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Big Sister:
Got Dem Kozmic Blues Again
by Kandia Crazy Horse |
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Photo
by Stan Papich
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following interview with Lara Parks, the lead singer/songwriter/guitarist
of blues-rock sextet Big Sister took place prior to their recent
signing at Capricorn Records. Based out of Woodstock, New York,
these Sisters - Parks, Shelly Prior (lead vocals/guitar), Lisa Wexler
(drums), Desiree Williams (bass), Denise Parent (drums/vocals) &
Jen Leigh (lead guitar/vocals) - got the most infectious blend of
soul shouts, clever lyrics and burn-down riffs around. I have long
known Big Sister is the best and baddest band on the planet. Big
Sister's latest release "So Hi How Are You" drops on July 18th at
a store new you. |
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WOMANROCK:
What are the origins of the group … how did you get started?
Lara Parks:
I met Lisa - who already knew and played with Shelly - in an acting
class at college during my first year, when I was sixteen. We all
started playing together and hanging out just about every day. Instant
connection between us. We were terrible but we thought we were the
Beatles - destined for greatness [laughing]. I feel bad for the
neighbor. He used to come over, compliment us, and then ask if we
could please just turn it down a little.
We played with a different bass player for the first few years and
then found Desiree at Woodstock '94. In the early days, we played
mostly blues clubs - actually formed officially because we already
had a good paying gig and needed to throw some stuff together quick!
It felt good and we wanted to get on the road. We played at least
three gigs a week for years …
WOMANROCK:
Were you trained in music from childhood or were you self-taught?
Parks:
My dad is a great songwriter. I took music classes always, through
college even. Went to the National Guitar Summer Workshop in Connecticut
when I was thirteen (through age 16) and met a lot of great people
who I stayed friends with, including my sister Patti Rothberg, who
got signed a couple of years ago just goofing around, playing in
the subway (she did our album cover [ for 1998's Some Songs ]).
I never really felt inspired by music classes, so I want to say
I was self-taught as far as the type of music I play. The
most inspiring learning came from the Guitar Workshop: just being
around so many musicians, so much input and collaboration.
WOMANROCK:
When precisely did the impulse arise for you to pursue music as
a career?
Parks:
I always knew. This is what makes me feel good and always
has. My dad tells me that when I was still in the carriage he was
playing a gig and I crawled out and onto the stage. He picked me
up and I grabbed the mic and started singing into it.
WOMANROCK:
Describe the relationships and instrumental interplay between you
and the other members of Big Sister.
Parks:
We are best friends, family. That comes off on stage, I think. We
are comfortable with each other. We like each other. Soul
mates…all that. We communicate on stage and improv a lot.
Every song, I would say on some level. We encourage each other and
will yell praises to each other on stage when someone plays something
great. We laugh a lot. We listen to each other and at this point
can psychically tell where the music is going in a jam. I usually
know what type of thing Shelly, Lisa, or Dez will play in any given
groove, just from playing together so much.
WOMANROCK:
How would you classify your music now (what genre if at all)?
Parks:
Well, it's definitely Rock N' Roll, right? Very blues rooted. Same
roots as Janis, Jimi, the Stones, Beatles…first generation great
rock bands. I'm glad we were wise enough to all listen to their
influences. I think (hope) we have other subconscious influences
that make us relevant in this day and not just a "retro"
band. We love Prince, for instance - that has to affect things but
I couldn't tell you how.
WOMANROCK:
Describe in a bit of detail your songwriting process …
Parks:
It really depends. I went through a phase, which was very
smooth - meaning the songs came easy and I was way happy with them,
where I just sang melodies into my little micro-cassette recorder
(which I carry everywhere). I played back the melodies and found
the chords on an acoustic.
It was simple and I think those songs are really catchy and fun
to sing. I was living in the City (Manhattan) at that time and had
a lot of boring subway time to sing to myself. Usually, the music
comes first and I find a melody for it. Some phrase will usually
come to mind which just fits the sound of the music. I've
gotten better at writing down those phrases which come to me out
of the air. I've got books full of ideas waiting to be worked.
