Curve Magazine (July/August Issue) 2006 "THE MUSIC ISSUE" Article by Jennifer Corday "Beehive State Babe" (Former Mormon Debi Graham funnels anger in to passion with her Salt Lake City band) Groovy, sexy, cool. Aggressive acoustic rocker Debi Graham is creating a smooth underground buzz in Salt Lake City, breaking the conventional molds of this largely conservative Mormon town. Currently involved in several projects - including the promotion of four national compilations that feature her music, and writing a movie score - Graham is touring this summer with her band to support her upcoming live release. (CURVE) Your drummer, Maria Galiano, totally rocks, and I understand she's your girl-friend. What came first, the relationship or the band? (Debi) She is phenomenal! She's been playing since she was 11. Both of us had extreme respect for one another on a musical level, but we actually really hated each other at first. After we were in the band together, we started to get along and we became best friends. It's so important for me to be with someone [who] has passion for something, so to be with someone that is also passionate about music is awesome. We've only been dating for a couple of months. We made a vow that if it doesn't work out we will stay together as band mates. (CURVE) You have amazing skill on the acoustic. You've been compared to Ani Difranco. Where did you learn to play? (Debi) My mom bought me a pawnshop guitar when I was 11. I took one lesson, but ... I think it's better to learn on you own, to put your own personal rhythm into the strumming of the guitar. If somebody teaches you, they are teaching you their rhythm. (CURVE) So when did you start playing with a band? (Debi) I joined a band when I was 18, in St. George, Utah, a tiny little Mormon town an hour and a half east of Vegas. But when I moved to the big city, I realized I wanted to do something bigger. I had a lot of anger I wanted to get out. I was on my own personal soul quest. (CURVE) Tell me about that. (Debi) Well, I was going through a lot. You get baptized when you're 8 years old, when you have no idea what the hell you're doing. And if you don't live by [the church's] rules they excommunicate you. I didn't really know what was up until I moved to a bigger city. Once I was away from that small town, when I wasn't in their grips anymore, I realized I was an adult. And I realized I had a lot to say. (CURVE) What's the gay scene like in Utah? (Debi) Well, there isn't a huge one here, there are only two lesbian bars and we have a residency at one of them. But the lesbian community is really, really loyal; they are great, and it's pretty impressive. The LDS [Latter Day Saints] don't drink or smoke, so they don't go to the bars to support local music. And whenever you have that type of oppression, you have a 180-degree backlash. So we all stick together in a way that I haven't experienced in other cities, like [Los Angeles]. The lesbian community is pretty tight. Here, everybody knows every single person. When I go to the local bar, people just want to drink some beer, have a good time. In L.A., people seem more focused on trying to hook up.
