"A Great Mix of Integrity and Authenticity."– Mindi Abair
"Every day seems like a vacation when you follow your passion." Mindi Abair is probably the best example to support this quote. She is a songwriter, radio host, podcaster, session artist, recording artist, singer, and, most importantly, a saxophonist. Coming from a musical background, she has always been driven toward music. "I started playing the piano at the age of five," she reveals. Describing her journey as a saxophonist, she said that she was never used to playing the saxophone until college but loved watching her father perform. The turning point in her life was when she attended a concert by David Sanborn.
Her passion and ambition for playing the saxophone could have been seen in her statements. "I feel that the saxophone is an extension of my voice; I can whisper and scream through this instrument," she stated with a spark in her eyes. When asked about her ability to manage so many fields and areas together, she gave special credit to the ANR person who motivated her to bring out a different personality within her. Mindi has been associated with Verve Records, a subsidiary of the Universal Music Group. She believes that it was quite fun working with them, but launching her album is something that she has always dreamt of. Her take on judging the music or a song to be good seemed unique and amazing. "It is the connection between the audience and the artist." "If the audience is connected and enjoys it, and a relationship has been formed, then the music is a success," she said. She looks up to Beth Hart and David Sanborn as her role models.
The energy and the zeal they put into their work are commendable. Her take on discovering the best interests of a person is to trust the music which sets inspiration for you. Supporting this argument she shared an anecdote from her college days where the music teachers used to put more emphasis on contemporary jazz rather than traditional music. But she always trusted her interests and chased the things which inspired her the most.
The conversation picked up the pace when asked about her album, "Forever." She dedicated the first track to her husband, who is a wine guy. She chuckled and said "starting track of wine and jazz as it seems to be quite relatable to our life" She seemed to be quite passionate about her newly launched album, "Forever." "I collaborated with my friends from college and some other people," she shared. Her taste in music seemed quite real and grounded when she mentioned that "I prefer writing songs related to life and beliefs."
In this tech-driven society where digital marketing is ruling the internet, Mindi seemed to be less influenced by technology and marketing tactics. The audience carries the ultimate power. "As artists, the major focus should be to make the music more and more inspiring, as it plays a key role irrespective of just promoting" she stated. Mindi has also been a trustee for a decade at the Recording Academy. When asked about the purpose and cause she was associated with, She shared that she was a part of laying and leading a path for women to become a part of the music industry and supporting young talents to learn the art of music.
She mentioned some anecdotes while touring as a session musician for Aerosmith. "It was just a once-in-a-lifetime experience; you want to be there and live it out." "It was so much fun and indeed an incredible experience." She shared. While mentioning her experiences with Steven Tyler, she said that he is a rock and roll star, so much fun, and filled with enthusiasm and energy. Steven pushes the artists to be an active part of the band, and she finds him to be quite an amazing human being.
Mindi has also contributed her talent to some of the movies. Her experience in movies has been similar to that of the original albums, except for the fact that a vibe and a feel have to be created to synchronise with the movie. In the final segment, the rapid-fire Mindi told me that a song that makes her cry is "I will always love you" written by Dolly Parton. When asked about her favourite cuisine, "Indian," she answered with great excitement. The concluding question, "What do you want to be remembered as?" Mindi’s answer showcased what an amazing human and soul she is. "I would like to be remembered as someone who left the world a better place than I found it, and I feel that we all can do it in different ways; my form is music." I hope that I will be remembered as someone who is loving, caring, and respectful. "I believe that through music I can uplift people’s lives and make them a little better." She responded quite gracefully.