Hello Everyone!
After reading through all of the great questions and comments, Gather and I have decided to hold a one hour Live Chat at 6pm ET this Wednesday in the Music Essential. I will be discussing my love of music and my new CD Seastories. Gotta run for now but I hope to see everyone there!
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Prior to the chat, Gather invites you to begin posting your questions here. Just scroll down and type a question in the comment box (if you're not already a member of Gather you will need to join in order to post a question).
On Wednesday at 6pm ET Minnie will login to Gather and begin answering any pre-posted questions as well as any questions/comments that Gatherers post while she is live on the site. To find the chat at 6pm ET on Wednesday just visit Gather's Music Essential and click on the featured article.


Comments: 98
Are you going to go back to character roles in smaller films or have you moved on to music and blockbusters?
The Governess was a great film. Are you Jewish, and if so, how did you feel playing the persecuted Jewess? What do you learn about yourself (your prejudices or how you cope with the prejudices of others) from such roles?
Thanks so much for all of the early questions. I am looking forward to answering as many as possible tomorrow at 6 pm et during the chat. Talk to you then.
I hope to make the live chat, but Bill's Spirit posted a really great review of "Seastories"...you might like to give it a read.
Minnie Driver's SEASTORIES Is Good And Blue
I love the new album.
My question is: What have been the hardest or most noteable aspects, differences and changes that you've found and struggled with, as you move through this process of expanding from actress to songstress?
Thanks for speaking with us.
Thanks again and have a great day & Evening
I heard you singing on 98.7 fm in los angeles and you were great. You're an amazi g actress and amazing singer. Wishing you the best from Los Angeles.
Will you be performing in Los Angeles soon? Also when can we see you in the big screen? I love all your movies especially Good will Hunting and Beautiful.
Seastories is a mesmerizing album. I was immediately taken in by your warm, haunting voice and your incredible artistry as a songwriter.
Who are your musical inspirations and are you playing any dates in Florida??
Much respect and success in your future.
contact: deckma@newsweek.com
i got this from Minnie Driver's page on myspace and i think it will answer your question.
So, I've been writing music my whole life, long before acting I was singing up a 400 year old oak tree developers were threatening to cut down. It was a protest, I was 8 and I wore a kilt . My english teacher (Bob, who played the guitar and looked like John Fogerty) and I got on the local news, but they cut that beautiful tree down anyway. Music from that moment seemed like a powerful tool if you had something to say. I've been working on having something to say for a while, I was signed to Island in a band when I was 19 but we made a terrible record and drank most of the development money, they quite rightly dropped us and I went off to live in Uraguy with my sister, we were completely broke and selling vintage jeans on the beach to rich kids from Buenes Ayres, I got a call one day at the post office that EMI were interested in signing me so I came back to London took the meeting and in the same week auditioned for, and got got cast in the movie'Circle of Friends'. I got fat for the role which seemed more impressive than it actually was (Muchos doughnuts are not hard to swallow) the movie went better than the meeting at EMI and so I got side tracked by an amazing career . And now, now I juggle. life is big and broad and too short to be pigeon holed into one little box, it never fails to astonish me however, how many people don't want you to be able to do more than one thing creatively... I refuse to subscribe to this impoverished way of thinking and plan to carry on making music, movies, babies, dinner and stories until I drop.
Will you ever come to Utah? Most singers skip this state when the go on tour. Please, if you ever go on a tour, please don't skip Utah, and please also, if you can, stop by the smaller towns. We would love a great concert too.
Please join me in welcoming Minnie Driver to Gather.com for her first Live Chat! Minnie will be here for the next hour answering questions. Lets begin!
Aug 10 2007 8:00P
Casbah San Diego
Aug 11 2007 9:00P
Hotel Cafe Los Angeles
Aug 12 2007 8:00P
Soho Restaurant and Music Club Santa Barbara
Aug 13 2007 8:00P
Cafe Du Nord San Francisco
Aug 15 2007 8:00P
Doug Fir Lounge Portland
Aug 17 2007 12:00P
Seattle Out to Lunch, Freeway Park Seattle, Washington
Aug 18 2007 8:00P
Crocodile Cafe Seattle
Aug 20 2007 8:00P
Birchmere Alexandria
Aug 21 2007 8:00P
Rams Head on Stage Annapolis
Aug 23 2007 8:00P
Paradise Rock Club Boston
Aug 24 2007 7:30P
Joe's Pub New York
Aug 24 2007 11:30P
Joe's Pub New York
My question is, how do you rate the differences between live music venues versus live theatre? Are the "butterflies" different, or similar.
I love your voice, by the way.
Hope to play in Florida sometime soon. My influences are varied. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Gram Parsons, Joni Mitchell and Nancy Wilson (the jazz vocalist.)
Wilco's latest record, Sky Blue Sky, is my favorite record of recent years.
Cheers!
MD
;-)
I hope to see you here on the 10th!
Acting and songwriting really come from the same place inside. I move between the two very easily as I love doing them both. They both require me to connect with creative truth which is incredibly important if I want to continue doing either with any validity. They feed each other.
Cheers!
MD
Thanks for the great compliment. I'm glad you appreciate the work I do and I'll be online for the next 45 minutes, should you think of a question to ask.
