-chris kelly

Since she hit it big with her song "David Duchovny," in which she requests the love of her favorite X-Files star, Bree Sharp has been a busy woman. Currently living in New York, Bree has been playing endless amounts of radio shows to promote her album, A Cheap And Evil Girl. On the heels of her new single, "America," Bree discusses "David Duchovny," her views of the music scene, and the busy profession of being a rock star.

Was your whole album ready when you signed with Trauma?

No, I actually had a writing period of a couple months after I signed with them. I had about three-quarters of the record done already, though.

You didn’t feel rushed at all?

It was a very quick process, but I didn’t do anything that I felt was unfinished. I tend to write better under pressure, and I think that a lot of that exciting energy translated to the songs and tape.

Do you write your own music and lyrics?

I write about ninety-eight percent of all the lyrics and about seventy percent of the music. I have two people co-writing music with me.

Does it bother you at all that you’re being tied down to the “David Duchovny” single?

It doesn’t bother me because it was a great introduction and it didn’t really go over the top and people didn’t get sick of it. I think that because the song came out of real emotion, the people could see that I was a real songwriter.

Have you met Mr. Duchovny yet?

Not yet!

In the song “America,” you go on about the media and your views of it. Do you tend to be cynical about America’s media standards?

Definitely, it’s hard not to be. It’s so in your face all the time. Usually, there are things that are really serious going on, and they get pushed aside for stories that the company might think are more popular. If you look at some of the news items, it’s more and more celebrity instead of things that are actually news-worthy. When I’m watching the news, I don’t care who’s sleeping with whom. But then again, in our magazines, it’s all about sex and celebrities. I don’t take myself out of that equation, because I’m definitely a part of it. It’s frustrating because you hate yourself for being interested in it, but somehow you still are.

So what would be your ideal standing with the media?

Obviously, I don’t want to be hounded. I just want any media coverage that I get to be about my work, not about my personal life. I think that’s a real problem in our country right now. Entertainers have their place in society and we need them like we need doctors, lawyers and trash collectors. There’s trash and it needs to be picked up. There’s a sick person who needs to be cured. The entertainer is just as important because people need to be entertained. Without the movie stars and musicians, it would be a very boring place. If all of those components are needed to make up a culture, why should we be singled out and have our privacy taken away from us?

What do you think of the musicians even younger than you that are taking over the music scene right now?

Well, the age doesn’t bother me as much as the quality of music. It’s not like I have an issue with the actual person, but it’s curious to me why our culture embraces them so much. Without talking specifically about anyone, because I would never do that, it just seems to me that, in general, their songs aren’t really about anything. I find it interesting that our culture can put that at the top of the charts, but...I don’t know.

So what inspires you?

Sometimes I feel very uninspired! I guess it comes when it comes. Different things inspire me: mostly people, sometimes relationships, occasionally the human response to things.

How has the whole experience been so far?

It’s been really great. Like everything, it does have it’s ups and downs. There are compromises to be made, since it’s a business, not just an art. There are other things to think about than just what I think! It’s been a real adventure since I’m so new to it. I’m just along for the ride.

Has the reality of being a touring musician lived up to your expectations so far?

It’s different than what I thought. It’s definitely more work. It’s a great profession, to write music, perform it, and get paid.

Are you going to do this for the rest of your life?

The rest of my life will hopefully be very long, so it’s impossible to answer that. So much has happened in this year alone, so I can’t imagine what the next five years will bring, let alone the next thirty.

What do you want to happen?

I guess I just want to continue on the path I’m on right now, getting my music out there. I want to be happy, I want to get into acting again. I’m just interested in seeing what life has to offer me.