Smart Woman Online

SmartTalk: Lisa Mathews

Co-founder of the Kid-oriented Rock Band Milkshake

October 9, 2008

Lisa Mathews left the Baltimore indie rock scene behind
to start Milkshake.

“Kids, no less than grownups, deserve great rock music they can call their own.”

These are the words of Lisa Mathews, who spent most of the 1990s kicking around the indie music scene in the critically acclaimed, Baltimore-based rock group Love Riot. Nowadays, six years after becoming a parent and then co-founding Milkshake with guitarist Mikel Gehl, Mathews’ vocals are being heard regularly on kids’ radio stations.

Following the release of the band’s third CD — entitled “Play!” — Milkshake is busily promoting a new DVD, “Screen Play.” The DVD features live-action and computer-animated videos, candid backstage clips and performance footage that highlights the group’s expanded roster (Mathews and Gehl are joined by lead guitarist Michael “Shepp” Sheppard, drummer Tom Moon, bass player Cord Neal and keyboardist Brian Simms.).

For Milkshake’s high-energy concerts — including an Oct. 12 appearance at KidsFest Chicago, a DVD release party one week later at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, and a Nov. 28 performance during the annual Festival of Trees at the Maryland State Fairgrounds — this tutu-wearing rocker mom keeps her music honest. “Kids can smell a silly, empty song a mile away,” says Mathews. “We treat them as people and appeal to what is important to them, while retaining our rock stance.”

Mathews, in turn, is having the time of her life!

“For years we traveled in a van, saved money by staying five people to one motel room, and made 50 bucks and beer per night,” says Mathews. “Now we fly all over the place, everybody makes decent money — we’re living this rock star lifestyle!”

Mathews: It wasn’t so much a conscious decision as simply an evolutionary shift-of-direction. I became pregnant and that changed so much in my life, including what I was interested in writing about, and where I wanted to be. I wasn’t interested in singing in smoke-filled bars anymore. I wasn’t even interested in singing the songs of love and heartbreak I had written. I had found this new love, and it was my baby, and it took over my every moment. I began writing about simple things like counting and breakfast and creating lullabies for her.

Mikel Gehl, my partner in music for over 20 years, went along with the new direction, especially when he became a father a year later. It now made sense to both of us to write songs for our children.

We consider raising our kids one of the greatest challenges and adventures ever — certainly one that is inspiring some great music from Milkshake.

Q. How do you balance the rigors of a music career with being a mom?

Mathews: As often as possible, I take my daughter Jesse with me on the road. It’s a bit easier than one thinks, since most dates for a kid band happen on weekends. She loves to travel, and I’m a firm believer that travel is one of the best educations. Milkshake has actually made it possible to be there with my child more hours of the day. I’m my own boss, and work out of my home during the week. I try to involve my husband and child in the music process as well, running new songs by them, seeing if Jesse likes them. I care about what she thinks most of all, since the music is so inspired by her. My husband, Miles, has even played some guitar on the Milkshake CDs. My family seems to share in the vision and the excitement of watching Milkshake grow and evolve.

Q. What sets Milkshake apart from other kid-oriented bands?

Mathews: We write music that kids can call their own. It’s exhilarating, tuneful, original stuff that comes from a very real, honest place. The band isn’t something that we went out and cast for some TV show (although I look at my bandmates now and think they’re better than the Monkees!). Every member of Milkshake is approachable and genuine and beautifully imperfect. During a Milkshake concert, all kinds of funny, crazy stuff can happen, and I think kids love to see a real rock band that is actually rocking for them and with them.

Q. You cast quite a presence on stage — how did you learn to relate so well with your young audience … and what’s with the tutu?

Mathews: I don’t think it’s anything I learned, relating to a young audience. It’s just something that comes naturally. I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t real — if it wasn’t something I genuinely cared about and felt inside.

It was easy for me to get up in front of an audience of adults, strap on an electric guitar and sing and talk a bit during a Love Riot concert. It was like there was this invisible wall of cool that’s expected and accepted. But you can’t just do that for children. That’s not enough. That’s why I don’t play much guitar anymore — I feel this incredible need to go dance and play with all the kids who came to see Milkshake. Fun is my new operative word, not cool.

