Written by Stephanie Iadanza on Sep 19, 2017 |
Interviews
There have been many professional and semi-professional musicians on the Simply Music team. Gretta Dunn is one of them, forging a growing career as an alt-country singer-songwriter (as Gretta Ziller) around her work for us. We asked her some questions to gain some insight into her role here at Simply Music, what lights her up musically, and some facts that make her the person she is.
Your full name: Gretta Ziller
When did you start and what is your role with Simply Music? Ha! I had to check LinkedIn! It’s been 6 ½ years! I am the Teacher Services Manager for Australia.
What are your top 5 albums of all time? Ooh, that’s a tough one! The ones I keep coming back to at the moment are:
Foy Vance – Wild Swan
Jim Lauderdale – Patchwork River
Lyle Lovett – Release Me
Sam Outlaw – Angeleno
Emmylou Harris – Anthology
Who is your favorite band or singer? I don’t really have a favorite but I’m a big fan of anyone that’s got a gravelly or interesting voice, so folks like Lucinda Williams, Fred Eaglesmith, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave.
Who are you listening to now? I’m actually listening to Rag n’ Bone Man at the moment, which is kinda out of my norm.
If you were in a rock ‘n’ roll band, what would your job be? Ha! I’m so not rock ‘n’ roll so I’d probably be the tour manager… or assistant!!!
What song/music style reminds you of your childhood? Every time I hear Michael Jackson’s song Black or White I can remember the first time I ever saw that video clip as a child, sitting in my living room with my sister & mum… it blew my mind!!!
What song do you sing in the shower? I usually practice in the shower! If I’m working on a melody that I’m not sure about the shower is the best place to practice & change it!!!
What is the worst song to get stuck in your head? Haha! I tour a lot with a friend of mine & he is always picking out songs to irritate me with… at the moment I keep getting I Can’t Dance by Genesis stuck in my head (mainly because it’s getting sung at me all the time!!!)
What song/style do you love to dance to? I have 2 left feet!!! But how can you at least not tap your toes to a good honky tonk song… Dwight Yoakam gets me shuffling around the kitchen (when no one’s looking!!!)
What was the first concert you went to see? Oh gosh! Most folks won’t know this band but way back when in the era of girl power, hats with massive flowers on the front & stretchy chokers, just before the Spice Girls, there was a band in Australia called “Girlfriend” they came to my local town, I went with a friend of mine & my sister… I thought they were the best thing ever… we got matching ‘best friend forever’ heart necklaces (you know the ones that split in half)!!!!
What movie can you quote word for word? I’m in a glass cage of emotion! (The Anchor Man)
What is your favorite day of the week? I’m a big fan of Thursdays!!!
What’s your strangest talent? I play bagpipes!
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person? You’ve got to be pretty resilient in the music industry, the tough thing for me is having to deal with folks that say they’ll do something or help you and then it falls through… that’s a tough one to handle, but you just do and keep going!
What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far? I think it would be doing the College of Country Music a few years ago… I can pinpoint that to being the moment when things changed for me. I became more confident with my songwriting & my singing… it felt like it was a confirmation that I was on the right path.
What is the best dish you can cook? I’m one of those cooks that makes it up as I go so eating my food is a bit of a gamble ;). I do make a mean bolognaise though!!
Are you a morning or night person? Oddly I’m a morning person!
Queen of Boomtown
Now that you know a little bit more about Simply Music’s Teacher Services Manager, Gretta Dunn, wait ’til you hear her sing! As a new member of Social Family Records, Gretta has just released her debut album Queen of Boomtown, available on iTunes, Spotify and more.
CHECK OUT HER ALBUM – QUEEN OF BOOMTOWN – HERE
