For an undocumented immigrant, what is the true cost of the American Dream? In her new memoir, My (Underground) American Dream, Julissa Arce examines that question as she tells her inspirational story.
Julissa was 11 when she moved to San Antonio from Mexico, and she learned that she was an undocumented immigrant on the day of her quinceañera. Despite all odds, she excelled in her studies, and in 2005 she became an analyst at Goldman Sachs. Over the next six years, Julissa continued to conquer the corporate ladder, achieving phenomenal success while living in fear because of her secret undocumented status.
Julissa has decided to use her story to fight for immigrant rights and change the national conversation around immigration. In addition to writing her memoir, she is the chairman and co-founder of the Ascend Educational Fund (AEF), a college scholarship and mentorship program for immigrant students in New York City, regardless of their ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status.
Julissa will join us at Jackson Heights Community Library to discuss her memoir, her success as a woman on male-dominated Wall Street, and more with New York State Assemblymember Francisco Moya.
Tickets to this free event—which will be held in English (at 2:00 p.m.) and Spanish (at 3:15 p.m.) on Saturday, September 17—are still available.
Julissa was also kind enough to answer some questions for us before her upcoming event.
What role have libraries played in your life?
I've always loved books, and libraries make books accessible to everyone. If knowledge is power, then libraries are the fuel for that power. However, for the longest time I couldn't borrow a book from a library because you needed a valid I.D., and as an undocumented immigrant I couldn’t get a valid I.D. It was frustrating that something as simple as getting a book from the library was so cumbersome for someone in my situation.
Can you tell us more about the Ascend Educational Fund and how it helps immigrant students?
AEF has awarded over $200,000 in scholarships over the last four years. We believe that, regardless of immigration status, all students deserve access to the same educational and professional opportunities. For many of our students, AEF is their only hope of going to college. I struggled to pay for college, and I promised myself that one day I would create a scholarship fund to help students in my situation. These students have persevered through unimaginable circumstances and we are proud to be able to play a part in their journey.
You were officially sworn in as an American citizen in August 2014—how excited are you to vote in a presidential election for the first time this fall?
I feel incredibly privileged to exercise my right to vote this November. My first vote will be in a critical election for our country. Our next president is going to appoint the ninth Justice of the Supreme Court, so this election will impact generations to come. There are cases on issues ranging from immigration to voting rights that the next justice will help decide.
Immigration has been a heated topic in this year’s presidential campaign. Despite their past statements, what would you like to say to both candidates about immigration reform?
Immigrants cannot continue to be a scapegoat for you. Our country has always been a country of immigrants, and together we make America great. We love and believe in this country so much that we are willing to cross oceans, walk through deserts, and risk our lives to come to America in search of a better future. Immigration reform would not only enrich the lives of immigrants themselves, but it would also enrich our country. Immigration reform would strengthen our economy, create jobs, and make our country more secure.
What are some of your favorite books and who are your favorite authors?
I love Paulo Coelho, C.S. Lewis, Eddie Huang, Sandra Cisneros, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Richard Wright, and Turney Duff. Their writing is so honest and raw—every single one of them has influenced my philosophy and writing. In terms of business books, I swear by The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, How to Win Friends & Influence People, and pretty much anything Malcolm Gladwell writes. One of my newest favorite books is Self Made by Nely Galan.
Despite your immigration status, you achieved so much in your life at such a young age. What are your lessons for success?
1. Focus only on the things you can control.
2. Be strong in your convictions.
3. Be nice to people.
4. Most importantly, do the work, don't take shortcuts.
What advice would you give to other young people who have found themselves in a situation like yours?
Do not give up; your dreams are worth your sacrifice. Do not worry about the million things you cannot control; instead, focus on your education, focus on developing your professional skills, and the rest will fall into place. I will continue to fight for your rights and work tirelessly to even the playing field.