Cheers!
MD
Do you ever accept any songs written by someone else? I am looking forward to chatting with you soon.
Pattimari
This is Gather.com, not Match.com!
Cheers!
MD
Great to have you here on Gather. I believe you wrote many (if not all) of the songs on Seastories, can you tell us what comes first the music or the lyrics and perhaps where your ideas flow from?
Also, I know in film one has to do many takes to get a scene right - sooner or later the director has to pick a take.
When recording an album do you enjoy having a bit more freedom and control or are the stresses similar?
Love all you're doing - - and good for you for following your heart.
Quit hitting on our honored guest.
- Rob L.
how is John Cusack like? he is a great actor and so are you and that's why Grosse Point Blank is one of my favorites. plus it had a very good script.
all the best...see ya at the show!
We are playing in Santa Barbara @ SOHO on August 12 and in San Francisco @ Cafe Du Nord on August 13. Hope to see you at one or both of those shows.
Songwriting is a really big part of my process as an artist. I do occasionally co-write with others but I feel like I still have records worth of my own music that I have to record.
Cheers!
MD
quit reposting. it's annoying.
Thanks,
Larkin
We are playing at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on August 11. You can stay updated on tour schedules at www.minniedriver.com. Hope to see you at the show!
Cheers,
MD
Thanks for your blessings. I have actually had to turn down quite a few films this autumn as my show, The Riches, starts shooting again in October and I'm touring this summer. The only consequence of doing more than one thing professionally is that you have to choose.....!!
Cheers,
MD
I watched the ''Everything in my Pocket'' video, the form is a jewel and the acting it transfired to be very artistic and in equilibrium. I notice you maintain to be lean and achieved a perfect toned body (very attractive body feature/snugglings of the guitar/just notice) and its helpful when someone sing songs just like yourself (being lean).
Does being in that form helps you to capitalize more on your artistic careers and the same time like to love yourself in a way so passionate within the artistic impression and expression that you profess? Hehehe long question it might get you jumbled up and crazy...
I am looking forward to your SEASTORIES, I have some seastories myself...
Mr. MGD...
Also, how do you keep your self in such good shape? You positively glow! Is it yoga?
I write all my songs from the stories of my life. I also live by the ocean and get a lot of inspiration from my surroundings. I love making movies and love most of the directors I've worked with, however, I really do appreciate the creative control I have while making records.
Cheers!
MD
do you have any songs written since finishing your last album? do you plan to release another album next year? if i ask, will you answer any questions film related?
It is challenging keeping my voice in shape as I really do use it a lot. When I'm on tour I drink a ton of water, try to get to bed at a reasonable hour and warm my voice up in the shower before a show. I practice Anusara Yoga and I run on the beach when I'm at home. Thanks for saying you think I glow! I think its because I'm happy.
Cheers!
MD
Any plans on coming to Chicago soon? I saw you on Leno and the view actually all by chance. I wasn't familair withyour singing. I was very impressed. When you have time to do writing with your schedule?
Great Question. Here are mine:
- You're A Big Girl Now by Bob Dylan
- Jesus, etc. by Wilco
If you have time to post your two "twisters" I'd be interested to hear.
Cheers,
MD
We hope to get to the Midwest sometime soon. If you have a chance to listen to my record, I hope you enjoy it. I write all the time; mostly in a moleskine journal and on the back of restaurant receipts!
Cheers!
MD
Dylan and Wilco - nice songs.
Off the top of my head, I'll go with:
American Tune by Paul Simon
Father and Son by Cat Stevens
My family is a huge part of my life and even though they are 7,000 miles away in England they always have a wonderful perspective on the craziness of my life, that keeps me very grounded.
Cheers!
MD
I'm glad to hear that acting and singing come equally easy to you.
Best of Luck.
good ones. its good to get twisted up sometimes.....
Cheers,
MD
Thank you for all of your questions. I'm sorry I didn't get to everyone but hopefully we'll be able to come back again for another round at some point in the near future.
Cheers,
MD
Thanks for the time MD...
Where in England are you from? I have an Uncle who owns a pub in West Ealing.
I really like Greewich.
Do you prefer doing TV to the movies?
Goodnight Everyone!
Went to the gym to work off some stress, and poof! there goes the time :-)
Sounds like it went well. How about some Atlanta tour dates?
Look forward to hearing your album; sure its as good as/better than your other work. And I am very curious about the Jazz songs you 'started in.'
As for trying different careers, and people not 'getting it,' I thought about this today.... I think people have trouble with anyone else's success; always comparing themselves to those who do well. So the thought of you doing two things great? OMG, just too much ;-)
So while support may not be forthcoming from where you expect it to be; it shouldn't ever stop you from doing what your heart craves. Being true to yourself is all that counts; and honestly, those who don't support that aren't really in your 'camp,' eh? :-)
So for the really serious question. Do you like the new Dr Who? And is Captain Jack just not the funniest? ;-)
C U
:-)
Question
are you going to play joplin
cant see anyone else that could do it!
10 friend
Its good to know that trees, music and family are the substantial portions of your life. I suspect that you're also a bit of an activist as am I. I'm certain you're quite busy as it looks as though you've been away from this site since July. When you come back, look me up if you like.
Alexander