Nashville favorites Sweetwater Rose sent us a fantastic interview for the Music Tree Festival in Manchester, May 31 through June 6. They’ll be playing the Two Purple Pigs stage on Tuesday. These mid-TN ladies are known all over for their inspiring performances. We can’t wait to see them!
Members and Instruments
Kim Beaseley Collins on guitar and vocals,
Marna Taylor on vocals,
Mac Gayden on slide and electric guitars and vocals,
Nick Rather on rhythm guitar,
James (Haggs) Haggerty on Bass,
Dave Colella on Drums and Percussion
Basic Genre
Americana
How long have you been playing?
Sweetwater Rose has been together for three years now. We knew each other as Nashville songwriters and singers/musicians, and all of us had worked together at one time on shows or knew of each other through friends, but never all together.
How did you get together?
Mac Gayden our Producer and his wife had a vision to start a female group that could give credit to some of the sounds from the 60’s that were missing in today’s music a voice again, with a little twist. The genre’s were all blended more at that time, folk/country/rock were all just music. They brought us all together and we started writing and singing together, and went into the studio to put some songs down at Studio 19 (which has a great warm sound) and House of Blues Studio ( which has everything.) Mac wrote the song “Everlasting Love” which was cut by U2 and 14 other hit cuts,and he wanted to give back. We just all found each other in the music, and shared similar interest. We are going back into Alex the Great Studio soon to cut more songs.
What do you do for fun? You know, besides music…
“Marna Taylor- Pottery, spending time with friends, traveling.
Kim Collins – I enjoy spending time with friends and Husband. We love to travel (the states and abroad), so when we are not touring I like to get a beach trip in occasionally! I am also an avid yogi and love spending meditative time in my yard in East Nashville.”
How’s the music scene in your home town?
“Marna – Growing up in Oklahoma country music was everywhere, but luckily my parents exposed me to lots of different music! I am very grateful for that!!
Kim- The Nashville music scene is as diverse as you can get. On any given night you can go to one of the many local small venues and see stellar talent…something that will blow your mind. There’s so much talent in this city and in the last few years
Nashville is finally getting recognized for this, beyond country music.”
What’s on your personal playlist this week?
“Marna-I love all the new summer music that comes around this time of year! I am loving the new songs by Fun and Gotye right now, but always go back to the great summer music like Steve Miller Band!!!
Kim- Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and The Smoking Flowers.”
Can you pin-point the moment that you knew you wanted to be a performing musician?
“Marna – I was very shy growing up, so my parents got me into musical theater! I remember the first solo I sang on stage with the spotlight on me, it just took me to another place and I felt right at home! I was hooked in that moment!
Kim- I always knew since I was a young child that I would be a musician. It was embedded in my family since birth. My mom was a folk singer from the 60’s and my Uncle too. Music was always around, and my first solo performance was at the age of 5.”
What are your goals as a musician? How far would you like to go, what do you see as the next big hurdle?
“Marna – When music is a part of who you are, you have no choice really but to honor that! With the music business changing so much right now, it can feel like a hurdle not knowing how to move forward at times. I guess the trick is to stay true to who you are musically and hope that honesty translates.
Kim- I sometimes feel that I have already accomplished most of my goals, musically speaking. It has been a long career for me, and I have released records I am proud of. While the fame aspect may have alluded me, that was never my goal in the first place. I play for the love of it and can only hope that enough people love what I do so I can pay the bills! I would love to reach a bigger audience, so right now that would be the biggest hurdle I need to tackle. SWR has that potential, and I am grateful to be a part of this growing and changing family!!”
Describe one of your most memorable moments in music.
“Marna – When I was 16 and in the show choir, my skirt fell off at an airstreamers convention!!
I thought I would die, but got lots of hoots and hollers from the fellas in the audience. Luckily, we all had leotards under the skirts that were just panels of material anyway, so it wasn’t x-rated. Then singing at The Basement with Zoe Deschanel and Karen Elson one night. Now having a great show with SWR.
Kim- My former solo rock band, Kim’s Fable, performed the day after 9/11. It was a large festival that we assumed would be canceled. The festival did not cancel, and as shaken as I was over the events the day before- I knew we had to keep our chins up and spread healing through music. My lyrics have always been positive and healing in nature, (especially in KF) so I made sure to fil the set light with the potent positive vibes. It was a hard show to get through (I cried several times)..tons of people showed up to our surprise, and at one point I looked out and strangers were holding hands, crying, hugging and singing along. It doesn’t get more powerful than that.
”
What song makes you dance when you’re cleaning house?
“Marna – Stevie Wonder’s “” Superstitious””
Kim – “”Ventura Highway”” by America”
Tell us about some of your musical influences.
“Marna – Linda Ronstadt, Bobbie Gentry, Lena Horne, and Dolly Parton
Kim – My musicial influences were all over the map. From Sinead O’Connor, to Neil
Young to Fleetwood Mac to Led Zeppelin. Ultimately, I’m a 70’s gal though!”
Where would you choose to build a vacation home?
“Marna – Jamaica mon!!!
Kim – Italy and Northern California”
How did you learn of Music Tree?
“Marna – From friends that are in the know!
Kim – Sweetwater Rose’s involvement, which came thru Chip Ramsey.”
How do you feel about being a part of the Music Tree Festival?
Marna – I’m very excited to feel like we are getting to be a part of this new festival, and to kick-off Bonnaroo in the great town of Manchester!
Kim – I am excited and honored to be a part of this festival!! Thank you for having us!
Do you have plans for Bonnaroo?
“Marna – I’ve always felt like the best way to approach any festival is to be in the moment, because it’s hard to get to see everything you would like to and it helps so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Kim- I have several friends that will playing Bonnaroo, so I may go a day or two with an artist pass…
Mac Gayden – (Producer/slide player) I have played Bonnaroo with the group Zenphonic that I produced we did 3 shows there in one festival. Ashley Capps always puts on a great show and treats the talent great, so I always go and support.
We are happy that the Town of Manchester and surrounding areas have embraced Bonnaroo and live music, and appreciate them for it.”
What would you like to add?
“Musicians on our “”Natchez Road”” cd, have been incredible, Mac knows all the great musicians, so Sam Bush, his banjo player Scott Vestal, Byron House from Robert Plants Band of Joy, Brad Pemberton from Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Patrick Ferguson from The Psychedelic Furs, Mac Gayden from Dylan and JJ Cale.”
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweetwater-Rose/274377050363?ref=tn_tnmn
www.reverbnation.com/sweetwaterrose