“I have always associated Fridays with libraries,” says Florence Odigie from Arverne. “When I was younger, my mother would take me and my siblings to the Arverne Community Library to check out books for the week. Once I was older, I still continued this tradition and would often visit the library after I got out of school on Friday afternoons.”
When Florence reached tenth grade, she asked if she could volunteer at the Arverne Library. Even though the branch had moved to a cramped trailer due to Hurricane Sandy, she gladly offered her help, following in the footsteps of her sister, who had volunteered at Arverne years earlier.
Later that year, Florence accepted an offer to work as a library page. “To this day, I do not regret that decision,” she says. “What I gained from my two years of working at Arverne is not limited to valuable job experience; it also includes a precious support system and countless words of
wisdom. I previously believed that I would have trouble balancing a job and schoolwork. However, the staff encouraged me and allowed me to work around my school schedule, and understood that my education was worth more than anything to me. I did come to realize that I have the ability to balance a lot of responsibilities successfully.”
“Florence’s pleasant demeanor could always brighten up any customer or staff member’s day,” says
Nicole Gordon, Community Library Manager at Arverne. “Her infectious smile was always inviting, and the children were always drawn to her. No task was ever too big for her and she was always ready and willing to take on more responsibilities. What’s so amazing about her is that she would come in to work only twice a week, but was always able to accomplish so much. When she left for the day, the children’s room always looked like she had waved a magic wand.”
When Florence began to fulfill the promise of her education, she knew she could rely on her library family for help. Staff members—as well as other library customers!—helped her revise her college essay and advised her throughout her college application process. That help paid off in a fantastic way—Florence was accepted at Princeton, Cornell, Harvard, UPenn, and numerous other colleges!
“Without the help of the library’s staff members and patrons, I highly doubt I could have achieved all that I have to this day,” says Florence. “Whenever I had to go to a college interview or visit a college, I always had the utmost support from the staff at Arverne. As I head off to Princeton University, I will always cherish the years I have spent at Arverne Library. The experience I’ve gained from when I was a child to now has definitely enriched my life.”
Thanks to Florence for her dedication—and everyone at Queens Library wishes her good luck this fall!
Photo: Arverne Community Library Manager Nicole Gordon with Florence Odigie.
The multi-award-winning Japanese vocalist TiA will be joining us at Queens Library on Saturday, August 13—get your tickets now!
TiA, who was born in Yokohama, Japan, signed a record contract with Epic Records when she was just 16. Shortly after that, her song “Ryuusei” was featured on the hit anime show Naruto. TiA’s first album received a Gold Disc Award, and her singles have ranked at number 1 six consecutive times on Chaku Uta, a record chart that measures the most cellphone downloads of best-selling digital singles in Japan. Since making her American performing debut in 2014, she has appeared at the Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, the Prudential Center, and more. She released her first American track in 2015, and is winning over audiences with her expressive and soulful voice.
TiA graciously answered five quick questions for us before her upcoming concert.
Have you ever visited an American library? And how different are Japanese libraries than the ones in the U.S.?
Yes, I've been to an American library in New York. I like libraries because they are quiet. I can study and concentrate there. There are no huge differences between Japanese libraries and American libraries.
Congratulations on signing a record contract at such a young age! What inspired you to start singing?
Thank you. Actually, my mother was a singer and she taught me how to sing.
How many times have you performed in the United States? And how did it feel to perform at the Apollo Theater?
So many times! I lost count, because I've been performing almost every day since I came here. It was my dream to perform at the Apollo Theater. I’m blessed to have been a part of that historical venue.
Your song “Ryuusei” appears on the anime show Naruto. Are you a fan of anime?
Actually, I'm not a huge fan of anime. But when I got offered Naruto's ending theme, I looked up some episodes and it was really fun to watch!
What can our customers expect at your concert here at Queens Library?
I am going to sing Japanese original songs, some American cover songs, and my U.S. debut single "I'm On My Way." I rarely get the chance to sing my Japanese original songs here in the U.S., so I'm excited to share them with all of you.
