Interviews

From: Quad City Times [url]
Date: December 21, 2006

Singer-songwriter Hirsch is seeking ‘receptive ears’
by Katie Vaughn

When Terami Hirsch began writing songs at age 11, her lyrics addressed the pressing issues of her day, such as the pain of having to do homework. Over the years, her subject matter has evolved as she has grown, taking on topics from boyfriends to love to loss and triumph.

Today, the 32-year-old Los Angeles native’s literate alternative pop songs hinge on emotional and philosophical explorations of memories and dreams.

"It’s imaginations and things that are more fanciful," she said.

Her third album, Entropy 29, which she released in November 2005, incorporates expressive and sometimes-dark piano melodies, resulting in songs titled "Memory Picture," "There’s a Garden" and "Little Light."

Hirsch began playing piano at the age of 5 and studied music as well as acting, poetry and photography at the Art Center College of Design. The skills she learned in college served her well when she began producing albums with her husband, who hails from Bettendorf and moved to Los Angeles to attend art school.

Together, they released All Girl Band in 1999 and To the Bone in 2002. But Entropy 29 was a departure from their collaboration: Hirsch produced the entire album on her own, from the music to the cover art.

"It was the first time I produced an album completely on my own," she said. "I’m musical and it seemed like a natural extension to program music."

She took the time to learn the various technologies involved in producing and discovered she liked them. She hopes to self-produce future albums.

Hirsch will perform Saturday for the second time at the Bucktown Center for the Arts in downtown Davenport, which is hosting its month-long holiday arts bazaar. Percussionist John Ladson will accompany her.

The singer-songwriter said she’s looking forward to the "receptive ears" she encountered in the Quad-Cities last year and hopes to provide her audience with an interesting performance this time around.

"I hope they enjoy it, that they feel a sense of emotional stimulation," she said.

Katie Vaughn can be contacted at (536) 383-2282 or kvaughn@qctimes.com.

if you go

Who: Terami Hirsch with percussionist John Ladson

When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23

Where: Bucktown Center for the Arts, 225 E. 2nd St., Davenport

How much: Free

Information: www.bucktownarts.com