| 1. What are you currently up
to? |
Promoting the new CD "Usual Suspects" in Europe and Japan. It's
possible I may tour but that is just in the "talking stages" now. I
have a lot of other things happening also. The best way to keep up
with what I am working on is the home page of my website: www.joelynnturner.com
My media relations person and webmasters are great at making sure the
latest news get up there once it's "legal" to print ;-).
|
| 2. Take us through some of your personal highlights of the new
album 'The Usual Suspects' please...
|
We used home studios to do most of the recording. When we needed
a big studio for drums we went to Bear Tracks in Suffern, New York.
That's the same studio Rainbow recorded part of "Bent Out of Shape."
The technology affords us this luxury and ability to record in such
intimate places. I actually laid down most of the vocal tracks and
keyboards in my own home. It was a challenge but also very
comfortable to be able to sing in my own living room. The advantage
of recording something in a home studio is you are not "on the clock"
or being charged for recording time by the hour. This obviously
enhances the creative process.
It is more song oriented than past releases after "Nothing's Changed
and "Rescue You." There are some softer tracks but the overall sound
of the CD is very powerful. I had a radio programmer friend of mine
compare it to good sex...you have the rock `em sock 'em moments and
tender intimate aspects. It is multi dimensional.
|
| 3. How did you hook-up with Frontiers Records for this album's
release?
|
Frontiers has been trying to get me on the label for a long time
and we finally said "Yes." I have no problems with MTM. They have a
great staff but we thought we would do something new this time.
|
| 4. When you compose a song where do you get your ideas from and do
you miss writing/recording in a band environment? |
Most ideas come from real experience and life. Some are total
fantasy. Imagination, real life and somewhere in between. Yeah... it
is completely different writing with a band. When you are 1/4 or 1/5
you have different influences. When you are solo you are on your own
so you have more autonomy.
|
| 5. What were the highlight(s) of Hughes Turner Project '2' album and
the subsequent tour?
|
Fantastic. Both the album and tour. It was a great time. Glenn
is amazing and an inspiration to me and probably anyone who writes
and works with him. It was a real creative and visceral time.
|
| 6. What were the live highlights with Rainbow and why did the band
call it a day? |
Highlights...too many to mention. Playing Madison Square Garden
in NYC near my hometown of Hackensack, NJ was a big event. All the
radio airplay we received and hearing ourselves on stations all over
the country. We had a great deal of commercial success and to see
that many people enjoy your music is a great "high." It was an entire
self growth process for me.
We were supposed to get back together. It was supposed to happen after the DP reunion for "Perfect Strangers"
but it never did. So there was no major "falling out" or problem. The band really never "called it a day" so to speak.
|
| 7. Deep Purple - did you enjoy your time in the band and why did it
last only one album? |
It was awesome!! Of course I enjoyed it! We made a great album
with "Slaves and Masters" and toured the world when many bands were
afraid to go out on the road during the Gulf War.
I was fronting one of the bands that was a major influnece. As for the second part of
your question, we were in production for the second album and that
was when the other 3 guys (aside from Ritchie and I) thought it was
becoming too Rainbow-ish.
|
| 8. Anyone else you'd like to work with in the future and would you
consider joining a band again?
|
I would totally consider joining a band if it was the "right"
project. Bands are fun. I like co-creating with great guitarists and
songwriters. I would love to work with Ritchie Blackmore again. We
had an awesome combination and synergy.
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| 9. What do you enjoy most and least about being a singer?
|
Most...you get a lot of glory but the downsidee is it is a very
difficult job. You have to keep your voice in shape constantly. That
can be as much work as some body builder keeping his or her muscles
tight and strong. Your "instrument" is your voice.
|
| 10. Message to your fans?
|
Without the fans there is no need for me to do any of this. They
are the reason I keep going.
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