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I was flicking through My Space a little while back for new artists/bands and came across the awesome Tiffany Apan. I enjoyed what I heard on My Space so contacted her and was sent through a copy of her debut album 'Poet'. I knew on hearing that album I wanted to interview Tiffany and here's what she has to say for herself.
Street Voice: First off can you tell your readers a little about yourself?
Tiffany: First, thank you so much for this interview:) Second, I am a classically trained vocalist with a back ground in musical theatre, opera, and acting. I recently put out my debut album "Poet" and am having a wonderful time with promotions for it and doing concerts to support it. That pretty much sums it up at the moment:D
Street Voice: You're well known for being in B-Movie films so how did all that come about?
Tiffany: I don't know if "well known" is the best way to describe it. I guess you can say I was on my way to being well known in that genre on top of the fact that I'm very diligent about promoting myself. My background is mainly in musical theatre, Shakespearean acting, and opera. Nobody ever asks me about that though in interviews. Probably too boring for them...they'd rather hear the dirt on the b horror films:P Anyway, it sort of happened by default. I had loved horror films all my life and even though my main goal growing up was to either be a performer on Broadway and/or recording artist, I had always wanted to do at least one horror movie. At the time, I was looking for something fun and light to do to get a little break from the rigidness of theatre. My uncle pointed out an ad in the paper about a local film company looking for actors and actresses for a horror film. I decided to go for it and see what happened. I got a small part in it and later on the film ended up getting distribution. As a result, I was always on film conventions promoting the film and promoting myself as well. Everything ended up getting a pretty good response and that's pretty much the story.
Street Voice: In those movies have you ever had to run around naked being chased by a mad axe-man?
Tiffany: No and no. I actually was not chased by a man with an axe and I've not done nudity and never do. I figured out pretty early into being involved with the genre that I could never make a career out of it (which was not my intention anyway) due to that fact. When I first became involved with that genre, I very naivly thought what I'm sure many young people do: "I'll change everyone's minds and show them that you don't have to be nude to be sexy." You think and hope you can woo them with talent alone. Unfortunatly, that is not the case alot of the time in that genre. After a little while, I had a very difficult time finding work within the b horror genre due to the fact that it seemed most filmmaker's priorities where having as much 'blood and boobs' as possible in their films as opposed to developing a good script and characters. I always knew I didn't want to make horror my primary career. As a music artist, I have a developing fanbase of people from all walks of life including people with kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Now I'm not saying I'm walking around dressed as a schoolmarm, but that is something I need to keep in mind when I choose projects. Vincent Price, Alfred Hitchcock, and Rod Serling (my favorite!) are more my style when it comes to movies. Unfortunatly though, very people in the low budget genre are looking to follow in these fine men's footsteps. I do love some John Carpenter too:) Basically, it's become more of a hobby for me.
Street Voice: So how many films have you been involved with and which ones are the ones well worth tracking down?
Tiffany: Only a couple. I have a cameo as an insane news reporter in the horror-comedy "Heavy Mental." I also have another cameo in an upcoming film entitled "Welcome to Deer Creek." My partner in crime, Jason English is working on a supernatural short that we will be working on soon. Stay tuned for more info:)
Street Voice: You've also done modelling so did this come about because of the films?
Tiffany: Sort of. It was another way to try new things out and see what I liked and didn't like.
Street Voice: You're very photogenic so have you taken part in any modeling for large magazines?
Tiffany: Haha! Thanks:) I actually wasn't too crazy about modeling when all was said and done so I never really pursued it to that extent. Besides, I'm way too short for haute couture/runway (I'm only 5'4) and I'm not stick thin which made it difficult.
I'm Russian, Turkish, Native American, and Scotch Irish; I naturally have an athletic build and a booty:P The only 'modeling' I do anymore is for promoting upcoming releases and if a company wants to put my image and/or music on their product, I'm willing to negotiate:)
I think most people would rather see a beautiful women with a figure than some one looking half starved :-)
Street Voice: Singing has always been your passion but what artists influenced you to go this route?
