On the 7 train heading to Queens, AANY’s Kennedy Moore enjoyed a conversation with Klaudia Maxwell…
AANY: What’s your name?
Klaudia: My name is Klaudia Maxwell. Klaudia with a ‘K’.
AANY: Where are you heading?
Klaudia: I’m heading to Long Island City, Queens to my storage unit. I’m a classic New Yorker with a storage locker.
AANY: With a storage locker and a story. Chapter 1: Where were you born?
Klaudia: I was born in Columbia, South America. I grew up here in New York City. I came here to pursue my music career. I went to NYU and graduated as valedictorian. Soon after, believe it or not, I ended up hanging out with The Ramones.
AANY: Did you have a favorite Ramone?
Klaudia: I used to date Joey, so Joey is obviously my favorite.
AANY: That’s cool. I saw them in concert at City Gardens in New Jersey, ages ago. They were the ultimate punk band; “Rockaway Beach” was a great song.
Klaudia: Joey has a new solo album called ”Ya Know?” which was a collaboration with his brother, executive producer Mickey Leigh, and other fellow New Yorker friends such as Richie Stotts, Charlie Drayton, and Joan Jett. A lot people helped out with this record.
AANY: Joey even had his own street named after him.
Klaudia: Yes, Joey Ramone Place. I just came from his country house upstate and the street sign is in the house as well.
AANY: What an interesting life!
Klaudia: It has been amazing. I also recorded a song with the great Robert Quine. His wife happened to be the editor of my book. Robert was an incredible guitar player. So one day I asked him if he wanted to do a cover of Neil Young’s song “Cowgirl in the Sand,” one of his greatest songs. It came out fantastic. What Robert Quine did is incredible.
AANY: What is the name of your book?
Klaudia: The book is called “The Song of The Dolphins.” It was based on a true story in South America. I went to do the census of the Indians in the Amazon between Columbia and Brazil. That was long ago. I was just 19 years old.
AANY: Where do you live?
Klaudia: I live in the United Arab Emirates. I live in this fabulous city which I am crazy about. I am a music teacher. I have a full time job as a music teacher in an International School in an International community. This is my third year; before that I was working for 2 years for another international school as a music and ESL teacher. It was in a smaller Emirate called Ras Al Khaimah which is right on the boarder of Iraq. I was there for 2 years. Now I have a new contract and I’m moving to Dubai.
AANY: What do you miss most about New York?
Klaudia: I’m a vegan, so the food.
AANY: You just never know who you will meet on the 7 train.
Klaudia: Amazing things have happened in my life, not just through Joey Ramone, who changed my entire life. I was quite young when I met him. But I also had the good fortune of living with Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders, in London. I was her PA in 2000. That was an amazing experience as well.
AANY: So what was it like living in Ras Al Khaimah?
Klaudia: Yes Ras Al Khaimah also called RAK. It was completely different. I happened to be the only girl who was riding a bicycle everywhere. I had a fabulous apartment with a view of the Arabian Gulf right in front of my house. All free. Everything paid for by my school. The utilities included. It was better than Park Avenue. It doesn’t exist in New York City. But it was very, very straight. The local community was very fascinating. I found woman very interesting and supportive of other women.
AANY: Did you have to wear a Burka?
Klaudia: No, I didn’t, and other women don’t have to either. They just do it because they want to follow the tradition. However, I noticed that young people are more westernized as they get older. Everything is changing. They are going through major changes in their society. One major shift is the teachers educating them. The most amazing thing for me living there is that we are treated as celebrities. Not exactly how they treat teachers here in New York. They are very conscious of the importance of education. The local children are very talented but are spoiled to death. They have everything too soon. By age 6, they all have an ipod and iphone.
AANY: So how is the music career coming along?
Klaudia: I’m really looking forward to getting back on stage. I just got another job in Dubai in a 5 star hotel called the Cove Rotana Resort. I just finished my second record.
AANY: I love your unusual tattoo.
Klaudia: Thank you. This is my birthmark. Everyone kept telling me I need to get rid of it because it’s dangerous, due to the size of it. But I decide to celebrate it and turn it into a spider. I love small spiders. I’ve had it for almost ten years now.
AANY: Do you have a name for the spider?
Klaudia: Yes, and it was given by Chrissie Hynde. “Hazel.”
AANY: Thank you so much for your time and sharing on the 7 train!
