Meet Astrid Plane | Singer, Songwriter, Musician and Performing Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Astrid Plane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Astrid, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have always been a singer, from when I sat at my grandmothers’ fireplace hearth and she taught me all the traditional Irish songs she knew, to getting a guitar in Spain when I was 13 and getting lessons at the all girls school I attended in England where I grew up. I soaked music up like a sponge and I had a knack for singing and playing. I was not shy about performing in front of an audience, and people seemed to really enjoy what I sang. At first I wanted to keep it as a fun hobby, I thought if I did it professionally it might ruin the fun of it for me. But as it turnred out it’s my greatest joy to entertain people and see how much they enjoy it. It’s a way of communicating feelings and experiences through song, and it touches peoples’ hearts.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was one of the lucky ones, I got the golden ticket, the record deal afer 10 months of trying with the Band I created “Animotion.” I actually don’t believe it was luck. It was all the years I’d put in before that, singing in so-so bands and paying my dues. I used to drive from L A to San Diego on the weekends and sing on Military bases for Marines. That cured me of any performance jitters I may have had. Singing for a room of several 100 Marines and being the only woman in the place helps gets you tough! I sang with a 7 piece Phillipino disco band and was the tallest member of the band. I thrashed my voice singing incorrectly, then started getting vocal lessons and learned how to do it right.
I’m blessed that I had a hit record “Obsession” that went to the top of the charts in the mid 80’s. To this day it’s heard on the radio, has been used in many movies and TV shows. What I’m most excited about is that I still get to tour and perform on big stages with Animotion, and many other of my favourite 80’s bands. Recently a fan told me, “Astrid, your music is the soundtrack of my life.” What a compliment! I always make time to talk to fans and give them hugs and thank them for the support – if they didn’t come we wouldn’t have shows. Another fan thanked me for coming out into the audience and meeting them after the show, they said most Artists don’t do that and they really appreciated that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Central California, it’s about a 3 hour drive to the coast. I would spend about 3 days in Cambria and Moonstone Beach, in a wonderful boutique hotel there. We would go to Hearst Castle and San Simeon beach. There are several wonderful beaches up and down the coast, Cayocus, Carmel, Monterey. We would cruise up and down and visit them all. All the restaurants and shops are fun, artsy and fabulous. A week would not be enough to see them all, but we would take our time and enjoy as much as we could without rushing around.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Grandmother wanted me to audition for an English talent TV show Opportunity Knocks when I was young. Although I didn’t do that it planted a seed. Bill Homewood my Guitar teacher and performance mentor at my School Brentford School for Girls. My Dad got me my first gig at an Italian Restaurant singing all the pop songs I knew one night a week I was probably 15 at the time. Once I’d moved to Hollywood California I fell in with a crowd who were all trying to make it in the Music Business. My friend Jack Willoghby told me “Go on as many auditions as you can and get your first 100 refusals out of the way.” It didn’t take nearly that many tries before I started getting gigs singing with bands. But he helped me get the right mindset.