Spinguy ~ I am not sure how to begin this interview. Partly because it is the first I have done in some time, and second because the topic of discussion is so extraordinary I truly don't know where to begin. One would think an explanation about you would be in order but to my thinking that would give it all away at the beginning, so then, lets go back to the beginning because even I don't know you all that well yet. As you might say "We've howdied but we ain't shook yet."

I understand your first celebrity came while holding a hymnal in church on Sunday? So how were you first discovered? Was everyone belting out "Nearer My God To Thee" when they all realized a tiny angel was singing among them over in the 4th row of pews? And this happened at what age by the way?

Ariel Abshire ~ Since my mom had me at such a young age, she pretty much still did whatever my grandparents told her to do, so we went to church every Sunday when I was little. I never listened to what the priest was saying, but I definitely sang the hymns out loud and proud. One of my first public performances was at a church picnic when I was seven. Oddly enough, I didn't sing anything religious, but Frankie Lymon's version of "Goody Goody".

Spinguy ~ Given that you could obviously sing from a very early age, it's my understanding many kids lose that ability after puberty happens when their voices change. In your case it obviously did not. Is your voice even better now than it was then, or has it somehow stayed about the same do you think?

Ariel Abshire ~ While I think I have more control now, my voice seems pretty much the same to me as it always has. Actually this made for a pretty funny sounding preschooler with a low, raspy voice.

Spinguy ~ The next stage in your life was when your family moved to Austin Texas when you were age 9. Was this a happy coincidence or was it in some way connected to get you nearer to a musically inspired location?

Ariel Abshire ~ This was a happy coincidence. My mom had gotten engaged to my stepdad, Lance, who lived here in Austin, and was a singer in a popular punk ska band, Gals Panic. It's pretty frequent that we run into people we knew from back home (the Port Arthur, TX area) who have moved to Austin to become musicians. I was just lucky, though.

Spinguy ~ I found a quote about you that said once in Austin you were soon "starring" in musicals. Starring in a musical at age 9? The singing I can see, but acting as well? Obviously you are not a shrinking violet. How did this come about and were you not afraid of public performances at such a young age? I am also curious if a family member was pushing you to do these things because they saw you had talent, or were you insufferable and you made them let you do it?

Ariel Abshire ~ When I was young, I would sing all the time. I mean, ALL the time. I was constantly looking for ways to sing in public. My aunt worked for a children's theatre company, and I joined up as soon as I moved to Austin. It was definitely something I wanted to do, though. My family has never pushed me to do anything I didn't want to involving music. It was me pushing them.

Spinguy ~ Another quote I read was that at age 11 you then "stumbled" upon a place called "The Natural Ear" music school. I assume you actually didn't trip over it, but what is it, how did you become involved with it and what sort of an impact did it have upon your singing?

Ariel Abshire ~Natural Ear Music is a music school where they group kids into bands and teach them to play instruments by teaching them classic rock songs. There's no sheet music or theory, and the teachers are local Austin musicians who do this as their day jobs. I was lucky enough to meet local Austin music legend Alvin Crow. He was really enthusiastic about my voice and invited me to start singing with him around town, mostly at the legendary Broken Spoke. He has had the most influence on me in my life as far as music goes.

Spinguy ~ I'm noticing a short locust cycle with you, as ever 2 years another major thing happens in your life it seems because at age 13 you decide to form your first band called the Flames with a girl named Fabi Reyna. What was the musical goal of that outfit, and is there any reason it ended other than just being so young?

Ariel Abshire ~ When I was thirteen, I was listening to the Runaways. A lot. I guess I'd thought we'd become huge rock stars like Lita Ford and Joan Jett. I think it ended because we were young, and some members of the band were quite unreliable. Plus, I was ready to start writing my own music instead of doing covers.

Spinguy ~ On top of this, somewhere around this time you found yourself doing background vocals for the soundtrack to the Sharkboy & Lavagirl movie. How did you land that gig?

Ariel Abshire ~ Actually, I sang the LEAD vocals for the theme song. I got this job because a friend of my dad's had been asked by the producer if he knew any young female singers. I was then asked to audition and they sent my audition to Robert Rodriguez and he picked me. This was my first time to really get paid as a singer. I even got to fly out to LA. It was my first plane ride!

