Atlantis Online will present a growing number of interviews with female artists in music, primarily from the rock and metal field. We present them back to back and this is the fourth page. Enjoy.
Olivia/Breathing Space - Pamela Moore - Lynn Louise Lowrey/Vixen
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
- Olivia Ruth Sparnenn, I currently live in a little village on the outskirts of a beautiful ancient city called York which many moons ago was called Eboracum and was the capital of England.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- I’m currently also studying German and linguistics at University, in-between doing as much singing as possible. I was brought up in a musical family. My father is a rock drummer, and he weaned me on all the classic rock bands. I started singing a few guest spots with my father’s group at 13 and then played with my own group at 15, playing rock covers like Led Zeppelins "Rock and Roll" and Guns n Roses "Sweet Child of Mine". At 20 years of age I met Iain Jennings, Bryan Josh and Heather Findlay from the band Mostly Autumn. Heather and Bryan were seeking backing vocalists for the launch of their album at the time and Iain was looking for someone to sing on his solo album. I’ve been playing with Mostly Autumn ever since, and Iain and I formed the band Breathing Space about 7 months ago now.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- My father has been a big inspiration to me as he is the one who really helped me start singing and without him I wouldn’t have had the experience I have today. Other inspirations would have to be Danny Bowes from the rock band ‘Thunder’ I’ll always remember the first time I heard some Thunder tracks and his voice amazed me from the first instant. Other Inspirations would have to be Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Paul Rodgers and Eva Cassidy - all for different reasons. Eva Cassidy not only from her incredible voice but the fact that she never looked for fame, as singing and playing her music was enough.
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
- That’s a tough one as my favourite songs change depending on the mood I’m in but I’d have to say.
Thunder - "Love walked in", Foreigner - "Waiting for a girl like you", Dare - "Sea of roses".
There has been a huge surge, almost a paradigm shift in rock and metal the last few years, in that women are now counted in the hundreds in a field that used to be very much male oriented. Would you like to comment on this?
- Yes I think that women are definitely more predominant nowadays in the field of rock but I guess it depends on what people class as rock and metal. I think there were some great female rock singers from the 70’s/80’s like Heart and Pat Benatar but I must confess the majority of the bands were fronted by male singers although they had very high voices!
When did you record music for the first time?
- I recorded a CD when I was 13, of some of my favourite songs at the time.
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- "The Rain Song", "Belief" and "No Promises".
Many seasoned artists still fear that moment right before showtime, how did you learn how to deal with that and how is it for you these days?
- I guess it depends on where you are playing. If I’m being honest I get really nervous before doing small intimate shows. I still get those butterflies before playing to bigger audiences but I think it’s a good thing to have the adrenaline before you go on stage. To deal with it? I just try to relax before the show, listen to some of my favourite songs and have a giggle with the rest of the band.
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- All of the gigs I have done have been absolutely fantastic and memorable, it would be so difficult to pick a favourite so I’d have to say the launch of ‘sreathing space’ was a brilliant night as we’d been looking forward to playing the songs live for months. Also the first time I did a tour abroad with Mostly Autumn was very special, as it was a completely different atmosphere to venues over here and I’ll never forget it. I find audiences abroad much more attentive and appreciative. My first gig with Mostly Autumn at the London Astoria in 2005 was extremely magical in many ways and to top it all off, Ben Matthews from Thunder guested which was the cherry on the cake for me.
What’s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- There’s actually a very varied selection of live music where I live at the moment but I would say it’s quite difficult for my kind of music, especially to find venues that suit the style. However, having said that, we’ve only been playing live for just over 6 months so we’re still trying to gain a fan base, and I do believe there’s a big audience out there who will appreciate our style.
What are you currently up to?
- Rehearsing with Breathing Space and Mostly Autumn for upcoming gigs and writing for the next Breathing Space album.
What’s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
It would probably be after a particular show one person said that my voice had moved them to tears, and that they felt they could associate with the lyrics. Any feedback about music is fantastic but I was extremely touched that the songs can have meanings for other people as well.
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
- Yes I do in fact I would probably go as far to say that I’m quite addicted, I check it at least once a day. I think the idea is absolutely fantastic. Not only can you discover some fantastic new bands but meet some really nice people as well.
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
- I haven’t had a lot of association with the recording industry but I would definitely say that the way they acquire new acts has changed along the years. Unfortunately it strikes me that many of the new groups/singers nowadays are found from reality TV shows. The bizarre thing is this isn’t reality at all - reality is the people who are out there playing music whether it be to 10 or 1000 people. If I could change one thing I think it would be to broaden people’s horizons.