So much of it is craft. That takes practice and the ability
to let things go that aren't working. Very humbling. If you write
stuff down everyday then you don't have to be desperate when you
sit down to write. It's more all-encompassing to incorporate songwriting
into my daily life.
We tape a lot of rehearsals and jam. Much of that becomes songs.
WOMANROCK:
What about the content of your songs? What messages are you trying
to get across?
Parks:
I am affected by meanness, insecurity, love, humor, honesty, goodness.
I like to look around and see what wants to be represented. It's
hard living on this planet and it's important to be able to relate
to one another.
Communication is the only way to release emotion - negative or positive.
I am big on expression and release. Communicating love or anger,
honesty. I guess that's me and my purpose. Speaking my own truths.
WOMANROCK:
Which musical direction do you feel you are currently heading in?
Parks:
We are trying to be a bit more song-oriented and that is also just
coming naturally. We used to focus so much on our musicianship that
we didn't really step back and see if the song worked as
it's own entity. I like the playing on our past recordings, but
I feel like those are more exciting to people who are already fans
and have seen us live. They remind me of live shows.
WOMANROCK:
What is up next for the band?
Parks:
We are just keeping on keeping on. Having fun, writing, playing.
We did a six month tour a few years back which nearly killed us
because we were carrying our own equipment, driving, doing our own
sound, promotion, booking - ALL OF IT. We would love to do it again
with someone else driving and setting up. As soon as that is possible,
we're there.
WOMANROCK:
The dreaded "Women Of Rock" questions … Did you encounter adversity
either growing up or since you made the decision to pursue a career
in the Rock & Roll arena?
Parks:
I think our strength and confidence intimidates people sometimes
... I don't think it has affected any of us too much. The main problem
with being a woman rocker on stage is keeping my boobs from bouncing
too obviously whilst running about. It's impossible, actually, so
I just let them go … [laughing]. Seriously though, now that I think
about it, it is probably those ridiculous personal details that
have actually affected me in the past. Inner judgment and fear of
other people seeing imperfections. Never fear of judgment around
the music. I think, honestly, I'm more worried about people making
fun of my thighs - AND THAT'S THE TRUTH.
WOMANROCK:
What is some of the best and some of the worst advice you received
… from family, friends, industry insiders?
Parks:
Well, the best: I'm still waiting to see if this is true. A successful
person told me that when all of your friends start "making it" there
is a tendency to give up feeling like, "Everyone is getting there
but me. I'm a loser. Fuck it!." When in actuality it means you are
almost there, you are in the right circle. SO … all my friends are
starting to "get there" … we'll see.
WOMANROCK:
Who are your influences (and does it matter if one reveres males
in the Rock pantheon more or less exclusively)?
Parks:
I think there have been more inspiring men than women in rock. I
don't know if the industry has made it that way or women haven't
felt invited into the scene. I don't understand the latter; nobody
is INVITED. I invited myself.
There are many talented, awesome women around, great songwriters
from the past and present. I love and appreciate Janis because I
think she is the only woman to capture that gritty soul energy that
IS rock - as far as women being revered in rock, maybe when we start
really rocking, people might revere us! - she was so real.
Jimi Hendrix is beyond words to me. Of course, the Beatles, the
Stones, Prince, Jane's Addiction, B.B. King, David Bowie, Bob Dylan
… So many great blues people, I just can't say. Albert King, Gatemouth
Brown, Stevie Ray (what a guitar player!), Howlin' Wolf etc. etc
… Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding. I love music, I could go on forever.
I know I'm leaving so much out. Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown
…
WOMANROCK:
How do you relate to the categories of so-called Women's Music and
the related artists … do you feel part of a continuum or are you
just "doing your own thing"?
Parks:
I don't relate to "women's music" as a category. I'm glad to be
in there with some of them (like Ani DiFranco who rocks and says
such great things) and am offended to be in there with others who
are so plastic and packaged. It doesn't really affect me either
way unless "women's music" as term means to keep us boxed into some
idea of what that is.
