This month, local soul songstress, multi-instrumentalist and Swedish-born beauty Theresa Andersson is acting as our wise sage, dispensing advice to some of our weary readers. After 20 plus years as a professional musician in New Orleans, it’s probably safe to say she’s seen her share of weirdness and we expect that perspective to come in handy answering the oftentimes random questions thrown at us.
April will be a hectic one for Andersson, who plays Monday, April 9th at the newly renovated Joy Theatre; Sunday, April 15th at French Quarter Fest; Wednesday, April 18th at Lafayette Square (Wednesday on the Square concert series); Friday, April 27th at Cafe Istanbul; Friday, May 4th at Jazzfest and Saturday, May 5th at Tipitina’s Downtown. And all that just a few weeks before launching a U.S. Tour in support of her new album Street Parade (dropping April 24th on Basin Street Records). We’re grateful she took the time to respond to our readers, so without further ado, let’s hear those grains of wisdom.
I’ve got a buddy who always seems stuck in the ‘good ole days’. You know, the kind of person who thinks everything was better ‘back when.’ It is a huge bummer to hang with him after a while, when talk inevitably turns to how great everything was and how crappy it is now. How do you get somebody to appreciate the present, or at least shut up about how awesome things ‘used to be’?
I know, I totally have that same thing with a friend. Nothing seems to connect with the present. Even the clothes he wears are like from the ‘70s or something… fringe and stuff. And the music he listens to… I mean, who wants to listen to Zeppelin and Skynyrd Lynyrd or whatever when there’s cool new artists like Madonna and Radiohead? You know what I’m saying! And did you see the outfit Madonna had on for the Superbowl? Really awesome fashion piece. That’s what I’m talking about. I’m having one made.
I’m giving a presentation to a group of clients in a couple of weeks and I’m terrified. My boss assigned it to me and even though I begged to do something else, she insisted because it’s “my turn.” I’m not a public speaker AT ALL! I’ve heard all the tricks (picture everyone naked, etc.) but all that does is make me more nervous and unable to focus. Help! What can I do to get over this?
Easy breazy. Whatchu gotta do is this: (I promise this works every time!) Pretend to be someone else!!! For instance, you can be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz… you know in the scene in the end when she discovers she had the power all along. Your clients will be like the little green people. Now they might want some of what you had.
I was recently diagnosed with some heart issues and long story short: I have to give up coffee and caffeine in general. I think I’d rather die actually… but that sounds dramatic I know. Any tips on kicking the great brown bean of morning salvation?
Bummer. I highly recommend a naked 15 minute shake-it-all session with your favorite record (“Adam and the Ants” is awesome)… Hold on… that might not be good for your heart. Okay, I got it, try this: find a nice bright spot under an air conditioning vent. Sit cross legged (with your pants on) facing the sun and chant ohm 20 times without losing count! If you lose count, you have to start over…. It might also help to have some coffee-scented candles lit all around you and then you sort of inhale the air by sipping it in with short bursts. That might really do the trick. Oh, but then you might hyperventilate and that would be bad…
