About Me, Amy Lotsberg, the Founder/Producer/Editor of Collected Sounds.

I have been a music lover as long as I can remember. With my father is an actor/director/writer/producer and my mother is a dance teacher so I grew up in a very musical household. I sang and danced shortly after I walked. It wasn't until about the age of 5 when I got really interested in popular music, as opposed to musical theater.

My first favorite song was Carole King's "It's Too Late, Baby". I of course had no idea what she was singing about but I loved her voice and the whole sound of the song. I still admire her.

I took piano lessons for several years and was in some type of choir all through my school years. I sang second soprano mostly because it was a hard part and becuase I was one of the few who could, at least partially, read music. I don't really remember how to anymore.

I later moved on to some of the 70s greatest pop hits like, "Billy Don't be a Hero" and "Seasons in the Sun". I have been a fanatical music listener ever since. I went through my "Prince" phase (didn't we all?), Wham! and all the other hit's of the 80s as well.

I discovered Sarah McLachlan in 1991 and this was the first time I had such a connection with an artist and what she was saying. Oh sure, I identified with Morrissey's self-loathing lyrics and moody music in my college years. I think I really loved The Smiths' music because it made me feel like my life wasn't so bad in comparison. But with Ms. McLachlan it was different.
It was like she could read my mind. She sang what I wanted to say.

My next step was to really pay attention to the music, not just the lyrics. I realized that I prefer music that has a lot of layers, where you can pick out something different with each listen. But there is a part of me that also loves the simple melodies and silly, but intelligent lyrics of groups like They Might Be Giants.

My love for Women in Music began when I joined an Internet Mailing List of Sarah McLachlan fans. There the members discussed not only Sarah, but other female musicians as well. I learned a lot about a lot of women I never knew about and discovered some wonderful music.

On a personal level I live in Minneapolis, MN with my husband, Greg, three dogs, a cat (my 19 year old lady cat passed away in October of 2006...I still miss her) and a lot of hair balls. Other than music I enjoy cooking (not baking, that's too rigid and I've never been one to do what I'm told), computer games, movies and tv (I watch WAY too much TV but with a home theater it's hard not to), and throwing parties for my friends.

I want Collected Sounds to be a place where you can come to read about artists you know as well as being introduced to those you are not as familiar with. I don't intend to have ALL the information that all of you might need, but I want to be a good resource for how to get it.

My other mission is to be a good resource for Indpendent Musicians. A tool they can use to help get their music and face "out there" via CD reviews, spotlights and articles as well as the occasional mention in the community forums.

If there is anything else you would like to see on this site, please let me know.