Interview with Changamire


Q: Your album Only Human has been released some years ago. How content are you with the reactions it got from listeners and critics?

Changamire: I am very content with the reaction "only human" received from listeners and critics. All reviews, whether local, national, or international, have been favorable to say the least.

Q: How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard of you before and where do you see your musical niche in the music biz?

Changamire: I describe my music as smooth and bitterly compassionate. my interpretation of a jazz standard is similarly conveyed in the eight R&B and soft rock songs on "Only Human". My life background was immersed in r&b, while my music training lies in straight-ahead jazz. This unique, seamless integration is my niche in the biz.

Q: You've invested a lot of time and money in the album Only Human. Why did you choose to do it just this way doing everything on your own?

Changamire: Everyone has a CD!! The studio engineer, the producer, your next door neighbor's cousin,...everybody!! So the producer, Lincoln Ross, and I knew the project had to stand out above the projects of our colleagues. People were completing CD's in several months, but "only human" took 2-1/2 years. Though the project was going to cost a lot, I did not seek out investors for it because I did not want anyone telling me to scale something down or to add a more appealing song or anything like that. Fortunately, we were pleased with the final project and believe the level of quality shines through.

Q: What does Changamire mean?

Changamire: Changamire means "like the sun". I got the name from an african name book where I looked up names meaning "sun", since it is the ruling planet for Leo, my zodiac sign.

Q: Please tell me how you teamed up with Lincoln Ross and what was it like to work with him?

Changamire: I met Lincoln Ross during a jam session in a Washington, DC (USA) jazz club, decades ago. I was there to sing, and when my time came up, I sang "God Bless The Child", and a trombonist from the audience came up during the solo section of the song and played a beautiful solo. The player later came over to my table and introduced himself as Lincoln Ross and gave me a cassette tape of a song he had written, in hopes that I may want to perform or record it. We stayed in touch over the years after that, where I heard bits and pieces of other songs he had written and work he had produced. When I decided to make a CD, I knew Lincoln had lots of recording and producing experience. Most musicians I knew then only played their instruments. It was great working with Lincoln Ross on "Only Human". The session with the 14 string players at famous Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, PA (USA) was amazing! To see him make every musician feel at home and then conduct the string players was very impressive to me. His choice of media formats, studios, and engineers was all top notch, and everyone highly regarded him and was glad to be a part of the project. Lincoln Ross is an exceptional talent, and I am honored to be recording more of his music with him.

Q: You performed at the 8th Annual Georgian International Festival of the Arts (GIFT) in 2004 and wrote a long essay on your website about it. Please try to sum up what this experience meant to you and what effect it had on your insight of the music business.

Changamire: The GIFT festival made me realize that the world loves american musicians. I don't want to be too hasty to say that they love black american musicians, though such a request has come to me recently. But I know now that if my popularity is stagnant in USA, there can be mass mania for my music in other parts of the world. Lack of the popular acceptance of my music in USA does not have a negative affect on me anymore thanks to GIFT.

Q: Your website states that you're working on a sophomore album to Only Human. When will it be finished and what will it sound like?

Changamire: The second album is scheduled to be completed in 2007. It too, like "Only Human", will be multi-genre. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that this project will include a popular re-make.

Q: You're a member of various associations and programs supporting musicians and black women. Please tell me how you've become involved in these social activities and what do they mean to you, where do you see the benefit for the community/people?

Changamire: The African And American Women's Association (AAWA) is sort of a philanthropic organization that supports causes in Africa. Among others, it is comprised of African ambassadors wives, so it has grassroots potential, where we always know where and when our aid is distributed. The National Association Of Black Female Executives In Music And Entertainment (NABFEME) has a mentor program that provides me a place to turn when I get discouraged in the music business. NABFEME has made me aware of the amount of jobs there are in the big music biz! It's astonishing. And if you want an executive in the business, they will guide you through it and provide constant support. The Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) provides Washington, DC (USA) musicians with support and information for musicians and music industry businesses and services. In addition to this, what I like about WAMA is that it distributes a directory of all members, so you can contact your peers and higher level local industry people. Art collecting is one of my passions, so i've also joined area art galleries and organizations. I spend lots of time on the internet promoting myself, other artists, and events. It is either there or my attendance at a social function, that I found out about these organizations.

Q: Who are your favourite artists and main musical inspiration in recent times?

Changamire: In recent times, my favorite artists are Natalie Cole (singing jazz), Outkast, 50 Cent, Shirley Horn, and Sade.

For more infos visit whensunnygetsblue.com, cdbaby.com and read my review of Only Human.