Chris Pureka

Soulful singer / songwriter

CYBERARTS: How long have you been playing?

CHRIS PUREKA: I first started playing when I was about 16. I started performing when I was 19, and have been doing it seriously for about two years.

CYBERARTS: Why did you start out? What were your goals with your music?

CP: I had just quit sports, and was just having kind of a shift in interests. I felt like I needed to do something to express myself -- I was having a hard time, especially being a queer teenager. Music was cathartic for me.

CYBERARTS: What are your musical goals now? Are they different?

CP: It kind of started out for myself. Now the goal is to have people respond and to get positive feedback. It's starting to get kind of hard, almost like having two jobs. I work at Smith College, doing microbiology research about 30 hours a week. Luckily I have some help now, with booking and promoting shows -- people don't tend to realize it, but just doing that can be a lot of work. I'm also lucky to have gotten a good job out of college. My hours are pretty flexible.

But as long as I'm getting positive feedback, I'm going to keep performing. If people aren't liking it, I'll stop. Well, I think I'll always play, for myself I mean, but I may stop performing.

CYBERARTS: I know you were recently on tour with Alix Olson. Did you guys make your way to Eugene, perchance?

CP: Yes! We played at the Oregon Country Fair -- I'm not sure where it was exactly, someplace near Eugene, though. It was like a giant hippy commune that lasted for a week! You camp out, and it's totally catered toward people ... uh, on substances. It was really fun. I also played a set at the women's book store ...

CYBERARTS: Mother Kali's? Right near campus?

CP: Yeah, that was cool too. And we played a house party in Eugene; that was with Bitch and Animal, and Alix. The house was on like, acres of land. It was awesome.

CYBERARTS: What have been the biggest obstacles to getting where you are at this point?

CP: Hmm ... (laughs) I don't know, where am I now? ... I think it's all about connections. You have to spend time paying your dues, and that's what I'm doing now. It's not easy to get your name out, and to set yourself apart from other women singer/songwriters.

CYBERARTS: What have you been doing to set yourself apart?

CP: I think my work with Alix really helped to get my name out. I like playing back-up guitar with her, because I play different with her than I do just by myself. You know? And I think just collaborating with other musicians in my area has helped me a lot.

CYBERARTS: What was your greatest show, EVER?

CP: Off the top of my head ... playing Alix's set at Boston Pride. It was at the Paradise, a really cool venue, and we had lots of friends there in the audience. The other bands playing were really great, too -- Bitch and Animal and Antigone Rising. It was just a really fun show, right at the start of the tour with Alix. Really exciting. And that house concert in Eugene would have to be right up there, too -- there were bonfires and stuff.

CYBERARTS: What advice would you offer to aspiring performers?

CP: (Laughs) Advice? I think I could use some! Um ... I would just say pay your dues. Play those open mics, and keep going. I also think collaborating with other musicians is really good -- that many more creative ideas.

CYBERARTS: Who are your influences?

CP: In terms of folk singers, Peter Mulvey and Pamela Means are huge influences. Ani DiFranco, but that almost goes without saying. In high school I was more into alternative rock, like Counting Crows. Toad the Wet Sprocket was my favorite band, actually. And I always like the Beatles.

CYBERARTS: What's in your stereo RIGHT NOW?

CP: Wilco, Coldplay ... and some local folk singers.

CYBERARTS: What's your writing process like?

CP: I almost always start with guitar. I'll just sit down and see what comes. I do the lyrics later; that's the harder part for me. I usually come up with the melody first -- just kind of humming or singing nonsense or whatever comes to mind -- and then go back and decide what I want to say, what the song should be about.

CYBERARTS: As for rehearsing?

CP: I try to play every day, for a couple of hours. I practice a lot. I do quite a few cover songs, and like to be figuring out new ones all the time. There's always something I can be working on.

CYBERARTS: What's the instrumentation like in your live show?

CP: It's mostly just me. A friend of mine, Arjuna Greist, sings harmonies with me sometimes. It's hard to find people with the same goals and interests, though, who want to commit on a steady basis.

CYBERARTS: What about on your CD?

CP: I played most of the instruments on the CD, including a little bass and mandolin. There's a little bit of drums and vocals from some other friends.

CYBERARTS: What was the recording process like?

CP: That's a funny story, actually. I went from not even knowing how to use a 4-track, to having a CD in my hand, within two weeks. I hope to do more recording soon. I'm a big fan of the do-it-yourself technique. You have a lot of control.

CYBERARTS: What's the dumbest thing you've ever done?

CP: Uh ... hm. I'll have to get back to you on that.

CYBERARTS: What's your favorite word? or phrase?

CP: "Right on" is the one I've been saying too much lately. Actually, at a show recently I told the audience that I was saying "right on" too much. I proceeded to say it another, like, 13 times in between songs. Yeah, I caught some shit for it. I guess you could put that down for the dumbest thing I've done.