Winner of the 2009 OutMusic Award for Outstanding Folk/Country Song ( with Blair Hansen for "Break Away" from the lesbian film Hannah Free ) , Vicci Martinez recently performed in Chicago at Buddy Guy's Legends. Windy City Times talked with her before her show.
Windy City Times: What brings you to Chicago?
Vicci Martinez: I recently signed with new management and we have been wanting to get signed with a great agency called Monterey International. In the past, we sent them recordings of our stuff, but they just didn't get the vibe with the recording. My new manager used to work with Monterey and one of their artists and knows the people there so she managed to get them to agree to come to a live show so that they could see me play live. So, we're going to play a show to showcase for the agency. My drummer, bass player and keyboard player are going to come and meet me there. Hopefully they will get the vibe and sign us to the agency.
WCT: Wow, no pressure for the show, eh?
Vicci Martinez: Hopefully, they will get the vibe this time! Hopefully they will like it and we'll do our best. I mean, I know we'll do our best. We're working right now on trying to get an album out that really shows what we are like in a live show and not just a recording like in the past. So, hopefully we'll all be in the same page there. Yeah, cause I've been trying to get onboard with these guys for a long time.
WCT: Last time we talked, you were about to embark on a college tour. How is that going?
Vicci Martinez: We did a college tour last spring in the northeast and I went and lived in New York for a little bit. I started another tour in September in the southeastGeorgia, South Carolinaand I've been in Florida for the past two weeks. I think I've done about five or six shows here in Florida. Then I have a few others spread out on the East CoastPennsylvaniaand then I head to Ohio.
WCT: You're going all over the place!
Vicci Martinez: Yeah! It's been a good excuse to get me out of the northwest and to see the country. I was just talking with my girlfriend a little while ago and I was telling her that, you know, even though it's really cool to be a part of these college shows and they have good budgets and pay you well, being on the road is expensive! I never realized it! [ Laughs ] . I mean, I used to be the kind of person who didn't want to put anything on credit and I always wanted to pay everything off, but now my cards are like all maxed out!
WCT: We're all going through that kind of situation, it seems! The economy, travel, work that doesn't pay what you what you need in order to live, etc.
Vicci Martinez: I know; it's crazy! It's kind of likewhen you start doing it, you don't realize how much it catches up with you! I'm flying around, booking car rentals and stuff. I've gotten really good at Priceline and stuff. I can't complain, though.
WCT: Are you planning to settle down anywhere soon?
Vicci Martinez: I was just sitting there talking with my girlfriend about how stressful of a decision that is right now for us. We were just talking about buying a house because we're wasting all of our money on rent, but I don't know. I mean, I'm going back to being a full-time musician here!
WCT: Do you have a CD on the horizon?
Vicci Martinez: There is a limited edition live CD to help us raise money for touring in the future. We recorded it in Tacoma, Wash., at Jazzbones. I actually was able to meet Keb Mo while I was in Nashville. A good friend of mine was good friends of his for awhile so he introduced us. Keb has been amazing and so supportive offering advice. It would be awesome to get him on the new album to sing a duet with me! [ Laughs ] .