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1.For the not so clued up person in regards to the world of Soulful House and Garage music or music in general could you tell us how you got started in this game?

"Well, I’ve been in music all my life. My mother had me involved in everything. Now I have been doing music full time for about five years. A good friend of mine had a life altering operation and told me “Don’t’ waste anymore time, Go after your dreams girl”.

1. Who or what had the greatest influence on what you listen to today?

"Aretha Franklin, Prince, Patty Labelle, Stevie Wonder and Anita Baker. But I really love all music that has feeling and has a meaning. If the song doesn’t make sense or have a meaning behind it I don’t usually get into it. Also the melody and the way the music itself is constructed has to be very moving."

1(a) Was through listen to your parents (Did they have an artists or performer that they constantly kept going on about that influenced you)

"Yes, mostly jazz they listened to the likes of- Louie Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Herb Albert, and many more great soulfull artists as these." 1(b) Was through listening at a early age to the Radio to a particular sound or artist.

"Yes it was."

1(c) Was through going to the church (being part of a choir?)

"No, actually I was in school choir all my life. I did not have access to a church choir."

1(d) Or was it by being forced to take musical lessons that influenced your choice?

"Well funny you should ask that because I did have many keyboard lessons at a early age that helped me to love music so much."

2. Who was your first musical hero? Was it Artists from the.. Soul area Hiphop scene, Rock/Heavy Metal scene, Motown, The Sound of Philadelphia or Stax Records artists Jazz artists. Or just any particular artist?

"Truthfully and don’t laugh my first hero was a crush I had on a teen idol and still do (hehe) “Donny Osmond”.

3. You are a vocalist? (*Or do you play an instrument/s as well?). What was the first club that you played that allow you to gain vital experience to that is invaluable now! Is it still there now; and have you gone back to sing there from time to time?

"Yes I am a vocalist. I can play the piano, I’m a little rusty and I have not played on my own songs. Maybe next album.

The first club I played at was called the “Cotton Club” in Cleveland(Usa). At that time I was the lead singer in a Hip Hop group and we were actually entered in a contest. We won the contest and came back several times to do other guest appearances."

4. Are you running your own label. Or are you singed up to a major at the moment? How long has it been running....

"No I don’t have my own label yet... I am in the process of shopping to Majors and Indie’s.

But, at the completion of my cd “When You Look At Me” which should be finished by summer’s end 2001. My management company and myself will be releasing it independently. You can purchase it online at www.bignoisenow.com/stuber.html. Plus we have a street team that will be selling it. So if you see us out there pick up a copy."

5. There seems to be a buzz around America again at the moment that likens it to the late 1980's and early 1990's craze for Garage music with regards to New Jersey,Usa; and the mid 1980's with Chicago, Usa with regards to Soulful House and Deep House music. Has this come about via accident or has this been building up for some time? What is the scene like around your area of the states.

"Cleveland (USA) is the major city around where I am. And Hip Hop and Rn'B are very dominate in this area. But everyone’s music taste changes from year to year. I notice the younger high school kids are now getting into Techno, Trance, Jungle type genre’s."

6. Vocalists are important in Soulful House and Garage music, as in any other music. Do you write you own lyrics as well? Is this something that comes easy to you? Do you write about real life instances? Or do you like to think of things that make you happy or sad and write from that prospective?

"Yes, I write my own lyrics. Sometimes collaborating with my manager or my son. I usually write about subjects that are in my mind as in telling a story and they end up being real experiences from my past."

7. Are you pretty much a solo artist? Or is there someone else that helps in the background. You not another Stevie Wonder are you?

"Yes, I am a “solo artist”. I am usually the only one singing on my tracks. I like to do all my own backgrounds."

8. Do you think that vocalists in today modern music set-up are given less respect, now that we have computers and other high tech musical equipment to make music. Or it a case that you get more respect. The human voice is still a highly prized thing. What are you thoughts behind these statements?

"Well this is my opinion. If a person likes you they talk nice of you and your genre. But, as with anything whether you’re an artist, an actor or a fellow worker. If an individual person does not like you then their not going to like what you do no matter how good you do it."

9. There seems to be a love for GARAGE and SOULFUL HOUSE MUSIC at the moment that resembles the early days of Hiphop within the USA. Labels are being sought after, the pirates are once again starting to move to move melodic, soulful approach to Soulful House and Garage music. Underground clubs via word of mouth are becoming " Sought after places to visit and be". Is the bubble going to burst soon though do you think? Can Garage and Deep House continue to grow in your area, and around the world do you think?

"No I don’t think the bubbles going to burst. As with all genre’s all music goes in and goes out."

