In
Conversation with
Amy
Marie Keller
June
2006
A
little background:
I honestly cannot remember how
I discovered the wistful music of
Linden (which I am sure if near
New York or New Jersey, USA)
‘s Amy Marie Keller.
I know it is through through myspace.com
And through somebody else’s page
Perhaps my friend, Jen Dan who
Runs Stratosphere or maybe long term
Setting Sun favourites Mercurine
But sadly I cannot honestly remember.
Either way, it is immaterial.
As soon as I heard ‘Sub Rosa’ I was
Hooked and it tickles me also that my
71 year old father loved it (and this
is a guy who only listens to traditional
classical music and Scottish bagpipe
music) – Sub Rosa as Amy Marie
herself explains in this interview is
a particularly interesting song but
when I first heard it – the pipes
blew me away honestly almost
completely.
Impressed, I got hold of some
More of her songs which were
Just as beautiful in a Tori Amos
Meets Suzanne Vega sort of way
Certainly, but with a out of worldness
That is possibly Enya (ish) which
Is probably way my father loved it.
Either way, I loved it and contact
Amy Marie and she agreed to the
Interview and the rest is history
As I like to say.
Amy informs she has her own
CD available for purchase and
You can check out some of her mp3’s
On
www.myspace.com/amymariekeller
Thanks again to Amy Marie for the interview
And I am well looking forward to hearing the CD
Cheers
AEN
Setting Sun:
How are things and what's happening at the moment?
Amy Marie:
Things are caffeinated. They need to be around here...
I have six rescue kitties and I'm finishing my PhD
Dissertation in Human-Machine interaction plus
Finishing the CD.
Setting Sun:
Can you next tell us a little bit about what got you
Started in music, who fired the starting pistol be it for
A better word?
Amy Marie:
I grew up being babysat next to keyboards. My
Grandma had a big old Hammond and my great
Grandmother had an old upright piano.
I'd amuse myself from about age 2 on up copying
Things I heard, and then writing my own stuff as
Well. My relatives would come along and give
Me little hints but I've never had any formal piano
Training.
Setting Sun:
What are your influences and what have you been
Listening to recently?
Amy Marie:
My Dad brought me up listening to Joan Baez,
Buffy Saint Marie, Peter, Paul, and Mary,
And John Lennon.
He's part Native American so I was also brought to
A bunch of Native events while growing up, so
I always have a bit of a drum backbeat in my head.
Recently, I've been listening to some stuff my friends
Have recorded. I listen to Suzanne Vega and
Tori Amos the most.
Setting Sun:
Probably my favourite song from yours is
'.Sub Rosa' partly because of the pipes (?) you
Can hear fade in the track almost from the beginning
Which give the track a almost wistful feel - Can you
Tell us a little bit more about this song and
Where the inspiration from that
Came from?
Amy Marie:
Well, this is a song about the mystery at Rennes le
Chateaux in South of France. It's a story that
Has finally hit the mass market with the Da Vinci
Code, But I wrote this song in 2002.
I wrote it because I happen to be tied, on both sides
Of my family, to the old families in question.
A funny tidbit about me- I actually have a title,
"Lady," which I think is hysterical.
The orchestrated version of the song was actually
Recorded for the Da Vinci Code movie and
Then never used because my agent decided to
Screw me over.
I fired him and then he actually had the balls
To send me a myspace request!
I denied it of course.
Setting Sun:
Seem to recall from looking at your site that you
Do play gigs, how do these compare to your
Recordings etc? Is their one you prefer over the other?
Amy Marie:
They're both fun for different reasons. Studio time is
Trippy and creative, but live, you're tapping the
Source and the rush is like nothing else.
Setting Sun:
Anyway, a few lighter questions for you to finish off
With, what plans (music wise) do you have next?
Do you have any more recordings planned / gigs etc?
Amy Marie:
I'm putting the finishing touches on my CD and
Taking preorders.
Anyone interested should contact me via
Myspace.com for details.
I'm trying to play out a lot now. I want to
Play out more than I am, so anyone who wants
To book me, just contact me and I'd be glad to
Play.
Setting Sun:
Where are you from? What is the music scene like
Where you live? Have you seen any good gigs recently?
Amy Marie:
I live in Linden, a refinery town. There is no
Music scene here. So I hike on over to
Jack Hardy's place in the Village.
Suzanne Vega introduced me to Jack.
He's an amazing artist who I'd recommend
Checking out.
Setting Sun:
What would you like to be doing when you are 60?
Amy Marie:
Singing, of course!
Setting Sun:
What will you be doing when you are 60?
Amy Marie:
Singing, I hope! :)
Setting Sun:
Lastly, something light to finish off
(Borrowed from a pal's zine almost) Imagine you
Were ship wrecked on a desert Island and could have
(Clearly have second sight here lol) the choice of having
5 records or Cd's with you with a stereo of course- what
Would be your desert Island discs?
Amy Marie:
Suzanne Vega's first album
The Beekeeper by Tori Amos
Tori Amos's Boston Bootleg CD
Something with the Pachoelbel Kanon on it
Loreena McKennitt's "The Mask and the Mirror"
