An Alum in the Real Music World
Pronsky '02 tackles the new york music scene

Post- Magazine, Providence, RI, March 9, 2006
By: Katherine Kinsey


Rebecca Pronsky '02 is a budding singer-songwriter living in New York, whose jazz-tinged folk music has been called "literate, passionate, and wry" by Time Out New York. Since her voice coach first coaxed her onstage at the age of eight, she's had two studio releases: the 2002 solo album Milestones, and the The Early Hours two years later. Like the impressive whistling intro to her "Oscar Song," Pronsky is carefree yet thoughtful while reminiscing about her musical history. Recently she talked to post- about her experiences as a musician at Brown, as well as the real-world highs and lows that come with launching a music career.

post-: What is your first memory of music?

Rebecca Pronsky: I don't know if this is my first, but starting when I was eight years old, I did some performances at the Bitter End, a club in New York. It was totally illegal and they snuck me in. But it was great because I got to see what it was like to be watched by a real audience.

P: What kind of music did you listen to when you were younger? Who were your influences?

RP: At first I listened to a lot of crap because I didn't know what else to listen to. But in high school my friends got cooler, and I started listening to artists like Joni Mitchell, who's one of my major influences. Her career path has really influenced me, in that she started out really folky, but realized she had broader talents, and she began to experiment with new styles like jazz. And definitely Patty Griffin and PJ Harvey-women who say what's on their mind, who are really direct. That's what I relate to.

P: What kind of music did you study at Brown?

RP: I actually started at Oberlin and transferred to Brown for sophomore year. I didn't want to be in the Conservatory at Oberlin because I didn't want to do classical music, and it turned out that they didn't really have a program for the type of music I wanted to do.

P: So music was a big consideration for your transfer to Brown?

RP: Yeah, definitely. I mean, it wasn't my only consideration, but it was a big one. I met this one Brown professor, Nancy Rosenberg. She taught voice and music theory and she was so cool. I thought, this woman really respects what I do, and I want to come here.

P: Any negatives about Brown in terms of music?

RP: I love Brown, don't get me wrong, but there were definitely a few negatives. At times I felt ignored by the department because I didn't write sonatas or play violin-there was definitely some snobbery and the chairman was not supportive of my projects. I think they really missed out on encouraging students who wanted to go in the direction of contemporary styles of music.

P: How did the students receive your music? Did you perform a lot?

RP: People were really into it, really supportive. I didn't play that seriously, just for fun mostly. I would do some shows at Café Zog on Wickenden St.-I kind of had a regular gig there for a while.

P: How was it leaving Brown and making the transition into the "real world?"

RP: It was really hard. I was very confused when I graduated. I hadn't really made the decision that music was the career I wanted to pursue, and I think it would've been easier if I had. I waitressed at Brickway for a while, which is where all Brown grads go to have a life crisis. I sat around on my ass, and eventually moved back in with my parents in New York, which was horrible. I worked a few office jobs for a while, but they depressed me to no end; I'm a creative person. Brown makes you feel like you can do anything and I didn't want to give that feeling up. So I figured out some alternative ways to make money, like tutoring, and still pursue my music career.

P: Can you tell me about this Songwriters' Exchange series you're organizing in Brooklyn?

RP: Even though I live in this huge city with all these talented people, I feel that musicians here are often isolated from each other. There's so much talent here, but no community and no feeling of support. I just wanted to bring amazing people together to perform music in a supportive space. So the first Wednesday of every month at this place Vox Pop in Brooklyn, I get a few terrific singer/songwriters together for a show.

P: So what are your plans for the future?

RP: I plan to release a new record, hopefully get a record deal with a small indie label, so I can get better distribution. I want to start touring more colleges. I'd love to make this the only thing I do; what I mean is that I'd like to support myself only on music. Sadly, that is a difficult thing to achieve right away. I don't need to make a million dollars, but I would like to be able to splurge on a new guitar once in a while. And of course I'd love to play Carnegie Hall.

Rebecca Pronsky will be returning to Brown to perform at the Sarah Doyle Women's Center on April 14th and in Providence on April 24th. For more information, visit her website at www.rebeccapronsky.com

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