Spinguy ~ Ok then, by this point I am sure you had been inundated for years with people telling you how "wonderful" your voice is and fawning over you and one look at any young celebrity shows how fatal that is because kids are simply not old enough and mentally strong enough to keep things in focus and it simply ruins them. You don't appear ruined or even slightly tainted. In fact you seem amazingly well grounded. (you don't think the sun come up just to hear you crow) I assume the backing of a strong family and Faith are responsible for this?

Ariel Abshire ~ I definitely have a strong family, and I think I'm also naturally very critical of myself. So, however many times anyone has told me that they think I'm talented, it goes in one ear and out the other. I have a lot of self-doubt.

Spinguy ~ Seld doubt is the great self leveller. You must have some guilty little indulgence however. What is it?

Ariel Abshire ~ Celebrity gossip on Perez Hilton, Heath Bar Coffee Crunch ice cream from Ben & Jerry's, Facebook, and laziness.

Spinguy ~ All right then, we make our next 2 year skip and you're in high school writing songs that would eventually comprise your debut album. When you're that young writing a song did you even think that far ahead? Am I correct you write the lyrics out first? Do you kind of hear the melody at the same time, or does that come later with the bands help?

Ariel Abshire ~ I honestly never ever thought I'd write an album. In fact, when I was writing songs at fifteen, I didn't plan to even show them to anyone. Actually, my writing process is more like, I start strumming a couple chords on guitar, humming a melody, and spewing my feelings. If I like it, I write it down.

Spinguy ~ I read that your influences led to a minimal type of instrumentation on your album. I often very much agree that less is more, especially if the less is done very well. You can do layerings of detail that multi instrumentation blurs. Are you happy about how the album turned out in this regard?

Ariel Abshire ~ Yeah, I'm very happy with it. I hope to continue this on the next album which I've already written the songs for.

Spinguy ~ So who are your bandmates for this album,and how did each of them fall into your orbit?

Ariel Abshire ~ Well, most of the instruments on the album were played by me and my producer, Andy Sharp (from the Austin band Kissinger). We also had some musicians help us out in the studio for a couple songs. Steve May played drums (from Gals Panic and Get Hip Records' The Ugly Beats). Dave Irish also played drums on a couple tracks. Allison Sharf, Andys wife, played clarinet on Unknown Encounter. Frank Alexander played the Rhodes on Nervous. Elizabeth Warren played violin on Everybody Does. My live band that I play with now consists of Andy Sharp on bass, Matt Herndon-Prine on keyboards, Rusty Zagst on drums (also from Kissinger), Alex Tomaino on lead guitar, and my boyfriend of a year, Aaron Miller, on rhythm guitar.

Spinguy ~ Now it's time for the big question. The first song of yours I heard was Exclamation Love, and when I found out you were 17 I said that's impossible. I don't even know where to begin asking questions.... First, if the song is based around some true relationship you had, I can say without fear of contradiction that this "boy" that unrequited your love is the biggest idiot in America, bar none. Any boy that had you pining for him and walked away instead has shit for brains, truly. (pardon my French)

Second, and almost more amazing is the emotional inflection in your voice on that song. I am sorry my dear, but a 17 year old is not supposed to be so world wise and weary. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if so the inflections in your voice are worth a thousand emotions. It is so right, so revealing, so intimate in that song one almost feels the information is too private. I have never heard anyone capture the range of anguish you did in that song even remotely close to what you did. It would have been all too easy to inflect at the wrong time or go over the top, and yet you don't. I suppose this isn't so much a question as me saying I can't believe you did it.

And I bet now you're going to tell me you cracked that out on the first take too?

Ariel Abshire ~ Funny story - that is actually the only song on my album I did in one take. A lot of men have remarked about how surprised they were that I was so young when I wrote this song because of the emotional content. It's strange because most women who have commented about it just say, "Oh yeah, I've been there." And as for the subject of the song, he's not THAT dumb. I guess he's just human.

Spinguy ~ He took a look at this....

...and decided he had better things to do?

I'll let the audience make their minds up about him.

As for the rest, to be fair the battle of the sexes is a two way street. Women may get together and say "Men!" but when men get together they don't even need to say anything - One look says it all...

What song are you most proud of so far?

Ariel Abshire ~ On the album, I'm most proud of Exclamation Love. Live, I'm proudest of Thin Skin.

Spinguy ~ For as good as the album is, I think there is room to grow if you progress correctly. Are you even thinking that far ahead or just letting life happen?

