Welcome back to our continuing series on the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016. Today we are featuring an interview with an artist who is rapidly rising to the top of her genre and was also a previous winner in 2015, Alice Wallace. Wallace won the award for Best Video (Official) Female for “I Just Don’t Care Anymore” as well as for Best Country/Americana Artist, which she also won in 2015.
I first met Wallace when she attended a show I had booked at The Derby in Los Feliz a few years back. It was nice to reconnect and talk with her about her career and future plans during our interview. Sit back, enjoy and learn things about one of the top rising stars in Americana music.
IVB: How long have you been performing?
AW: My family was very much musically inclined. When I was five, our family got a video camera, so I started learning songs so I could perform on camera. It’s always been easy for me to pick up songs and share them with other people. It wasn’t until I was 16 that I picked up the guitar and started writing songs. Within six months, I was signing up for talent shows and have been performing ever since. I remember playing a Borders Book show when I was still in high school. I didn’t do musical theater, but I was in the band, and learned music theory there. I wasn’t really confident in my vocal abilities, and never took any voice lessons. I’ve learned mostly by observing others perform, which helped me to develop my own style.
IVB: Who are your influences?
AW: I’ve always said that I grew up with Gram Parsons and Emilylou Harris, since my parents always listened to them and we sang along. Through the years I was also influenced heavily by 1990’s singer-songwriters like Jewel and Alanis Morrisette, as well as country, blues and Americana artists like Bonnie Raitt, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Patsy Cline, all of which were really strong female voices. I’ve always been drawn to the voices. Oh, and Patti Griffin – I love her style. I try to learn as much as I can about these types of women.
IVB: What made you decide to DIY?
AW: In my early days, I released a couple of albums, but it was difficult to do it on my own. Then I got lucky and was signed to California Country Records about a year ago. California Country is an artist owned label, founded by Calico the Band members Manda Mosher and Kirsten Proffit. I had previously opened for them. While attending the California Roots Festival, I was approached by Kirsten, who told me that they liked my stuff and wanted to sign me to their new label. I was so happy because a label run by artists brings a lot to the table. They had great connections already, and they provided great help in all facets of the process. I am very proud of the finished product, which we released last October. They connected me to their publicist, Melissa Dragich-Cordero of MadInk PR, as well as to a radio promoter who got my music out on the airwaves. We even hit #83 on the charts.
I love being an indie artist, and with California Country, I got the best of both worlds – indie and mainstream. I got to stay indie while having a group of fellow musicians on a label that gave me the support and connections I needed to take my music to the masses. California Country is really more of a partnership than an artist/label relationship. I have always been scared of a label taking and owning my music. Now I have a label that lets me do what I love to do and supports me in the process.
IVB: Well that pretty much answers our next question. Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?
AW: Not really – I would love the recognition that comes from being mainstream, but strongly want to do what I do without losing my identity. I think the Americana genre itself is becoming mainstream in its own way and indie artists are at the front of the pack. As long as I can make the kind of music I want, pay my bills and get to perform, I’m happy.
IVB: What are your future plans?
AW: I want to keep touring and making music. Don’t really have any long term plans at the moment. I’m spending my time booking tours and performing. I think the best way to be successful is to keep putting my music in front of people. I’m writing new songs for my next project, whenever that may happen.
I’ve now been a full-time musician for three years, and it’s getting better all the time. Doors are continually opening and it’s getting easier every day. I am always making connections and going forward, allowing each day to present new opportunities. I think I’ll just gonna ride this wave and see where it goes.
Next week I’m playing some local shows with my friend Brian Ashley Jones from Nashville. He hosted me when I was there, and I’m returning the favor. He got me a chance to perform at the world famous Bluebird Café.
In September, I am heading to Nashville for the Americana festival, followed by a trip to Austin for the Southwest Folk Alliance Conference the next week.
IVB: Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?
AW: One of my best stories is contained in my song “Luck, Texas.” I’ll always remember the time we were playing a show in Oklahoma, and it sounded like bombs were going off over our heads. I was amazed that the audience seemed unconcerned. I asked them what was going on, and they told me it was just a hail storm. Oh, and by the way there’s a tornado about a mile away. Another time I was touring through Texas and my car air conditioner broke and I had to endure that Texas heat.
IVB: How can your fans keep up with you?
AW: Of course I have a website and Facebook. I have a Twitter account, but I really use Instagram more. And don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel.
