Interview With Abra Moore
By: Dennis M. Kelly - 11/17/07
photos by: Amy Aiello
Vocal Tip - Abra Moore
To understand my musical process, I must first share my background with you. I was born in California, and raised on the big island of Hawaii after I turned five years old. For six years or so, I was living in an old cane workers house, lit by lanterns and a generator that ran the ever-so important stereo that colored my memory banks. The sounds that filled my head so full of melody, Chet Baker, Billie Holiday, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and it all made a glorious soundtrack that could be heard throughout the jungle.
My father was an artist and had a studio at the far end of our little surf shack where he would work for hours or sometimes days at a time. Some would say he was a driven man, I would have to agree. That is probably where I got my drive and determination from, being able to really focus on something; to “visualize and attain”. My older brother was into playing the saxophone, I could always hear him practicing out there in the jungle, always playing that horn and running those scales. I learned early on the value of applying yourself.
As a singer, I have explored many different kinds of vocal warm up methods and exercises. After all I have learned, I have found what works best for me, especially before a tour, is to drag out my baby trampoline. I’ll put it in the middle of the room, then go over to the stereo and set up a bunch of really great records to play and proceed to bounce and sing my heart out until I can sing no more. That gets my blood pumping and my vocal pipes all warmed up and open. There’s something about exercising my whole body and vocal pipes that really does it for me. I do this for a week or two before hitting the road in the mornings, when I am fresh and clear. That usually works the best for me.
So there you have it, an Abra Moore vocal warm up tip! May the muse be with you……
Abra Moore Biography
Abra Moore has learned a few things about music, life and the intrinsic value of happiness and balance. The quiet confidence she’s found seeps through every element of On The Way, the new record she’s made with long-time collaborator and producer Mitch Watkins. The new collection is subtle, seductive and assured. In her own words, it’s a “gentle sway” of an album. It recaptures the organic, intuitive style that led to a GRAMMY™ nomination and worldwide acclaim for her breakthrough album, Strangest Places.
“It’s not ego-based; it’s not about making a stand,” says Moore. “It’s about flowing through and capturing exactly where I was in life when I wrote these songs.” It’s been an interesting journey that brought Moore to where she is today—one that includes the tropical wilds of Hawaii, a modeling career (put away and unexpectedly revived), flirting with major label stardom and ultimately settling into a productive and satisfying life in Austin, Texas.
The journey began in Hawaii. Although born in California, her family soon moved to Hawaii where she remembers growing up immersed in creativity and surrounded by music. Her older brother was an accomplished jazz musician and her father was a painter. The house was always filled with music - from jazz greats to soul music and rock and roll. The eclectic mix had a profound impact on Moore as she began to explore her own creativity through music. She began creating in a very free atmosphere, one without boundaries.
Upon moving to New York to study at age 15, she began playing piano. She very quickly began experimenting and adding her own bits to songs she was learning. “To be able to express emotions and life experiences through music and song was very liberating,” she says. “At an early age, I learned to communicate in a very intrinsic and meaningful way through songs. I was hooked from then on.”
When she returned, she found herself unexpectedly embarking on a modeling career. A boyfriend sent in a snapshot for a contest in Seventeen Magazine. Although she didn’t win, she caught the eye of one of the top modeling agencies in Hawaii. After a few years, she realized the hectic grind of auditions and casting calls was not for her. Even more importantly, it didn’t satisfy her soul the way music did.
Not only was music destined to satisfy her soul, it would literally take her around the world with the group Poi Dog Pondering. As a founding member of Poi Dog, she was able to dive into music as a fulltime career. The band eventually relocated from Hawaii to Austin, Texas. That’s how Moore landed in the city she’s called home for more than a decade. However, after she left the group, she lived in France and Italy for a year working as a musician singing American standards on the streets and in cafes. When she returned to Austin, she purchased a 4-track and began recording demos for Sing, her solo debut on the independent Bohemia Beat label. Sing got the attention of Sarah McLachlan, who was a huge fan of the record. A few years later, McLachlan invited Abra to be a part of the Lilith Fair.
