Featured Artist ~ July
2006
 Patti
DeRosa
Bio
Looking for contemporary acoustic folk peppered with rhythm and spice?
Patti DeRosa is a folk alchemist conjuring up an eclectic mix of musical
magic…it’s a soft finger-picking ballad and a jazzy groove,
an island rhythm and an edgy rocker, a political commentary and a humorous
rhyme…You never know what you’re going to get and DeRosa likes
it that way. She revels in diversity, both personally and musically (when
she’s not making music, she’s the President of ChangeWorks
Consulting, which focuses on workplace and community diversity - www.changeworksconsulting.org).
Her music is a treat that is delivered with a stage presence that draws
the audience in and warms the heart.
Her first CD, Paradise, was released in January 2005 and is played on
radio stations across the country. She has opened for artists such as
Vance Gilbert, Pat Humphries & Sandy O, Terence Martin, Lisa Moscatiello,
Kevin So, Livio Guardi & Wilson Montuori, The Four Tops, Chandler
Travis Philharmonic, and New England Weather, and was selected to perform
at the 2006 Folk Alliance Martin Guitar Showcase and at the 2006 South
Florida Folk Festival. She is a performing member of Indiegrrls, Go Girls,
Just Plain Folks, SongsAlive, and the Rhode Island Songwriters Association.
Interview
How old were you when you started writing songs and how many years have
you been writing and performing?
I starting playing guitar at age 13 (and started writing songs then
too). I’m basically self-taught, with definitely lots of help from
my friends, as well as closely observing and listening to folks like James
Taylor and Joni Mitchell. I started performing near the end of high school,
and did so all through college, on Long Island and upstate NY. Then I
took a year off after college, and spent a year gigging in NY. Then it
was off to Boston for grad school. I still performed but as my professional
career took off, I played less and less. I did however play steel drums
with a Caribbean steel drum band for over 5 years. Then I stopped performing
for a very long time. The guitar got put on hold until 2003, when I “woke
up” and knew what I needed to do. I gave myself one year to get
back into shape, and then I started performing. I had been longing to
do it for such a long time....I really feel whole again.
Who were your major influences with your music?
All over the map, or should I say the globe! Early on it was artists
like the Beatles, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Motown, but other influences
include Caribbean, Latin, and African music, jazz, blues, rock, and country.
I like to listen to all sorts of stuff and try to draw on all the variety.
Right now I am listening to artists like Amos Lee, Damien Rice, Ani DiFranco,
Preston Reed, Susan Werner, Patty Griffin, India Arie, Dixie Chicks, Dave
Matthews, among others – especially a lot of local artists, and
of course, other indiegrrls.
How would you describe your music?
Contemporary acoustic folk peppered with rhythm and spice. I take it
as a big compliment when people tell me after a show “Every song
was different!”, as I really strive for musical diversity. I’m
also getting to be known for my stage presence – I like to chat
and play with the audience, and bring them into the party.
What is the best review or statement that someone has written about
you and your music and who said it?
I love the quote nationally known acoustic artist Vance Gilbert gave
me: “A honey-warm voice, clear and adventurous guitar work, and
incisive lyrics are all hallmarks of Patti’s work, and they are
only the tip of her talent iceberg. See this musician soon wherever you
can, and tell a friend. It will be the best ‘I told you so’
you ever told.” Another favorite is: "Patti is a powerful presence,
a great songwriter, and equally fun, funky, and sizzling." from Tara
Greenblatt, who is a singer/songwriter/percussionist and also an Indiegrrl.
How many personal CD projects have you finished and are you working
on or have any future project in the works? Also how involved are you
in the recording process and producing of these projects?
I released my first CD, “Paradise” in January 2005, and
it was really a joyful celebration of my return to music after a very
long hiatus. I was actively involved every step of the way, not in terms
of actual engineering, but in terms of listening to everything...over
and over again! I am working on material now for my next CD project, which
I hope to start recording this summer. “Paradise” was purposely
quite minimal on production, mostly just me and my guitar. It was a first
project and I learned a lot. This next CD will have more instrumentation
and will musically and lyrically go in some different directions. I am
very excited about starting it. I am also on two CD compilations: the
2006 Indie Music For Life and the April 2006 Independent Artist of the
Month. And I released a single of my song “Waiting in New Orleans”
about Hurricane Katrina. All proceeds from that go to the American Red
Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
What special honors or awards have you received over the years in your
music career?
I’ve opened for some great performers this past year, including
Vance Gilbert, Terence Martin, Lisa Moscatiello, Kevin So, and Emma’s
Revolution (Pat Humphries and Sandy O), and I was also on the bill with
Motown greats The Four Tops. I was selected to perform at the 2006 South
Florida Folk Festival (which unfortunately got canceled because of Hurricane
Wilma) and I was part of the Martin Guitar Showcase at the 2006 National
Folk Alliance. I am also excited that I was selected to be interviewed
for a book that is coming out this Fall about the Boston music scene.
What is your favorite venue to perform live and why?
Hard to say – each place has it’s own special flavor. Here
in Massachusetts, I enjoy Java Jo’s in Milton and Jamaica Plain,
The Java Room in Chelmsford, and of course the famous Club Passim in Cambridge.
And Tupelo’s Music Hall in New Hampshire is an awesome room to play.
I also like The Bistro in Hayward, CA and The Cup Coffeehouse in Wantagh,
NY. The recently closed Main Street Café in Homestead, FL was also
a wonderful place!
What music organizations are you affiliated with?
