AsiansOfMixedRace.com Interview: The Sledge Grits Band

Mr. Grits, as I have come to know him contacted me recently through MySpace and asked if I was interested in an interview. The Sledge Grits Band has been on my radar but sometimes one has to be spontaneous! Gaining popularity among new fans with the help of an appearence and a knockout performance on the CBS Early Show, Keiko, Kariel, Mimi (who are endorsed by Daisy Rock Guitars Int'l) and Bo-Pah (who is endorsed by Mario De La Cruz Drumsticks and Cymbals) will introduce you to a world of music like no other.

AMR.com: What are your names and what instruments do you play?

TSGB: My name is Kariel and I play the bass.

My name is Mimi and I sing lead vocals and I rock the guitar. I am also learning the harmonica and the accordion.

My name is Keiko and I play lead guitar (By the way guitar is the best instrument ever!) and sing backup.

My name is Bo-Pah and I play drums and love percussions. I'm learning the accordion and the frottoir.

AMR.com: Who taught you how to play your respective instruments?

Bo-Pah: The people who taught me how to play drums was my Daddy and a drum video.
Mimi: The people who taught me how to sing were my mother and YouTube. The person who taught me the guitar was my Daddy. :)
Keiko: The person who taught me to play the guitar was actually myself. I learn online and from books, but I have never had lessons from anyone besides learning the 5 basic chords. My family has always encouraged me to play; They have played with me, and gone through my lessons and helped me study them, but I have mostly learned to play by myself. :)
Kariel: I have actually learned how to play the bass pretty much on my own. I have learned from books, and places such as YouTube but I have never really had a lesson other than off the computer.

AMR.com: When did you start the band and whose idea was it to start it?

TSGB: We have always performed together as sisters, adding instruments as we learned them, however, The Sledge Grits Band, did not start until Bo-Pah grew into her drum set, which was a little over a year ago.

AMR.com: Where does the name of your band “The Sledge Grits Band” come from?

TSGB: The name the Sledge Grits Band comes from our last name, Sledge. Grits is a acronym for Girls Raised in the Sun, since we were raised in Florida. We also hope that our band is warm and inviting like a bowl of Grits.

AMR.com: How would you describe your music?

TSGB: There was no genre that described our band, so we had to come up with our own. Our band's genre is Funky Blues-Infused Rock and Soul. There is no one else like us. We're one of a kind.

AMR.com: Who were your musical influences growing up?

TSGB: We always have had all different types of music around our house, from rock and roll to zydeco, so we have had many types of influences growing up. It is fun to hear too, because it all comes out in our music.

AMR.com: Which do you like better? The preparation before the performance or the performance its self?

Keiko: I most definitely love the performance itself! I love the thrill of being onstage, and seeing our hard work pay off. I enjoy hearing the excited claps, and cheers, the lights, and the stage.
Mimi: I like when the show is happening because I like the feeling of being on stage and people clapping for me.
Bo-Pah: I like the performance, I like to be on stage with my sisters and making music. Kariel: I like the show. Its so exhilarating to see people clapping for us and to see people enjoying our music. It is so rewarding to se all of our hard work pay off on stage. I love to see the lights, the people, and hear their cheers!

AMR.com: You girls performed earlier this year on the CBS Early Show’s Singing Family Face Off. How much fun was it and what did you learn from that experience?

Keiko: New York was a great, great, GREAT, experience! It was similar to walking into seeing an ocean after you have never been to the beach before!!! It was neat to see all of the tall buildings, and to walk around Central Park. It was very different, and everyone was walking and talking so fast, as if someone had a purpose. I learned that you should stress less, and enjoy yourself more. The more you don't worry about it, and just trust in the fact that you are prepared, the more time you will have to take in all of the wonderful things in life.
Kariel: New York was so amazingly fantastic and fun! It was such a great experience. I learned that things don't always turn out the way you think they will and that and you need to roll with the punches.
Mimi: It was awesomely fun! I learned that New York is very busy and that if you keep on trying, you can learn a song in a week.
Bo-Pah: I liked the experience. I learned that it takes a whole day to get to New York. I also learned that you should practice a lot because you don't know when your going to be on TV!

