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1.) We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed singer-songwriter and actress Susannah Blinkoff who is perhaps best known by her nom de plume Susannah B; greetings and salutations, Susannah! Before we meander down the Q&A musical pathway, how has the freshly-minted autumn of 2023 been treating you thus far?
I’ve been great, and I must say, my life has been noticeably expanding lately, becoming more full and busy – I’ve been recording in the studio a lot, working on my upcoming album AND I’ve been traveling a ton – I went to the UK, Germany, and Colombia over the summer and then was in Toronto for the Film Festival just a few weeks ago. I’m happy, but a bit breathless!
2.) Congratulations and major kudos for your upcoming October 11 single release of Vienna! Starting from the top, what inspired you to tackle this beautiful rendition of Billy Joel’s beloved tune?
“Vienna” became one of my favorite songs when I was a kid in middle school. I loved Billy Joel – I quoted him on my senior page in my high school yearbook (“I’ve Loved These Days”, great song) I still love Billy! I know all the words to so many of his songs, I saw him at The Forum this past year with Stevie Nicks as his opening act, it was so awesome. Anyway, starting when I was in seventh grade, and going all through high school, I was a very ambitious, independent New York City kid who was doing all these cool, interesting things outside of school – and I overscheduled myself with singing lessons and acting classes, auditions, singing in clubs with people like Irene Cara and Sarah Jessica Parker…I took the bus and walked all over Manhattan by myself — I was a busy girl! And completely self-driven, my parents were not focused on what I was doing as much as they were focused on their own freelance careers as artists – my mom was a professional singer/songwriter, my dad was a fashion photographer. So “Vienna” puts me right back to my roots, to growing up in the city – because Billy Joel is the ultimate New York songwriter – he wrote “New York State of Mind” which if you don’t know that one, go listen right now! This is the second time I’ve recorded “Vienna” and I’m really proud of this version. A dream come true would be if Billy could hear it. He’s one of my idols.
3.) You co-produced Vienna alongside the respected producer Michael Farrell (who, not so incidentally, also handled the keyboard duties on the tune). What was it like collaborating with Michael on your powerful take on this gem of a tune?
Mike Farrell and I have a terrific ease between us – he’s basically the easiest person to get along with that I’ve ever known and I trust him completely. I feel so incredibly supported by him and he’s just a great player. Also, he’s one of the musical directors on “American Idol”, he’s leading the band, and he knows SO MANY songs. And he’s been writing with and recording and touring with my idol ALANIS MORISSETTE. So, basically, he’s the best!
4.) In your humble opinion, what differentiates Vienna from the Distinguished Competition on the 2023 music scene?
Let’s not name it competition, okay? Even “distinguished”. I think there’s an infinite number of ways that Spirit/Life/God/whatever you want to call it shows up – it’s the infinite number of ways that every single living being on the planet expresses themselves. So, I’m showing up on this Earth as a singer. What distinguishes my way of singing from everyone else’s is that it’s the essence of Susannah, my innermost thoughts and feelings and opinions, delivered through melodies and grooves that came through me. Singing is very physical, you can feel it in the body. So, I have my own rhythms, my unique flair, my sound. It’s mine because it’s literally my voice. That’s all I can do. Show up as a singer, give of myself, share my light. If I think of singing as a competition, I feel totally insecure. And if I become dependent on others’ approval to “win”, I’m doomed. As long as I’m doing what I love with a passion – which is singing and making music – I’m winning at life, right?
5.) With Vienna, you’ve obviously cracked the code for what goes into an unforgettable cover version; you honor Billy Joel’s evergreen while also imbuing your own spirit into the song. Were you at all intimidated on delivering your own indelible spin on this well-known song?
Listen, me and “Vienna” go way back. This song is like someone I’ve known a long, long time, but yes, it’s also a Billy Joel song and I want to do a good job. Intimidation is always part of doing a cover, and there are always moments I feel terrified. But listen to this…true story: On my 13th birthday — which was a LONG time ago, I’m deep in my 50s — my stepdad made a little movie for me and there was a part where he panned slowly across the calendar on my wall which was filled to the brim with my hectic schedule, handwritten in all different-colored pens – and the soundtrack my stepdad used for the movie was “Vienna”! With Billy Joel singing: “Slow down, you crazy child…you’re so ambitious for a juvenile…” The song feels like it was written for me, that’s how closely I relate to it. When I sing it, I’m singing it to myself. And that’s how millions of people feel, which is the hallmark of a really well-written song. Everyone feels it speaks directly to them. And everyone knows all the words and at the concerts, everyone sings along. That’s what “Vienna” is – beautiful, excellent songwriting.
