Edie Carey

By Alex Teitz

Edie Carey is a New York based singer-songwriter. Her songs are powerful pieces that paint images on the soul of the listener. Her latest CD is Call Me Home. For more information visit http://www.ediecarey.com

FEMMUSIC: Describe your songwriting technique?

EC: I don’t think my “technique” really deserves to be called a “technique” at all. It really tends to vary. Usually I write when I am away from home (on tour, on vacation)…not really sure why that is. Perhaps it’s because when I am home I get bogged down by daily tasks, and distracted by my friends. I think being away from home lends just enough perspective to help me distill my thoughts into lyrics and then songs…As far as the actual writing process goes, it basically consists of two parts: 1) playing around on my guitar, trying out a new tuning, finding a groove or a progression that makes me feel something 2) freewriting on any sheet of paper I can get my hands on. Freewriting helps me to get the static out that builds up in the time in between writing sessions. Once I have essentially vomited (gross analogy, sorry) all of that static and noise out onto 8-10 pages, I often feel ready to start crafting something (other times, I just feel like napping…:) These two processes (of creating progressions and lyric-writing) can be totally independent of one another, or totally joined from the beginning. There is no set way that I write — I guess it just comes as it wants to. The trick is getting out of the way and shutting up long enough to hear what the song is trying to say.

FEMUSIC: What was the biggest challenge making your current CD?

EC: I’d have to say it was recording in my apartment in Brooklyn when the lady upstairs was blasting ESPN and screaming obscenities at the television. (I’m not kidding.) That was one of the many *smaller* challenges, but we managed to swing it. Truly the biggest challenge was probably learning to let go of my myriad imperfections, things that I could really have gotten into obsessing over. I can be SO obsessive, so perfectionistic at times — I REALLY was on my first record, and I desperately wanted to change that on “Call Me Home.” It was hard, but once I learned to let go, it was such freedom.

FEMMUSIC:  What was the best experience making your current CD?

EC: I find often that the hardest things end up being the best things, you know? So I’d have to say that just learning to be more relaxed and more accepting of myself –and letting myself just have FUN was the best part. (oh – and recording naked!)

FEMMUSIC:  Who have been your musical mentors?

EC: Oh, lordy — so many people. I guess I would divide them into two categories 1) mentors I have known 2) mentors who have NO clue who I am, but who, unbeknownst to them, changed my life.

In category 1, I would put Julie Soloway, my voice teacher in high school. She was so brilliant, and so giving in every way. She just believed in me, and got really annoyed with me when I didn’t believe in myself. 🙂

In category 2, I would put Shawn Colvin, Aretha Franklin, Ani Difranco, Ricki Lee Jones, Jonatha Brooke, Patty Larkin….I could go on and on..:)

FEMMUSIC:  What one thing have you learned that has helped build your audience?

EC: It sounds simple, but I think maybe it’s just this: giving a whole hell of a lot of yourself onstage and off. I share a LOT of personal (and often humiliating!) stories during my shows — and really let folks in — and then I really try to connect with my audiences after the shows as well. Let’s be honest — we owe our audiences everything, and so I try to be as present, available and helpful as I possibly can. I want people to feel like they can share with me, too. I also just try to make each one of my shows FUN (people like fun!) and a little different every time to keep ’em guessing. 🙂

FEMMUSIC:  What one thing would you like to change about the music industry?

EC: One thing? I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Should I start with the fact that you have to be 14 years old and model perfect to have any hope of being picked up? or the fact that there’s no longer any such thing as artist development? or the fact that we hear the same damn songs over and over on commercial radio? I don’t sound bitter, do I? 🙂 I’m not, actually…let’s just say I am happy that the internet exists…It’s nice to see the big guys shaking a little in their boots. 🙂

FEMMUSIC: As a woman in the music industry, have you been discriminated against?

EC: Not so much in the industry…I feel like things have changed pretty significantly in the past few years in favor of women. I honestly feel really lucky to be a “woman in music” nowadays…I guess if I have experienced any “discrimination” as a female musician, it’s been on a smaller, more everyday level. I always notice that when I meet certain male musicians and I tell them that I am a musician, too — they often assume that I am a vocalist (that I don’t play an instrument, that I don’t write my own songs) Then, when they find out I do, they usually expect me to suck. I love that, because it motivates me to “show ’em.” I know that sounds so juvenile, but I don’t think we ever totally grow out of that “middle-school” need to “show ’em!” 🙂

FEMMUSIC:  What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

EC: I’d advise them to work on their music first and foremost. I see a lot of folks who jump right into the self-promotion thing — and they may even be GREAT at it — but then they don’t really have anything solid to promote. They may be great at getting meetings with big shots, but then maybe their demo is really old and no longer represents what they are doing now…or their songwriting still needs to mature…I think the best thing one can do is to put on some virtual blinders — not worry about what everyone else is doing — and focus on making the music the best that it can be. If your music is great, you work on your craft, and then you put it out there, it will only be a matter of time before THEY come to you!

FEMMUSIC:  What are your plans for the future?

EC: I just want to keep writing, touring, playing as much as I can. Call Me Home just came out so I will be touring like crazy over the next year. I also to put out a live record next…I just want to keep growing and becoming a better and better musician. I feel so blessed to be able to do this for my living — and yes, it is both dream job and a nightmare job — but it’s mostly a dream!