Simply SONiA
Interview with disappear fear frontwoman SONiA
06.02.06
By L. A. Vess
When SONiA and her sister CiNDY set out from Baltimore in 1987 as the original disappear fear, the act quickly became a cult favorite, garnering considerable radio play and a sizable draw of avid fans at live performances on the college, club and festival circuit. Although disappear fear has undergone numerous transformations since its inception, SONiA continues to amass a growing legion of ardent fans worldwide with the release of her latest album DF05 LiVE and the “No Bomb Is Smart” Dance Mix Singles. The band’s current tour will culminate with a performance in Israel at World Pride in Jerusalem in August 2006.
Your album No Bomb is Smart was nominated for a Grammy in 2004, do you feel that having ‘Grammy-nominated’ now instilled as part of your moniker helps to give you more legitimacy in the music world?
The Recording Academy is a very respected community in the music business and so much music is produced each year, to be recognized even if just in the first round of Grammy consideration is a great honor. I am thrilled.
You've also received various GLBT-themed awards for your music, including an Out Music Award, a GLAAD Award and several GLAMA Awards. You're also commonly referred to as a “lesbian singer” in the press. Do you think that the attention you've received from the GLBT community has restricted your ability to be more successful as a mainstream musician in any way?
In fact, I was just informed that I am again nominated for 2 more OUT Music awards, OUT Musician of the year, as well as Outstanding New Recording (band), for our latest CD, DF05 LiVE. The GLAAD award I received was for Best Album [disappear fear self-titled] and I have three GLAMAs including Female Artist of the YEAR. Big Honor! To answer your question, NO. I think we each live into our own visions even if subconsciously they oppose our Life's dreams. I am really talented at throwing as many obstacles in front of my path to larger fame as possible. I have gotten really good at that. I think one does what one needs to do to feel strong...I am a lousy liar. The way music is a possibility for freedom with each of us and with in all of us at once...is amazing to me. I believe in that power. I have seen it take the saddest among us and lift us up to awaken to a true yellow sunny day.
Touring seems to be a way of life for you – you’ve spent a great deal of your career out on the road performing across the world. Do you spend so much time touring out of the need to promote your music and your message, or do you just honestly enjoy performing as much as you can?
A reporter asked me the other day if when I started playing guitar when I was 5 if I was singing political songs... and it is one and the same for me. My songs, while they are a rainbow of genres, are about Loving Out Loud. And I am in love with making music.
Your sister CiNDY was an original part of disappear fear, but retired from the band in 1996 – though she has continued to record and perform with you off and on, including contributing vocals on ten of twelve tracks of your Grammy-nominated album No Bomb is Smart. She also makes an appearance on the Kerrville Folk Festival tracks on the new album DF05 Live. Do you wish that she could be more involved in recording and performing with you?
WELL, of course I miss her. She was my right arm, and she held my hand, and was the first one to really take my song writing seriously... and basically said that I could go and make a living performing my songs... and she was right. I love CiNDY's voice and I am confident that when her children are in college that she will come and tour with me more.
Do you consider yourself an activist first, or a musician first? Or are they so intertwined that you can’t separate the two halves?
It is all from my heart and soul and lips and back and yes all of me singing could not memorize words that were not real for me... I am not that smart. I just Live Out Loud.
Part of the proceeds from web site downloads of your music goes to The United Nations World Food Program. What inspired you to pick this charity in particular to partner with?
I think almost everyone on the Earth right now suffers from some kind of hunger. It could be food it could be love it could be self expression or something that has each of us uttering a big "NO! NOT THIS!” I think that to get out of the boxed thinking of the past... not only do I have the opportunity, but that freedom (like teaching folks to fish enables a freedom) is available to anyone so that everyone who downloads each song from www.disappearfear.com walks away knowing they helped feed one child one meal... and it is written... that to save one person you have saved the whole world. I sleep better knowing that, and I think we ALL sleep better. Nineteen cents can do a world of good. Just nineteen freakin’ cents! What is it... bread not bombs ...ahhhhh tasty.
You mentioned in an interview in 2004 that your Judaism has been more of an obstacle in certain countries than being gay, do you feel that this is still true in the current world political climate as the battle for GLBT equality and marriage rights has ramped up in the past few years?