Sing also caught the ears of Arista Records. She was signed to Arista Austin and released her seminal Strangest Places album. Moore broke through when her hit-to-be, “Four Leaf Clover,” ended up all over the airwaves and video channels (MTV, VH1), subsequently earning Moore a GRAMMYT™ nomination in the Best Female Rock Vocal Performance category. In addition to a spot on the Lilith Fair, the buzz surrounding the album led to tours with Matchbox 20, Barenaked Ladies and Collective Soul.
Shortly after the success of Strangest Places, Clive Davis left Arista to form J Records. Moore was one the acts he took along. Coupled with her newfound national exposure, being on a major label opened other doors for Moore, including a national ad campaign for Perry Ellis.
There were advantages of working for a major label, but there were also demands and pressures that went along with the perks. During this time, she wrote and recorded an album called No Fear, but ultimately decided not to release it. She left J Records without the album seeing the light of day. “It was an amazing experience working with Clive Davis and J Records,” she says of her stint at a major label. “When the album was done, it just didn’t feel like me. They were gracious enough to let me walk away with the album. Everything happens for a reason and my life took a hard turn at that time. I was fortunate to have time to deal with life. Call it fate or whatever you want, but things worked out.”
One of the hard turns was the death of her father. After becoming ill, he made the decision that he wanted to die at home. It fell to Moore and her sisters to take care of him in his final days—days in which he refused to give up painting. He died literally with brush in hand. Being at her father’s side during his last days changed Moore. It gave her the opportunity to reexamine her life and career. “It became imperative to me to find a place of balance, peace and happiness,” she says. “One of the things I realized is that I’m not a road warrior. It’s not healthy for me to be on the road 250 days a year. I love to perform and connect with the fans, but I also need time at home. Fortunately, I’ve found a balance where I can go out for a while and come back to Austin for a while.”
It would be a few years before she released another album—Everything Changed on Koch Records. In many ways the record was a stepping-stone, one that brought her closer to the shoot-straight-from-the-heart style that launched her as singer. She steps more fully into that mode on her new record, On The Way, which is being released on the Seattle-based independent label Sarathan Records.
On The Way finds Moore completely at ease in her own skin and voice. It’s a ferociously quiet album that unfolds gently but packs an emotional wallop with its unwavering honesty. It’s an album full of subtle moods. There’s always been an atmospheric quality to Moore’s writing - maybe that’s why Hollywood keeps seeking out her music. Moore’s songs have appeared in more than 25 films and television shows including Cruel Intentions, Sliding Doors (with Gwenyth Paltrow), Happy Texas, Party of Five, Dawson’s Creek, Felicity and Melrose Place. Her song “Big Sky” was used in the super-hot video game The Sims with one little twist—she had to rerecord all the vocals in Simlish, the language used in the game.
In many ways, On The Way captures the cinematic magic of a great film. From the opening seduction of “Into The Sunset” to the closing reprise of the title track, it transports the listener to a different space. It’s a roll-the-windows-down-and-drive kind of record. “Making this record I found the sweet balance,” says Moore. “My life is good and happy. These songs are little snapshots of where I’m at. I tried to capture and present these experiences as honestly as I could. If you just stay honest and true, you’ll connect with the listeners. You become part of their lives. That’s a privilege you can’t take for granted.”
Part of Moore’s journey has been rediscovering the joy of simply singing for the love of the music. To that end, she’s been revisiting one her favorite pastimes—singing jazz standards. It’s something she did in Austin in the early 90s before she headed of to Europe. She’s been doing it again without fanfare for the past couple of years. “Singing jazz standards four hours a night, taking little baby breaks, keeps me grounded and connected,” she says. “It’s something I can always do. It’s something I’ll have when I’m an old lady. It’s great for my voice. It keeps it strong. Vocally it keeps that instrument flying.”
Reveling in the sheer joy of making music, living in the moment and enjoying the process is an integral part of Moore’s journey. That’s why On The Way is so aptly titled. It’s all about the journey—life unfolding in all its mystery, agony and majesty. True art holds a mirror up and reflects back the hard truths, as well as the ones that enlighten. On The Way is a masterpiece of mood and honesty from one of the preeminent artists working in popular music.
For more information about Abra Moore, please visit her official site at: http://www.abramoore.com/