ATHAN : The conflict between art and commerce is a fight I have each and every day in my position at Cleopatra as A&R boob. I have been mistaken about alot of things in my career as an artist, but one thing I was right about was learning the business of music. When I was eighteen and performing in my first original band, I began carrying a briefcase. Many of my peers laughed at me for doing so, but I knew it was important. The case contained addresses for radio stations, contacts, zines, demo's and my lyrics. When I wasn't working on lyrics, I was doing all of my own management, publicity, etc. Grass roots style! The way I saw it then and now is that nobody is doing it for me so I have to do it for myself, so I learned all that I could about the biz. So in a contemporary sense, I am merely doing for others what I have always done for myself. As both artist and record company guy I see it all! From where I am I see the repulsive side of record companies, the money, words like units, product, soundscan, demographic, etc. Some of these things make my skin crawl! I like to think I am somehow making it slightly better by taking the approach that I am. As corny as it sounds, I try to give back. I try to remember what it was like having only a demo and what it was like to hear sheer arrogance on the other end of the phone from labels I called all of those years ago. I try and spread the wealth a little, put bands on comps that have worked hard but have not been on a cd before. I compile many of the collections and such for Cleopatra, so I do have the opportunity to work with new acts and fit them in. Maybe I do it because it was rarely or never done for me and I like to think that it should be that way. Who knows? On the other hand I also get a real close look at the equally repulsive side of artists. The ego's, self rightiousness attitude, the demands, the naivete, the pretentiousness and the overall attitude that they are owed something! Many of them in my opinion simply need to get a day job and get in touch with reality. Working at a label truly puts you in touch with reality, even if it is at times a negative reality. Although I have tons of releases as an artist it would never create enough of an income to substantiate my existence. Barring any tours I have worked a fifty hour a week day job since I was seventeen, I wouldn't know how to do this any other way. I never intended to be a record company guy and all of the cliche's that it has, it just worked out that way. I must say aside from working with alot of the Gothic, Industrial and Experimental music here at Cleopatra, I really found my calling working on vintage titles. I take it very seriously and thoroughly enjoy the research. I had alot of fun with the Marilyn Monroe title we did on Stardust Records. I have always loved music from the 1920s to 1950s, it is where my true love is. Next is Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday, which are two of my all time faves.

JARBOE: Tell me about your earliest memory of music and how or if this affected your decision to become a musician.

ATHAN : Early on I was in glee club, sang in church, etc. But that was by age seven or so? I grew up in a Greek-American household, so I can vividly recall Greek Bouzouki music at weddings and parties. In fact, that is probably why my sense of timing is so fucked up! Greek music seems almost continuous without a rhythmic structure that can't compare to anything Western. Sort of like explaining Bebop! I remember the first piece of music I owned was 1969s "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" by BJ Thomas! Maybe this is a good time to tell you that I see myself as more of an entertainer than an artist, I do believe there is a difference. So the reactions I received at a young age from singing made me enjoy the stimulation of attention. I have a funny feeling it continues in many ways to today.

JARBOE: You have a beautiful voice and excellent pitch. Have you had formal training?

ATHAN : I did alot of musical theatre in high school and early on in college. As for actual lessons, I took two of them many years ago. I stopped because I just didn't like it! I learned more listening to records than I ever did in all of those aforementioned endeavors combined.

JARBOE: Is there a vocalist you appreciate that has inspired you in your own endeavors?

ATHAN : So many! Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Bowie, Billy Eckstine, Charles Brown, Ivie Anderson, Sam Cooke, Edith Piaf, Bryan Ferry, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Maria Callas, Jim Morrison, Russ Columbo, Lucienne Boyer, Arthur Brown and many more!

JARBOE: Bill Laswell once commented that I sing in an 'old fashioned way' since I use so much vibrato. I listened to a lot of Sarah Vaughan at one time. She was of course known for an amazing vibrato. With no conscious effort on my part, I began making vibrato a distinctive part of my singing style.

ATHAN : Yes, I have the vibrato thing and maybe one day I will learn how how to control it!