Now, you know … I don’t understand people asking me “what’s with the tutu?” unless they have never really hung out with little girls! Girls like to dress up, and most every little girl I know owns at least one tutu or something very frilly.

When Mikel and I first began playing out as a duo called Milkshake, I had some time to window shop before a show in Mt. Vernon. I went into what was then a great shop called Dreamland, and the owner had this amazing shelf full of tutus, which were actually square dance petticoats. At the time, I was just wearing shorts and my black lace-up boots during shows. It was nothing special. But I pulled one of these tutus off the shelf, slipped it on and immediately not only knew it was fun, but it also felt right. It made sense. When I put that tutu on before a show, it reminds me that it’s time to have fun, make music and share some very special moments with the younger set. That’s it. There’s nothing crazy or “unhinged” about wearing the tutu. And I believe it’s much more visually interesting than my normal daily uniform: jeans and a T-shirt.

Q. What is the dynamic of the band, with you as the lone female member among five guys?

Mathews: It is interesting being on the road with Milkshake as years go by. We have settled in to a psuedo-family state of being. Sometimes I feel like all of the guys are my big brothers. They protect me and take care of things. Other times, I feel like I’m their bossy mom. Sometimes I’m just the boss, which I have to say is my least favorite hat to wear. I think we all take turns making fun of each other, but it is a real mutual-admiration society. I think we genuinely care about each other and enjoy hanging out together. And I know the music and show we’ve created together is really something very special. We’re very excited at how things have progressed, and are looking forward to recording our fourth record over the coming winter months. And you can see how much fun we have on the new DVD. The videos reflect the band perfectly, and there’s even some bits featuring the band just hanging out that are like little windows into Milkshake World.

Q. What, for you, has been the highlight of Milkshake’s run of successes?

Mathews: I am happy to say we have had many bright highlights. Filming videos for Noggin, PBS KIDS and Discovery Kids were all very different, all very high-budget undertakings, all fun to do. But over the past two years, Milkshake has set about filming our own videos, and I have to say, each day — each film shoot — was a joyous event, too. So I consider our low-budget but highly inspired. self-produced videos to be highlights as well.

Favorite shows include doing the Jamarama tour nationwide with Laurie Berkener and Dan Zanes; Club Med in Ixtapa, Mexico, after we wrote their new Mini-Med theme song; Santa Rosa; NYC; Minneapolis; Chicago; Park City; Las Vegas; Cape Cod … everywhere. And most especially, all those wonderful shows in our hometown of Baltimore.

Q. How would you characterize the Baltimore music scene?

Mathews: Unfortunately, I don’t go out enough. That’s changing as Jesse gets older, though, so check back with me in a year or so!

Q. Have you seen more of a female presence in the music industry in recent times, or do hurdles remain for women rockers?

Mathews: I think there’s plenty of female presence in adult rock, although I’m quite amazed that the big acts you hear about in Kid Music remain mostly male. That puzzles me a bit, since you’d think it would be otherwise. Dad’s not the only guy who can make music!

Q. If there’s one Milkshake song that makes you most proud, what would it be?

Mathews: I’m pretty happy with most of the stuff we’ve created for Milkshake. I think we’re doing what we set out to do, which is write music that reflects our kids and their travels through childhood. But perhaps “Bottle of Sunshine” stands out most because it was played so much on Noggin that it was quite helpful in letting people know about Milkshake. And it’s literally a blast in concert, when the confetti cannon shoots all that yellow confetti into the audience!

Q. What’s next for Milkshake?

Mathews: We are excited about releasing our first DVD — it’s full of visual fun and has taken so long to do, it’s great to finally have it out there. Before the holidays, we’ll also have the first-ever Milkshake comic book, featuring three stories starring the Milkshake band. It’s very funny stuff. Then, it’s on to the next CD, tentatively titled “The Bridge,” and skewing a bit older in keeping with our kids and where they’re at. I shudder to think there might even be a love song on there! It’s certainly a more socially focused time in my 8-year-old’s life. With this in mind, I approach the next CD with a bit of poignancy, but I feel it will be the best Milkshake CD yet.

http://milkshakemusic.com

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