{"id":119,"date":"2008-10-01T00:04:54","date_gmt":"2008-10-01T00:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=116"},"modified":"2008-09-30T20:52:40","modified_gmt":"2008-10-01T00:52:40","slug":"interview-with-celia-ferran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2008\/10\/01\/interview-with-celia-ferran\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with CELIA FARRAN"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"interview-celia-21\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Interview<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi Celia, thanks for taking the time to visit with me today.\u00a0 First let me say that I adore your music and so many of your songs move me in ways that I simple can’t explain and for even more reasons they really touch my soul.\u00a0 I am thrilled to be introducing you to our readers this month as our featured artist in our Music Review section making its debut in this Samhain issue. \u00a0 So if you\u2019re ready lets get started.<\/p>\n

PaganPages (PP):<\/strong> I know you just completed a show in Milwaukee, WI, which I understand was fantastic.\u00a0 Are you from the area as I hear you frequent the city quiet often?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Yes, I am from the area.\u00a0 I was born in Hartland, WI and raised in Big Bend, WI which is very close to Milwaukee.\u00a0 I try to get back as often as I can.<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> When did you know you wanted to be a singer\/songwriter? And then get involved in performance arts as well.\u00a0 I understand you were in the Off-Broadway premiere of Connor Macpherson’s “Rum and Vodka.”<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Hmmmmm….I knew from an early age that I wanted to be on the stage.\u00a0 I think I got bit by the performance bug when I “starred” in the Kindergarten Christmas show as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.\u00a0 From then on I was in every show I could find my way into from the Girl Scout Play to The Grade School Musical to Community Theatre.\u00a0 I chose a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Michigan and then headed to NYC to try my luck on the BIG stage.\u00a0 I didn’t truly begin my singer\/songwriter career until\u00a0 after I left New York although I recorded a solo album of 13 original songs when I was 16 years old.\u00a0 Don’t even try to find it.\u00a0 I burned all the copies \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> Where do you get your inspiration from?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Hmmmmm I get my inspiration from any given thing in any given moment.\u00a0 If I only followed every impulse I would be prolific with a capitol P!\u00a0 My influences have been Irish Folk Music, Musical Theatre, The Muppets, Buggs Bunny, Shakespeare, Gilda Radner, and who hasn’t been influenced by “The Wizard of Oz”!<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> You have 5 cds on the market and each one making greater headlines than the other.\u00a0 I felt your Breathe<\/a> cd was correctly titled as it left me as\u00a0 the listener with the relaxation and the ability to breathe again after 9\/11\/01.\u00a0 Being a survivor of 9\/11\/01 I suffered from severe panic attacks and each time I listen to that particular cd I find myself in a different world, relaxed, calm and at peace.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Now you have released Alabaster, Red and Blue<\/a> at a time when the USA is a time of heavy debate over a Presidential election, in disarray against each other regarding their race, religion,\u00a0 and just plain tolerance for each other.\u00a0 Your timing seems impeccable with each release.\u00a0\u00a0 The 2 songs in this cd Symbol<\/a> and Alabaster, Red and Blue<\/a> should make every person stand up and take notice of what is going on today and ask why did that have to happen and what is being done to stop it.\u00a0\u00a0 Do you start out planning your cds this way or is this just my way of thinking it”perfect timing”?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> I am so glad to hear that my recordings have found you at the right times.\u00a0 I have not really planned out many of my recordings so far.\u00a0 The only one that feels that it was focused in the way of timing is “The Bard of Armagh:\u00a0 A Tribute to Tommy Makem<\/a>“.\u00a0 When I heard that Tommy had passed on I wanted to record this tribute.\u00a0 I completed it in 10 days.<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> How was Trestle Foote Fairy born? And does she have any other family members?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Trestle started out as a disembodied voice.\u00a0 Her name was inspired by a conversation with my Sister on a car ride.\u00a0 You can read the story of how it happened on Trestle’s Myspace page: www.myspace.com\/thetrestlefootefaerie<\/a>
\nI had great fun with Trestle leaving voice mail messages for folks.\u00a0 She came to life for the
\nfirst time in Jan of 2003 when she debuted “How Could I Live Without My Cellphone”.\u00a0\u00a0 No other family members for Trestle.\u00a0 She is one of a kind.<\/p>\n

