Amanda Kravat – HuffPost 10.6.14

Mike Ragogna: What advice do you have for new artists?

Amanda Kravat: One of the worst things we can do, as humans I think, is bore each other. Happens when you spend too much time staring in the mirror. So why not work with people you can learn from? Listen to Mozart and Prince. Then read other people’s gorgeous words, for me, Ondaatje or Colum McCann. Anything really. Just don’t let your own voice be the loudest one in your head. And then write a song.

MR: Is there any advice you should have or maybe did follow when you started out?

AK: I finally understand the bit about the journey, not the destination. I blew off my chance to see Nirvana play in New York because I had a photo shoot the next day and I didn’t want to be criticized for looking tired. I was lucky enough to be in Paris four times yet I never insisted that we make time to visit the Louvre. Fear stopped me from enjoying so much of the ridiculously wonderful trip I’ve been on. I should have done more. As long as drugs and alcohol aren’t leading the charge, hell, sleep when you’re dead.

MR: Do you feel like a new artist yourself with AK?

AK: Ha! Great question. I feel like a new everything. Yes. I’m back to thinking of music as music, not “product.” If someone buys it, spectacular! If they don’t? Well, it’s only rock ‘n roll.