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08.01.03
Cara Aley is back from her collegiate residence
in San Francisco to her homelands of New England. She's
got a new album, some new tunes in her disc changer,
and...a nose ring! We had a chance to talk to her a
bit about her latest musical masterpiece, corporate
America, and "going the whole MTV route".
I adore the new album – let's
give our readers a written preview! How would you classify
it? How is it  different
from Any Other Sunday?
Thanks, Kristen, that means a lot cuz so much has gone
into this album. That first album's primarily acoustic
and was a good EP but this one just feels like ma'baby!
I guess if I had to classify my music, I'd say
it's Pop/Rock but that's so tough. I get
the Tracy Chapman thing a lot — you know, girl with
the guitar.
Did you experiment with any new sounds
in the recording process?
New sounds on this album for sure. My producer on
'Bend' and I just have such similar vision that it was
like working with a sibling or someone who can speak
your soul's language. Sounds cheesy, but I'm serious
— having the right producer makes all the difference,
and mine knows his stuff. His work reminds me of John
Alagia (the guy who produced John Mayer) so when he
talked to me about working with him I didn't waste a
minute. I hardly knew him when we got started so I lucked
out that he just 'got' me and how I wanted my songs
to be presented.
What are some of the recurrent themes
(on "Bend")?
 Recurrent
themes- love, baby. It's all about the love and appreciating
life and all of its complexity. One thing I do look
forward to in my life is meeting my 'one' and there's
definitely nothing like a little heartbreak or excitement
over someone to help ya lose the writer's block.
But I also get really inspired by people who are out
there making the most of life and following their passions,
being positive influences for other people.
There's this quote that I really dig and it's actually
one of Shakespeare's — "nothing is either
good or bad, but thinking makes it so." —
that actually inspired the song 'Figure It Out'.
I try to live life positively. I also recognize it
can be tough sometimes, but most importantly, it's all
about your approach, and what you do with what you're
given.
Tell us a little about this song,
"Luke." It's a favorite of mine and I want the background!
Funny, Luke was actually an experiment, and it turned
out to be one of the better songs on the album (hence
it's #1 spot in the lineup!)
I've always been a huge fan of bands like Linkin Park
and Evanescence, with that harder, driving sound, and
I needed one more song to complete the album so we thought
hey why not go a little edgy on it (I had just bought
the Evanescence CD and was lovin it). So this was the
last song we recorded before I left San Francisco for
Boston. The lyrics are based to some extent on a brief
relationship in which I felt slightly underestimated
and under appreciated, and it's just kinda saying "Hey
ya don't know what yer missin, pal!"
There is no actual Luke — that would just be mean.
You know where Chris Farley is imitating Darth Vader
in the movie Tommy Boy: 'la-la-la-Luuke'?
Yeh, that's the inspiration behind this one. Hehe.
Your album-titled song, "Bend," why
did you choose that as the album title? Is that more
of a personal song since you seem to relay some of your
feelings in first person?
Absolutely. The song reflects how I feel about life,
and more specifically, about music. Life is so much
about give and take and it's not always easy. So many
awesome things come out of bending and giving of yourself,
and of going the extra mile.
 The
song is actually about bending/compromising in life
for things/people that mean a lot to you, in this case
music. Since I am also pursuing business until I really
feel like my music can be a full-time gig, music has
to some extent been like having a 2nd job (that I am
in love with). I've made some big sacrifices to do what
I love (time, energy, cashola), but it's all worth it.
The album cover is a photo of a sign that tells you
how to get your towed car back: 'To Locate Car,
Call 553-1235' it's just so relevant. Great
things and crappy things alike can happen in life (ie.
car getting towed), but it's all in how you look
at life, and I guess I just figure if I can't
laugh at myself/bend a bit then I'm taking stuff
a little too seriously.
So I have definitely had to 'bend' a bit
in order to accomplish what I have so far in music,
but it has been worth every second and I hope to have
many more worthwhile seconds of it!
What song is your favorite on the
new album? Why?
Hmmm, I'd say the ballad 'Take Me Away'
is the purest expression of how much I feel life and
I feel love, and I think it's reflected in my
voice, my lyrics, and instrumentally in this song in
particular.
I wrote it about a guy I met on a ski trip in Tahoe
over New Year's this year — totally fell for him
that weekend and we had an incredible time, and then
of course, he had to go home (2,000 miles away!! crappers!!)
Right when I got home from the trip he was so fresh
on my mind and in my heart, yet so far away, so 'Take
Me Away' just kinda flowed...
You recently moved back to Boston
from San Francisco. How has returning to the East Coast
been?
I'm home. It feels awesome! I have lots of family and
friends here, and surprisingly, the music scene is a
lot better here than in San Francisco (for the kind
of music I like, anyway). All of my favorites come through
House of Blues so I can get a little inspiration any
time I need it. And I'm psyched to be playing here more
than you know! The East Coast also has this amazing
charm — great seasons, great down-to-earth people,
wood smoke in the air, overzealous Red Sox fans. What's
not to love?
What's your typical day like? What
other things are you into?
 Well,
right now I am taking advantage of what corporate America
has to offer. Working full time as a Project Manager
at a publishing company, I manage the development of
3D and Flash animations to accompany our clients' textbooks.
