She was a soccer player in another lifetime where her motto was “play
like hell or get off the field.”
Carlyn jokes that too many whacks upside the head forced her off that
field and into music but what really did it was discovering a connection
to life, something she realized after a good friend’s suicide. Born
and raised in Philadelphia, as an adult she made her way to Boston, acoustic
guitar firmly in hand. Don’t mistake her for the many other singer-songwriters
who seek folk fame in those hallowed coffeehouses. While Carlyn’s
been compared to Ani DiFranco and Joni Mitchell it’s only because
her aggressive guitar work and introspective lyrics lead you there. She’s
her own woman, playing all over New England. Carlyn has three recordings,
the latest, Lust Love Lost, released in 2006.
Her day gig as a biologist gives her a keen eye for detail. It’s
apparent in “Three Doors Down,” a story about the girl next
door who, “… had laughter like candy, rolled around on your
tongue” but it all turns sinister with a violation: “But you
tread on her heart like a crushed up tin can.”
You can hear the spirit of Michael Hedges mixed with the melodic sensibilities
of Dave Matthews on “The Look.” “Sweet Young Thing”
features a forceful guitar strum that more than compliments the not-so-subtle
lyrics. It’s an out front song of desire you thought only a man
could write.
She taught herself to play at the age of 10, painstakingly picking out
the melodies to her favorite tunes. Along the way she took a few lessons,
always keeping that 10 year old mindset and never shying away from doing
her own thing. Right after college there was a short stint with a couple
of folk bands until the real world beckoned and she chose school and biotechnology.
While the tragic loss of her friend initially inspired her songwriting,
it was a chance meeting with another friend who got her back into performing.
In the middle of her buddy’s new song, she broke out into some harmony.
Some musicians would have shushed her for the interruption but this one
smartly exclaimed, "Oh honey, you have to play with me!" Carlyn
lifted her broken left hand (a soccer injury) and gently reminded her
that she wasn't going to be playing anything for a while. Her friend replied,
"It ain't gonna be broken forever," so Carlyn used guitar playing
as physical therapy and was on stage with her 5 weeks later. When Carlyn
realized how it was also emotionally therapeutic, she stuck with it, playing
more gigs and releasing her first recording in 2005.
She has three albums – a self-titled 5 song EP released in 2005,
a live CD from early 2006, Session: Live, and Lust Love Lost, released
late in 2006. It’s a studio version of the live CD, with several
additional songs, featuring New England based musicians Joey Ammo (guitar
and bass), Allison Hale (vocals), Lisa Annunziata (bass), and Don “DC”
Culp and Deb Blackadar (percussion).
Wide open guitar strums and wide open emotions mark Carlyn’s third
release. Add right-on percussion, strong harmony vocals, a melodic bass
and some tasty guitar work and you’ve got a solid release from this
singer-songwriter. The title says it all – Lust Love Lost. It opens
with a baby-I-want-you-now-not-in-10-minutes kind of song, “Sweet
Young Thing” and ends with “You Can’t Fix This,”
an angry piece where she implores, “Don’t try to be my friend.”
In between there’s all kinds of great pop-folk, from “I Don’t
Know Why,” an energetic piece featuring Joey Ammo’s bluesy
guitar work to the wistful “Just a Dream.” Carlyn shows off
her own guitar chops in “The Look,” an instrumental that sounds
like heavy metal meets John Mayer in a dark alley. This is the perfect
release for any radio show or store featuring acoustic songwriters a la
John Mayer or the Indigo Girls.
Carlyn Hutchins is one singer-songwriter who plays like she means it
and doesn’t intend to get off the field any time soon. If your team
favorites include the Indigo Girls, Melissa Ferrick and Patty Larkin,
then you’ll want Carlyn to play for you too.
Interview
1. How old were you when you started writing songs, playing instruments,
and how many years have you been performing?
I first started playing guitar when I was 10, and wrote some really
bad songs back then! The first song I wrote that I was actually happy
with was during college, but I didn’t truly start songwriting until
2003. I had only dabbled up until that point, and because I was playing
in bands and not solo, my focus wasn’t on songwriting, it was on
playing.
2. Who were your major influences with your music and what made you
decide to become a performer yourself?
