Bonnie Piesse

After opening for entry back in May, this year’s UK Songwriting Contest has been accepting entries from across globe for more than 15 different categories of songwriter, and the organisers have now announced the winners and finalists. As we reported on the competition’s opening, the UKSC is in its 11th year and has a reputation as one of the world’s best songwriting events as well as being known in the music business as a launch pad for new talent.

Judges included an acclaimed panel of Grammy, Emmy and BRIT Award winners, such as Sting’s producer Kipper Eldridge, Elton John’s producer Stuart Epps, Britney Spears’ musical director Simon Ellis and producer/arranger Richard Niles.

The top category in the list of winners, Singer/Songwriter, was the only section where vocals were also judged together with the songwriting, and resulted in joint winners – Lisa Nelson, a singer songwriter from Manchester, England and Australian singer-songwriter and Star Wars actress Bonnie Piesse, who is now living in California, USA.
- www.songwritingmagazine.com.uk

After opening for entry back in May, this year’s UK Songwriting Contest has been accepting entries from across globe for more than 15 different categories of songwriter, and the organisers have now announced the winners and finalists. As we reported on the competition’s opening, the UKSC is in its 11th year and has a reputation as one of the world’s best songwriting events as well as being known in the music business as a launch pad for new talent.

Judges included an acclaimed panel of Grammy, Emmy and BRIT Award winners, such as Sting’s producer Kipper Eldridge, Elton John’s producer Stuart Epps, Britney Spears’ musical director Simon Ellis and producer/arranger Richard Niles.

The top category in the list of winners, Singer/Songwriter, was the only section where vocals were also judged together with the songwriting, and resulted in joint winners – Lisa Nelson, a singer songwriter from Manchester, England and Australian singer-songwriter and Star Wars actress Bonnie Piesse, who is now living in California, USA.
- www.songwritingmagazine.com.uk

Hi Bonnie! Where do you live?

Partly in upstate NY, partly in LA. Though over the last year I've been mostly in Upstate NY building a number of human performance companies with scientist and mathematician Keith Raniere, to help people achieve more of what they want in their lives and experience deeper joy and connection to themselves.

Where are you from?

Originally from Melbourne, Australia.

How old are you?

31.

What is your career?

I'm a singer, songwriter, and composer, as well as a professional coach with ESP, and I am helping to build a cutting edge acting curriculum, The Source, and fitness/human potential company, exo|eso.

What do you love about your job?

I get to write and play music, deepen my own expression, work with incredible tools and very wise mentors to help me achieve my dreams, and help other people overcome limiting beliefs and experience more joy--I can't believe how fortunate I am!

Did you have to study to get where you are today? And if so, what did you study?

I learned to write music during high school (in school and just through my own experimental process) then through writing with a lot of amazing songwriters (Jack Tempchin, Bonnie Hayes, Eric Kaz, JD Souther etc) and playing/recording with some very talented people (Val Garay, Andrew Gold, Emile Kelman and many more). And in ESP I spent 4 and a half years working through my own process and working with people one on one and in groups to help them break limiting beliefs etc. My education to build the other businesses has come through working with Keith Raniere and just diving in and doing it and failing and trying again etc.

What do you feel passionate about?

Inspiring people to strive for nobility and experience deeper joy and meaningfulness in their lives.

What has been your proudest achievement?

Recently I've started to find my voice and have the strength to really stand strong in that. I've learned that sometimes I see things that no one else does and that standing for that can be a very alone experience, but it's the most beautiful process of coming into my own and being there for myself and loving myself no matter what.

What do you wish you knew when you were a teenager?

That I can love myself and don't need to compromise myself to try to get love and acceptance from outside.

Have you ever felt like your job has been harder as a woman?

For sure over the years I've felt a lot of pressure and expectations to look a certain way. Especially when I was working as an actress when I was a teenager, I was super hard on myself as a result of feeling like I had to fit some image of perfection. That has probably been the hardest thing. Over the years I've learned to focus more on hard work and embracing my body as it is. It's a relief to start thinking that way as for a long time I just felt I would never be good enough.

What do you love about living overseas?

