Chere’ Pepper pronounced Sure eee Interview by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Lamitschka: Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?
Answer: Country, Easy listening, Fresh, Original, Positive with a message that speaks to us all, Encouraging and uplifting, songs of life and love.
Lamitschka: How was the last year for you? What were your highlights?
Answer: The past 6 years have been very good, putting out 5 New projects and sharing them with great response. I have done many shows, but my favorite was a show in Nashville with a full band and many other artists. The Host was the fabulous Jennifer Herron, very
popular in the Nashville area and beyond.
Lamitschka: What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?
Answer: “Drive” It is doing very well, especially with the release of the video
Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD? Is there a story behind the name?
Answer: “I had a dream of the chorus of the song, I woke quickly and wrote captured it on my digital recorder, I finished the song later that week. Very prolific song about life and enjoying you Love. It is a very energetic song.
Lamitschka: Do you write the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding the songs for your CD?
Answer: Yes, I write very quickly, music and lyric come at the same time.
Lamitschka: Please tell us about the songs on your album (influences, etc).
Answer: The Songs are very prolifically written about Life and Love and enjoyment of Life. Encouraging, uplifting and about everyday things we go through in life, appealing to all ages and crossing many genres.
Lamitschka: What is the difference between your last CD and your current one?
Answer: My last release is “Drive”. I would call it more country, but crossing over to easy listening on many songs. The songs are encouraging, more about life, legacy, how we effect others. and the prior CD “Jesus and my Gun” is more Country, I would saw bordering between Traditional country and country pop. Songs on this CD are also about life and love but more story telling, more about daily life of things we all go through.
Lamitschka: Your current single is being played by radio. What do you feel is special about this song that makes people want to hear it?
Answer: Yes, “Drive” as well as “Cowboy Boots” is being played world wide. I actually have not pushed Drive as much as Cowboy Boots but I have many other singles out there as well that are doing well, especially in Europe.
Lamitschka: What will your next single be?
Answer: Im not really sure but I have been working on a traditional Pop type love song CD with a song Id like to get out there called “Best for Us”. Its a song I wrote about past relationships that almost everyone can relate to. Im really exited about this song because
its a different style than my previous albums.
Lamitschka: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
Answer: Songs that effect and touch people. Songs that tell a story. Songs that bypass the conscience and go directly to the subconsciousness.
Lamitschka: What is your favorite song among all the songs you have recorded and what’s the story behind it?
Answer: I would say “Ill See You Again” a song I wrote for my mom. Its a country song on my Drive CD that I wrote for my mom who passed away over 20 years ago. Since we all have loved ones that we have lost, this song touches the most hearts. This is my highest selling
song when I perform it live.
Lamitschka:There’s a lot of work that goes into a number one hit. What did it take to make it in your case?
Answer: Well, I only have a number one on Indy charts, but I think what it takes is a song that tells a story and touches a broad range of people. “Cowboy Boots” is the song that seems to get out there without much effort.
Lamitschka: Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?
Answer: I have a song on my “Drive” CD called “Rebel Child”. After a gig I had a 10 year old girl come up to me and say she also is a songwriter. She was very confident and wanted to show me a song. She picked up my guitar and began to play. I started harmonizing with her and the song was pretty good. I call her my Rebel Child because she was bold enough to approach me, and wanted to show me. We all need to let the Rebel Child deep inside of us rise, and she certainly did. Its a great song about all of us and our desires in life.
Lamitschka: Who inspires you musically and how deep do your musical roots run?
Answer: Loretta Lynn taught me how to write a song. When I was 3 or 4, I would watch her on TV, I would listen to her on the radio, and at age 5 I had a guitar lesson and took the book home learning the rest of the book, I began to figure out her songs by ear, studied her style of writing, and “Jesus and My Gun” is a song written from her perspective. Also Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, and many rock artists influenced me. I am in the Motor City area.
Lamitschka: What do you think about today’s music scene versus its post and where do you see it going in the future?
Answer: Im not crazy about the current sound of Country. Its not really Country. Times change and long as I can work and people like my music and its touching people, thats what its all about.
Lamitschka: What do you think about today’s music industry?
Answer: Not crazy about where its going. Nashville has changed so much but I have many great friends in Nashville. Times change.
Lamitschka:Are you doing anything to take music beyond its current borders or are you happy where it is?
Answer: Yes, I have always been told that I dont fit inside any box, and that is what you supposedly have to do. Still, I go my own direction and be myself. I am happy that I am different. Some say I am “Uncatagorizable” and that they dont know if Im Country or Traditional
Pop or Easy Listening sometimes but as long as the stations play my music, and find a place for me, Im happy.
Lamitschka:What inspired you to become an artist?
Answer: I didnt really have a choice, from the age of 5 I knew this is what I was born to do. I sang in school, was in bands at a very young age, and just continued throughout the years. I am very blessed to do this full time and I have for the past 20 years.
Lamitschka: What drives you?
Answer: Faith is my ability and purpose. We all have a purpose in life, and when we find it, it is natural, it comes easy and its purpose is shown to others. Our purpose in life effects others in a positive way and this is one way to find your purpose, and my music tells stories and encourages others to find your purpose.
Lamitschka: What hopes and desires do you have?
Answer: I would like to have others record my songs and make a better living as a musician but I think that is something every songwriter hopes for. I have been very blessed to have over 200 songs recorded and I am just now beginning to push them. I have never really done that until now. I would also like to work more in 2019 and beyond, preferably in the warmer climates during the long winters in Michigan. Touring in Europe would be pretty awesome too.
Lamitschka:What can your fans expect to see when they see you in concert?
Answer: My heart. One thing that people take away from my concerts is that we all need to be who we are and that we need to be real. People now a days need to see what is real and they long for what is real. I encourage people to be real and live life to the fullest.
My concerts are energetic and moving, you will laugh and you will cry, But most of all you walk away different.
Lamitschka:Many music fans today get their information about artists online. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?
Answer: I do www.cherepepper.com I have a store, links to my youtube videos, samples of other songs, my bio, and links to my other social media. You can become a fan and receive a free download as well. You will be emailing me personally. I like to connect directly
with my fans.
Lamitschka:What message would you like to send your European fans?
Answer: That Im just an average person with a gift that I embrace and use for the purpose of others. If you put others first, there is something special that happens. I write to help people. We are all in this thing together. We all go through similar things, similar struggles and we all need encouragement.
ChristianLamitschka (Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de) for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
One Response
I have been a Fan of Chere now for about two years. While she was in Florida last year she came by the house! Imagine that, my house, and sand on Facebook live with my Wife and I sitting next to her on our couch. Little did we know that this would be the first and last time my Wife would see Chere. My wife passed away June 18, 2018. You want to know what kind of person Chere is? She got on Facebook and did a live with me and sang my Wife's favorite, Cowboy Boots, and my Favorite, "I'll see you again". Chere wrote that song when her Mother passed. Folks, Chere Pepper is as real and honest as they come. Loretta Lynn is her favorite Singer. I know Chere makes Loretta proud! I put the link here to her youtube channel so you can listen too! Thank you Christian Lamitschka for this wonderful interview so people will know Chere Pepper! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb3I34SBLt2gcOGwR0RDMBw