I am asked this question a lot. Truth be told, I don’t have any
major influences, which is why I think I can’t be boxed into “she
sounds like…”. I think that works both for me and against
me – for me because my sound is unique, and against because people
don’t have a point of reference. I’ve been told I have the
attitude of Amy Ray with the voice of Emily Saliers, and I’ve been
told I could be the love child of Ani DiFranco, Joni Mitchell, and Dave
Matthews! However, the first guitarist I heard and thought “Wow,
I want to play like that” was Michael Hedges.
I’m not sure I consciously made the decision to be a performer,
it just fell into my lap in late 2003. I gave up performing around 1994
or 1995, but in 2003, the music came back to me through serendipity and
tragedy. An ex of mine committed suicide, and it crushed me. When I realized
how much playing music helped me heal, I stuck with it. Music gave me
an avenue for my grief.
3. How would you describe your music?
This is so difficult for me to answer. It depends on the song really.
Mainly, I write from and because of emotion, hence Lust Love Lost, the
CD I released last August. Usually I tell people I play “folk with
an edge”.
4. What is the best review or statement that someone has written about
you and your music and who said it?
I recently had my bio re-written by Jamie Anderson, and there was one
blurb she wrote that made me fall out of my chair laughing: “’Sweet
Young Thing’ features a forceful guitar strum that more than compliments
the not-so-subtle lyrics. It’s an out front song of desire you thought
only a man could write.” When I first read it, I wasn’t sure
if I should have been proud or offended, but in the end I took it to be
a compliment!
5. How many personal CD projects have you finished and are you working
on or have any future project in the works? Also how involved are you
in the recording process and producing of these projects?
I’ve completed 3 CDs: my self-titled EP, one with live recordings
called Session: Live, and Lust Love Lost. Right now, I’m not planning
to record a new CD, but only because I’ve had some writer’s
block and only have a handful of new songs that I’m happy with.
I left the recording to the experts, and wasn’t involved too much
with the production on the EP. Session: Live was done with minimal mastering,
and I threw it together mainly so I had something to give to bookers.
Steve Friedman of Melville Park Studio in Boston recorded Lust Love Lost,
and I was involved with every aspect of production on that CD. There are
still some things I would have done a little differently, but I’m
not sure they would have had any value added, and would only have cost
me more money in the studio…I had already spent more than I planned!
6. What special honors or awards have you received?
None actually - where’s the love, people, where’s the love????
? Mainly I write and play because it helps me process through my emotions,
not because I’m looking for awards or recognition. I’ve found
that music gives me a voice I don’t normally have, and it’s
made me a braver person. In fact, one of the reasons I stopped performing
was because of stage fright.
7. What is your favorite venue to perform live and why?
I don’t have any one particular place I like more than others,
but in general, I prefer the coffeehouse scene to the bar scene. I played
a bar recently, and the patrons only wanted to hear covers, and I don’t
usually play covers! At that point I realized I would serve myself better
to stay away from playing in bars and focus more on coffeehouse or house-concert
settings, where people want to hear what I have to say, not my interpretation
of what someone else has to say. There’s anything wrong with playing
covers, I just don’t get much satisfaction out of playing them.
8. What music organizations are you affiliated with or plan on joining?
Right now, I’m a member of Indiegrrl, GoGirls Elite, Rhode Island
Songwriters’ Association (RISA), and OUTmusic, but haven’t
decided on joining any other organizations. I want to give more time to
each of these but I am stretched a bit thin right now. I’m still
trying to decide between ASCAP and BMI.
9. Do you find as an Indie artist it is easier to express yourself and
view points in music instead of following main stream marketing in songs?
Absolutely, and I really enjoy doing my own thing. I can’t imagine
being molded by someone else based on their view of what they think the
market wants. I don’t want to lose my freedom to write what I want,
when I want, and how I want.
10. What does "Indie" mean to you?
Do it yourself, baby, and damn, have fun doing it too!
11. Do you own your own record label or publishing company or one day
hope to?
(Laughing) Yes, I guess you could say that! I “own” CatzEye
Records (www.catzeyerecords.com) but haven’t really decided what
I want to do with it yet other than maintain the website! There’s
a part of me that wants to use the label to promote some very talented
Boston area musicians, there’s another part of me that says “Are
you crazy? When are you going to find the time?” So, I’m trying
to organize my thoughts and see what makes the most sense moving forward
with it.
