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May 18, 2008
                                                                                       webdigestweekly.com
The ladies who comprised The Supremes have all moved on to solo careers of their
own in the years since the legendary group disbanded. Susaye Greene, who holds
the honor of having been the last Supreme, has been enjoying a lot of success since
her days with Motown Records ended. This is a lady who is no stranger to the
heights of fame. Before joining the most successful American vocal group of the
entire rock era, she had already worked with geniuses like Ray Charles and Stevie
Wonder. Her work as a writer is as celebrated as her singing successes. She’s
penned hits for Deniece Williams and Michael Jackson, as well as writing and
producing her own two solo albums, No Fear Here and Brave New Shoes. Now  
she’s taking her talents into another direction, and true to form success is going
along with her for the ride.
As an artist, Susaye has been busy making waves in this forum for quite a while
now. From her animated series Supremextreme, featuring a title character of the
same name, to working on other paintings and photography, she’s garnering the kind
of reviews that many artists can only yearn to achieve, and her work is being
exhibited in some of the finest online galleries on the internet. In preparing for this
interview, I was struck by the fact that I am one of the luckiest writers in the world
to have the opportunity to speak with Susaye on this level not once, but twice! She
was my second guest here on Web Digest Weekly (December 10, 2006 being the
first) and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend this time. Susaye is
remarkable and her talents are boundless. The title supreme fits her well.
Susaye Greene
Supreme In Every Extreme!
Carey Parrish
CP: Hi, Susaye! Welcome back!
CP: It's my pleasure! So tell me what you’ve been staying busy with lately.
SGwww.myspace.com/timdillinger), where we both selected favorite songs
from each other’s cds (my Brave New Shoes and his The Muse)and discussed
the back story of each; you know, how these songs were inspired, written and
recorded. This interview will be available at Itunes in the very near future.
CP: I understand you’ve also got some new art projects in the works.
SG: Yes, I have public and private galleries now at Imagekind.com, at
http://supremextreme.imagekind.com, where my paintings and photography are
available.
I’m a true new believer in on demand printing. There are thousands of choices
for frames of all price ranges and sizes; you choose and they will deliver it to
you. I’ve had a wonderful welcome from professional photographers and artists
around the world, who have encouraged me greatly about my work. I will be
able to offer private showings of limited editions, and for special occasions.
CP: Describe what kinds of exciting artwork you’re working on right now.
SG: I’ve been working on a multi portrait of a sixties group called The
Leftbanke. They had a hit called Walk Away Renee. I’m working on characters
for my Supremextreme film and I’m taking some pretty amazing photos, too!
CP: You’ve been a busy lady in the art community the past few years. What
draws you to that vernacular?
SG: Art was my first passion as a child. I was always drawing something. I
found I could express my feelings as I could in no other medium. That is still
true. Imagination, colour, form, texture, composition, experimentation, rebellion,
freedom of thought, and the opportunity to create new worlds, and new
perceptions, pushing boundaries and raising the bar: These things have always
intrigued me. I think if our standards of excellence are intact, and we maintain
our focus, then we only have ourselves to compete with.
CP: In terms of creative influence, do you find art as fulfilling as music?
SG: Absolutely. Art came first in my life, and it is something I am compelled to
do. And I paint to music, so it is a circle, you see. I approach all of my interests
with the same zeal.
The fulfillment comes from the creation and the sharing and feedback. Though I
do create for myself, it is always interesting to hear people’s opinions, though
they rarely coincide with mine. LOL!
CP: And your Supremextreme series?
SG: Yes! It is getting very exciting for me. The transformation from a flat image
to 3D is quite a long road, but I am having a fantastic time, creating all of the
surrounding characters and storylines for Supremextreme. It’s a wonderfully
fun and engaging project. I’m also looking for backers who would like to help
make my dream a reality, in a big film way. Supremextreme has many tales to
tell, that make up the “Chronicles of the Realm”.
CP: How about your music? Are you planning a new album?
SG: Yes, I’ve begun writing already and I have several new tracks that are really
fun.
CP: Brave New Shoes remains very popular after two years on the market. To
what do you attribute the longevity of its success?
SG: I think people appreciate what I was trying to achieve, by having high
production values, good solid songs and a sense of fun. I’m extremely focused
in the studio. I have a lot of fun, which I think shines through, but I’m deadly
serious about digging deep and doing the work to the ‘nth degree.
I’m so grateful for the support I’ve had. People have reached out and let me
know they love my work. Indie artists struggle to be heard, but I continue to
promote my music every chance I get. Radio play is hard to come by outside of
the mainstream, but web blogs and word of mouth are two of the primary ways
that music is promoted now. I've had some great champions, thankfully.
I hope more people will come say hi to me at www.myspace.com/susaye
I love people and I love making new friends.
CP: What’s next for you, Susaye?
SG: Lots more good stuff. I’ve been made an ambassador for the Goodwill
Treaty for World Peace. www.goodwilltreaty.org/ I’m hoping to find new ways
to inspire people to sign this treaty and give us the possibility for peace in our
lifetime. It’s a simple thing, but the proof that one person can change things with
a simple step. We have over 11, 000 signatures already.
All photos used are courtesy Of Susaye Greene
SG: This time of year I’m very busy in the garden, getting ready for the long hot
summer ahead. I’m planting a lot of new things, as well as the upkeep of what is
now established in my organic garden. People send me seeds from all over the
world, as far away as China. You see, when I lived in England, I became quite a
good organic gardener: no chemicals or unnatural sprays. I take a huge amount
of photos and I paint from my garden, so developing is very important to me in
the sense of colour, and shape and variety. I also love to grow lots of flowers for
cutting. Susaye time is often spent in the garden. I just adore it.
CP: Seen any good movies?
SG: Ha! Yes! I just saw Crank and Jason Statham is dead hard. LOL! He plays a
professional assassin whose rival injects him with poison, which will kill him if
his heart rate drops. So dude has to crank up the action! A very rowdy movie.
Good fun; not for kids. Action with a capitol action!
CP: Read any good books?
SG: Hope: Adventures of a Diamond by Marian Fowler, exciting journey of the
discovery and the travels through history of the fabulous cursed Hope diamond.
A very cool book. T is for Trespass, the latest Sue Grafton mystery. Love her
books. And I’m now reading Hoover: The Man and the Secrets by Curt Gentry.
Whoa! Talk about absolute power corrupting absolutely!
CP: Who are some other artists and singers you’re following nowadays?
SG: Ledisi, who can sing soulfully and with great discretion, and Kolaboy, who
paints like a hero!
CP: What do you think of this petition The Supremes’ fans are pushing for a
group reunion?
SG: I’m pulling for them. I hope everyone gets what they want.
CP: What advice or wisdom can you share with others right now?
SG: We are living in times of great upheaval around the world. All we have to do
is look around to see momentous events, things we never thought we’d see in
our lifetime. I think we are all aware that we can pretty much expect anything
wild and weird to happen.
All extreme things: earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, cyclones, crimes of all kinds,
species dying out, natural resources running out, famines, mass annihilations; it
all makes the head spin if we look at the broad picture. But the indomitable human
spirit will survive.
The universe is speaking to us, to get our acts together, in all the ways.
Something screams out to our survival instincts, “ Make things better, before it’s
too late.”
And we continue to spiral out of balance. We take out; we do not give back.
My only advice would be to become better human beings, to care more for each
other, to find our spiritual selves and to watch and pray.
CP: What are you most proud of?
SG: God’s infinite wisdom.
CP: Susaye, thank you so much for spending another great time with me.
SG: Always a pleasure, Carey, cause you rock!
Mysterious Visitors
Victory Over Pink