6.) Word ‘round industry campfire has it that Vienna is the leadup to your upcoming album of original music set for release in 2024. Can you give our ever-inquisitive readers a hint or three as to what they can expect to hear on the new LP?
The new album is called POV – meaning “point of view”. The songs are pop-rock with a groove– Sheryl Crow, Sade, Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, and the newer band Mt Joy are some of the inspirations for this record. I’ve released 6 albums independently over the last 25 years and I was thinking at some point, if I were making a “Best of Susannah B” playlist, which songs would be on it? Being kind of ruthless about my own work, choosing what I think are my best songs so far. The ones on POV are what I chose – they’re still relevant, I think, and they still make me get up and move to the groove. My songs always have toe-tapping grooves of some kind, even slow ones, I gotta have a groove. That’s what I always start with. Anyway, some of these older songs needed to be rewritten, edited, updated, and my co-producer Mike Farrell, who’s a
keyboardist, recruited these three other guys he knows really well – guitar, bass, drums — because they all tour with Alanis Morissette. They get along great, which is key in making music together. And they’re are all amazing players (because they’re Alanis Morissette’s band!), they’ve played with so many of my idols, it’s truly thrilling for me. And lucky for me, we all hit it off, they liked me, it was a super-copasetic vibe in the studio – very joyful and fun. And they’re so damn fast, we recorded seven songs in one day, so the whole process was kind of fast-paced. So final words about POV: I have an awesome new band, new versions of older songs, plus some new songs, too. And something really cool and meaningful to me: all the songs on POV are written by me except for one cover of a classic kids’ song that was written by my mom, Carol Hall, who wrote the 1970s kids classic “Free to Be…You and Me” and the Broadway hit show and movie “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”.
7.) Who inspires you musically?
Boygenius, Billie Eilish, Finneas, SAULT, Taylor Swift, Danielle Ponder, Prince, Spoon, Ed Sheeran, Arlo Parks, Psapp, Haim, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald…to name a few.
8.) How do your own musical roots – your mother is the respected Broadway composer/lyricist Carol Hall – inform you as both an artist and as a person?
For the first chapter of my life, I felt both intense admiration and a feeling of being very intimidated by mom. I felt like music was her thing, not mine. She was so good at it! It’s a very nuanced, much longer story than I have time to tell you right now, but let’s just say, it took me a long time to embrace my own identity as a singer-songwriter, which is also what my mom was (she passed away 5 years ago). She had some amazing successes — she was signed to Elektra Records in 1972 and released two albums with them. She toured with Don McLean on his “American Pie” tour, Loggins & Messina, Kris Kristofferson. She had a Broadway hit show, which was her dream come true. She decided when she was a young child that she was going to move to New York City from Abilene, Texas and she did! Her legacy is huge and I’m really excited that in late November, just in time for the holiday season, I’ll be releasing the single “Hard Candy Christmas”, which was written by my mom and which Dolly Parton recorded and made a hit song. It’s also been recorded by Reba McIntyre, LeeAnn Rhimes, Cyndi Lauper & Alison Krauss…RuPaul has a disco version! It’s a wonderful thing to be able to sing my mom’s words and melodies…it’s a deep, soulful experience of being her daughter. It’s my heritage and inheritance, it’s a kind of magic I believe is in our family and in my blood. My momma was a singing witch, and so am I.
9.) In the wake of the October 11 release of Vienna, can fans look forward to catching you on the performing/touring circuit?
No plans yet, but I’ll definitely play some shows in 2024. I really want to play Austin, I have family & musical friends there, and I have to go back to my hometown and play in NYC.
10.) As a singer-songwriter which generally comes first for you: The music or the lyrics?
Lyrics. I like to start with a title – a phrase or hook will just come to me, or I hear it (or hear myself saying it) and from that, I figure out what the song is about. Then I look for the rhythm, the groove. Then I start playing around, improvising melody. I rewrite a lot, try to craft the words. I am a lyricist’s daughter after all.
11.) At the end of the day what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving your dreamy rendition of Vienna many-a-spin on their respective hi-fi systems?
I’m glad you called it dreamy! I want you to feel comforted, soothed, restored…I feel like the song sways and rocks us into a hopeful, peaceful place. Take some deep breaths and stretch while you listen, or lean back in the bath, or move to the music with your eyes closed. Sing along in the car. Let yourself really hear the lyrics, which are “slow down”. Obviously, we live in a time when these words are more important than ever. Let the song be your 3-minute bathroom break song, you know? Close the door, close your eyes, let the song take you on a restful little trip to somewhere else.
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