I don't believe I ever said 'being Jewish is an obstacle'... but what might have been said was that my Jewish Identity has caused more friction at times or has been sensationalized even more that the fact that I am Gay. It is funny when I am living my life I don't see my borders like, “Oh yes, maybe I view that situation this way because I am gay or because I am female or because I am Jewish or because I am restless” …or whatever! I just see it through my own eyes. They are blue but I don't think of that as I live through them unless I’m in a moment where I am very aware of my differences in my surroundings... I don't think of my history. I am busy living the moment that has arrived and I live into it. It is like I am already flying so I don't really think of the mother bird giving me worms and knocking me out of the nest, I am on to gather my own nourishment and being lifted by the breeze. As far as changes in GBLT marriage rights: these things differ country to country. Here in America, the Land of Commercialized Perpetual Fear, the buttons being pushed are rooted in the mud of pointy shoes first worn by some of the fears of the founders of our nation. But, I know America is smarter. America will come around and honor its gay creations... it is undeniable... the truth cannot forever be silenced... it sings in and out of time.
You don’t hesitate to make open references to your sexuality and your Jewish heritage in your music, such as including Hebrew and Arabic passages in your song "I Am the Enemy" – do you intentionally write to bring attention to the issues of discrimination, or do your lyrics just grow organically out of what you are feeling?
Love is Love and language is the way we set up our thinking. Hebrew is so close to Arabic. Shalom means Salaam and they both mean Peace. It is time for peace. It is time to forgive, and yes, the lyrics grow from what is in my heart. I have another song called "I am on your side" about the land of Israel and Palestine... if you are looking down from heaven or even up from hell, you can see that the footsteps of those walking or praying or kneeling are still side by side. Neither is closer to heaven or hell... they are on the surface of the Earth and have but a breath of the buffalo in time in which to be making decisions.
Is your family comfortable with your being so open about being gay?
Most of my family is reasonably comfortable with my openness about being gay. My band mates are also gay, and I now also see how our openness affects them and their families. I do have some relatives who have a lesbian daughter who are in complete denial of her wholeness. But mostly, I get a lot of Love from my family. My bass player's family is devoutly Pentecostal and she is continuously read her ‘bill of wrongs’. Although her parents are loving, they are of a totally different philosophy and so her path is rocky.
You've put out 10 albums since your debut release Echo My Call in 1988. What's your secret to being so prolific?
I dunno. Drama?
What is unique and different about your latest release DF05 Live versus your previous albums?
Well, DF05 LiVE is very raw... and that is a chance I would not have taken earlier in my career. The of DF05 LiVE strength is the passion that it bursts alive with... the talent of a very young band. We have just celebrated our First Year Anniversary.
This year you've conquered a whole new fan base with the release of remixes of “No Bomb Is Smart' – bringing your music and your activism into the clubs and onto the dance floor. How did the idea to do remixes come about?
Well, dancing is a good way to move... and also, disappear fear is going to be performing at World Pride in August of 2006. The biggest music scene in Israel, and it is multi-denominational, is The Dance Club Scene... my vision is dancing together... as we make room for each other's differences, weaknesses and strengths we can love ourselves, better love each other, and get this garden party started. Have you had the opportunity to hear one of the remixes spun on a dance floor yet?
No, I have not heard it in a club LiVE yet... my producer friend Blake said he heard it in DC and that folks went crazy for it but it is still new and I have been on tour with the band... but I hope to go clubbing this summer and dance my tush off.
What do you hope to accomplish most for yourself and your music this year?
I love the attention of being called a "peace-nik” but it would be better to have peace, and I could go back to writing that musical for Broadway... springtime in Baltimore. Similarly it is great to be a famous lesbian songwriter and even be honored for being OUTstanding, but even better would be to just be honored for being a great artist... and that's all. You know, like Bruce or Buddy or Joni or Walt or Vincent or Michelangelo or Ellen.
DF05 LiVE
Seamlessly weaving 17 tracks, recorded at large music festivals and intimate listening rooms across the United States, DF05 LiVE captures the spark of SONiA's splashy summer of 2005 and showcases the new disappear fear trio. Laura Cerulli (JAH) adds background vocals and stellar percussion, along with Angela Edge (Oxygen) grooving on bass and occasional trumpet. This CD also features songs from the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas where original DF cofounder and sister, CiNDY Frank joins DF05 with her luscious vocals. SONiA is on lead vocals and guitar, harmonica and piano.
No Bomb Is Smart: Dance Mix Singles
All around the Earth folks are raising their voices in unison to express their extreme discontent with the United States' bloody blunder into the Iraq War. This is a beautiful opportunity to dance in a direction of peace and unity. Maybe it is as simple and bold as saying... 'No Bomb is Smart'. This CD contains four mixes of the song No Bomb is Smart a Tribal Mix by the renowned DJ Twisted Dee, an Anthem Mix by the up and coming beat maker, Blake Althen, the Original Song produced by the Grammy award winning team of Craig Krampf and Bill Cuomo and a Radio Pop Remix by Blake.
>> Check out SONiA & disappear fear’s tour schedule
For more information, visit www.soniadf.com.
© 2006 Laura Vess; All Rights Reserved.