Beccca Baxton
Beccca Baxton, I can’t say enough wonderful things about you girl! I blogged Beccca a couple months ago, https://harlowsblog.wixsite.com/droppingthestream/post/beccca-baxton-wildcat-country-26-04-21 and I thank all your amazing fans for reading the blog and liking it!! Beccca has the best fans in SL, and that is because she’s a wonderful singer and heartfelt human being. So, much to my happiness, Harlow said she would like to feature Beccca as the Artist of the Month for July and asked me to do the interview. Once again, I am so thrilled to present, the stunning Beccca Baxton!!
Trisha : How did you hear about SL and what brought you here?
Beccca: "I had many singer friends that had been trying to get me into SL. I had a bad accident and injuries, my right arm had to have many surgeries over several years. Music was always my release in life in any situation. I had sung in RL for many years, but now after an accident I was home bound to recover. I was so depressed over the constant surgeries and recovery to my arm back and leg. Just to have another surgery on the same thing. My friends saw this and kept on until I came into SL after about 1-2 years of persuasion. I have been singing since day 1 of coming into Second Life. I guess you can say coming into Second Life and singing was my rescue."
Trisha: How did you begin your singing career in SL? Tell us about the friends who helped you.
Beccca: "Many of the singers that knew me came in from Paltalk. Many of us know each other from that program and sing here in Second Life. They were here 1-2 years before I came in. I remember the first day I said, “omg I need a home, clothes and a better-looking Avatar.” They were not too cute back then lol. I was like a kid in a candy store and about made my friends crazy with the fast speed I wanted to move at. After wearing a stiff ballroom gown for my first show, I knew clothes had to be better than this. Friends showed me to the stores I fought off the vampires and bought my 10 L clothes because they were cuter than the free ones lol. They took me where to get me a shape and skin and then on to a home on a 512 dressing in a free store was not working for me. I was ready to go, and that I did, and haven't ever stopped."
Trisha : Do you recall your first performance and venue? How have your performances changed from years ago?
Beccca:"Wow, well, I recall the performance I sang at a ballroom within hours of logging into Sl. I was given a stream and what I call a cake dress and shown the stage. It was a popular ballroom, well known in Sl. I can’t think of the owner and name, it’s been so long. Wow have those days changed. I began getting all kinds of shows and bookings covering all genres of music at different venues. I consider myself an entertainer as well as a singer. I love a good story, some good humor, and including the audiences in my shows." (side note Beccca has since remembered the venue, it was McCoy Island)
Trisha: You know I love country and I'm a big Dolly Parton fan. I think you sound very much like her. Has anyone else ever said that to you, and do you have any real-life singers that have influenced your career?
Beccca: "I told Trish it's funny she said I sounded like Dolly because I’ve been also told I sound like Stevie Nicks, Carly Simon, Juice Newton, and Sarah McLaughlin. All these women have influenced my music. I never sang a song that I don't call it my favorite, it’s my favorite when I sing it. Much of my music I learn by ear not by listening to the artist sing a song. That way I make the songs my own and not be influenced by the artist of the original song."
Trisha: You know your fans adore you...I love how you take some songs and fill them in with personal names...what gave you that idea and does everyone love it as much as I do? Can you recall a time when someone was especially kind to you or a time when you had a crazy out of control fan?
Beccca: "I sang in RL for years and was also involved with theater choirs and plays. Humor/comedy is my second great love, so it’s easy to include it into my shows. Adding the audience into my songs and adding some good humor comes naturally to me and makes for a lot of fun at a show. Yes, I have had some stalkers. They would park at the land line and wait or watch me. In those days there wasn't privacy; gives a whole new meaning to the song private eyes lol. I remember another time I was singing and during the show a fan kept asking me to partner him. The audience kept telling me to say yes and how romantic, and no matter how many times I said I don't even know this person, lol, they still wanted me to partner him. My group is large, and so many have included me in a part of their lives here at SL. We all go through the happy and sad times together and now surviving covid together. When I get an IM asking me to sing a song for a passed on loved one, or someone struggling with health issues and being told I helped them through a hard time, that gives me the greatest pleasure - or bringing laughter when it’s really needed."
Trisha: Do you or did you perform in RL as well? Tell us about it.
Beccca: "For most I don't go into my RL because I am not here to brag or put myself above anyone or their talent. I will say this my first paid job was at Magic Mountain in California. I was close to the King Cousins in the later years of the family. I’ve done a few plays and sang with a band, I was involved with show choirs and working at & with some schools. I have done a lot through the years. My accident changed all that. Some tragedy hit the band, several went back to Indiana, two died in a car accident."
Trisha: On a personal note, you have the loveliest partner with Drako Grigorovich. I can see the love you share at your shows. Tell us about him, how you met etc. How does he feel about your singing career?
Beccca: "Let’s see, I could write a book lol. I was singing - Drako had been sitting at a booth alone the whole time. I addressed it on the mic that we all participate at my shows lol. Well, he didn't, so I added him in a song. After my show I went over and said, “why are you still sitting here alone? Get up and dance with me.” I had to get him up somehow lol. After the show we talked pretty much all night. How it got onto religion, I don’t know. But the turn happened when he told me he had only ever broken 1 sin. Something wasn't right, and by the end of the night going through each sin and his “oh maybe I did do that”, he had sinned 8 out of 10 commandments. Drako is a great builder and does the add-ons for the SL homes, which I finally got him to do a marketplace. I give ideas and work with him when he builds, and he helps me at my shows like the dance hud or a group notice. Drako loves music especially when he’s on his Ninja 1000 doing a 100 down the highway lol and has always supported me. We support each other - that’s how it works and each person having something for themselves they do well. We’re a lot alike, sometimes I think were twins, in humor, food likes, reading each other’s minds at same time - boy and that’s scary lol."
Thank You Beccca
You are truly a delight! And folks, if you haven’t seen a Beccca Baxton show, hurry on down. Chat with her, make her a friend, and you will have a great friend for life and also some great entertainment!!
Trisha July 2021