Rebecca Pronsky is a born and raised Brooklynite who plays twangy folk that is as “urban as it is rural, not afraid to be sophisticated” (Maverick). She’s a “poetic lyricist” (All Music Guide), who sounds “more retro than redneck” (Creative Loafing), “like The Smiths relocated to Nashville” (Northern Sky). On stage her performances are “passionate and wry” (Time Out NY) and “near electric” (Birmingham Mail).
Only Daughter (out March 19, 2013) is Rebecca’s 3rd release on Austin, TX label Nine Mile Records. The album was produced by Rebecca’s husband and guitarist Rich Bennett and recorded and mixed by friend and collaborator Scott Solter. Together, Bennett and Solter help create a record that is gritty and dark, layered and dreamy, bravely disobeying the usual conventions of the Americana genre.
We caught up with Rebecca before her show with her band, The Honeycutters, at Eddie’s Attic on Wednesday, July 10. Check out what the singer-songwriter had to say about her funniest memories, her pre-show rituals and her songwriting.
What is the strangest thing a fan has done for you or at your show?
There are so many but here’s a recent one. On our May tour of the west coast a complete stranger came up to us just as we got off the stage and said “So what are we doing tomorrow morning? How ’bout a canoe ride?” as if we had been friends for years. We had to politely decline since we didn’t even know the guy’s name!
What is the funniest moment you have had as an artist?
Recently on a tour of the UK, we got seriously mislead by our GPS and ended up on top of a mountain in Wales in the snow on an unplowed road. We were prevented from going any further by a herd of sheep crossing in front of us. Just then a military helicopter flew by looking for, what I assume, were stranded cars in the snowdrift, and we knew then to turn around. It was scary while it was happening but hilarious by the time we got to our show that evening.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Eating! Also not taking the green room time too seriously. It’s important to get alone time and warm up and everything, but it’s also important to be natural and just hang out with your band and be yourself before your play. I find that too much preparation can make me more nervous.
If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?
Ghost.
How do you connect with a crowd?
I use humor mostly. I used to try to be cool on stage and it never worked. But then I embraced by awkwardness and now some people say my on stage banter is like stand up comedy. My music is pretty dark so the banter is a good balance.
What is the best way to write music?
Don’t think about it too much. I like to sit down with any of my various guitars and ukes and just sing melodies and words and see what happens. If nothing does, that’s fine. If something does and it’s crap, that’s fine too. You have to just be there and not judge what comes out. That’s the only way for the good stuff to eventually emerge.
Grab your tickets to see Rebecca Pronsky & The Honeycutters at Eddie’s Attic July 10! Click the link below.
