RockOm

By Trevor Harden, Trevor@RockOm.net

Sixteen years ago to this very day, one of the cheesiest pop songs to ever reach #1 on pop radio topped the charts and remained there for five weeks.

The seven-minute, overdramatic epic was the foundation upon which one very... uh... beefy rock-God belted out the catchy hook that had people across the planet simultaneously singing along and scratching their heads...

"I would do anything for love.
Yes, I would do anything for love.
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that."
[Meatloaf, "I'd Do Anything for Love"]

Wait, what? You won't do what, Mr. Meatloaf?

In a world yet to be saturated with the Almighty Google, blogs or online forums, we were left wondering what in the hell that one thing was. In one breath he proclaims love as the highest ideal, to which he gives the entirety of his heart, mind and soul; in the next, he is hung-up. The limits had been tested and the test came back negative. To misquote ESPN's Chris Berman, "He... could... [not]... go... all... the... way."

Most of us are also like this. We claim that love is both the road upon which to walk as well as the ultimate goal. Because of our spiritual convictions, we're first in line to say that because all people are sparks of or children of the divine, that unconditional love and compassion should be the foundation upon which we build our lives.

Then comes the application...

The truth is that most of us have limits. We're willing to be loving and compassionate - but to a point. I will do anything for love, but...

• ...that jerkwad just cut me off.
• ...I don't really deal with those kinds of people.
• ...you offended or hurt me in some way.

Remember these immortal words from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, "Everyone I know has a big 'but.' C'mon, Simone, let's talk about your big 'but.'" Indeed, we all have a big "but." Very few of us are spiritually developed enough to love completely and at all times.

Fortunately, in this life - at least as I experience it - there is a divine grace that blankets our shortcomings and there is therefore no need for guilt or shame, even when we blow it. And it's not even that love and compassion are required of us anyway. If we choose to not make either a priority, that's our prerogative. It's just that most of us who have chosen to pursue Truth have discovered that Love is indeed worthy of our entire heart, mind and soul.

Over the next few days watch for where you come up against your edge. Try to discover your "but" - that place where you reach the limits of your love. Don't beat yourself up about it; we all have a threshold. But see if you can lean in to your "but", your limit, just a little. Through love, attempt to see other people for who they really are, instead of what they have done to you or who they may appear to be through your projections.

We may never get to the point where saying "...but I won't do that" is truly absent from the way in which we love others, but through practice we can enjoy getting as close as we can.

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An Interview with Nutone artist Donna De Lory
By Trevor Harden, Trevor@RockOm.net

Donna De Lory's latest album Sanctuary (out now on Nutone Music) is by and large a mantra-based chant album, using ancient Sanskrit devotional prayers alongside original lyrics, all set to a beautiful and meditative East-meets-West instrumentation. Through her heartfelt, gentle and breathy vocal delivery, Donna's singing wraps the listener in a nurturing love and encourages a sense of devotion and transcendence.

Donna has not always been focused on yogic music, however. Her past pop career had her singing vocals on albums by Santana, Carly Simon and Jewel to mention a few. Most famously, Donna was known as one of Madonna's main live accompanying vocalists for nearly 20 years.

In this interview, Donna De Lory shares with RockOm about the title track from her album Sanctuary, how conscious intention transforms music into a healing force, Joseph Campbell's influence on her life and work, and what being open to the Divine Mother has taught her about God.

Trevor: I'm not an overly emotional guy but I found that upon listening to your album for the first time, as the beautiful first track rolled over into your song "Sanctuary" - and I heard how you took this old Christian folksy worship song that I grew up with and brought it into a meditative and spiritual arena - I just got kind of choked up. What is your history with the song "Sanctuary"? Is it something you came upon recently or did you have a church background that introduced you to the song?

Donna: Not really. Growing up my family was Christian-Catholic and mom is actually a recovering Catholic. She was wanting to be a nun when she was young and grew up in Catholic schools and then kind of rebelled against that. So when I was a kid I always wanted to go to church and I went with my friends to different churches or with my Jewish friends to their temple. Not that I was trying to find the place for me, but I just liked the sense of community and the devotion that you felt in that environment. I moved to Nashville when I was eighteen and I went to church there and started on my spiritual path at that time. I probably did hear the song "Sanctuary" in the church but more recently I heard it on a friend's CD.

