SkiP HappEns Podcast
Skip Clark is a dynamic and captivating podcast host and radio personality who has left an indelible mark on the world of broadcasting. With a voice that can command attention and a personality that oozes charm, Skip has become a beloved figure in the world of entertainment. His passion for storytelling and his ability to connect with his audience shine through in every episode of his podcast and every moment on the airwaves.
Skip’s journey in radio began decades ago, and he has since evolved into a seasoned professional who effortlessly navigates the waves of the media industry. His deep knowledge of music, pop culture, and current events keeps his listeners engaged and coming back for more. Skip Clark's enthusiasm and authenticity make him a trusted voice in the world of podcasting and radio. His dedication to his craft and his commitment to providing quality content continue to make him a standout in the world of broadcasting.
SkiP HappEns Podcast
Ada Pasternak: From Classical Violinist to Nashville Songwriter - A Journey of Music and Identity
Join us as we dive into the extraordinary world of Ada Pasternak, the prodigious violinist turned singer-songwriter. Picture this: a young girl, uprooted from Moscow to the bustling streets of New York, guided by the melodious legacy of her classically trained parents. Ada’s candid recounting of her journey from being a reluctant violin player to earning a scholarship at Berklee College of Music is nothing short of inspiring. Her transition from classical to contemporary music, fueled by personal experiences like significant breakups, showcases how she has mastered the art of transforming life’s challenges into heartfelt compositions.
Venture with us into the vibrant music scene of Nashville, where Ada has found a new rhythm. The city, known for its rich musical tapestry, offers her an ideal backdrop to hone her craft, surrounded by influences as diverse as John Mayer and The Beatles. Ada opens up about the unique experiences of performing in intimate settings and how Nashville’s dynamic environment invigorates her songwriting process. Despite not gracing the legendary Broadway, her dedication to recording and connecting with fans through live performances and social media has made her a cherished figure in the community.
Finally, we explore Ada's reflections on identity and belonging. From the tranquil beaches of Fairfield to the bustling avenues of Nashville, she weaves a narrative of finding home in music. The episode touches on themes of healing and new beginnings, emphasizing Ada’s passion for music therapy and her car-free lifestyle. Through heartfelt anecdotes and aspirations of future collaborations with artists like Jacob Collier, Ada invites us into her world of artistic possibilities, providing a soundtrack that resonates deeply with listeners and encouraging us all to embrace our journeys with confidence and self-assurance.
Thanks for listening! Follow us at youtube.com/c/skiphappens
we're live. Hi, everybody, and welcome to another edition of skip happens. Hopefully everybody's having a well, a good night. This is being recorded in the evening, so I could say that, but I don't know when you're going to be viewing it. But we are live on facebook, we are live on youtube and we welcome everybody with me tonight. I am so very, very excited about this guest Singer, songwriter, violinist, ada Pesternak.
Speaker 1:Ada, they said it rhymes with Prada, so I got to make sure you, ada, and they said you got to get it right Now, you were born in Moscow. You moved here to America. You were like six. You've won several competitions as a soloist, pretty excited about that. You attended this is huge on a scholarship, a presidential scholarship. You went to Berkeley and that's pretty exciting. Then, of course, after graduation from college, you went to New York City. You performed your original music in various venues around New York. Then you ought to. Apparently you made a second move to LA. That's what I'm reading. You went to LA for a little York and then you ought to. Apparently you made a second move to LA. That's what I'm reading. You went to LA for a little bit and, uh, you know, you've been in a few music videos and uh, well, for the popular musical collective postmodern jukebox. So there you go. I'm gonna put the paper down how are you?
Speaker 2:I'm doing great. Today's a good day.
Speaker 1:I know it's a great day. Every day is a great day.
Speaker 2:Yes, right, totally.
Speaker 1:You know, when I was talking to your publicist and he said you know we need to get Ada on, and I said that'd be great. And I said, well, you know, tell me a little bit more about her, because I'll be honest with you, I did not know much and now I feel I know quite a bit, and now I'm even going to know more after we get done chatting tonight. But you're a violinist, I can't talk tonight, so I'm all like flustered.
Speaker 2:You're doing great.
Speaker 1:A violinist and you know most people I talk to have a guitar and it's like, okay, that's cool, I get it, I get it, but you do it different. You do it different. And I get it, I get it, but you do it different. You do it different. And talk to me a little bit about your beginnings and what inspired you to start making music. And well, how did your journey begin?
