"Do Right Woman" ~ Miss Diva Stone LIVE
As a reporter, you have to learn to keep
emotions and feelings separate when you report on events, to remain neutral in
opinions and generally be someone other than you for a while. However, when it comes to Miss Diva Stone, I
for one will go doe-eyed and girly in a split second and not give a flying damn
how pathetic I look. Ever since I heard
her sing my name, I’ve never been the same.
So when I asked her for an interview, and she agreed, I literally turned
into a prime number and exploded. She
arrived almost as nervous as I was and brought her Master and Chain Sister for
moral backup. We sit by a fireplace full
of candles and the coffee starts to flow.
M:
So, Miss Diva, first of all thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to
chat with me, first of all, when did you discover your talent for singing?
D: I began singing when I was in 3rd grade in
French class. The teacher was teaching us a song called "Alouette". And I would sing louder than the whole class.
But instead of singing along, I would be ad-libbing. I didn’t know what it was but I had heard my
mom doing it when she sang in different venues in Detroit, and then later at
home for my Dad. So I was imitating her in class...got me in big trouble. I still know that song.
M:
But I bet you didn't do it in the style of Aretha Franklin!
D: I tried my hardest I am telling you and my
teacher (French Canadian) did not find it funny, but my Mom did. She wanted to pull me on stage. And sing in front of thousands of people. She
sent me to classes and coaches. But my
nerves...that was the real problem I had.
I would go out on stage with her and puke. It was my Dad, who focused me.
M:
And how did he do that? How did you
overcome the nerves? Do you still get
nervous?
D: Well first, yes I do, but not as nervous
as I used to get. My Dad would make me
sing in front of him, I mean real close in his face. When I tried to close my
eyes or if I would get woozy, he would thump me on the forehead and say
"Are you weak? Are you Mine? Then act like it “I was so pissed at him the
first time he did it. Then it would be for him and the family then for him and
his co-workers. Then it went to the
middle of K-mart! He was super focused
and determined, I thought he was just crazy.
He would make me sing him to sleep and in the morning, and after
work. He was relentless. So, the first time in a while after the
puking incident, my mom was opening for Anita Baker at the Fox. She was singing "If I Could" by
Regina Bell, I was standing back stage with my dad right in front of me with
this look on his face like "Don't you embarrass me!". And when he called my name, he smiled and
pulled me in close. He said "you
have my strength in you. Use it" then he thumped me in the head for good
measure. And I went and stared at my mom
for the first part of the song, she pointed at my Dad, he smiled and pointed at
the audience. I love my Dad, I love him
for that. And that was all she wrote. I was 10 by then
M:
So with your Mom's voice and your Dad's determination, you became who you are
today?
D:
Indeed. I must say, I am still
finding who I am and it still takes a lot of determination and practice and I
doubt myself even now. I just have a few
more tools in my packet to use to help get me through. Not to mention a few
good people always ready to thump me in the head or give me a pep talk.
She looks at her Master and Sister, sitting
close by
M:
What doubts do you have? I mean with a
voice like yours, what could you possibly fault about yourself?
D: I
sometimes don't hear myself the way other people do. I am extremely hard on
myself. I am a perfectionist when it comes to this music thang. I hear every fault and crack and broken board
in my voice before it leaves my lips and I am always drilling myself and trying
for better. It’s not just the sound that I critique. I have to feel what I am singing in my core.
If I can’t connect to what I am singing, I don't do it. If I can’t make myself
Happy, or Sad, or Aroused with a song, then I trash it. I cry and laugh and sometimes bring myself to
the brink of an orgasm when I sing. I have to feel every song. And that’s not
always easy. Especially if I am not
happy when I sing a happy song for example. I have to find happiness, so my
audience will FEEL my joy. You feel me?
M:
Not since the circus event no, but yes I do generally. Oh god that sounded bad...ill rephrase that
D: Laughs
M:
But to answer your question, yes I feel everything; every intonation, feeling
and emotion in every note you sing.