TiA took over Queens Library’s Instagram on Wednesday, August 10. Visit instagram.com/queenslibrary to see her posts!
Looking for new music? Look no further than your local Queens Library!
Every month, our expert staff will bring you the best of what's new in our physical and digital collections.
Check out our music recommendations for August 2016!
Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Getaway
Few rock groups of the '80s broke down as many musical barriers and were as original as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They created an intoxicating new musical style by combining funk and punk rock together (with an explosive stage show to boot). In 2016, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their 11th studio album, The Getaway. In an attempt to escape the creative quagmire evident on their last several LPs, the band recruited Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton, who produced the record and co-wrote five of its tracks. Unsurprisingly, The Getaway easily stands as the Peppers’ lushest album to date. Watch the video for the song “Dark Necessities."
Craig Morgan, A Whole Lot More to Me
A Whole Lot More to Me is the ninth studio album by American country music artist Craig Morgan. He co-wrote nearly half of the album's 12 tracks and for the first time co-produced the set with recording wiz Byron Gallimore (who worked with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Lee Ann Womack). The album's uplifting first single, "When I'm Gone"—rather incongruously—finds inspiration in mortality. Some of the topics in other songs suggest Morgan's sense of adventure: sushi, caviar, champagne, a Versace suit, and silk ties. Like the title, Morgan proves what an open-minded guy he can be. You can stream the whole album on Freegal.
Brad Mehldau Trio, Blues and Ballads
Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau has recorded and performed extensively since the early 1990s. His trio’s latest album could be considered jazz for the average guy, in contrast to his typical classical music influences and deep technical virtuosity. For example, the trio explores the splendid simplicity of The Beatles "And I Love Her," goes on to Cole Porter's "I Concentrate On You" and Charlie Parker's "Cheryl," and finally closes out with a version of Paul McCartney's "My Valentine." It's a deceptively sweet-sounding set which is absolutely absorbing. Perhaps only a musician of Mehldau’s extraordinary powers of invention can do this consistently and to such intense effect, but it works. Listen to “And I Love Her."
Kevin Gates, Islah
Since releasing his first mixtape in 2007, Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates' rise to success has been organic. Following his release from prison in 2011, he doubled down and delivered a steady stream of output. Gates' debut studio album was inspired by his daughter, named Islah, which means “to make better." The album was released with few pushbacks and (even more astonishingly) almost no big-name guest spots or features, suggesting that his no-holds-barred candor is working for him. His best music is rooted strongly in the 2Pac tradition of blunt-force honesty, which gives us every good, bad, and ugly thing he has. Watch Gates perform "2 Phones" and share his story on The Wendy Williams Show.
Paul Simon, Stranger to Stranger
Raised in Queens to first-generation Hungarian-Jewish immigrants, Paul Simon copyrighted his first song, “The Girl for Me,” with Art Garfunkel when he was 14. He has since soared to musical heights with the release of his groundbreaking Graceland album and has worked with musicians all over the world. He was even selected as one of the "100 People Who Shaped the World" by Time magazine in 2006. His latest CD, Stranger to Stranger, is a record that nearly draws together the man’s entire accrued vernacular. It's as inviting, immaculately produced, jokey, and unsettled a record as any he has ever made. Just some stuff in the head of a 74-year-old New Yorker, spun casually into art in that sagely, choirboy, and everyman voice. Watch the video for the first single, “Wristband."
case/lang/veirs, case/lang/veirs
case/lang/veirs is a Canadian-American super-group consisting of k.d. lang, Neko Case, and Laura Veirs. Rather than bring finished songs to the studio, they honored the spirit of collaboration. The result is an album of rare beauty and intelligence, rendered in imaginative arrangements containing sometimes startling harmonies. The most moving moment of an almost faultless album, though, is lang's contribution, “Why Do We Fight?”, where piano, glockenspiel, and a low hum of strings reinforce strummed guitar. While the hooks are mostly vocal-led, producer Tucker Martine and the small band of players color them perfectly. While a collaborative record like this probably won’t yield a follow-up, it’d be a gift if it did. Listen to the track “Atomic Number."
