She's down-to-earth, intelligent and political. She's the mistress of her own destiny. And she just plain rocks. Best known as the voice of Concrete Blonde, Johnette Napolitano is more than just singer. She is an artist who constantly reinvents herself. She displays original work in L.A. galleries, and she has made music with a variety of artists, including The Talking Heads. Christ, she even flamencos. Now, she's touring the U.S., so go to the show. You won't be sorry. Here's what she had to say to us:

Visit her web site.

I've read that you used to work as a waitress and would sneak off to the bathroom to sing and write songs. That may or may not be true. What was the last day job you worked before you could support yourself with music and art? Describe the day you quit.

That is very true. The last day job I had was working as an assistant for indie movie producer Donald P. Borchers. I actually learned a lot from that job and worked up until the first record was released and we started to tour. It was a little sad, as Don was good to me and I wish it would've been a job I hated!

In a 2000 interview, you mentioned roller skating on Hollywood Boulevard with your sister. Do you still skate? Can you tell us more about that memory?

Yes, we did...back in those days, we'd spend the weekends up and down the Boulevard. There was a little place upstairs called The Weird Museum run by two witchy-looking women. They had fetuses in jars and a mummy and showed films of Lizzie Borden's parents smashed-in skulls and stuff like that, all for 50 cents! We couldn't get enough of it.I don't skate anymore, I'd sort of like to, but I've had knee surgery and in general have to be more careful.

Would you describe yourself as a do-it-yourself person? I know you write, play and produce songs, and do lots of art and design work. Do you find it empowering to have your fingers in as much of the creative process as possible ? Is self-sufficiency a motivator?

I just enjoy all those things, I really do. But I have no problem having someone else do something if they're right for the job. But ,over the years, I find I really like doing these things, and when we started to happen and everything became someone else's job there was nothing for me to do but sit around and drink. I also find it's more work sometimes to have to watch over everything and make sure it's done right, so I may as well do it myself. Also, my main gig is indeed the music, but I find if I focus to much on one thing, overthink it, I get locked up and it becomes counterproductive. I'm like a kid in some ways, you know, "It's MY record, or photo, or whatever, and I get to do it MY way. You wanna have so much to do with artwork, do your own record!" Also, I have to say, computers make everything so easy, you don't have to rely on anyone anymore to make your own record.

What are the greatest challenges to creativity and creative people these days? Do you have any advice for other creative people trying to eke out a living with art/music?

Yes. Get rid of your TV. Do not pay the least bit attention to what anyone else is doing. But more importantly, know why it is you're doing what you're doing. If it's for money, forget it. There are a lot of easier ways to make money. Also, and this isn't just for artists, but for us as a society -- live without all the crap, that is, the SUV, the toys, the big house, etc. The lower your personal overhead, the more chances you can take artistically, and it then becomes possible to make a living. The more scaled down your life is in general, the easier it'll be to maintain, always. Sustainable living is very important.


How do you feel about 'celebrity?' Do you consider yourself a celebrity? Does it adversely affect your life in any way?

Oh, it gets on my nerves in a big way, but I see people who handle things well, and gracefully, and do great work. Celebrity can be anyone from an Osborne to the Pope to Pablo Picasso. A game show host is a celebrity, but more power to everyone, it's just that fame has become the end goal and there's something fundamentally wrong with that, I think. I stay pretty real, whatever real is, I suppose.

Do you have any secret hobbies or passions? Do you still decorate your house Feng Shui-style?

I'm passionate about Flamenco, and get to class when I can. I took my shoes to Peru and practiced some footwork in my hotel room, it had nice big mirrors. I hope to get to Jerez, in Spain, early next year for some studying there. I believe very strongly in Feng Shui, and my new house has a nice flow to it, with a good combination of hills, desert, sky and Joshua trees. I have to figure out where water comes in, though, for balance. But, I'm a bath person so that is a bit of a ritual for me every day, and that gets my water thing in.

Do you still love to karaoke?

I went not too long ago to Japantown in L.A. with our friend Don McLeod, a Butoh artist, and his wife and friends. It was of course a rollicking good time, and there were some amazing Japanese businessmen there who sang their asses off!

Once, you referred to working as a recording artist as 'glorified factory work.' Do you feel that is true?

At a certain level, in a certain situation, yes. At least, I have heard people on the business end of things talk about it that way. "Product", you know, as long as it's sells like a McDonald's hamburger it doesn't matter who it is or what it is...quantity, not quality. The process of assembly--producers, stylists, designers, all the shit that goes into the fabrication and creation of a personality or image. On the plane I saw that movie Simone where he creates a huge star who doesn't exists. Interesting food for thought.

Do you have any advice for musicians starting their own record label?

No, but they'll soon find out there are two sides to a label/artist relationship, and artists are a pain in the ass. I should know, I am one!


Concrete Blonde had an 8-year hiatus. How do you feel about the projects you did during that time? Was it a growing/renewal process for you?

I'm proud of everything I've done. I pick and choose very carefully what I do and with whom. I needed that, and I learned and grew quite a bit during that time. I'm especially grateful to have made the Pretty & Twisted record, especially now that Marc's (Moreland) gone. Also working with The (Talking) Heads, of course, was a privilege.

How do you feel now that Concrete Blonde is back together? And what projects are on the horizon?

Yes, we're well into a new album, or 'song cycle' as is the term now, that we've been recording out here in the desert at Mankey Manor (Jim's house) with Gabriel Ramirez, our drummer. It's very fresh and very cool, and I'm anxious to finish it by the end of the year. We recently collaborated with our friend Ed Calls Him of the Sioux-Ponca nation, and although I'm only home for two days and horrified to feel a cold coming on, I've got to at least edit one more of those pieces. I get backed up very easily and have resolved to get one thing finished before starting another.

Were you surprised to see that you still had a bevy of loyal fans?

Frankly, yes. I think we're very lucky.•