You may remember Alfa Garcia from our Kollaboration Spotlight post earlier this week! On Tuesday, August 18th, 2009, we had the honor of interviewing Alfa Garcia! She said she was tired after her show, but she was really hyper and a fun person to talk to!
We enjoyed meeting and interviewing her! We are all excited to see her perform at Kollaboration Acoustic 3!
Check out Alfa’s Interview here:
Tell us more about yourself! Are you a Musician full time?–
Alfa works to support her passion of music. She writes for two different newspapers – the Herald News and the Record(Daily Paper). She works for the features department where she has just written about an inventor. She also wrote about Jewel (singer) and interviewed her through a phone. Alfa graduated 2 years ago from NYU.
Where did you grow up?
She was born in South Philippines and grew up in Zamboanga City. She then moved to New York at the age of 5, which is also around the same age that she started playing the piano. Alfa also studied the Violin for 10 years. Most of her
songs from her latest album are composed to be accompanied by the guitar because shee says that it is easier to carry around!
Where did you begin your career in music?
Alfa started composing and writing music at the age of 13. She grew up listening to Boyz 2 Men and One Sweet Day. It was later in high school that she started to perform and she continued to do so as she moved on to college. She said that the way she started performing was that during one of her later high school years, a producer told her to “JUST PLAY.” That’s when she started to perform at open mics in New Jersey and then later in New York.
Where did you get inspiration for your songwriting?
Alfa says that she got inspiration “from writing in journals and then [later] turning them into poems and eventually turning them into songs.” Alfa wants a part of herself in her songs!
What artist or genre of music do you classify yourself as?
She says “I’m not quite what you expect from a female singer/songwriter, but many say i sound like Regina Specter.”
What are you working on right now?
Alfa’s Album just came out in July. She went through a long period of just writing and composing music only so she is a little burned out from that. Therefore, Alfa is focusing on playing music at the moment!
How did you come to taking a part of Kollaboration Acoustic 3?
Alfa went on a mini tour (Seattle and LA), where Michael was at a show and asked her to participate in Kollaboration. At first she wasn’t sure if she should, but she later decided that she would.
What is your Favorite collaboration you have done with someone?
She has done a collaboration with her producer Alex Houton for her latest album and she also wrote a song with a friend while (s)he was visiting her. She says, “It’s not an easy thing for me to do a collaboration, but it’s still fun to do.”
Where do you hope to take your career in the future?
She hasn’t really figured it out yet.
What are your Hobbies aside from making music?
She’s a big fan of Jane Austen, loves to travel and used to run a lot (3 season track and cross country member).
Difference between East Coast and West Coast crowd?
Alfa says that “They are different but its hard to articulate.” She was also surprised at how close the Asian singer/songwriter community is. East/West have a different sound.
Who’s big in the east coast?
“So many artists out here, so each circle has its own hot artist,” says Alfa Garcia. She also added the famous saying, “If you can’t make it in New York, you can’t make it anywhere.”
THIS OR THAT: Alfa’s Answers are BOLD!
- Coke or Pepsi?
- Twitter or Facebook?
- Coffee or Tea?
- Mac or PC?
- Desktop or Laptop?
- McDonalds or Burger King?
- John Mayer or Jack Johnson
- Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus? – Neither!
- New York or LA?
- Piano or Violin?
You can go to iTunes or Amazon to buy her album. Also visit her webpage to get the hard copy!
Don’t forget to follow Alfa Garcia on Twitter! Subscribe to her Youtube Channel!
Check out her music on Myspace! Be a fan of Alfa through Facebook and cheer your loudest at Kollaboration Acoustic 3!
2 thoughts on “Exclusive Interview with Alfa Garcia!”