Ben Marcus Rules

In 25 words more or less, what is "House of Bossi?" What are the philosophies and materials that went into the construction of this house? What is the aim of this house?

House of Bossi is a non-profit platform my husband and I started out of our home to support the arts through residency programs, live performance series and access to resources and community. We believe that the arts have the power to better society and place particular focus on artists who have powerful messages to share and/or who deserve greater access to opportunity.  Most programs are hosted in our actual home here in Los Angeles, but we also host showcases outside of our four walls to allow for bigger, more public productions. We value in-real-life experiences in an age where so much focus is placed digitally.

Your proper name is ???

My artist name is Bossi and that’s what I go by. It’s also my married last name and was simply too good not to reclaim for women everywhere! 

On the stage you said you were from a small town. You wisely didn't use that as a segue into John Cougar, but what small town are you from and in 25 words or more, can you describe your arc from small town to Aviator Nation Dreamland on a fine winter night in Malibu?

I grew up in Spring Lake, a beautiful, small town on the westside of Michigan. I decided to attend Northwestern University and study theater and after school, moved to New York City. My career started in music, performing mostly with jazz musicians and a few rock bands, before I went off on my own and released my first album. After a few years of grinding in the local scene, I realized the challenges of being an artist, started building a career in hospitality that eventually took over, until music was no longer a part of my life. It wasn’t until I went through two battles with breast cancer that I realized music is what makes me feel most alive. I moved to LA in 2018, returned full-time to my artistry soon after, released an EP in 2022 and am now working on a full-length album, slated to be released later in the year.  I’ve never looked back and have finally found my voice and my sound. But I wouldn’t have ended up at Dreamland on a fine winter night in Malibu had it not also been for starting House of Bossi. When you strive to support others, it really does lift the tide for everyone…yourself included! 

You performed a song by Taylor Swift, who I am told is quite popular these days. When did you become a Swiftie?

I didn’t perform a song by Taylor Swift.  That was Caly Bevier.

Ooops. Mea culpa. That’s Latin for “my bad.”
I performed two covers: one by Beyonce and one by Patti Smith.
I performed an upbeat, rock version of Beyonce’s If I Were A Boy. The original version is amazing, but I wanted to give it a more empowering tone for women while making the audience think about the double standard that exists between the sexes. 

On the other end of the spectrum, if memory serves you sang a Patti Smith song, so your musical choices have as big a range as your voice.
I love Patti Smith. I’ve seen her perform and she is simultaneously sweet and “bossy.” A combination of qualities that inspires me as a woman. Like… “I am kind but I also know who I am, I have boundaries and am not afraid to voice them.” As a writer she’s incredible too. A true artist. From songs like Because the Night and Dancing Barefoot to her memoir Just Kids which remains one of my favorite books of all time.

I like Olivia Rodrigo's Vampire. That little gal has some serious pipes and that song gives me chills. You too have some pipes and were hitting some operatic notes. Are you professionally trained? What was your musical education
Olivia does have some pipes, and I thought that song was great too! I was classically and professionally trained. Both vocally and on piano. Fairly recently I’ve picked up guitar. I begin writing all of my new songs on an instrument, so this is a critical part of my craft even though, with the band, I typically just sing. I’m grateful for the vocal training too because I’ve learned how to sing without strain and damage. My ears on the other hand, I probably need to be more sensitive to. They’re still ringing a bit from my set.
 

I see some Patti Smith x Chrissie Hynd x David Byrne in your presentation and music - and we need more of that.

In the movie Lawrence of Arabia, Prince Faisal says to Lawrence: “I think you are one of those desert-loving English: Doughty, Stanhope, Gordon of Khartoum.”

Along those lines I say to you: “I think you are one of those 80s loving modern women. Smyth. Byrne. Chrissy Hynd of The Pretenders.”
Am I correct?
You are so correct! And frankly, I’m so thrilled that you picked up on those influences. They are all artists I greatly admire.

Who are your inspirations/aspirations, male and female?

I have a lot of influences but I would say some of the biggest are: 

• Bruce Springsteen for his storytelling and genuine exuberance on stage.

• David Bowie and David Byrne for their visual identity and performance personas.

• Patti Smith for her all around artistry and career trajectory from music to writing.

- Freddy Mercury and Lady Gaga for every reason imaginable.

In my head I have a list of the Most Talented Female Artists and my math is writing/composing X playing an instrument x singing x performing x dancing. Because I am a Boomer, Joni Mitchell is numero uno. 

And the rest in loose order include Madonna, who could be #1 because Joni Mitchell don’t dance but Madonna doesn’t play an instrument I’m aware of, although she said she learned to play drums listening to The Cars - like me.

