Amy Serrata Interview!

Who exactly is Amy Serrata? She is a fresh faced singer who is already earning comparisons to Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. Her self-titled debut album, "Amy Serrata" was released last year. With Willie Norwood in her corner, a distinctive voice, and interesting lyrics, Amy Serrata has all the makings of a star.

Amy contacted me herself requesting I check out her music and interestingly enough I had learned of Amy through one of my affiliates, "Adventures Of An Audio Diva". If you are looking for a new artist to embrace or simply some new music, you ought to give Amy Serrata's album a whirl. You won't regret it!

Amy talks exclusively to Cigna's Sights & Views! Read below to find out more about this new talent!

Interview Date: October 4, 2009

Thank you Amy for choosing to talk exclusively with "Cigna's Sights & Views"! First of all, you have had a lot of comparisons to Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. How important is it to you to create your own musical identity?

Well I think its very important to create your own musical identity or you end up sounding like everyone else. In order to make your mark and have longevity you must be your own you. I've never tried to be like anyone else in the industry I have just had people that I have been influenced by. But really, I have had so many different kinds of genres that I have been influenced by so its not just Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. They are amazing artists though and I recently met Shafiq from SA-RA who did all the production for Badu's album Amerykah. Its always exciting to see and meet the people who are behind such masterpeices!

Obviously new artists are always compared to artists already out. Does it frustrate you at all or make you feel like critics don't give musicians a chance before they lump them into a category with another artist?

Yes it can frustrate me especially if they don't think your enough of this or enough of that and they are not sure where to categorize you. Good music is good music period! There are so many groups that I listen to that are a mix of different styles case in point: Little Dragon! I think though that it is our nature to want to compare other musicians to someone else. In some ways if we compare them to people that we really enjoy that's a good thing in a way.

You wish to make music your life long job! What is it about a 9 to 5 job that aggravates you cause I know I work a 9 to 5 job now and it is very aggravating?

I'm an artist and a musician so I do not like structured work for the most part. I like to be on the go actively creating things and not pigeon holed into sticking at a desk from 9 to 5. I just feel so stifled. Most musicians do LOL. I would love to make a full time living off of my music. So far the response has been really great and I look forward to meeting other people in the business who can take me on this amazing journey!

Let's talk about your self-titled debut album! How long did it take you to put the album together and what is the creative process for you like?

I wrote this album in 5 months last year it was a crazy endeavor! I'm a poet so I love words! I do not play any instruments right now but when I get melodies I record them on a tape recorder and then I get a beat from a producer and put it together. I was able to work with Willie Norwood who was able to help me with the harmonies and ad libs. It was so great to work with him and the 3 producers who made the beats for my album.

What are you like in the studio? Do you do a lot of takes? Are you a perfectionist?

I'm very focused in the studio but I also have a lot of fun and laugh a lot. Yes I do a lot of takes depending on the material because I want it to sound the best that it can be! I'm not a perfectionist but I do have a keen ear!

You worked with Willie Norwood(Brandy's father) on this album! How did that come about and how is it to work with him?

Yes I worked with Willie it was a great experience. I ended up meeting him because he is a vocal coach and that is how I got a hold of him. I didn't even know that that was him at first but he ended up emailing me back and we ended up talking on the phone and I flied down to LA to meet him. Ever since then we have become very close and he was able to work with me on my album on the final recordings. He came up to SF to work with me for 5 days when I recorded all of my material for the last time to tighten everything up.

Your album has a lot of exciting tracks both musically and vocally! What are your favorite tracks and what tracks do you want the listeners to really embrace and check out?

My favorite tracks are Lets, Rooted, Love Another, This Is Me, Monday Morning, Hello World and Feel For Me.

I was able to check out several of your social networking sites! I see you also have a blog. What is your general perception of bloggers? I know you have the more brutal ones and the ones that are less harsh.

I do have a blog that is attached to my website that I try to update with everything that is going on with me! Blogs are a great way to get the word out for independent artists. Its just another avenue to get press and create a stronger buzz. I have been lucky to be able to get many reviews online!

Now I like to do a segment with you called "This Or That" where I ask you to pick between two choices hence 'this or that'. Ready to play? Here we go:
TV or Computer? Computer
California or Chile? CA
Tomatoes or Cucumbers? Tomatoes
Hip-Hop or R&B? Hip Hop
Shower or Bathe? Shower
Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock? Julia Roberts

Thank you Amy! It was really nice speaking to you today! Are there any last words you would like to leave with everyone?

That its important to follow your dreams and to live the life that you've always dreamed of. People will have opinions of what you should do with your life but in the end it is your life and your decisions to make. Life is all about your out look on things and I really think that a lot of good and out of the ordinary things can come true if you believe in yourself!

Thanks!

Amy Serrata
www.amyserrata.com
myspace.com/amyserrata
itunes rhapsody emusic napster amazon
booking inquiriries: amy.serrata@gmail.com

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