Jessi Hamilton Follow up interview.

Jessi hamilton incredibly talented singer songwriter with amazing vocals, Jessi Hamilton a name that will be remembered for a long time, a true talent who will have a long lasting career in music. Have a listen to the fantastic ballad I'll Cry For You and other Jessi tracks available on this site and her official website:www.jessihamilton.com. Jessi's debut album will be available to buy soon you can find out more about that at her official website.

• Hi how are you?
I’m doing well. Thanks for taking the time to speak with me, again.

• Have you got any plans to release “I'll Cry For You” in to the
mainstream? (Your vocals on the track are fantastic.)
Thank you very much! Definitely. I’ve already had some airplay for
“I’ll Cry For You.” The CD is finished now, so my manager, Bruce
Pilato, is going to start sending it out to a lot of college and
internet stations.

• How many tracks did you get to record with Lou Gramm? will any of
them be released as singles? Which track is your favourite?
I sang backup on two of the songs that Lou has recorded so far. The
recordings sound fantastic! I feel very privileged to be involved in
the project. I can’t really tell a lot about the album. It’s still in
the beginning stages, and I the only thing I can tell you is that is is a
rock'n'roll Gospel album.

• Are there any other bands/artists you would like to record with?
There are a lot of people that I would love to work with. To name a
few, I would like to work with Sting, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban,
Prince, Alicia Keys, Evanescence, and Sarah McLachlan.

• During your last interview with Music Promotions you said your next
performance was at the Lilac Festival in Rochester, NY. How did that
go? how did the crowds react towards your music?
The performance went really well. There was a great turnout — about
2000 people. My nerves got the best of me right before I went onstage.
As soon as I got up there, though, I felt great. It was a beautiful day
outside, which made it all the more enjoyable. I had a great time and
the audience seemed very receptive to the music. My favorite part was
when this couple, who must have been in there 80’s, got up in front of
the stage and started dancing to some of the more up tempo songs. They
were adorable!

• How long do you rehearse a song before performing it live for the
first time?
Before the Lilac Festival, which was the first show that my band and I
did together, we practiced most of the songs for several months. A lot
of that for me, though, was just getting used to playing in a band.
Some of the songs, we only practiced together for a couple of days
before the show. When I’m not practicing with the band, I go through
the whole set almost everyday.

• Have you completed your album yet?
Yeah, I finished recording all of the songs back in May. The album is
being pressed right now and it should be available for sale in July.
I’ll be selling copies on my website (www.jessihamilton.com) and
several other select websites and stores.

• Is “I'll Cry For You” a good indication of the sound and style of
your album?
The material on the album is pretty diverse. A lot of the songs do fall
along the same lines as “I’ll Cry For You,” which I guess could be
described as a haunting rock ballad. I also have some material on the
album that is more up tempo as well as several songs that have a more
laid-back, earthy feel.

• How many tracks have you written?
I’ve been involved in the writing of all but two of the 13 tracks. The two
non-original songs on the album are “Every Time It Rains” by Randy
Newman and “People In the World” by Al Green. Three of the songs on the
album I wrote alone.

• Are there any writers/producers you would like to work with in the
future?
I would really enjoy working with Carole King, Diane Warren, David
Foster, Narada Michael Walden, and Quincy Jones.

• What was the last concert you went to?
I went to a Randy Newman concert earlier this year in Rochester. It was
wonderful. During the first half of the concert he conducted the
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and they performed the scores to
several movies that he had written music for (“Toy Story,” “Monsters,
Inc.,” “The Natural”). It was really neat . . . the music was
accompanied by silent clips from the respective movies that were
modified to fit perfectly with the music. Then during the second half,
he performed some of the more popular songs that he had written. After
the show, I got the chance to meet him, which was really neat since he
wrote one of the two non-original songs on my album, “Every Time It
Rains.”

• Which bands/artists would you most like to support on tour?
I would enjoy going to see or performing with Peter Gabriel, Sting,
Prince, Alicia Keys, and Sarah McLachlan.

• Do you have a regular set list order of tracks when you are
performing live?
I have several different set lists that fit with different types of
venues that I might play at. For instance, if I’m playing at a
coffee shop where it’s just me and the piano, then I would probably play
less of the really upbeat material and focus on some of the more
piano-driven ballads. If I’m performing with the band in a club then it
would be the other way around.

• What has been your favourite venue to perform at?
I really enjoyed performing at the Lilac Festival. That’s been my
favorite venue so far. There is also a venue in Raleigh, NC (where I’m
from) called Six String Cafe that I love performing at. It’s a
restaurant/bar, but it has a great setup that keeps the attention on
the performer. They also have a great sound system and a weekly open
mic night that I enjoy going to.

• Have you got any plans to do your own headline tour? what is a Jessi
Hamilton live set like?
We’re starting to look at booking shows on college campuses and at
other venues. At this time, the shows will mainly be in the eastern US.
I’d like to get some radio play on the college stations before booking
a show at the colleges. That way more people would be familiar with the
music. I have several shows booked for July and August at clubs in the
New York area.

• What are your favourite tracks to perform live?
My favorite ones to perform are probably “I’ll Cry For You,” “Arms of
Love,” and “Watching River.” I have clips of all of those on my website
(www.jessihamilton.com).

• Do you do any vocal warm ups before going on stage for the first
time?
I do a little bit, but not too much. I don’t want to wear my voice out
before going onstage.

• Has your musical sound and style changed since you first started out?
Absolutely! When I started recording, it was just me and the piano.
Actually, the last track on the album, “Simple Days,” is the first song
I wrote. My dad wrote the lyrics to it and I wrote the music. Although
we rerecorded it and rewrote one part, it still gives a good idea of
what my original style sounded like. Since then, my music has taken on
more of a rock edge, which is greatly due to my producer Chris Stevens.
I think that I’ve also learned how to write more memorable melodies.

• What has been the highlight of your career so far?
It’s really hard to pick one particular thing. Some of my favorite
parts have been recording the album, working with Lou Gramm, and
playing with the band.

• What are the main goals you would like to achieve in the next 12
month's?
I would like to get my music on more radio stations, build my
following, and build the media’s interest in the project. I would also
like to have my music heard by more record labels, which is what my management
is doing now.

• If you had the opportunity to perform any where in the world, where
would you perform and why?
I’m not sure where specifically, but it would have to be New Zealand or
Australia. From everything that I’ve seen and heard, they are beautiful
places and I’ve always wanted to visit them.

• Would you like to perform with artist's like Britney Spears,
Christina Aguilera or Alicia Keys?
I would enjoy performing with Alicia Keys, especially since she also
plays the piano. I think it could offer some interesting opportunities.

• How do you relax when you are not performing?
I enjoy taking pictures, going to the parks, feeding ducks, watching
movies, and spending time with my friends and family.

• Have you got a message for your fans?
Thanks for your support and for believing in me!

Have a look at the lyrics to I'll Cry For You and listen to th etrack on this site now. Email me any comments you would like to make about Jessi's music.

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