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STAR OF THE MONTH: TÊTE-À-TÊTE WITH DONNA RAWLINS (Donatella)
Singer/songwriter Donna Rawlins musical career has spanned 30 years in various Rock/Pop bands that toured nationally, globally and also with the USO, beginning with poetry writing in her teens in her homeland, the foothills of the Appalachians. Donna's entire family received their musical gifts from their Appalachian / Welsh background. All are musicians and singers; her parents Esther (piano) and Harry Rawlins (singer) perform in Lancaster while sister Emily is a European opera singer, and sister Harriet staked her singing claim on Broadway in New York. Now a resident of Venice, California, Donna splits her time between singing and writing for the band she co-fronts with friend, Stacy Robin, Imaginary Friends as well as Rosemont Crossing a band based in the Midwest, while also working as a Voice Over artist in Los Angeles. Her velvety alto voice has been heard on many National TV and Radio ads. Donna's songs have been licensed several times to Films, TV Shows and Radio Commercials, including the series Dawsons Creek, Felicity and The Shield. In 2003, Donna released her first solo CD, Donatella: Under The Moon. She is also a Voice Over Actor represented by the William Morris Agency here in Los Angeles, so along with her singing and performing career. She also record voices for commercials, documentaries and cartoons. She has been the spokesperson for United Airlines, May Company, Sears Diehard Batteries, Rosetto Pasta and Tilex (to name a few) and was the character on the first season of .Hack//Sign on the Cartoon Network.
Q: What's one of the most beautiful sounds to your ears? Donna: A cat purring. Q: And the most beautiful sights to my eyes? Donna: Walking inside a forest. Q: If you had to go back in time is there anything you would like to change in your career? Donna: Yes. I would have come to Los Angeles earlier than I did by about ten years. Q: Is there a song written & sung by someone else you wish you wrote? Donna: Yes by Shawn Colvin. Q: How would you do it differently? Donna: Looking at my career in the bigger picture I made my decisions as best as I could. I don't think I can say I'd do it much differently. Q: What did you learn from the worst and the best experience of your career? Donna: Trust your instincts, always. Q: Do you think that wardrobe brings a positive role for stage performers? Donna: Yes. Q: Do you follow fashion? Donna: I follow fashion only in a general way. I am not fond of shopping because I have so many other things I would rather do. I prefer natural fabrics, blue jeans, bracelets and sexy shoes. Q: How do you feel when you see performers whom you think are less talented than you, yet, they made it big time? Donna: Good for them.
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Photo: CD cover of Donatella's "Under The Moon". Oceanic Records. Read the Review ________________________________________________________________________________ "Strangers attract me more than those I know..." Q: Is this your first CD? Donna: No, but it is my first SOLO CD. I have recorded two CDs with Imaginary Friends, worked on Drawing Down The Moon and just released a new CD with my band Rosemont Crossing along with a few others and records from rock bands in my past; Trial By Fire and the Donna Rawlins Band. Q: Do you write your own songs? Donna: Yes. I work best when I co-write with another musician though. I feel my strongest areas are lyric writing, finding catchy choruses and of course, singing. My favorite way to work is to have a musician give me an instrumental and then I listen to it over and over until the words and melodies from the music. Q: What's next on your agenda? Donna: I am currently working on my new Donatella CD primarily with producer Seth Hartman here in LA. I have a few songs I've written alone which I plan to include as well as two songs I am working on with husband/producer Robert Feist of RavensWork Studios. I am also working with Stacy Robin on a new Imaginary Friends release as well as the second CD with Rosemont Crossing. Q: Best two lines from a song you wrote: Donna: Daeya from Donatella UNDER THE MOON Don' t think anyone will understand Your need to run away from what you have Q: Who does your musical arrangements? Donna: In most cases for Donatella, the producer I'm working with. In Imaginary Friends it is usually Tom McCauley. In Rosemont Crossing it's the entire band. Q: What is your favorite musical instrument? Donna: I don't have a favorite, but I LOVE Mandolin and Fiddle. Q: What instrument dominates your melody? Donna: Acoustic Guitar. "With Donatella, I have people who like grooves and sex but are also deep thinkers..." Q: Usually, what is the first thing you do when you face the audience or appear on stage? Donna: Smile and find someone to connect with audience for the first time? Q: What attracts you most? Donna: Strangers attract me more than those I know. I think because it's someone new to bond with. Q: Tell me about your audience, those who come to see you perform. What kind of audience / following do you have? Donna: It depends on the band. With Donatella I have people who like grooves and sex but are also deep thinkers. With Imaginary Friends, it's a general mix. I think Imaginary Friends appeals to a broad audience and Rosemont Crossing appeals especially to baby boomers because of the three part harmony reminiscent of early Eagles. Q: Who is Donna? Donna: I am m still finding out but one thing I can confidently say is that I am interested in generating messages of love, kindness and tolerance because the world is in desperate need of that. Q: Is there anything you could not get in real life but you found it in your music? Donna: No, but there is something transcendental about music that's healing more than entertaining to me.
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