Speaker 2:Well, I was born and raised into a musical family. My parents, both classical classical, I also can't talk tonight Classically trained classical musicians. So, yeah, they put my brother and I into classical music training when we were little kids and, yeah, when I was six years old I started my violin training and was a child prodigy and that was my whole childhood Just lots of practicing violin music, competitions and lessons and it was. It was intense and um, yeah, I mean, that's that's really. That was my whole world. That's all I knew was classical music growing up.
Speaker 1:And were you happy with that though? I mean, you started so young and you were just going to you were you had a passion for it. You were dedicated to it. Did you start all this when you? Do you remember living in Moscow?
Speaker 2:No, no, I don't, I don't remember it at all. No, I started playing violin after we immigrated to New York.
Speaker 1:All right, I got you. I got you. So you immigrated to New York. You took the lessons. You just started out. Immigrated to New York, you took the lessons, you just started out, but what did? Playing the violin?
Speaker 2:that's all you wanted to do?
Speaker 1:No, it wasn't something I wanted to do was something that I was forced to do by my family. But you don't be enforced. You shouldn't be forced, but you've obviously done very well.
Speaker 2:Yes, I mean, it wasn't like a, like a, a torturous force, but it was, uh, my parents chose it for me. I, you know, usually yeah, Um.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry, I cut you off.
Speaker 2:No, it's all good. Yeah, they were just like. Here you go, You're play violin. You know I'm from Russia, so it's a different it it's a different thing. You don't really choose your instrument or your meal. You do what your parents tell you right, right so originally.
Speaker 1:But listening to you, you would never know that you there's no action at all well, I had.
Speaker 2:I had an amazing childhood. My parents were really great and um, it's not like it was mozart's parents, you know they locked him a little Mozart in the closet and forced him to practice. It wasn't like like that. It was a very healthy childhood I had. But yeah I, I became really good at the violin and Thank God because it got me a full scholarship to Berkeley.
Speaker 1:So you know, if you go to Berkeley you've got something going. I mean, that's the best of the best when it comes to music. You get to go to berkeley and you know, learn and also prove yourself at the same time. Pretty cool, you've also been writing a lot of.
Speaker 1:You write a lot of your own music, if not all of it, correct yeah and tell me a little bit about your songwriting, your style and your creative process and what. What goes through your mind when you sit down to write a song, do you? Is it about you? Is it about life experiences? Is it about relationships? What goes through your mind?
Speaker 2:yeah, I just write songs about my life those are the best yeah, yeah you know, what do you?
Speaker 1:what do you listen to? When let's say you're gonna, you're gonna go out, get in the car and go somewhere, what would be on your radio? What kind, what format of music?
Speaker 2:I listen to a lot of different things, kind of depending on my mood, um, and I like a lot of different kinds of music, but my favorite, my favorite is, like John Mayer vibes ah yeah, I read somewhere that you're a big fan of John Mayer and I get it.
Speaker 1:I totally get it. Where, where are you right now? Are you? Where are you?
Speaker 2:I'm in Nashville.
Speaker 1:You're in Nashville. What part of Nashville?
Speaker 2:East.
Speaker 1:East Nashville. Now how you haven't been there all that long, though, correct?
Speaker 2:Just a few months.
Speaker 1:Wow, are you getting to know the area pretty well, or did you know before you actually moved?
Speaker 2:um no, I I never really knew nashville very well. I've been a few times, but it was usually in and out trips just to do a round or a session.
Speaker 1:But yeah, I've never lived here before, so are you playing like, do you go down to broadway and do your thing, or um, I not I don't play in broadway, I haven't yet but um, I'm.
Speaker 2:I'm more focused on like recording my album and doing rounds, um kind of more the intimate singer-songwriter thing.
Speaker 1:I'm not really trying to like rock out on broadway, it's not my vibe right now yeah, you know, but you are in the right place because all the different genres of music seem to come together in nashville yes, and I love that. Yeah, exactly, and you get just so many different people you can call upon, just different opinions and different views. With the music and all the big labels are there. It's just, it's so very exciting and it has to be so very exciting for you as a you know, as an artist.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, it's so great, I'm so happy to be here and, honestly, I wish you know as an artist. Oh yeah, it's so great I'm so happy to be here and honestly, I wish I moved here years ago because I didn't know how awesome it was. So I'm just really glad to finally be here that's cool, do you?
Speaker 1:um, do you get to go out at all? Or I mean you say you go to different places, but I mean, what do you do for fun in nashville, let's say, over the last couple of months?
Speaker 2:oh my gosh, I feel like I'm like so busy and focused on my music career. It's like all I do um. What do I do for fun outside of music?
