(Photo Credit: Mikel Healey)
What is your name?
Fay Gauthier
What is your genre of music?
Genre-fluid Pop
Give us a little bio about you.
I am an LA-based a singer/songwriter. My music is Pop, but I call it “genre-fluid” because it incorporates jazz, blues, country and spoken word. In addition to my love of music I also act, write and do sketch comedy. And I am a proud member of the MC1R gene pool, aka the redhead gene.
What made you go in to music?
I grew up singing, so it was always a part of me. I’m just doing what I love less casually now.
Tell us more about ‘Be What You Are’?
It’s a song I wrote based on the words of a Casting Director in an acting class I took years ago. She was telling us to bring our own essence to the characters we were portraying. I also think it’s good advice for how to live your life.
What was the writing process like?
The songs on the CD were written at different points in my life, so the process was different for each song. I wrote No More Lyin’ in my car after a breakup, in my early twenties. To One in Paradise is an Edgar Allan Poe poem that I wrote music to, using Garage Band. The hard part was deciding which songs would work best together to make a cohesive album.
What was the recording process like?
I worked with a team of wonderful Producers. With some songs I had worked basic arrangements out already, and we expanded on that. For others, I just had the chords, lyrics and melody, so for arrangements we’d first talk about what we were “hearing”, then play around with different grooves and instrumentation to find the right vibe. It was a fantastic collaborative creative experience.
You also have a NEW single ‘ Living in A Daydream’, what’s the inspiration behind the track?
It’s a musical postcard to my childhood. It’s got an easy folksy feel. And all the lyrical images are taken straight out of my life, growing up in small town America.
Who did you show your new music to first?
My husband is always the first person to hear my new music…for better or for worse!
Talk to us about your album Firehead.
We released it on September 5th with a release party in Los Angeles. I’m really excited about the album because it’s the first I’ve put out in many years, and even though the songs are from different stages of my life, it feels like a fresh start for me musically.
Do you have any gigs or tours coming up?
We’re working on getting a schedule of gigs in the LA area. No tours planned just yet, but I’d love to down the road.
Do you play any instruments?
I play piano. It’s more of a songwriting tool than an instrument I use when performing.
You started out super young, did you receive any advice that stuck with you?
I started singing really young, but I got around to pursuing a career as a performer much later. “Find your own voice”, said in so many words, was advice I’d hear often that stuck.
Who are your influences?
Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Carole King among others.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
I call myself an equal opportunity inspiration gatherer. It literally can come from anywhere…an article I read, a conversation with a friend or stranger, or in the case of Be What You Are, a phrase spoken by a Casting Director. If something resonates with me, it may end up sparking a song.
Where do you see yourself in 5 Years?
Working on creative projects that pull together my acting, writing and music.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Hike, play tennis, hang with “the hubster” and friends. And I’m using an app to learn Spanish.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
I can’t really say there was one song. Ella Fitzgerald in all her ebullience was a huge influence, and Billy Joel was big inspiration to me in my teens.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians about the industry?
Be what you are! The industry is always changing, so creating music that moves you is the best guide.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“To thine own self be true…”
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
There’s a restaurant, Kay’s, a couple towns over in Woonsocket that is a must visit. It’s been there since the 1960’s with very few changes… dimly lit tables, a cozy bar, and a menu of sandwiches served with a side of chips, pickles and a pepperoncini pepper.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Water, a sense of humor, great accompanying musicians, gratitude to the venue, my team, the audience and for the opportunity to perform, a back up microphone, and I’m going to add a sixth because I’m greedy –the lyrics!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes. My Facebook page . And on Twitter
