Patti Rothberg (from pattirothberg.com)
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Artiste
par excellence:
An interview with singer/songwriter Patti Rothberg
by David Chiu
Patti Rothberg's name should ring a bell
for those who remember pop music in 1996. It was that year that
the New York-based Rothberg released her debut record Between
the 1 and the 9 on EMI Records America. A blend of alternative,
folk, and pop with introspective, diary lyrics, Between the
1 and the 9 was poised to be Rothberg's breakout album. The
single "Inside" was a popular radio hit, and Rothberg
toured nationally, with the likes of Pat Benatar, Chris Isaak,
and the Wallflowers.
Things were going great until the record
company folded and like many other young artists caught in the
era of industry mergers and breakups, Rothberg had to go about
reinventing herself. And she did, by recording the 2000 single
"For a Boy/Idiom Addict " and the 3-song EP "Snow
is My Downfall." Most recently Rothberg released her latest
full-length album Candelabra Cadabra (on the indie label
Cropduster Records). It marked an evolution for the artist; where
the first album was basically a stripped down affair with her
playing a majority of the instruments; Candelabra Cadabra featured
a full band including guitarist and collaborator Freddie Katz.
The songs have a rougher, rock-oriented edge harking back, at
times, to the '70s glam rock of David Bowie (whose classic "Moonage
Daydream" is covered by Rothberg on the new record); the
production seemed also expansive. Rothberg's own songs still
carry the introspective sense of yearning on both rockers and
mellow tunes with her distinct sense of wordplay and melodies.
In addition to recording her own music,
Patti Rothberg has also kept herself busy playing in New York
City at various venues like Don Hill's and Arlene Grocery; she
has participated in tribute programs like The Losers' Lounge.
She also maintains a sideline profession as a painter (watch
out Joni Mitchell) and her artwork graces Candelabra Cadabra
as it did on Between the 1 and the 9.
Right now, Rothberg and her band are completing
work on her next album scheduled for a winter release. We spoke
to Rothberg about her music, the recent album, and her career
so far.
How would you compare the sound of your
1996 debut Between 1 and the 9 to your most recent album
Candelabra Cadabra?
The first record I played pretty much everything
except drums, it was basic and kind of stripped down. This one
Candelabra Cadabra I put everything but the kitchen sink
in there, and there was no [A&R] person telling me not to.
That's the main difference between the two.
What accounts for the rock sound on
the record?
My guitar player and boyfriend Freddie
Katz--he played guitar on a lot of the record and he's definitely
a '70s enthusiast. He has such a vast encyclopedic knowledge
of rock music. Both of our love for that '70s kind of rock sound
probably shows on the record.
In addition to your own songs, you even
covered David Bowie's Moonage Daydream from his Ziggy Stardust
album?
I always loved the song. I'm a Bowie freak,that
particular song it seem to match the fairy tale idea of the record.
It fits perfectly with the image of the cover and harking back
to the 18th century, plus '70s rock and roll.
How does songwriting come to you?
Usually I come up with the lyrics first.
I'll have an idea and then I try to put it into words. It's like
translating something from another language.
I usually do lyrics first and then put music.
It only seemed like yesterday you were
on a major label [EMI America] and had this big song Inside playing
on radio, and then unfortunately the label folded.
It's hard to imagine six years ago that
I was on a tour bus and living this totally other life. I kind
of just roll with it no matter what happens. I didn't expect
it in the first place so, you never really don't know what happens
next. You keep going.
Still you kept yourself busy recording
albums and playing shows, even participating in several tribute
projects such as The Losers Lounge. How can you describe that
experience?
That's been a lot of fun because you meet
other people who are on the same path as you.
Who did you listen to growing up?
Siouxie and the Banshees were a big influence
on me. I always liked the dreamy and dramatic quality that [Siouxie
Sioux] had in her music, and maybe a little bit came through
Candelabra. I used to listen to Tears for Fears, Duran
Duran, Violent Femmes, and lots of classic rock Led Zeppelin
and Stevie Nicks.
You are also a painter whose artwork
are on your albums. How do the two mediums are in relation to
each other and do you have a preference?
In a way they are separate. I do have a
portrait business where somebody will want me to paint their
dog and I charge them for that. It doesn't have to do with my
music. On the other hand if I'm doing an art piece for myself
it's the same process as writing a song for me.
It's kind of like an ADD fun thing cause
one minute I'll be working on a song and I'm like, I wanna work
on that painting..I always want to do what the opposite is.
Anything memorable from your experiences
playing live?
I always liked playing in Philadelphia.
We have this group of people that always shows up and afterwards
we'll go to the diner. I feel that's sort of our Philadelphia
posse.
What can we expect of your upcoming
album?
It's playful, a little more stripped. It's
really about the band. It's a lot of satire and definitely rock
and roll.
Are you working on any other projects?
My friend Sean Altman and I are working
on Dragon Meets Phoenix. It started out as a tribute to Britney
Spears and Justin Timberlake as a joke. We liked it so much what
we ended up, so we kept recording together, and now we have six
or seven tracks. We're gonna release it probably next year sometime
as Dragon Meets Phoenix.
What's your next goal?
One of my major goals is to be able to
afford the YMCA again so I can take my karate class.
http://www.pattirothberg.com
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