Mike Posner, At Night, Alone.
Until recently, Mike Posner was a bit of a bridesmaid figure of major-label pop, co-writing for Justin Bieber and Maroon 5, but less successful when it came to recording under his own name. But then came “I Took a Pill in Ibiza." Those looking for the same sort of bouncy clubland anthem will not find it on his second album. Instead, it’s an album exclusively optimized for solitude spent immersed in deep thought. The good news is that Posner has one of the most distinctive male voices in pop, and it’s in full force here. Fortunately, the production lets it shine. Watch Posner's acoustic performance of "Be As You Are" for PerezTV.
Neil Young, Earth
Neil Young earned fame both as a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and as a solo artist. Young has always been a strong advocate for environmental issues, which is the basis for Earth, recorded live last year. The 13 songs, culled from earlier material on the subject, are overdubbed with “choral gleam, extra guitar drama, and noisy approval by a peanut gallery of livestock, turkeys, insects, and crows.” But Earth is not really a “live” album at all. For a collection of songs about food awareness, there is very little organic or even natural about it. Credit goes to the thematic consistency of Young’s songwriting, but also to Promise of the Real, his current backing band featuring Willie Nelson’s sons Lukas and Mika. He's made an album worth spending some time with. Watch a video for the opening track “Seed Justice.”
Musiq Soulchild, Life on Earth
The Philadelphia-born Taalib Johnson (aka Musiq Soulchild) grew up in a household that provided him with an education in '70s soul and the likes of D'Angelo and Lauryn Hill. After six albums for Def Soul and Atlantic, in which he refined his style to produce a string of gold and platinum albums, he is now signed to My Block, the boutique label run by Grammy-winning producer Warryn Campbell. Life on Earth is Johnson's first proper album in five years, and his first outside the major-label system. There are no wacky personas, no sharp left turns. It’s simply the soulful R&B that has become the hallmark of his career. Life on Earth doesn’t rewrite Musiq’s playbook and it wasn’t meant to. It’s simply a back-to-basics album from an artist who has been away from home much too long. Watch the video for the track “I Do.”
American Authors, What We Live For
The American Authors formed while at school in Boston in 2006, but dropped out and relocated to Brooklyn in 2010. On their sophomore album, they play a variety of characters throughout their tracks. They travel with gypsies by way of thick folk vibes (complete with plenty of tambourine action), and paint pictures of desert campfires. They take the stage in a swanky jazz lounge, and then a stage made of crates with a two-stepping crowd. The title track, written by Captain Cuts, sets the tone with the first of many singalong choruses, a solid pick for fans of passionate, radio-ready, summertime spirit. Watch the video.
“Dreams Start Here” is the theme of our upcoming 2016 Autumn Gala, and I welcome you to join us and help support the Queens Library programs and services that encourage our children and teens to achieve their dreams.
For many of our customers, the dream of a better life begins at Queens Library. This is especially true for the youngest members of our community. Whether it’s early childhood programs like Universal Pre-K and our Toddler Learning Centers, daily science and technology activities at our Children’s Library and Discovery Center, or the help provided at our STACKS afterschool programs and Teen Spaces, our community libraries help thousands of young people realize their dreams every day.
As President and CEO, I’ve decided to get the ball rolling for this year’s Gala. I’ve personally purchased the first table’s worth of tickets. I believe that it’s as important for me to give back to the Library as it is to ask our community for their support. We can all do our part to help build the life-changing programs that Queens Library provides.
The Autumn Gala will kick off our fall fundraising season. We’re very privileged to be recognizing the Honorable David N. Dinkins, the 106th Mayor of New York; Husam Ahmad, Chairman and CEO of HAKS; and Plaxall as our Gala honorees.
