Harmony has always come very natural to us because we started singing harmony at an early age. We heard a lot of different music growing up.
Petra HadenMy grandparents on my mom's side played in a mandolin orchestra. So when I hear mandolins, I automatically think of them.
Petra HadenOur dad played us a lot of old country songs by The Carter Family and he would sing along to it. I loved listening to him sing.
Petra HadenThe first song I wrote was "Look Both Ways Before You Cross" from Imaginaryland. I started the song by singing a bass line, "hoo hoo hoo hoo."
Petra HadenI just recorded in studios, you know, people pressed the buttons for me. So I just started recording the bass lines and guitar parts with my voice, covering classical pieces, or just making up melodies so I could learn how to use it.
Petra HadenI love the Bach Prelude No. 2 in C Minor and had that stuck in my head: why don't I put this on Imaginaryland? So I brought it to my friend Tom Grimley who recorded That Dog's first record. I played him all my a cappella pieces, and he said, "P, you should really make a record, it would be great! You can record it at my studio and I'll put it out!"
Petra Haden