I belong to Indiegrrls, GoGirls, SongsAlive, Just Plain Folks, and the
Rhode Island Songwriters Association. Organizations like these are so
vital to the indie music movement – the collective support, wisdom,
information sharing, and networking are amazing! I cannot say enough positive
things about these organizations. They are an incredible resource. I’ve
also gotten some great performance opportunities through them. And the
best part is that I’ve met so many amazing and talented musicians
and made wonderful new friends.
What is your view of expressing political view points in songs?
Music can be such a powerful vehicle for social change and dissent -
the history of social change movements here at home and abroad have shown
us this. I am disappointed that so many artists these days hold back from
expressing themselves in this way. Thank God for the Dixie Chicks! I think
it is a challenge to write well-crafted political songs that educate as
well as entertain, without getting too preachy, but it needs to be done.
I think that music and art can move people on tough issues in ways that
other mediums can’t.
Do you have any politically themed songs and if so tell us about one
of them?
Yes, I have quite a few and intend to write more. I have been a lifelong
activist, especially on anti-racism/anti-oppression issues, and so that
of course influences my songwriting. “Grease on My Wheels”
tackles “liberal racism” and white privilege. “Beside
the Pretty Church” was written just after same sex marriage was
legalized in Massachusetts, when I drove past a church and saw a very
ugly, homophobic demonstration. “Waiting in New Orleans” is
about not only the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina, but the very
human-made aspects that contributed to that disaster – greed, racism,
and institutional neglect. My newest song, “Be That As It May”,
is about holding onto love and hope despite the current sorry state of
the world. It never fails to get people singing along....I HAD to write
it to feed my own soul....
Do you find as an Indie artist it is easier to express yourself and
view points in music instead of following main stream marketing in songs?
Sure, in the sense that as an indie, I don’t have to answer to
some corporation trying to control what I can say or do. That said, political
music will always attract some audiences to you and obviously will alienate
others. I think the Dixie Chicks are an interesting example of this in
that while they may have lost some of their original fan base, they have
gained so many more new fans who have discovered them because of the controversy,
and love them. They also managed to stay true to what they had to say,
even though they are on a major label.
What does Indie Mean to you?
I am in constant awe of the level of incredible talent that is out there
in the indie music movement below the radar of the commercial music industry
and most of the public. For me, the exciting thing is how the technology
of recording and the internet provides more access and visibility than
ever before for indie artists. That said, commercial music seems to be
reaching ever deeper levels of the lowest common denominator – and
that hurts even those musicians who are part of that scene. I can’t
tell you how many times I have been less than impressed with some “major
artist”, only to catch them on some late night obscure cable show,
playing acoustically, and being blown away. It’s like the industry
swallows up and hides their talent under all the hype. So “indie”
means carving your own path and following your heart. It also means a
lot of hard work!!
If given the opportunity would you sign on with a major record label?
Well, I’d sure as hell consider it! But that’s not really
my goal per se....if and when they come knocking, I’ll figure it
out.
What advice can you give to someone who is just starting to market
themselves in the Indie music market?
Trust your talent, get support, work hard, and work smart. Hard as it
is, remember that you are your own business, so you need to be organized,
focused, and dedicated. Be bold enough to ask for what you want –
whether that is bookings, gigs, openers, publicity. The worst someone
can say is no – and you’d be surprised at how many doors will
open just for asking and being persistent. Above all, be kind, caring,
and supportive of and honest in your dealing with other musicians –
share your knowledge, leads, tips, lessons learned, etc.
Do you have other work besides your music and if so tell us a little
bit about it?
Yes, I have my own consulting company called Change Works Consulting
which specializes in workplace and community diversity, organizational
change, anti-racism, and social justice education. We provide services
to businesses, educational institutions, health care and human service
agencies, and community groups. Our goal is to work to create safe, equitable,
and productive relationships, workplaces, and communities. It is a gift
to be able to put my politics into action as my work. You can learn more
about it at: www.changeworksconsuting.org.
How many instruments do you play and what are they?
Guitar is really my only instrument. I have dabbled with the banjo and
dulcimer, and I used to play the steel drums, but at this point I would
really need to re-learn it almost from scratch. And I’d love to
put in the time to learn to play piano, and maybe some djembe.
What are your main goals for 2006 and in your music career as a whole?
I’d like to find ways to move towards doing music full-time, as
well as integrate it with the social justice work I do. I want to work
hard to improve my craft as much as possible, elevating my songwriting,
voice, guitar, and performance skills. My specific goals for 2006-2007
are to devote more time to practicing and writing, getting the new CD
done, playing more folk festivals and new venues, open for some more national
headliners, and tour beyond New England a bit more. I’d love to
get an agent (anyone interested??). And I just want to keep having fun,
do good in the world, and live life to the fullest!
What does Indiegrrl mean to you?
Strong, committed, talented, supportive sisterhood. Indiegrrls has been
such a gift in my life – the resources, the knowledge, the talent,
the opportunities, and the amazing, wonderful, dynamic women I have met.
I constantly sing the praises of indiegrrls to all who will listen and
I recruit new women to the organization as much as I can. I was lucky
to meet Holly Figueroa last year when I was touring in San Francisco and
she encouraged me to join – that was great advice!
Is there anyone you would like to thank that has helped you along in
your career or in the music industry as a whole?
I am hesitant to start listing folks because there are so many, and
I worry that I will leave someone out! But definitely Holly Figueroa for
starting indiegrrls and to you Vicki, for taking on the challenge with
such vision and vibrancy. And there are many musicians and coffeehouse
hosts, too many to name here, who have supported me, encouraged me, and
welcomed me into the music community with open, loving arms. And speaking
of open, loving arms, there is my husband Arnold, who has been there by
my side through this whole process, which I know has not been easy, as
my return to performing has been a major change in our lives. I feel blessed
to have so much love and support around me from so many.
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