Speaker 1:yeah, what do you think? All right, let me, let me throw this at you I take walks nice walks are great. A couple of reasons great exercise, but you can do a lot of thinking while you're walking. Yes, and you can probably even write a song while you're walking.
Speaker 2:I've done that many times.
Speaker 1:Just make a little voice memo to yourself and then you get back and you kind of piece it all together 100%, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 2:So I still have a lot of Nashville exploring to do. But yeah, I just love, you know, meeting new people and going to check out live music and checking out different coffee shops.
Speaker 1:I don't ask this question a lot, but I'm going to ask you um no, no, no. No, it's good, it's just. I really don't like this question but you being who you are and it's a whole different. I'm used to doing a lot on the countryside. I'm talking about people with guitars and all that, and they're doing their thing, and that's one thing, and I never ask them who their influences are. But I'm going to ask you because you're doing things a little bit different. So who are some of your influences?
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm definitely heavily influenced by the classical music I grew up playing, because that's all that was in my ears, you know, from six to 16. So I would say a lot of my influence is that. But I don't know, I don't know if I have any direct influences. Probably a little bit John Mayer, a little bit Beatles, I don't know. But I've never been like necessarily a a fanatic of one particular band or artist to the point where I draw specific. You know, because some people, some of some song writers, do that they're like I want to write a song like this one. Um, for me, the songs just started flowing out of me after a breakup in college and haven't stopped writing since.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, there's a lot there. We've all been there, We've all been down that road of a breakup, and how many songs can come out of the experience that you've had? Oh my gosh, there's good and there's bad, and there's a lot of emotions and you get pissed off and then you're in tears the next minute. So I mean, and really, whether it's, I think you may agree or disagree, but music is like the soundtrack to our lives and it doesn't matter, especially with country. I know we always say it's a soundtrack because there's so much that we hear and you know it happens to me a lot I'll hear a song and go. That song is about me, it's about my breakup. That song is about how did that, you know? So I mean that's what it's all about, and if you can do that, which you are, I mean that's huge. That's huge. Tell me about the awards you've won. There's a lot, I know. No, no, I don't think there's that many.
Speaker 2:Well, there's a lot, I know no, no, I don't think there's that many. Um, well, there's. You know, growing up, when I was a classical violinist, um, I, I won some awards for that, um, and soloed with professional orchestras as a kid. So that was, that was crazy, but that was a whole, that's a whole. Nother life. You know, um, I haven't played classical music in like 16 years or something, but, um, but I, uh, let's see for like more songwriting stuff. I won the acoustic music awards Uh, what's it called the international acoustic music awards for my song grow older.
Speaker 1:Yep, yep.
Speaker 2:Um, and then you know, I won my full scholarship to Berkeley, which changed my whole life, because that's where I started writing songs.
Speaker 1:So yeah, very cool. Who do you? Um, do you do most of your songwriting just you as a solo, or do you end up going to me meeting up with some other artist and and write that way?
Speaker 2:I mean both, but um, oh, I I have done. I have done more writing alone in my life so far, because I haven't lived in Nashville.
Speaker 1:No, no, that's true, you've only been there a few months.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but now that I'm in Nashville, for the few months that I've been here, I've written a few times with people. Yeah, but when you're in Fairfield, Connecticut, or even LA or New York, there's not as much co-writing and collaboration as there is in Nashville.
Speaker 1:How long ago were you in LA?
Speaker 2:I was there for the past six years. And then you went to Nashville from LA. No, it's a long story.
Speaker 1:You don't need to go there. Totally get it. Totally get it. Yeah, but you went coast to coast and now you're in Nashville, so that's all that matters. From Fairfield, Connecticut to New New York to LA to whatever, wherever, Tell us a little bit about the latest single. I Wish I Never.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, that's why I'm not in LA anymore.
Speaker 1:Okay Shall, I move on. But you know what? It's going to be a smash. Then I'm telling you yes, oh my God.
Speaker 2:Yes, thank you for saying that and putting it into the universe. I appreciate that.
Speaker 1:No, absolutely Absolutely, and it's so exciting to talk to you about it. So may I ask how did that come about?
Speaker 2:the song or the breakup no Um.
Speaker 1:I mean we can sit, we can chat about anything that you want to talk about.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, yeah, I went through 2023 was the hardest year of my life and I, just I, I went through a horrible breakup which changed my whole life.