12. If given the opportunity would you sign on with a major record label?
No way. I like being able to do my own thing, in my own time and terms.
Songwriting is not something that comes naturally or easily to me, and
I know myself well enough to know that I would absolutely crumble under
the pressure I’d get from a record label. Maybe some people thrive
on it, but I would not. If it’s not fun, I’m not going to
do it, and I don’t think that being signed to a label would be fun.
13. What advice can you give to someone who is just starting to market
themselves in the Indie music market?
Take advantage of your resources, like networking organizations and
fellow musicians. Listen to your “elders”, those who have
been around the block and have a lot of knowledge about the industry.
And don’t just jump in without having a plan… information
is your best friend.
14. What advice have you followed that has helped you out?
(Laughing) Who said I have followed anyone’s advice? ? That’s
a tough question to answer, because I’m not sure I have had any
1 or 2 snippets of advice that have helped me the most. Again, I think
information is your friend. How one uses it is going to be based on what
one’s goals are. I haven’t set any music goals for the same
reason I don’t set New Year’s resolutions – because
I don’t want to disappoint myself. Right now, I’m much more
comfortable playing the “let’s see what happens game”,
but I also have the luxury of having a day job that pays the bills and
gives me benefits. I might think differently if I did not have that to
lean on.
15. Do you have other work, projects, or hobbies besides your music
and if so tell us a little bit about it?
Oh yes indeed. I am a founding member of JP Unplugged Acoustic Music
Series (www.jpunplugged.org) and I stay busy with them by monitoring the
email, updating the website and MySpace when needed, and designing the
posters/postcards. I also just started hosting an open mic at a local
coffeehouse in the Boston area, so I’m responsible for booking,
advertising, posters/postcards, and running it. We have a featured performer
each week, so if any Indiegrrls need a little filler gig on a Wednesday
night (tip $$ is the only guarantee I can make), get in touch with me
and I’ll see if I can help out. Right now, I have dates open from
November and on into 2008, so if you’re touring through Boston,
let me know!
16. Do you plan on trying to make music your full time career?
The jury is still out on this one. Again, I’m fortunate enough
right now to have a job that pays the bills and gives me benefits. It
would be very, very difficult to give up that security blanket.
17. How many instruments do you play and what are they?
Mainly, I’m a guitarist, and I have a particular weakness for
Taylors. I own a 410CE, and recently purchased a T5 electric – yeah
baby! I got very lucky on that one, it was on clearance! I also have Ibanez
and Washburn guitars, but I don’t play them any more. I can play
some piano but I’m not very good, and I love to play shakers. I’ve
heard that I can shake with the best of ‘em!
18. What are your main goals for 2007 to boost your music career as
a whole?
Well, I haven’t really set any goals regarding music per se. I
wanted to have a busier playing schedule but so far it has been very difficult
to get booked, and I have to examine why that is. (Laughing) Maybe it’s
because I didn’t set any goals! Oh the other hand, there are other
opportunities that popped up unexpectedly, like the open mic host and
the Indiegrrl “MC” during Women’s Week in Provincetown,
and I’m hoping to use those as springboards to open new doors.
19. What long term goals have you set?
I haven’t set a long term goal since I was 17 and decided I wanted
to finish college in 4 years - which I did by the way! Insofar as music
is concerned, I don’t feel any pressure to do anything except be
true to myself and have fun. I definitely want to take small regional
tours, but I have responsibilities that keep me close to Boston right
now. When those change or get easier to manage, I’ll start planning
some tours.
20. What goals have you reached already?
The big one was releasing my first CD, which I did in 2006 when I recorded
and released Lust Love Lost. I also wanted to meet more musicians and
learn more about the business. I guess you can say that I’ve reached
the goal of information gathering and now I’m trying to decide what
to do with it!
21. What does Indiegrrl mean to you?
Wow, I don’t know where I’d be musically without the contacts
I’ve made through this organization, so Indiegrrl means a lot to
me. I’ve had some showcase opportunities, and now the MC gig in
P-Town, so I’m very grateful for the exposure Indiegrrl has given
me.
22. Is there anyone you would like to thank that has helped you along
in your career or in the music industry as a whole?
In no particular order, my unofficial mentors Mr. Steve Rapson and Ms.
Patti DeRosa, the indie songwriters who inspire me, my family and friends
of course, and all the musicians who give their love, time, and passion
to this business.