PP: <\/strong>Perhaps soon she will do an interview with me for our PaganPages readers I know she has a lot to say and also has her own cd\u00a0 as well.<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> Tell me about your immediately family?\u00a0 Is there that special someone in your life?\u00a0 What about furry kids and where you make your home now?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> I am the youngest of 4.\u00a0 My eldest brother Marty passed over a few years ago.\u00a0 He was a fantastic banjo player or as he would say it “A Purveyer of Banjosity”.\u00a0 My Brother Brian lives in Milwaukee and is also a musician with the guitar as his main instrument.\u00a0 He played all the guitar on “Fire in the Head<\/a>“.\u00a0 My Sister Annalise lives in Turkey and is an architect.\u00a0 Yes, I have a special someone.\u00a0 His name is Chris and we live together in Santa Fe, NM.\u00a0 We are currently traveling.\u00a0 I am responding from China.\u00a0 No furry friends in my life.\u00a0 My last pet was an African Spur Thigh Tortoise named Liam.\u00a0 He now lives in the Phoenix area at an alternative school.<\/p>\n

PP: <\/strong>I understand you have just finished touring would you like to tell me about that, I know you visited the Washington State and Wisconsin were there other states on your list as well?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Yes, on that tour I visited Oregon, Washington and Salt Lake City, UT.\u00a0\u00a0 The tour after that was a very quick weekend flight to Milwaukee.\u00a0 All very fulfilling and enjoyable!<\/p>\n

PP: <\/strong>I am sure our readers would like to know how long does it take for you to create your songs?\u00a0 Are most of your songs your own creations?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Most of what I perform is original.\u00a0 It is very rare that I do a “cover tune”.\u00a0 Each song is different so it is really hard to answer how long it takes to create a song.\u00a0 Some songs come quickly.\u00a0 Some I am still working on since High School…or rather they have been shelved until something strikes me to finish them:)<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> Growing up was there one thing you did that you would not want anyone to know about.\u00a0 That one funny thing that maybe you tried while playacting?\u00a0 I only ask because I have seen your act and performances and I can only imagine you as a child and what some of the things you must have pulled while a little girl and your parents still tell that one story that makes you want to crawl under the coffee table?\u00a0 With your fabulous personality and talents you surely were not the normal every day child to have in the household. \u00a0 What
\nwould your parents tell us about you if I could ask them what you were like as a young girl?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Um….okay….After a bath I loved nothing more than dancing naked on the furniture.\u00a0 I thought nothing of it until for my 5th birthday cake my mother made a little frosting figure that was supposed to be me dancing naked.\u00a0 Some comments from the adults made me realize that this was taboo…so I never did it again.\u00a0 Hmmmm me thinks I should make a night of it and heal that old wound.\u00a0 I feel a bath coming on \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> It is so nice at that age to be so innocent and carefree.\u00a0 I remember being in Hawaii (Oahu North Shore) where they had the nude beach and being able to swin in the ocean nude when I was 21 and thinking of how free I was.\u00a0 Maybe I need to find an ocean again LOL<\/p>\n

PP: <\/strong>I read an email from one of your fans, Lori, of a show you did in Milwaukee, WI at Linneman’s Bar.\u00a0 In this email she had to let the rest of us know what we sadly missed out on.\u00a0 With Lori’s permission I want to share part of the email with our PP readers and would also like to get\u00a0 your reaction for their love for you:<\/p>\n

“In all the years I have known Celia, in all the concerts I have heard her perform, all of which were outstanding, tonight’s concert was THE BEST I have ever attended. The best! It’s 2:00 am, I just got
\nhome. Celia played until midnight. Yup started at 8:00, ended at midnight, 4 Hours!!! 4 Unbelievable Hours of sounds coming from this woman that I would not have thought possible from a human voice. it. I’m speechless!!! Celia literally had people sitting there with their mouths open is disbelief. One of her fellow performers may have said it best when she, while dancing to the music and with a huge smile on her face grabbed my shoulders and shook me while shouting a long excited explitive that could only be interpreted as a show of appreciation for what she was hearing. Everyone was smiling and loving the music, everyone moving to the sounds. The bar owner wasn’t even mad that he wasn’t making any money, he was busy listening to the music.”<\/p>\n

[Copies from an email received for Lori from the thecreativesymphonyofcelia yahoo group with permission from the author.]<\/p>\n