I love being in the US because there are so many new opportunities and so many people doing extraordinary things over here.

What advice would you give to young teens wanting to achieve what you have achieved?

I'd say stay true to yourself, find the strength and bravery to speak up and let your voice be heard and learn to love yourself so you have that in your back pocket no matter what happens.

IN another life, what other career would you love to have?

Maybe a screenwriter/director. I'd love to be able to tell stories in that way. (not writing that off for this lifetime either)

What is your favourite place to travel to?

Tulum, Mexico.

What would you like to see change in the world?

I'd like to see people be more joyful, kind, wise, responsible, compassionate and loving with each other.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Hopefully making music that inspires more and more people (through releasing albums and writing/performing music for film/TV) and working with leaders of all these companies to help bring the education to more people around the world.

Any final words of advice?

That joy doesn't come from any result, achievement or accolade--it comes from yourself and it comes from becoming more of the kind of person you want to be. Ie it's inside out vs outside in. - Tigress Magazine For Girls

Bonnie Piesse is known by Star Wars fans as the young Beru Whitesun, the woman who would eventually marry a soon-to-be-uncle Owen Lars, and go on to raise Luke Skywalker. In addition to her passion for acting, Bonnie is an also a successful singer and a songwriter.

You portrayed a young Beru Whitesun in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. How was the auditioning and filming process for the movies?
I heard that Robin Gurland, the casting director of Attack of the Clones wanted me to audition, so I met her in a hotel room in Melbourne Australia one day and she had me read Beru’s lines from ‘A New Hope.’ I was SUPER nervous and kind of bumbled most of the audition but I guess she saw past my nervousness and decided I was right for the role. Then the process of filming it was like an incredible dream come true! Suddenly I was on a huge set with Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Jack Thompson, Joel Edgerton and Anthony Daniels… not to mention working with George Lucas!!! During the process I couldn’t quite wrap my brain around what a life changing thing it was and what it meant… it was just too surreal.

When you learned that you got the part of Beru Whitesun, did you know your character’s back story (That she would go on to raise Luke Skywalker) ?
Yes I did know that and I understood that was a rather big deal in the Star Wars Universe :) But I’m still amazed when I go to conventions etc how excited people still are, even after so many years!!! I didn’t know it would be something that was so remembered for years to come.

Do you have a favorite memory or experience from being on a Star Wars set?

Definitely the first day was the most exciting!! I remember looking at myself in the mirror after they’d done all my wardrobe and hair/make up and I really looked like I was in Star Wars!! Then I stepped on set and Natalie Portman and George Lucas welcomed me!! What a day!

If the opportunity ever came to play Beru again whether on Star Wars: The Clone Wars or on the future live-action television series, would you be interested in reprising your role?
Yes totally!! I would definitely embrace other opportunities to be a part of the Star Wars universe. I’ve really grown to love and appreciate it and feel really grateful to be involved!!

In addition to being a talented actress, you’re also a gifted vocalist as well! Have you always been interested in music?
Yes! I’ve been interested in singing for as long as I can remember… and I started making up tunes before I could talk my Mum tells me!! So music has always been close to my heart and I actually didn’t discover my love of acting until I was cast in a TV series when I was 15.

Your music has been featured in TV shows, and you’ve traveled around world for live performances. Do you have a favorite song that you’ve written?
One of my favorite songs I’ve written is still, “All I Have,” which was featured on the CW show, “Life Unexpected.” I wrote that when I was about 19 and still have a soft spot for it. It also holds memories of that time of my life, which is meaningful to me. Other than that, my favorite song tends to be my most recent one :) Then sometimes they stand the test of time, or sometimes they don’t.

Listen to Bonnie’s song “All I Have” HERE =)


Copyright Bonnie Piesse

On your blog you said that, “Lots of doors are flying open”, for you and your music. It reminded me of the quote, “When one door closes, another door opens.” Are you excited that you have this opportunity now and that your EP album will be debuting this summer?

Yes I’m very excited. It’s been such a beautiful experience these last couple of years of changing a lot of things in my life and re-evaluating why I’m doing what I’m doing and how! I’ve discovered a more pure love of music and what I want to express through it and I’m excited to let those new songs and messages be heard!!

