My name is Greta Hotmer. I was born and raised in West Chester, Pennsylvania, a historical town about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia. Both of my parents have musical backgrounds and it was my father who introduced me to the guitar after I stopped playing the piano.
Since I was 12 Ive been playing the guitar and writing music. A lot of what is on this cd today came from the early years. Cant Sleep is essentially a recycled song from middle school. I kept the chords and rhythm but changed the lyrics and melodies when I got to college. The chord progression from Radio Needs Me I found in my old practice book from middle school as well. It was something I wrote but never completed.
Ive been playing on and off throughout high school and college, mostly for friends and at open mics. Open mics are my favorite; its the best way to see how much you can affect people. If you bring down the house then you know they really like you.
All the songs (except Radio Needs Me) from this cd were recorded on my Mac using Garage Band and the computers microphone. I started recording in the fall of 2004 and just wrote Something More and recorded it yesterday, August 22nd, 2006. I want to record in an actual studio but havent found the right one yet.
The first musician I can remember wanting to be like was Tori Amos. She was and still is one of my favorite musicians and someone I look up to all the time. I have also been influenced by Ani Difranco, Eva Cassidy, Bad Religion, Thrice, and Nikka Costa (theres probably a bunch Im forgetting).
I am a gypsy of sorts. I love to sing and write music, but I have other passions too. I am a photographer, I am a Reiki practitioner, but my other real passion in Krav Maga (Israeli Fighting and Self Defense). I have been teaching Krav Maga since I was 19 and training in it since I was 17. Ive always felt that if I were to ever be someone for girls to look up to then I want to do it right. I believe in being feminine but not giving your self away for a compliment. I am an advocate that girls can be feminine, beautiful and tough as hell. Its the ultimate form of self respect. Youll hear these influences coming out in some of my songs, but mostly in Radio Needs Me. Radio needs someone who can help reset the balance of self worth and showing skin; if its me, great. If not, I just want to see it out there.
Thank you, so much, for listening to my cd. I hope you enjoy the music and I hope it gets stuck in your head:) I value your time and appreciate you finding me.
All the best,
Greta Hotmer
