Chelsea Berry Submitted photograph
Why do I write about an artist? Most likely a query a few of you could be pondering. Nicely, within the case of immediately’s topic, Chelsea Berry, it was so simple as listening to her voice. Having been doing this since 1969, the energy of a vocal efficiency is what clinches the deal for me, and after watching the movies on her web site the place her energy, ardour and persona command respect and attentiveness from her viewers, I needed to discover out extra about this singer-songwriter and one of the best ways to do this is to go on to the supply. I noticed that she can be opening for Livingston Taylor at One Longfellow Sq. on the 4th of this month down in Portland, in order that appeared like nearly as good a time as any to do it. So I organized to do a cellphone name with Berry and found that she and her fiancée had been pulled over of their truck so she and I may chat simpler.
Q: Not that way back, I interview Mr. Taylor for a present he was doing at Johnson Corridor — had been you his opening act at that venue?
Berry: I believe the final present I did with Liv was in Gardiner, I imagine.
Q: Yup, that was the gig I used to be referring to and let’s face it, you couldn’t ask to open for a extra certified individual so far as performing goes.
Berry: Yeah, he’s the consummate trainer. He units an unbelievable instance and its fairly nice being with him for numerous causes. He and I at all times joke that I’m sort of like the child he by no means had and so now we have a whole lot of frequent pursuits past music, as effectively; so we get pleasure from one another’s firm on the street and there are at all times issues to be taught. He’s good about reminding me once I want a bit nudge right here or there — he’s an exquisite trainer.
Q: Seeing you’re a new artist to me I’ve acquired to ask, how lengthy have you ever been doing all your musical profession?
Berry: I began enjoying guitar once I was 15, my dad taught me the right way to play guitar, and inside every week it was Father’s Day so I took the three chords he taught me and wrote a tune for him for Father’s Day and that was sort of the start of the top of the songwriting a part of it (chuckle). I began attending some songwriting workshops and issues like that, I had a babysitter who was a folks singer-songwriter in Alaska the place I grew up and I adopted her rather a lot once I was in highschool.
Q: So far as singer-songwriters go, I need to provide you with a heads-up about Connor Garvey who I interviewed simply yesterday, his new album is killer.
Berry: Oh, I do know Connor, not personally however I do know his music and of him.
Q: Nicely, I discover the musical panorama of Maine is well-tapped, some distinctive individuals in music both come from right here or get drawn to right here, it’s sort of neat.
Berry: Nicely, for me, and I’ve lived each in New York and Chicago for some time, finally I discover my peace in my songwriting comes out of being within the woods, being on the ocean, and being within the mountains. So I believe you’re proper that persons are born in it or search it out. It’s much more enjoyable to hang around on the mountains and within the timber for me than attempting to scrape by my subsequent hire verify for my condo.
Q: Nicely, for the oldsters who, like me, usually are not aware of your music, what can they count on from this One Longfellow present?
Berry: “What can they count on?” Oh, man, I virtually got here up with one thing actually sassy to say, however, (laughter)!
Q: Oh, please — don’t hesitate.
Berry: (Laughter) Livingston and I’ve a extremely enjoyable rapport. Plenty of instances whenever you see an opener it’s a separate factor: you see the opener, there’s a set break, and so they you see the headliner. Whether or not or not the music is comparable, it’s two very various things. When Liv and I began years in the past it was like that however the extra time we spent collectively the extra collaboration we began doing. So the way in which that we do it’s he comes out and introduces me and I sing my set, then I carry him again out and we do duets collectively. After which once more after his set, on the finish of the evening, he brings me again out and we sing collectively some extra. So there’s a whole lot of amusing stage banter that goes on and a whole lot of power, I imply, anybody who has seen Livingston carry out is aware of he’s an entertainer, so it’s very dynamic, we’re each dynamic performers and have a whole lot of enjoyable collectively, and I believe that individuals can actually see that and so they get pleasure from watching us get pleasure from one another’s firm on stage.
Q: I want to remark not solely in your vocal qualities but in addition your capacity to carry out another person’s tune and make it your individual, that’s not a straightforward factor to do.
Berry: Nicely, the way in which that the majority of us write music is as a result of we grew up listening to music, and there are issues that transfer us and encourage us, and we aspire to be higher writers so we do the most effective we are able to overlaying different individuals’s songs to be able to learn to be higher writers.
Q: Talking of songwriting, do you will have a brand new undertaking that you simply’re engaged on for the time being?
Berry: I do, truly, and I haven’t talked about it with anybody but, so right here you go.
Q: Alright, that sounds good … let’s hear it!
Berry: I used to be doing a present with Livingston and staying at a bed-and-breakfast that evening. The subsequent morning I apologized to the proprietor for coming in late and defined that I had completed a present that earlier night. She acquired excited and requested if I’d write her a tune for her son who had died from a Fentanyl overdose the yr earlier than. I did and despatched it to her, she preferred it and stated that she wished to do a complete file. So I’m penning this album for her and it’s extra for the people who find themselves left behind possibly, however she’s sending me into the studio — I’m doing the entire writing, it’s all authentic stuff — and as soon as the album is completed the proceeds of gross sales will go in direction of rehabilitation and consciousness. We’re doing a launch present in Alton, New Hampshire in August.
Q: Is there something, Chelsea, that you simply’d like me to cross on to the readers of this text?
Berry: Oh, man! Nicely, there are a thousand issues I’d such as you to cross on however we don’t have time (laughter) …
Q: Nicely, in the event you needed to choose one, what would it not be?
Berry: If I needed to choose one (pause) effectively, these are Maine-based papers so I’d direct it to Maine-based people: It’s been actually magical to relocate right here — do you know that? I stay up right here now.
Q: Say what?!
Berry: Yeah, my fiancée and I moved to Gouldsboro, which is simply north of Acadia Nationwide Park. I’m truly wanting on the mountains as I’m speaking with you proper now. He constructed a cabin up right here years in the past and we moved up right here full-time through the pandemic. I’ve lived in so many alternative locations all around the United States — we journey rather a lot and Maine is such an superior place to come back dwelling to. In order that’s what I might need individuals to know: how grateful I’m that I’ve landed right here!
Q: Is there something we haven’t mentioned that you simply assume we must always?
Berry: Nicely, probably not. I’m excited to be coming again to One Longfellow. I’ve performed there numerous instances and it’s considered one of my favourite venues to play, truly, of all of the venues I’ve performed simply due to the way in which it’s arrange: it feels very intimate, it’s a enjoyable little house, so I’m wanting ahead to that.
Fortunate Clark, a 2018 “Conserving the Blues Alive” Award winner, has spent greater than 50 years writing about good music and the individuals who make it. He may be reached at [email protected] when you have any questions, feedback or ideas.
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