Of course, not everyone needs to buy tickets to a special event to help the Library. Every level of support is welcome and appreciated. When we join together to donate to Queens Library and to help fund the programs that fulfill the dreams of our children and young people, we make a lifelong impact on the future of our community.
You can learn more about the 2016 Autumn Gala and other ways you can give to Queens Library by visiting queenslibrarygala.org. I thank you for your support.
Dennis
We’re very happy to welcome the multi-talented Alton Fitzgerald White to Queens Library! A versatile singer, actor, and dancer, Alton has starred in several Broadway hits, including The Lion King, The Color Purple, Ragtime, Miss Saigon, and more. He has performed in concerts around the world and will sing selections from his critically acclaimed album, Disney: My Way!, at his sold-out Central Library show on July 25. Alton will also autograph CDs after his performance. (There will be a standby line for free seats in case of no-shows.)
Alton was kind enough to answer some questions for us about his historic run on Broadway, his many artistic interests, and more.
What role have libraries played in your life?
The library was the most important place to me growing up. I would go to my local library as a child to see the special shows and cartoons playing there, and I’ve always loved to read. Before computers and the internet, libraries were everything; they were the best way to access information and knowledge.
Last year, you ended your legendary run as Mufasa in The Lion King after 4,308 performances! That’s an incredible accomplishment! How did you keep the character new and exciting for you while performing it so many times?
The number one way was gratitude—gratitude for being a working actor! Being in such a successful show and playing such a great character gave me plenty of motivation. But as an actor, whether it’s community theater, regional theater, or the absolute pinnacle of Broadway, it all comes back to being able to work and having gratitude for that.
On Disney: My Way!, you perform a collection of classic Disney songs. What inspired that project?
I was at the point in my career where I wanted to do a theatrical CD, and I didn’t want to use the same songs everyone else does. Around that time, Disney asked me to perform on one of their cruises, and put together a lineup of songs for me from their Broadway shows. It was a wonderful experience, especially singing songs that were originally written for women performers. I had a grown man come up to me with tears in his eyes because he never imagined that a man could sing “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins! So I decided that I really wanted to do a CD of Disney songs, and I contacted Thomas Schumacher, the president of Disney Theatrical Group, who gave me access to their entire catalog. I put my own money into the CD, and paid the licensing rights for the songs I chose. It’s the project in my career that I’m most proud of, and I’m honored that Disney let me put their name on it!
You’ve had a very full career, appearing on Broadway, on television, and in film, singing all over the world, and even doing voiceover work. Is there one kind of performing that you enjoy the most? And are there any other kinds of artistic work you want to try in the future?
I enjoy singing as myself. After playing so many strong characters during my career, singing songs as myself, without any bells and whistles, in an intimate setting like a cabaret or a nightclub, is very liberating. I’m finishing my first book at the moment, and I’m really looking forward to releasing it! I’d like to expand my film and television career. I’m also developing musical theater master classes, creative workshops, and speaking engagements. I’m most interested in sharing my voice, talents, advice, and motivation, in every medium.
What can our customers expect at your sold-out concert at Central Library?
A lot of fun! I hope they’ll sit back, relax, and enjoy the songs. I’m excited about the Q & A part of the show, where I can share stories about the songs I’m performing, answer questions from the audience, and satisfy curiosities.
What career advice do you have for aspiring Broadway actors?
The most important thing is to work on your personal discipline. You can have all the looks in the world, all the talent, but without the right attitude, you won’t be able to sustain the opportunities that come your way.
What are some of your favorite books and authors? And what are you reading at the moment?
Anything by Malcolm Gladwell—Outliers is a phenomenal book. I’m currently re-reading The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. I really enjoy motivational books, because no matter how far you go, you need to be reminded of what you’ve learned. Life is constantly changing, and motivational books can help you maintain your personal foundation of hope, gratitude, faith, and trust.
Since July celebrates the birth of our nation, we decided that it’s the best time to showcase our New Americans Program!
