Haviland Stillwell MKE - Maximum Energy Interview

Haviland Stillwell MKE - Maximum Energy Interview

Singer Haviland Stillwell may be best known for her roles on Broadway and her recent performances at both the Oscars and the Tonys, but, her standout singing - her powerful, charismatic talents as a vocalist - are a shining, defining strength. She's set to release her debut pop/dance album -Spark" introducing the world to her incredible entre as a Pop Artist.

The album's first single, 'MKE - Maximum Energy" is a High NRG radio-friendly pop song that has Stillwell in the role of Intergalactic Space Siren. Check out the shimming, playful video on YouTube.

Currently living in LA, Haviland has sung across the Nation at venues including Radio City Music Hall, Atlanta's Symphony Hall, LA's Rockwell, SxSW, NYC's Joe's Pub and at The Lincoln Center. She's a recipient of the PowerUP Award, given to 'amazing out women in media and entertainment," joining past winners Ellen Degeneres, Jane Lynch, and Rachel Maddow. Her TV and Film work includes a recurring role on Single Ladies and CSI:NY.

Download the track for free, on Soundcloud.

Official Website: www.havilandstillwell.co
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/havilandstillwell1
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/misshaviland
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/havilandstillwell
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/havilandstillwell
Bandcamp: havilandstillwell.bandcamp.com

Interview with Haviland Stillwell

Question: How would you describe your music?

Haviland Stillwell: A dance n' sing through space! It's definitely upbeat, high energy, feel good, empowering, and I think, has a sense of humour.

Question: What was the main inspiration behind MKE - Maximum Energy?

Haviland Stillwell: The character MKE is my alien alter-ego... so the inspiration, musically speaking, came from David Bowie, RuPaul, Lady Gaga, Madonna and obviously Carl Sagan, who I reference in the song... artists who allow characters to come through their songs, who sing about connectivity through dance music. I guess you could say everything that I talk about in the song, came to me interdimensionally. It's about understanding that we are one energy, a collective through-line of creation. We all matter, and we are all interdependent on one another. And, I tell that story through high-octane beats, produced by the amazing Mike Schlosser!


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Haviland Stillwell: I write most of my own melodies and lyrics, and have some awesome collaborators on the album. I've been performing since I was seven years old, and this is the first time I've done anything this personal. I'm used to interpreting other people's words and ideas - and this time, we created them. As far as inspiration - in a very general sense, the desire to lift people up. I have really high expectations of the world, and I think it all starts with the belief that each and every one of us is loved, is important, and is valid.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Haviland Stillwell: I love hip hop and pop, so I listen to the radio a lot, though that's probably not the cool thing to say! Specifically, right now I'm listening to a lot of Ellie Goulding, Robyn, RuPaul, Krewella, Tegan&Sara, Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Melissa Etheridge, Beyonce and Jay-Z.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Haviland Stillwell: The full album, Spark, comes out online April 29th, and we'll also be selling signed hard copies on my website, www.havilandstillwell.com, which is starting April 22nd. I'll also be performing live shows on an ongoing basis, and releasing new videos.

Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Haviland Stillwell: I have moments of insecurity and fear all the time, but I never think of giving up. I wouldn't survive one day without being creative!


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Haviland Stillwell: I really like both - it's just that in the studio or on set, you're collaborating with a smaller group of people, sometimes only yourself or one other person, and live, there's an audience. And then they're in on the creativity, too!


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Haviland Stillwell: I started acting when I was a little girl, and in school chorus, realised I could sing (it was the one thing I didn't get bullied for in middle school!), and then I started mixing acting and singing, and it really cemented.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Haviland Stillwell: The biggest challenge is knowing that this is a lifetime path, a lifetime career and one that is filled with a ton of hard work, strategy, reinvention, patience, and stamina. It's not like you just get a big job and you're done, nor would you want it to be that, because obviously there are so many things that come up and people who come into your life at just the right time. There's a line in my song "Muse," - "This design is divine - no more excuses, just desire."


Question: What's a typical day like?

Haviland Stillwell: A typical day is one that was not similar at all to any other days!
There are rehearsals, auditions, voiceover jobs, acting jobs, recording sessions... it really just depends. But I definitely try to build in meditation, working out, vocal warm ups, reading, watching TV (I watch a lot of shows - gotta be supportive!), and of course time with my girlfriend.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Haviland Stillwell: The best parts are the moments when you just feel like something has hit a personal place in you - it's hard to describe, but you just feel it. That and connecting with some AMAZING people!


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Haviland Stillwell: There are so many people I'd like to work with. But I would probably say RuPaul and Bette Midler. I would love to have a full on show with the both of them. How amazing and fabulous would that be?


Question: Why did you decide to turn to music after success on Broadway?

Haviland Stillwell: I was singing on Broadway, so I see it as all the same. Of course the genre is different, but I've always loved pop and dance music, so it seems like a very natural thing to me. It's all performing and playing!


Question: What was it like working with Rosie O'Donnell and Lea Michele?

Haviland Stillwell: Great. They are both great women. I met Rosie when I was 13 on the film "Now and Then," and then worked with her a lot during "Fiddler on the Roof" when she sometimes played my mom! Lea was 17 when we met - also in Fiddler, and I was making my Broadway debut. We played sisters when we were both on as Hodel and Chava, and it was a blast. Fiddler was an unforgettable and life changing experience.


Interview by Brooke Hunter