Dream Aria is Donald Stagg/Keyboards, Garry Flint/Drums/Producer/Engineer, Jon Casselman/Bass/Acoustic Guitar, Ann Burstyn/Vocals/Lyrics, Guitarists, Mark Crossley, Kurt Schefter, Tim Welch, Mike Phelps, Mark McClay, Rob Masiokas. We’ve been together 8 years and have completed 3 cds, “In The Wake”, “Transcend”, and “Fallen Angel” (our newest). Our first official video can be found on YouTube, “Fallen Angel” as well as other live performance YouTube clips. Our music is a blend of progressive rock, world music, goth and ambient. It has no rules or boundaries and takes you off on a musical journey of sorts.

Chas - Can you tell the listeners where you’re from?

Ann - Hi Chas, thanks as well!  I’m from Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. Our band is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada though. All the members aside from me were born and raised in Toronto.

Chas - When and how did you first become interested in music?

Andrea - I have been interested in music since I can recall and knew I wanted to be a singer when I was about was four years old. I have never changed my mind.  I grew up in a very musical family and was surrounded by it since birth so there was no escape! I feel at times that music chose me and not the other way around, with no complaints of course.

Chas - How long have you been playing music?

Anna - I have been singing since I was four and have played cello, piano and a bit of guitar over the years.

Chas - Does anyone in your family play music?

Ann - Pretty much everyone in my family on my mother’s and father’s sides play music, going many generations back. Most have been involved mainly in classical music. 

Chas - What are your musical influences?

Ann - My musical influences are many and quite varied. My first love was classical music. My favorite composers are Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Mozart but I enjoy a lot of others as well. When I was about nine, I heard ABBA and that was it for me. I was so blown away by the incredible vocals, harmonies, arrangements, music and production that I knew for sure I wanted to be a part of all those elements of music. After that I grew to love bands like YES, Scorpions, Heart, Pat Benatar,  Deep Purple, Glenn Hughes (of Deep Purple fame),Todd Rundgren, Toto, Andreas Vollenweider, Chris Botti and many more. 

Chas - If you could sing with one artist or band who would it be and why?

Ann - When I was fifteen I first heard Glenn Hughes’s incredible vocals and used to dream about seeing him perform. Then I used to wish I could also meet him and thought it would be a miracle if I could ever get the chance to sing with him one day. By total fluke I did end up seeing him sing live and also got to meet him in person. We became friends and not long after that he invited me to sing live with him. Dreams do come true and miracles do happen! Other than Glenn, I think it would be very cool to sing with the band DcTalk and Marillion! The reason I wanted to sing with Glenn is because he was my biggest vocal influence due to his amazing abilities to sing with so many different tantalizing textures and tonal qualities. Also his amazing range, power, control and perfect pitch impressed me as well as all the different styles he’s able to pull off with ease. I could go on about the two bands I mentioned but then we’d be here all day!

Chas - What kinds of places have you played music so far?

Ann - I have played music as a cellist in a youth orchestra in a concert hall and in schools. I also played solo cello in a church. I performed in a string quartet a long time ago in various places. I have sung in bands over the years in some small clubs, some large and a few nice pubs. I also sang at three weddings, one in a church and two in reception halls. I got to perform at a few festivals as well. 

Chas - If you could play one venue in the world where it be?

Ann - I love Massey Hall in Toronto for its original ornate décor and the great acoustics. It also has a very warm, inviting, comfortable vibe to it. Other venues in the world are spectacular of course such as old Opera Houses, Carnegie Hall etc but I think really my dream venue would be to play in Egypt near the pyramids! I have always been fascinated by Egypt’s mystique and ancient culture/mythology. 

Chas - What else do you do besides play music?

Ann - I do many things other than play music. I used to do classical and jazz ballet but now dance more modern styles and a bit of belly dancing on my own just for fun. I also teach vocal lessons. Mostly though, I love to write poems, short stories, articles and really enjoy doing oil pastel paintings. I am a huge animal lover, especially dogs, so I adore working with them whenever possible. I have many animals of my own including a dog, rabbit, hamster and fish! I also contribute in the natural health and wellness as well as integrative medicine fields. 

