Recently I had the chance to hang with Stefanie Eulinburg, the wild drummer for superstar rap-rocker Kid Rock, whose albums have gone platinum more times than I can keep up with. She is majorly fun! I wanted to share our talk with all of you...

Kayci & Stefanie

Kayci: There aren't too many female drummers in the music industry, has being female hurt your career or helped it?

Stefanie: When I first started, I thought my chances of being taken seriously as a drummer were slim. Once my band started getting famous, I think it actually helped. I mean Kid Rock told me years later that I got the job not only because of talent, but because he wanted something different, and a chick poundin' the skins at that time was definitely different!!!

Kayci: Cool. How has being in the public eye changed your day-to-day life?

Stefanie: Well, I get a lot more free stuff! hahaha! I guess it depends where I am. A few years ago I chose to move away from Detroit, where I got the blunt of the craziness. It was insane! Even a trip to the grocery store could turn into an autograph session! But now I've moved up into the mountains, and no one cares. I gotta admit, I kinda miss it!

Kayci: Yeah, you have a lot of fans. Who were your role models as a teen?

Stefanie: Pinky Tuscadaro, Prince and Adam Ant.

Kayci: And who do you admire now?

Stefanie: Pinky Tuscadaro, Prince and Adam Ant. Where the HECK is Adam Ant? Tell him to call me.

Kayci: If I see him I will. If you could change places and be someone else for a day who would it be? And don't say Adam Ant!

Stefanie: Wow.. hmm... I guess if it were just for a day it would have to be Angelina Jolie so I could kiss Brad Pitt for a while! hahaha!

Kayci: I bet a lot of girls would make that choice. What advice would you give to an aspiring teenage musician?

Stefanie: Dedicate yourself and your passion to what ever you decide to do in this business. Be unbelievable at your instrument, practice cuz you love it. Go to the party late, cuz you were rocking out to Zepplin at home. Music is an awesome form of art. When you look at it like that your mind will take you where you thought you couldn't musically go. I'd learn how to use music software like Garage Band or Pro Tools. The other thing you gotta do is promote yourself! Go to the college radio station with a CD and tell them to check it out. Hang posters if you're playing at the talent show at school. Don't be shy. Let everyone know what you're up too!

Kayci: Sounds like great advice. What do you like to do in your free time?

Stefanie: Free time? What is that? I love to watch comedies. I collect DVD's. Not too exciting. My weekends are usually spent on an airplane going back and forth from my house to work. And when I'm home, we're constantly working to get our backyard up and running smoothly! We've got a volleyball court, swimming pool, sandbox, hammocks, fire pit, ya know, our little baby resort in the woods! When I'm in Detroit, I'm working everyday doing something!

Kayci: What would you say is the best part about being multiracial?

Stefanie: The best part to me is that it draws such curiosity out of people. Sometimes they get up the nerve to ask directly, and sometimes they just ask questions like "How come you have blue/green eyes?", "Are you from Hawaii?"

Kayci: Hawaii? OK. Have you ever felt that your race was looked at as a liability?

Stefanie: A liability? I can't think of one time that race was... no never!

Kayci: Me either. How do you respond when you hear a racist or prejudice comment?

Stefanie: That depends on whether I'm offended by it or not. There are times I've cried, there are times when I felt scared and ran, there are times I've gotten mad, but there are many more times where I just laughed cuz it was such a stupid comment that I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

Kayci: How do you respond when someone asks your race?

Stefanie: I say, "Why do you ask? Does it matter? What if you don't like my answer? Hahahaha. Unless of course, I'm dealing with the government or customs or the law!

Kayci: What would you say to teens that struggle with insecurity?

Stefanie: Everyone's insecure about something. Whether you're multiracial, overweight, too short or tall, of a sexual orientation other than heterosexual, poor, divorced parents, I mean the list goes on. You have to learn to rise above any insecurity you see in your self, accept yourself and be who you are. Heck, I'm half the things I just said and I'm ok with it!

Kayci: What are your thoughts on the need for a multiracial classification?

Stefanie: Dude! I think that would be sweet! I'm tired of being in the "Other" column half the time!

Kayci: Is there anything else you'd like to share with the Teen Project RACE community?

Stefanie: I just got hip to you guys, thanks to you, Kayci. I still have a lot to learn about this awesome organization. I became a member and I'll be checking all the time now. Thanks for inviting me in and stay in touch.