An Interview With Selena Cross
photos, music and video courtesy of Selena Cross
by Steve Ackerman
posted 2006-05-15
PMN - The single Strip includes rapper Junior P. Tell us a bit about that... How did that come about?
Selena - I flew to LA in Jan of 2003 to meet the record label and work on the artwork. While I was there I was introduced to Jr. P and although our cultures were so different, we were on the same wave length, we played around in the studio for a bit, he'd rap, I'd sing, we had so much fun, being such different people made the musical sparks fly, so we 'went into record' and married his rap with the bridge of Strip.
PMN - And the other musicians on Strip, how was it working with them?
Selena - It was great. My bass player Damien Steele-Scott is a dear friend who I met at Uni, having him there was great. Peter Maslin, the drummer was awsome, jack Jones, James Black, rick formosa arraged the string parts (i took out an extra loan to get the MSO on the cd!!) they were all such pros. Sam Keivers who played piano on Silence did such a great job on that track, so beautiful and a popular track from the CD.
PMN - Silence was produced by yourself, how was that experience?
Selena - I felt brave producing it. Before I got into recording I never really knew what the rome of a producer was. Buzz taught me alot, I must have driven him mad with my worries. But I soon learned about the process and it all started to make sense. I worked closley with Rick Formosa, I went to his studio and sung string parts, snippets of music that I heard in my head. Same with Sam, I'm not the greatest piano player, But I sat on the stool with him and sung subtle parts that I wanted to hear. It's almost as good as creating new life... but not quite. I'm listening to it now... remembering...
PMN - And how about working with Buzz on the rest of the Strip?
Selena - It was comforting having such a legend by my side, I had to learn how to let go of the songs, let them breathe in someone else's mind for a while. We had fun, we argued, we laughed at ourselves when it got all too serious, in the end, we were just so proud of the album, it didn't matter what anyone else thought.
Photo courtesy of Selena Cross
PMN - And now about your recent work, when will your new ep, The Meaning In Sunnyville be released?
Selena - I'm hoping to release this EP in May 2006, but the website will keep you all up-to-date with the release.
PMN - How long have you been working on this new release?
Selena - A while, since mid 2004, on and off. It is a small but special collections of songs.
PMN - Did you collaborate with the same group of people as with Strip?
Selena - No. This EP was produced by Richard Pleasance and myself. Richard played most of the instruments. He is one of the most talented people I have ever met and I hope to work with him again soon! We are keen to get back into the studio to develop my sound even more since Strip from 2003. I am feeling a folk/country vibe come over me and am dying to try it out in the studio with him.
PMN - What do each of the new songs mean to you? And the album as a whole?
Selena - The new songs mean alot to me, firstly just writing them and proving to myself that I can still write meant a great deal." Selena went on to say, "I get alot of comments about 'Do As The Angels Do' a song about finding hope from with is a desperate situation. I was in a very meditative state of mind when I wrote it.
'Krista's Home' is a song about my sister, remembering when she moved away from home to Brisbane. She and I had a conversation about it many years later which is where the inspiration came from to write it. the Ep 'The Meaning In Sunnyville' is the next installment if you like. It is helping me to look forward, look back with fresh eyes and live in the now."
Photo courtesy of Selena Cross
PMN - How does it feel to be out of the studio and ready to gig?
Selena - Great! It is going to be fabulous getting back on stage after a break. I can't wait to share the new songs.
PMN - How has this experience differed from the last?
Selena - I was alot more relaxed, happy to give over some creative control. I feel more mature and less in a rush to 'get somewhere'. More excited about the experiences along the way. It was a far more intimate production too as there were less people involved.
PMN - When not writing or performing, what do you do with your free time?
Selena - At the moment I spend much of my day with my son Sam, he's almost 1!
PMN - I imagine that experience is one of the most rewarding for you...
Selena - Definitely..... life is forever changed for the better, I am slowly letting it all sink in.
PMN - Tell us about your placing runner-up in the 'We Are Listening' UK songwriting competition with her compositions 'Do As The Angels Do' and 'I'm Not Lost'...
Selena - I entered this competition on a whim really, I got an email about it and thought I'd give it a go. it was a great thrill to learn that two of my songs placed as runner up. I'm ususlluy a bit wary of competitions! But these guys are very professional and were happy to spend time giving feedback.
