Amanda counts Elton as a fan

Wednesday, April 30, 1997

Amanda Marshall counts

Elton as a fan

By BLAIR S. WATSON

Calgary Sun

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For a rock performer, writing one's own material is almost as important as being able to sing it well.

But for Toronto's Amanda Marshall, how one interprets a song is just as valid; if not more so.

The singer, who performs her brand of steamy blues rock at the Jubilee Auditorium Saturday, admits her writing credits are limited; with her self-titled debut album featuring only one Marshall-penned track and one she co-wrote.

Marshall says she's just not ready to take on the task of writing an entire album.

"I'm still pretty young as a writer," admits Marshall in a phone interview.

"For me, at this point, writing is an alternative creative outlet ... But mostly, writing is a discipline. It's being willing to hand yourself over to the moment when inspiration hits you. It's being willing to get out of bed at 4 a.m. and jot down that idea you just dreamt. Often, I'm just not willing to do that for whatever reason. But I really like it."

Although the diminutive powerhouse of a vocalist seems indifferent as far as writing, she's gained the attention of at least one of superstar.

"It's funny, Elton John phoned me earlier in the year. He's been really supportive of me," says Marshall, referring to John praising her on the Rosie O'Donnell show.

"He really likes my record and he called me to tell me so. Having never met me and not really knowing me, he said `I get the impression just from talking to you that you are a much better writer than you think you are.' and I think that's probably true."

One wonders if John is thinking of Marshall as a future collaborator.

"I'd never say never. But, I haven't heard from him in some time or made any attempts to get in touch with him. I would never dream of over-stepping the bounds of good taste and tracking him down."

Marshall, now 24, began her professional career at 17; a career that has led to her opening for such notables as Jeff Healey, Colin James, Tom Cochrane, Tears For Fears and most recently on tour with John Mellencamp, which featured the singer in duet with Mellencamp on Pink Houses.

In actuality, it was Healey who opened the door for Marshall.

"I met Jeff (Healey) when I was in my last year of high school ... a girlfriend and I went to his show and we went backstage to get his autograph and I told him I wanted to be a singer. He invited me to a jam session at a club. About two months after meeting him, he offered me the opening slot on his tour," she recalls.

The singer has often been compared to a host of vocalists from Bonnie Raitt to Sheryl Crow, to even being referred to as "The love child of Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker." The comparisons don't bother her.

"I have always been compared and lumped in with people that I actually have a lot of respect for what they do.

"If I was being touted as the sixth Spice Girl, well that would be a little less flattering," she quipped.


	Wednesday, April 30, 1997 Amanda Marshall counts Elton as a fan By BLAIR S. WATSON Calgary Sun ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For a rock performer, writing one's own material is almost as important as being able to sing it well. But for Toronto's Amanda Marshall, how one interprets a song is just as valid; if not more so. The singer, who performs her brand of steamy blues rock at the Jubilee Auditorium Saturday, admits her writing credits are limited; with her self-titled debut album featuring only one Marshall-penned track and one she co-wrote. Marshall says she's just not ready to take on the task of writing an entire album. "I'm still pretty young as a writer," admits Marshall in a phone interview. "For me, at this point, writing is an alternative creative outlet ... But mostly, writing is a discipline. It's being willing to hand yourself over to the moment when inspiration hits you. It's being willing to get out of bed at 4 a.m. and jot down that idea you just dreamt. Often, I'm just not willing to do that for whatever reason. But I really like it." Although the diminutive powerhouse of a vocalist seems indifferent as far as writing, she's gained the attention of at least one of superstar. "It's funny, Elton John phoned me earlier in the year. He's been really supportive of me," says Marshall, referring to John praising her on the Rosie O'Donnell show. "He really likes my record and he called me to tell me so. Having never met me and not really knowing me, he said `I get the impression just from talking to you that you are a much better writer than you think you are.' and I think that's probably true." One wonders if John is thinking of Marshall as a future collaborator. "I'd never say never. But, I haven't heard from him in some time or made any attempts to get in touch with him. I would never dream of over-stepping the bounds of good taste and tracking him down." Marshall, now 24, began her professional career at 17; a career that has led to her opening for such notables as Jeff Healey, Colin James, Tom Cochrane, Tears For Fears and most recently on tour with John Mellencamp, which featured the singer in duet with Mellencamp on Pink Houses. In actuality, it was Healey who opened the door for Marshall. "I met Jeff (Healey) when I was in my last year of high school ... a girlfriend and I went to his show and we went backstage to get his autograph and I told him I wanted to be a singer. He invited me to a jam session at a club. About two months after meeting him, he offered me the opening slot on his tour," she recalls. The singer has often been compared to a host of vocalists from Bonnie Raitt to Sheryl Crow, to even being referred to as "The love child of Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker." The comparisons don't bother her. "I have always been compared and lumped in with people that I actually have a lot of respect for what they do. "If I was being touted as the sixth Spice Girl, well that would be a little less flattering," she quipped.