Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard released her 14th album in August, and follows the release of Rookie with a UK trek next month.
The tour calls into The Stables at Wavendon on October 22.
Vonda is perhaps best known for being the former musical director of the smash hit television series Ally McBeal, and for acting and singing in the New York revival of Randy Newman's Faust: The Concert.
“For me, Rookie is a landmark album,” says the multi-Emmy and Grammy winner.
“Suddenly, I'm a highly experienced human who has nothing to lose, so I'm throwing myself out there on this album in a very raw, real and unadorned way,” she admits.
“The album features songs looking back on lost love, fading into the distance, from the perspective of a person who is digging deeper and reconciling these relationships.”
Vonda went On Track with Total MK...
The song that first awakened your musical senses
Hmmm…. I’d have to say Because, by The Beatles. My parents were bohemians, and one day bought a lot of acrylic paint, put on The Beatles and we painted our car in 100 different colors! My sisters and I danced around the living room after.
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
I have to say, if I have the choice, I’ll grab the CD for my car - my car is 14 years old, so still has a CD player! My life is not designed around convenience, in general, whether it comes to cooking a good meal, reading a book or listening to music, however I am also very thrilled to instantly download or stream some song that pops into my brain. But I much prefer the “full bandwidth” version… not the MP3. I notice a big diff.
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me’
I was 14 years old, and had just played my first gig. I was opening for a band called Peace and Friends in L.A., and there were AT LEAST 20 people in the audience… ha! I was an extremely shy person, but when I got on stage, I suddenly felt I had found the place where I could freely sing my songs - let out all of that emotion.
So that was the night - up until then, I was planning on being an astrophysicist. I still love science and space/time continuum conversation.
Your best on stage memory…
There have been many very moving moments on stage for me throughout my long career, but the one night that comes to mind was a show in Paris.
I have been a bit of a Francophile since I was 13 and began studying French.
I spent the summer in Paris with my best friend when I was 16… and here I am, on stage in Paris, with the success of Ally McBeal and many records under my belt.
I remember walking out on stage, and people began applauding for a very long time - after every song, there was such warmth being poured in my direction, I began to cry. I felt a strong connection with the audience through the music.
And the worst gig you've ever done?
Oh, there have been many of those too, unfortunately!
I honestly feel that my worst gigs were when I was much younger.
Perhaps I hadn’t practiced enough for a gig, or didn’t make a good set list. (I still have dreams about this.)
But I learned from my mistakes, for the most part, and am much more organized, therefore avoiding situations that make me feel unprepared, therefore vulnerable.
What made you take up vocals and piano in particular?
All of my sisters and I were given piano lessons from the age of six. (I have three sisters.) This was part of the culture of our family. I resisted it for so long, but thank goodness my parents forced me to practice, which is what I do with my son!
Vocals just came naturally to me. My dad still jokes that when I was three weeks old, I sang in my crib all night and rocked.
In the morning the crib would roll across the floor and they had to nail it down… my dad told my mom “we’ve got a singer!!”
Which one song by another artist do you wish you had written?
Out of the thousands of songs, the one that comes to mind at this moment, in Philadelphia International Airport, waiting for my next flight is: What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong.
So simple, and so poignant and moving.
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance?
The song I wrote that holds a lot of significance is Maryland. This very simple song took me three years to write.
It’s about both giving up and not giving up. Giving up the dream of ever making it, but never giving up on actual music.
Just going home - to play music with my friends - no one can ever take that away from me.
I’m not from Maryland, but my mom always used to say she wanted to live there.
She never did, but I incorporated her dream into my song, which also feels very powerful.
The song is actually very existential. “I been thinking, I’ve been thinking, I’ve been thinking - too much. I just wanna live now for a little while and cast my dreams to the wind”.
I don’t usually quote myself, but I wanted to give an example of what I’m talking about.
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
Billie Holiday - but without the drugs. (But maybe some red wine!) I would just enjoy hearing that voice come out of my body and play a lot of gigs. Or Bono - just for the fun of rocking out in huge arenas where everyone knows every song and is singing along!
How fun would THAT be??
Are there any current musical influences that you might look to?
I’m looking… I’m very open to new music. I’ll let you know when I have an answer to this question.
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
Probably songs with lots of major 7th chords from the 60’s or 70’s. Or certain types of Prog-Rock. But you never know!! It’s funny; major 7th chords have come roaring back into popular music culture, but this time around they don’t strike me as corny.
Just kind of laid back and cool (ish).
Finally, give us the lowdown on the new album, Rookie…
I’ve been saying that this album took five years to write, which has truth in it, in that the first two or three years I didn’t come up with “the goods”.
The material was weak and, in my opinion, nowhere near up to par.
I was trying, but the inspiration and ideas were not flowing at all. Up until two years ago, I was writing into a “boom box” on cassette - haha!
The tool that really made the difference for me is called a Zoom, which is a great, small digital recorder where you can have folders, etc., and jump right to the idea you need to work on. Once I got the Zoom, life changed in the writing dept. (I should endorse them! Or they should endorse me!)
I felt a strong need to bust out on this album - to sing in the richest, deepest way possible, holding back nothing, and I feel that is what we accomplished.
There are many songs with a high octane spirit that really capture the raw energy that was pent up inside of me.
I can hardly express to you how good it felt to let it rip like this on songs like Rookie (about not being a rookie) and Turn It Up.
I had this idea on Turn It Up to go into a trippy section at the end, but wasn’t sure if it would fit - but producer Mitchell Froom heard the two sections and said he thought it would work, and it does.
Suddenly we’re in the 60’s - in the sunshine.
There are also some of my “Vintage Vonda” heart-wrenchers - Long For The Day, Saturday, Train To Inverness.
I will write these songs until I die, apparently! Music is such a catharsis for me, and I come to a point where I feel a need to get these feelings onto paper - into my hands on the piano, pouring through my voice.
I’m a fairly happy person these days, so conjuring up the past takes a lot of effort - going back to unresolved relationships or experiences to continue the writing process. This won’t be my last album… already I have three more songs in the works.
I used my incredible band on this album, so the live shows will feel much like the album… James and Jim will be there with me on tour in October… so lucky!
I sang all of the background vocals on the album - making my voice change character slightly for different types of songs… I love doing this.
And working with Mitchell Froom (Crowded House/Elvis Costello) again was such a gift.
That guy is a bonafide genius, in my opinion.
To book tickets for Vonda's Stables date visit www.stables.org or call 01908 280800