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
- Yes, at the moment a lot of my time spent on the internet is researching my course but I tend to surf other people’s sites through myspace.
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- I don’t have too much time to do a lot outside music. My course takes up most of my free time but when I’m not playing myself, I love to go watch other bands.
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
- I’m quite a big fan of horror so I would have to say Stephen King. One book that I would definitely recommend is ‘The lovely bones’ by Alice Sebold.
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- I don’t really have any favourite actors/actresses at the moment I tend to go by the genre of the film, which again depends on my mood. Television - I love comedies like Malcolm in the Middle but my favourite show at the moment is Medium which is based on true-life stories of a psychic.
What favourite food do you have?
- Unfortunately anything unhealthy. I like pretty much anything apart from vegetables!!
I´m sure you’ve heard many bad pickup lines, did you ever actually hear a good one that made you think that this person is perhaps interesting?
- I can’t think of that many pickup lines. I think I would find the guy interesting if he said something honest and maybe he sparked up a conversation about music.
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- Yes. I’ve always found the paranormal extremely interesting especially living in one of the most haunted places in Britain.
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they’ve told you about?
- I’ve never seen a UFO or known anyone who has, but I had quite a spooky experience with some friends of mine. We decided to hold an overnight vigil at a friend’s house, which had had some very strange occurrences. In one room we left a ‘trigger object’ carefully drawing round it. We all stayed in another room, and a few hours later were startled to see one of the pictures on the wall swinging for quite some time. Afterwards we decided to check on the room, and the trigger object had spun around. Needless to say none of us slept alone that night!
What’s your take on that?
- With regards to our night at the house I really believe there was something paranormal happening. In fact someone who had visited the house before, had seen the ghost of a little girl. I think it’s nice to believe that there’s something else out there. It doesn’t disturb me, in fact, it’s a nice thought that it may not all be over when we die.
If you could give a piece of advice to a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- I would have to say always follow your dreams and make the most of each day.
Would you like to add something to this interview?
- Please use the medium of Myspace and the web, to listen to the unsung heroes of the music industry, who regularly produce beautiful music for people but sometimes never get the recognition they deserve. If we also don’t also support these people at live gigs, they will disappear, becoming ‘virtual bands’.
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
-Pamela Moore. Originally from Seattle, currently live in Chicago.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- At an early age I wanted to be an actress and singer. I taught myself how to play acoustic guitar and piano; I don’t have any formal training but managed to learn by listening. I bought my first guitar from babysitting money and it was the worst!! The action on the fret board was so high and the strings were so thick it made my fingers bleed every time I played it! My parents watching me go through this agonizing ordeal realized how dedicated I was to learning and decided to buy me my first REAL guitar, a Martin D12 20 - 12 string guitar! It was a beauty and sounded like heaven with each strum! To this day I STILL have that martin. I haven't picked it up in some time... but would never think of selling it. It means way too much to me! Coming from a family of 6 children we didn’t have the luxury of acquiring a lot of nice things so that martin guitar was a gift I cherished! Anyway, once I started getting the hang of playing my instruments I started experimenting w/chord structures and began writing my own songs. I loved it! So, I guess that was the start of my songwriting career…
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- U2 for their lyrical message and undeniable passion. Great singers inspire me too! I think Chris Cornell is one of my favorite male singers right now… but I am really not allegiant to any one type of music or band/artist. Whatever gives me chills! Sings to my soul! Hard Rock, Pop, not much hip hop though…
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
- I would take my ipod... that way I would be able to listen to more than 3 types of music!! Seriously,this would be very hard for me to do because so many kinds of music inspire me. Hmmm… Well, the first record would have to be my recent solo CD, "Stories From a Blue Room", U2 "Joshua Tree", and everything else on my iPod!
There has been a huge surge, almost a paradigm shift in rock and metal the last few years, in that women are now counted in the hundreds in a field that used to be very much male oriented. Would you like to comment on this?
- I think it's great! Women add another dimension to rock, which can make things more heated and powerful because there is a lot of power even in the softest of moments! I’m all for this trend or surge that you call it...it's all very encouraging. However, I must admit that I’ve found life to be cyclical and it was inevitable that the scene would turn around again and show off the power that women can create in the world of Rock!
When did you record music for the first time?
- My first professional recording was when I was 17 years old. But when I was very young, my late father would record my original acoustic songs on his 2-track recorder. I wish I knew where those ended up. Would be fun to listen to them now.
If you have to pick out a few favorite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- If you mean what are my favorite songs off my new record "Stories From A Blue Room" that would be a challenge because my favorites seem to change each week, but perhaps they are "Eyes Wide Open", "Dive Into Me" and "Forever in My Dreams". My favorite song I recorded with Queensryche will always be "SUITE SISTER MARY" from "Operation MindCrime"...