Speaker 1:I mean, um, that's terrible, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thank you. It was very sudden and I didn't see it coming and that always makes it harder, um, but yeah it was. Uh, I was really. I was really broken and lonely and, um, and Staying at my parents house because I'd know where to go after the breakup and, um, just wrote. I probably wrote like 50 songs and, uh, that was my therapy. So I'm really grateful that I had that outlet, um, and I wrote a lot of good songs and, um, I did a lot of healing. I rented a cottage by right by the beach, actually on the beach in fairfield, connecticut, and that was a really significant period of my life where I did a lot of healing, a lot of songwriting, and then I was like, yeah, I can't stay in Fairfield because there's nothing for me here other than my family. But I got to focus on my music, so bought a one-way ticket to a brand new city and I cut off all my hair.
Speaker 2:And then I started recording all the songs that I wrote during that time.
Speaker 1:So I was, um, doing a little bit of research. I don't do a whole lot when I get ready to do a podcast, because I pretty much ask my questions off what, for example, what you're saying? Then I'll you know. I just something else comes to mind, but I saw some pictures online. I thought you had longer hair than some of those, but you look beautiful. This is awesome. This is awesome. And mom and dad are still in Fairfield. They are Nice. Have they made the trip to Nashville to make a little bit of a visit, or would you rather have them stay in Fairfield?
Speaker 2:I love when people come visit me. My mom came one time. My dad hasn't come out yet, but hopefully they'll.
Speaker 1:Are you an only child?
Speaker 2:Nope, I have an older brother.
Speaker 1:And he oh, you might've mentioned that he's playing an instrument as well.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, he's super talented. Yeah, yeah, he he's a. He grew up as a cellist, I grew up as a violinist, so that's, that's his forte and he's. Do you guys play together? We do, yeah, actually we play together as a family whenever there is an opportunity, whenever I'm back in Fairfield to visit that was just there last week we do zoom concerts for my fans on, for my patrons, and we also do like Instagram live streams and we play music as a family and people love it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you do an Insta live stream. I mean, where can we find you on the socials?
Speaker 2:Yeah, instagram is great. That's probably the social that I use the most.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And it's just Autopastronach, my name, so yeah, okay, um, and it's just auto pasternak, my name, so yeah, and then I have a newsletter, autopasternakcom, where people could like sign up and stay up to date with all my new music and tours, um and yeah, and I have a patreon for people who want to support nice, nice, you got merch.
Speaker 2:So if they want to support you that way as well, I don't have merch at the moment, but it's something that I'm like figuring I'm yeah, I'm on it, I'm on it, it's happening you get it, I totally get it.
Speaker 1:But I wish I never just dropped just the other day. I was like yesterday yesterday. Oh my goodness, that's right, that's right. I know I should know jeff's gonna yell at me, because he did say that that's okay.
Speaker 2:No one's perfect it's.
Speaker 1:I'm far from it. Let me tell you Me too. There's a reason that we call this skip happens because I'm just saying it and pretty much anything goes. But we have a lot of fun and I really enjoy talking to the artists and getting to know you a little bit. Let's talk about the album. So yeah, do you already have an album out? I'm sorry if I should know that you don't correct.
Speaker 2:I'm working on my album now, yeah, so this is going to be one of the singles off the album.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:With some other ones that I'm excited to share with people. So, yeah, I'm still recording and working on the album, but yeah.
Speaker 1:How would you describe yourself Myself? Yeah, how would you describe yourself myself?
Speaker 2:yeah, how would you describe otta pasternak like specifically as a music artist or just as an artist.
Speaker 1:Somebody said tell me about her, what kind of artist is she? What would you tell them?
Speaker 2:well, if I have a one-liner, which sometimes you only get a one-liner, you know, I always say um, um, what do I say? I say oh, I say violent, virtual, so turned singer, songwriter, love it, that's my one-liner. Um I love it it's, it's right to the point. But yeah, I mean, I'm just, uh, I grew up with a I don't know. I I'm just a musical fairy who writes lots of songs. I write songs about my life. Um, you know, yeah, music runs in my veins.
Speaker 1:So so we're going to hear some happy songs Now. You seem very happy. You've got a great smile. You're moving. You've moved to Nashville. You're like you know you dropped a single.
Speaker 1:Maybe you don't want to go back and think about the single too much because of everything that surrounds it, but the single is. It's awesome. It's awesome and I was playing it earlier. I had one of my interns in here watching me tonight and we were playing it and it was just like, wow, this thing kicks ass. This is great. It's not, you know, it's different. It's different, but it's different in a good way and this is great for you as an artist, in my opinion, from somebody that's you know, I've been on the radio side for well over 40 years and it's nice to have somebody come out that's unique. It's your own style. You're the first violinist that I've seen kind of break away a little bit from the classical side, even though that's your forte. I get that, but I see you playing it like a guitar and you're singing different songs. I don't see that. I've always seen the violin and I don't know much about it.
