Exclusive Interview by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt

¨I have had the privilege & pleasure of writing, producing several songs for arguably one of the most iconic vocal talents of our generation, Miss Celine Dion.

Marie – Christine coincidentally hails from the same birthplace city, Montreal, Quebec. She is a world class soul singer of the highest pedigree which hopefully, in the near future, music listeners across the world will soon discover.”– Corey Hart

Recently, I interviewed Corey Hart for NewzBreaker, a very successful singer and songwriter in his own regard, who turned me onto one of the artists on his record label Siena, named “Marie – Christine.”

Hart, wrote songs for Christine and was also the Executive Producer of her CD “Walk In Beauty”. Right out of the speakers boomed “Girl in Shades,” the first song, with a catchy beat and a rework of some of the words from Hart’s smash 1980’s hit, “I Wear My Sunglasses at Night.” Totally Random, the first released single from the CD is an infectious vocal with a great background sound. A very well  done music video was created to promote it. “Port Au Prince” is another track that is bound to move up the charts when listeners hear it.

Christine covers Prince’s “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and Squeeze’s “Tempted” with a different feel and as I told her, I think she did both great justice!

America take notice, Marie – Christine is on the music scene….

NB: Let’s catch the NewzBreaker readers up on what you are doing today.

I’m actually preparing for my first trip to Haiti, where my parents were born. I’ve wanted to go for a long time and, this year, this trip is my birthday gift to myself. I anticipate this will change my life and will be very emotional. I still have family there, some of them I have never met. This trip has been haunting me for years now and it’s time I make this dream a reality.

NB: I became aware of your music through Corey Hart. He sent me a copy of your CD “Walk In Beauty.” I was very impressed with the songs Totally Random, Girl In Shades and Port Au Prince along with your covers of I Wanna Be Your Lover (Prince) and Tempted (Squeeze). The last two are not standards so to say, but very associated with the original artists who performed them. I thought on both, you brought your own vocal style and the arrangement was very well done which gave it a fresh new vibe. In going into the studio to record your cover of those songs, what were you personally looking for in the final product?

If you’re going to do a cover, you might as well put your own spice into it, otherwise I wouldn’t touch it. I would just listen to the original. But it’s tricky because I truly believe that you have to respect the original artist and songwriters while at the same time, staying true to yourself and your artistic taste. I think we managed to accomplish that.

NB: What was the experience of having Corey Hart as the Executive Producer of your CD and also, providing songs that he had written for you to record?

I’m really happy that I have Corey in my corner. Because of his extensive experience on songwriting, recording and touring, he was able to give me great advice and cool stories in the process and I did the same with my touring stories. That’s how we became friends! With the songs that he wrote for me, I made them my own and it became a nice collaboration and mixture of our musical worlds. Port-Au-Prince is a great example of that.

NB: Your video for Totally Random was very well done… I thought you came across like you had previous acting experience. Is this a good assumption?

I had no acting experience at all. Although I’m a clown when hanging with my friends and I often fantasize about appearing on SNL for a sketch. Who knows? Maybe one day!

NB: If you could do a duet with any singer living or deceased, who would you pick and why?

Part of that dream has already come true with Stevie Wonder being on my album! Still can’t really believe it… Now the next dream is performing with him on stage! That would just blow my mind! I’ve been a fan of Stevie’s for over 20 years now and I will be till the day I die. His music never gets old, it stands the test of time. I feel the same way about Motown music in general.

NB: What are your words of wisdom to the young man or woman trying to break into the music industry for the very first time?

Love yourself, know yourself, respect yourself and trust yourself. With that, no one will put you down and guide you in the wrong direction. Also, I would say listen to a lot of different kinds of music. I find it’s good to know what’s out there and to open your mind to it.

NB: What is one thing you can share with the NB readers that has never been heard before?

Good question… I’ve never really mentioned that I’m a foodie!! I take great pleasure in a good meal and the other side of that is also true, I get cranky when I’m hungry or if I’ve had bad food… I also love to cook!

NB: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one CD and one movie, what would your choices be?

I’d bring Michael’s Jackson’s ‘Off the Wall’, his first solo album, my absolute favorite of his. And I’d bring ‘When Harry Met Sally’, such a classic romantic comedy, not to mention an amazing soundtrack with lots of songs by Harry Connick, JR. and other amazing talents like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong etc..

NB: What is the one question to date, you have never been asked, but wish that you were?

What it is that you love the most about being a singer, songwriter?

NB: MC, you have the floor….

When I’m performing on stage, I love to connect with the public in any way I can. With my voice, my body language, the words of a song or just by what I’m saying in between songs. When I see that someone relates to something in my show or feels emotional or even feels the urge to get up and dance, that makes me the happiest singer in the world!

NB: Finally, do you have a saying you continue to live your life by?

“When there’s a will, there’s a way!”

You can visit Marie – Christine’s site here.

Interviewers note: (I would like to thank Corey Hart and Steve Waxman of Warner Brothers – Canada for coordinating this interview.)