Music and Family: MY MOM!!!

    So for my interview I decided to do some questions with my mom, Catherine Fanchette. She's been a singer since she was very young and been surrounded by music even longer. We did it over phone call, and it was honestly a fun time! I'll be presenting it as a transcript of an approximation of our conversation. 

    Me: So, Ma, what's your earliest memory of music?

    Mom: The first I can remember is my grand momma and my papa singing lullabies to me. I loved them as a kid, and I actually sang them to you when you were a baby! Other than that, some earlier memories I have of music are my dad and grandpa singing in the choir, along with music that my papa would play while we were around the house. The Statler Brothers and John Denver were mainstays in our house. 

    Me: So would that be the music you associated with your early childhood?

    Mom: All in all, yes. 

    Me: What about other parts of your childhood, or throughout your adult life? 

    Mom: Well, after having a lot of country and gospel in my younger years, through the elementary years I started listening to a lot of rock. My papa was a fan of it, and started playing it a lot around the house, and a lot of Duran Duran fills those times in my memories. This is also where I started to hear Wham and Abba, who kind of stayed with me through my life.

    Mom: In middle school I got into a lot of synth pop, stuff like Flock of Seagulls and OMD were everywhere. I also got into chorus around this time, and did some arrangements from Broadway and classical music. Then around high school is when rap got really big, so I had a bunch of the Beastie Boys, Run D.M.C, Boyz 2 Men. All that kind of stuff. 

    Me: So did you switch to that, or keep listening to the old stuff too?

    Mom: Oh, of course I listened to all my old stuff! It's more like I added a layer of rap and hip hop on top of all the things I was already interested in. When I started college, since I went to Georgia Southern, I got really into all of the bands and artists that came from Georgia, like the Indigo Girls, REM, and Michelle Malone. Then around halfway through college was when grunge got big, so I bought a bunch of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Nine Inch Nails. Yeah, I listened to a lot of rock and alt rock in college.

    Me: Where would you listen to this stuff?

    Mom: I would listen to music everywhere! I slept with the radio on, and it was almost always on while driving or at home. I got my first radio with cassette player at 8, and my first boom box at 12 I think. Then I got my first Walkman at 14, so I was able to take is basically everywhere.

    Me: What about nowadays? Any favorite artists?

    Mom: Ooh, that's a tough one. I think mine's a three way tie. I love Billy Joel, OMD, and Simply Red. I just love all the profound messages all of them have, and the compositional foundation of their music is wonderful! 

    Me: Are you poking fun at me? 

   

    Mom: Maybe. 

    Me: Yeah, yeah ok. Moving on. Do you listen to any certain kind of music when you're in a certain mood?

    Mom: Oh for sure. When I'm pumped up and working, I've usually got either Def Leppard or Dead or Alive playing. When I'm relaxing or reading something I'll have Simply Red, Aha or Enigma in the background.

    Me: What about when you're sad, or like, bummed out?

    Mom: Well I like to listen to stuff that'll cheer me up. Bands like the Statler Brothers, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, and the Beegees are usually what I'll play. I know some people like to wallow in it when they're sad, but I'm just not that kind of person.

    Me: Yeah, I get that. Uhh, next question! How do you feel about how music as a whole has changed throughout the years?

    Mom: I like the evolution of music, there’s been a broadening and mixing of genres to create so many unique sounds! I think the expansion of music is really important, and allows artists to express themselves and connect with music's. I don't really like a lot of the messages some modern music gives, but I still love the growth music has gone through.

    Me: How do you feel about how accessible making music has gotten? Like how basically anyone can make music, regardless of instrumental or singing talent?

    Mom: I really do love the expansion of accessible music creation. As someone who has been an educator and teacher for most of my life, I've seen that having availability to making music at a young age or for anyone else is really important. With how much we're pushing our children and other young people to be successful at a young age, having easy accessibility to music making is really important to find the talents of a child young.

    Me: That's great to hear. Well thanks for your time Momma! 

    Mom: Of course, of course! This was really fun.

We then wrapped it up with talking about personal information, so I won't include that. But that was about it! I loved hearing more about my moms musical history, and she enjoyed being interviewed for something other than teaching or being a principal.