Apr 4, 2008

Forbes parlays personality plus

By Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer

For a performer, having multiple personalities can be a good thing. China Forbes is the sensational, sophisticated vocalist of Pink Martini. In that persona, she displays versatility, delivering elegantly sultry performances on songs that mix vintage Hollywood, big band jazz and world music elements.

The recently released solo album "'78," introduces a different China Forbes - warm and winning pop singer-songwriter. The album's producer, Gregg Williams, has worked with Sheryl Crow and the appealing sound reflects that connection. However, Forbes establishes her own identity with convincing vocals, heartfelt lyrics and memorable melodies.

While making the record, Forbes didn't fret about the possibility of fans not making the leap with her. "That would have paralyzed me," she said. "I didn't feel scared until the album came out. Then I realized I'm putting myself out there. I'm not part of a band this time. I'm vulnerable.

"This is probably hard for a lot of people to accept, people who appreciate how Pink Martini is so not mainstream. My album is much more of a pop album."

But she's pleased with the completed creation and hopes it will excite longtime fans, as well as new ones. "Pink Martini fans probably like other genres, just like I like a variety of music."

She spent years developing the material, waiting for the right time to release it, in terms of Pink Martini's schedule.

"It's the kind of music I always saw myself doing," Forbes said. "Pink Martini was much more of a challenge. To write songs that could stand alongside amazing standards like 'Brazil' and 'Amato Mio' - that was a huge learning curve for me. So it was fun to go back to what comes more naturally."

Pink Martini aficionados will spot one familiar tune - "Hey Eugene" - but it sports a different, unvarnished personality here.

The songs are personal, providing Forbes with catharsis. "Writing has always been that for me," she said. "I'm most inspired to write if I'm dealing with something that's heartbreaking or really emotional - a big fight, feeling super lonely or alienated or just trying to make sense of what's inside.

"In the moment, I'm not so great at articulating my feelings. Writing is the way I can deal with emotions."

Forbes didn't have preconceived notions about how the songs should sound on the album. "I've never been great at envisioning things," she said. "I make them and then I behold them. I sort of allow things to unfold."

Years with Pink Martini gave her a stronger sense of production. "Being in the midst of 12 musicians and hearing how everything comes together helped me learn about orchestration and arranging. Now I understand more about the process of producing records, how a drum part can change everything, how a bass part can ruin a song or make it amazing."

Forbes' performing skills are amazing. As a child in Cambridge, Mass., she and sister Maya (a screenwriter) put on shows in their apartment building's laundry room.

"I was always excited about the arts and being creative. I love drawing, painting, knitting, acting, singing, writing. I didn't love reading as much as writing something of my own."

The first album she bought was Donna Summer live. "It made me want to be a singer," Forbes said. "That's more of the diva style that I have with Pink Martini, with the amazing costumes."

When she picked up the guitar and began writing songs, Forbes found inspiration in Fleetwood Mac, the Beatles, Cat Stevens and Joan Armatrading.

While studying at Harvard, Forbes met pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale. A mutual interest in opera drew them together.

Forbes went to New York and performed in theater. "I didn't like that I had to be cast by someone and I could only do the work if I was a part of a big production," she said. "I wanted to be autonomous. I liked that, with music, I could write the songs and perform them whenever I wanted."

She was gigging with her own band when a call came from Lauderdale. He asked her to help him out by flying out to Portland, his home base, to fill in as vocalist for a Pink Martini show. This happened repeatedly over a few years, until Forbes officially joined the group.

"It wasn't really what I thought I wanted to do," Forbes said. "Then finally I started to actually like it. Thomas somehow found this genre, or created it, that tapped into a lot of talents that I have, like for languages, different styles of singing, being theatrical and playing different roles."

The group's popularity has grown over the past decade. "For an independent band, it's become quite big, but it still has a nice underground feeling."

No matter how big "'78" gets, Forbes won't leave the ever intoxicating Pink Martini. "The solo music feels like it's the real me. But it's actually just one part of me and Pink Martini is another side of me."

Forbes has others facets to reveal. She hopes to collaborate with her sister on a children's album and a musical film.

"I don't have a five-year plan. I take it one day at a time," she said.

"If you're too much of a planner, maybe you can't roll with whatever spontaneously comes your way. I'm able to be flexible and move in different directions that are potentially better than anything I could have envisioned."