Suzanna Reeves
Even since the time I was a child, I have been a musician, an artist, a poet, and a philosopher. These varied aspects are what make me, me. I consider them the means by which I can relay my inner world, the self, outward so others can see, hear, or read. That is what it means to be an artist in my opinion. I tend to use whatever artistic device (or technology) is available to help me communicate a thought, idea, or longing. My favorite medium is music.
I started composing on our family piano when I was five and can still play my first song. When I was thirteen, I learned how to write music on manuscript paper and have notebooks full of various songs, lyrics, and ideas. I would spend hours with tape recorders and often resorted to “ping ponging” two tape recorders so I could hear several parts together. Then I got my first synthesizer and multitracking machine and found I could finally put all the parts together into one –voices, piano, strings, etc.
However, writing music doesn’t come easy to me, I have to work hard to create it. I obtained a master’s degree in vocal performance and was a music teacher for several years. The education helped me know more about the structures and history of music. I highly value the knowledge and information and consider it much like having an artists’ palette full of varied colors to paint with.
In 2002, I suffered a severe pulmonary illness which almost killed me and forced me to take a sabbatical from singing. I could no longer teach singing because trying to breathe to that extent was nearly impossible. I recovered and trust that I was given a “second wind” as there is so much more to sing about and express.
My music is eclectic and different — probably because I am that way and draw from romance, high fantasy, mystical, “other worldly” and the like. I run the range from classical and contemporary through World and Celtic, and am not afraid to use other languages or try new ideas.
I believe that artistic ability and intelligence are genderless and ageless, and that you can be a driving force in your life for your dreams. More recently, I have adopted Delia Ann Derbyshire, a woman composer in electronic music from the 60s, as a role model and a pioneer for women composers. Delia was famous for her use of electronic technology for the original “Doctor Who” theme song.
Thank you for listening to my music.
