The Greensboro native and Carolina Chocolate Drops singer, violinist and banjo player released her first solo album, “Tomorrow Is My Turn,” in February. “It was pretty much T Bone Burnett,” she says of the creation of the record. “He wanted to do a solo record, so when one the best producers on the planet comes to you and says, ‘Let’s do a record,’ you don’t go, ‘Hey, can you come back in a couple years?’ You just say, ‘OK, let’s do it.’” In early April, she performed at The Carolina Theatre in what she describes as a homecoming of sorts. (She’s an alumna of the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics.) “I’m such a North Carolina girl,” she says, “that it can’t help but just feel good, no matter where in the state we play.”
For People New to Roots Music, Start With …
I always suggest the compilation over one artist because then people can find the artist that they really want to listen to. In terms of old-time music, there are great compilations from Old Hat Records, which is based out of Raleigh. I had a compilation of blues ladies and the last track was Ethel Waters, and that’s what led me to finding a lot of the stuff that she used to sing. It’s just a great way of finding different artists.
The Album I Put On When I’m Not Working
A lot of the time listening to music, for me, is a kind of work, because if I’m listening to older stuff, I’m always thinking, “Could we do that? Could I sing that?” Modern stuff tends to be what I can listen to, so pop music like Jill Scott’s first record, “Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1,” is always a good one. It’s such a great album, and I’m probably not going to cover anything from it, so it’s safe from my brain. You know, I can just enjoy it.
The Album I Wish I Made Myself
“Sunday in the Park with George,” the original cast album, by Stephen Sondheim. It’s one of the most perfect pieces of music that exists. I could just lay down my pen and never compose again, and I’d still feel proud of myself.
The Duet I Often Sing with My Sister, Who’s Also My Backup Singer
We really are enjoying “I Know I’ve Been Changed” by The Branchettes, which is a North Carolina gospel sister group; that’s one of our favorites when we get to sing together.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops’ Definitive Song
I’d say probably “Hit ‘Em Up Style.” That was a song that really pulled in a lot of people who initially didn’t know anything about old-time music, but it also was acceptable to people who liked old-time music. No matter what the song was, we made it our own and showed that it doesn’t matter where the song comes from, it’s all about music and whether you have something to say with it. I think it was a good example of that.
