| Trisha
O'Keefe,
by Melissa
Evanko
Once in awhile you find a musician with the "IT"
factor. A title bestowed to those that have that certain something;
different from the rest of the pack. This "IT" comes
in the form of a young woman with genuine enthusiasm and love
for her craft, Trisha O’Keefe. O’Keefe stopped
by "The Stage" to share her thoughts on her new
CD, a life filled with music, and why you gotta have Heart.
Trisha O’Keefe calls Saylorsburg, PA home. In addition
to being a vocalist she also plays the guitar. For O’Keefe
"music has been a really big part of my life for so long,
" she can’t picture a career not involving a musical
path.
O’Keefe has been playing music since she took up the
piano at the age of four. During her school days she was involved
in the choir and band. O’Keefe began to hone her songwriting
skills first as poems, which she "incorporated into music."
When she took up the guitar at 14, this helped her songs to
"evolve with melodies." O’Keefe refers to
herself as a "big music dork." while growing up.
The song that O’Keefe performed on "The Stage"
was "Dear John." This song is included in her 2003
release All The Honest Liars. O’Keefe choose this song
because it is one of her favorites. Getting introspective
she explains that it is a "culmination song." Taking
"that feeling of he doesn’t like me" to a
different level. This song is not just about one guy, rather
"a note to all of them." O’Keefe feels people
react to this song because when "you put everything that
you feel into a song and performance," people will respond.
When
it comes to songwriting O’Keefe relies on some personal
experience but also everyday occurrences. Often she will be
humming a melody to herself, from that she will figure out
the chords and then the words will come to her. Stating "the
best songs come to you naturally."
O’Keefe is busy promoting her July 2003 full-length
CD All the Honest Liars. This release was recorded with producer/engineer
Jim Klein. The two met when he needed a singer to provide
background vocals for movie trailers. Klein discovered O’Keefe
was a songwriter and they decided to work together on her
album. When the time comes to venture back in the studio,
O’Keefe may have a new addition. She now has a band
that backs her up when she plays live. O’Keefe adds
when "you play live with a band it adds more of a dynamic."
For
a female performer, the music is important but the overall
look of the artist is also stressed. O’Keefe "tries
not to worry about it." One of her favorite parts of
performing is "playing the part of a rock star and dressing
up," but you still "have to be comfortable."
If O’Keefe had the chance to perform a duet with any
singer her choice would be Ann Wilson of Heart. Wilson is
her choice because is a hug fan of the band and feels their
voices would blend well together.
If you’ve had a broken heart or a bad day O’Keefe
has been there too. This is an important aspect to her music
that people "can identify with it." For O’Keefe
the music she creates is cathartic, but it is great when "it
is helpful for someone else as well." Her inspiration
is "life and the reaction to life." So have a listen
to the woman with the soulful voice who has been there too
and wants to share it with you.
Watch
the exclusive acoustic performance. |
Real Media |
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