101: Find your TRUE VOICE (w/ Joanna Sternberg)

Joanna Sternberg is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist living in New York City.  She primarily plays the double bass, but also plays electric bass, guitar, and piano.  Joanna sings and writes songs, and regularly performs her original music.  She plays folk, country, blues, rock, ragtime, classical, gospel, funk, rhythm and blues, klezmer, and jazz (ranging from the style of the 1920's to the present day.)  Joanna is also currently in a band called "Fraydele" as well as a talented visual artist.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/joanna

In this episode, Joanna discusses:

-How and why she chooses to write, sing, and play so many different styles of music.

-That the inspiration for the songs usually comes from personal experiences that she needs to get out into the world.

-Her band "Fraydele" that plays music that her grandmother, Fraydele Oysher, sang in the Yiddish Theater.

-How it is sometimes necessary to take a break and "fill the tank."

-How drawing and visual art is less draining and taxing on her than songwriting.

-How she has only been singing for two years (which is one of the most shocking things that Youngman Brown has learned on the show).

-When she first started to sing, how she sang in a lower voice because she thought it would be harder for people to make fun of.

-Her advice for everyone to get singing lessons to have someone help them find their voice.

-The importance of being able to have someone to help you with honest feedback, but who will also be supportive.

-Her struggles with self-image.

-How performing the songs aren't nerve-wracking to her, and how she is grateful that she doesn't write complicated lyrics.

-Even though her songs have a very specific meaning to her, how music and art are a way for people to communicate universal truths to one another.

-How she uses calendars to help her balance her time.

-Joanna's upcoming residency at Sunny's Bar on June 2, June 9, and June 16, 2016.

-Her biggest inspirations, Roz Chast and Randy Newman.

Joanna's Final Push will inspire you to pursue your creative passions and put it out there because you never know who it might affect.   Quotes:

"Not to be cheesy, but I just really feel the music I play.  So it didn't really take that much learning as opposed to just doing it and having fun."

"It usually is just something in my life I need to get out."

"It was definitely something I always wanted to do but I just never thought I could."

"Find people you trust who could help you.  Because it's hard to do it all alone."

"Sometimes I'm proud that I can take stuff in my life that's negative and write a song about it."

Links mentioned:

Dr. Katz Professional Therapist (YouTube)

Connect with Joanna:

Website / Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Facebook / Art / Art Facebook