Singer-Songwriter Becky Chace Readies a New Sound for a New Audience

Many artists follow the same general direction for all of their careers. But Rhode Island based musician Becky Chace is making a major change in her sound and approach to her music while still at a peak in her career. I sat down with the talented singer-songwriter recently to discuss her new sense of direction.

Chace is one of the lucky ones who with talent and hard work found paying gigs immediately. Having relatives in the business also helped. An uncle produced her first album. Awards have been heaped upon her in the past ten years and her Becky Chace Band has opened for national name acts such as Joan Jett, Judi Collins, and The Gin Blossoms. And, of course, she loves her work.

But even with that kind of success, Chace has reached a point after ten years where she felt a change was due. She says it was a "natural process" to give up her "wired" band, go back to her acoustic guitar and play solo. "It's time" she says, "to honor the gift [of my voice] and let it be heard". Chace describes the "new" sound as a "stripped down return to self". When pressed, Chace hesitates to classify her sound as strictly folk. This is likely due to the variety of influences she experienced growing up.

Even though Chace says that working with acts like Joan Jett were "amazing", she has full confidence in this latest choice. Chace played to 4,000 screaming fans outdoors at the Greyhound Park in Lincoln, RI opening for Jett, and found out that stars are people just like the rest of us. She admitted that the attention and "free stuff" you get on the road is really fun, but it is time for a change. "The goal now" says Chace, "is to play much smaller venues like coffee houses".

Chace feels that the smaller venues will allow her to connect with her audience in a way that she has been missing. At this point in her life, those connections are more important for Chace than "the buzz and excitement of the big stage".

Chace never had a hard time figuring out that the music world was where she was meant to be. She has been writing her own songs and singing since the age of nine. Chace says that "new songs come to me all the time. Sometimes every day." Becky Chace grew up in a musical family listening to all styles of music from a variety of sources. Her sound includes some folk, some blues, a little country, a little rock and a special mixture from her own soul.

When asked about who influenced her Chace responds, "everyone!" Although she does credit a trip to a Bruce Springsteen concert in the late 90's with showing her how powerful a singer can be. Chace was especially impressed with how connected Springsteen was to his audience. She decided that connection is what she really wants to achieve.

Chace is now hard at work in the studio readying an all new album that will be released in the summer of 2007. Chace and her musical partner, Brian Minisce are also starting to put together a new tour to promote the album. They hope to cover most of the East Coast on the tour. At some point in the future, Chace would like to tour in Canada and in Europe.

Most of the preliminary work for the new album and tour is being done in the Providence studio of long-time friend and collaborator Joe Moody. Chace says she "loves" working with Moody and Minisce.

Currently, Chace still plays every Thursday evening in Providence, RI at The Barnsider. She also accepts other gigs that she can work into her hectic schedule. For more information about Becky Chace visit her website and check out her listing on Ahtspot.com. A sample of her work titled "Hallelujah" can be heard here on AC.