Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions I made up for you!
Q: What does "renaissance negresse" mean, and how did you come up with it?
A: To me, a "renaissance negresse" is a female and black-identified (of African descent) persun who is gifted, talented, and/or skilled in three (3) or more areas. I came up with it in 2002 when I was looking for a very fast way to describe my work - to give myself a title, of sorts, as an artist. "Renaissance woman" could be Caucasian or other color I am not, and I didn't want to use a third word, so I simply replaced "woman" with "negresse". I'd thought of "sistah", but didn't identify with that, and although I do identify with "chyk", that word didn't have enough "umph" or presence to go with "renaissance". I thought of "negress", added the "e" because of my French-cultured background and literal aesthetic sensibility, and it was perfect for me. It is a controversial phrase to use in the U.S., but as a Haitian-American, it suits me perfectly, because to me, a "negresse" is a black woman, period. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Q: Can you talk a little about your pseudonyms Amethyste Rah and Amrita Waterfalls?
A: To me, a "renaissance negresse" is a female and black-identified (of African descent) persun who is gifted, talented, and/or skilled in three (3) or more areas. I came up with it in 2002 when I was looking for a very fast way to describe my work - to give myself a title, of sorts, as an artist. "Renaissance woman" could be Caucasian or other color I am not, and I didn't want to use a third word, so I simply replaced "woman" with "negresse". I'd thought of "sistah", but didn't identify with that, and although I do identify with "chyk", that word didn't have enough "umph" or presence to go with "renaissance". I thought of "negress", added the "e" because of my French-cultured background and literal aesthetic sensibility, and it was perfect for me. It is a controversial phrase to use in the U.S., but as a Haitian-American, it suits me perfectly, because to me, a "negresse" is a black woman, period. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Q: Can you talk a little about your pseudonyms Amethyste Rah and Amrita Waterfalls?
A: Sure. Amethyste Rah is my spiritual name. I use it as a credit in my guided meditations. There's a longer story as to how it found me (I named myself), but part of it for now is that amethyst is my birthstone. Amrita Waterfalls is my sexy name and it does have some highly provocative meanings I'm not willing to post here. You can read more about, though, at my Amrita Waterfalls blog, or wait for my future sexy books!
Q: I see you have a lot of house concerts. How can I book one?
A: My MySpace Band Page has a current calendar of performances, which includes info on how to book house concerts, affirmations sing-alongs, and/or corporate events with me. But I can save you the trouble and say: If you’d like to talk about possibly having such an event, tailored to your own specific preferences, style, budget, please email cxmusic(at)gmail.com. Thanks!
Q: What was the first song you wrote?
A: A song called "Don't Be Scared of Caterpillars." I was somewhere between 4 & 8 years old. And then it was a song about Christopher Reeve's "Superman", the day after I saw the movie, when I was between 9 & 11. The first song I wrote and performed on guitar was called "Rain", and will be on a future album. My friend Vikki Wright co-wrote the lyrics.
Q: You moved to New York City in 2008, and came back in 2009, why?
A: I felt really called to move to NYC and had wanted to for 2 years. When I finally did, I was really happy, but not prepared enough to be successfully living there permanently. I've returned to Philadelphia to regroup, and as I see now, plan to make a better move next time, although not to NYC again. I now see that move a having been practice for how to move somewhere further away and for a longer period of time.
Q: What's your sign?
A: Aquarius Sun/Libra Moon, Cancer Rising
Q: Do you consider yourself a musician first or a writer first?
A: renaissance negresse first ;-)
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I gave away my last cat to move, but my previous cats are here. (I grew up with dogs, but haven't uploaded the pics of them yet.)
Q: Do you have any sisters and brothers?
A: One of each.
Q: What do your siblings do?
A: My sister is super private, but my brother is in show biz, so I'll talk about him. His name is Giscard Xavier aka "Jee Eye Zee". He is a music producer, film score composer, and engineer. Among his many accomplishments, my brother is a producer of the hit song "Caramel" by the hip hop/R & B group City High featuring Eve. He also engineered, edited, and/or co-produced my albums Capable of Love, Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo, Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love, Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality, Live at Tin Angel, Beautiful, and remixed "B.O.G.'s Song" on my album Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo.
A: My sister is super private, but my brother is in show biz, so I'll talk about him. His name is Giscard Xavier aka "Jee Eye Zee". He is a music producer, film score composer, and engineer. Among his many accomplishments, my brother is a producer of the hit song "Caramel" by the hip hop/R & B group City High featuring Eve. He also engineered, edited, and/or co-produced my albums Capable of Love, Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo, Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love, Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality, Live at Tin Angel, Beautiful, and remixed "B.O.G.'s Song" on my album Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo.
Q: Where were you born, and where did you grow up?
A: I was born in Brooklyn, New York, spent age 1-4 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 4-8 in Brooklyn, 8-21 in Willingboro, New Jersey. From 1991-2007 I lived in Philadelphia, PA. For the first half of 2008, I lived in the East Flatbush area of Brooklyn, NY, and for the second half of that year, I lived in the Upper East/Spanish Harlem side of Manhattan. I returned to Philadelphia shortly after and have been here ever since.
Q: What's your ethnic/cultural heritage & identity?
A: I'm a first generation American-born citizen of Haitian & Chinese heritage.
Q: Will you
1) Come to my show
2) Help me with my thesis
3) Be interviewed for my paper
4) Answer my questions about event production/writing/music etc
5) Do a reading/concert
for me/my school/house of worship or other group/organization?
A: Please send all proposals to cxmusic(at)gmail.com. Also, learn the famous words of business, "Can I take you to lunch and pick your brain?" I'm generous with information, but am much more likely to spend hours sharing that in front of a real live person sharing a meal than I am sitting in front of the computer emailing a stranger all alone :-)
Q: I emailed you some time ago, and you never wrote me back.
A: I get lots of emails, and am extremely busy, so sifting through the ones that are legitimate and work-related means the ones that fall through do just that. Although I am often overwhelmed by my internet and other responsibilities, I do enjoy hearing from people who appreciate my work, though I am not usually able to write back, unless they are discussing business.
Q: You look like a woman I see playing the subway in Philadelphia sometimes.
A: Yeah, I get that a lot :-)
Just kidding - yes, that's me. I have been Suburban Station's "Subway Siren", since 2005. I've surprisingly gotten lots of gigs playing the subway - I meet lots of people, and hundreds of strangers pass by me every day I play there.
If you ever see a busker (street/subway performer) and you like what they do, throw a few bucks in their case, smile, say hello, sign their email list if they have one. Lots of professionals now play the subway now. It's a great venue in lots of ways. I am very grateful for the subway system for working with us buskers to provide live music.
Q: Why do you have so few shows?
A: Because I do a lot of the administrative work of my other projects (Black Women's Arts Festival, Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series, etc.) and don't spend much time getting musical bookings and literary readings. However, this has changed as of May 2011. I have a booking agent now and you'll be seeing me more often!
Q: Do you think you'll ever start another band?
A: Yes. Just as soon as I get a record deal or a ton of money with a staff to manage them, I will. Til then, though, hayel no! I've tried it three times and just don't have the patience. Occasionally check my ME! ME! ME! Newsletter for updates.
