"Willing to take the plunge and not knowing where your gonna end up"

Christine Santelli

What a rarity it is to find an artist who can blend elements of blues, soul, country and folk into one unique expressive form of music they can call their own. The music of Christine Santelli is an art she can truly call her own.
A born music lover from Albany, New York, Christine Santelli began singing, playing, writing and performing at a very young age. Her talents lead her to form her first professional band, the now defunct Christine & the Dickens, while still in her teens; then came the touring.
After performing extensively throughout the northeast with the Dickens, Christine Santelli moved the group to New York City. In 1994, Christine wrote and recorded her first CD, "24 Hours", and soon booked her first international tour in France. Recordings of these performances are now well known as "Live in Paris", Christine's second release. The CD led to tours across South Africa, Spain and Russia. Subsequently, recordings surfaced from performances in Moscow. The content was so strong that it was soon released as "Moscow Live".
Back in New York, Christine was voted "Blues Artist of the Year (deserving wider recognition)" by Downbeat Magazine. After several more overseas tours, Christine completed the writing and recording of her fourth album, "Season of a Child", produced by blues-rocker, Popa Chubby. Soon, she found herself headlining major festivals and sharing stages with many well-known artists such as Kim Wilson and Eric Burdon.
After touring had settled down, at least for a little while, Christine found the time to write and record her fifth album, "Christine Santelli". The record release was followed by tours throughout Norway and Switzerland, during which Christine performed two shows at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, where she shared the bill with revered blues woman, Bonnie Raitt and guitar legend, Steve Cropper.
Christine's sixth CD, "Tales From the Red Room", was welcomed with open arms by fans and critics alike. The album, inspired by Christine's solo acoustic work, has been well- received and showcases her versatility within the realms of singing and songwriting. The seventh album, produced by VizzTone Label Mate, Dave Gross, "Any Better Time" was a soulful, gritty, musical literature that speaks of the many years of touring, hard-work and artistic growth that has led Christine Santelli to this very, exciting point in her 20 some odd year-long career. The new CD Dragonfly, finds the powerful female vocalist hiding behind nothing but her acoustic guitar or in some instances her piano. 
From a career rooted in the blues, to a never ending artistic journey that explores roots music at its finest, such is the tale of Christine Santelli.

Interview by Michael Limnios

Christine, when was your first desire to become involved in the blues & who were your first idols?  
I was introduced to Bessie Smith when I was 12 Years old.  One song in particular "See if I Care” was what got me hooked.  I was never really a good student and didn't like to practice, but I couldn't put the guitar down and I had really found my voice for the first time.

What was the first gig you ever went to & what were the first songs you learned?  
I was maybe 6  and my parents took the family to an outdoor summer concert to see some performer who's name escapes me now, but it wasn't until his daughter came out and started singing did I pay attention.  At that point I knew wanted to be a performer.

Any of blues standards have any real personal feelings for you & what are some of your favorite?  
Its less of a straight ahead blues but "I'd Rather Go Blind" by the late great Miss Etta James, is one I sometime have a hard time holding back tears when I perform it.
Do you think that your music comes from the heart, the brain or the soul?
 All of the above, I recently finished a writing project, where I wrote 100 songs in 100 days.  I filmed them each day and posted them on both Youtube and Facebook.  The words and melodies start from the heart, the brain at some point gets involved to keep you on track and it wouldn't be a song worth hearing if it didn't come from the soul.

What does the BLUES mean to you & what does Blues offered you?
I would say it gave me a place to fit in. As I mentioned earlier I wasn't a good student, wasn't particularly good at sports but music and particularly the blues gave me a place to fit in.

What do you learn about yourself from music?

Everything,  I get to know myself better the more I write, I also find that its incredible how music and lyrics can be interpreted in so many different ways, and also allows the listener to find themselves in a song.   

How do you describe your philosophy about the music?  
I don't think artists should let themselves be pigeonholed into one genre of music.  The blues is a genre that encompasses many different styles such as Country, Swing, and folk among many others. Therefore it has opened me up as an artist in my own writing.   And that's what you'll find in my new acoustic album "Dragonfly".  "Dragonfly" is not a blues album, but if it wasn't for the blues it never would have been written.

What experiences in your life make you a GOOD musician?  
Willing to take the plunge and not knowing where your gonna end up

How/where do you get inspiration for your songs & who were your mentors in songwriting?
Inspiration may come from, and has, from a simple spider crawling on the wall to deep sorrow, love , new experiences and observations.  The mind and heart are an amazing endless gift.   

What musicians have influenced you most as a songwriter?
All the NYC musicians I am blessed to know and work with especially the Great Willie Nile

What are your best songs, the songs you’d most like to be remembered for?
I don't have a best song, but currently I'm quite fond of «Sweet Rita", "Dragonfly", and "Find My Way Home".  But that could change next week. I am proud of all my songs, I wouldn't mind being remembered for any one of them.

To which person do you want to send one from your songs?  
Elvis

What do you think is the main characteristic of you personality that made you a songwriter?
Insecurity

Which was the best moment of your career and which was the worst?
Best:  After playing the Montreaux Jazz festival we were one of three artists invited for dinner at Claude Nobs’ house alongside Bonnie Raitt  and Steve Cropper.
Worst:  Every time a tour ends, no matter how hard it gets its all worth it.  

What is the “think” you miss from the Dickens?  
My Keyboard player Mike Lattrell.

Which of historical blues personalities would you like to meet?  
I would like to hear stories from Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Etta James, and Muddy Waters.  I was fortunate to hear great stories from the late great Van "Piano man" Walls.

Of all the BLUES people you’ve meeting, who do you admire the most?   
Etta James would have to be the one.

Do you have any amusing tales to tell from Montreux Jazz Fest with Bonnie Raitt And Steve Cropper?   
After dinner we had to leave and Claude asked, "where are you going?  We are going to jam in the living room".  He had forgotten he had booked another show for us that night at the festival.  We never did get to jam with them.

Are there any memories from Alvin Lee, which you’d like to share with us?  
It was actually Alvin Lee from Ten years after who came over to my table while I was talking to a record label guy and introduced himself. I'm a huge Alvin fan, he's my late night music after a gig.  It turns out my drummer/husband had set it up for him to come over to meet me.   

Would you mind telling me your most vivid memory from Popa Chubby?
When I first came to NYC 20 something years ago he was running a jam at Manny's Carwash.  He yelled at my guitar player for bringing his amp. Feeling intimidated, I ripped through a song and when I was done he came over to me and couldn't have been more encouraging.  We have played many gigs together, He produced one of my albums and he played on a song I wrote in memory of my late friend Bill Perry. "Ode to Bill".

Some music styles can be fads but the blues is always with us.  Why do think that is? Give one wish for the BLUES     
Its the basis for all good music. The one wish I have for the Blues is that more young people get exposed to it.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians thinking of pursuing a career in the craft?  
Stay true to yourself.  

Happiness is…
…knowing that I have touched someone with my music.   

Where did you pick up your style, how would you describe your contact to people when you are on stage?  
I'm known for my stage presence, its a give and take with the audience.  The more you give of yourself the more you get back.

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