Circles: An Interview with Jenny Dalton (part two of two parts)...

We're continuing our interview with singer-songwriter Jenny Dalton...

A number of music's best artists have created their best work after things have gone wrong - or not quite right - in their lives. Is this how you work?

JD: It's not how I'd like to work, but it is true that I go to my keyboard as a refuge. I always have. It's the thing that always makes me feel better. I can write a song about whatever I'm going through, and then the ickiness doesn't follow me around anymore. But, I don't think it's essential to go through rocky times to create good feelings. I do think it's essential to treat creativity as a re-usable resource. You can definitely over-draw from it, so I do things that inspire me to fill up the reserves again.

I recently heard the song Circles and it seems like a different type of song for you, almost country-rock. Is there a story behind this and, if so, could you tell us about it?

JD: That's funny because I think that the genre labels can only start to be put on the songs when I "dress them up" in the recording process. In that song, there is sax, slide guitar, and vintage organ songs that contribute to that feel. I suppose the core of the song's meaning can find its roots in country blues. I wrote it because my boyfriend at that time had just been sent off to war, and I was miserable. Incurably miserable. The only thing I could do was just wallow in it. So that's what the song is about. It's kind of a dusty loner cowgirl kind of song.

If the Jenny of today could talk to the Jenny of 6 to 10 years ago, what would you tell her?

JD: Huh, I think I'd tell her "don't be afraid." I still think I have to tell myself that. Risks are so hard to take, and it seems much, much easier to take the safe and comfortable route. I was so unsure of myself and misled as to what I really wanted out of life. It's a dangerous spot. A person can really get locked into something that isn't right for them, and that almost happened to me. I was so afraid to rip myself away from it though. The right thing is almost never the easier thing.

If the Jenny of 10 to 15 years in the future could talk to you now, what do you think she would say?

JD: I like these questions! I'd ask, "do you have any regrets?" And then I'd probably say "don't be afraid" again. I thought about what would be on my bucket list of things to do before I die... I take it as a good sign that I don't really have anything to put on that list.

Again looking forward... Let's presume that you're being inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Who would - all things being possible - give your induction-introduction speech?

JD: Oooh. All things being possible?? Maybe my cat Midnight who died a few years ago. I'd had her since I was 9 years old. She was my first fan and my only audience member for a long, long time.

Thank you, Jenny. As always, I remain a fan, a supporter and an admirer of your talent.

JD: Thank you! It's quite lovely to have your support.

http://www.jennydalton.com

Circles: Interviewing Jenny Dalton (first of two parts...)

Hello. Today we're interviewing the singer-songwriter-musician-poet Jenny Dalton. I'm going to try not to take up too much of her valuable creative time, which is one reason we're splitting this interview into two parts. I'll be asking Jenny a few brief questions today and tomorrow.

First, I would like to make an observation directly to Jenny. The one thing that bothers me when I read articles about you is that you're generally compared to a small and select group of women musicians. That's fine, but let me make an exception to this...

I like the way you use humor, for example, at the end of the song Snow Mazes of Norway. This reminds me of Paul Simon. And there's something in your storytelling, on a song like Dear Paul, that reminds me of the late Jim Croce. Maybe it's just because of his song These Dreams, or maybe it's something more.

But let's start...

Is it true that you're a self-taught piano player or is this a web-fostered myth?

JD: It's fully true that I am self-taught. I still don't consider myself a real musician because I don't know how to read music or even tell my band what key a song is in. I took a 30-minute piano lesson once when I was in high school and couldn't handle it because, by that time, I was playing classical pieces by ear. I had no patience for Mary had a Little Lamb.

Do you take after anyone in your family in terms of your musical and creative talents and abilities?

JD: Not really. As far as I know, there are no other songwriters in my family. I think I was a genetic fluke! My dad and brother were both drummers, so I think I have a higher appreciation for percussion than most people because of that. Maybe that's also why I love the piano so much: it's both melodic and percussive.

How important is it to you to have your own independent career as opposed to, for example, being a single member of a relatively successful band?

JD: I'm not good at being in other band projects. My brain just won't let me work that way. I can improvise well enough, but I have no memory for what I play or for other people's song structures. It's kind of weird. So I have no choice but to do my own thing. And as far as the industry goes, I also have no choice but to do my own thing. Until the larger record label infrastructures figure out how to successfully deal with the changing landscapes, I think I'm on my own. I kind of like it that way though for now.

The writer John L. Parker, Jr. has indicated that for the true runner, running is as important as life itself. I get the feeling that this is the way you feel about music. Am I correct?

JD: Absolutely. I hate to think of who I'd be without the music. I know that while I was pursuing a more "standard" life track and ignoring the music part of myself, I felt really sick and imbalanced. It's so, so, so important to listen to the gut. If I didn't, I'd probably be a very unhappy, estranged girl by now. Despite the moodiness of my music, I'm actually a happy person.

These are the first four questions we had for Jenny, and we hope we've peaked your interest! We have five additional questions for her tomorrow, including two or three unique - we hope - questions.


http://jennydaltonmusic.blogspot.com

A Preview of Coming Attractions...

If things work out as planned, we'll have a two-part exclusive interview with singer-songwriter Jenny Dalton on this site on Friday, May 8th and Saturday, May 9th. Stay tuned...

Also, the book A Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties by Suze Rotolo - Bob Dylan's first girlfriend - will be released in paperback next week. She was the then 17 year old young woman who, 45 years ago, was pictured with Bob on the cover of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. We plan to post a review as soon as is humanly possible.