Fans will enjoy the music of Tortoise and Hair, a husband and wife team. Adrienne and Dustin Cottrell the creative husband and wife musical team of Tortoise and Hair are the perfect compliment to each other’s musical styles. The two artists have been making music for over 10 years and they have gained many followers throughout the Southeast. Both Adrienne and Dustin are classically trained musicians where they received their training from Florida State University. But, it is their mastery of the Singer/Songwriter genre that makes them the perfect group that we at Junior’s Cave feel why Tortoise & Hair are simply awesome. Read this spotlight to learn more about Tortoise & Hair.
Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?
Adrienne and Dustin: Nowadays indie musicians are entitled to dream big. Some of our favorite artists have reached huge audiences doing everything on their own. If they can do it, why can’t we?
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have build up over the years about you in the process?
Dustin & Adrienne: Who are we kidding? Of course we’d consider signing with a reputable label. The freedom and independence of being and indie artist is a tremendous blessing, but the exposure and funding of a record deal would open doors that are much harder to reach independently. We just have to resolve to be true to ourselves no matter what opportunities arise.
Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?
Dustin & Adrienne: Our most striking feature may be the interplay between us. We’re definitely two distinct artists. Throughout the course of a performance the audience will see the each musical personality featured, but also combined and melded into each other in a mutually amplifying way.
Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to Dustin Cottrell?
Dustin and Adrienne: Into every song goes many hours of thoughtful crafting of lyrics and music. These songs are made to be listened to. If you want to put them on in the background while you clean your house, that’s fine. However, should you choose to listen thoroughly and contemplate, we think you won’t be disappointed.
Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.
Adrienne & Dustin: We both have diverse musical backgrounds, but we began performing together at our church at a young age. At least twice a week, we shared the stage in the praise band. Later, we began doing our own project and have recently been pursuing it full force.
Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?
Dustin: I relate very strongly to Leonard Cohen. I admire his freedom, his austerity, his sincerity, and lack pretension.
Adrienne: I am a long-time admirer of Joni Mitchell’s music. She has poetic, yet relatable lyrics that she couples with soaring melodies.
Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?
Adrienne &Dustin: The opportunities and avenues for indie musicians are ever growing, so it’s an exciting time to be doing this. Unfortunately, the number people and schemes out to take advantage of the aspirations of indie musicians is exploding as well. They’ll promise the world to you; you just have to give them an up-front fee.
Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?
Adrienne & Dustin: Less stardom and more widespread opportunities. That equates to more regard for and higher standards for local musicians. We don’t need musical gods and heroes pumped into our heads from the big corporations thousands of miles away. We need to cultivate the craft of music to a high standard in every community, and fully appreciate the artistry in those communities.
Isaac: Do you think in the near future that DIY artists/bands will be the norm and big record companies will be very limited?
Adrienne & Dustin: That certainly looks to be the trend. Who knows what the future looks like, though?
Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?
Adrienne & Dustin: People who get our music get it deeply, and feel it deeply. We believe we have valuable life commentary to offer through our lyrics, partly because so often people approach us to say how touched they were by a particular line. People are letting us know that they’re thankful that we’re saying the things we’re saying.
Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.
Adrienne & Dustin: Songwriting is both therapeutic and sanctifying. We heal ourselves through creative self-exploration. We come to know ourselves better. We come to know each other better. We’ll always write songs because it has proven to be such a healthy and edifying activity.
Isaac: How do you handle negative feedback or negative energy about your music?
Adrienne & Dustin: Constructive feedback is invaluable, especially from people who truly appreciate our music. On the other hand, if someone simply isn’t into our music, that’s fine. There are billions of people on this planet… more than enough for us to carve out our audience niche.
Isaac: What role do your family and friends play in the equation of your pursuant of a music career?
Adrienne and Dustin: They’ve been so good to us. They’ve served as our cheerleaders, marketers, PR agents, and more. We hope to someday have enough success to buy everyone in our families a yacht and fill it up with candy.
Isaac: What is the best site/s that you can be found on the Internet?