D: And that is when I feel I am doing a good
job, when I am worthy of the applause...
M: As an ex entertainer myself, I know about
perfectionism and self-critique
D: It can be nerve wracking. But so worth it in my opinion.
M: Indeed, half the battle is overcoming the
fact that people have come to hear YOU.
The rest is gaining their admiration and love through applause.
D: yes! Exactly
M:
Which is why my stand up career fell flat.
D: I
don’t know why, you are funny as hell.
It was a joy to work with you, truly.
M:
slips Miss Diva L$100 and whispers "Keep Talking"
D: I
still panic before every show here in SL
Mιʂʂ Dιʋα Sƚσɳҽ giggles and tucks the money
in her top, and continues..."Your wit is basically unmatched and
refreshing"
Smiles ..."more?"
M:
Someone once told me that when the nerves go, it's time to jack it all in. Do you believe that’s true?
D: I do, the nerves keep you hungry and
open. Open to growth and striving to get
better. They keep you yearning and
thirsty for that new thang, that new edge the new lick or trick in your voice.
A new height and pull with you vocal folds.
NEWNESS! And new things are
always more exciting. Keeping them
guessing and hungry right with you, in the moment..stuck
M: Let's talk more about you as you are
now. When I first heard you sing my
name, it was like aural magic. I thought
to myself "there is one special talented and quite frankly gorgeous lady
whose vocal talents are unmatched anywhere in Second Life"
(Leans over and takes back the L$100)
M: How
would you describe your style?
Mιʂʂ Dιʋα Sƚσɳҽ winks, pulls 100 more from
her purse and places it where his used to be.
D: I
would describe it as RAW. It is sexy and
sensual, even the songs that are not. I
make them that way. It’s raw in that I like to appeal to the animal nature in
my listener... I growl and grovel and please and moan and whine...I
whisper...it’s guttural. It’s from my
soul to yours.
M: I
can certainly vouch for that!
D: I
want to be felt as well as heard. My sister is saying personable and personal.
I completely agree!
M:
How did you find about SL? Is there much
difference between performing in real life and in here?
D: I
was watching TV one day and I saw a commercial for it, it seemed similar to the
Sims Family which I played in my spare time. Then I googled it and saw
realistic experiences of a sexual and graphic nature and let’s just say..I was
feeling like that at the time...so I came...to SL. And as for singing here. It
is very different for me because I am used to the theatre and singing on stage
in plays and such in RL. So it was an
adjustment to go from that. Full power, no
mic singing to having to hold back and still give all of my passion and soul in
my music. But, I do enjoy not having to
spend hours..wait I still spend hours getting my avi ready so scratch that.
M:
Who were your singing idols growing up?
Did you have any?
D: Oh I had many, my Mom being the top of my
list. Then it was Etta James, Rachelle Ferrell and Nina Simone, Aretha
Franklin, and Whitney Houston definitely
M:
Is there any of them in your vocal performances?
D: Oh yes! My growl and raspiness are a
product of Etta James. My runs and licks
often stem from Rachelle Ferrell, and Whitney Houston. My Power comes from my Mom and Aretha
Franklin. My Moan exudes Nina.
M: So where can people find out more about you
and where you're performing?
D:
They can join my group or my subscriber. But If they search my name, I
have in my profile, my schedule, a list of people who are blogging about me and
in this case writing articles ^^ :), and I also have links to a few songs in
there as well. For booking and to obtain a bio they can contact me directly or
my most AWESOME manager and good friend Misitblu Verino. I have some videos also coming up soon to
YouTube.
She is still a bundle of nerves by the time I
conclude the interview. She tells me she
enjoyed the experience of being interviewed and the nerves appear to leave
her. I wish I could say the same. I’m still a wobbly gibbering wreck on the
inside but ever the professional on the outside. After all, I’ve just interviewed my favourite
singer of all time and can still hear the raw sexiness in which she sang my
name, all those weeks ago. Will you
excuse me a moment?
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