Christine Bile – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.
RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?
CB: There are so many great performers in both the Capital Region and the Berkshires. I really enjoy The E-Block—they’ve got this groovy vibe and are such kind musicians. Ky McClinton is another one I love; he does amazing John Mayer covers, but his originals are just as strong. His band is really making some great music. The Accents always put on an awesome show—I love catching them at Carson’s Woodside Tavern, Frog Alley, or Vapor in Saratoga. And in the Berkshires, Gina Coleman and Misty Blues are incredible—they make killer blues music and are known internationally. I also admire Melissa A. Brinton—she’s such a kind person and a wonderful singer and musician all around.
RRX: A band is a business. A business of love, but you got to work for it. Let’s pretend, instead of a band, you all owned a business. What would it be, and why would it be good?
CB: I actually do have another business outside of music—I’m a therapist and run my own practice. What I do there is provide compassionate care, give people tangible coping skills, and help them set achievable goals. I really focus on empowering people to make decisions that feel right for them and to move forward in ways that work best for their lives. My business is great because I have the experience, education, and licensure to assist my clients!
RRX: Cover art is cool. It shows listeners what the artist thinks the album is all about. Because music can be felt visually. If you had to give the public a visual image that you think they would see and just “get” your groove right away, what would it be?
CB: It would be a beautiful Black woman with braids, running through a field of sunflowers with a guitar on her back. To me, that captures what my music is about—empowerment, relationships, and finding strength through challenges, whether that’s bullying, heartbreak, or just navigating life.
RRX: Artists, musicians, we immortalize. We set it in stone. Is there anyone who has passed that you feel you have immortalized in your work? If so, can you tell us a little about them?”
CB: Yes—Tina Turner. She’s been such a huge influence on me. Her voice was so powerful, and she carried so much freedom and strength in the way she performed. She went through a lot in her life, and she still made music about her hopes and dreams, all while being this absolute rockstar. I always think of that photo of her hanging off the Eiffel Tower—it’s fearless and so inspiring. I carry that kind of spirit into my own music.
RRX: Stereotypes are a bitch. I mean, aside from the really bad ones, you have cultural stereotypes about everything, including music. What do you think is the stereotype for the music you play, and how far are you away from it?
CB: I play acoustic pop-folk, but sometimes people expect something different from me because of the way I look. I’ve had people assume I sing R&B before they even listen. Folk music does sometimes get put in a box, like it’s for a certain group of people, but really, folk is storytelling—and every culture has its own way of doing that. My music is me telling my stories, with catchy melodies and honest lyrics. Sometimes my music leans into R&B or indie sounds, but at the end of the day, I’m just a human being sharing my experiences through music—whether it’s a song sung to acoustic guitar, ukulele, or a track I made with MIDI instruments.
RRX: Our style comes from the extension of our influences. It’s like an evolution. We’re influenced, and it inspires us to influence. What can you say about your influences, and what you feel you’ve done with their influence as a musician or band? Have you extended their work?
CB: Some of my biggest influences are Michael Jackson, John Mayer, Tina Turner, and Beyoncé. Michael Jackson was just one of the most creative performers ever—he brought so much soul and fun, and you could really feel his emotions in his songs. John Mayer is such an amazing songwriter and guitarist—his music can make you cry, laugh, or just vibe. Tina Turner, as I said, showed so much resilience and freedom in her art. And Beyoncé is the ultimate performer—she’s all about empowerment but also about joy.
I try to take pieces of all of that—connecting with people emotionally and writing songs they can relate to. Some of my songs are emotional, some are quirky, but they all come from an honest place. I just hope my music does justice to the artists who inspired me and those who listen.
Links to Christine music:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/49cNe5DOIGbNA4SZu2j5Ih?si=Iqzyt9peTgyJc2l3PqkrEA
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYyym3XMHu4ZoZyAuq7czw
Socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christine_bile_music/reels/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristineBileMusic
Website: christinebilemusic.net
Photo by Visions Portrait Studios.