Multitalented singer and songwriter Eliza Paltauf, who is a familiar face on the Ridgefield Playhouse scene, will be opening for Howie Day this Thursday at the Playhouse at 8:00 PM.
I had the blessing of interviewing Eliza about her career as a musician, her dreams for herself as a singer, and how she feels about making her Playhouse debut on her own without her musical partner Carly Cugine.
1. The songs you write are mostly based on real life experiences which are very personal. What song would you say you perform that is the most personal to you?
Answer: I think the most personal song I've ever written was Broken Glass. I started it in 6th grade, and it actually took me four years to finish. I wrote this song with no intentions of anyone else ever hearing it-- I wrote it for me, to help me get through one of the hardest times in my life. When I was 10 years old, my cousin Roxanne went missing. I was so young I could hardly understand what was going on, I didn't know what to feel or how to react and not knowing was terrifying. Up until that point, the worst pain I'd ever felt was when I'd skin my knees playing tag at recess. But that day I felt real pain, and I didn't know how to handle it so I started writing songs, and finally at the end of my sophomore year of high school I finished it.
2. Talk to me about your beginnings with the Ridgefield Playhouse and how it's led to all these recurring gigs through the years.
Answer: Growing up in Ridgefield, the Playhouse has always been a huge part of my life. My first time on the stage of the Playhouse was when I was four years old, performing in the Holiday Spectacular run by Debbie Gravitte. Every year since then that she has put on this fantastic winter show, I have been in it. I've also been involved with BandJam at the Playhouse, and then finally got to be the opening act for Kicking Daises a few years ago.
Answer: Well Carly and I never imagined we'd ever write songs together or even perform together. On the long car rides to our soccer practices and games, we'd sing along with the radio for fun and I'd harmonize. Then, when I started taking guitar lessons, I told Carly I could teach her some of what I was learning because she had always wanted to play. The songs I taught her on guitar were the newest songs I had written, and she picked up the vocal parts too as I taught her the guitar. Somehow all of that turned into performances and songwriting together and it brought us where we are today.
4. What is your ultimate dream as a singer songwriter?
Answer: My ultimate dream is just to get my music out there. I've seen the way music can change people's lives, and there is no better feeling than knowing you impacted someone somewhere even in the smallest way. This is what I love- and if writing helps get me through, I know my songs can help others deal with tragedy, hardship, the excitement of being in love for the first time, appreciating a true friend, anything. I just want to make people feel something.
5. You'll be performing by yourself on the Playhouse stage for the first time when you open for Howie Day. How do you feel about that?
Answer: I am beyond excited. It will definitely be different without Carly there and I will miss having her bubbly personality on stage with me, but I am really excited to play some new material and I think this is a really big step in my career.
Go check out Eliza this Thursday! Tickets are available at www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org it or you can call the box office at 1-203-438-5795.