Singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega will perform past hits and new songs during her visit to the Chocolate Church Arts Center Sunday. Vega has been part of the hit music scene since 1985 when her debut album, “Suzanne Vega,” sold one million copies. Subsequent albums proved even more successful, with hits like “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner” becoming radio staples. Vega is perhaps best known for ushering in a new age of female, acoustic folk-pop that dominated the ’90s and continues today.
Vega recently released a new album, “Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers.” The Times Record was able to catch up with her to chat about the new album, her upcoming show at Chocolate Church and her love for songwriting.
Suzanne Vega: I’ve toured in Maine many times. I do not keep track of each performance, but it was probably three years ago that I last toured there. What I usually do is ask the audience, “Have I been here before?” and they usually go, “Yeah!” I don’t think I’ve performed in Bath before. I would have remembered that. I definitely would have remembered the Chocolate Church. Even the name is memorable.
TR: What is special about performing in an intimate setting like the Chocolate Church?
SV: It’s how I grew up performing. I grew up singing in coffee houses in New York City and later on in Folk City in Greenwich Village. I still play a fair amount of small venues, but I play all types. I like the smaller ones because they are more intimate. You can talk a little more and tell more stories. The 2,000 seat theaters are also nice because they are a little more formal. And the festivals are amazing because you have thousands of people and tents and a whole different kind of energy. But I’ve played in all kinds of situations.
TR: Tell us about your new album.
SV: The new album is a departure for me. It’s 10 songs that preview a play that is going to be produced next year. The album is called “Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers.” McCullers was a writer from the deep south who died in 1967. Her work was very ahead of its time, very liberal. She wrote with a great sympathy for black people and poor people. Many of her stories and at least two of her novels are narrated by an adolescent girl. I’ve been working on this project since I was in college. I put it away for many years.
I don’t play the guitar once in the whole album. I wrote the melodies and the lyrics, but we have all kinds of instruments, from ukuleles to trombones to clarinets. So it’s very different from what I’ve done before. I’ll be singing maybe four songs from the new album at the upcoming show, but I’ll also mix it up with favorites and hits.
TR: Walk us through the early years of your career when you found fame.
SV: I was 11 when I started playing the guitar, and 14 when I started singing. I was very into dance in high school, but I wrote a lot through those years, too. At age 18 I gave up dancing and took music more seriously, and I got my record deal at 24. It felt great but I had a fair amount of anxiety because I had to perform. My first album ended up selling one million copies. It was very well received and continues to be.
TR: What is your biggest inspiration for your songwriting?
SV: I would say continuing to show how to express oneself, and how to do it in a truthful, interesting way. It’s usually a combo of things that I know and feel, things that I see and know to be true. And certainly an element of fantasy. You always want to take your audience somewhere.
TR: How has the music industry changed over the years?
SV: It’s changed in that we now have Spotify and MP3s, and it’s not necessary to pay. That makes a huge difference. There’s these very talented musicians who don’t want to go into the industry because they’re afraid they cant make a living. It’s forced everyone out on the road again. I feel I’m a good live performer, but there’s all kinds of competition, from Bob Dylan all the way down to the band next door. Musicians have to work harder and harder to make a dime.
TR: Will you see any sights while in Maine?
SV: We won’t have the time unfortunately. We’re coming to the end of the year and I’m looking forward to coming up and playing to whoever comes out. It’s always festive this time of year.
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Suzanne Vega’s show on Dec. 4 begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Chocolate Church Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $45 and online at chocolatechurcharts.org for $40.
bgoodridge@timesrecord.com
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