Speaker 2:But wow there she is.
Speaker 1:There's the beauty, I love it. So how many? I have to ask. All right, tyler's, sitting over here, my my answer how many violins you guessing she has. He says he have 12. How many violins do you have?
Speaker 2:I don't have that many, I just have a few. I have, like this, really nice one this is like classical music violin, fancy schmancy, it's 100 years old. And then I have another one that's also really nice, which is also around 100 years old, and then I have kind of a cheapo one that I could travel around with and not worry about. Then I have an electric five-string violin which a fan got me.
Speaker 1:A fan got you.
Speaker 2:Yes, it was a Christmas present from a fan. So amazing, right. I know I need to play it more. I need to get it from LA first of all. It's still in my storage unit.
Speaker 1:Uh-oh, be careful, okay.
Speaker 2:And then I have an Eastman violin that I got as a gift. So, yeah, I think I have five total.
Speaker 1:What is your most expensive violin? Okay, this one. All right, Can I? Just? I have no idea. You know, here I'm, I watch you play it and I love the sound. That thing is gorgeous.
Speaker 2:I know, wow, it's shiny. Look at the gold pegs. See the gold pegs, the gold pegs, oh my god yeah all right, I won't even ask you what that costs well, I mean, I, I didn't. I I could tell you what, like I could tell you approximately what it's worth according to, but I didn't buy it. I actually got. Stefano Scarampelli is the maker Stefano. Scarampelli, so it's Italian, but it's up there. I think it's worth around probably between $60,000 and $100,000, something like that.
Speaker 1:Do not when you fly, do not check it.
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't, I don't fly with this one. No, okay, I mean I, I probably I might when I perform at, like, carnegie hall or something, but I'm not going to, you know. On smaller venue.
Speaker 1:Talking about performing, did you just have a sell out show in New York City? I did. I want to hear all about that because that put a smile on my face reading about it. So it was just recently. You just got back, right.
Speaker 2:It was a couple of months ago.
Speaker 1:Wow, okay, it wasn't as recent as I thought, but somebody told me you were in New York City up until.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I just got back from New York yesterday. I go there a lot yeah.
Speaker 1:So tell me about the sellout show when was it and tell us a little bit about it.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, it was special. It was at Birdland Jazz Club.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was my first sold out show ever, so it felt kind of surreal. And I just felt a lot of love that night.
Speaker 1:Well, obviously, if it's sold out, those people are there for a reason and they were able to see you on that stage, which is pretty cool. What was that feeling like? You heard it was sold out and then you walk out on that stage.
Speaker 2:I found out that morning and I cried, I couldn't believe it. And I cried, I couldn't believe it. I mean, for so many years I was, like you know, trying to get five people to come out to a show and it's the stress of an independent artist constantly texting.
Speaker 2:people are you coming to my show, put you in the guest list, come to my show, and I still I still do that. I still have to do that. But it was just so amazing to know that like that many people came out to support and to see me and I felt so much love from from like, absolutely I knew some people I didn't know, so it was fun to meet new people and also great to see some people I had met in the past absolutely.
Speaker 1:Where do you? Um, I'm gonna be in New York City next week. I have an event down there with Kelsey ballerini but where do you go when you're in New York? I mean this, we'll be going to the Garden and then we're going to be going different places, but do you go to certain places when you hit New York?
Speaker 2:It kind of depends. I usually go for a concert, like if I have a show of my own or I just went. I just got back. Yesterday I was there for a video shoot and a photo shoot, oh nice. The was there for a video shoot and a photo shoot, oh nice.
Speaker 1:The video shoot for the song.
Speaker 2:No, but I'm going to do that soon. No, actually I decided to recreate one of my favorite scenes from Breakfast at Tiffany's, where she's up on the fire escape singing Moon River, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, so I did that. I recorded my escape singing.
Speaker 2:Moon River. Oh yeah, oh wow. So I did that. I recorded my version of Moon River with this.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you did. Can you give us a little bit of that or no? Is it too much on the spot?
Speaker 2:It's okay, I can't. I just need to think of the key and just remember.
Speaker 1:Okay, See, this is what I'm telling when you play the violin like that.
