Vonda Shepard and the company she keeps

If you don’t know who Vonda Shepard is, it means only one thing – you don’t watch the popular US TV series (aired locally on RPN 9) Ally McBeal, topbilling Calista Flockhart (no, she isn’t suffering from anorexia as many televiewers suspect until now). Now, don’t ask who – or what – Ally McBeal and/or Calista Flockhart are. Otherwise, Kris Aquino, an avid follower of the TV series, might scream in disbelief, "Where have you been!?! On the moon!?!"

Are you asking me, Dear Kris?

No, I haven’t been "on the moon"; I was in Phuket, Thailand, four weeks ago and I did a one-on-one with, that’s it, Vonda Shepard who was there with the Destiny’s Child (featured in Conversations two Sundays ago) and the new Latino group MDO (formerly Menudo) for the annual get-together of Sony Music executives from around the world, with Wally Chamsay (and company) representing Sony Music Philippines.

During the first-night showcase at the huge fully-aircon tent put up for the Sony affair near the sprawling Laguna Resort Hotel, Vonda sang selections from her new album (the one she’s now promoting) Songs From Ally McBeal Featuring Vonda Shepard (The Wildest Times of the World, Maryland, Will You Marry Me?, Looking For Something and the TV series’ theme song Searchin’ My Soul, plus takes on such classic songs as Walk Away Renee, It’s In His Kiss/The Shoop Shoop Song, I Only Want To Be With You and You Belong To Me).

There and then, I understood why Emmy-winning writer-producer David E. Kelley, husband of Michelle Pfeiffer who’s Vonda’s bosom friend, got Vonda for Ally McBeal. Vonda sang with so much soul and so much heart and feeling that you couldn’t help being, yes, moved, especially when she did Maryland which she described as "the song of my life."

The next morning when I sat with Vonda for the one-on-one, the first thing I asked her was how she got into Ally McBeal where her character (a sultry singer at a nightclub frequented by Ally McBeal and company) is said to represent the soul of Ally McBeal.

"I discovered that Michelle and David... I’ve known Michelle for about 20 years, since I was 19... have been fans of my music for many years, so one night I invited them to watch me perform at the club (in L.A.). Then, David asked for a copy of my CD. Two days later, David called me, ‘Do you want to do your songs for the pilot of a new show I’m doing?’ Cool, I said."

The rest, you guessed it, is history. Ally McBeal became a smash hit and, as Vonda put it, "it has developed into a huge career for me; I never thought the TV series would become that huge a hit."

Vonda blended so beautifully into the format of the show that David did away with his original plan to let Calista sing her thoughts herself, turning Vonda’s character into "the conscience of Ally McBeal." At first, said Vonda, "I did not sign any contract for one whole year. David just kept calling and asking me, ‘Can you do two more songs for the show, or three or four more songs?’ Sure, I said. Before I knew it, I’ve been on the show for four years and a half and I had moved back to L.A. from New York and I’ve been immensely enjoying it!"

So how much of Ally McBeal or her own character does Vonda identify with or relate to?

Laughed Vonda: "Ally McBeal walks down the streets crying, looking for the right man. I don’t do that. She’s neurotic, I’m not. She’s a successful and hard-working woman and that’s where I’m similar to her. I don’t blurt things out the way Ally McBeal does; I’m more guarded in my speech. I’m more like the singer I play on the show, though."

Her childhood has been described as Bohemian. She was only 10 when her parents broke up, with Vonda and her three sisters opting to live with their father who was a struggling mime/actor/writer.

"I remember a lot of artists coming to our house – singers, songwriters, jugglers, mimes, clowns, puppeteers and artists. It was really weird... all kinds of strange, interesting people. I could have become a mime or a juggler, but I became a singer-songwriter instead."

Asked who her role models have been, Vonda mentioned the likes of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and a few other artists "of the old school." Vonda said her vocals have been greatly influenced by soul music and her writing by classic singer-songwriters.

What does Searchin’ My Soul say about the directions she has taken and decisions she has made in her life?

"Speaking of my own soul," Vonda admitted with a laugh, "I’m still searching for it. It takes time, you know. Maybe I’ll find it when I’m 75 or 80, who knows? My nature is... well.... I’m a searcher by nature. I’m constantly searching for something, that’s why I have a song called Looking for Something. How do I do it? I read a lot of spiritual books; I meditate."

Asked what the best decision she has ever made, Vonda burst into laughter.

"Not getting married."

And the worst?

She thought for a while and, again, burst into laughter.

"You read my mind... not getting married. I guess I would have done many mistakes if I got married."

Having been a friend for almost two decades, Vonda should know Michelle Pfeiffer inside-out.

"She’s one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever known. She has been a great inspiration to me. She seems always to be growing, growing, growing not only as a person and as a woman but also as an artist. She continues to develop. She’s very smart and lots of fun. She has a good heart. Since we’re both busy now, we see each other maybe only once a month. We have dinner and we laugh together for three hours."

What about Calista?

"Calista and I became friends a couple of years into the show. In the beginning, we were nice and cordial to each other, and it took a while before we became friends. Now, when I have a party, she comes; when she has a party, I go."

And Robert Downey, Jr. (now facing another court case in connection with his drug addiction, having violated some terms in his conditional release)?

"Like Calista, he’s great. Very talented. We worked together on three songs on the Ally McBeal album. I produced most of the album."

She considers "now" as the wildest time of her life.

"My stint with Ally McBeal is something I never planned nor expected. It’s been a whirlwind, these past four years and a half."

Now, why does she consider Maryland as "the song of my life"?

Vonda turned serious before answering.

"It sums up my feelings about life. I’m going to play music no matter what happens, whether I’m successful or not. I’m gonna have friends, a lot of friends. Maryland is the most poignant of all my songs."