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10 Questions with ... Annie Moses Band
July 26, 2005
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NAME:Annie Moses BandWEBSITE:Official Website
1. The Annie Moses Band is named after your maternal grandmother. What is it about her legacy that made the family name the group in her honor?
Annie Moses was the eldest of 10 children. She married young, and worked the whole course of her life as a hired field hand picking cotton. Despite the difficulties of an impoverished life, she was a tenacious and faithful woman who invested all she had in her daughter, Jane - who would grow up to be my grandmother. Jane was very musically gifted and she passed her passion for music on to my mother, who passed it on to me. Unfortunately Annie Moses died in her mid-forties of cancer, so I never knew her. But we wanted to remember and honor the legacy Annie Moses passed down to us.
2. When did your family start performing as a group?
The AMB was launched in the spring of 2002, but it was a long time in coming.
We have been playing together since we were little. My father arranged pieces for us at our individual levels of skill. We performed quite a bit, but our focus was always our classical studies. In 2001 we started talking about beginning a group.
We wanted to do something unique - that combined both our spiritual walk and our musical artistry.
3. You and two of your brothers (Benjamin and Alex) trained at Juilliard. What was that experience like?
Our time at Juilliard was one of tremendous growth. Juilliard is very competitive and you have to keep your eyes on the reason you are there in the first place i.e. the love of music. Alex and I studied with Masao Kawasaki, while Benjamin studied with Ardith and Ann Alton. They were all very demanding, but their depth of knowledge was at a level we had never experienced.
4. What other artists or music influences your music? Who do you listen to?
We grew up around music-dad's jazz, mom's country, and our classical music, so our background is pretty varied. Alison Krauss and Union Station have been big influences. My voice is compared to Alison more than any other singer. We also enjoy the acoustic rock of the 70's - James Taylor, Carol King and the Eagles. And we love Stevie Wonder, and all the crooners! We listen to Diana Krall, Norah Jones, and John Mayer. Beautiful sounds and great songs - that's what we like.
5. How would you describe your music and or your sound?
The AMB is an American String Band. Instrumentally we play a jazz-fusion, and vocally it is melodically driven pop/country sound.
6. What do you hope to accomplish through your music?
To create, and have an outlet to share what I have created - that's the goal. Every artist hopes for high-profile success, but that is really in God's hands.
7. Do you have any upcoming plans to tour?
We tour full time, typically around 100 shows or more a year. The schedule is sometimes difficult but it keeps us connected with our audience - plus we just love to play.
8. Your website has already having 9,000+ members before even releasing a national CD. What do you think it is about your music that is connects you with your fans?
Often times our spiritual connection to God and our day-to-day life seems fragmented. We create music that speaks of how the Spirit of God touches our everyday experiences - whether it be through a generational legacy, the relationship between a father and a daughter, or simply stating the amazing nature of who God is.
9. Who has had the biggest impact on these facets of your life: Personal, Professional and Spiritual? Why?
My parents and their heart for Jesus have always been a defining factor. But now my family life itself is what propels my spiritual growth. We pray and talk and read and talk some more - we have a run-on conversation with God and each other. We want to know even as we are fully known. I believe this constant state of connection has meant more to my personal growth than any other thing.
10. What is the most impacting or unforgettable moment you have encountered in your music career thus far?
It is hard to pinpoint one moment, but even when I was a little girl and playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" my joy was to bring pleasure to those I love. Even now it drives me. One of my favorite quotes is from Chariots of Fire when Eric Little says, "When I run fast, I feel His pleasure."
Bonus Questions
What is your favorite city to play in?
Dallas, TX. Texas is my favorite state. I was born there and I still love the feel of it.
What is your favorite road meal?
We eat at Cracker Barrel more than any other place. We should probably buy stock, because we keep them in business. But I love the restaurant Maggiano's they have the most amazing ravioli al forno, but you can't have it very often - it's not good for the figure.
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