Chicago's own, LA based musician, Amy Loftus is floating on cloud nine and not just from her Yoga practice. The recently released film "One for the Money", based on the #1 best selling Stephanie Plum series, written by Janet Evanovich, has proven to be a great opportunity for Loftus, who has her song "Surrender" on the soundtrack.
1. How long have you been a musician? What/who inspired you to get up there & become a singer/songwriter?
I got up and sang with a band when I was 21 years old, I sang a Tracey Chapman song, "Revolution". The existing male singer couldn't hit the notes. I realized in their reaction that maybe I could sing. Up until then I was a closet singer...literally. I would sing IN my closet! In my room, learning songs. I loved the feeling of singing, breathing, but didn't think I had a voice. Out of that relationship with that band, Cartoon Gypsies, and the male singer, I found the courage to show them my poems. I had been writing journals and poetry since about age 5 or 6. That's how it all began!
2. How did you get ur song 'Surrender' on the film soundtrack 'One for the Money' which is the first film in Janet Evanovich's successful, ongoing, Stephanie Plum series?
2. How did you get ur song 'Surrender' on the film soundtrack 'One for the Money' which is the first film in Janet Evanovich's successful, ongoing, Stephanie Plum series?
I met with the folks at Lakeshore last year and we started talking about putting some of my existing catalog together as an album that would be in the running for their films, and they also encouraged me to write songs for upcoming movies, which I was invited to see. Brian McNelis called and told me to come take a look at One For the Money, so I did, and I laughed really hard and I loved it. Then we talked afterwards and he and Eric Craig offered me some creative guidance. Brian is pretty no-nonsense and I remember he said "just write what Stephanie Plum would ride around in her car and listen to really loud". I hung up and that was it, the song sorta fell out. I love climbing into someone else's perspective and writing from that, with events of the movie like clues. A direct and sturdy performance like Katherine's [Heigl} is in this movie makes that fun and easy.
3. Did you write the song for the film?
Yes
3. Did you write the song for the film?
Yes
4. Are you a fan of the books?
I can't say I am...I just learned about the series the other day in line at the bookstore! I'm a non-fiction kinda gal.
5. Have you seen the film yet? Is the song in a certain part of the film we should watch for?
5. Have you seen the film yet? Is the song in a certain part of the film we should watch for?
I wish I could tell you to watch for it! It's not cut into the film- only on the soundtrack.
6. What advice do you have for other artists looking for this kind of break?
6. What advice do you have for other artists looking for this kind of break?
Keep busy and meet people and be open to unconventional avenues of making connections. The music business is changing and I find that the good music executives know that, and are open to new possibilities.
7. What live shows do you have coming up?
7. What live shows do you have coming up?
Good question! I'm going to play a show in March...no details yet but stay tuned to my website!
8. Is 'Surrender' exclusively on the One for the Money soundtrack or can fans purchase just the song somewhere?
8. Is 'Surrender' exclusively on the One for the Money soundtrack or can fans purchase just the song somewhere?
They can purchase it on I-Tunes. It's exclusively on the soundtrack.
9. Any videos coming up for this or other songs?
Yes we made a video for this song about a week ago and they're editing it (now)...
10. Since you and Stephanie Plum are tough chicks risking it all to do what u love to do, any advice to other artists struggling with their dreams out there?
10. Since you and Stephanie Plum are tough chicks risking it all to do what u love to do, any advice to other artists struggling with their dreams out there?
My advice is work for the love of it. And if you don't love it with your guts and your heart, get out of the line because you probably won't move anyone. I have been impatient and passionate to a fault. I was moving towards a traditional label deal in Nashville covering other writers for my first album, and I got seduced by the cameras and the image meetings and the promises but it's almost like I loved it too much! It was taking so long, and they weren't taking my solo songs seriously. I'd be invited to a co-write and barely contribute a thing, and it seemed to be from the outside in, and I saw songs from the inside out. I went and saw Bonnie Raitt at Jazz Fest in New Orleans and I was like I'm out. I fired the managers I had and I started recording my own albums and building tours, because all I wanted was to sing my songs to people. I was like Forrest Gump, like hm, I guess I'll just go tour! I had no idea what I was doing, but I wanted to play my own songs. I traded yoga to pay musicians. I did whatever it took. There is always a way.
I would not be doing this if I didn't love writing and singing to people so much. I thought by now I'd be a mom and a wife working on a bake sale, not a song. But for some reason, I have this bizarre desire to be on stage, and cause people to feel, or come closer together, or see themselves more clearly. Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin, and Joni Mitchell and (I could go on and on) moved me into a place I didn't know about and couldn't explain. That is a worthy mission in life I think, to be able to move someone with your music. For me, that's the only reason to keep on keepin on.
I would not be doing this if I didn't love writing and singing to people so much. I thought by now I'd be a mom and a wife working on a bake sale, not a song. But for some reason, I have this bizarre desire to be on stage, and cause people to feel, or come closer together, or see themselves more clearly. Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin, and Joni Mitchell and (I could go on and on) moved me into a place I didn't know about and couldn't explain. That is a worthy mission in life I think, to be able to move someone with your music. For me, that's the only reason to keep on keepin on.
Hear more of Amy Loftus's music here and check out the "One for the Money" soundtrack out now.
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