Sylvie Lewis... who by the way does believe in advertising other artist's record release or shows on her site but only if I actually know you and we are real friends and I love you so please don't send me those promo messages if you are not a mate because I will just delete them!
Influences
My mother. All three grandmothers. My sister. All those paid to teach me between ages 3 and 18 (my ages not the teachers' ages). Those are without doubt influences - I used to think it was important to draw a line between those who influence us and those we like the sound of. I wish I sounded like a lot of fabulous people - but I don't. Then again, influences are funny things, subliminally creeping along under the earth like tubers - once planted they spread unseen, making themselves visible every few yards if you're lucky. You can hear for yourself right here what I sound like...and those that I like the sound of (and hope have given me a few potatoes) are: Binnie Hale, Kurt Weill, Frank Loesser, Vinicio Capossela, Eudora Welty, Gene Autry, Zora Neale Hurston, Flanders and Swann, Paolo Conte, Mayte Martin, Ben Okri, Zarah Leander, Hal David, Claude Debussy, Camille Claudel, Lucio Dalla (1960's and 70's), Gianmaria Testa (Album = Lampo), Edith Piaf, Georgia O'Keefe, The Books, Avion Travel, Serge Gainsbourg (early on, cheri), Caetano Veloso, Duke Ellington, George and Ira Gerswin, Sondre Lerche, Cole Porter, Julian Barnes, Noel Coward, Ed Harcourt, Crescent and Frost, Kate Atkinson, Kate Schutt, Sam Cooke, Randy Newman, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, John Denver, Lori Cullen, L.S Lowry, Koko Bonaparte, and pretty much anyone who wrote a song with the name Martha in it. I would also like to credit my Dad's particularly unique mix tapes - never before, never since has there been a DJ like him.
And now a note on Hemmingway. I hated him when I first read him. But here's the fantasmically wonderful thing about art - it exists. And so do we. And when we meet for the first time I might be someone to whom "The Garden of Eden" is not relevant. I become frustrated that I don't know what all the fuss is about and then brush it off. A few years later along comes an "old man and the sea" and I was flawed. What changed? Me. I was ready. And that's one of the most beautiful things about art - it waits for you to get it. And that means there's hope. And beauty around every corner. Just hold on.
Sounds Like
She spent a lot of time with grandpa's record collection and/or communing with nature...
Basically I fell in love with Maria Von Trapp when I was 5 years old and decided I wanted to become a nun. About 10 years later it dawned on me that I liked the singing part more than the habits and I started writing songs.
Now when life is good I play shows with likes of Sondre Lerche, Eleni Mandell, Teitur, Ed Harcourt, Jennifer Kimball, Tobias Froberg, The New Standards, The Weepies and occasionally, when he's free, with God (except he insists on the whole habit thing which I feel can be distracting from the music - don't you agree?).
Recently, something very lovely happened. I met a band here in Rome where I live called L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio and they asked me to join them for their realization of Mozart's "The Magic Flute". It's pretty radical and I'm honoured to be involved. We'll debut in June 2009 in Lyon, France. So in the meantime I'm writing album number 3 which I'll get to recording at some point this summer/autumn. I much prefer writing songs to writing bios.
Hi Sylvie, I really like your songs and your voice and the thoughts you put across. I first heard your song 'By Heart' on a compilation CD that came with the Word magazine. I listened to it over and over again, but then lost the CD without looking you up further. I called up The Word and sang the song down the phone to one of the people who worked there as I couldn't remember your name or the title of the song. They went into the main office and sang it back to everyone and someone recognised it and they sent me a link to the You Tube video. I watched it and was so pleased to have found out who you were once and for all and am now in love with 'Death By Beauty' as well. Will you be coming to play in the UK any time soon?
bella sylvie! wish we could come to your new york city show tomorrow, and that you could come to our LA show on friday! sending you much love from the west coast! baci honeybird
Apart from your wonderful singing and songwriting, I wanted to say it was really great talking to you today--thanks for your insight, I really hope to get to chat with you again sometime.
sylvie ...... amazing songwriting girl ... …… appreciate your friendship and musical alliance ….. sending you some love from rome, ny to rome, italy anything you need , just ask ….. stop by & check out the music, let me know what you think!
Hi Sylvie! It has been forever since I have seen you. Last time was your CD debute at Hotel Cafe in L.A. Long time ago, huh? I am very happy for you, your sound is wonderful as ever! I wish you all the best, you deserve it! Trish
Hi Sylvie It's Antje from 'Great Garden'- my first video clip is ready and is waiting on my myspace page! Best from Berlin and Happy Holidays Antje ( who used to go to Berklee, lived in Boston and Brooklyn-just in case you don't remember me...smile)
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