Laree Cisco

When I was about seven or eight living in Newark, NJ, my grandmother and I took piano lesson every Saturday at a local music school. I'd over hear my piano teacher telling my her and my mother that I had a "good ear" and that I "picked up things pretty fast." We were told there would be a recital at the end of the course. The day of the recital, I was beyond scared. I, in no way shape or form, wanted get up in front of all those people. Having a "good ear" did not help bad nerves.I sat in the back of the room, in tears, waiting my turn. When my name was announced I told my mother I did not want go. The fast thinking piano teacher got the vibe and told the audience, with everyone looking right at me by the way, that I wasn't here. Everyone one just smiled and gave me an "Aww." Pretty sad, huh?

Since then I've become a little bit more comfortable playing in public. It had a lot to do with a change of scenery. Moving from of noisy streets of Newark to the quiet suburbs of Nutley, NJ made a huge difference in my life personally and musically. It allowed me to become more diverse. Being exposed to different cultures expanded my vision by exposing me to different genres of music. In 1992, a friend mistakenly left two tapes over my house: Aero smith's "Pump" and Nirvanas' "Nevermind". What I remember from "Pump" mostly was "Love in an Elevator", but it was the Nirvana album that changed my life. I think it was the combination of their abrasiveness and Cobains' knack for melodies that just left me mesmerized. I didn't know what it was, but I just wanted to be apart of it somehow.

In 1997 I started filling up books with words and poetry, and in 1999 I finally brought my first guitar. All that talk about being a "fast learner" and having a "good ear" came in handy. I was able to teach myself how to play guitar using only a guitar chords poster and Nirvana's Nevermind album. In 2005, with the help of some good friends who helped me get over any possible hints of stage fright, I got up on stage and did a set at my first open-mic which consisted of 3 originals and a Foo Fighters cover. Later the same year I played my first show as a featured act.

As for the subject matter of my music, I'm the kind of person that just sits back and observes people and the world around me. Looking in peoples eyes and trying to figure out their life stories. A few of my songs don't have happy endings. I don't purposely try to write depressing songs, I do it so when people listen to them it makes THEM think about the people in THEIR lives and the world around them. Maybe they'll look at things differently. Think differently about that seemingly sad person that they see on the train or bus everyday. Maybe they'll say hi to them and make their day or something. All along with that stuff there's the usual headaches, heartbreak, my cats, cake and death, and my battles with trying to be a model son and good christian. Which by the way I stink at.

I hope that one day my mental issues will allow me to grace the same stages that some of my influences have played.