I used to be offended when "they" would book us into "women in music
night" (usually because it was held on Sunday night, the worst night
of the week). We used to turn down those shows, then Joan Osborne
got signed at Continental on one of those Sundays … [laughing],
WE LOSE.
Now, I feel like, if women judge each other and distance themselves
from the term or get offended by it … why is that? It's our own
selves buying into the stereotype of "women's music," meaning some
ultra-saccharine, sincere folkie. I think to change the stereotype,
maybe even end the need for a category like that, all of us should
embrace it and make "women's music" something that needs more description
than that.
WOMANROCK:
What is the role of the woman in the rock field; is it no different
than that of any skinny teenage boy who takes up the guitar?
Parks:
Whatever we say it is! As many answers to that as there are women
the rock field.
WOMANROCK:
Do you ever feel pressure from male peers, press, and public to
perform, act, or present yourself in a certain way?
Parks:
No. I don't take that shit on anyway. People (booking agents) have,
in the past, suggested being a bit more GIRLY. They are trying to
help. They think that's how to get paying gigs but they think small
and can't see beyond that. I think we are girly enough.
They were only talking about press photos though, not performance
or anything else. Male peers wouldn't dare say anything like that
… even if they thought it. Nope, people have been pretty respectful
generally and figured we knew what we were doing.
WOMANROCK:
Do you value mainstream success - Billboard charting, Michael Jackson-type
deals, the proverbial (Sixties version) Rock & Roll lifestyle -
or independence and integrity (which garners acclaim and longevity
a la Neil Young) more?
Parks:
INDEPENDENCE and integrity are the only things that ever render
an artist significant ultimately. Ain't that what it's about? I
guess not everyone thinks so. There must be those who get in this
business to makes money and get laid. I figure you can do that in
any business.
WOMANROCK:
Why are there no great women Rock & Roll stars (other than you,
of course)?
Parks:
I DON'T KNOW! I don't agree that Janis was a martyr, though. I think
people have liked or needed to think of her in that way. I think
she had a lot of fun and did too many drugs and died.
WOMANROCK:
What is your favorite Rock & Roll scene of yore?
Parks:
Haight-Ashbury but I'll always have a soft spot for the New York
Village folk scene, being from here and all.
WOMANROCK:
And what do you think is its' equivalent today? What does today's
"rock lifestyle" consist of?
Parks:
I don't think it has an equivalent. And the only thing tying rock
& roll stars together these days in any "scene" seems to be fashion
shows. Yuck. Isn't that sad? I guess the Rock & Roll Lifestyle consists
of lots of schmoozing and wearing stupidly expensive clothing in
front of designers and TV personnel. No THANKS. I think people don't
buy into "scenes" like they used to.
WOMANROCK:
Then how would you describe your environment in Woodstock (NY) and
how much (or how little) you are influenced by its' traditions:
the festival fallout, Dylan & the Band at Big Pink, the Byrdcliffe
colony etc.?
Parks:
You can't help but be conscious of it. Famous photographers, engineers,
musicians…all just local people we know. I grew up here - my friend
Ben's dad is John Sebastian, so I was conscious of the presence
of "WOODSTOCK" as separate entity since I was little. It makes "fame"
a reality.
WOMANROCK:
Which producers or other musicians would you like to collaborate
with in future?
Parks:
The Black Crowes! We really love when friends from other bands sit
in with us. It always changes the direction of our jams. I bet Ani
DiFranco would be a great rapper in a funk jam. That would be fun.
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_________________________________
Big Sister's latest release So Hi How Are You (Capricorn)
drops on July 18th. Meanwhile, you can get the skinny and check
out their past discography at:
www.bigsister.com |
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_________________________________
Kandia Crazy Horse is a Chocolate City native and rock critic whose
work has appeared in the Village Voice, Boston Phoenix, Honey
and Voyager webzine, among other publications. She currently
writes a Rock (anmuhfuhkin') Roll column, Queen Of Spades,
for Stereo-Type magazine which can soon be read online at:
www.galleryofsound.com |
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