When you read a statement such as Lori’s what was your reaction?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> I smile.\u00a0 You know that inside smile when your Dharma is being truly seen by those you share it with.\u00a0 Very satisfying.<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> Besides concerts in cafes, festivals, Pagan Pride Days where else do you perform and when is your next performance schedule?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> All over.\u00a0 Wherever folks gather I have played.\u00a0 My next engagements are in Arizona in October and November.\u00a0 I always love my shows there and I am truly looking forward to them.<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> What are some of your favorite things in life?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Music, Sex and Cookies.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"interview-celia-3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> A women after my own heart\u00a0 YEA!!!!\u00a0 If I get a chance to get to AZ in Oct or Nov I will bring the Cookies!!<\/p>\n

PP :<\/strong> Do you a list of things you want to accomplish in life and if so what is left on this list to cross off?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> I would like to attain Enlightenment……Dammit!<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> Is there anything you want to tell our readers about yourself, that I have not touched on?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> I have never smoked a cigarette, shot a gun, or vomited from drinking too much. I HAVE walked on Fire, worked as a Nanny on a Trip Thru Europe, and accidentally opened up for Melanie (folksinger from the 70’s) when she was late getting to the show.\u00a0 My father (not a Dr.) delivered me and my birth notice said “Spontaneous Birth”. \u00a0 It’s been like that ever since.<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> I know your on your way to China can you tell us a little about your trip?\u00a0 Is this a pleasure trip\u00a0 or touring opportunity?<\/p>\n

Celia:<\/strong> Not performing.\u00a0 In fact, they made me sign a piece of paper that made me promise that I wouldn’t…talk about getting your wings clipped!\u00a0 But I hope to bring The Trestle Foote Faerie out a few
\ntimes and grab some video:)<\/p>\n

PP:<\/strong> Celia, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to talk to me. \u00a0 You’re a firecracker; and the energy you put into your work is felt the minute your voice is heard in the air.\u00a0 Thank you for coming into my life and thank you for coming into the lives of our PaganPages Readers.<\/p>\n

Celia: <\/strong> Thanks Faith. \u00a0 Its been a pleasure spending time with you also.<\/p>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Celia Cds
\nhttp:\/\/www.cdbaby.com\/cd\/celiafarran4<\/a><\/p>\n

MySpace Links
\nhttp:\/\/www.myspace.com\/celiaonline<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.myspace.com\/thetrestlefootefaerie<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.myspace.com\/atributetotommymakem<\/a><\/p>\n