NAP offers help with immigration issues and provides financial and legal advice, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, and cultural events to help those that have recently chosen to live in the United States. We will be highlighting these workshops and special events all month on social media with #NewAmericansMonth.
NAP works closely with Queens Library's Adult Learner Program, the Job and Business Academy, and all our community libraries to assess the needs of new Americans.
Every person who comes to Queens Library looking for help embarking on a new life is extremely important to us, and we’re proud of them all!
We’d like to share with you some success stories from our ESOL adult learners.
Aura Vasquez is a hardworking individual with an inquiring mind who came to the U.S. from Colombia one year ago. She attended intermediate-level ESOL classes at the Bayside Community Library on Saturdays. Despite her considerable responsibilities as a young mother, she succeeded spectacularly, not only improving her English, but getting into a college preparation program.
Shermin Akther started beginning classes at the Sunnyside Community Library in fall 2015. At the end of the fall semester, testing revealed that her English skills had increased to the intermediate level. She came back for the intermediate-level ESOL class in the spring 2016 semester. While attending classes, she found a job as a cashier. By the end of the spring semester, she tested at the advanced English level.
Aida Proanio is a very hardworking student—she has a full-time job and attended intermediate ESOL classes at the Woodhaven Community Library, all while preparing for her citizenship test! She passed the test in early May and became a new American citizen. It was a great accomplishment for her and for her entire class.
Raquel Veyta took beginning classes at the Lefrak City Community Library during the fall 2015 semester. When she started, she had a lot of difficulty speaking and pronouncing English words. She also had a lot of trouble understanding and following directions. After being in class for half a semester, she gained a good amount of English knowledge. She is now able to help her sons with their homework. She is also able to shop at the supermarket, where she practices her English more and more.
If you’ve used our New Americans Program services and resources, and would like to share your story with us, contact us at socialmedia@queenslibrary.org.
Photo: Adult learners at a recent ESOL class at Central Library.
We had a packed house on July 14 at Queens College’s Colden Auditorium for our 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands!
“These bands represent the best of the best,” said Queens Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott at the start of our show. “We’re going to have a great competition.”
Our contestants put on a wonderful show for our excited audience. In between sets, our host, Queens Library Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniels, tried to stump people in the crowd with musical trivia. The lucky winners from the audience received their own commemorative t-shirt!
All the bands did a fantastic job, and soon it was time for our judges to choose the winners:
- Our third-place winners, Global Warming, may still be in high school, but they definitely have the talent to hang with the pros. Their cover of Adele’s “Hello” was a standout performance.
- Noni Rene and The Village received second place honors. Noni let the audience know that even though she’s originally from Philly, she was excited to play in front of her new hometown crowd in Queens. And the crowd definitely enjoyed their funk rock sound.
- Our grand prize winners were Chiv Culture, whose "head-nod" jazz and hip hop rhymes made the audience clap in unison to songs like “Epiphany” and their hit “Cupid.” “I feel outstanding,” said frontman Akinyemi as the band accepted their award and thanked everyone from the judges to their fans.
You can learn more about the winning bands and the rest of our contestants by reading our band profiles.
You can also see live videos from the Battle of the Bands (including the announcement of our winners) by visiting our Facebook page and using the hashtag #QLrocks2016.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and to all this year’s musicians. You truly rock!
Photos: first-place winners Chiv Culture (top); second-place winners Noni Rene and The Village (left) and third-place winners Global Warming (right).
We’re very excited to welcome Candice Hoyes to Queens Library! Her recent independently-released debut album, On a Turquoise Cloud, climbed to #10 on the American jazz charts and was selected as “one of the best albums of 2015” by SoulTrain.com.
A classically-trained vocalist and Harvard graduate, Hoyes has performed in six languages as a soloist at international festivals as well as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She was one of the featured vocalists in WNYC’s live broadcast, Sinatra at 100. Candice was also recently honored to perform for Secretary Hillary Clinton on the trail of her 2016 presidential campaign.