Speaker 2:I'm not used to seeing somebody do that, so okay, here we go, here we go, here we go, oh, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style. Someday, oh dream, maker, you heart breaker. Wherever you're going, I'm going your way, two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see when I've turned the same Rainbows and Waiting round the bend, my Huckleberry friend Moon river and me.
Speaker 1:Wow, oh my gosh, excuse me, wow, you got me all choked up on that. Oh, thank you, and I'm telling you I just there's something about it that, wow, that's awesome, that's awesome. Do you prefer to sing like those classics? I mean, you definitely have the voice for that. And also, oh, talking about that, I know I see this is a podcast and I warn you that sometimes I go all over the place.
Speaker 2:That's okay.
Speaker 1:I go down a whole different road.
Speaker 2:I know me too.
Speaker 1:Tony, tony the stairs. Thank you, it's him. He does a lot of those classics.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And I have them on my playlist Because on Sunday mornings I come down here to my studio. I have a full voiceover studio on the other side, I have podcast stuff over here and I also have a vocal booth. But he was one of them. I found him on youtube and I just said he's so good he's so good so good. How did you get hooked up with him?
Speaker 2:um, I was following scott bradley and postmodern jukebox on instagram because I collaborated with him, um, and then I saw scott posted a video, a collab video, where he was doing like a dueling piano thing with some guy, and I just thought it was really fun and so I just messaged him. I said hi, tony, my name's otta, just love your playing, just want to say hi, um, blah blah. And we just started talking on instagram and blah, blah, blah. And we just started talking on instagram and he was like, if you're in new york, I have a show, um, like this weekend or whatever, and I happen to be in new york. I was like I'd love to come, and so I brought my mom and we had a great time. Tony was amazing and we became friends and music collaborators. And then he had the song he wanted to feature me on, and now we have a song out together oh my god, yeah, it's called I'm not gonna fall in love I know very romantic I
Speaker 1:might add the anti-love song yeah, but it depends on how you look at it totally yeah, you know who would you. You know you're talking about collaborating with tony, but uh, is there. Who would you really love to collaborate with?
Speaker 2:I mean, I know I've mentioned john mayer, but he's one of my favorite songwriters and artists, so definitely him. Um, jacob collier would be great, because he's really interesting and talented and creative. Um, yeah, probably those. Those are the two that are like off the top of my head, but yeah, there's a lot of great people.
Speaker 1:Wow. So where would you say now, of course you're from Moscow. You made the trip at the age of six. How many years ago? Not my business, but it was a while ago. So now you're here. You've gone cross country, coast to coast, doing your thing. Where would home be for you? Would it be Fairfield? Is that what you would? I mean, I know you're in Nashville now. All right, yeah. And how many years were you in Fairfield?
Speaker 2:Many years, I mean, I grew up there.
Speaker 1:Would that be instead? No?
Speaker 2:go ahead. No, I'm going to say that question, that question. I'm more comfortable with it now because I'm more healed after my breakup. It's been a year and a half, but over the last year and a half when people were asking me like what's home for you, where are you from or where you live, I'm just like it was always a tough thing to answer because I didn't know anymore. You know, um, but yeah thing to answer because I didn't know anymore you know, but yeah sure, fairfield is my home.
Speaker 2:My parents are still there, but yeah, I'm hoping, nashville, I'm feeling like Nashville is becoming my new home, so excited about it.
Speaker 1:I want you to hold your head high and just think of everything that has happened to you in the past, who you are, where you are, what you're doing. It was all just a learning experience. You're very intelligent, you're a beautiful lady, you've got it going and I wouldn't even you know whatever happened. It's not my business, but it's that person's loss. That's all you know. That's it. So now, getting back to your hometown of Fairfield. If I was to go to Fairfield, I don't know. I'm driving in on the main drag. What is the first thing I'm going to see?
Speaker 2:First thing you're going to see. Oh, first thing you should see.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, no, the first thing I'm going to see, let's say, all right, I'm going to visit your mom and dad and I'm driving into Fairfield. What is the first thing I'm going to see? Is there, like I don't even know how big of a town it is.
Speaker 2:It's a small town.
Speaker 1:Small town. So is there like a Ace Hardware on the corner, or is there, you know, I mean there's a bunch of things.
Speaker 2:It's not that small, but uh, it's a relatively small town, but yeah, there's also, you know, just regular trader joe's and coffee shops and jones love trader joe's yeah, there's a whole foods too. Oh, oh, I love that, I love that I know um and there's five.
Speaker 1:There's like five beaches in fairfield oh yeah, because you'd be right there on the Wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I grew up going to the beach every summer because it's five minutes from my parents' house.
