TopazThyme
TopazThyme is a duo featuring vocalist/lyricist Bunny Relerford, with songwriter/producer and sometime vocalist Durwood Walker, based in Metro Washington, DC.
Bunny comes from a family of musicians and entertainers. She previously sang with choirs in her native Philadelphia, PA., including the Overbrook High School Choir, The Philadelphia Choral Ensemble, with whom she recorded. Her maternal grandmother was a staple on many Hollywood sitcoms of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Bunny's jazz pianist uncle Raymond King is internationally known as the "Kardboard King" for his artistic creations using cardboard as his medium.
Durwood sang in his high school glee club in Lillington, North Carolina; later studied music theory and double bass violin and gigged around the DC area with the likes of the Sharon Ridley Trio, vibist Clement Wells, pianist John Malachi and others.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Formed in winter of 2010.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
At present we're simply a home recording group. Our fond wish, however, is to take our music and our message to senior living spaces, homes for the disabled, etc., and maybe do some weddings and other special functions.
Your musical influences
Bunny says, "all the music I've heard," and I echo that statement. Bunny is especially fond of traditional church music, as well as contemporary christian, jazz, and pop vocalists.
As a writer, I (Durwood) am very fond of the work of John Lewis (Modern Jazz Quartet), Hoagy Carmichael, India Arie, John Legend, Tadd Dameron, to name a few.
What equipment do you use?
iMac 3.06Ghz, Edirol UA-25 audio-midi interface, EMU X49 midi controller, Logic Pro 9, Soundsoap 2, DSP Quattro 4, PG Music's Band In A Box For Mac, DubTurbo 1.5, Shure SM58 vocal microphone and a variety of MXL condenser mics. (A modest setup.)
Anything else?
Want to give a nod to award winning recording artist Owen Critchley and his Easy Home Recording Blueprint/Blueprint To Getting Heard, which is helping us to get our music recorded and exposed to the public.
To make music is fun AND challenging. Making GOOD music with a positive message, that is pleasant and exhilarating to listen to is our wish!!
