“Be a brazen girl/as you wander this world,” Gretchen Lieberum sings confidently. Newly-signed and working her way up the “music biz food chain,” Gretchen catches us up with her music, her artistry, and per philosophy of delicate, beautiful polite persistence, and how it enriches her music career.

If you aren’t yet hipped to Gretchen Lieberum’s sound, think: Portishead, Norah Jones, Coldplay, Jon Mayer, and you’ll almost be there. Whether you’re a female artist, love female artists, or you’re somewhere inbetween, you’ll find the smooth curve swirl of this girl’s music’s quite delightful.

What have you been up to since the last time we chatted?

Gretchen: Well, my album, Brand New Morning, was picked up by Lakeshore Records, an indie label under Warner Brothers. It was released in April of 2000, and sales have been growing slowly but surely! The promotion my label did for the album was pretty minimal, but a few strategic positive reviews, listening stations, and strong word of mouth have helped sales tremendously. On Listen.com, my album was bouncing around the top five for several months, along with Norah Jones, Coldplay and, inexplicably, Eminem! Apparently, Norah Jones got her start on listen.com as well, before she was in the Billboard charts, which certainly is a positive sign for me.

What kinds of press have you received in response to your recent shows?

Gretchen: The response has been really positive, which is great, because I am such a perfectionist, and can be very insecure about performing!

Any plans to do video work?

Gretchen: My label is flirting with the idea of making a video, but I’m a little bit cynical about the whole thing, to be honest. I know quite a few bands who have made videos that end up being played once on MTV2 at 4:30 in the morning! And then, the cost of the video is recoupable to album sales (in other words, the artist ends up paying for it!) However, videos can be really beautiful and creative and interesting and can certainly draw attention to a song.

What’s your favorite song on “Brand New Morning?”

Gretchen: I think I’m happiest with how “Brazen Girl” came out. Sometimes, I’ll go into the studio liking a certain song, but in the end, it ends up being a completely different song that really blossoms in the recording.

I originally wrote ‘Brazen Girl’ for a friend who was going through some rough times. But as I continued to write the song, it really became a song about myself as well. It’s a song about letting go of anger and regret, being brave and honest. It’s a reminder of how I want to live. Also, I think that stylistically, ‘Brazen Girl’ is a good example of the overall sound that I am striving for, a balanced mixture of acoustic and electronic elements. If someone had to listen to just one of my songs to get a sense of what my style is, I would want them to listen to ‘Brazen Girl.’

Do you do any writing or production work for others? Do you plan to?

Gretchen: I’ve done some vocals and lyrics for a Toronto based electronica band called Somasonic, who just came out with an album called “Modernism”. As far as producing goes, I don’t really feel confident enough as a producer to take on someone else’s project. I’m still learning about the process, about how to create the sound you want in the studio. To be a great producer, you need an uncanny sense of the over-all picture. You have to be able to think of 20 things at once as well as 20 steps ahead. I really admire people who are able to do that!

What materials are you working on right now?

Gretchen: I am really excited about the music I am writing now, and can’t wait to record it! I think that as I write and record more, I develop a better understanding of the sound I want to create, of what suits me.

How often do you gig/tour?

Gretchen: I am I haven’t played out much in the last couple of years, but I’m starting to now. I’m getting that fire in my belly again! Ideally, I’d like to play a few times a month locally, and am in the process of finding a manager and booker to help me organize a national tour, or possibly a European tour.

Jazz and electronica are very complex, intricate genres at times. How do you write your most ideal lyrics and vocal arrangements and yet still make them accessible?

Gretchen: Honestly, I don’t know! The whole process is a mystery. I’m even a bit lazy about it! Things either come to me in a certain way, or they don’t. If I force it, I can hardly write a note!

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Gretchen: I love a really wide range of stuff, from Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughn to Beck to Neil Young and Bob Dylan to the Pharcyde. Sade has been my hero for many years, and I listen to Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder almost daily. I’ve been a huge Prince fan since the 5th grade (his older stuff, mostly). Lately, I’ve been listening nonstop to Zero7, Cesaria Evora, Rufus Wainright, and a local LA band called Brazzaville that’s fronted by Beck’s sax player.

Tell us about some of your upcoming gigs, and what’s on the horizon for the next few months. :)

I’m playing at Galoka in San Diego on Thursday, 3/27. I’m also playing in Los Angeles at Genghis Cohen on Friday, 3/28, and I’m playing in San Francisco on Wednesday, 4/2 at Bruno’s. You can get more info at www.gretchenmusic.com, or at www.mp3.com/gretchenl.

I plan to keep working on new material in the next few months, with a goal to record this summer, and hopefully I’ll solidify some kind of national or European tour.

Also, I was recently featured in USA Today in an article about Listen.com/Rhapsody. It’s an interesting article about the legal downloading of music from the internet. Please check it out at: UsaToday.com- JJ

All of Gretchen’s songs are completely delicious, but we know you’ll take a shine immediately to: “Three A.M.” and “Bed’s Too Big Without You” (from “Three A.M.”) and “Brand New Morning,” “Blue September (featuring DJ Cut Chemist from Jurassic Five),” and “Lost Our Way.” (from “Brand New Morning”)
———-
Other features & archives can be accessed @ sugarmamapr.com.

Originally published at Blogcritics