/garden members. www.redbuttegarden.org.

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date: sat, 4 jul 2009 14:35:58 +1000
from: sherlyn koo <sherlyn@pixelopolis.com>
subject: [ig-news] amy article from deseret news

hey folks,

one more amy interview, from the deseret news. you can find it online at
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705314500/indigo-girls-having-fun-while-helping-out-others.html

cheers,
sherlyn

- ---begin forwarded article---
deseret news
indigo girls having fun while helping out others
by scott iwasaki

deseret news
published: thursday, july 2, 2009 6:39 p.m. mdt

amy ray, one-half of the indigo girls, said she and musical partner emily saliers were hoping to be dropped by hollywood records.

"sometimes it takes a lot of time to get out of a major-label contract, but we got the call and it was a relief," said ray during a phone call from her home in atlanta.

the move freed the duo from any obligations and red tape when it came to recording their new album, "poseidon and the bitter bug," which was released on their own label, ig recordings.

"we were able to make it a double album and have one of the discs feature acoustic versions of the other disc," ray said. "and we were able to do the songs the way we wanted and get the album's artwork done without having to pass them off. all those things would have been more difficult to do if we were still on a major label."

still, the freedom added other challenges.

"well, first off, we had to cut our budget," ray said. "we had already asked mitchell froom (who worked with the indigo girls on the 2006 cd 'despite our differences') to produce the new album. and when he heard of the new circumstances, he said he was still on. we adjusted our costs and our studio time.

"emily and i spent most of the time rehearsing and arranging outside the studio. that way when we went into record, we were able to have things pretty much ready. we recorded the basic tracks in four days and did most of the post-production work over the internet. and then went back into the studio for the rest.

"it was all done quite quickly, but there was an excitement about it."

it was froom's idea to record a second disc with the acoustic versions.

"he is a musical genius," said ray. "he came to us one day and said he was reading our message boards. he said, 'your fans don't like me! so i have an idea.' (some fans have criticized froom's layered production.)

"and he said we should make the acoustic disc.

"it worked out well because all the songs sound good acoustically. there are some on our other albums that need the layering. but these songs on 'poseidon and the bitter bug' work both ways."

throughout the indigo girls' career, ray and saliers have always been involved in humanitarian causes. this time around, they are working with a group called rock for a remedy, a nonprofit organization that works with musicians helping local food banks and other local food relief organizations.

"emily and i have a person who helps us find different causes that we can help," ray said. "and she found rock for a remedy. it was different to us because there really is no political aspect to this, other than helping people who need food. with the economy and people losing houses, they still need food. this is also an organization that helps anyone. there is no division. there is only unity."

rock for a remedy will collect food at the red butte garden concert. concertgoers are encouraged to bring four items of nonperishable food, including canned food, to the gate. money will also be accepted.

"it's our way of giving back," said ray. "ever since we started out playing music in atlanta, we have always been involved in benefits. we would get together with other musicians from atlanta and put on benefit shows. we felt it was better to pool our resources and give to a homeless shelter or food bank or aids awareness organization rather than split the money between the bands.

"it was our way of having fun, and helping others."

e-mail: scott@desnews.com

if you go...

what: indigo girls, gregory alan isakov
where: red butte garden amphitheater
when: july 7, 7 p.m.
how much: $37-$42
phone: 801-585-0556
web: www.redbuttegarden.org
(c) 2009 deseret news publishing company

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end of ig-news-digest v11 #55
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