A web-interview with Ms. Ahern
lead singer of BROKEN VOICES
October 17, 2000
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Ever since the exciting release of GRAEHAM GOBLE'S BROKEN VOICES project in late 1997 I was very curious about this fantastic lead singer, SUSIE AHERN. Her voice makes this album a very special one, full of energy and Celtic influences, great compositions as well as the perfect arrangements and sophisticated production techniques, as you can expect that from GRAEHAM GOBLE and STEPHEN HOUSDEN. In late summer of 2000 I finally got in contact with SUSIE, and she was instantly willing to answer the 'famous' ten questions: |
| www.lrb.net | Susie |
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| 1.) Susie, your work with BROKEN VOICES is highly appreciated by many listeners and LRB fans. What did you think when you were asked to join GRAEHAM GOBLE and STEPHEN HOUSDEN for that project? Did you expect BROKEN VOICES to become a stable and successful group? What did GRAEHAM and STEPHEN think of the project? |
Broken Voices evolved at a very exciting time. I had been working with Stephen Housden and Derek Pellici in a band, and Graeham came to a show that we did. At the time, Graham had another vocalist for Broken Voices; a beautiful singer named Maria Mercedes [Maria can still be heard in the backing vocals on a couple of the Broken Voices tracks]. Graeham, Steve, Maria and I got together and the band kind of mutated from there. Maria is a very popular performer in Musical Theatre and was soon lured away. However Graham introduced us to another vocalist, Annette Roche, and it was with Annette and I that the majority of Broken Voices work was done. At the time I remember feeling very privileged to be working with such great people, I had been given 'Diamantina Cocktail' as a 16th birthday present, and I was a big fan of LRB. We all fully expected Broken Voices to be very successful, the songs were very strong, the harmonies were great. It was the kind of music I felt was missing from the world at the time and we all worked very hard to make the dream a reality. |
| 2.) It took eight years to have the CD released at Thoughtscape Sounds [which don't exist anymore]. Are you satisfied with the result, now that the recordings were released? | The only thing I 'm not satisfied with about the recording is that it took so long to release. Things change so quickly ... so by the time Broken Voices was released, it sounded a little dated. However, for the time that the recordings were made, I believe it was great. |
| 3.) What is/are your personal favorite/s song/s from the BROKEN VOICES CD? | I'm a hopeless romantic; I love songs that make you feel. There are two songs on the CD that are equal favorites for me, Tangled Skeins and Into Your Arms. Both of these songs also capture the Celtic sound that we were striving to achieve. |
| 4.) As far as we know you're a very busy session singer in Australia. How did you become a singer, and - are you also playing an instrument? Did you also have influence on the BROKEN VOICES CD or did you do the vocal tracks like GRAEHAM had arranged them? |
I come from a completely mad Irish family ... singing is something like breathing in my life ... and I've never been without it ... it was a natural progression to make singing my career. Now I do all sorts of things. I'm presently working on a solo album with a producer called Phil Buckle, who is amazing. I sing jingles and backing vocals on people's records. I am the Associate Music Producer and Vocal Coach on a TV show in Australia called 'Starstruck'. I also put together and direct vocal groups for special projects; one you may have heard was David Hirschfelder's piece Eternity for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games [Tap Dancers and Angle Grinders]. I don't really play any instrument well, however, with my computer, I can compose what I hear in my head ... it takes me a while but I get there eventually. Broken Voices was really Graeham's project, it was a great learning experience. |
| 5.) BROKEN VOICES did some live gigs back in 1989/90. What was it like to do them and did you enjoy the shows? | We rehearsed like crazy for the gigs we did and we all enjoyed them immensely. |
| 6.) In his interview STEPHEN said he thinks that BROKEN VOICES were a little ahead of their time. What is your opinion? Why didn't the CD sell enough copies? | I too believe that our timing was wrong. I look at the success of The Corrs and I think we would have appealed to their market, however we were never exposed to that market and people can't buy a CD they've never heard or seen. |
| 7.) Had there been a big reaction in Australia when the CD was released by the end of 1997? Or did you receive requests for interviews because of this release? | There was no reaction in Australia to the release, as far as I could gather. If there were any requests for interviews Graham would have taken care of them. |
| 8.) Are you still in contact with either GRAEHAM or STEPHEN? And if so, how did you like their solo recordings that have been released in the 90s ? What did you especially think of the songs that had been re-recorded using STEVE WADE for the vocal takes? | I occasionally see both Graham and Steve. Graham gave me a copy of his solo recordings with Steve Wade [I love his voice and he's a terrific guy]. I've also heard Steve Housden's solo recordings and I think both Graham's and Steve Housden's recordings show their commitment to excellence ... they both strive for perfection in all that they do. |
| 9.) What have your activities been since that recording with BROKEN VOICES? And what are you currently working on? |
I have released a few dance style tracks through the years, one in particular, 'Don't Be Afraid' released under the name of The Edison Project, was quite successful in Finland. Also, a song I wrote with Phil Buckle, What If I Do is the title track of the latest release for the Scandinavian singer Jett Torp and has done quite well. I also helped put together a Gospel Group featuring six vocalists [one of whom was Annette Roche] we released one CD independently called 'Adoration on The Gospel Train. Live' and we also recorded a special project for the Amway organization called 'Plugged In And Switched On'.
Info about 'The Edison Project' |
| 10.) Many fans have immediately become big fans of your voice and as well as your singing. Are there solo albums/recordings available from you? And, is there also a website about your activities? We could not find any info at all ... :o( | Currently I'm working on my solo album and hopefully before the middle of next year I'll have a website up and running and a CD release. |