Alana Amram - Photo by Mats Bakken
AHC: Your band 'The Rough Gems' takes its name from a Walt Whitman poem, a real Americana poet if ever there was one, was choosing an ode to one of Americas foremost 'poet of the people' a conscious nod to the roots of american story telling? Alana: "Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos, Disorderly fleshy and sensual . . . . eating drinking and breeding, No sentimentalist . . . . no stander above men and women or apart from them . . . . no more modest than immodest. Unscrew the locks from the doors! Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs!" What he speaks of are all things that I could only wish represented American story telling and the words of the people. This marketing genre of "Americana" denies so much of what is and who is considered to be American. I don't play to carry a flag for this country. Music is the Kosmos that Whitman mentions. It collides, crashes, repeats and aligns in a harmonious system of complex beauty and dissonance. The simplest access to the Kosmos is through song, and that is something no one can deny to anyone else - which is what art marketing does. AHC: You grew up in a very musical and artistic family, to say the least, I'm sure that that inspirational & creative environment went into developing the artist you have become, what was it like growing up around so much incredible music and creativity? Alana: I won't say that it has always been easy, but through it all my family are my favorite people. Everyday I am grateful and humbled by them. My family goes beyond bloodlines to my circle of friends and parent's friends who had an equal part in raising me. They taught me so much. I have felt it is my duty to pass that on. I teach little kids music and my greatest joy is watching them discover what they have inside themselves. I collaborate as much as possible to learn more. I think I am just starting to get where I am going. AHC: You've shared the stage with some of the luminaries of american folk music, Pete Seger, Judy Collins, Odetta, what was that like? Was it at all intimidating to be up there on stage with legends like that? Alana: In my mind and leading up to it the performances have always been intimidating. Once on stage, all these people were incredibly welcoming. That is how this generation was. They bring you in and support you and leave room for you to do the same, but that line is clear and respected. When you are in their presence, you just become hypnotized. That is why the audience can connect so deeply with them. On a good night, the shyest of people sing along. I remember Odetta having a pin she wore that said "I AM" and that has always mystified me for so many reasons. AHC: You wear many creative hats, you're also a filmmaker, artist and curator, could you talk some about these other aspects of your creative life? Alana: I have a lot of ideas and energy, but organizing that has been my biggest challenge. I get overwhelmed sometimes from wanting to do so much. I studied film at SUNY Purchase and really connected with early experimental films and documentaries. I have made a few video and film pieces and hope to make more down the line. I gravitated to music because songwriting uses less technology than film and video production. I have a hard time sitting still at the computer, but can sit for hours with a notebook and a guitar. I have been trying to paint and draw my whole life and I am finally learning to use my limitations. I recently did a few I really like. I love bringing people together who haven't collaborated before. That spark - just like with the kids I teach - is like no other high. The curator thing started naturally from that and is something I want to focus on in the next year. AHC: Who are some of your favorite songwriters and musical influences? Is there a particular album or song that you can't live without? Alana: The records I listen to daily are Journey in Satchidananda - Alice Coltrane, Neu! -Neu, Glow in the Dark - Death Valley Girls and Link Wray self titles solo record . I have been very into exploring Michael Hurley's catalog. I also have fallen in love with everything on Mississippi Records. I am a number one Little Richard Fan. As a kid, I listened to Patsy Cline "Greatest Hits" on cassette in my Dad's truck until it wore out. The Ramones are the best band that ever existed. Karen Dalton is who I listen to when I need someone to understand. The Slits record "Cut" was the biggest influence on me as a woman. I have been listening to "Forever Changes" by Love a bunch again. Pops Staples is my favorite guitar player and Mavis is my favorite singer. Anyone who wants to trade songs they like with me, send them my way! I used to trade mix tapes on tour with friends. I still dig through dusty gross boxes of records to find things. Here is my Halloween song of the season!! AHC: What are your fondest on-tour, on-the-road memories? Alana: I have so many odd misadventures and funny stories. I have toured DIY for so long it has given me a real taste of the places I get to travel to. So many friends who have offered their homes, shown me around and traded music and songs with me. I have played haunted hotels, UFO abductee conventions, county fairs where they stopped the set to judge a goat competition, backyards, attics, roofs, basements, huge stages, broken stages, in the rain, on a boat, played to 1 person, played to 10,000. It is never predictable and never the same. We never sound the same twice either and I prefer it like that. We played a tiny show in East Germany in 2014. We showed up and there was immediately a cultural barrier. The first language for these folks was German, the second was Russian and English was third. All my music is so lyric based, I was worried I would lose people. Philip Sterk, my longtime pedal steel player, started up and people went crazy. By the end of the night an old man tearfully told us about the wall coming down, we had torn a trombone off the wall started chasing each other with it, a 60 year old woman had us dancing on tables to ELO and another guy was reciting lines of The Master and Margarita. We drove all night getting lost in the East German woods. AHC: Do you have any words of advice for young singer-songwriters who are starting out and struggling to find their voice and their way in the world? Alana: To find your voice, don't look, just listen. It is all around you all the time. This goes especially for the ladies... do not compromise! Don't be afraid to say no to producers, offers of all kinds, creative ideas or anything that seems like it takes you off course or not in your art's best interest. So many before us fought so hard to get us to where we are at! As far as navigating the world... well all I can say is dust yourself off and get back up, because on this road you will stumble and question yourself and wonder and ponder and time will pass. Find friends who support what you do and have a sense of humor. That is the only way to get by because it is hard and weird. It is also the most fun you will ever have. When I learned how to ride a motorcycle, my road test instructor said "Ride Your ride, don't worry about the other cars on the road." That one I tell myself a lot. AHC: Do you have any new projects that you'd like to mention? Alana: I am recording a new album with my band. It is my favorite group of songs I have ever written. I have the Halloween show that I do with Jonathan Toubin coming up. It is the greatest night in New York City. This will be year 11 and we are taking over The Knockdown Center in Queens with Haunted House installations, video artists, creepy movies, brilliant DJs and local bands playing as spooky other bands like The Cramps and Alice Cooper. I am going to Europe to tour off a 7" I made over 10 years ago as MOTOR GIRL with my friend Travis Ramin and his band JUVIE. We are putting together a whole Sha Na Na inspired show, complete with costumes and comedy skits. I have never done anything like this before. It will be fun to be someone else for a while. For more information visit www.alanaamram.com/
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April 2024
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