Ariel Abshire ~ I write songs as life happens. So, while I'm not exactly planning it out, I think I've got most of my second album written already.

Spinguy ~ Now you just graduated (or are about to). I vividly recall at that moment suddenly being hit by the sensation of that part of my life really being over forever and thinking "Good Lord, NOW what do I do?" Did that even happen to you, or are you already on your planned trajectory?

Ariel Abshire ~ I am on my planned trajectory, but it's a little different from most peoples'. It's frightening because I've decided to wait on college and to pursue this. Watching my friends make their college plans has been surreal and really scary. I've decided I want to go a different way, and I know 100% for sure that it's what I want. Growing up is just difficult.

Spinguy ~ Yes it is and it never gets any easier.

As I mentioned in the review I know you are far better than any of the people on American Idol. It isn't even close. Does the state of things and the general inequity bother you ever, or does it simply make you more determined? I think it's hilarious that people are arguing over which two of those idiots should have won when you can mop them floor up with both of them.

Ariel Abshire ~ It makes me determined to get what I'm after, and it's not the same thing that they're after. The last thing I want to do is dance in little group numbers or compromise my style so that I can have a number one hit.

Spinguy ~ Good for you. There is a decided country tinge to your music, albeit an older style tinger which I think is much better. I hate modern country music, but old stuff like Bob Wills or Woody Guthrie is more genuine and real. Is this an uncontrollable by product of who and where you are?

Ariel Abshire ~ Yes, it is. I never even think of myself as writing country songs, but they just come out that way. I think it's even more so on my next album. I guess the older you are, the more yourself you are.

Spinguy ~ I am heavily into swedish stuff, principly because I think their understanding of "pop" music is the most cohesive. Out of curiosity are you even familiar with any of this stuff? Club 8, Jens Lekman or say Montt Mardie?

Ariel Abshire ~ No, not at all but I'm always looking for new music, so I'll check it out.

Spinguy ~ To show how odd this interview is, I saw one of the bands listed as influences on your myspace page is the Smiths. You of course were not even born by the time they broke up, and I was older than you are now when I bought their first record.... That's incredibly depressing....I can however brag that I did see them live back in 1985, second row too. Are you jealous?

Ariel Abshire ~ Yes, ridiculously jealous. I could technically see Morrissey play sometime since he's still touring, but I'm more of a 'Louder Than Bombs' fan than 'Bona Drag'. Although, I think Morrissey and I would get along. We both like to wallow in self-pity and both love Morrissey.

Spinguy ~ That stage is passed for me. I absoulte hate him anymore, because I saw all the hypocritical and horrible things he's done over the years, things he said in the early days he could and would never do..... It would be for the best for him to fade away and radiate.

It seems I should ask a few general questions but I'm not sure what you ask people from Texas....... OK, I know.... are you a Colt, Remington, or Winchester gal?

Ariel Abshire ~ I know this is ironic being from Texas, but I just had to google what those things were.

Spinguy ~ Well then, have you ever shot a light bulb out of someone's hand while riding a wild percheron pony? (this isn't as odd as it may sound considering what you have already done that I know about)

Ariel Abshire ~ Yes.

Spinguy ~ Ok, do you prefer a steak, a burger or chili?

Ariel Abshire ~ STEAK. Well done. A1 sauce. I have to have a steak before every live performance. No joke.

Spinguy ~ Heavens, you and my daughter would get along like aces, until it came time to share the A1... I heard in Texas PETA means "people eating tasty animals" Forget any romance with Morrissey, he wouldn't tolerate a steak eater like you.

Do you like it mild, medium or hot?

Ariel Abshire ~ Hot. I'm a Cajun girl.

Spinguy ~ Coke or RC? (I won't offend you by even mentioning Pepsi)

Ariel Abshire ~ Well, in Texas, we call all sodas coke, as in, "What kind of coke do you want?" So, my favorite coke is cream soda.

Spinguy ~ Have you ever said "This ain't my first rodeo?"

Ariel Abshire ~ Well, this ain't...

Spinguy ~ I think that should do it. Thanks for your time, and for such a great album. I wish the best for you and I'll give what little advice I have: Stay humble, watch your money and "never eat supper before you say Grace" as they say and you'll have a long, full and happy life.

And I hope you do.

Ariel Abshire ~ Thanks so much for all the compliments and for your time and putting this interview together. It was fun.