Tiffany: I'm very influenced by classical music. That's a big one. I also love Celtic, World, and New Age. I also love the sounds of rock, metal, classic rock, pop, etc. I love pretty much any genre of music. Some of my biggest influences include my grandparents (both amazing musicians), Sarah Brightman, Nightwish, Tarja Turunen, Lacuna Coil, Judy Garland, Sarah McLachlan, David Bowie, The Cure, Pink Floyd, Dead Can Dance, Loreena McKennit, The Three Tenors, Luciano Pavoratti, Andrea Bocelli, Elis, Epica, Persephone's Dream, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, John Denver, Dream Theatre, Tori Amos, Linda Eder, to only name a few!
Street Voice: How long did it take you to write Poet?
Tiffany: Well, if you really want to get technical, it took me about 12 years to write it:) Much of the songs on the album are either derived from or actually poems taken out of my own journals. Some of them had to be reworded in order to fit the music's tempo, but songs like, "Ghost" and "Porcelain Doll" are almost in their complete original form lyrically/poetically. Only a couple words here and there had to be altered to fit the music. Obviously, "Scarborough Fair" is a traditional folk song made popular by Simon and Garfunkel and "Whispers" was actually a song my grandparents did back in the late 50's and early 60's. That song has a Patsy Cline feel to it.
Street Voice: Are you going to undertake any touring to promote the album?
Tiffany: We have been on a little East Coast American tour. As much as finances will permit:) Check out my myspace (and soon a new official website) for dates. Kentucky and Virginia has been as far out as we have gone for this one, but we hope to venture out alot more with the next tour.
Street Voice: So when writing your lyrics where do you get your ideas from?
Tiffany: Anything, really. The lyrics to "Poet" are almost all autobiographical, so for this album it was my life up until this point:)
Street Voice: Are any of your songs destined to be in the movies?
Tiffany: "Warrior" is set to be in a female James Bond satire/action film with G&G Media. As for other films, I am talking to some other filmmakers who seem interested in using a song in their film. We shall see!
Street Voice: You're currently writing a new record so when will that be out and will it be along the same lines as Poet?
Tiffany: Yes, I am currently writing my second album. We don't have a set date for it but a tenative goal is Christmas of 2009 or spring of 2010. I'm very excited about it because it will be different from "Poet." Jason and I have been experimenting with alot of different 'sounds.' I'm composing songs and an instrumental piece on my keyboard for the album. I'm also having some very talented musicians and singers appearing on the album for a couple duets. There will still be a rock sound to it, but all I'm going to say right now is that it will be different from "Poet." We do plan to work some of the songs from the new album into the set of our shows once some of them are ready, so be sure to catch a show!
Street Voice: You come across as one busy lady so do you get much spare time and if so what do you get up to?
Tiffany: I get a little spare time:) I like to relax and watch movies, be with those close to me, work out, do yoga, go to coffee shops, sew, paint, alot of fun stuff:)
Street Voice: Apart from the new album what other plans do you have for 2008?
Tiffany: Stay tuned for music videos! We almost have the video for "Run Away and Hide" completed and we are beginning pre production work for the video for "Ghost (Perspehone's Netherrealm Remix)." The videos are being done by Alisa Lawton of Alisa Lawton Photography and John from One Eyed View Studios. Also, expect a painting of mine to surface in the Bridging Heaven and Earth International Art Gallery. I also (thanks to our good friend Mark Kapsha) now have a symbol that will be unveiled soon which means we will be churning out merchandise (shirts,etc) in the near future. I also have my new official website coming out soon too. That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. Check out my My Space for updates.
Thanks to Tiffany for doing the interview. If you're looking for something with a breath of fresh air I really hope you check out this lady.
Click On Image For 'Poet' Review
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