| Question: | Of course my first taste of your voice was on "The Head", how did you get involved with that project? |
| Answer: | I met Buck and Jonz through Roland Apikelis, who produced the "Legato" album which was my first full-length album. (www.legatolounge.com). I have such great musical chemistry with all of them and I am so proud to be on the Head album (www.tvprecords.com). It is a great album and I am actually on three of the songs. |
| Question: | My kids of course, after I told them about you, knew all about Choo Choo Soul and were very excited that we were going to do an interview. tell me about Choo Choo Soul... |
| Answer: | Choo Choo Soul is currently a music video show on the Disney Channel that started as a musical side project. I met the producer while doing a voiceover for his video game. He came up with the concept and we recorded a children's CD that had soul and hip-hop influences, and songs that parents could also enjoy. He shopped the idea and Disney bought it, and wanted to try it out as actual music video shorts in hopes of it expanding into a series. The videos air every morning on the Disney Channel in between shows. It is all filmed in front of a green-screen with my co-star DC and six children at a time. It is so cute!! Kind of a new-school Urban School House Rock feel. |
| Question: | I read on your myspace page that you were going to be very selective about what kind of images and posts you were going to allow (which I really dig and respect, having kids of my own), How hard is it to separate Choo-Choo Genevieve from the Genevieve that has a fantastic voice and is working on her career after her train days are done? |
| Answer: | [Thank you so much for asking that...] It has definitely taken a conscious effort. The industry is harsh from whichever angle you look. I have been fortunate in that parents seem to embrace my other work. But suprisingly enoughm I think the real struggle is in the other side of the industry accepting the Children's music side. It is no secret that sex sells, and most Label Exec's would much rather go that route with me at first glance. But I really have a good feeling about all of this, and my music that is Mature is still tasteful. Even songs like "In This Bed" make a point that could be explained to a child without wanting to cover their ears. |
| Question: | What's the future of Choo Choo Soul ? How are things going with the show? |
| Answer: | We just recorded five new songs with five new videos that will start airing in October! We are working on series concepts to pitch to Disney right now. They are happy with this round of videos and stepped up the production a lot. I got a new costume and they went through a casting process for the kids. It has been really fun receiving e-mails from parents and kids saying how much they love the show. Most people ask wehre they can find the CD and I spend a good portion of my day returning e-mails saying that sadly, the original CD's are all sold out, and it is now up to Disney to release it. BUT i finally have good news - The songs will finally be available on iTunes in October!! |
| Question: | I read that you did voice overs for video games, what games can we hear you and what is that work like? |
| Answer: | I did a voice over for "Toe Jam & Earl III" I actually did about ten different characters, it was really fun. The best was the three gospel singing narrators, which is actually what sparked the idea for Choo Choo Soul. I also recorded for Leapfrog, a childrens toy company in California. They released a Talking Pen that could interact with special paper to talk back and comprehend what you wrote. The pen worked with other books and I recorded "My Diary" which is geared towards pre-teen girls and encourages them to write about goals, emotions, crushes, etc. I also recorded a book called "Fly Friends" which had fun questions and quizzes that applied to them and their lives, it even had "MASH".. you all know you played MASH! Voiceovers are so much fun, you can really get creative and you don't have to worry about how you look!! = ) I hope to do a lot more voiceover work. |
| Question: | Are you working on a cd or tracks at this time? if so, how would you describe your sound? |
| Answer: | I most certainly am! I have an R&B/ Soul sound with strong hip-hop influence. For me, conscious lyrical content is really important. I have so many songs right now that I am using a condensed compilation of them for a demo that I am shopping. I am working with some new producers as well from LA & NY who are helping blend my underground style with a more commercial sound. My music has solid beats paired with live instruments and samples. |
| Question: | Favorite Cartoon Character? You don't have to say Mickey Mouse, do you? |
| Answer: | Actually I do have to say Mickey Mouse.- just kidding! I've always loved Malificent from Sleeping Beauty. |
| Question: | Favorites artists? Who are you listening to now? |
| Answer: | Right now I am listening to Dwele.. I just got the new Christina Aguilera too, she is so amazing. I ALWAYS listen to Cait La Dee, who is my favorite singer of all time. We had an hip-hop/soul duo together for a few years and we had some amazing stuff. Right now, In my Car (I do a lot of driving) I have Outkast, Fugees, Common, Esthero, Pharoe Monch (my favorite mc), Ne-Yo, Mary J and all the Ginuwine albums.. |
| Question: | If you were teaching Musicology 101 at a major university, what 5 albums would you require listening to? |
| Answer: |
that was hard! |
| Question: | So you look into the Crystal Ball and look 5 years into the future, what is Genevieve doing? |
| Answer: | In have huge dreams. I want to have at least three major label-release albums by then. I'd also like to have some of the songs that I have written be performed by other proffessional Artists. I also hope to have my own talent production agency for youth. A place for kids to go to perfect their artistry and really find who THEY want to be as artists. I wish I would have had something like that when I was getting started. I am also auditioning for other tv spots, of course that make sense alongside everything else that I'm doing... so we'll see! 5 years may be a bit soon, but I would love to get married and have kids one day too! |
| Question: | Thanks for joining us here at www.emancipationradio.com, Come back and join us again anytime.. finally is there anything you'd like to say to your fans or anything you'd like to tell us about yourself that we didn't cover? |
| Answer: | I just hope that people know that I have worked hard to get to where I am. I have been featured on tons of albums, written for other artists, even ghost-written raps! (I'm serious!).. all of my experience happened while I was still working full-time, five years of which I actually had two jobs. I know that there is a lot to learn but I am not new to this. I can put together my own show, write albums, run my own protools sessions. I have been applauded, booed, complimented, judged, purchased, bootlegged, understood, misunderstood and all of the ups and downs that are sure to keep on coming. I just hope people love the result and really hear the points that I try to get across in each song. |
Thanx Genevieve, anything else we can do for you here at Emancipation Radio – be sure to let us know!
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