Rock Star
CHRISTA
MERCEY
Christa grew up in Southwestern, Ontario, Canada surrounded by a musical family. She received her Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto. In 2002, Christa received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to study music in Ghana, West Africa. Since 2002 Christa has performed on prominent stages including performances with NEXUS (performing Steve Reich's Drumming at PASIC 2002), various orchestras, world music ensembles (Kekeli West African Ensemble), bands and artists including T. Nile, Ainsley McNeaney, Andy McGuire, and her father Ray Mercey of the Mercey Brothers (7 time Juno award recipients). She has also been featured on recordings with Bob Becker and the U of T Percussion Ensemble, and Andy McGuire. Christa was an original member of TorQ Percussion Quartet (Yamaha Canada Artists) and performed with them from 2003-2007. Since 2005, Christa has been touring the world performing in the high voltage show Scrap Arts Music.
ON MUSIC “The places I get to visit, the people I meet, and the things I have experienced have given me a sense of richness.”
PS: How would you describe your music...?*
CM: The music that I play varies from the high energy fully choreographed powerful percussion show called Scrap Arts Music, to playing drums and percussion with singer songwriters such as Ainsley McNeaney, Andy McGuire, and sometimes even my dad Ray Mercey.
PS: What do you intend to achieve with your music?
CM: During the past 6 years I have spent touring I have received many comments, especially coming from women, saying that they felt empowered watching me on stage specifically in my performances with SAM where I am the only gal up there with a bunch of big strong guys. So, I guess the answer to this question would be that I hope to inspire people to be themselves and not to let things like their sex, race, physicality etc .. dictate who they are. I love meeting those type against type people. They are the most interesting to me.
PS: Who's on your playlist?
CM: Patrick Watson, Joni Mitchell, Radiohead, Daniel Lanois, Feist, Neil Young, Paul Simon, west african music, The Swell Season, Joanna Newsom, Ryan Adams, Johnny Cash, anything with Levon Helm, Miles Davis….
PS: Why are the arts important?
CM: Wow, this is a big question. The arts unite people; it allows people to challenge each other and to share their thoughts in a peaceful way; it encourages enlightenment. Study after study has proven the positive effects that music and art have on children; their grades in school and their social well being. I recently performed at a wonderful festival in Adelaide, Australia. There were 20 000 people on the grounds each day and at one point I looked around and noticed how happy and gracious everyone was towards each other….Music, dancing, art, and food…That's all you need to keep a bunch of people with smiles on their faces. I thought to myself, if the world had more of this in our everyday lives, it would be a much happier place.
ON FASHION “It's not just hanging in your grandmother's kitchen window anymore…”
PS: What is your "can't live without" fashion accessory?*
CM: hmm… I have several… gotta have a great pair of boots, my favourite belt buckle made by Heather Church, and my chunky bracelets from Pinkstix because they work with casual or dressy looks…
PS: What do you normally wear on stage?
CM: When I am on tour with Scrap Arts Music, I wear a black shirt, black skirt with a red crinoline underneath, black fish nets, black Puma boots…It's a fun costume to wear…I feel a bit like a superhero.. When I am playing at a club I'm usually in my favourite jeans (right now it's a pair of True Religion jeans that fit me perfectly), a nice pair of boots- no heels if I'm playing kit though (I think that would take some practice)...
PS: Which spring trend is your favourite so far?
CM: I have to say that I love that macrame has made a come back. It's not just hanging in your grandmother's kitchen window anymore….I'm really liking the french vintage styles, and I also like a lot of the bright colours and textures in the fabrics.
Also, the Slow Fashion Movement is something that I really admire. However, I hope that it is more of a long lasting practice rather than a trend.
PS: What outfit makes you feel most alive?
I have a really great Odd Molly dress…Navy Blue with red flowers, lots of little detailed bits..love the details. I dress it up with red wedges and some jewelry.
PS: Which pinkstix collection resonates best to your personal style?*
I love the vintage chic stuff and the chunky gunmetal jewelry.
