"All About The Album - 15 Questions" - a brand new section at the RockUnited site where any recording artist with an recently released CD is confronted with album questions (15 of them, duh!). If you'd like to have your material up here, email: urban "at" rockunited.com (simply replace "at" with your standard @ )

GINA HADLEY: "Slave 2 Love"

GINA HADLEY, "Slave 2 Love" is clearly something out of the ordinary. U.S. Atlanta, Georgia's Gina Hadley is turning heads and raising eyebrows everywhere she goes with an infectious blend of gritty attitude and alluring, sultry musical intelligence. Featuring stunning tracks of rebellious, catchy music, fans of everything from soul to alternative rock should find solace within her relatable lyrics and unique style. It's everything from the "dirty diana" rock of Michael Jackson (Rebel) to lushy ballads. To let us know more about her debut album, here's: GINA... 

How has the reaction to your latest CD been?

It's been absolutely amazing. As a new artist this journey leaves you both excited and extremely vulnerable all at the same time. I wasn't really sure how listeners were going to receive me but I'm thankful that the response has been significantly positive. With the help of this wonderful thing call the internet I'm gaining fans daily from all over the world and I'm eager to see where this road will take me.

How long did this CD take to make from start to finish, recording-wise?

Wow… it's been about 4 years. In the midst of recording my husband and I got pregnant with our daughter. I had to stop recording about 5 months in because my voice changed. I resumed 3 months after she was born and we were back on track. But what you have to take in account is that we paid for everything ourselves. There was no label sending a check to cover our expenses. My husband and I paid for the recordings 1 song at a time until the album was complete. It was challenging but so rewarding!!!

What kind of 'sound', production wise, did you have in the back of your mind, prior to entering the studio?

I didn’t really give it much thought in the beginning. I approached each song as a separate and unique entity. There were nights where I was snatched from my sleep and I would run to my closet with a tape recorder so that I could capture the words and melodies as they came to me. I did my very best to recreate the sound I heard in my head.

What kind of input did the producer have during the process?

I walked in to this situation with 2 vital things in mind, to create real, honest music and to do it MY WAY. The producers understood that going in so they were very cooperative in making sure that the music and the live instruments were where I wanted them to be.

And are you pleased with the final outcome? (sound - production wise)

I am tremendously pleased with the outcome. I put my heart and soul into this album and I was very hands on throughout the entire process. The
recordings, the mixing, the mastering, everything! So yes, I put my stamp of approval on it all.

Did the producer (you) use any (weird) experimental miking and/or recording techniques?

There was a situation when we were creating the chant in "Rebel" where several of us positioned ourselves around the sound booth away from the mic singing pretty much at the top of our lungs trying to create a full round sound and it worked.

How did you go on about capturing your 'live sound' in the studio, or perhaps you didn't...

I would record the scratch vocals and the musicians would come in with guitars, drums, bass etc. and sit with it for a while and just kind of play until it became organic. Once we found the sound we liked we'd record the music and then I'd redo the vocals because the energy and mood would be so much more intense.

Please inform us about your favourite songs and lyrical highlights and why?

My first single "Rebel" is special in the sense that it introduces my listeners to me, my personality and my relentless dedication to do it my way. I think this line says it all, “I ain’t no cookie cutter chick, I’m a bring it like I bring it, anything else would be counterfeit.” The last song on the album “Into the Light” I hold dear to my heart because it's a song that I dedicate to my father who transitioned 6 years ago. The opening lines are, “When I was a little girl my daddy told me I could do anything so I let my soul sing. When I became a woman my lover told me I would be nothing, he took my song from me”. This song is about life and it encourages the listener to step out on faith and believe that you are who you say you are.

Any overall theme of mood that you're trying to capture while writing songs?

I only write when I'm inspired. I don't have a formula or a set time that I write. I let my experiences and things I‘ve witnessed become the content of my songs. I think that a great song starts with a great story so I let that be my emphasis. My goal is to paint the picture and make you feel what I felt in that moment.

Does your vision for coming up with music get affected at all by time?

It depends what you mean by that. If you’re asking whether or not I feel pressured by time when I'm writing, I'd have to say no. I write what I feel. I don't force it I just let the words and the melodies come to me. My only job is to recreate what I hear in my head and to it honestly without the influence of the trends. I think some techniques used are dated so I stray away from things like that

Did the record company interfere with anything on your "sound" and songs?

No not at all. There was no record company, my husband and I financed the entire project and we had total creative control.

Are there any 'crazy' behind the scenes anecdotes from these sessions that you can share with us?

The studio where I recorded most of the songs experienced water damage after busted pipes flooded the basement. We thought we were going to have to re-record about 5 of the tracks; thank God the files were recovered on a backup system.

How would you describe the sound of your new CD to any potential new fan?

To sum it up I'd call it edgy, sexy, good for the soul music. Slave 2 Love weaves gritty passion with romantic betrayal and holds it all together with haunting melodies.

Who are your influences and heroes? (music-wise)

The original Rock n 'Soul Songstress Tina Turner, is one of my all time favorite artist. Then there's Patty Smith, Annie Lennox of Eurhythmics, Madonna, Pink, Gwen Stefani, the list goes on and on.

If there's anything you'd like to add, say, please do:

I wore my heart on my sleeve when I wrote this album and I'm just thankful that I've given my listeners something they can relate to. If you haven't done so already get your copy of my debut album, “Slave to Love” by
visiting www.ginahadley.com.
Sincerely, Gina.

Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos from www.ginahadley.com
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