Speaker 1:You got to love that. You got to love that. Yeah, there's nothing better than sitting on the beach and just thinking, listening to the waves and the water beat on the shore.
Speaker 2:Nothing better. I agree, it's a great's, all you know I'm just saying I'm sure it already is.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, yeah, it's. You know this has been very cool chatting with you a little bit and finding out what you do. I know the new single is is out. Uh, I'm sorry if I mention it again to get your mind going in a certain direction. I don't mean to be no, it's fine, it's.
Speaker 2:It's been a while I'm I'm over the breakup.
Speaker 1:It's that's good. That's good. If, um, somebody wanted to uh jump on and let's say, the socials find, uh, I know we talked about it a little bit ago, but somebody says you know, I watched that podcast, skipping out, I want to find out more about her. Where can they go?
Speaker 2:well, instagram is just quick and easy. Just follow um and then you can hit the alert alert. I think there's like a bell where you can get notified whenever I do a new post. But in addition to that, people could join my newsletter, which also takes five seconds. You just put in your email, you just go to my website, autopastronautcom. It'll say join mailing list. You just put in your email and that's it. So when I have a new song out, when my album's out, when I'm going on tour, I'll send out like a monthly newsletter with some updates. So autopastorcom is a great way to stay in touch and um definitely follow me on instagram. Um, and then uh, patreon is a great way to support and Ding ding ding ding, ding, ding.
Speaker 1:Do it $1, $5, $10,. Whatever you got to do, help out the young lady, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I know I think five is the lowest tier that I have, but $5 a month you get a lot of stuff. I do monthly Zoom concerts for my patrons Like private. Vip.
Speaker 1:You know, I'm just going to look at Tyler. He's not on camera right now, but he's learning how all this works, so I kind of brought him on board a little bit to watch a lot of these that I do. You know what would happen, tyler, if I sign up for that newsletter? She's going to see my name and she's going to delete it. No, it's like. This guy was terrible on the podcast. He's got to go. No, I'd love to have you on the newsletter. Do you have any questions? No, not yet. Not yet. All right, he's learning, he's learning. It's all good. So you know, let me ask you this I know you've been doing this all your life and I don't even know if you've given it another thought or even wanted to. But if you weren't who you are doing, what you're doing, what do you think you would be doing?
Speaker 2:oh, I know it's so interesting um, I love helping people, so I would maybe be a therapist. Um, that's such a good question yeah, I feel like I would maybe be a therapist, because I love listening and just supporting people. People really feel safe talking to me. Yeah.
Speaker 1:This isn't meant to be creepy or weird in any way, believe me, but just the few minutes that we've been talking, it's been like really neat, really cool. It's a great conversation. This is what I love is conversation, and you're very easy to talk to. It's a good thing. And then you know you mentioned that well, if I wasn't playing music, doing the violin thing or whatever, you would maybe be a therapist. But you know what? You would be a hell of a therapist, just the way. Your whole demeanor is great. You would be a hell of a therapist, just the way. Your whole demeanor is great. Your life experience, it would definitely help you out. And pretty cool, pretty cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, I like to think that I'm still a therapist. I'm a music therapist.
Speaker 1:Bam, you're right so what do you drive? I don't have a car, okay. How do you drive? I don't have a car, okay.
Speaker 2:How do you get around? I walk. If it's somewhere near here, there's a coffee shop I can walk to for a meeting or whatever, or I take Ubers. Ubers is pretty easy, they come right away.
Speaker 1:Best, yeah, or I get a ride from someone you know.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:I just, I just I see every once in a while I just throw crazy questions out? Yeah, do you like ice cream?
Speaker 2:yeah, of course, favorite flavor um, I don't know if I have just one, but but I mean, I love chocolate anything. I like cookie dough, I like strawberry ice cream too.
Speaker 1:You know I do too, and I'm a fan of maple walnut.
Speaker 2:That sounds yummy, that sounds good, especially like around this time of year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, exactly, exactly, exactly yeah.
Speaker 2:That's good.
Speaker 1:Awesome. So what's that? Where are you located right now?
Speaker 2:Again, we're over here we're in upstate New York. Okay, that's what I thought, but I just I had I need to refresh my memory, because Jeff, jeff, jeff mentioned that I do the.