10. San Fransico Soulful House and Garage music scene has surprised everybody? It has made the traditional within areas of House and Garage within America, such as Chicago, New York and New Jersey to know start booking some of their artists for the clubs. Is there Dj's/ Djproducers in your own state (Ohio), or clubs or record labels to make people come along and investigage Ohio, Usa?

"I’m not sure about labels but there are Dj’s and producers all over Cleveland looking to get out there."

11. Is there a Radio station that you all set your dial/s for with regards to hearing "Soulful House and Garage music" tunes of busting out all over the airwaves? Please tell us? Is there one in your area of the states. By the way, what is the state of play with regards to Dance music in America. Is it getting better?

"Yes there are a couple plus all the radio stations have a club mix night. But the clubs down in Cleveland in the Flats are just poppin with House music."

12.We in England, and in many places in Europe, are not given the long Dj sets that are experienced by many American DJ's such as Danny Tenglia, at places like the "Tunnel" in New York, etc, etc. Is this the case in San Francisco, Usa? Do your DJ'S ONLY GET 2 HOURS TO PLAY THEIR SETS?

"Well, most of the dj’s around town have regular gigs. So you always know where to find your favorite dj. Plus the local music magazines have information about dj’s and performers."

13. Internet Radio seems to be a success story. More and more people are setting these up because of lack of dance music over the airwaves being set aside for them. Are you a regular listener to any of the thousands upon thousands of Internet Radio stations that are now available for you.

"I really don’t have time to listen to internet radio. But I do like them when I do have the time because you don’t have to listen to radio that is in your area."

14.If the truth be known you are and out and out Soul vocalist!Is there someone, above all else that you would love to do a duet with?And why? Why that person?

"I would have to say Anita Baker! I think she is of superb quality as an artist and as a human being. She gets into your soul and stays there. She is an inspiration to me and is a big part of my feelings in my songs that I write and the feelings that I get when I sing my songs. I just adore her."

15. Who do you rate as one to look out for in the future (1.DJ Wise? - 2. Vocalist wise?) Who should we keep an eye out for! From your own country? DJ/ music artist/s producer, or vocalist, and from what you have heard or seen from abroad? DJ/ music artist/s producer or vocalist.

“Fat Boy Slim”, I think he’s gonna blow up the scene again. And “Jill Scott” she is new, fresh and has great soulful quality and stamina.And of coarse me.. “Laurie Stuber”. J"

15. Have you been aboard. Have you been to Europe yet? And if you have not Where would be the first place that you would like to visit?

"No I haven’t actually I can only wish. Paris France and England. I hear the people there are very sweet and friendly."

16.What are your views on sampling. Are you for it, or against it?Some vocalists hate it. As their voices have been used to make others rich, and them not getting a penny for it. What are you views on the sampling issue; especially when it comes to using people singing voices?

"I think sampling is ok because when a person hears your song and they recognize what you have sampled it’s a good feeling. But, if you’re going to sample and your song makes it because you’re sampling. Then I think then those artists and those musicians should be paid what they deserve."

17. Changing the subject again. Did you manage to go to this years Winter Music Conference - 2001, in Miami, Usa? If you did, was what you expected? It is the world largest Dance music conference. Did you get any good vibes there?

"No, I regret to say that me nor my management company was able to attend."

18. Ultra Nate, Shay Jones, Baraba Tucker, Jocelyn Brown and Mone are famous women vocalists within Soulful House Music and Garage music; and have big dance chart hits as well. Powerful voices as well as being subtle. Is this one way we could describle Laurie Stuble?

"Yes I think it is. As in “Powerful voice yet subtle” I have many diverse tones to my voice."

19. Out of all the styles that are available to sing which one gives you the most trouble...Soul, Jazz, Rock Vocalist..which. Or are you quite comfortable with them all.

"I am very comfortable with all genre’s."

20. America invented House and Garage music? Why then does as it appears from Europe, that Clubs and other establishments (From the Usa) seems to shy away from this music. Is it because of House involvement with Disco? Or is there another reason do you think?

"I think that some clubs steer away from it because of the Disco era. But here in Cleveland the clubs love House Music."

21. Have you got any advice for any aspiring Vocalist ,Record label producer, DJ or Club owner within the world of House and Garage. Any rules that he should adhere to!

"To give advice to anyone trying to succeed in any genre. "Just Love what you do"!"

This is copyrighted. If you would like to use this or any of the images please contact Mr.Carl Brown(Ipswich, England) and Laurie Stuber (Euclid, Ohio, USA) to do so.