Chas - Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

Ann - Yes I was influenced by old albums and tapes. I still have quite a few albums and a countless number of cassettes. I have three Gary Moore albums, all the Abba LPs, Loverboy, Angel, Phenomena, James Newton Howard and Friends, Men at Work, Xanadu and many more. The tapes I have include YES, ABBA, Toto, Steve Vai, Streetheart, Queen City Kids and sooo many more. Each one influenced me in its own way musically.

Chas - Who are your favourite musicians? Groups? CD's?

Ann - My favorite musicians are all the players in Toto and ABBA, Glenn Hughes, Steve Vai, Gary Moore, Chris Botti, Joseph Williams, Terence Trent D’arby, D’arby Mills,Todd Rundgren, Pat Benatar, Pete Lesperance, Beethoven, Joe Satriani and more.  Some of my favorite groups are Toto, DcTalk, Hughes/Thrall, Scoprions (older material), YES, Deep Purple, ABBA, Streetheart, Orphan, Queen City Kids, Harlequin, Blondie, Utopia, April Wine . My most treasured cd’s are Hughes/Thrall, Phenomena, Chris Botti (“Night Sessions”), all the Abba cd’s, Glenn Hughes “Burning Up Live in Japan”, the Braveheart soundtrack and a number of others. 

Chas - Have you been in competitions?

Anna - Yes I have, for Scottish Fling Dance, Classical Ballet, Cello, and in my band Dream Aria. I did well in my personal ones and Dream Aria one the contest we were in!

Chas - Do you perform in public? If so where have you played? 

Anna - Yes, I do, as mentioned in the earlier question about clubs and other venues I’ve played in. The club names I’ve performed in are Lee’s Palace, The Opera House, The Kathedral, The Reverb, The Rivoli, The Smiling Buddha, ImageFm, The Tranzac, Irish Pubs and a few others.

Chas - If you have played any venues, do you get nervous before a performance?

Ann - I’m always very nervous before any gig. I have my own routine to calm myself and prepare as best I can for the show such as keeping quiet, warming up, drinking lots of water, stretching, getting good rest, eating well and mentally preparing as well as going over lyrics. 

Chas - What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?

Ann - The best advice I can give is that it takes practice to calm yourself. You have to find the things that work best for you. Some people might meditate, drink tea, warm up etc. Do make sure you get a good night’s sleep the day before the gig. Drink lots of water, stretch, do warm up exercises for your instrument, eat healthy foods as much as possible especially the day of, such as brown rice, green veggies and  good carbs. Avoid bad fats and sugar, they will just clog your body and mind and make you sluggish. Avoid drugs, alcohol and cigarettes too. These just dehydrate you and limit your motor skills and concentration as well as other obvious ill effects. The nerves to tend to go away once you get out on stage and do a song a two. Then it’s all just fun! The more gigs you do, the easier it will be. Sometimes I think of a gig as ‘just a rehearsal’ with my band so as to take the feeling of pressure off. Again, different things work for different people! Bottom line is, have a great time! 

Chas - How often and for how long do you practice?

Ann - I used to practice five hours every day because I just loved singing so much. Now I practice when I can find the time! It’s good to keep in shape by practicing at least a few hours a few days a week, but again, everyone is different. Some people need to do so every day. I normally sing for an hour or so when I practice. 

Chas -  Where do you hope to be in say 5 years or more?

Ann - In five years, I’d love to have a very comfortable home, see my family bloom and grow and remain happy and healthy, own 3 dogs, see my band Dream Aria continue to do well, see Mother Earth more healthy, see more people in a happier state of mind. I’d also love to be helping others more with their spiritual, emotional and physical health. I would be happy to also see all my current paintings and new ones completed! I’ve also been working on a clothing line so we’ll see how that goes.

Chas - If listeners want to get in touch with you or want to hear more of you music how can they get in touch?

Anna - The best way to contact us and to hear our music is on our MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/dreamariacanada   as well as on ReverbNation and Facebook. Also, just “Google” us and we’re there! We’d love to hear from our awesome fans anytime!

Chas - Is there anything you would like to say to the wonderful Atlantic Radio Uk listeners?

Ann - Yes, I’d like to thank you and your listeners very much on behalf of myself and my band Dream Aria for taking the time to tune in to us! We greatly appreciate it and wish you all well! 

I would like to thank you Ann for taking the time to do this interview and everyone at Atlantic Radio UK and the listeners wish you all the best in the future and we hope to have you back on Atlantic Radio UK.