NAKED VIOLET - INTERVIEW
 
 
Naked Violet
Interviewed By Arm The Pit
September 29, 2013
 
 
ATP
For the record, who's answering the interview, what is your band's name? How did you come up with that name?
NAKED VIOLET
Britte AKA Violet here! Violet is my favorite colour. Naked is my favorite state of being. I believe that it's especially important to stay open to experiences as they find you. If you can't expose yourself to new things, ideas, any and all forms of awareness, how will you be inspired? Inspiration comes in an infinite number of forms ....learning, communicating, sharing, loving, caring, feeling, dancing, crying, hurting, being hurt, expressing....Possibilities are endless as long as you stay open....naked!
 
ATP
So who's in the band and what's everyone's life story in 100 words more or less?
NAKED VIOLET
Currently, I am a Performing Songwriter getting ready to gig in the Metro ABQ area. The successful line up for Naked Violet from TX whose work is on the 'Shades of Violet' CD is: moi, Britte Miller - Singer/Songwriter/Guitars; Tom Thornton - Drums and Artwork; Anna Gosling - Bass and Backup Vocals; Sonny Hopper - Lead and Rhythm Guitars. I was incredibly fortunate to work with extremely dedicated and talented musicians. Unfortunately, it didn't last due to some pretty intense life stuff beyond anyone's control. Then I relocated to NM. Naked Violet songs are a compilation of works of my own and also from a few collaborations with others that I have worked with in the past.
 
ATP
In a nutshell, please describe your sound.
NAKED VIOLET
Naked Violet as a band fits under the alternative umbrella, but my calling card has always been "A Poet who Sings". The Shades of Violet CD has been compared to The Cranberries, Sheryl Crow, and Heart. In the future, a direction I want to explore is broader, tapping into various influences like alternative country, folk rock, and dance, but also rocking harder and a bit edgier. I relish harmonies... Songs have a life all their own, and often tell me where they want to go. Part of my creative process is much like Alice's rabbit hole. I follow where it leads, and where it ends..... we shall see!
 
ATP
Why did you each of you start playing music and was there a turning point from becoming the dream child that every mother and father hopes their child will become before discovering music? Why did music become a career choice for you?
NAKED VIOLET
My folks never supported my music and probably never will. I started writing songs at 14 with several stops and restarts in the process. I did have a few opportunities that ended before they really started in terms of having the luxury of playing music full-time. The timing just wasn't right. In hindsight, things really do happen for a reason! I don't believe in coincidence anymore. Naked Violet was one of the hardest working bands in Dallas. In the interim of life happening and making ends meet, Shades got recorded over a period of 2 weekends and mixed in a day. It was absolutely insane! We all had f/t career day jobs, spent years honing our instruments before we came together as bandmates, rehearsed 3-4 nights a week, and played every venue in the Deep Ellum Art District of Dallas TX at least once if not 10 times! It was the most incredible ride of my life. Music for me is not a choice....it is in my blood and its instinct like breathing. I get extremely crazy and miserable to be around if I am not involved in music... Now, I am making MUSIC a priority.
 
ATP
What instruments do you each play? How did you learn to play, self-taught or school?
NAKED VIOLET
I am self taught as a guitar player but I studied voice for several years with Frederick Monsour who also worked with Brett Micheals (Poison). I always did well in school with writing and composition so that translated into my songwriting. For the astrology savvy....I have the same aspects in my chart as many accomplished writers and poets (e.g. Earnest Hemingway and Emily Dickinson).
 
ATP
What bands have influenced each of you?
NAKED VIOLET
Beatles, esp John Lennon and his love of playing with words! My mom is super kewl when it comes to anyone's music but mine - she turned me on to the 50's, 60's, and 70's with The Beatles, The Kinks, Free, Bad Company, Traffic, Cream, The Rolling Stones, Bee Gees, Ten Years After, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Maggie Bell, Mamas & Papas. These days I also listen to artists like Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, The Cranberries, Nickelback, Evanescence, Within Temptation, Sirenia, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Dido...
 
ATP
What makes your band unique?
NAKED VIOLET
Listeners and fans alike say that my voice is what draws folks in. Folks who don't usually like alternative music often appreciate Naked Violet for the same reason. Naked Violet is about emotional Intensity, poetic expression, choosing a path of living on all levels; spiritually expanding on giving the gifts we are destined to both give and receive, as well as truly Being in every moment; cherishing life rather than just surviving; positive pro- activity even with darker subject matter and experiences. I don't like to whine....I prefer to focus on solutions, even when I feel like I am bucking a mountain. I am a textbook Capricorn that way.
 
