Strictly Elizabeth
Interview conducted April 29, 2021
By Dan Locke
Strictly Elizabeth comes to you from the heart, mind and soul of
a multi-disciplined artist in the fields of music, film, design and architecture. For the last few years she has focused on music and film, using these mediums to tell her own story, use her own voice, and sing her own songs. In 2019, Jessica formed her band, Strictly Elizabeth, and began releasing music and short films through her production label, Data Water Records. She is the writer of an award winning animated short film What Happened to Stephanie? which features the music of Strictly Elizabeth and has co-directed music videos for the band’s most recent release, the self-penned “Coretta”. The video features artwork created and commissioned by Jessica, a protest sign series as well as a Robot Mural of the song’s namesake Coretta Scott King.
How did you discover music?
I started piano lessons when I was about five years old. Prior to that there was always music in our Way meetings, usually acapella – always gospel. To my recollection our song books only had lyrics, no music.
How did you start to write music?
My first songs were lyrics, I started writing poetry when I was 8 or 9 and I took piano and cello and then when I was about 12 started focusing primarily on voice with private lessons. I took every music class I could in high school including music composition, which is how I learned music theory. While I was in college studying Architecture I started to teach myself to play guitar, that’s when my poetry and melody began to merge, as I was learning basic chord progressions on guitar. When I finished college I had more time to dedicate to songwriting. I moved into a converted warehouse loft and got myself an upright piano – something I sorely missed while I was in college. I discovered punk rock and realized I didn’t need theory and composition to write songs. I started to let my emotions lead the way and that’s when things really started to spark for me. I began to understand how to jam, and suddenly I had a group of friends to make noise with and more importantly get my feelings out.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
No – that guitar is long gone. It was a hand me down, with terrible intonation. The top e string was always out of tune. I always thought it was my fault, until someone explained it to me. Then I bought myself a black Jasmine Takamine, which I still have.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model? And does it have a name?
Right now, I play a Martin D-15
How did your band form?
The story is really more like how didn’t my band form, lol. I always played music with a rotating circle of people, always changing, always growing.
How did you get your band’s name?
I was reading a book about the first queen of England
Describe your music.
gospel grunge americana
What was your first performance Check Point Charlies like?
I was always incredibly nervous, I had terrible stage fright so I usually had a few beers, at least just to get on stage. I remember looking out into the crowd and hearing a girl who’s playing I admired nudge her friend and say “she’s really good”. I immediately thought there’s no way she’s talking about me — even though I was the only person on stage. Some nights I don’t remember at all. I’ve worked hard to get over my stage fright and the associated substance abuse so that I can just enjoy being seen and heard.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
BMI
What makes a good songwriter?
Honesty, brutal blunt force honesty
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
“Caught in the Turn”. No, haha I didn’t record it. But I do remember it. I’ll never play it for anyone.
What is the process of writing your music?
It depends and varies wildly depending on the circumstances. It’s a combination of divine intervention and dedication.
Why do you use a barcode?
I’ve always found them kind of fascinating. I was writing a poem about one and zero and this idea took shape. You’ll see there are crosses in there too.
Why did you create “The Full Moon Series”?
While we were recording someone relayed a story that John Lenon had wanted to create and release songs every day, like the daily mail. That idea resonated with me and had me thinking about the cycles of creation and release. And deadlines. So I decided to experiment with my own approach to the idea – hence the Full Moon releases. In doing this I’ve found myself a little more tuned in to nature and less subscribed to the calendar grid that’s been laid onto us all by the romans.
Is there a special music created for a Blue Moon?
Maybe, haha?
What is your favorite track on your album?
I don’t really believe in favorites,
How do you stay healthy while performing?
I’m not sure I do lol. But I’ve been learning that a solid routine of physical and mental therapy are crucial.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
It’s a technological advancement, and I don’t have feelings about technology per say. I do have feelings about the human beings that create and manipulate technology.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Symbols can be fascinating. I was really into semiotics in architectural theory for a bit. Easy to get lost in there.
Digital vs. vinyl?
both/and
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
There are no songs playing on the mental radio right now.
How did you get involved with the Ground Swell Community Project?
Friend of a friend.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think this pandemic is and will affect everything, now and in the future.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I moved, three times. That was really hard, but it has kept me occupied. Setting up house over and over is kind of brutally exhausting. But I’m starting to feel settled now, finding a new normal in the midst of so much chaos.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I didn’t have a computer for about a decade, and decided to buy one again in late 2019. So when the pandemic hit I finally had the chance to start using it. I’ve learned home recording and video editing which were two things I had always been curious about but didn’t have the time to focus on learning.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
I have no idea, haha
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Necessity is the mother invention, and I think we’re all finding our own ways.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Yes
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
They’re possible.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
I don’t know.
In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
I’ve started my own record label, and I’ve found a lot of satisfaction in running that business so far.
What is your happy place?
Long walks and hot yoga
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Another factor is mortality.
I don’t know.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
I’m not sure.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Probably not, but you never know.
What is the Beautiful Liars Club?
It’s a club for lovers.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thanks for inviting me, I enjoyed answering these questions.