You’re scheduled as an autograph guest for Star Wars Celebration VI, are you looking forward to attending?
Yes!!! I kept waiting to hear if I would be invited and I was very excited to hear that I was!!! Star Wars Celebrations are a truly intense experience and I’m looking forward to being there!!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! I hope I can stop by and say hello at Celebration! I can’t wait to listen to your CD when it debuts!
That would be great! Please come say hi :) - Fangirls In The Force

You may well know her better as Beru Whitesun, aunt of the galaxy's last hope Luke Skywalker, but fans of the actress will also know she's a talented singer songwriter and her first EP Bittersweet is out now.

You can download it over at iTunes or stream it at Soundcloud.

And don't forget, UK fans can meet Bonnie in May at Star Wars Fan Fun Day in Burnley. - Jedi News

This is a story of the release of Bonnie Piesse’s Bittersweet EP, her debut album and a good one at that. But you can’t talk about the music without talking about Bonnie’s perseverance to get the Bittersweet EP made. The story of this EP is a phoenix rising from the ashes, only this time the phoenix is a talented singer/songwriter, who also happens to be the actress who played young Aunt Beru in the Star Wars Prequels.

Bonnie finished her debut album “The Deep End” only to have it go unreleased. On her site she says “My heart is a bit broken I admit. I’ve been going through a kind of grieving process… that album is like my baby… I put my heart and soul into creating it for years… I had so many grand dreams for it (as did many people) and it’s deeply sad to let it go.”

But when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. So Bonnie decided to make an EP with the help of Indiegogo.com, a crowdsourcing platform similar to Kickstarter. She named the campaign, “Help Bonnie Make An EP” with the simple tagline of “Bonnie’s recording a new EP and you’re invited to help make it happen!”

How did she do? She had plenty of lemonade, on a goal of $8,000 she raised nearly double finishing with $15,201 to fund the EP. But Bonnie’s perseverance is more than just making lemonade out of lemons. On her campaign’s page she wrote her mission, “I believe music has the power to inspire people, help them feel more deeply and connect more with themselves and their highest dreams of who they want to be, and with this EP, I hope to help people do that!” That’s a pretty big dream, but it was the section she wrote for Return on Your Investment that says all you need to know about her.

"Even if I don’t raise the full $8000 I’m committed to making this EP, so I will get your prizes to you even if I need to fund some of it out of my own pocket!" That’s strength of character, that’s perseverance and that is Bonnie Piesse.

The EP was made and released, so she did what any musician would do, she went out to promote her album. But this is where Bonnie has a leg up on most aspiring musicians. She’s already an established actor, and at that, she’s been an actor in arguably one of the most well-known franchises on the planet, Star Wars.

I met Bonnie at The Great Allentown Comic Con, she was there to meet fans, sign autographs and sell her album. She’s able to do Cons because of her affiliation with Star Wars, but she told me that the attendants are usually willing to support her by buying an album. This doesn’t surprise me in the least, most people I meet at Cons have dreams of their own, so helping someone else’s is a no-brainer.
Anyway, the album is amazing. Bonnie isn’t just another pretty actress, she’s also a great singer and songwriter. This isn’t just my opinion, she’s won numerous songwriting contests throughout the world. I, for one, hope that she gets to launch her debut full length album soon, because I’m sure she’ll do well and the Bittersweet EP just leaves you wanting more.

There are, for those who don’t have patience, two more songs on the Video page of her website and the Live Promo embedded below as well. She has stated that she’ll continue to pursue a career in music and acting, so with the perseverance that helped her complete her debut album, now available on iTunes, I’m sure we’ll all be seeing more of our favorite Star Wars Aunt, Bonnie Piesse. - Agent Palmer

Star Wars alum and singer/songwriter Bonnie Piesse (Aunt Beru in the prequels!), has just released her first indie album, “Bittersweet.” There are 4 songs on the EP, and it can be downloaded via iTunes, or you can stream the songs on SoundCloud.

You can keep up with Bonnie Piesse on her Facebook page or you can check out her official website. - Coffee With Kenobi