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While street singing will always hold a dear place in this former full time basking beauty's heart, Chrissy of "The Honey Escape" is definitely shedding that skin and embracing the release of her debut album. "When you're selling 50 cd's a day, you're thinking life is pretty sweet, but there comes a time when you remember that dream you had when you were little of accepting a Grammy, or being on stage at an arena with thousands of people singing to your songs. That memory quickly got me in gear to begin the recording process of my debut album Somewhere Sweeter."
The album's lush landscape of dreamy guitar layers, sparkly synths, keys, strings, drums, bass, and at times even her piano player beatboxing, make for the perfect wrapping to her deliciously airy, sweet voice. Deep and rich at times, high and fluttering at others, but always the perfect tone to deliver her words of love, life and self acceptance. Written over the past five years, while waiting tables and then street singing, she finally found the right team to help paint that picture. She was introduced to Erik Colvin, a Berkley School of Music Graduate and producer/multi instrumentalist through her friends The Ivy Walls, a prominent indie pop band. She had been singing backing vocals for their sophomore album "The Elegant Universe" when she realized Erik's talent and vibe was what she needed to make her then only acoustic songs come to life. And so it began. A year and a half of recording and re-recording. "I'm a perfectionist" she says when reflecting on constantly wanting to fix things. "we would always start the session off with fixing things from the last session…I kept telling myself I need to let go a little bit, but I'm so happy to be able to listen back to this album and not have little things rub me the wrong way. I can listen and be proud."
When asked where the name The Honey Escape was derived, she answered with ease " I wanted somewhat of a band name…I mean, I don't do any of this by myself even though I am more of a "solo" artist, I have musicians that I play with, producers, and co-writers…I wanted something that represented more than me…The Honey Escape is where you go when you listen to our music…somewhat like a sweet escape…when writing, I always try to find the sweeter side of any situation. When my album is finished playing, I want the listener to feel good…rejuvenated…have a better outlook on life than an hour ago, you know?"
Standing at nearly 5'11, Chrissy is often mistaken for a volleyball player or a model, but claims her hands are too sensitive to hit volleyballs, and she likes sweets a little too much to enter the modeling world. "Singing and writing songs is all I've ever wanted to do." She credits her little brother's xylophone for helping her write her first song. "All I can remember is it was about butterflies and rainbows, and it gave me goosebumps…I thought it was so beautiful! haha"
Growing up with three brothers and no sisters, I was a bit of a tomboy, but when I didn't feel like playing baseball or video games, I would escape to my own musical world of everything from Stone Temple Pilots to Brandy. I would sing at the top of my lungs until I saw my parents coming up the driveway. I would rush to my desk and start doing my homework.
While all of her high school friends went on to college, she didn't think twice…she packed all her belongings in her rusty 88' dodge minivan that her dad picked out for her 16th birthday, and left her familiar San Diego beaches for the Los Angeles life of dream chasing.
"Couch surfing was a regular thing for me. Finding a job at 19 years old that would earn enough for an apartment and then finding a landlord who would rent to a 19 year old was virtually impossible!" Lucky for her, she quickly made friends who believed in her dream and wanted to help. "It was amazing..I only slept in my car two or three nights in a whole year of not having a home!" Determined not to go running back to Mom or Dad, Chrissy began waiting tables and finally settled in Hollywood. It was there that she would meet Darryl Anthony, producer extraordinaire. "After a whole summer of leaving him messages offering to do free demo work, he finally invited me to the studio…I was geeked!! " The two of them recorded about a dozen songs of various styles. It was a growing and learning process for the blooming songbird. "I developed a lifelong partnership with Darryl. I will never do a project he doesn't have his hands in. He was the one who gave me the water to grow."
During this time, Chrissy also met Atlantic recording artist Hope, who took a special interest in helping her learn the art of street singing on the world famous Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Her brother, Christian taught her a few chords on the guitar, and Chrissy took that knowledge and wrote three new songs, and started going out to sing with Hope. "She would let me sing when she took breaks. It was amazing. She would build up a big crowd of people, then introduce me, and I got to sing for them. I don't know if I would have ever found my true voice if it wasn't for the experience of street performing. I am forever grateful!!"
The Honey Escape is currently performing at colleges nationwide and local Los Angeles venue favorites, such as The Viper Room and the legendary House Of Blues, while preparing for the release of her lush debut "Somewhere Sweeter". |
