Dear Toni,

As an international Pop artist, I have sung all over the world in many countries and been on various labels.  Some years ago, I started two companies, Telegraph Hill Company and Parnassus Productions.  My business partner (Al Roberts) and I then built a recording studio. Al has long been associated with Dimples' restaurant in Burbank. We decided that the only way to have it all was to own it all!  My new CD, on Yellow Brick Rose, will be called, Only In Hollywood. I've been on TV and radio all over the world, and also in Billboard magazine. Can you tell me if (you believe) there is a link between "bad culture" and public misperception of what is truly good? Rap and Hip-Hop and simplistic drum and bass Beats have dominated music far too long, encouraging the public to embrace yet lower standards.  But surely the public cannot believe this is good music.  I wonder: is this an example of the saying that "You can sell garbage if you paint it gold," and the public simply buys into what is served them by a compliant press and record industry?   The difference about music today, I think, is that the artist has to take total control of career -- learn all aspects of the business, produce and own it all, hire people to help you (don't just sit around and wait to get discovered). It's time for really good music to come back again. 
 
Sincerely,
Anne Bartee

Dear Anne,

I sense a bit of frustration in your inability to control the music industry. Of course the public is influenced by whatever style of music is popular at the time. I really do not think that we can call one aspect of music garbage, irrelevant or a fraudulent sell. Music is a window and road into one’s soul and a musician is the only human in this world that can be called a demigod. A musician has the ability to take a person from any country or culture, play them their music, and that music will communicate and emotionally move the audience without even using words. Each person will have his or her own experiences and feelings from the music. I think it is dangerous for an artist to categorize themselves- not that you are. Instead of thinking, “how is this album is going to sell”, the artist should only be interested in creating the music from their soul- basically don’t think of the end result- just enjoy the process. It appears to me you are going in the right direction and I think it is great you have total control over the type of music you are doing. I look forward to hearing your CD.

Thank you for taking the time to write.
Toni Attell

Toni Attell is a hypnotherapist and acting coach. For people interested in her acting classes please call (818) 787-8685. For hypnotherapy go to www.hypnosis4you.net.