1. Tell us about your self-titled debut record, The Neverlutionaries. What are the songs about? How would you describe the music. And, who were your inspirations?
The songs are essentially about my life experiences. Some songs are about reflection and how to use that information and experience to have a better existence. We are here for a reason each one of us. Though everyone’s purpose and path is different, we all face the same challenges, pain, love and joy on our trip. The music reflects my love of so many different genres. From crushing rock riffage to delicate ballads, I try to take the listener on a journey laden with twists, and turns. My music is inspired by so many people like Prince, Led Zeppelin, Alice In Chains, Bach, Muddy Waters, and The Cure…I literally have so many influences that it’s almost impossible to list them all.
2. You have an extensive musical background playing in The All Time Low Stars with Peter Keys of Lynyrd Skynyrd; working with everyone from Lauryn Hill to Bubba Sparxxx; and opening for the diverse likes of Metallica, Aquarium Rescue Unit and Def Leppard. What was it like to work with those musicians?
Working with those musicians was a game changer in my life. I learned so much about the next level of professionalism. Working with each artist was a totally different experience. One of my last shows before this quagmire hit was at the Hard Rock Nashville with All Time Low Stars and Bubba Sparxx and Alexander King joined us on stage that night and the energy was so vibrant and fresh. Peter Keys is a great musician as we all know and Kenny Olson is a guitar legend, Dude literally has his guitar hanging on the wall in the Hard Rock Cafe. Kenny and I have become good friends and he even played on a track on the record, I truly look forward to rocking the house with those fine folks again!
3. You also have an interest in spirituality and spiritual healing. Tell us a little bit about that. What sort of spiritual healing work are you interested in and how has that affected your life and music?
That all stems for my amazing mother!! When I was a kid, she let us go to church with our friends who had different religious backgrounds so that we could see the diversity of things and seek out what spoke to us rather than you better go to this church because that’s where I go. That happened later when my folks split and my Dad remarried. But I’m so lucky to have my mom as my main spiritual influence. She took us with her to her Transcendental Meditation classes in order to expose us to the beauty of finding your spirituality at a very young age. Of course, I didn’t get it then, but as I matured and grew as a person, that experience and others that she exposed us to prepared me for my journey. I believe in loving everyone even when they are hating on you. Though people make that really hard sometimes, I think that this is a part of what we are to learn in this lifetime. Then we come back as someone else and begin another journey. Some may scoff at the idea but I feel it deep in being that is the way of things. It effects my music because I write to entertain all of my brothers and sisters no matter what sex, color, creed or anything like that. Music as a language is so universal and I feel honored that I was chosen to be someone who could do what I do. I believe I am merely a wire of sorts and I’m downloading a transmission a.e. songs somehow and somewhere beyond my comprehension. I just roll with it.
4. What is like working in the music industry with an interest in spiritual healing? Is it ever challenging, given some of the temptations of the music industry? If so, how do you stay grounded and focused on your spirituality?
I’m just trying to be me so I don’t have the time or the luxury of putting energy into something I cannot control. I’ve never been one to be affected by peer pressure which is what it is. I know my mission/directive and no one outside of myself has the power to affect me. I can’t and won’t allow that to happen as it’s all I have.
5. How do you create music from a sacred space? Can you describe that creative or spiritual process?
It varies from song to song. Sometimes I will hear a vocal melody, hum it into my phone and come back and write a song around it at a later date. Other times I get the whole song idea and can track the basic elements quickly. I’ve had songs that were partially written for years that I suddenly came up with a part that makes it a complete offering. Once in a blue moon, I will have a dream, hear a melody and I can remember it when I awaken. That’s a very beautiful and magical thing to me. There are so many many ways to create and I love them all..
6. What advice would you give to writers or musicians who want to create from a spiritual space, but have writer’s block and/or do not feel inspired?
Always write from your heart and what you feel. Be strong enough to keep the negative forces away from you and you will be just fine and dandy. A quote from a song of mine says it all. “Keep those who bring starlight, let ones like clouds pass by..”