I have such a fond memory of Monique. Sometime in the late ’90s, I was mixing her band, Save Ferris, at a typically giant European festival. It was the last show for me, as I was leaving to tour with another band, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, I think. We said our goodbyes and I was heading off to the bus, when someone began calling my name. A young girl ran up with some money in her hand. “This is from Monique.” She handed it to me then disappeared back into the crowd.

You see, the band had already paid me, so this gesture came from a place of kindness and generosity.

And mixing that powerful voice of Monique’s was like trying to ride a motorcycle for the first time. It’s so strong that it will throw you right on your butt. Typically with most bands, the drummer bashes away like no one else matters; the guitars are cranked, because God forbid the guitar player turns it down and his “tone” goes south; and well, bass players… crazy forest creatures.

Bands are funny things because often they’re playing together without really paying attention to each other. There’s a reason a lot of bands sound bad live. I could go into it here, but you’d fall asleep two sentences in. Needless to say, Monique was louder than the band behind her, which allowed me to create a good mix.

I lost track of her for years, but she resurfaced recently when Save Ferris got back together. I’m so happy they did. They’re a pile of fun. Do yourself a favor and go see them when they come to your town.

Without further ado, Monique Powell…

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

M.P. Right now it’s the turkey and provolone at Jersey Mike’s.

Q: What is your favorite meal your mom makes?

M.P. Hmm… my mom makes a really good brisket.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

M.P. Well, I have a few best friends. My oldest best friend I went to high school with.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

M.P. I was in the sixth grade. Up to that point, I wanted to dance. Then I auditioned as a singer for my school talent show. My dad sings and he has a beautiful voice. I tried out for the show and I got a little part and that wet my whistle. That’s how it started. My parents got me in classes for some reason with an opera teacher. I did that for seven years. When I was in school at Cal State Fullerton, all of my friends were in Ska bands and that’s how it started.

Q: How did you pursue it?

M.P. Well, I honestly just thought that I was going to be an opera singer, so I did that for most of my youth. I went to a performing arts high school, I loved the Ska scene and the music. I started out by singing back up in my friends’ band, Larry. It was great.

Q: Did you have a mentor/mentors in pursuing it?

M.P. Listened to The Selecter and Dance Hall Crashers a lot in my college days. They were my mentors.

Q: What do you dream of doing, or are you doing it?

M.P. I’m doing it, buddy.

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

M.P. Um, get brave and get some grit.

Q: If life were a person, what would you say?

M.P. Oh, that’s a good one. Hmm, let me think about that. I think I would just say thanks for all of it. And then I would give life a high five.

Q: If you were in charge of the world and you have no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?

M.P. A worldwide education system that promotes and encourages compassion.

Q: Has morality disintegrated to the point that we now need Yelp for people?

M.P. (laughs)…I would think not, because we are humans and we need human interaction to survive.

Q: How is the world getting things right?

M.P. I think what it’s gotten right is, um… the sun always rises. The world keeps turning and you can count on that. It’s pretty reliable.

Q: What do people need in order to see each other as equals?

M.P. Well, I think that goes back to the other question. We should learn to be compassionate and kind from a young age. That, and learn that ultimately, we have no control over others, just ourselves and our actions.

Q: Do we still need religion?

M.P. I’m Jew-ish… ish. Once you’re raised Jewish, there’s always some “Jew” in you. Even if you don’t want it, it’s always going to be a part of you; what we eat and how we celebrate. I hate to sound so commonplace as an artist, but I don’t really believe in organized religion. You’re always going to be disappointed if you try to organize. For some people, it’s a useful tool. Whatever gets them to a place of peace, I’m down with that. I’m not going to judge.

You learn about the things in between the spaces that you can’t see through religion. I also pursue beliefs that work for me, regardless of titles. For me, faith is something that is very personal. It’s so special and beautiful. I don’t need words for what I believe, as it’s bigger than words. I don’t want to limit my belief by giving it a name. It’s a special feeling that I share with myself. Just because I don’t really have a religion doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate religion. I believe in the power of prayer and worship. I appreciate those with strong convictions and faith.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

M.P. I do, I do. I try not to think about the outcome of the world. The current state of the world gets very overwhelming. So I keep it simple and think about only who I want to be today and who I want to be in the world for today only. That keeps the anxiety away.

Q: Hot topic of the week?

M.P. Ah! The Cheeto in charge. This is going to be very interesting, I tell you. I mean, first I felt utter helplessness. Like I said, I have to bring it back to a simpler place. The American president doesn’t control my life or the person I want to be. Anything is possible in life. If I want to leave the country I can do that. It’s not as helpless as I thought it would be even though it’s sad. And I know people are afraid. Ultimately, it comes down to we as individuals and what we want to put in the world, not our politics.

Q: What are three things that work for you? For example, I can’t find a good razor. Because of a near unbridled need for massive profits, I find that many products don’t live up their advertising. What works for you?

M.P. My cast iron skillet never fails me. It’s been with me for a very long time. It will probably die with me. Every cook needs one to carry through life and hand down to their children. I’ll wear rags just to have great kitchen stuff. Le Creuset in “Flame.” The Le Creuset is also cast iron, but it’s enameled. It’s fancier than my first cast iron skillet.

More thought-provoking questions:

1: Do Americans have the right to complain about immigration?

M.P. I’m such a pacifist when it comes to people’s choices. You can do whatever the fuck you want. Who am I to tell you what to do, but it’s always my choice not to listen to you, too. If you want to be a complete asshole that’s your thing, who am I to judge?

2: If our value system is based on scarcity, then what of a human life, now that the population is in the billions?

M.P. Humans are different than things, so that value system doesn’t apply. We feel and think and sense. Learning how to live together is not just a choice, it’s part of our survival instinct. I know that things are crazy and people are angry, but mostly humans all want the same thing. We want to eat, keep our children safe and provide for our families. It’s not just comfort. It’s the instinctual knowledge of how we have to be in order to survive. We will always place more importance on human life than on things.

3: Would life be easier if racism were accurate?

M.P. It comes down to what is good and bad… but who gets to decide? The election, for example… some of us think it’s really bad. Other people think it’s the best thing for us. The problem is, too many people close themselves off from a new point of view. It bums me out because you miss out on the possibility of so many great things when you’re closed off. Let’s just have a conversation. I know people are scared. But trying to control everything only gives you the illusion of safety, and decisions made from a place of fear never have a good result. Bossy, closed-minded people are the most scared people I know. So, to answer your question, no, it wouldn’t be easier because people will just find another topic to obsess about that ultimately divides us.