Celia on YouTube
\nhttp:\/\/uk.youtube.com\/profile?user=CeliaOnlinedotcom<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Interview Hi Celia, thanks for taking the time to visit with me today.\u00a0 First let me say that I adore your music and so many of your songs move me in ways that I simple can’t explain and for even more reasons they really touch my soul.\u00a0 I am thrilled to be introducing you to our readers this month as our featured artist in our Music Review section making its debut in this Samhain issue. \u00a0 So if you\u2019re ready lets get started. PaganPages (PP): I know you just completed a show in Milwaukee, WI, which I understand was fantastic.\u00a0 Are you from the area as I hear you frequent the city quiet often? Celia: Yes, I am from the area.\u00a0 I was born in Hartland, WI and raised in Big Bend, WI which is very close to Milwaukee.\u00a0 I try to get back as often as I can. PP: When did you know you wanted to be a singer\/songwriter? And then get involved in performance arts as well.\u00a0 I understand you were in the Off-Broadway premiere of Connor Macpherson’s “Rum and Vodka.” Celia: Hmmmmm….I knew from an early age that I wanted to be on the stage.\u00a0 I think I got bit by the performance bug when I “starred” in the Kindergarten Christmas show as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.\u00a0 From then on I was in every show I could find my way into from the Girl Scout Play to The Grade School Musical to Community Theatre.\u00a0 I chose a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Michigan and then headed to NYC to try my luck on the BIG stage.\u00a0 I didn’t truly begin my singer\/songwriter career until\u00a0 after I left New York although I recorded a solo album of 13 original songs when I was 16 years old.\u00a0 Don’t even try to find it.\u00a0 I burned all the copies \ud83d\ude42 PP: Where do you get your inspiration from? Celia: Hmmmmm I get my inspiration from any given thing in any given moment.\u00a0 If I only followed every impulse I would be prolific with a capitol P!\u00a0 My influences have been Irish Folk Music, Musical Theatre, The Muppets, Buggs Bunny, Shakespeare, Gilda Radner, and who hasn’t been influenced by “The Wizard of Oz”! PP: You have 5 cds on the market and each one making greater headlines than the other.\u00a0 I felt your Breathe cd was correctly titled as it left me as\u00a0 the listener with the relaxation and the ability to breathe again after 9\/11\/01.\u00a0 Being a survivor of 9\/11\/01 I suffered from severe panic attacks and each time I listen to that particular cd I find myself in a different world, relaxed, calm and at peace.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Now you have released Alabaster, Red and Blue at a time when the USA is a time of heavy debate over a Presidential election, in disarray against each other regarding their race, religion,\u00a0 and just plain tolerance for each other.\u00a0 Your timing seems impeccable with each release.\u00a0\u00a0 The 2 songs in this cd Symbol and Alabaster, Red and Blue should make every person stand up and take notice of what is going on today and ask why did that have to happen and what is being done to stop it.\u00a0\u00a0 Do you start out planning your cds this way or is this just my way of thinking it”perfect timing”? Celia: I am so glad to hear that my recordings have found you at the right times.\u00a0 I have not really planned out many of my recordings so far.\u00a0 The only one that feels that it was focused in the way of timing is “The Bard of Armagh:\u00a0 A Tribute to Tommy Makem“.\u00a0 When I heard that Tommy had passed on I wanted to record this tribute.\u00a0 I completed it in 10 days. PP: How was Trestle Foote Fairy born? And does she have any other family members? Celia: Trestle started out as a disembodied voice.\u00a0 Her name was inspired by a conversation with my Sister on a car ride.\u00a0 You can read the story of how it happened on Trestle’s Myspace page: www.myspace.com\/thetrestlefootefaerie I had great fun with Trestle leaving voice mail messages for folks.\u00a0 She came to life for the first time in Jan of 2003 when she debuted “How Could I Live Without My Cellphone”.\u00a0\u00a0 No other family members for Trestle.\u00a0 She is one of a kind. PP: Perhaps soon she will do an interview with me for our PaganPages readers I know she has a lot to say and also has her own cd\u00a0 as well. PP: Tell me about your immediately family?\u00a0 Is there that special someone in your life?\u00a0 What about furry kids and where you make your home now? Celia: I am the youngest of 4.\u00a0 My eldest brother Marty passed over a few years ago.\u00a0 He was a fantastic banjo player or as he would say it “A Purveyer of Banjosity”.\u00a0 My Brother Brian lives in Milwaukee and is also a musician with the guitar as his main instrument.\u00a0 He played all the guitar on “Fire in the Head“.\u00a0 My Sister Annalise lives in Turkey and is an architect.\u00a0 Yes, I have a special someone.\u00a0 His name is Chris and we live together in Santa Fe, NM.\u00a0 We are currently traveling.\u00a0 I am responding from China.\u00a0 No furry friends in my life.\u00a0 My last pet was an African Spur Thigh Tortoise named Liam.\u00a0 He now lives in the Phoenix area at an alternative school. PP: I understand you have just finished touring would you like to tell me about that, I know you visited the Washington State and Wisconsin were there other states on your list as well? Celia: Yes, on that tour I visited Oregon, Washington and Salt Lake City, UT.\u00a0\u00a0 The tour after that was a very quick weekend flight to Milwaukee.\u00a0 All very fulfilling and enjoyable! PP: I am sure our readers would like to know how long does it take for you to create your songs?