Alex Lynne Interview
Note: This is the third in a series profiling members of Buffalo’s original, nontraditional holiday music collective Robot Holiday, which returns to the stage to headline the second annual Holiday Live at Larkin presented by First Niagara on Friday, December 6th, in Larkin Square (745 Seneca St., Larkinville, 5-8pm, free admission, proceeds from CD sales & vendors donated to Food Bank of WNY). Enjoy the first interview with Dee Adams here, and the second with David Mussen here.
By Seamus Gallivan
Alex Lynne made her mark on Buffalo’s music scene around the turn of the millennium as a sharp songwriter with a sweet voice and sarcastic sense of humor. Once a fixture among celebrations of song from Nietzsche’s to Mohawk Place, she keeps a lower profile musically these days, preferring supporting roles in Robot Holiday and Michael Oliver’s Sacred Band, and otherwise describing her current musical output as, “Alex sometimes tunes her guitar before putting it back in the case.”
Alex’s contribution to Robot Holiday, however, is seminal and still significant in the present – as she explains below, she recorded the song that started it all, wrote an annual setlist staple, and remains a charter member of the “Women of Robot Holiday,” who will stand stage center on Friday, December 6th, at the second annual Holiday Live at Larkin presented by First Niagara!
How did you first get involved with RH?
Jonathan Hughes and I had recently become friends and, in 2001, we decided to do a recording of “Christmas Time is Here” from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. We did a limited run of CDs as an alternative to a Christmas card just to give to our friends and family members. That’s how it all started and turned into what would eventually become Robot Holiday.
Has your work with RH influenced your overall approach to making music?
To some degree – I definitely enjoy sort of passing pieces of songs back and forth between friends and other songwriters/bandmates I’ve worked with. I haven’t had much space to work on my own music these days, for various reasons, but I’m forever hoping to get back to doing some more of that soon.
Alex Lynne stands center with the Women of Robot Holiday, including (L-R) Dee Adams, Jim Whitford, Joelle Labert, Katy Miner, Jonathan Hughes and Cathy Carfagna – photo by Seamus Gallivan
What’s your favorite RH song – of your own as well as that of another member?
This is a REALLY tough one because there are TONS that I love. Honestly, I have like 15 favorites. One of my very favorites is Dee Adams’ haiku-based, eerie “Yesterday’s Snowflakes” – that came to mind first. Then there’s Lisa Forrest & Dave Mussen’s “Winter Moon,” Jim Whitford’s “18 Wheels of Joy.” Oh man, and I love Dave Mussen’s “Winter Letter,” sung by Joelle Labert. Gah, there are SO many more I want to name – especially some of Jonathan Hughes’ robot tunes and Rob Lynch’s weird numbers that all somehow sound cozy AND creepy at the same time.
Click here to listen to and download for free Dee Adams’ “Yesterday’s Snowflakes”
Although I’ve been part of RH from the beginning, and I’ve sung on many of the songs, I’ve only written one of my own for the records, which is “Four Christmases and Counting.” But I like that one. I think it’s a pretty decent tune.
Robot Holiday en masse at the Sportsmens Tavern – L-R – Doug Lambert, Mike Criscione, Sally Fehskens, Katy Miner, Alex Lynne, David Mussen, Lisa Forrest, Joelle Labert, Rob Lynch, Jonathan Hughes, Dee Adams – photo from Robot Holiday
What’s your least favorite holiday song?
I really don’t like the super schlocky or modern stuff. “Christmas Shoes” is just a terrible, terrible song.
What’s your favorite robot?
Voxo 3000.
Is there a holiday subject, new or old, that you feel needs to be addressed still in a RH song?
Murder.
What other projects are you involved with throughout the year?
I play with Michael Oliver and the Sacred Band, and we have a new record in the works. One of these days I may finish something of my own, possibly by the time I’m 50 or so.
– See more at: http://www.thegoodneighborhood.com/2013/11/23/robot-holiday-musician-profile-alex-lynne/#sthash.LOrKGlSJ.dpuf