What do you listen to while you work? I mostly listen to Jazz during the day when I work, either instrumental or with words.  I will pepper in some Soul or World Music if I need a boost!  Erica Badu, Adele, Aretha Franklin, Corinne Bailey Ray, Angelique Kidjo or Toots Thielmans will always makes me happy! As the evening nears, I tend to play something a little more moody, like Gretchen Parlato, Jeff Buckley or Esperanza Spalding.

How do you listen? Since I have my own office I don’t have to wear head phones when I listen to music.  I generally listen through the speakers on my computer. I try to keep the volume at a respectable level, yet still serve my need for the music to change my atmosphere.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? I listen to Pandora on occasion.

Does music influence your work? Listening to music while I work helps me to stay calm.  My job can be tremendously stressful.  Mostly I am responding to people streaming into my office all day long with problems.  I try to use a creative approach to solve the complex and challenging issues surrounding art and politics, such as how to continually provide cultural and artistic services throughout the City of Los Angeles with diminishing human and financial resources. Music helps me to think outside of the box when searching for innovative solutions to these concerns.

Who influences your musical taste? My daughter Brynne.  She is part of an acoustic/indie duet called Le-Ti. She gives me a new mixed-cd about once a quarter with some amazing music on it.  That really pushes me to keep expanding my musical taste.  I find that the time of day or the beautiful California light and sunsets will also influence what I listen to!

What song or artist best represents the work you create/ If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be? Well, it’s the end of the year and everybody wants everything completed right now, so I would have to say today my work feels like the painting The Scream by Edvard Munch.

Felicia Filer’s Playlist

Esperanza Spalding, Fall In

Bobby McFarren, Invocation

Adele, Rolling In the Deep

John Coltrane, A Love Supreme

Wayne Shorter, Dance Cadavarous

The Beatles, Blackbird

Emanative & Ahu, Turn Your Lights On

Erykah Badu, Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long

Gretchen Parlato, Winter Wind

Azymuth, Free As A Bird

Jeff Buckley, Grace