Her free concert on Saturday, July 16 of rediscovered songs by the jazz great Duke Ellington is sold out, but there will be a stand-by line in case of no-shows. In the meantime, Candice was gracious enough to answer some of our questions about her music, interests, and more.
What role did libraries play in developing your love of learning and music?
I found my first classical recording one afternoon in the library when I was about 13, and it was the album Baroque Duet, by Kathleen Battle and Wynton Marsalis. I'm always blown away by the amount of music you can discover in a library, and now that I'm a New Yorker, it's even greater.
Your album On a Turquoise Cloud is a collection of Duke Ellington songs that you researched and rediscovered. What drew you to these songs, and why did you decide to take on such an intensive project?
The beautiful and innovative quality of the songs just captured my imagination the first time I heard them. I then started reading about the artists who inspired the songs, namely vocalist Kay Davis, and I felt even more passionate about interpreting them. They bear historical importance, and they are incredibly relevant in 2016.
You wrote new lyrics for two of the Ellington songs. Was that a new experience for you?
A new experience is almost an understatement! It was really thrilling. I love writing lyrics, and I love writing melodies. I wanted to make sure that for those two songs, I just poured myself into them. "Single Petal of a Rose" (which has never had lyrics) expresses my restlessness—I'm such a nocturnal person, and I feel like the night gives me a clarity of thought. “Creole Love Call” has a sense of humor to it, and a bite that is also very me. The only reason to sing Ellington songs is if you are willing to pour yourself into them and make them yours.
Most people think of jazz and opera as two very different genres, yet you excel at both. Do they have more in common than it seems?
Thank you. I know that I love singing both, and other kinds of music as well—soul, bossa nova, many kinds of music. I don't know if other people would find commonality or authenticity in both. I am still discovering so much for myself that I just focus on how I feel it. For me, I don't focus on the genre, I focus on expression and making good music that touches people.
You’ve performed songs in six languages. Which language is your favorite to sing in?
My favorite language to sing in is English, because the songs I write right now are in English. I also love that sensation of discovering the musicality of other languages; Spanish, Portuguese, and French are so much fun to explore through song.
What can our customers expect at your sold-out concert at Central Library on July 16?
You can expect to escape for an afternoon with me. You can expect an incredible band, with pianist Steven Feifke, bassist Tamir Shmerling, and drummer Joe Peri. I know it's going to be great fun.
What career advice do you have for aspiring singers?
I advise them to follow their gut instinct, to listen to their favorites and listen to a wider range of musicians, and to travel, read, love, fight for their beliefs, and do the things in life that give a singer an interesting point of view. That's what makes a musician unique, sometimes moreso than vocal training.
What book are you reading at the moment? And which ones are your all-time favorites?
My favorite books are Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, and On Beauty by Zadie Smith. As a child, my favorites were A Wrinkle in Time and The Awakening. I just read that Ava DuVernay will make a movie of A Wrinkle in Time, which is the best news ever. Right now, I'm reading Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, and it's incredibly powerful.
And last, but certainly not least: meet Summer Haze, the final contestants in the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands. Summer Haze finds inspiration in the punk and hard rock legends that changed the musical landscape forever. A four-piece band with eardrum-busting powers and a knack for getting even the most stubborn wallflowers to dance, Summer Haze pride themselves on being versatile rock menaces. Their output reflects this diverse thinking, too, covering everything from club bangers to war hero tributes in the space of minutes.
Based out of Long Island, the band is a dedicated project from lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Jack “The Yak” Turner, lead guitarist Clark “The Pope” Adomaitis, lead bass guitarist “Skim” Tim Cartmell, and lead drummer/percussionist Evan “The Rapper” Declemente.
Summer Haze: welcome to the competition—we can’t wait to see you go for glory this Thursday!
Get your free tickets to the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands today!
Show us some love on social media! #QLrocks2016