Citizen K - "On The Scene" #1

Artist: HoneyRose
Hometown: Santa Rosa, CA
Website: http://www.myspace.com/earthysister

File Under: Blues Rock

Recommended if you're into: Blues rock,
empowered lyrics, and soulful, bluesy singin'
in the vein of Janis, Fiona Apple, and maybe
Joss Stone.

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"Honey Rose" Conner has the tools to do the job, without question. All I had access to listen to were the four tunes available on her MySpace profile, but what's posted is a solid look at what she's doing and where she's at, and what to expect to see on her upcoming CD.

Her lyrics have depth and message, and her voice seems to be capable of almost anything she can think to ask of it. The track "Maybe" evokes Janis, with a hook that even winks at "Piece of My Heart"
and then quickly uncorks an inner rock thing. This riff-oriented brawler
lashes back at a former lover, and you can almost smell the bourbon
on its southern-rock breath.

"My Innocence" is a funkified strut along the watchtower, but reveals a wide
streak of vulnerability in its lyrics. "Ego Trip" continues the easy, funky vibe
that falls somewhere between Cake and Skynyrd, with maybe a bit of 4 Non
Blondes (in the vocals, if nowhere else). "What You Get" starts off with
acoustic guitar and harmonics, but by the end is mostly teeth and knuckles.

The CD a good mix of songs that fit well with each other, entertaining and
empowering in their message, and energetic in delivery. I'm sure her voice
can fill a room on its own, and I'd really like to watch her do an acoustic set.

I got to ask Honey Rose a few questions about herself and her music.

CitizenK: You were born on The Big Island of Hawaii. How long did you live
there, and what if anything stays with you from that time?

HoneyRose: Yes, I was born in Laupahoehoe on the Hilo side of the Big
Island. I lived there until I was 12 and then moved to New Mexico with my
father. I'll tell you what sticks with with me is this: being one of a few white
(haoli) kids at my school. I can remember dreading P.E. because if you
were white and it was your turn to be in the center of the dodge ball
circle...... then look out..... because all the Hawaiian and Filipino kids did
their best to beam you in the head with the ball. So that sucked.

CitizenK: Describe being brought up in a musical family.

HoneyRose: Being brought up in a musical family? Well? I don't see how it
could've been any other way. My mother is a singer. She always had me
involved in some sort of musical, or play, or ballet show. She was always
involved herself in some sort of band. My dad always had a guitar around the
house. In fact that's how I learned to play. I remember picking out the bass
line to a Cure song when I was in 7th grade. Then I just started making up
chords. Eventually my dad sold me his acoustic Ibanez - the same one from
my childhood. But hey, it was the best opportunity I had to be able to make
payments on a guitar.
My grandma? Well she was a little eccentric. She would play the ukulele,
the piano, the trumpet, and all kinds of instruments when we would come
to visit her for the summers. Like I said, I couldn't imagine it being any
other way.

CitizenK: Yet of your two degrees, Child Development and Human Services,
neither involve music, but both involve interaction with people. Have your
studies helped you as a songwriter?

HoneyRose: Sure they have. I have worked a lot with homeless families,
with women and children who've experienced domestic violence, and with
children who've experienced abuse and/or neglect. It has really set up a
lot of instances in life where I can put others before myself. That is what
truly makes me happy - being able to provide a sympathetic shoulder to
just about anybody. I mean, people go through a lot of bizarre
experiences in their lives. You just never know who'll you'll meet and what
they've been through.

CitizenK: These recordings are blues-based. Does that stem from your
Grandmother's love of jazz?

HoneyRose: You know... I'm not certain. I'm sure that it did in one way or
another. My mother always sang a mean blues and I know that she was
musically influenced by my grandmother in many ways. But you know... I'd
have to say that it mostly came from my parents' love of blues.
My dad listening to Johnny Winter, ZZ Top, etc. My mom listening to Aretha
Franklin. I can remember playing "We're going riding on a freeway, of love,
in a pink Cadillac." Man I loved that song. I'd be bumpin' that song on my
little pink tape player in 4th grade... singing along and dancing. Ha ha ha ha!!!

CitizenK: What other musical influences did your parents' generation
introduce you to?

HoneyRose: I mostly remember my dad listening to ZZ Top, and some
AC/DC. My mom? She was a radio DJ so she played all sorts of stuff. I
remember meeting Bonnie Raitt one time at an event my mom was MCing.
I loved Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Paula Abdul, Stevie Nicks, Madonna,
Sinead O'Conner.

CitizenK: Am I mistaken, or is there something slightly Southern about
this material?

HoneyRose: You know, I noticed that too. It certainly wasn't intentional, but
I did notice that there was a little twang in my voice in a couple of the
tracks. Now that you mentioned it too, well, I know I'm not going crazy.
It wasn't just me.

CitizenK: Now that you're here on "the mainland", do you ever wish you
were back in Hawaii?

HoneyRose: Yeah, of course! I go usually once a year to visit my mom,
my brother, my aunt, and several childhood friends. We had sort of a
family reunion last summer, it was a lot of fun. I got stung by a jelly fish
for the first time (a Man-of-War) so that wasn't fun..... at all. I don't ever
wish to be living there again though because I'm trying to get a musical
career going, and well, there are like two to three bars on the whole Island
that ever have music going. And people want Jawaiian (that's like reggae
and Hawaiian put together) so it's hard to make it as a solo artist.

CitizenK: What would you say worries you the most about the present state
of our society?

HoneyRose: What worries the most is this: How damn sexualized
everything is. I mean you can't even see a toothbrush commercial
these days without a pair of titties. And as an early childhood educator,
I have definitely noticed an increase in how "sexy" little girls have become.
I have worked with little girls who have a little heel on their boots (they
can't even run or skip out on the yard), they have little tattoos on the
small of their back (we're talkin' four year olds now), and the real kicker is
when they have shirts on that have the cleavage sewn in for them. Now what
is that about? It's like parents are becoming vicariously sexy through their
children. Also I notice that women aren't really on the same team anymore.
I notice a lot of jealousy between women. It seems like, as a woman, that
I would have a lot more women friends. But I don't have very many at all.
I have had quite a few conversations with women too about what I'm
speaking of. A lot of women seem to feel the same way, like we're all for
ourselves, not of the same team.

CitizenK: What advice would you give to an aspiring musician taking up
your instrument?

HoneyRose: Learn bar chords! For reals though, it is so easy to fall into a
chord rut. You start to write things in the same key and the same tempo.
Just try your hardest to learn different strumming patterns, etc.

CitizenK: Here's your chance to rant! Give me a closing thought.

HoneyRose: Here's a bit more advice...... don't ever expect anything to fall
in your lap. You have to work, and work hard, for it. I'm talkin' starting out
at open mics. It'll be freaky and your hands will shake like crazy, but just
keep at it. Before you know it you'll be opening for a local band. It is a very
slooooow process. Just remember that change takes time, and lots of it.
Persistence is key though.

CitizenK: Thanks for your time, and be sure to let us know when your
recording is finished.

HoneyRose: Absolutely. Thanks for having me and please keep an eye out
for HoneyRose flyers or you can always visit our MySpace to keep yourselves posted on local shows.