ATP
Do you write your own music? If not, who writes the music?
NAKED VIOLET
I write both lyrics and melodies. There are a few songs where I collaborated with another songwriter. Collaboration is amazing! Keeps you on your toes and when all involved are in their respective creative zones, its as intimate as anyone can get. If you look at some of the biggest hits out there, the ones that really resonate on a universal level, you will see that there are at least two if not several writers.
 
ATP
What inspires the songs you write?
NAKED VIOLET
Love, joy, anger, pain...observations of life...intimacy... collaboration... nature, beauty, dreams both good and bad... other peoples art in all of its varied forms...
 
ATP
How long does it take you to write a song that’s ready to record?
NAKED VIOLET
That depends on the song....some take 5 minutes... some take months to perfect...one or two have taken years. I have notebooks full of stuff and I am notorious for writing down ideas on candy wrappers and napkins... inspiration is like a hunger pang with me. Inspiration and collaboration unleashed in a fearless environment where all involved feel safe to express makes for the most amazing of collaboration...yeah!
 
ATP
How would you describe your local music scene? Likes, Dislikes. What would you change?
NAKED VIOLET
Dallas was incredibly active. At the time, I thought pay to play was a total scam...looking back and comparing it to the local ABQ music scene which is not as developed, I can appreciate the concept more because being a promoter can be risky and is most definitely expensive. It is a great way for new indies to get their music out there if they are ready and smart about it. Promoters take all the risks and pick up the tab so they have to recoup their investment and preferably make some money too. Bands have zero risk, and if they sell a lot of tickets, earn a prime time slot at a choice venue. What bites is ticket sales go straight to the promoter, not the band, so it's a better scene for new artists to get their music out there. Established pro indies...not so much. ABQ is a smaller city. Businesses have to work harder and be much more savvy to survive. This makes it more challenging for a new artist to develop a following. Everything is about who you can network with and what you can do to generate a buzz for businesses. Nobody can afford to book a band without a draw. Ideally, bartering in partnership where everyone donates their craft, greatly contributes to the benefit of the entire project. You can create a much bigger event when you have a team of creatives partnering with the business community. It makes a more enjoyable event for the fans by adding diversity to an event. This is something I absolutely love about ABQ.
 
ATP
What is your favorite local venue? Why?
NAKED VIOLET
I remember loving Deep Ellum Clubs in Dallas because they knew how to run a show. Back Line and sound crews were always ready to rock. All I had to do was show up and play, which as an unknown Indie was a privilege. Dallas venues also had ready-made audiences so as long as you performed well, you had a nice turn out even if you didn't have a huge draw. Prime ABQ venues expect for you to bring a draw of 50 - 100 people. It's not unreasonable but failure means you will not be invited to play that venue again...that's a lot of pressure for a brand new to ABQ indie artist. I am looking forward to more intimate gigs at Zinc, Gecko's, Ned's, Molly's and Malarky's, where I can earn a new local audience based on my singer/songwriter performances. Band performances will come later when local fans get to know me better and we are both ready to rock out the house!
 
ATP
What's the biggest problem you find when working with other bands, booking agents, promoters and venues when settting up a show or a tour?
NAKED VIOLET
I have done local tours, festivals and individual venue bookings. Logistics, small details are what get you, yet not sweating the small stuff is what shows you're a pro. How you handle busting an E string in the middle of a song or an especially drunk heckler trying to steal your mic takes being confident, cool, and collected in your approach. Having extra cords and cables, a plan B if your amp breaks... Thinking ahead in general is proactive. Walking higher ground by staying professional and business appropriate goes a long way in building a rep with everyone involved from other bands to any size venue. Expectations need to be worked out in advance. Key points for agreement are dates, times, set length, loudness, commissions, if any, on sales (CD's, merch, % of the bar) and of course other compensation like lodging, food and beverages etc. This way, all obligations are clear from the start. Things run more smoothly that way. On the inside, I got a bit ticked when I played for a state fair event. I only got to play for 20 minutes when I booked a 45 minute set, but they still wanted 15% of my CD sales. I chose to walk around within the audience, talk it up with new fans and not sweat it. Solid connections are just as important as generating income to keep business going. LOGISTICS and CONTRACTS are IMPORTANT!
 
ATP
How experienced are you on the stage, a virgin or whore?
NAKED VIOLET
On stage, I am a fearless whore. Off stage, not so much.
 
 
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