Rose Melberg Interview Sam Iravani. rosemelberg.net, December 2007 Q: What do you like most about living in Canada? A: Well, socialized medicine is really great. Vancouver is an amazing city. I love always being at the foot of some pretty majestic mountains. What I love most about it is that it really is my home how. I've been here for twelve years and my son is Canadian so this is where my heart is planted. Q: Do you listen to any genres of music that would surprise listeners? A: I love Broadway musicals. And Christmas music. No joke. Q: Do you feel that your influences and your sources of inspiration have changed somewhat over the last five years or so? At least some of the songs on the new album (Cast Away The Clouds) seem closer to delicate Vashti Bunyan style folk music than anything you've done before. A: The music that I make isn't necessarily influenced by what I'm listening to. It seems to be more affected by the general mood of my life at the time. The influences do creep in for sure but it usually isn't intentional. Q: Portola was a mixed bag. It seemed to me to be more of a personal compilation than an actual solo album. Do you think that's fair? A: That's exactly what it is. I had this funny bunch of songs that I had recorded over the years for various reasons and when Peter suggested putting them all together as an album I thought it would be a nice way to save them all as sort of a souvenir of that time. I never originally intended to release most of those songs but I'm really glad that I did. Q: The Softies was possibly your best known project. Out of the mini-LP and three albums that were released, do you have one piece of work you're particularly proud of? A: I'm really proud of all the Softies stuff mostly because it is such a testament to my amazing friendship with Jen. We spent so much time together making that music and it was always so special. Each record is special to me for different reasons. I'm pretty amazed that Holiday in Rhode Island got made because Jen and I were living ten hours apart and our lives were crazy busy at that time but we made that record against all odds. I'm proud of that. Q: Do you have any special rituals you go through (and any special places you go to) while writing lyrics, or are you able to write whenever and wherever an idea arises? Do you need a special environment in which to be creative? A: I actually write lots of my lyrics while I am walking or riding my bike. I like to keep guitars throughout my house so that I can just pick one up whenever I have a few minutes to spare. Q: Is there any aspect of making music that discourages you? A: I am pretty sensitive to criticism. The songs are really special to me and I make them because my heart just kind of feels compelled to do it. So when I put them out into the world and someone feels the need to say something negative about them it does hurt my feelings quite a bit. I know that is just a part of putting out music but it certainly isn't why I do it. I know it sounds kind of like a cliche but I do just love making music and sharing it for no other reason than to just do it. It always catches me off guard how people can be so unnecessarily unkind. Q: Go Sailor had two songs featured in the film, "But I'm A Cheerleader". Was this good exposure for you? What did you think of the film? A: It was really good fun to see the movie in a theater and hear the songs in such a grand manner. It certainly didn't change anything for the band. It is really cool to have something like that for when I'm an old lady so I can show people what I used to do. The movie is really sweet and I'm really proud that we were put in it. Q: "Take Some Time" was the free single of the week on iTunes Canada. Do you download music a lot? Do you feel the overall influence of the internet on music has been positive or negative? A: I'm really glad that the internet makes the music really available to people who like it but otherwise may have never found it. I do find the internet a little overwhelming at times so I have to kind of limit my exposure to my own internet presence. It kind of goes back to my extreme sensitivity. I'm always terrified of reading something not so supportive. I do love the nice messages I frequently get from people who like my music. I am really grateful that there is an avenue for people to reach out. Peter at Double Agent Records does such a great job filtering the really nice stuff to me. Q: Have you met (or heard of) any celebrities that consider themselves fans of your music? A: Not really. Maybe just other music people who are like celebrities to me but perhaps not to the rest of the world. I get so so excited when I find out that someone who I really admire knows my music. It is always crazy to go from fan to peer. I've never really gotten over being just a goofy music fan. Q: Do you love nature? A: I certainly do. I grew up as a hippie kid in the seventies in California. It is in my blood. Q: Do you genuinely enjoy the touring experience, or do you do it for other reasons? Do you have a favorite place to tour? A: Touring with the Softies was always a blast. Jen and I used to love to go antique shopping on tour. It is great when your band mate is also your best friend. I toured lots for many years so it is good that I kind of got it out of my system. I'm pretty settled down now with my son and my job but I still do love to go out occasionally for little jaunts to fun places. My trip to the UK was so wonderful. I'd like to do that again for sure. I'd also like to go back to Japan (the Softies went in 1996). My dream of all dreams is to play in Sweden. Q: I presume with a name like Melberg there is some Scandinavian in your heritage? A: My grandfather's family came over from Sweden. It is not at all a common name over here so it is so cool when I get letters from people in Sweden and Norway with the same last name. Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? A: I've always wanted to go to Iceland. I really want to take my son there someday. Q: The music industry has a reputation for being corrupt and cruel. What has your experience been like so far? A: I've done a good job making pretty sound choices about who I work with. It was never my intention to have a massive music career. All I ever wanted to do was be a part of a community of other artists and people who do the kinds of things that I think are amazing. I have made some very conscious decisions over the years to keep my music life small and special. I love all the people that I have worked with. They are all my friends. It is wonderful to trust the people around me. Q: Are you happy with the level of success you have achieved? A: I often think how amazing it is that I have pretty much managed to achieve everything I set out to do. I have met wonderful people who continue to inspire me constantly. I think I've managed to get my records to the people who will like them most. I've made records that I'm really proud of. I have always known that what I do isn't meant for all ears. It keeps it really precious to know that most of the people who hear it do truly appreciate it. I have no greater aspirations than to just keep making music at this level forever. The End Special thanks to Rose Melberg for going out of her way to answer these questions.