\u00a0 Are most of your songs your own creations? Celia: Most of what I perform is original.\u00a0 It is very rare that I do a “cover tune”.\u00a0 Each song is different so it is really hard to answer how long it takes to create a song.\u00a0 Some songs come quickly.\u00a0 Some I am still working on since High School…or rather they have been shelved until something strikes me to finish them:) PP: Growing up was there one thing you did that you would not want anyone to know about.\u00a0 That one funny thing that maybe you tried while playacting?\u00a0 I only ask because I have seen your act and performances and I can only imagine you as a child and what some of the things you must have pulled while a little girl and your parents still tell that one story that makes you want to crawl under the coffee table?\u00a0 With your fabulous personality and talents you surely were not the normal every day child to have in the household. \u00a0 What would your parents tell us about you if I could ask them what you were like as a young girl? Celia: Um….okay….After a bath I loved nothing more than dancing naked on the furniture.\u00a0 I thought nothing of it until for my 5th birthday cake my mother made a little frosting figure that was supposed to be me dancing naked.\u00a0 Some comments from the adults made me realize that this was taboo…so I never did it again.\u00a0 Hmmmm me thinks I should make a night of it and heal that old wound.\u00a0 I feel a bath coming on \ud83d\ude42 PP: It is so nice at that age to be so innocent and carefree.\u00a0 I remember being in Hawaii (Oahu North Shore) where they had the nude beach and being able to swin in the ocean nude when I was 21 and thinking of how free I was.\u00a0 Maybe I need to find an ocean again LOL PP: I read an email from one of your fans, Lori, of a show you did in Milwaukee, WI at Linneman’s Bar.\u00a0 In this email she had to let the rest of us know what we sadly missed out on.\u00a0 With Lori’s permission I want to share part of the email with our PP readers and would also like to get\u00a0 your reaction for their love for you: “In all the years I have known Celia, in all the concerts I have heard her perform, all of which were outstanding, tonight’s concert was THE BEST I have ever attended. The best! It’s 2:00 am, I just got home. Celia played until midnight. Yup started at 8:00, ended at midnight, 4 Hours!!! 4 Unbelievable Hours of sounds coming from this woman that I would not have thought possible from a human voice. it. I’m speechless!!! Celia literally had people sitting there with their mouths open is disbelief. One of her fellow performers may have said it best when she, while dancing to the music and with a huge smile on her face grabbed my shoulders and shook me while shouting a long excited explitive that could only be interpreted as a show of appreciation for what she was hearing. Everyone was smiling and loving the music, everyone moving to the sounds. The bar owner wasn’t even mad that he wasn’t making any money, he was busy listening to the music.” [Copies from an email received for Lori from the thecreativesymphonyofcelia yahoo group with permission from the author.] When you read a statement such as Lori’s what was your reaction? Celia: I smile.\u00a0 You know that inside smile when your Dharma is being truly seen by those you share it with.\u00a0 Very satisfying. PP: Besides concerts in cafes, festivals, Pagan Pride Days where else do you perform and when is your next performance schedule? Celia: All over.\u00a0 Wherever folks gather I have played.\u00a0 My next engagements are in Arizona in October and November.\u00a0 I always love my shows there and I am truly looking forward to them. PP: What are some of your favorite things in life? Celia: Music, Sex and Cookies. PP: A women after my own heart\u00a0 YEA!!!!\u00a0 If I get a chance to get to AZ in Oct or Nov I will bring the Cookies!! PP : Do you a list of things you want to accomplish in life and if so what is left on this list to cross off? Celia: I would like to attain Enlightenment……Dammit! PP: Is there anything you want to tell our readers about yourself, that I have not touched on? Celia: I have never smoked a cigarette, shot a gun, or vomited from drinking too much. I HAVE walked on Fire, worked as a Nanny on a Trip Thru Europe, and accidentally opened up for Melanie (folksinger from the 70’s) when she was late getting to the show.\u00a0 My father (not a Dr.) delivered me and my birth notice said “Spontaneous Birth”. \u00a0 It’s been like that ever since. PP: I know your on your way to China can you tell us a little about your trip?\u00a0 Is this a pleasure trip\u00a0 or touring opportunity? Celia: Not performing.\u00a0 In fact, they made me sign a piece of paper that made me promise that I wouldn’t…talk about getting your wings clipped!\u00a0 But I hope to bring The Trestle Foote Faerie out a few times and grab some video:) PP: Celia, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to talk to me. \u00a0 You’re a firecracker; and the energy you put into your work is felt the minute your voice is heard in the air.\u00a0 Thank you for coming into my life and thank you for coming into the lives of our PaganPages Readers. Celia: Thanks Faith. \u00a0 Its been a pleasure spending time with you also. Links: Celia Cds http:\/\/www.cdbaby.com\/cd\/celiafarran4 MySpace Links http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/celiaonline http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/thetrestlefootefaerie http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/atributetotommymakem Celia on YouTube http:\/\/uk.youtube.com\/profile?user=CeliaOnlinedotcom<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}