Listening to Tiffany Christopher is a journey into the sublime. She is at once saucy and bold, but also sweet and coy. She embodies pure, unbridled energy and raw talent. A true Jill of all musical trades, she is a singer, songwriter, and musician.
Of particular interest though is Christopher’s band. Members: one. That’s right, she is a bona fide one-woman band. At her shows she is a flurry of guitar and drum playing and singing, with a little help from looping effects as well. Her vocal range is quite impressive, and her singing style can go from jazzy seduction to urban cool.
The sultry siren is set to take the Bowie Feathers stage this Friday, July 24th. She took some time to talk to Fusion about what ignites her passion, her upcoming album, and the joy of living.
When you perform, are you playing all the instruments or do you have a band or guest artists?
I perform solo most of the time. The show is based around a One Woman Band setup—kick drum, high hat, piano, guitar, ukulele, pedal board and vocals. When touring Colorado, that show is joined by an upright bassist/banjo player named Kalin Capra. I also have guests come to sit in with me and I usually play drums & sing backups for their acoustic performances. Occasionally I’ll have a backup vocalist sit in.
Why do you play solo?
I toured with a band for years when living in Missouri & Arkansas. My bandmates were and are my friends. We played my original music and arrangements with room to expand and jam. When I moved down to New Mexico I took a sabbatical from playing out, (playing shows), because I had been gigging 5-6 nights a week around the country and was getting burnt out. After a 6 month break, I started hitting up venues in this region and also started exploring a one woman band set up because I didn’t know anyone here to play with. I was hiding out on a horse ranch carving away a new style of performing. I adore this setup because it allows me to have control over the dynamic, and it’s also thatwatching one chick kick ass on stage makes people feel inspired and excited and want to take part. It has totally transformed the way I write music and think about production.
What about recording? Are you playing everything, or do you get people for session recordings?
On my soon-to-be-released record, Tremendous Heart, there are a handful of session players on the tracks. I am playing a ton of instruments and am the only guitar player on the record except for the lap/pedal steel player. Funny.. I thought I was laying down roughs most of the time. I would play the organ,ARP synth, lead guitar, keys, or whatever because we knew we wanted those elements there but didn’t have the players in the studio at that time. So most of my parts are a seamless one take from start to finish. I was relaxed and not over thinking it. After carving away on the tune more with the engineer, we would both look at each other and be like, “ya know, it’s kinda like the drunk uncle showed up to the party, but that part really works!”
I am so grateful to have Kenny Passarelli on bass guitar and Dean Oldencott on drums. Also the string players, Philip Parker, Kalin Capra and Bridget Law, and backup vocalist, Natalie Grace. They are all amazing and I’m so lucky to have them be part of this album and to call them friends.
I spend a lot of time in my home studio hashing out arrangements and planning how the next record will be before setting foot in a pro studio like Sonic Ranch. But every now and then, those roughs from my home studio end up capturing something that is priceless and could not be recreated. I’m into raw, and happy accidents. This album is full of them.
When is the album going to be finished?
We are 99% finished. I’m in a holding pattern right now because I’m fishing for bigger distribution before releasing it. I’ve always done everything myself, grass roots style, yeah. But this project is powerful and my blood is in it. So I guess others can feel that and are interested in helping. So, I say this to myself along with the fans. Be patient. Good things come to those who can sit and wait.
You were born and raised in Illinois, went to school in Iowa. How did you end up in El Paso?
My parents moved their horse ranch down here 6 years ago. Between my concern for their well being and a huge relationship explosion on my end, I pointed myself home. Home was now on the borderlands and I’ve never felt more at home than here in the Southwest. Who knew?
Do you plan to stay here?
Uh.. long term plans? lol – who knows. The world is vast and I travel so much. Maybe India… hmmm. LA? Colorado? Austin? I’ll be here for awhile and I always come back.
What’s your overall message?
Have fun! Be yourself. Love deeply and be compassionate to every possible atom in this universe. Dream. You can do it. I know you can. I love you.
Who do you listen to?
The list is too long. Lately I’ve been digging Brett Dennen and a local cat named C.W.Ayon. Yeah- he’s what I want to be when I grow up.
Who are some of the artists you have opened up for?
Ray LaMontagne, the Indigo Girls, Ani DiFranco, Jethro Tull, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Little Feat, Todd Snider, to name a few.
Who was your favorite?
I’ve always adored the Indigo Girls. Their connection with the ethereal plane and harmonies sweep me away. Such lovely storytellers and they sing from the hip, from the heart. (Plus they asked me to sit in with them on a tune after I opened for them, so that got them some extra cookies in the fav piggy bank!)
Do you have an amusing, funny, or particularly memorable story or experience in regard to one of the artists you opened up for that you can share?
Just did. Check out my youtube page for the video of me & the Indigo Girls. It’s wonderful & I’m such a dork.
So music is your life, right? If you weren’t a musician, what else do you think you would be doing right now?
I do music full time. I tour in support of my original music. But it isn’t all I do. I adore yoga. I have found my road to the Unified Field (GOD) through yoga. I’m going to get certified soon so I suppose I will also be a yoga instructor. Yoga andmusic are intertwined in my life. Also, I grew up on a horse ranch surrounded by animals and riding all the time. I still do. I would be a vet. We rescue animals all the time here as well as running this awesome horse ranch. Hmm.. and a pro snowboarder.
Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years?
Rocking out for the masses. Traveling the world. Helping others. In my garden. Doing yoga on top of a mountain. In my baby’s arms.
Is guitar your primary instrument? When you write do you write for guitar?
I write on guitar, ukulele & piano. Sometimes the tunes come out a cappella.
I love “Onion Cutter.” Your vox on that song are so sultry and jazzy, and the song itself is more in line with jazz. You’ve also got some more bluegrassy numbers. Then on “Salty Sweet,” it’s a bit of a departure, as far as musical arrangement. It’s more poppy. You are quite an eclectic artist. Why have you chosen to write and record such a wide array of songs from different genres?
I can only be what I am and I am a lot of things. In this day and age we listen to so many genres and artists from the past to the present. I have been influenced. I studied jazz at college. I love hiphop. I love folk and country. I love it all. That’s why. This upcoming record has a bit of that on it, but the common thread is me. My heart. My voice. My vibe. Variety is the spice of life.
Friday July 24
Bowie Feather, 209 S El Paso St.
9 p.m.
21+, free; under 21, $3.