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| 1996-04-00 | — | Michelle Picardo - Free Time Magazine |  | POE
"Hello. Hello. Are you out there?" Poe, the intriguing artist with the unusual moniker asks this question in her current radio single and the answer seems to be a resounding YES! There are many out there...digging Poe. As evidence, her debut release recently achieved gold status propelled by the success of such modern rock radio hits as "Trigger Happy Jack," "Angry Johnny" and the title track off her record quoted above, "Hello". Poe's tours have also been quite successful, both nationally and internationally, and her live shows right here in Rochester have given her a reputation as a must-see artist. And yet, however impressive all these stats are, there is something even more impressive about the person behind the music. That which is profoundly Poe.
Poe is a self-realized name that stuck with her after she paid homage to favorite author Edgar Allen Poe at a costume party when she was about 10. The name has remained the same and adds an air of cool mystery and originality to her persona. But Poe is not only adventurous in her namesake and music, but also in her life and beliefs. I recently spoke with Poe and got a more intimate glance into who she is.
As in her music, Poe is a dichotomy of tough and sweet in her being. She finds that strength comes from behaving this way: "cruel" or "kind" at different given moments. She also says that any "angry female" label ever laid on her, is although a bit of a limiting sterotype, is certainly not a wholly negative connotation. As Poe states, "Women shouldn't be afraid to be the bad guy when they're protecting something they believe in." Extending this ideal to all human kind, Poe explains of herself, "I've always been an optimistic person...giving people the benefit of the doubt...and there are moments where you get walked all over. If there's something that you love or believe in, there's a certain strength that's necessary and that's where the toughness comes in (in relationships, business, etc.)."
Poe identified with the freedom of male artists at a young age and found them somewhat easier to relate to than women. In regards to rock idols though, she says she often wondered, "Do I have a crush on this guy, or do I want to be him?" Later, there were more female musicians with strong attitudes that Poe cites as influential like Chrissie Hynde, Deborah Harry, Sinead O'Connor and even Madonna.
The levels that compose Poe are also what make her music interesting and different which is something fans certainly appreciate. In fact, Poe not only has fans, she has legions of "angry-psychos"! This internet-based fan club has been consistently growing and is quite massive already. Poe explains their origin. "These fans put together a web page of their own and as time went on, it evolved...then I would log on and chat with them and now I do all the time." Poe's fans have tremendous love and respect for her, and the feeling is certainly mutual. She explains, "As an artist, you have to realize who your friends are. Fans are people who are your friends...they're not trying to make a buck off you...they are the people you should be worshipping. They get who you are and are a great support system. My angry-psychos rule!"
Citing examples of the power of fans, especially her fan base, Poe tells, "They (the angry-psychos) made 1,000 T-shirts of me to sell outside the Grammys...also there was a station in LA that didn't play my music...they got 2,000 e-mails about the situation!" She actually received a call from her manager after this, wondering if she thought they may have to do something about the angry-psychos. Somehow I don't think Poe will or wants to do anything about tempering them.
Poe's computer knowledge not only shows in her involvement with the internet, but also in the recording process. She learned early on that in order to get the sound she desired in her songs, she would have to embrace the importance of production and all that this entails. Poe explains the need "to get the basics that you need to record your stuff and not to be intimidated by technology...it's easier to realize that anything goes (in achieving the sound you want)." Interestingly enough, there are virtually no female producers in the music industry today except for women artists who produce themselves. This is another avenue Poe may conquer in the near future of producing other artists.
The final topic of my conversation with Poe had to do with the reason for her return to Rochester. This is not just a usual show but instead benefits a very important cause, the Levar & Friends Fund which is designated for children infected or affected by HIV. Poe met Levar last time she was in town and says, "I fell in love with this little boy, Levar...and when his mom told me of his situation, I wanted to do anything I could to help." Levar's mom has made it a priority to help children with this plight and Poe calls her simply "extraordinary".
And that's where Poe's sweet depth rises to the surface, in her optimism for life, for her art and for humanity.
Editor's Note: Poe will perform Saturday, May 17th at the Lilac
Festival's
Highland Bowl.
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