Bjork seems like she came from another planet. All that voice coming out of that teeny little Icelandic gal. She could be #1 also, in a way. So very talented.

I like Beyonce: Crazy in Love and All the Single Ladies are great songs.

I've been listening to The Pretenders a lot lately and reminding me of just how good Chrissie Hynde was and is. Those people came out rocking, they did.

Because I am a Boomer, I am of the opinion Janis Joplin's version of Summertime is the greatest cover of a song ever - man or woman. I also have fond memories of Carol King. Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Debbie Harry.

I am more impressed with Taylor Swift's wholesome appeal and her business acumen than her music, and I hope she sways the next presidential election like she sways to the music. But would you put Taylor Swift in your Top 5?

Using that writing/composing X playing an instrument x singing x performing x dancing equation, who is on your list of Greatest Female Performers?

We have a lot of similar taste in music it seems.

It’s hard to choose the 5 most talented artists. I think artists each have their own unique formula that speaks to different parts of us. But using your criteria of artists who have great voices, are great writers, play an instrument AND who dance…that really narrows the field to a small bunch who do all of the above well. Personal tastes aside, I would have to say Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift are the two that do all of those things well enough to count.

If I can eliminate the dance category… Joni Mitchell will always be one of the greats. Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift still stand, Alicia Keys and Melissa Etheridge spring to mind. Also Karen Carpenter was so talented…yikes, I’m already at six and still thinking of more. Crissie Hynde, Annie Lennox…how do you choose?

How long have you been performing - and with that band you were with last night?
I’ve been performing in some capacity since I was probably 8 years old. First at church, then in voice and piano recitals, school plays and later professionally. I’ve been performing with the band you saw last night since 2022 and they are incredible players and people. Lisa Bianco was on electric guitar, Lex Wolfe on bass, Debbie Neigher on keys and Pepe Hidalgo Ramos on drums. Nearly a full female band which is rare. Women are not given as much credibility as instrumentalists, especially in rock and roll and that is purely gender bias. As you saw first hand last night, women have as much technical ability as any man. Noah Vonne’s band consisted of all women players and brought the house down. 

Where else have you had gigs around Los Angeles and the country?

I’ve played at Hotel Cafe, Soho Warehouse, Madame Siam among others and recently had a cool gig performing for the Near Future Summit where I did a combination of public speaking and rock performance. That was fun!

How does Aviator Nation Dreamland rate as a performance house?

I think it’s the best room of its size in Los Angeles. The space is visually phenomenal, the sound is fantastic and they really care about the artists. The hospitality was top notch from every single person we encountered.  If every venue was like this, you’d have many more happy artists out there! 

Because I grew up in Santa Cruz in the 70s in the midst of an epic music scene and because I am hipsterallergenic I don't go out much and listen to music. But it seems to me like Malibu should have a better music scene. Mass quantities of great musicians live in Malibu: Bob Dylan, Babs, Pat Benatar, Beck. And that's just the Bs!

Malibu has a very good venue in Aviator Nation Dreamland and I don't understand why there isn't more cutting edge music.

I'm going to tag you as "Gen Estrogen" if that's not rude or politically incorrect or like to get me canceled. You had two other bands fronted by women last night, and also a woman reading poetry. Have you done this elsewhere?
I don’t think it’s rude at all! I invited both Caly Bevier and Noah Vonne to perform with their respective bands because they are both extremely talented musicians whose artistry inspires me. I also only care to work with people who are generous of spirit and both Caly and Noah are very much that. It was a team effort last night. There was no diva energy or ego. Just a genuine desire to share a stage, support one another and put on a great show that highlighted female artists.
Additionally, I invited Becca Alvarado to share her poetry last night and she was brilliant. Poetry is an artform that deserves bigger platforms and so I often bring it into productions to help weave an arc and storyline throughout.

I also have to say, and I’m sure I can speak for all the artists on stage last night, the Malibu community stole a piece of our hearts. Caly, Noah and I did a lot of canvasing the neighborhood with flyers for the show and we were met with the warmest reception. Businesses enthusiastically agreed to post our flyer and spread the good news, and residents were genuinely kind and gracious. There is clearly an appreciation here for community and local artists!

In 50 words or less, make a statement about your fashion line, your music, yourself. What do you want the world to know about you and your philosophy?

I consider myself an artist who communicates boldly through various mediums – music, poetry, fashion, and storytelling. My artistry isn’t solely inspired by an innate desire to create, but by an urgency to share my life experience, my observations of the human condition, life’s beauty and struggle, societal inequality that I witness…

It is my mission to motivate my audience to contemplate life’s depths, recognize the significance of civic participation, and realize the strength inherent in their own voices.