Folk It Up: According to your website, you have a new album coming out in 2005, Soaked In Rain. What's that going to be about?

Arlene: It's mostly about the past year and a half or so of my life, love, and just these transitions I've been going through. I've had a lot of growth during this time, and people that already listen to me have already mentioned the changes. It's got some of my favorite songs to play on it, and it was grandly written for myself, to myself in an effort to sort some shit out.... are we allowed to say shit?

FIU: You can say anything you‘d like. I’m curious though, What types of things were you sorting out on it?

Arlene: Mostly things within myself that were keeping me from wanting and keeping myself in safe places. I was in a really shitty relationship, and I needed to be secure with myself enough to be able to get out of it. it was an emotionally abusive cycle, and it took a lot of inner strength to recognize that people shouldn't be treating me this way. Also, I had been through some seriously traumatic issues years ago that I had left ‘undealt’ with. It gave me the chance to conquer those things, and get them all out there. It allowed me to file them safely away in my emotional psyche.

FIU: Like realizing the idea behind being self-empowered?

Arlene: Yes. it's very much like the idea of being self-empowered. Yet at the same time just also letting things be and realizing that some things just are. There's a song called 'like rain now,' that's a particularly special track to me. It's all about self cleansing, renewal, and just being alone, in a very ‘alone’ time. The chorus just goes, “it's all coming down... like rain now.” To me that's very powerful and yet very simple.

FIU: Is that where the album's name comes from?

Arlene: Actually it's not. There are some themes that run through the album. Rain is one of them... this will sound funny. I had actually wanted to name the album 'under this skin' and just for kicks I searched it on google. I didn't realize that Avril Lavigne had just released 'Under My Skin.' I definitely didn't want that tied in with me just because. I’m sure you can imagine, to each their own. So I had thought of naming it, 'like rain now' and then the song 'righteous' came along. It's about a new and passionate love that was starting at the very end of the writings of the album. There are two songs sparked from this relationship, and they just made the album, making it a total of 19 tracks.

I also like the idea of the title of the album not being a song name. When 'righteous' came along it was nice the bridge goes “it's ok cuz we're soaked in rain... it's ok, so just tell me again now,” and it just spoke to me. It took what I had wanted from 'like rain now' and brought it into a whole new light. We were now, not only cleansing, but we were starting again. And 'righteous' is very much an internal fight with the old, vs. the new relationships. It was proof that I was not only improving, growing, renewing, and becoming stronger, but that I was also not giving up on the passion of life and trying new things.

FIU: And when is the new album due out?

Arlene: i would love to release it by December. It might be nice to release it in the fall, before the new year, but the funds have been extremely tight allowing little leeway for such a luxurious expense. A lot of people have emailed, and contacted me about getting it. We have a slow trickling presale going that has helped somewhat to start the funds. We've had some fund raisers here and there, but we're not even halfway there yet. So we're looking into other funding options every day

FIU: So I take it this is all self-funded by fans and yourself?

Arlene: Yes, completely.

FIU: How about your influences, what are you listening to at the moment?

Arlene: Well, I'm seriously on edge for the new Dar Williams cd to come out. I saw her in concert last Sunday, and she just moves me. I could talk about Ani, but it's a sore subject. It’s sad since she's off for the year, and seeing the second to last show of her tour, watching how emotional she was about it... but, that just means she'll be writing more this year right? ha.

FIU: It's true, Ani knows how to keep herself busy.

Arlene: Let's see, what else. I am in love with this old 97's tune. I’ve have been listening nonstop to Lori McKenna, and Kris Delmhorst. I constantly surround myself with music and find the three people that I am always listening to, regardless of my mood are Ani, Dar, and Patty Griffin. I think they are my greatest influences. New artists that I love are Chris Pureka, and Katie Sawicki, they’re damn good.

FIU: Any plans to play some dates outside of the East Coast?

Arlene: I would love to, but that all depends on funding and work as well since I still work full time. I do have some bites to play some possible shows in the Midwest, Chicago, and Indiana areas. I also might be already taking a trip to California with a friend, and why wouldn't I try to schedule all the shows I can then!?

FIU: Anything else you want to talk about?

Arlene: I guess, that I would like in the future, being able to write more politically. I've started doing that. It was just hard before I had correctly sifted through a lot of my own emotions. So, here i am at a new platform, and it may work, and it may not. Chances are though, that I'll be able to record a whole new cd right after the release of 'soaked in rain.’ I already have tons of new material.

FIU: What type of political songs? What issues are the nearest and dearest to you?

Arlene: I guess right now, it seems that I would love to talk about my passions for this country. Talk about the war in Iraq, and how much I hate it. Also, religion touches me very closely, but it's a fiery topic for any equal-right-seeking-big-righteous-lesbian like myself to want to fight for as well. We shall see how many people I can piss off.

FIU: So being an equal-right-seeking-big-righteous-lesbian, would you say that civil rights and equal treatment are the issues that touch you the most personally?

Arlene: They are definitely issues I encounter every day in my life. I try very hard to help people see eye to eye with me. Sometimes, I feel like having strange conversations with my 'liberal' straight friends, and those can be the toughest and yet most important these days. It's tough to tell your best friend, who's straight and male, that it makes you upset that he's not understanding why you're upset that you can't come to his bachelor party. He's ok with me being gay. He's a great man, and yet it's a struggle for him to go through, and as Alix Olson would say, “de construct” his own idea to include me.

FIU: Do you think that plays a big role in what we’re seeing now with respect to the conflict over religion and politics in this country?

Arlene: Absolutely. I was planning on going to seminary in 2003. I didn't go because I wasn't strong enough for the fight. I can't say that I still want to be a pastor, however, I know what it's like on the inside and the outside. It's refreshing to see how many people are fighting for equality and change within the church. It's still upsetting to see how many people are against us, it depresses me. It discourages my faith in many ways. I think religion and church can be a great place to start to find equal support, at least for me since i was raised up there.

FIU: What faith were you raised in?

Arlene: Lesbyterian... err... I mean, Presbyterian.

FIU: What's the overall change that you're hoping to help create within the church?

Arlene: Marriage would be nice. That's getting there, every day I feel like more and more people are treating gay people as 'real' people within the church. This sadly, also depends on where you go. There's still some resistance, and we're working with that. It's patience too. We can't go in there fighting. We can do that with government, and other things since that's the only way they may listen.

FIU: So you do think this change is rapidly approaching then? What with the war, and the issues of equal treatment?

Arlene: Well, there is nothing rapid about Presbyterians

FIU: Haha, I just mean generally speaking...

Arlene: I think that it's coming, not too quietly though, and I'm ok with that. I want my friend to come home from Iraq on a selfish note. I think they need to realize how little they thought through this whole 'war' thing. It's going to take a lot more time, pain, and all kinds of stuff before things get straightened out. As for same sex marriage, I would love to see that in my lifetime. I think it keeps coming up, and that's a good thing. Just being in the current news so much is a good sign that it's on lots of people's minds.

FIU: Is there any new song you've written that embodies what you've just said?

Arlene: There's some poems that haven't hit it right just yet. Let's just say there's one on the tip of my tongue. It always has to come from something that moves me in my personal life. I am the self centered artist that sings about the woes of her life, and how these outside things keep impeding, and I love it.

FIU: As do you fans...

Arlene: Which is amazingly supporting my habit... err passion. did I say habit? Music is like crack... I tell ya.