Interview: Fiawna Forte

General Interest

Sweat. Blood. Tears. These are key ingredients in Fiawna Forte’s music. With her album due out next month, she lets us in on what rock and roll means to her, and let me tell you–it’s more than just her lifestyle, it’s who she is.

Ever wonder what separates good from great? What makes people come back for more? If there’s anyone in the Tulsa music scene right now that has unlocked that secret, it’s Fiawna Forte. Fresh back from her stint at South by Southwest, yes she was one of 23 Oklahoma acts that were in official showcases, Fiawna dishes about her heroes, her love life (ooh la la), and what the future brings for her and her band. Catch her Album release (over 2 years in the making) show at the Marquee on May 14th with Panda Resistance and Bruder!

IC: How long have you been performing?
ff: Pretty much since the doctor swatted my bum. When I was a kid, everywhere I went I usually was pretending to be someone else. My physical being was so engulfed in reality that I escaped with my mind. I guess it stuck. I started playing guitar at 7, sitting in my closet playing for thousands. But I didn’t really “come out of the closet” until I was about 15.

IC: What artists are you listening to right now?

ff: I’ve been exploring the worlds of some classical artists lately. There’s some intense melodies out there. I’ve been into Dr. Dog and Elbow recently as well. Then of course the usuals as in Elvis Costello, Billie Holiday, Bruce, The Who, Tom Waits, Kate Bush, Wilco…the list goes on.

IC: From which female front-women do you draw inspiration?

ff: Well the industry has come a very long way for females. There’s so many influences, I could spend forever on this one question. One woman, however, who broke down alot of walls was Odetta. She’s incredible. Then you have Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Then you have Wanda Jackson who opened the rock n’ roll door for us women. And of course a few who really proved that women can kick it with the guys..Ann and Nancy Wilson, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde. But for me, one woman who has really proved to stand on her own and run the entire show would be the brilliant Kate Bush.

IC: What is it like to be in a band with your fiance?

Editorial note: Bassist Phillip Hanewinkel and Fiawna are engaged.

ff: It’s the greatest thing on this planet. I can’t even really explain it. It’s just overwhelmingly amazing to be able to fulfill your greatest desires with the person you love more than anything. It brings me such comfort and confidence knowing he’s right there. It really just makes things a lot more lighthearted and fun sharing every moment with your best friend.

IC: What’s the best moment you’ve had on stage?

ff: Probably our first show as a full band. It took a lot to get myself to that point. And I was terrified the whole time that I was making a huge mistake. We got bumped from our scheduled set, so we begged to set up outside on the sidewalk in front of Shades of Brown. I figured no one would show, but as we played more people started crowding around. I eventually looked up at everyone and it was such a great moment. People you would never expect to get along were dancing with each other and just having fun.

IC: What about off-stage (but still band related)?

ff: Well, with the small handfuls of rehearsals we’ve had in the last 2 years as a band, they’re still always a lot of fun. It’s always lovely to be in the middle of a song and look over to discover a sweaty drummer suddenly in nothing but some daisy dukes. (Which belong to me, by the way.) It’s like a magic show. A very, very disturbing magic show. And of course our sloppy renditions of “Glory Days” with me on drums, Lance on Bass, and Phillip and Hank on guitars and vocals. “We get a lot done”, she says with great sarcasm.

IC: What are the next steps for the band?

ff: We’ve got our album release coming up on May 14th at the Marquee with fellow local bands Panda Resistance and Bruder. It’s been over a 2 year process of getting it all together and it’s a relief having it all in the wraps. Then….who knows? Wherever the wind takes us.

IC: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

ff: 10 years? Old…with a few rugrats running around. Ha. I’ll be making music until the day I die…and perhaps after, if I have any say in it. So you can still expect that. If we’re not playing full time be then, then I’ll most likely be selling a lot of material. Who knows? I also have quite a few non profit ideas I’d love to see come to be. It all goes back to that wind thing.

IC: What’s your advice to little rocker girls out there, in Tulsa specifically?

ff: Well..first, never let anyone or anything control what or how you do things. Be true to and trust what comes out of you. Especially the wonderful assortment of men who try to kick ya down. You CAN be just as good. And to not lose confidence. I’ll tell ya from first hand, as a female who plays rock n’ roll it’s extremely hard to gain respect. Any necessary decision you make to improve the band will get warped down the line making others call you a man-eater, and most likely worse. But don’t let it get in your way or stop you. There’s a fair share of dumbasses out there. But also learn to listen to your gut. Don’t feed into the bull that you’ve got to have a bottle of jack in your hand, a hit of coke, a fake british accent, and some skinny jeans to make you rock n’ roll. There’s a hell of a lot more to it than that.

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