I read it somewhere that Wendy Parr is also a instructor (voice) at KM conservatory. Can anyone confirm this?!
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Anil Nair <rhythmca...@...> wrote: > > He is a special man, an incredible talent with a solid spiritual core. We > talk about the divine, the world and then we laugh and are silly > > So You Work a 9 to 5: Interview with Wendy Parr, Songwriter for "Slumdog > Millionaire," and Vocal Teacher <http://www.girlatastartup.com/? p=789> > Feb 12, 2009 > Interview <http://www.girlatastartup.com/?cat=23>, > inspirational<http://www.girlatastartup.com/?cat=22> > > It's a small world after all. Seriously. When I first started out with > auditioning in NYC, I would trudge from job to audition to class, and though > it was rough at times, I could wake up in the morning and feel like I was > alive. I mean, going for what you want is difficult, but when you're doing > it, you know deep down that you're making the right decision because you're > following your gut instincts. > > Anyway, I used to take vocal lessons (hence the obsession with karaoke) > with Wendy Parr, <http://www.wendyparr.com/noflash.html> a songwriter, > vocalist and vocal teacher. She was definitely the kind of teacher who gave > constructive criticism in a not-so-harsh way so you could work on your > talents and weaknesses at the same time. We also wrote several tracks/songs > together, but once I decided to make the move to LA, I thought we'd never > cross paths again. Then, randomly, I bumped into her during the weekend of > the Golden Globes because she WROTE A SONG for "*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE."* You > know, that film that won Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and is also a heavy > favorite to win an Academy Award. So ya know, I had to get an interview for > the blog. > > <http://www.girlatastartup.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/wendy- 2.jpg> > *Wendy, what an honor to have you as an interview for girlatastartup. I've > never interviewed anyone whose song is in a film that has been Golden-Globe > and Academy Award nominated. So kick-ass. So, tell us a bit about your > background. Where are you from?* > > I'm born in Northern California, raised in LA, moved to NY for NYU TISCH > drama, and it seems the further East I go the happier I am. I'm living in > Bombay & NYC now. And spend a good deal of my experience traveling I am a > happy nomad. > > *How did you get started as a songwriter? Were your parents supportive of > your creative goals or did they want you to do something more stable?* > > I have always been a writer - a desire to share, tell stories. I've been > entertaining since I was a kid when I would write & direct after- dinner > performances for my family. I started working professionally as an actor and > singer when I was 8. Many years of writing taught me a lot and honed my > skills. Still honing. My folks I am grateful to say encouraged and supported > my passions and talents by providing me training and education - voice with > Seth Riggs,dance classes, NYU TISCH DRAMA > > *You're a lucky gal. I started taking vocal lessons with you in NYC via > referral and remember being in a tough period of my life; auditioning and > struggling. Going to your classes and working on my voice really meant > something. What is it like when you teach students like myself?* > > I love teaching again, it's an opportunity to share and empower others. > Students like yourself full of passion, drive, desire who practice & put it > to good use that makes teaching a fulfilling experience. > > *Aw thanks. So, How did you get involved with writing the lyrics for > "Dreams on Fire," for the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire? Amazing film.* > > I met AR Rahman a couple years ago, introduced myself and told him I want to > work with him, finish my album with him. Kind, generous and unique man that > he is he was open to meeting me. We met up in India and after listening to > my tracks asked if I wanted to write on a project he was doing. YES! is the > answer to that question. I spent three weeks in Madras working with him and > one song turned into four songs for two films. > > A few months ago I was in Bombay and AR was working on a couple projects. He > pulled up the track for Dreams on Fire and said he wanted lyrics I took the > pad and went to it. I did not know the film and in fact didn't see it until > long after we recorded. I asked questions about the story line, characters > to lead me to themes I would put into the song. I wrote and we finished the > recording the same night in 3 hours. > > *Wow. Only 3 hours? I'm impressed. Tell us, what is your songwriting > process? Are you more structured or stream of consciousness?* > > Both. In this case I have a melody to write to given melody and meter. And > for a film there are characters and themes to consider. Then I weave in > personal experiences or points of view which expand the concepts. I allow > myself to write anything that comes the rewriting and editing is the craft > but to mold something we need lots of clay to play with. I often write pages > which boil down to a 3 minute song. > > *Really cool. Have you worked with M.I.A. and A.R. Rahman before? What was > it like working with these two artists/composers?* > > I have not met M.I.A. AR and I have been working together. He is a special > man, an incredible talent with a solid spiritual core. We talk about the > divine, the world and then we laugh and are silly. So it's fun and > uplifting. And I have learned a lot and improved as a writer working with > him. He's a good editor. > > *As a creative person, what advice would you give to someone out there who > is still struggling to achieve their goals or trying to figure out their > talents? Words of inspiration?* > > Follow your passions. You have them for a reason. Add to that A LOT of > dedication, training talents must be respected and discipline is required > to give them true opportunity to fly and shine. Listen to criticism not to > stop you but to help you know where you need improving. > > *Word. And the world, every single critic imaginable is embracing "Slumdog > Millionaire," and you must be so proud to be a part of it all. Last time I > saw you, you were in LA for the Golden Globes!! How was that? Tell us all > the details!* > > I am thrilled about the film it's an incredible work of art with a strong > point of view. The Golden Globes I was just proud for the cast & crew & AR > happy for India to be spilling it's gifts to the West. The musicians and > life there is amazing. I'm excited for more people to experience it. Oh and > I felt beautiful. > > *What projects are you currently working and also what's next for the > future?* > > I am writing with an artist in LA for her up coming album, Hypnotribe a Rock > band in India is recording their first album and I wrote a number of tracks > with them. I'm also writing for my own project Heera in the Raw a Global > Pop album Western Sensibilities with Indian rhythms, sounds and grooves. > > *You've already achieved so much, but what's one more thing that you hope to > do in the near future?* > > SO much! Writing for others is a real pleasure, so I'm excited to have hits > in different countries and genres performed by others. As well as my own > world tour performing with International artists. > > *One more Awards show question. How excited are you for the Academy Awards? > What will you be wearing?* > > VERY EXCITED for AR! and all my Indian artist friends this opens SO much > up! I am most likely wearing a silk embroidered sari > > *In closing, we MUST hear what's on your playlist. What are the tracks > you're listening to?* > > Right now it's Slumdog I'm learning the Hindi songs, I also love to stream > radioteentaal all day Bollywood! Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, > Rufus Wainwright . > > Fabulous. I'll have to stream these songs Thanks so much for your time, > Wendy, and we have to release those tracks in the near future. *And GOOD > LUCK AT THE OSCARS!!!* > > -- > -A > http://viewsnmuse.blogspot.com >