Many seasoned artists still fear that moment right before Showtime, how did you learn how to deal with that and how is it for you these days?
- I enjoy that butterfly feeling right before a show! It's like a tickle in my stomach with a little nausea added in! To combat my jitters I meditate for about 20 minutes before I hit the stage. I don't like having any distractions back stage, so no huge gathering of people. I like a private pre-show and save all the fun for the "after party"!
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- The "Empire" Tour with Queensryche in 1990. It was a great time for Queensryche and a very big honor to be included. It was also my first experience touring professionally. I was more used to a club environment and this was a completely different level of performing. I LOVED IT. I also enjoyed my last tour with them in 2006 when we were performing "Operation MindCrime" 1 & 2 with a stage, props, costumes the whole deal. The production was very challenging and unique and I was so proud to be a part of such a cutting edge production. We filmed the show in Seattle and I was told it should be out in the spring. I can't wait to see it!
What´s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- I’m not sure what you mean by situation? I have been receiving VERY positive reviews on my new record however, I have not acquired a distribution deal and that would be very helpful for me. 2 of the songs on the record have been charting in the top 40 on the Australian World Indie charts and STORIES FROM A BLUE ROOM was just honored as #4 record out of the top 10 best independently released records in the Chicago land area for 2006. Having said that, there is a lot of competition these days… the market is basically flooded with music…good and bad.
What are you currently up to?
- Currently, I am in the process of putting a band together so I can do my own shows and support my solo record. I have been talking about shooting a video and will be touring Japan with Queesnryche in the summer.
What´s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
- That my new music has helped them in a personal way. Given them hope and helped them feel emotions they locked inside themselves. Those kinds of compliments are the most satisfying to me... it's what keeps me going and true to myself.
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
- I have an assistant help me update my page and keep me current with posting news, links, photos, etc. My time is limited and at the point where I barely have time for my own life! So, I try to make a point to answer all messages sent to me. I think it's very important to continue to do so even if I get a little behind. It’s a positive way to stay connected to the people who believe in you. To personally say thank you for their support and kindness. MySpace is such an institution now, isn't it? Almost a way of life for some, which may be a bit sad if that’s all they have! But. For me, It's a wonderful networking tool! I am able to stay in touch with fans and meet some brilliant artists/musicians/producers. It's a great way tostay in touch with the masses! Hell, I think everyone has a mySpace page these days! Isn’t there 150 million members now? The downside is that it demands a lot of time and for me and I just don't have that kind of time.
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
- The record biz has changed completely since the 80's and 90's. There is a wide network of indie labels that are doing very well, which is nice to see as opposed to just a few "fat majors" that cornered the market back in the 80's and 90's! The only criticism I have about the biz these days is how many "cookie cutter" types of bands are getting signed. I’m not sure why I’m bitching about this because it’s always been this way and probably will never change. WE as a nation fall in and out of trends so quickly... but if someone comes up with a new sound, the chances of getting signed right away is very minimal. It's all about the quick buck, which I understand, but it's too bad we allow our minds to continue to be brain washed or force-fed.
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
- I don't have time to surf the net much because I have 2 websites I have to maintain daily and my record is only available online right now, which I have to monitor throughout the week. If I do surf it's usually to see what the weather is like, to purchase airline tickets if I have to go on a trip or shopping for clothes, etc.
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- I LOVE gardening! Digging in the dirt and watching beautiful flowers grow!
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
- I don't usually have a lot of time to read and when I do have the time it's usually before bed; which unfortunately reading puts me to sleep. However, The most recent book I read was Called Mind Magic "Techniques for transforming your life". By Marta Hiatt, Ph. D. I also am putting my order in for Rudy Sarzo’s book "Off The Rails".
What favorite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- Ed Norton, Johnny Depp, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Val Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Hugh Laurie, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller for his gift of humor, Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz…OH god! I could go on and on… so many gifted actors!
What favorite food do you have?
- I love pasta dishes, Thai food, and salmon. I AM a meat eater and love to eat nice healthy salads! I’d like a glass of red wine with that too.
I’m sure you’ve heard many bad pickup lines; did you ever actually hear a good one that made you think that this person is perhaps interesting?
-Yes as a matter of fact I recently had someone write a comment on one my photos that read: "A friend of mine asked me yesterday to define the word "beauty" ....I gave him you’re mySpace address!"
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- I haven't studied the paranormal however; I do believe something like this is possible.
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they’ve told you about?
