Music Now Exclusive: Cookie Cutter Girl: Girl Power Pop Superhero!
Published: December 21, 2007 4:10 AM EST
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior (Juniorscave.com)
Pop / Rock
Remember when the Spice Girls coined the phrase, “GIRL POWER”? And
with it, a new movement begun where GIRLS all around the world were
showing their POWER. This next artist certainly has enough of her own
GIRL POWER to crave a nice niche in the music industry.
She describes her music as: "GIRL POWER POP with a PUNCH!" I tend to
agree with her as she is popping and rocking to some of the coolest
lyrics and melodious tunes I have heard in a long time. I recently had
a chance to do an interview with Cookie Cutter Girl about her music
and everything else in between.
Isaac-Joseph: The moment I saw your EPK (Electronic Press Kit) on
Sonicbids I became a fan. I love your style and the way you are using
your GIRL POWER to bring us some of the coolest music around. Who came
up with the concept of Cookie Cutter Girl?
CCG POP SUPERHERO: Cookie Cutter Girl, Girl Power Pop Superhero, is often mistaken as a "Concept." In reality CCG is the "Inner Superhero" I discovered, and
I believe that everyone has one. She was born already named. As a
music promoter, I thought the name was too long to be memorable &
marketable, but felt dishonest changing the name my inner voice gave
CCG. Discovering Cookie Cutter Girl, Pop Superhero, as a strong,
feminine role model grew out of my own personal, life experiences. I
struggled through a pattern of abusive relationships. I feel my
personal success in rising above the negative feelings, and in
refusing to remain a victim, led me to discover CCG: the poster child
for Girl Power.
Isaac-Joseph: During these troubled times, every little girl needs a
super hero to look up too. What advice does Cookie Cutter Girl have
for younger girls?
CCG POP SUPERHERO: The theme behind “Cutter” is self-empowerment. Girls do NOT need to live their lives within the confines of the rules that school &
society has laid out for them. They can “break the mold” and be
whoever they want to be – professionally, personally, creatively, you
name it. Girls *can* learn to be a source of support for each other,
instead of competing with each other for boys, teams, and popularity.
While this is a decidedly feminist message, I am NOT by any means a
"man-hater." Men DO fill positive roles in my music and writing, and
are not portrayed as being evil in any stereotypical way. The message
is one of strength and power for women; it is NOT about men being bad
simply because they’re men. Men too can learn to be a desperately
needed source of support for their girlfriends, wives, daughters &
female co-workers.
Isaac-Joseph: You have been quite busy as of late with appearance,
interviews, and photo shoots. How are you able to manage the various
aspects of your professional life with your personal life?
CCG POP SUPERHERO: Personal Life... I'm supposed to have a personal life? Seriously, I DO believe that a happy, balanced life includes healthy levels of both
work and personal experiences. That said, This Pop Superhero feels
"on call" 24/7 and has not yet found that elusive balance. Being an
"Indie" or Independent musician, you are forced to do MANY JOBS:
songwriter, producer, publicist, press release writer, radio promoter,
concert promoter, tour manager, stage manager, webmaster, forum
moderator, BLOG writer, newsletter writer, fan email responder....
then there's the actual promotion of your music, including PHOTO
SHOOTS, INTERVIEWS & LIVE PERFORMANCES! (I'm exhausted just writing
about it... and YOU want me to have something left over to give to a
"personal life?" I *BETTER* be a POP SUPERHERO! *wink*
Isaac-Joseph: One of my favorite tracks entitled KARMA has an
acoustical tone to it. What was the inspiration behind this track?
CCG POP SUPERHERO: I believe in KARMA: all the energy you put out into your world, be it positive or negative, and WILL come back to you! I've been in Rolling
Stone, on MTV, FUSE TV, NHK TV in Japan and dozens more, all without
submitting to be reviewed or interviewed in ANY of them. I believe
that is because I work everyday to share my successes with my fellow
Indie musicians, so that they may benefit from the contacts that I
have worked so hard to make. I do this by adding weekly to the FREE
MUSIC DIRECTORY I've built in "PowerofPink.com."
Isaac-Joseph: Your Mission is described by you as: GIRL POWER ...
Strength Through Unity. Every person you link to adds strength to
*your* chain! Don't be a 'cookie cutter' girl. Break the Mold and be
the best *YOU*! *smile*. I love this mission; could you elaborate to
the readers of our magazine in more depth what you are conveying with
this mission statement:
CCG POP SUPERHERO: NONE of my difficult achievements makes me feel as good as when I actually connect with someone. My heart just soars every time an Indie
Musician sends me a thank you email for helping them in a music forum,
newsletter or via my Free Music Directory. Cookie Cutter Girl is a Pop
Superhero with a mission: to help *everyone* find their "Inner
Superhero" and change their world by "Strength Through Unity." We're
all a single link, with limited power, but ... united together; we are
an unstoppable force of GIRL POWER!
Isaac-Joseph: Thus far, what has been your favorite track that you
have enjoyed performing or making?
