Naked Blue Interview              Coffee East January 19th, 2008

Jennifer and Scott Smith are the leaders, songwriters and vocalists for the wonderful pop-rock duo Naked Blue. The group is coming off their greatest success to date with their latest release Five By Five. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been touring extensively on the East and West Coast with another emerging singer-songwriter Ruut. Jennifer was nice enough to stop by for a few minutes to discuss their recent move up the radio charts, Brittany Spears and the couple's new Bluetick Coonhound.

MM: Husband and wife team in a band? Isn't marriage hard enough? What's tough
about being in a band with your husband?

JS: It's surprisingly great.  We're together almost constantly and so we're more in tune with each others moods.  I think it gives us a better understanding of one another.  It's also great to share our dream & be able to work on goals together.  I know, "yuck", right?  But it's been pretty cool.  At least the 19 years we've put in so far.

MM: What have you guys been doing since I last saw you...probably three years
ago? What is new in your career?

JS: We did the biggest indie promotion we've ever done before with our latest CD "Five by Five" and got it up to #103 on the FMQB charts.   Finally got some regular rotation on radio!  Scott produced some really great records here at The Wood and Stone Room including; Eric Scott's "Red", We're About 9's "Paperdust, Stardust" & Mary Sue Twohy's "Songs to Hang on Stars".  It was a real pleasure having those talented folks around in the studio and we're really proud of the final product. I lost my voice at the end of 2006. I panicked and learned to play cello & build websites, but voice lessons have been getting me back to my old self again.  We've been touring the East & West Coast with a fabulous new artist named Ruut, who you'll meet at the show.  It's been great to be a side person and I'm really enjoying the cello as a new instrument.  We played in New Hampshire this week at Ron Paul's Post Primary Rally. It was very interesting to see behind the scenes of a Presidential campaign.  We got a new Bluetick Coonhound this year.  There's a picture of her here: www.thewoodandstoneroom.com/contactus.html ...hmmm  that's it in a nutshell!

MM: You guys always play with such great musicians, and Scott himself is so talented. What do you look for in the people you choose to play with, and what do you think is attractive about yourselves that makes people play with
you?

JS: Anyone we've played or written with  (Ruut, Tony Denikos, Todd Wright, Jennifer Daniels) have been friends first and if there's an opportunity to play music together than that is just icing on the cake.  It can be a lot of work learning someone else's songs, but if the music is good then it's a blast & it's inspiring.  I think we're nice to play with because we're happy & relaxed almost all of the time :)

MM: What is your favorite part of songwriting?

JS: That's easy; when the writing is done and we're in the studio recording it for the first time.

MM: What do you like least about the music business?

JS: That's easy too; the business part.  No, really it would be the sales & administrative work like cold calling, writing & reviewing contracts, tracking down licensing money etc.  Things are different when you are doing music for a living as opposed to just playing for fun.  There are certain sacrifices, disappointments & frustrations that go along with "music as a business". 

MM: What is the last album you listened to that REALLY inspired you?

JS: Tracy Bonham "Blink the Brightest".

MM: How do you feel about all the Brittany Spears situation?

JS: I think it's a statement about what's wrong with the media that the American public knows more about Brittany Spears situation than they do about the Presidential candidates or a hundred other more important current issues that don't get the airtime they should.....  That and "Who would have thought that K-Fed would be the responsible one?"

MM: If somebody sat down with you and picked your brain about songwriting, what would you want them to take from you?

JS: To write honestly, from the heart, very personal, and still find a way to make it appealing to others...

MM: What is exciting about being a musician now?

JS: The return of the 'grass roots' promotion opportunities.  The internet has opened up a whole new way to reach audiences, and has taken the power away from the few companies that had this ability in the past.  There seems to be a whole new appreciation of live music as well.  I think people are getting sick of perfectly polished productions since that's so easy to achieve in the studio these days.  There's software that puts the singer in tune, and the drummer in time, etc... but there's no fooling a live audience (well, most times anyway :)

MM: Do you have any fond memories of playing on the Eastern Shore and in Easton particularly?

JS: Absolutely - several fond memories.  Playing at the Avalon Theater with Marshall Crenshaw, and singing Amazing Grace with Red Letter Day & CommonbonD when we did the triple bill at Avalon.  Dinner at Out of the Fire was an extremely fond memory, too. 
 

FILL IN THE BLANK

If I had to attend one sporting event it would be....Orioles vs Yankees to sing the National Anthem

The song that has ended up on most of my mix tapes I probably.... Mix tapes?... that would be bootlegging and copyright infringement :) 

The best part of performing as a duo is.... If one of us breaks a string the other one still has all 6 to work with...

If I could tour with any musician it would be.... Jen "Scott" Scott "Jen"

If our band wasn't named Naked Blue it would have been named.... Actually... it was named 'Ferguson-Smith' for a brief period.  Then 'Wish' for an even briefer period.  We always thought that 'Free Beer' or 'Topless Waitresses' would increase our draw though...