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Sue Foley is one of the finest
blues/roots artists on the scene today. Internationally known as an accomplished guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, Foley has
released a string of critically aclaimed albums. A Juno Award win, an incredible seventeen Maple Blues Awards and a W.C.
Handy Award nomination are among her many accomplishments.
With her tenth CD just released,
a live DVD and a book in the works, Sue shows no signs of slowing down.
Crossroads Blues is proud to feature
one of Canada's finest artists, Sue Foley.
CB: Sue, congrats on the
release of your tenth studio CD "New Used Car". How does this new album compare or contrast to your previous releases?
SF: Thanks. I am not really sure how NUC compares with other releases,
though I know I spent more time on the writing of the songs. But really it's what the band and I do live for the most part,
we sound pretty close to the album when we play our shows.
CB: What impact
did devoting more time to song writing have on the songs? Do you feel they are more developed than when you have less time
to focus on writing?
SF: I think songs come out when you have something to say... devoting more time just means you
have more time to think about what you want to say. I don’t think it really matters that much, but it was nice to have
time to write a lot of things and work out my thoughts.
CB: You mention
that "New Used Car" is essentially what the band does live. Was the album recorded live off the floor?
SF: The basic
tracks were recorded together live... I overdubbed lead guitars and vocals.
CB:
Will material from "New Used Car" be featured in your soon-to-be-released live DVD "Sue Foley, Live in Germany"?
SF:
For the DVD we performed some of NUC but we also did a lot of older songs too. It's kind of a "best of" I suppose.
CB: Five of your releases are on Clifford Antone's label
(who sadly passed away on May 23rd of this year). How did that relationship come about?
SF: This came about in 1990 when Cliff invited me to Austin after hearing a demo tape I sent
him... the rest is history.
CB: Your acoustic album "Changes", while
being a departure from your previous electric releases, was very well received. Any plans to record another acoustic
album in the future?
SF: I am open to a lot of things. I think my next recording will be different from NUC and probably
different from Change too but I cannot say exactly how. I am working at new material now and there will definitely be some
acoustic elements to the next Sue Foley CD.
CB: How does your electric versus
acoustic guitar approach differ stylistically?
SF: I am pretty much a traditionalist when it comes to guitar playing.
My electric and acoustic playing are very similar (except I hit harder on acoustic). On electric I am able to get a lot more
subtleties out of the instrument.
CB: What is your favourite electric guitar
and amp set-up? Has it changed over the years?
SF: Fender telecaster with a fender 59 Bassman reissue amp…
it works and works.
CB: Which guitarists would you say influence your
traditional approach?
SF: Mostly Memphis Minnie...Robert Junior Lockwood, Louis Myers, Muddy Waters.
CB: Among the 17 Maple Blues Awards you have under your belt thus far is the 2004 Acoustic Act of the year award.
To win an acoustic act award in a category that included nominees such as celebrated acoustic musicians Harry Manx and Michael
Jerome Browne is quite an accomplishment. How do you feel about that win?
SF: I feel honoured to be in such good
company, and happy that people rank me with such great players.
CB: Speaking
of awards, in 2000, you won a Juno Award for Best Blues Album for "Love Comin' Down". How has winning such an award
affected your career?
SF: I think it had a very positive effect on my career especially in Canada, though in no way
do awards affect the way I feel about playing and what I will do next. It's always good to get them but they are not the driving
force behind what I do.
CB: Since 2001, you have been writing and conducting interviews with female guitarists from around
the world, all captured in the book, "Guitar Woman". What inspired you to take on this project?
SF: The fact that there is no real solid documentation of the contributions of women
guitarists in any guitar history book made me take on the project. I have been influenced by many great female players and
I wanted to honour that and also make people aware of the great ones that are coming up now.
CB: Who are your main female influences represented in “Guitar Woman”?
SF: Memphis Minnie...
the rest will be in the book.
CB: You have taken part in shows and events
highlighting female blues artists. Do you feel that such events have helped increase public awareness of female blues guitarists
and artists in general?
SF: Definitely...and there will be more and more public awareness raised very soon.
CB: Can you isolate a key guitarist featured in the "Guitar Woman" book that you'd like
to work with in the future?
SF: There are many. I am planning several off-shoot projects with many guitarists from
Guitar Woman. Please tune into www.guitarwoman.com for more info and updates.
CB: What's next for you?
SF: We'll be touring for the summer and fall. I have plans to be in Europe in early
2007, along with the Blues Cruise. I am hoping to have my book completed by late 2007 and be doing some touring and collaborating
with other players (women and men).
Thanks for taking the
time out of your busy schedule for us. Check out Sue’s site at www.suefoley.com
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