DWWFC:  Who influenced you the most in your musical development?

Dalena:  First and foremost, I would have to say that my mother was my earliest influence. We always had music in the house in some form or other. If a radio or a tape wasn't playing, then she was always singing or humming to herself in whatever she was doing. (she still does).
    I very clearly remember when I was little, standing next to her in church, listening to her harmonize with everyone during the song service. I would listen carefully to what she was singing and follow along with her so that by the time I was in the third grade I could harmonize with my classmates at school. I didn't really think much of it at the time because I loved to sing so much that it came naturally, but now when I look back on it, I can see that she had a profound influence on my life musically, and on so many other important aspects and levels of my life as well.

DWWFC:  Are you a classical music fan?

Dalena:  Yes I am, as well as some of the New Age Music out right now that kind of goes hand in hand as far as a genre is concerned. There is a group I really love called Secret Garden. Their music is so powerfully beautiful that it evokes a certain emotional resonance in me. I turn it on when I'm inspired to write, (especially poetry) and find that words just seem to flow from me. Now that's what I call great music! (And great therapy too, I might add).

DWWFC:  What is your most memorable performance?

DWWFC:  You have release a great gospel album for which you wrote the the lyrics. Do you plan to release more gospel music albums?

Dalena:  Oh yes! Christian music is my first love and I do plan to release more. It is a question of when. ( When Lord when ? )

DWWFC:  Who are your favorite singers and artists?

Dalena:  Oh boy! How much time have you got? There are so many genres that we are talking about here, and it would be unfair for me to just mention the American ones when I listen to everything! Well, I won't make this a lengthy answer (like I have already done above) with all the whys and wherefores, so I'll just run down a list for you of my absolutes.
Chinese:  Tam Wing Lan, Hui Quan Kit, Cheung Hat Yau, Teng Le Quan, Chui siu pung, Danny Chan, Lau Tac Wa.
Japanese:  Le Couple, Keiko Matsui.
French:  Art Sullivan, Chistophe, Thierry Hazard, Celine Dion.
Hebrew:  Lamb.
Latin:  Luis Miguel, Dulce Pontes, Gypsy Kings.
Vietnamese:  Traditional: Houng Lan, Chi Tam, Manh Quinh, Khanh Ly.
                     Modern:    Henry Chu, Khanh Ha, Tuan Ngoc, Thai Hien, Lam Truong.
Classical/Opera:  Mario Lanza, Maria Frangoulis, Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman.
Christian:  Carman, John Elefante, Mathew Ward, D.C. Talk, Bryan Duncan, Lamb, The Imperials, Harvest, Sonic Flood, Code of Ethics, The Winans.
Modern and Oldies:  Brian McNight, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Alecia Keys, The Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Elvis, Sting, Boston, the Beatles, Patsy Cline, Pink, Heart, Eagles, U2, Pink Floyed, Moddy Blues.
Others:  Cheb Mami, Robby Robertson

DWWFC:  How do you see your future musical direction?

Dalena:  Do you want the long version or the short version? You know, there are so many things that I still want to do, so many more languages that are beautiful that I haven't heard or sung yet! So many styles to explore. I've been singing practically all my life now in other languages, and I've only recently even begun to do more songs in English, and I enjoy doing those songs that are popular that I don't usually sing, in favor of another language.
    But American Pop is so much fun to sing and I enjoy it so well that I just have to give myself over to some of these songs now and then in my performances. I think/hope it offers more of a variety in my shows as well. You know, a little something for everyone.
     I find that, as far as a direction, I'm trying to explore as many things as I possibly can (musically, that is). Right now I'm doing more raw (back to my roots) performances with just me and my guitar, I'm collaborating more with other musicians from other genres of music, doing more and more Christian Music performances, and still writing and working on a book of poetry that I hope to publish someday. All this, while still singing Vietnamese/Chinese music. I will never stop doing that, I love it too much.
     My greatest dread is that I will stagnate as a performer. That's why I have to keep pushing myself to grow, to stretch myself as an artist and try new things, explore and offer more of myself. I find that the more I dig the more I really do have to give. Thank God for that.