CCG POP SUPERHERO: The track I enjoy PERFORMING the most is "Get the Picture" off my CD "Cookie Cutter Girl." This energetic, GIrl Power anthem allowed me to
rise up from the ashes of my music partners, Bob Bachand's, untimely
death. I also wrote it on his guitar, which I aptly named "Phoenix."
The track from the same CD that I enjoyed writing the most was "I Feel
You," which is a 1 of 2 tribute songs on "Cookie Cutter Girl" that
intimately describe, in great detail, my personal struggle to carry on
in the wake of the biggest tragedy of my life. It took me years to
find the strength to write again. Yet, I will never forget that Bob
was the first person who believed in me as a songwriter, and the ONLY
reason I ever started to write at all.
Isaac-Joseph: I read in your EPK that the singles from your new CD,
"Cookie Cutter Girl" received airplay on OVER 500 TV & RADIO STATIONS!
How does this validate you as an artist in your opinion? How do you
feel that you are being perceived by the general population?
CCG POP SUPERHERO: I'd LOVE to say that I feel "validated," but the truth is that I never have been. The stations that embrace both my music & my mission are
mostly college radio, Internet podcasts and a few syndicated radio
shows. The low-budget independent stations play your songs a few
times, and then move on to other music. It breaks my heart that
"Payola" is still alive and kicking (the 50+ year old practice of
major labels paying off radio stations with money and expensive prizes
to play their artists' music). This means it takes 10's of 1,000s of
dollars for independent artists to receive regular, ample airplay on
major radio stations. THESE are the stations that play the same 12
songs in heavy rotation EVERY DAY until they convince their audience
to like it and, hopefully buy it.
Isaac-Joseph: Let’s talk about "More Than Sex". How is this CD
different than any of your previous ones? Have is it the same?
CCG POP SUPERHERO Due to my major stage accident on 10/1/06, This Pop SUperhero has been laying low, suffering through daily physical therapy & several
surgeries. I WILL survive and am planning to make a come-back as soon
as possible to release my "More Than Sex" CD. I MUST do this, if for
no other reason, than to practice what I preach and inspire my fans to
have faith in their own Inner Strength or Inner Superhero to empower
themselves to succeed in the face of adversity!
Isaac-Joseph: If you were not making music, is there anything else
that you would want to do? If so, what would it be and why?
CCG POP SUPERHERO: In addition to my music website, COokieCutterGIrl.com, I also started to other businesses: PowerofPink.com & VelvetChokers.com. "Power of Pink" is my Internet promotion company. I could not afford to hire a music
promoter, so I forced myself to learn how to be one. The first, and
most difficult, step is just believing in your elf! "Velvet Chokers"
is my custom, designer jewelry website. I use the profits from
VelvetChokers.com to pay for recording and promoting CCG POP
SUPERHERO. I truly enjoy designing new jewelry pieces and hand make
each and every one MYSELF! There is even a section of the site where
visitors can design there own "Wearable Works of Art" and I will
simply construct it for them. You can't buy a more personal gift than
that!
Isaac-Joseph: What do you feel has been the one aspect of making music
that has been the most rewarding for you?
CCG POP SUPERHERO: Being an unpaid Pop Superhero, I live on a VERY LOW BUDGET. The most rewarding aspect of making music is that music has given me a way to be poor, and yet still charitable! I have donated songs to 30+ CDs,
most of them for charity, and none of them for profit of any kind on
my behalf. My music has provided me with a valuable commodity to
donate to charities so they can raise money to help change our world
for the better. THANK GOD FOR MUSIC... AND MY MUSE!
Isaac-Joseph: How important have your family and friends been while
you are pursing your musical dreams? (Please Elaborate)
CCG POP SUPERHERO: My father is was also a professional musician, who was always there to be my readily available pianist, accompanying me in impromptu
rehearsals before grade school performances. Days of singing with my
Father by my side have remained some of my happiest memories. He was
also the dedicated Dad that drove me to vocal lessons, sitting in the
cold driveway for up to an hour while I was still learning.
Both my Mother & Father also attended every grade school performance
with the dedication ONLY a parent could have.... if you've EVER been
subjected to some of these shows, you know what I mean. God bless
music teachers everywhere for being able to tolerate our off-key
singing and out of control antics!
Isaac-Joseph: Final thoughts that you would like to share with
Junior’s Cave Music Now:
CCG POP SUPERHERO: Julian: INDIE MUSICIANS: Stay Hungry and Support each other! There is SO much competition out there. YOU have to want to succeed more.
YOU have to work harder. I do NOT compete against others, only
against myself. I want to do a better job than *I* did yesterday!
Find strength in uniting and supporting your fellow artists. Don't
fear or oppress them as "competition." I truly DO believe in the
concept of Karma: everything you do for others WILL come back to be
done for you. LIVE POSITIVE & DON'T BE A 'COOKIE CUTTER GIRL'...
BREAK THE MOLD!