AMR.com: Are there any future plans for performing around the country?

TSGB: We should be going back to New York hopefully this summer if everything works out, and I think Mommy and Daddy are working on bringing us back to L.A. and hopefully going to Seattle and Connecticut. But our Daddy says that if people don't press our Demand on our MySpace and tell us where to book, then they'll have to choose random cities.

AMR.com: When you’re not doing music, what other activities are you involved in?

Keiko: I am Vice Chairperson for the Salinas Youth Commission. I am learning how to speak French. I enjoy playing with my dog Kohana, riding my pink Ripstik, drawing and writing stories. And, I know that it has to do with music, but instead of playing guitar, I also sing in the Blues in the School's Honor's Band. We are performing on the big stage at the Monterey Bay Blues Festival this year. That will be so much fun!
Kariel: When I am not playing in my band I like to draw and write stories. I also enjoy riding my Ripstik Caster Board. I like being with my sisters and my dog. But mostly I love reading! I can read anything from Little Women to Harry Potter (Harry Potter is the best book ever!!!)
Mimi: I like to play with my pet guinea pig and my friend "Penny" the horse. I also like eating ice cream, mango ice cream in particular!
Bo-Pah: When I'm not playing music, I like to play with my sister Mimi-she's really fun! I like to pet our two dogs Yuki and Kohana when their not being grumpy.

AMR.com: Individually, if you had your choice of one person or group to perform with who would it be and why?

Keiko: If I could play with one person or group, I would go back in time and play guitar with Stevie Ray Vaughn. I love his guitar skills and his energy.
Kariel: If I could play with anybody I would probably play with Rana Ross from Vixen. It would be so fun and maybe she could teach me some things. I love her energy and skills and she's my fav. bassist and is in one of my fav. bands.
Mimi: I would perform with Diana Ross or Whitney Houston.
Bo-Pah: I would play with Jimi Hendrix (the experience).

AMR.com: Now as a group, if you had your choice of one person or group who would it be and why?

Keiko: We would love to play with Lynyrd Skynyrd, because they are from Orange Park, FL. (like us!!!) and we love their music!!!
Kariel: I would play with Heart. Heart is so awesome. I love their music and it would be so cool!!!!!!
Mimi: Mariah Carey.
Bo-Pah: I would like to play with B.B. King's band.

AMR.com: Who are you listening to now?

Keiko: I listen to everything! I love Stevie Ray Vaughns Little Wing, Taylor Swift's Teardrops on my Guitar, Lynard Skynard's Sweet Home Alabama, AC/DC's Back in Black, That's How you Know from the Enchanted movie... Like I said I just love music!!!!
Kariel: We love listening to a wide variety of music. Vixen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, SRV, Taylor Swift, Blondie, Leona Lewis and Taste of Honey are some of our fav. artists. From R&B to Zydeco, to Rock to Blues we listen to it all!
Mimi: I listen to Christina Aguilera, Aretha Franklin, Alicia keys, Mahalia Jackson and Clifton Chenier.
Bo-Pah: I like to watch The Raggedy Ruff's with Mimi.

AMR.com: Do you have any advice for those your age who want to get into a music career?

Keiko: The most important things are practice, practice, PRACTICE!!!! You have to stick with it for sure!!! Get yourself out there, take every single opportunity, and show your energy, and love for your music every time you play!! It is very much worth it.
Kariel: My advice to any one who wants to get into music is make sure you love what your doing. You music will come out better if you enjoy it and are doing it for yourself and not for anyone else. Once you get started after that all you need to do is Practice and you'll be on your way.
Mimi: Practice hard and success will come your way.
Bo-Pah: Practice hard and keep focus with what your doing!

AMR.com: For your new fans, where can they find you?

TSGB: Keiko and Kariel will be performing individually at the 2009 Monterey Bay Blues Festival and we will be performing as a band on a Monterey County Library tour this summer, that will be fun! Please subscribe to our schedule at our my Space at www.myspace.com/sledgegrits, That will keep you updated for when we will be coming to your area and please subscribe to our YouTube at www.youtube.com/bluewendybear We keep that updated, too! Our official site has a schedule on it, Gritsworld.com, so we are very accessible!