Trick Pony (Heidi Newfield)

What is in a name? For the red hot musical trio Trick Pony, quite a bit. While they are named after the Paul Simon movie “One Trick Pony”(1980). (Paul Simon is of the ’60’s USA folk duo SIMON & GARFUNKEL), the recording group Trick Pony has proved to be anything but a one-trick circus attraction.

The group is comprised of Heidi Newfield (vocals), Keith Burns (guitars), and Ira Dean(bass).

With the release of their self-titled 2001 debut disc, Trick Pony quickly became one of the best selling groups in the USA.
The first three singles they released, all went to the top of the charts. And now, the trio’s new album is titled, ” On A Mission”.
Within the mix of the music on the tracks to, “On A Mission” is a raw, stripped-down, rock sound.
“It’s very real, “Heidi Newfield says of the recording, during a recent interview. “The music on our new album is not overproduced. If we just walked into a room and picked up two guitars and a bass, then played live, that’s the quality of our sound.”

(Q)- What are the reasons you love to perform?

Heidi Newfield- The process of creating a song from thin air, writing that song, going in the studio and recording that song, then making it come to life is a part of the reason. Then, putting that song onto a record, and having that same song on radio across the country, to a larger audience is another. To have all that happen, then to follow-up by standing there on-stage, singing that same song, no matter how deep or how light hearted the lyric, feeds my soul. That’s why I do this.

(Q)- Why else do you long to perform and have people watching you while you are on a stage?

Heidi Newfield- I cannot think of anything else, even from the time of being six years old, that I wanted to do. For me, my life has never veered off of,”The Path”.

(Q)- What is, “The Path”?
Heidi Newfield- To sing. It’s almost like I’ve gone through life with blinders on. I’ve known exactly what I wanted to do since I was a little girl. My goals, my ambitions, have been to sing.

(Q)- You’re a very sexual and dynamic performer. Have you always been into, “showing off”?
Heidi Newfield- I’ve never been shy on-stage. I’ve always been very at home and comfortable on the stage. I’ve always been comfortable speaking with people and singing for people.

(Q)- In the USA, to many people, you’re known as a sex symbol.
Heidi Newfield- Thank you.

(Q)- Do you feel that way?
Heidi Newfield- Sexy?

(Q)- Yes.
Heidi Newfield- Quite frankly, I feel sexy. And, no matter where you are, you’re going to exude that. I think that it (her sense of sexuality) comes from within with me. I feel confident about who I am as a person, how I treat other people and how I’m dressed. As well as how my hair looks. If I’m comfortable with that, which I am, then I’m going to exude that whenever I’m on-stage. If I express myself on-stage or in a photo session and get in touch with the sexier side of my personality, then it’s OK. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still have my insecure moments. Everyone has good days and bad days and by no means am I excluding myself from all of that.

(Q)-Heidi, is there one central theme for you within the music on the, “On A Mission” disc?

Heidi Newfield- It’s a fun record it’s a record that has a sense of live energy to it. It’s got that raw live energetic vibe to it. Which I think expresses us and how we are. The lyrical content is more along the lines of heartaches and getting over your personal pain.