An Interview With Selena Cross
photos, music and video courtesy of Selena Cross
by Steve Ackerman
posted 2006-05-15
PMN - Who would you consider as your greatest musical influence?
Selena - Amanda Marshall I would have to say, because I was addicted to her music right when I started writing. Since then, Alison Krauss, James Blunt, Coldplay, Beth Orton, Gillian Welch, I'm a big Kylie fan too! Elton John, I'm a sucker for a killer hook, Dixie Chicks, and I musn't forget Doris Day...
Photo courtesy of Selena Cross
PMN - If you could play with any artist or band... past or present, who would it be?
Selena - One of my dreams for a long time has been to sing a duet with Willie Nelson... He is such a great storyteller.
PMN - Maybe if you became involved with Farm Aide, that could happen...
PMN - Do you prefer to perform in a club or festival atmosphere?
Selena - Club, I love the intimacy, I must admit, I do love a big crowd too.
PMN - Tell us of your most memorable show?
Selena - I was playing at a hotel here in Melbourne, The Rosstown, I had just started gigging so I wasn't expecting much of a crowd. At the start there were a few people milling around, they sat down after a song or two, people from the pokie machine room started filling in, and before I knew it the place was full of people who had never heard of me, listening to my songs and my neato band. At the end of the gig I had sold cd's to over half the crowd, and actually ran out!! When I'm onstage, I just feel so comfortable, it's like magic. I't felt great to pull people into the room...
PMN - Travel, how much and how does that effect you?
Selena - I love the travel side of things, though I haven't done much since Sam was born.
PMN - How would you describe your music for someone who has never heard you?
Selena - Earthy Pop.
PMN - What is in your CD player right now?
Selena - White Ladder, David Gray.
PMN - Who would you like to see on VH1's Bands Reunited?
Selena - Queen... don't like my chances!
PMN - Well, that one might be difficult to pull off...
Selena - Yup!
PMN - Are you for or against the downloading of music? Why?
Selena - For, well...
PMN - I guess I could be more clear... Legal downloading...
Selena - Yes, I'm talking legally, for an indie artist like myself I feel it is a great promotional tool... I just want to play live, and to get gigs you need to pull a crowd, recently I uploaded the new tracks from my unreleased ep onto my website and invited people to download them free. Saying that... I don't believe it is ok to d/l free without the artists permission, not cool.
Photo courtesy of Selena Cross
PMN - I agree... I wish more artists were open to new ideas for using the medium that we have available to us...
Selena - Me too.
PMN - And the final question... Inspirations? Aspirastions? 2006 is moving so fast, what can we expect from you in the near future? What is next for you?
Selena - Gigs gigs and more gigs. My new band which consists of Guitar, Violin, Bass and vocal harmonies is in rehearsals as we speak and we are working on a show that I will tour locally in Australia to start. I will be offering some home recordings for fans via my website later this year to give them a taste of the new line-up too.
PMN - Awesome... And maybe the US?
Selena - Yes!! I would love that, come and hang out with all the fans that have supported me there. I will keep you posted.
PMN - Great...
Selena - Thanks Steve, it's been great chatting with you...
PMN - Selena, it has been a pleasure... Thank you so much for a great interview, I'm sure we will be in touch soon...
Selena - Thanks... twas fun! Chat soon... SelenaX
Look for Selena's CD and visit her at http://www.SelenaCross.com. Her website hosts some tracks from her albums, photos, news and more...
