MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.
What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?
Stacy Clark: I started writing poetry when I was seven. I had participated in in choir since elementary school. I had also sang in church and middle school musicals. It was in high school when I started to see live performances (Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Jimmy Eat World). That’s when I was inspired to save up to record my first album.
MuzicNotez: Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?
Stacy Clark: I loved everything when I was younger – Nirvana, Weezer, The Get Up Kids, Stevie Nicks, Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Rage Against the Machine, The Beatles, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Ani DiFranco, Poe, Sheryl Crow, U2, Bjork, The Cranberries, MxPx, Jimmy Eat World, Rod Stewart, Face to Face, Wu Tang, Operation Ivy, we had an eight track player and I would listen to a lot of disco…the list goes on. My music is pretty far removed from many of the artists I grew up listening to. As an artist, I feel it is important to constantly evolve and grow.
MuzicNotez: What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?
Simply, I enjoy writing songs and creating. If people enjoy what I create it is a bonus.
MuzicNotez: What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?
Stacy Clark: Fleetwood Mac. Their chemistry is amazing and songs are the greatest.
MuzicNotez: You’ve recently released your new EP ‘Days Into Nights’, what was the motivation behind this?
Stacy Clark: I enjoy creating.
MuzicNotez: You also released a video for a track off the EP ‘Next Town’, what’s this track all about?
Stacy Clark: I was recording at Miracle Lake Studios in Washington with one of my good friends Skyler Norwood. We both have come into our own as “professional musicians”. He is a phenomenal producer and musician. We both had accomplished more then we ever sought out to, just because we love music and never gave up on creating. We reminisced about a tour we did together back in 1999 and there we sat in a studio I had helped build. It felt very nostalgic. I had just finished a long run of touring the states and had really missed my boyfriend. What we recorded was a song I wrote on the spot in one take. If you listen closely the keyboard pattern is very simple, but also hard to follow if you were to replay it. It makes for fun live performances. The honesty and simplicity of it is what I love about it. We wanted to reflect a more abstract video where the viewer could focus on the lyrics and the song. They could determine how it made them feel rather then having a music video that tells you how to feel.
MuzicNotez: You have accomplished a lot and won quite a few awards over the last few years. What would you say is your greatest achievement?
Stacy Clark: My greatest achievement is the nonprofit work I have done. I have met amazing people, raised funds and awareness for various charities. It is a great feeling to get recognized for anything you work hard at doing. I just also feel life is short, it is important to give back when you can.
MuzicNotez: You have raised money for various charities. Can you tell us about your charity work? Which charities have you helped?
Stacy Clark: Each year I try to participate for a few events. Whether its a raising awareness, organizing a team, volunteering time, raising funds or performing. I am part of a team in OC called Turkey and Friends run by my friend Steve Guzman. Each year we do different fundraisers and events. This past year I volunteered time running sound and performing for the OC Movember Network and Boarding for Breast Cancer.
Previous charities I have participated in include Habitat for Humanity (it is a lot of work! but also a lot of fun to help build homes), MS Walk, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , SPCA (rescue an animal and it will love you like no other!), Multiple Sclerosis Walk, Great Strides C ystic Fibrosis Walk, Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness, CHOC, Orangewood Children’s Foundation, PETA and the list continues.
The reason I feel so passionate about this is because when I was younger I was very sick and needed a blood platelet transfusion. I got a treatment similar to chemo and felt that if I lived I would do my best to make a positive difference. Time is precious and life is short.
MuzicNotez: Working on anything new? What can we expect from you in the future?
Stacy Clark: Right now I am working on a lot of co-writes and collaborations. I also am really into comedy and writing sketches. You can view everything I create on my website. Thanks for your support!