Speaker 1:I live in Syracuse. Okay, we're upstate New York. I mean not Poughkeepsie People, look at, Poughkeepsie is upstate New York. No, you gotta go up, you to albany and you go to the left and you get to syracuse. We're right in the middle of the state. But I will tell you, this is the most beautiful time of the year to be in the northeast, where I can walk out. When I walk out to go to the radio station in the morning, I see all the colors, all the trees are turning a little breeze in the air. It's absolutely beautiful and we all know that our climate isn't what it used to be. So it's warmer here right now and I believe things are changing, but it's just the most beautiful time of the year to be in the Northeast. Have you been in upstate New York?
Speaker 2:You know, many years ago I went somewhere upstate once or twice for different random projects. But, I don't remember where, where in upstate I went, and obviously it wasn't memorable enough for me to tell you about it. But I would love to. I'd love to go again. I'd love to go wherever you are, if there's any cool music venue or anything happening.
Speaker 1:Well, you know we would love that, because you know I mean me doing. What I do here in upstate New York is I would support you 100% and help you do whatever you got to do.
Speaker 2:Oh yay, That'd be so great.
Speaker 1:It's one thing that people find out with me. I am a big supporter of music independence. People like yourself struggling to get where you need to be I mean, I look at what you've already done and for me that's incredible. There's a lot of artists that are just trying to get started and they're having a tough time, but I believe in those people, I believe in you and I believe that everybody needs to have a voice and everybody needs to be heard. That's the other thing why I started the podcast because of what I do, and I've been doing it a long time that these artists aren't getting heard on the radio. And there's a lot of independent artists. I know I'm going to get slammed for this, but there's a lot of independent artists out there that are better than some of the well-established artists that we're hearing on the radio every day.
Speaker 2:I agree.
Speaker 1:I mean, I'm not afraid to say it, I can mention a name to me and say, hey, have you heard about this guy? He's all over social media. He's like a third of my age but he's on top of it all. And he'll say, hey, have you heard about blah, blah, blah? And then he'll play it for me and I'll go.
Speaker 2:Damn, that's good.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean, and that these are the people that, just because they're not signed with a major label, just you know, so they've got something against them and that sucks. So you know, I mean, I'm friends with a lot of the major artists as well, but still it's the independence that need to, still need to be heard. You know, like you get somebody like Luke Combs that drops a new song, or a Kane Brown, or how about Post Malone? Oh, we got to play it, we got to play it, but you know what, maybe it's not a good song.
Speaker 2:I hear you.
Speaker 1:I know, I know, and maybe it's not a. You know, it's not a unique You've. You're making your music unique, which is cool. Let's see what Jeff said here. Can you see that?
Speaker 2:Wait, where do I read the comments? I don't see comments. I also never used this app before, so you see it on the bottom. I don't know.
Speaker 1:Anyways, jeff chimed in and said two of my favorite people, so you'll get to when you get to know Jeff. He's. He's a great guy, he does a great job. Here's a I don't know artist. Joe Van Dresser sounds great, he's an artist actually, so that's, that's pretty cool. So.
Speaker 2:Hi guys.
Speaker 1:So but yeah, you know what I do want to say. Thank you. Thank you for taking a little bit of time out of your night to come on talk to somebody you've never met before. I just really enjoy this, and I enjoy talking to people like you, finding out what you're doing, where you're going. I'm going to help you get there. I don't know how much help I can give you because it seems like you're already way ahead of me, but just it's so good. I wish you a lot of luck in Nashville. I know being there only a couple of months gotta be a little bit tough, but you know you're doing your own thing, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I mean I I had very tough over the last year and a half, so now I don't. I don't consider this tough. I consider this a very exciting, a happy time of my life.
Speaker 1:You know I'll be coming to Nashville in February. It's what they call, it's the country radio seminar, but there's radio people there from all every every genre. It's. It's pretty cool. So hopefully, jeff, they'll drag you down to the Omni hotel so we can say hello.
Speaker 2:That'd be so great yeah.
Speaker 1:A lot of fun. It'd be a lot of fun so.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that'd be so fun. Thank you so much for having me. It's great to meet you and thank you for everything you're doing to support independent artists, absolutely, and God bless you.
Speaker 1:Stay, you know, stay there. We're going to say goodbye here in a second, but stay right there and thank you for joining us and if you've been watching this or afterwards, hit the subscribe button. Subscribe to skip happens. You're going to see a lot more in the way of great artists is, for example, otto Pasternak. You gotta love that.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:I'm blown away, All right. Well, thanks for joining us everybody. A great conversation and a very talented young lady there. Make sure you look her up online, Ada Pasternak, and you just Google the name and everything's going to come up for you. Thanks for watching Skip Happens, everybody. Thanks for watching Jeff and Joe and everybody else. Have a great night.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice.
