Here at Wake The Deaf we are always looking for ways to expand our content and keeps things interesting. One thing which we though would be really nice is to interact with the artists we post about and find out what shapes them and their music. We will try to avoid the usual questions (How do you find touring? Do you write the lyrics alone or together?) and hopefully get to learn something interesting.
First up, we were lucky enough to speak to Alynda Lee Segarra from Hurray For The Riff Raff, fresh from an appearance in The Sunday Times, who’s (lovely) album Look Out Mama is out today (review here).
One of the themes that strike me on Look Out Mama is the idea that loneliness can be escaped by moving somewhere fresh. Much has been made of your travels down through America. Obviously the type of music is (at least in part) determined by your experiences with other musicians but how much did the journey influence the stories and ideas on the album? Could you have written these narratives in The Bronx?
Loneliness cannot be escaped simply by heading somewhere new, although everyone has their knee-jerk reactions to feelings of isolation and sadness. Leaving town is most definitely mine. I think loneliness is only cured by a sense of community, by love and understanding with those around you.
Sometimes when I travel I interact with someone I never would have met had I stayed at home and done “the right thing” and that person will illuminate my mind to what it means to be truly happy. That is a precious moment, but it’s something you gotta take with you and put into motion. A big lesson i’ve learned is if I want to feel really satisfied I need my community of artists. I need people that I respect artistically around me to feed off of and learn from. To show new songs to and get feedback from. These people are what has really inspired my music, the idea that we can create our own lives and build something together. When I reached New Orleans I found my second family. So, it’s thanks to that great city.
For me, the album harks back to an expansive old country that is exciting and welcoming. Here, sitting at my computer (as someone whose experience of the US is limited to the ‘big’ cities), the idea of the ‘old America’ seems very distant yet very alluring. Is the traditional sense of adventure still available if you look for it?
Adventure is everywhere, but you do have to work harder at finding it. There’s a lot of forces today that are trying to sell you a packaged version of life. If you want to break out of that then kudos to you, you’re making the world an interesting place to live! You got to take risks, you’ve got to find your passion and follow it.
I reluctantly used the term ‘Country’ to describe your music in the review. The demographic has a rather bad rep (especially here in the UK – I can’t really think of any respected British Country acts). Do you see yourself as a Country musician? I see the big Country ‘stars’ in the US and can’t help but feel there is a rather large disparity between them and what you are trying to do.
That term should be reclaimed. I want to take a lot of things back, music in general! The Carter Family is who I think of when I think of Country music, Hank Williams Sr and all of those incredibly talented musicians that I’ve learned from on records.
Now, a lot of people may say that since I’m from the Bronx, the term “country” does not belong to me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I feel that music, and that has to do with feeling someone’s soul on a record, not just where they came from in the world.
So I’m gonna do my best to do it right and do it from the heart. I’m also gonna do it the way I am, and that is not with the goal to make a million dollars, or to spread some message of war or bigotry. My point is, I know there is a huge history of country music from the past that I would love to be categorized with, and my goal is to remind people of that music. There’s also a lot of folks today who are with me on this, and we get the privilege of touring with them!
A question I always want to ask musicians – removing the aforementioned personal experiences and any musical influences, what else shapes your songs? Are there are writers or other artists which you would say have a large impact on your thinking?
Frida Kahlo, Angela Davis, Audre Lorde, and of course friends and family. I am very influenced by feminist thinkers and artists, lately my major inspiration has been Sampat Pal of the Gulabi Gang in India. She is the leader of a group of lower caste women who stand up for each other in times of domestic violence.
Finally, could you suggest 4 or 5 bands or musicians that you are currently enjoying? They could have formed yesterday or died fifty years ago, be known to three people or playing on MTV, any artist that is catching your attention at the moment.
I love this question! Shovels and Rope, Sam Doores and the Tumbleweeds, Morgan O’Kane, Spirit Family Reunion, Clear Plastic Masks, Feral Foster, and the Alabama Shakes. These are musicians of today making me proud to be alive in these times. My dream is that we all play a festival together someday.
Thanks to the good folks over at Loose Music for putting us in touch and to Alynda for answering our questions (in super-quick time too!). We appreciate it!