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House Blend
Flavia Watson & RedTempt
Episode 27b • September 2011
©2011 SCVTV & Stephen K. Peeples
[SEE ALL EPISODES]
ABOUT THE ARTIST
"I literally can't remember a time when I wasn't running around, performing for my family, singing at the most inappropriate occasions and generally just forcing myself onto the world," Flavia laughs. "I knew that this was what I wanted to do."
Flavia, 20 years old and born Flavia Camilla Watson, has shot onto the music scene like a bullet, bringing her band — The RedTempt — with her. As both the singer and songwriter of the band, Flavia has infused their sound with a bluesy, swampy feel that ranges from funk rock tunes to sultry ballads. "Flavia & the RedTempt are a little bit dark," she describes. "We love to have a good time, and you can definitely see that on stage, but our music is often about the feelings that people don't want to tackle — loneliness, regret. The pain that then makes you appreciate the good things in life." Anchoring it all together are her poetic lyrics that explore emotional extremities by describing situations and details that breathe life into her words.
Currently working on their debut album The Girl Who Left Town (early 2012 release) with producer Jon Amador, Flavia & The RedTempt have already made a splash amongst the Los Angeles crowd, performing in well-loved venues such as The House of Blues, The Key Club and The Mint. The band consists of the fiery haired Caroline Cirone on bass, the enigmatic Chris Pucher on guitar, the laid-back drummer Nick Baker, and the wild Rich Brown on keys. On stage, Flavia and the RedTempt are both energetic and soulful, and each band member given the opportunity to showcase their talents with powerful solos.
Flavia moved to LA in 2009, taking her acceptance to the California School of the Arts as an opportunity to move to one of the most culturally and musically vibrant cities in the world. But she didn't always live in California; she spent the majority of her life in Europe, moving to Ireland at eight years old and then on to Italy, where her mother is from. The influences of the gregarious Irish culture and the passionate Italian one lie at the foundation of Flavia's personality, and both have had a profound effect on her music as well. "Irish people are emotional," she explains, "just like Italians. I was lucky to have grown up in a family that encourages exploration — both of the world and of yourself." And from this lifestyle Flavia was also fortunate enough to learn Italian, French and Spanish, all of which have featured in her music.
Living in a 300 year old guest house in the hills of in Ireland gave Flavia plenty of opportunity to practise — and to meet others that were living the life she aspired to. While staying at the family's guest house, Natalie Merchant (100,000 Maniacs, "Thank You") worked and played music with Flavia, as well as dedicated a song to her during her Dublin concert performance. This experience, in particular, stoked Flavia's ambition and led to her leap into the music and arts scene in Dublin. This passion won Flavia a nationwide Battle of the Bands competition and concert series sponsored by Coca Cola as well as led to her being cast in the leading role of a theater production of Disney's High School Musical which ran for over 30 dates and received glowing reviews. Her move to Italy did not prevent her from continuing her career, and she found herself acting and singing in an Italian television show before finally making the move to Los Angeles where she now finds the inspiration for her upcoming album.
"For me, music is a passion. It's air. I know it's a little cheesy, but if I can make even one person feel that same kind of fever then I've done what I set out to do" — she flashes a mischievous smile — "obviously though, I won't stop 'til the whole world feels it."
ABOUT THE HOST
"House Blend" host, writer and co-producer Stephen K. Peeples is a
Grammy-nominated record producer ("Monterey International Pop Festival,"
1992), award-winning radio writer-producer ("The Lost Lennon Tapes,"
1988-1990) and veteran record company executive (Capitol, Elektra/Asylum,
Rhino). A Canyon Country resident since early 1988, Peeples wrote about the
SCV music scene for The Signal newspaper in 2004-2006 and was Managing
Editor of the My Santa Clarita community website in 2006-2007. He was The
Signal's Online Editor and social media manager from October 2007 to May
2011. In 2009 he was honored when The-Signal.com was named "Best Website"
by the California Newspaper Publishers Association. A jazz and rock drummer
since he was 12, Peeples was a member of the underground West L.A. garage
band Peaking Duck from 1977-2008. In 2010, he co-founded the SCV-based jazz
quartet RainTree.
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