|
12.30.03
She's just come off tour with Jason Mraz. Now Tristan
Prettyman tells us about the big tour, naming CDs and
buffing up her arms.
 When
did you start playing?
I began teaching myself when I was about 15
Who are your influences?
Music as a whole is my influence, I got over giving
the names of certain artist's cause then people start
thinking you sound like them. I love all music and respect
anyone that makes it, whether they perform it in the
house or on stage.
What's in your CD player?
Death Cab For Cutie's new album –
Transatlanticism. Jack (Johnson), Jason (Mraz) &
Jeff (Buckley) anytime, all the time. And my 2 new favorite
bands...thanks to Dennis (Jason Mraz's merch guy): Magnet
& Azure Ray
Your latest release, Love EP—is it all you
expected?
Well to be honest, I didn't really know what to expect,
I just knew I had some songs to choose from and some
time on a ranch to record them. I didn't put any expectations
or boundaries on it when I recorded it, it was just
supposed to be at the least a demonstration of what
I could do and hopefully show the potential of my songs.
When we were finally finished with it, I remember driving
home with Shaun (piano & djembe) thinking, "Holy
crap I have a CD...my very own CD." That was about all
I was thinking about. The more I step away from it and
come back and listen to it, well lets just say I can
be caught driving around singing along to it in my car...how
dorky is that?
Hehe. I thought artists never do that! So, how do
you feel about the themes the EP represents, and how
do you feel about your songwriting capabilities?
 Hmm.
Well the EP doesn't really have theme other than that
it includes some of the songs I have written since I've
started playing. The reason I named it "Love" was just
cause that is what I felt while recording it...a whole
lotta love, from everything around me. The songs I guess
are all in one way written on or around the theme of
love, so it worked, it felt right.
But I don't know, I never have gotten that whole wrapping
up an album all in the title of it...I think albums
should be titled or untitled...yeah maybe my next CD
will have no title name...it should be about the music
and the way it makes the listener feel. Maybe I'll leave
a fill in the blank and people can name my next album
personally according to them. Or maybe instead of changing
the name of the albums each time, I'll change my name.
I'll be a different character each time...
How original! So how was touring with Jason Mraz?
Wow, how wasn't touring with Jason Mraz! What is there
not to love about Jason Mraz! That whole 2 weeks was
just mind-boggling. What a trip! It was weird. You know
I toured with him a couple times before, on a much smaller
scale of course and always close to home, so I felt
like those times were all practice runs and this was
what I had been preparing for, I was definitely ready...yeah
the tour...wow I toured with Jason Mraz...yeah I think
that made my year.
Were a lot of people open to your music?
Yeah I think so. Well we sold a bunch
of CDs, so I would say that qualifies for people being
open to the music. It was crazy though, the response
was definitely unexpected...I don't know I guess I just
wasn't expecting anything out of this and realized what's
important and that is I love the music and I love performing,
so now when things happen or go well, I'm totally caught
off guard. There was only one bad show in my opinion
and that was because I was having trouble with my ear
monitors so I was all frustrated.
But other than that, I don't feel like there was a
bad show, or ever-low energy. I loved the big crowds
and the applause of thousands of people after playing
a song. It was intense, I had fun and I met some of
the nicest people on the planet over there on the
east side...I cant wait to go back :)
Tell us what you like best about the San Diego scene.
 The
San Diego scene is cool, I really like it cause it's
mellow.... well for me. When I first started, I didn't
ever play in the coffee shops, I mostly played at small
restaurants, bars or like 600+ clubs. Everything's been
backwards that way...but I have been playing this little
coffee shop called Twiggs and it is fantastic...at first
I was weary cause I wasn't familiar with the kind of
setting, but now I love it.
I'm terrified of small audiences, I think cause its
so quiet and so fewer people, everyone's paying attention...its
strange when your used to playing for yourself, cause
everyone in the room is getting drunk and talking. San
Diego is good like that...they aren't in a rush to ship
you out, you can set up camp wherever as long as you
like...there a ton of places that are intimate and hosts
to some of San Diego's finest musicians!
Are you currently writing new material or planning
a full-length album?
I definitely will do a full length album, don't know
when though...we are meeting with different producers
and mapping things out right now...as far as material
goes, I am always writing new material, I have been
working on 2 new songs since I got home and
since the tour, I'm bringing out some of my old stuff
that I don't play anymore. Songs are weird. They have
a funny way of working out...sometimes they just write
themselves...other times they reveal a little and ask
to be put away for another time.
I don't try to write, I enjoy writing and when I find
myself force writing I stop. I don't think people should
ever be forced to have to come up with new material,
cause if your not experiencing something or feeling
something, then you really cant write about it, and
if you force yourself, then you just end up writing
about something that isn't true or isn't really that
important to you, it takes the fun out of it. But yes,
I'm always writing new stuff and an album is definitely
in the future.
What do you do in your spare time?
Ohh man I'm quite the computer dweeb, but mostly I
just take care of CD orders, I like to personally write
notes to everyone that orders a CD, so that takes some
time.
Very cool! Go on...
Then I'll take a break and play some guitar and then
I get sidetracked and go eat. And then go play more
guitar. I'm getting into Pilates...I want buff arms.
It's totally relaxing and a good way to stretch out
the mind and body. I also surf quite a bit, and go on
walks.
What's been your greatest career challenge?
My greatest career challenge has probably been doubting
myself...for a long time I was unsure and really limited
myself...but its gotten to a point where I just took
on the " I can do this and no one is gonna stop me"
attitude. I always preached it but I never really took
it seriously within myself. Now that I'm more confident
and accepted who I am and what I'm doing, I don't see
any challenges.
There are always challenges and obstacles but they
shouldn't be taken to seriously, they are never big
enough to be Impossible and I think with that attitude
you can do anything, just make the most of what you've
got and stay in tune with your self and the people you
love.
 What
is your goal with your music?
Umm well, I guess I want to be what
you call a professional musician...I want to tour and
play as much as I can, and I want to do it my way...I
guess I want to prove to other people that are trying
to get into music for a career, that there is no right
or wrong way to do it, you can do it the way you want
to, on your terms, you just gotta know what you want
and not settle for anything less.
I just want to keep writing and playing, and meeting
and talking to people, I think that is my favorite thing
about touring, is getting to talk to people after the
show, getting their feedback, hearing their story, its
really cool to be in an environment away from home...I
love the change in culture and accents and style across
the world.
What's next for you?
Umm well this new year is looking to be quite exciting.
For now I'm just gonna be playing locally and hopefully
get up north to San Francisco and the Bay area, I want
to try to get back to the east coast in the spring,
if we can put it together. Hopefully I am going to get
on another tour. And if all else fails, I'm going to
Australia in March, to be in a surf video and play some
shows. That should be fun.
Tour...East Coast. We likey! (We're from New Jersey.)
I'm being very optimistic, good things are ahead.
We are having fun. Whatever's meant to be will be.
Thanks so much Tristan. Keep us posted!
Interviewed by Kristen
Fischer
DiscoveringArtists.com
|