- No, I haven't... but again, it would be impossible for me to NOT believe we are the only living creatures in this vast universe.
What’s your take on that?
- I would hope when the time comes to meet our neighbors from space that it is a pleasurable experience... and not a possible nightmare as Hollywood portrays it could be.
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- Be true to yourself. Don't try to be an image of what you are not... but strive to be honest with yourself and others. Never talk yourself down and always strive to be the best you can be. Enjoy the journey and not the results...
Would you like to add something to this interview?
- Thank you to the fans and friends who offer their support and love. Thank you to you for this interview! I really appreciate it.
At MySpace / Pamela Moore
Lynn Louise Lowrey
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
- Lynn Louise Lowrey, San Francisco Bay area, CA, USA.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- I have always loved music and art since I can remember. I started at age 5 on the violin, and then piano, flute, guitar, bass, drums, and vocal lessons followed.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- Heart, Pat Benatar, and Vixen inspired me because they proved woman can rock, when at that time, it was hard to be a girl in the rock world.
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
- Wow... that is a very hard question ... I guess I would take my new CD's ... Yngwie Malmsteen "Unleash the Fury", "Decyfer Down "End of Grey", Kutless "Hearts of the Innocent".
There has been a huge surge, almost a paradigm shift in rock and metal the last few years, in that women are now counted in the hundreds in a field that used to be very much male oriented. Would you like to comment on this?
- Yea, it is about time! Music is for everyone ... male and female ...
When did you record music for the first time?
- When I was 14, with my all girl band called "KOLIZION". We took a tape deck and hit record ... I still have some of our recordings ... very funny .... great memories.
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- My favorite Vixen tunes: "Edge of a Broken Heart", "How Much Love", "Love Song", "You Wish".
Many seasoned artists still fear that moment right before showtime, how did you learn how to deal with that and how is it for you these days?
- I am glad I don't have fear ... I do get very excited and a bit wild before the show...(Coca-Cola), it gets me ready for our high energy show ...
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- We have been blessed with so many great tours and great bands, it is hard to narrow it down.... but I must say I love the guys from House of Lords, we had a blast... and the Sweden Rock Festival was great ... and our last tour "Christmas is Heavy" with Yngwie was so fun and the people in Finland really rocked.
What´s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- We have a lot of rockers in our area, so the arena's get some good shows.
What are you currently up to?
- Just got back from the NAMM show in LA ... met some really cool people... getting ready to tour with Vixen ... playing some shows with Dokken pretty soon ... getting ready to release our new CD "Live & Learn" on Jan. 30, with Demolition records... writing music .... and when I am home, I sing on a Praise and Worship team....
What´s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
- The best feedback is when a fan says the show blew them away ... when they like the sound, when they like the energy, and they had a great time ...
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
- I am a myspace junkie .... I need HELP!
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
- Sometimes it seems like they choose a few artists and that is all you hear .... I would like to hear more bands get airplay ... I like to have a variety ...
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
- Not much .... mostly for music
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- Yes, I love to draw and paint, Mmmmm hang out on myspace, design stuff, study the Bible, learn about science, into motorcycles, travel, and 100 things related to music.
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
- The Holy Bible ... known as the good book. I just read an incredible book called "The Heavely Man", a true story about a man in China ....
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- I always loved Harrison Ford .... The "Lord of the Ring" series, The "Indiana Jones" films, "Star Wars" films, "Narnia" .... I am not into TV, unless I can learn from it ....
What favourite food do you have?
- Chai Tea Latte, Macadamia Nuts, Fresh Raspberries, Dark Chocolate.
I´m sure you´ve heard many bad pickup lines, did you ever actually hear a good one that made you think that this person is perhaps interesting?
- Not that I can remember ... The best thing is to say " hi, my name is _____ "
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- I am into the Holy Spirit, Miracles, power of God, prayer, afterlife, angels, prophetic word, and study of demonic activity...
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they´ve told you about?
- No, but we played with UFO in 2006 in the UK at the Custom Bike festival...
What´s your take on that?
- I have actually been to a high security military space (tracking) monitor base, and there are thousands of UFO (unidentified flying objects) floating in space, from many sources...
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- Don't follow in my footsteps, but rather make your own unique footsteps, find your own personal talents, pursue your passions, and do everything 110 %, treat people like you want to be treated, never give up, dream big, do all things with great love, speak life into your situation, laugh, take care of your body, mind, and soul, and enjoy the adventure!
Would you like to add something to this interview?
- A big thank you to all our fans ...
Thank you for the interview ....
- Peace, Love , and RAWKKKKKK !!!
Interviews made by Mike Eriksson (c), january 2007.
