Tristan Prettyman is on a roll these days. Fresh off releasing her second album, Hello…x, she’s just wrapped up a successful tour, and even made an appearance on Jay Leno last week. This summer she’s helping clean up our nation’s beaches as part of the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, which will hit New York, Texas, California, and another beach that you can help decide on. So who exactly is this 26-year-old singer-songwriter/surfer/beach lover? Prettyman took some time to answer 12 questions for InsideStL.
1. Your latest album, Hello…x, sold 18,000 copies in its first week. How does that make you feel?
As Bob Marley says, “I feel like a sweepstakes winner...”
2. What was the best thing about recording Hello…x?
Finishing it.
3. What was the most frustrating thing about recording Hello…x?
Starting it.
4. Can you talk a little bit about your songwriting process?
Involves a lot of thinking, a lot of writing, a lot of pickin’ and strummin’.
5. Take us through a normal day on tour.
I wake up to the horrible screech of my alarm clock, and the buzz of my Blackberry with about 60 -80 texts and emails, many of which are from my brother, because I am late and he is gonna leave my ass at the hotel. Then the hotel phone rings making sure that I am awake. I’m pretty out of it, till I have my first cup of coffee, but somehow I manage to do 5 minutes of Pilates. If everything works out ok, I make it downstairs. Then I sit in the van, and figure out what to do with myself, after I answer all my emails and texts. I try to figure out if I want to be sitting shotgun or in the back, loungin’. After a gas refill, and a bite to eat, we eventually roll up to the venue. I pray they have Fiji water! I rifle through my suitcase, looking for something to wear, scrap together a set list, after the band and I reminisce about the past couple of shows. And then I forget about all my worries, and we rock the house. A fan usually brings a shot of tequila to the stage, to which the show really loosens up after that...then I come off stage for a breather, gather my thoughts. Check my phone for a message from my boy. My brother throws a sharpie at me, and I go out to the merch to do a meet and greet. After that we pack up, load the van, and venture off to another foreign hotel room, I check my myspace, perez hilton, and the surf report back home before I go to bed. And then I hit the hay. The next day we wake up and do it all again. We are crazy like that!
6. Who are some of your favorite songwriters?
Songwriters who are true to themselves and true to their music, which includes many artists from many genres. Manu Chao, The Police, Daniel Johnston…Brooke Waggoner is one of my new favorites, and local San Diego favorites like Billy Midnight and Anya Marina. I really, really love Journey…Live Houston '81. If you want a tasty musical treat.
7. What are your favorite songs to perform live?
I’m really enjoying starting off the set solo acoustic with “Blindfold.” It’s from the new record, and I think is a good introduction to the new material. Without it sounding too new and unfamiliar to the fans that haven’t had a chance to spend much time with the new tunes. I also really love playing “California Girl,” also new. We do a different version that what is on the record, my bass player Matt DelVecchio sings harmonies on it with me, and it’s been really nice to have another voice up there with me on stage now. Reminds me of Journey Live...'81.
8. You’re a California girl…when did you learn to surf? And how often do you surf?
I surf as much as I can when I'm home, or anywhere we go where there are waves. It’s one of the only things that truly relaxes me and lets me escape from my busy world. I’ve been surfing since junior high; it’s one of the special bonds that I share with my family, friends and community.
9. My favorite track on Hello…x is “Don’t Work Yourself Up.” What’s that one about?
That’s more of a confessional track. Kinda like what I would say to someone if I could be completely honest and not worry about hurting someone's feelings.
10. If you could tour with anyone right now, who would it be?
Would love to go on tour with Sheryl Crow. She's beautiful, confident, talented, and more importantly has been a super positive female role model. Plus, I've just been on tour with so many male based bands, that it would be nice to be on the road with another female. Ani Difranco is another one; Sass Man Johnson and Tom Petty would be pretty cool. Journey in '81 would have been so rad, but I wasn't even made yet.
11. What are your some of your favorite albums?
Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over The Sea
Wilco, Yankee Hotel Fox Trot
Ani Difranco, Living in Clip
Led Zeppelin, I
Miles Davis, We Want Miles
12. The best way to support my music is to…
Spread the word. Tell your friends, buy em a CD. Come to a show, bring a friend. The more the merrier, we always have a good time:)
Do you have a favorite female vocalist I should interview next? Let me know below!