So that makes for a pretty long day in itself. Most
days I go running to just think and relax. That's another
thing I'm still pretty into. And then I'll hit the guitar
to prep for a gig or to write! Or go out with friends
to an awesome local gig (Boston has an incredible music
scene). I'm lucky to have my brother, who is also a
musician, as a house mate, so we're always sharing ideas.
Bottom line: my goal is to be able to do the music thing
for a living. I do understand that it's a tough biz
so I keep the day job as a little bit of security. But
I'm pushing for full-time music for sure.
Where does your inspiration to write
come from? Is it mostly from other musicians, other
arts or personal experiences?
I was an English major in college, and have always
kept a journal cuz I just have too much to say, so music
has been an awesome outlet for my big mouth and for
the stuff whirlin' round in my head. Being able
to share some of what I'm feeling with others,
and in an artistic manner.
But I also get so fired up, like I said, when I go
hear a musician who I just FEEL. I recently heard Dave
Barnes play with Marc Broussard — both are solo
acts, but Dave has been touring/playing with Marc a
bit, and I just stood there in awe. The richness of
their voices, the originality of their lyrics, and the
way they just filled a room with two voices and two
guitars gave me something to aspire to.
So let's get into some background
info and fun stuff! You weren't a childhood music star.
How did you find your way to music and what keeps you
there?
Ok, first of all, you ALMOST saw me on Star Search
when I was a wee one but Mom and I were too lazy to
send in a video. Hehe.
As for how I got started, I've always loved music
and I sang in my high school a cappella group, and chorus
and all that good stuff. But my main deal in high school
and early college was athletics, so when I stopped competing
midway through Stanford, I was finally able to focus
on this other passion of mine.
Then a good buddy of mine, Andy Wood, got me into going
to open mics in San Francisco, and that sealed my love
and excitement for sharing my stuff with other people!
I didn't have to play for the walls anymore!
What is in your CD player right now?
Who are some of your major musical influences?
 James
Taylor's my #1 influence of all-time, but I'd say that
I'm primarily drawn to lesser-known artists like myself;
in part because I can relate to where they are in their
'career'. But primarily because their sound is typically
less watered down to appeal to the masses than when
a label gets a hold of their music.
While I'm not averse to label support, and am
actually seeking it, I think that the really raw, original
sound that comes from an artist just starting out is
just incredible. Here are some you gotta check out if
you haven't heard of them already, and who when
I hear em live inspire me to go home and write:
Dave
Barnes
Marc
Broussard
Steve
Tannen
Ari
Hest
Pete
Schmidt
Wil
Seabrook
John
Mayer
Jason
Mraz
Maroon
5
Which comes first – the tune
or the lyrics? Which do you personally like better –
live sessions or studio recording? Why?
For me, the tune/chords usually come first- I then
write the lyrics to fit the mood of the chord progression(s)
I find and feel. Usually something instrumental will
make me feel some emotion, and I'll run with that.
I prefer live sessions because studio recording can
be a little rigid, and you kinda feel under pressure
to 'get it right'. I like to feel free to
just let it flow and not be worried about time or perfect
quality. I also really love the acoustic sound and mood.
I'm glad that people are starting to appreciate
the more 'organic' types of music a little
more. For example, Jason Mraz has a kickin' live,
acoustic album out right now that seems to be doing
really well. Just him and his guitar, and his buddy
on bongos. I'd like to see more of that simple,
raw stuff be popular.
Do you want to eventually be a full-time
musician hitting the radio waves or would you prefer
to stay in your current circuit?
 You
know, I don't aspire to go the whole MTV route —
it'd be a cool ride, but I'm just as interested in developing
a smaller, devoted following and more importantly, in
being able to just do what I love for a living.
I think of Livingston Taylor, James Taylor's brother,
when I'm asked a question like that. While he's not
on the radio, he does what he loves and he makes a modest
living doing it, and he really is able to share his
gift and affect people. That's all I want (though I
must admit that a funded tour would be SWEEEEET;) But
some of the most incredible artists I know of aren't
on the radio and may never be (see a list of 'em above).
Tell us something funky about yourself!
Hmm, funky...well, I don't wear underwear. Just kidding.
But I do love my nose ring, if that counts as "funky".
It's a sassy little feature I added to m'face a few
years ago, despite my pretty conservative upbringing,
and people saying that it might prevent the corporate
peeps from hiring me. Whateverrrr! I love it.
Are you planning to start touring
soon? What kind of venues would you prefer? Would you
head back out to California at all?
I'd like to start touring and plan to eventually-
as you know, that requires a bit of an investment of
both time and money, so I'm working to prep myself for
that. My favorite venues are the House of Blues-type
places...cozy and homey, where you feel like you're
sitting in the living room with a bunch of cool people
and just sharing yer soul. And sure, I'd return to California
if a great career opportunity arose, whether music or
otherwise!
The CD is released soon and we're
very excited! What are you hoping for with the release
of "Bend"?
Thank you! I'm psyched, too. I've put so
much of myself into this album and really, if I can
make anyone feel just a little (the way I feel affected
by other people's music) I will have accomplished
my goal. There's nothing like that feeling in
the pit of your stomach when you hear a song for the
1st, or even 100th time, and you just 'get'
the melody, the lyrics, the mood. If I can share that
feeling with even a few people with this CD, I'll
be psyched.
Cara, thanks so much for taking the
time to talk with us! Congratulations on your new album
– we hope to hear from you again soon!
For more visit: www.caraaley.com
Interviewed by Kristen
Fischer
DiscoveringArtists.com
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