DWWFC:  I really enjoyed your version of Guantanamera in Spanish. What other languages do you enjoy singing in? (Not including Pig Latin [joke])

Dalena:  Pig Latin? How did you know? (smiles). But seriously, I love to sing in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, French, Italian, Hebrew, Korean and, of course, English.

DWWFC:  What is your favorite musical instrument? Can you play it?

Dalena:  I love the piano, pan flute, the harp, and the guitar (I do play the guitar). Do spoons count?

DWWFC:  You have a great understanding and use of the dynamics of music, singing, and emotional interpretation, which gives your music its power. Have you had any formal training in these areas?

Dalena:  First of all, thanks so much, You are very kind. Second of all, nope.

DWWFC:  You are mainly known for your singing, but you are also a song writer. Tell us something about your career in this area.

Dalena:  Well, as you know, some of my songs were published on my Christian album "He Loves Me", and I hope for a second album soon. I have well over 200 hundred original songs that I've written through the years, both Christian and Secular.
    I have done quite a few entire song translations, for different record labels, of songs in other languages that a company might need for a singer in English. The company will give me a song or an entire compilation of songs to translate, and I do my best to stay as true to the original meaning as much as possible, while maintaining my own style of writing.
    I love doing this, it is quite a challenge to fit in appropriate English words on, let's say, a Chinese song. Chinese or Vietnamese words are mostly just one syllable, and one or two words can convey a whole meaning. Not so with English, and so it goes.

DWWFC:  What projects are you working on now? Do you plan any new releases? in the near future?

Dalena:  Well, I just got back from a hectic month-long tour overseas, so right now I have several things I'm catching up and working on. Plans, plans, many plans.....

DWWFC:  It seems that you are a natural for Disney and Sesame Street projects. Have you considered any work in this area?

Dalena:  Just what are you trying to tell me here? (Smiles). O.K., I admit it, , I may have Foggy, Miss Piggy, Baby Bop and BJ, Lamb Chop, Babe, and a host of other well respected-animals living inside me!
    No seriously, I do love to do voices and accents and have done some of this already. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to do more. Till then, I'll just have to be satisfied with leaving strange messages on my friend's answering machines!

DWWFC:  I understand that you write poetry. Tell us something about it. Have you published any poetry?

Dalena:  Well, as I've said before, I'm working on a book of poetry that I've written over the past ten years. I think it's gotten epic by now. I've got notebooks crammed full, bits of paper lying around the house that I've jotted down a thought on, scribbles on backs of deposit slips, and loads of files on my computer, and I'm still writing all the time. Help! I can't stop!

DWWFC:  Do you do any other type of writing?

Dalena:  Other than the occasional short story and just my grocery list.

DWWFC:  Things are changing in mainstream commercial music. Any thoughts on it?

Dalena:  Yes a lot. I think it is amazing how much music has advanced just in the last 5 to10 years. Technology and the geniuses of today have taken it to a whole new level. We have such complex rhythms, styles, and a new breed of vocalists to carry it off. And, I am enjoying today's music immensely, as well the older stuff. But although I'm all for progress and growth, as I mentioned before, it seems that it is harder and harder for artists today to have staying power.
    I was just reading the other day about how several well known singers have changed there styles recently to meet the demands of the mainstream ideals, and they sold more albums than they ever did before! These are well- established artists who have a faithful following in the respected genres that they originally were largely responsible for creating. It is a sad thing when artists who have something original to offer, and have been successful at it for years, are now feeling the pressure to follow the mainstream in order to sell albums. I don't say it is wrong to do that if that is their true desire, just sad if it really isn't.
    Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging anyone, I know I would be living in fantasyland if I were to say that it's not about money, it's about the creativity, it's about art. But, in my heart of hearts, that is my true desire. (big breath)
    So, let me just end this little sermonet (hee hee) by saying that my greatest desire as a performer is to be able to always be true to myself, my music, and my audience, and still be able to make a living doing it. That is my wish for every artist.