The Local Sounds

http://www.amberadair.net/
www.myspace.com/amberadairmusic

Introduce yourself to the Louisville Music Community tell us about your roots in music, when and how did you get your start?

I whisper the sounds of sweet nothings. I am honey- sweet. It’s a mystery, not a disguise. It the truth & hushed lies. Charlotte spins my silk, my skin feels of satin. I have that long soft Indian hair that's color is black patin.. I sing of love, I sing of pain, I sing of joy, it's life honey - swim in the rain. I’m off-beat. Capo on the 4th. I don't care. I care too much. & that makes me who I am.

When I was 19 years old my brother had a guitar and he was fiddling around with it. I really wanted to get my hands on it. Just to see if I was capable of playing it. I only knew one chord. The almighty G major. I was friends with several musicians at the time and they had taught me a few little things. I remember when I first strung the chord my friend was so impressed. He said I was a natural. Come to today my guitar still sits around, I have so many other gadgets that I’m not as good at guitar as I once was. Any who, my brother ended up giving me his guitar. So I started taking lessons from Dennis Ledford, "Nervous Melvin & the Mistakes." we had this vibe instantly. We worked together great. When I was trying to get across a point he knew exactly what I was going for & what to teach me.

Tell us about your live performance? What can we expect at one of your performances?

My live performances vary upon venue. If it's a small acoustic environment, then I play more mellow songs. maybe just me & Dennis both playing guitar and switching the songs up to more of an acoustic type version than rather a electro-acoustic song that has a beat track that you can get up and shake what your mamma gave you type thing. If it's more of a dance club version we usually bring in some back up tracks for the beats & what not. Hey, I am a two person band so it's desperate times. People seem to really enjoy it though, especially at FuZion. They used to really get into the dance mode when I played more of my electro-acoustic type songs. However, not all my songs fit that category. One thing for sure you can count on if you catch me out sometime is musicians who are doing something unique & fresh.

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?

I've been told I sound like, "an acoustic euphoria, with shimmy shaking beats." I'll go with that..

Talk about your inspiration for becoming a musician?

I love to write poetry, especially in any type of song formation. Once I started writing I wanted to get things out vocally. I thought acting might be a way of expressing me. Though, I learned I wanted to be me, and portray myself rather than express someone else's feelings or ideas. I am very thankful that my brother gave me that chance to play around with his guitar. It’s refreshing to close the door, & be able to jam freely.

If you could collaborate with any other Louisville artist who would it be and why?

I’ve already worked with some musicians in Louisville. To name a few, Kris King, Isaac Mingo, Don Watson, & Dennis Ledford. Maybe Butch Rice will come around one day and collaborate with me. I tease him about us doing "droplets." It's by Jason Reeves & Colbie Caillat. You know, the Bubbly chick.

What are your musical turn-ons/turn-offs?

Ha ha. That is actually a really good question. I’ve told people I listen to any and every type of music, from Marylin Manson to Pachebel's Canon. I really do. What interests me is new fresh talent. Things that are different. That you don't normally see. I have a great respect for female musicians who play instruments & write their own lyrics. Not that I don't have less compassion for the Britney's out there. I do think Spears has hella marketing talent, & can bump her rump. Lady Ga Ga is somewhat fascinating because she made it on her own, if you watch her AOL session of "Poker Face," you will see the girl has some real talent. She is not just a dancer with backup. My ultimate chica is Tristan Prettyman. She made me want to write. I went to see Nickel Creek & Howie day in concert - she opened for them. I left loving her performance the best. It’s hard to beat nickel creek. You would think from my music that I would be into a lot Madonna, Britney, Rhianna. Actually I am just mostly an acoustic freak. I love Cary Brothers, Jason Mraz, Tristan Prettyman, Frou Frou, Howie Day & Theory of a Deadman to add a little rock.

As far as "turn offs" go I always remember this quote -

It simply means that bands have to reinvent themselves. You have to constantly grow & change. It starts to get old listening to an artist if every album sounds the same. If you have the talent you will go the distance.

Tell us about the meaning of "what I say do."

"What I say do," is my favorite euro song. Dennis Ledford and I sat down together after I had put some beats down with some simple synths together. He had something he had written awhile back with him, & I added to it. The lyrics just came right to us because the music was already there. To me it may mean one thing, and to another they may apply it to their life totally different. That’s what I love about lyrics. You apply it to your life & what you are going through. "He’ll tell you he loves you, make it sound like it’s the truth, he says walk on water - I don’t mind if I do & he thinks I don’t know but I do it too." I remember writing these exact words on paper. What I was thinking at the time was that it's like I felt I was handing out too many favors. I am a giver & surrounded by takers. I’m doing whatever that person tells me to do. The line, "but I do it too," means that I still go out & have my fun as well. That pretty sums up what I was going for.

What's your favorite album by another artist?

Tristan Prettyman's album, "Hello." It's one of those albums I can listen all the way through. It stays in my car CD player for a long time.

What types of charity work have you been involved with and why?

I went to the St. James Art Fair awhile back and they were selling bracelets made out of beads to raise money for Autism. After seeing their stand I went to Dee's craft's to find out the information to get involved. They give you a bag of beads with craft string. You go home & make as many bracelets with the materials as you can, then turn them back in. they sell the bracelets to make money for the new U of L Autism Hospital. After getting involved I learned a lot about beading. I wouldn't say I am a pro. But I have my own booth at different schools, & centers to make money. I got involved with autism because I have worked with children in the past & not being able to fully communicate with them would be hard to deal with. I think children see life differently than adults, & to not be able to share every experience with a child would be painful.

www.beadingtobeatautistm.com

Talk about some of your strategies for promoting your music to someone who is trying to make it out there?

If you want to make it big in the music industry, I would start out with internet promotion. MySpace, Facebook, Reverb Nation, & Music Submit are all great places to make profiles & get you or your band heard. As far as playing gigs I would do that as you please. If you have a great product people will start to notice you. It's like an iPhone - you are selling something. So make what you are selling sound amazing...

What are your goals with your music?

Mostly music right now is a hobby of mine. Yea sure it would be awesome if some record label came by and said, "hey you rock, sign here." I always have a work in progress, & have been exploring new avenues of music. I’m not glued to one genre of music I can tell my voice has developed immensely over the years. I want to become better at everything I do. I will always have a love for music, it's not a goal - it's a passion.

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