I heard the words "with thanksgiving I'll be a living sanctuary for you" and sometimes I'll hear words that someone else wrote that really ring true, something I would write. The actual song goes on for many more verses but I didn't resonate so much with the other words. I felt like all I really wanted to say was this over and over again. And that's something I love about the mantras where you take something very simple - either the names of God or a phrase like "I am divine love" - and you sing it over and over again. I love what I've learned about mantra-based music and how I can apply that to other songs whether it's "Amazing Grace", my song "Sky is Open", "May God's Love Be with You Always" or "Sanctuary."

It's beautiful to say something that can resonate with people but not engage them too much. Music is a tool for opening and when you study the history of music I believe that was the original intent of music - to open people up, to heal and to move people. Coming from a really commercial pop background, I now look at music this way and set intentions for the music that I make. I want to have this be my gift for other people to help them. Consider what Mother Teresa did or Amma, people who are giving, giving, giving. I feel like my music is my small piece of what I can do. That song, "Sanctuary", for me reminds me of that. People come up to me all the time and say, "Please don't stop doing this. I know it's hard, you've got your family and other things, but please keep doing this."

Trevor: When we spoke with one of your label-mates and friends David Newman, he shared about the yogic use of sound as a path for healing. So that's what you're talking about here, right? That music has a healing power?

Donna: When you have that conscious intention it absolutely has a healing power. I was doing an interview a couple of weeks ago and someone mentioned a man's name, a healer, and wanted to know if I knew of him. I said, "No, I don't know this person." They said, "He exclusively uses your music to heal people. The vibrations and the frequencies in your music really help and he has a lot of experience with that." It was beautiful to hear that and I thought, "Of course!" I've personally been there with people when they've transitioned and left the body as music played or people will play my music when there's a baby being born. I hear stories like this and that is what music can be used for - these deep, deep meaningful experiences in our lives. And it's beautiful because when you use music in this way you can go back by playing this music again to that place. It's a tool to take you back to that moment again.

Trevor: In the album's liner notes you spoke to how Joseph Campbell was an inspiration for you. What did his work mean to your spiritual journey?

Donna: Wow, it was just his overall view of mythology and man's quest and incredible awe for this higher power. This is what he dedicated his life to study and in going back to see cave drawings and all the art. It's basically this yearning to know God, a connection to nature, and that we're all connected. We need to get back to that place, obviously, because what we're doing with the planet and each other is not respectful. Because of the damage that has been done it's especially time to wake up and to realize these things, that we're all really connected.

Plus he just gives you so much information you can go out and learn about. I first learned Sanskrit from watching him and hearing his talks. He talked about Sanskrit as the great spiritual language of the world because of how old it is and the intention put into it. I went further into studying yoga and began hearing the words again and started putting these mantras and words into my songs. I've always been on and interested in a spiritual path, whether that was studying Joseph Campbell or Yogananda or something from the Christian tradition - wherever I was.

Now it's yoga and everyone's coming together to help themselves and other people through yoga. I love yogis because they're generous and help other people. As far as the physical practice of yoga in our country is concerned, I think it's great if there's a yoga center on every corner because it's just going to make people be more compassionate and have some of this intention. It's OK even if it's just "Namaste" at the end of a class, at least you're bowing to some thing that's greater than yourself and I think we need that.

Trevor: On a personal, non-musical note, I see that you have two children. Everyone agrees that children become like our gurus as they have so much to teach us. What are they teaching you right now?

Donna: You don't know love until you have children; every day I'm being taught something. I'm learning just "being" and not having to "do" all the time - just being in that moment. I'm really feeling time passing quickly now so I'm trying to hold on to these moments. Even when I look back to pictures of my 6-year old daughter when she was a baby, I don't even remember! It's going by so fast. I say to my husband, "Did you take more pictures? Did you get the movie of them?" I'm realizing this is the good stuff, the stuff of life.

It's the interesting thing about life, as you go you realize what's really important. With all those years that I spent striving for something in my career and all those desires, now I'm trying to just "be" instead of wanting so much all the time. I'm just so grateful I'm right here.

Trevor: Speaking of mothers, the culture in which we live here in the West has a very masculine view of God overall. You have "Jai Ma" on your album and so what do you think we're missing in our understanding by only having a Father figure or more specifically what has being open to the Divine Mother meant to your journey?

Donna: I think we're missing the nurturing aspects of the divine. I was watching a video of Amma and they were asking her, "Why do you think people love what you're doing so much, just coming and getting a hug?" She was saying that if she can make both men and women feel more of that nurturing Mother energy, that's what she wants to do. Her hugs are opening those people up. I guess with my music, I want to do that same thing. And by me being a mother now I'm starting to understand it and have more of that to share in my lyrics and music. Since I had my daughter who is six, "He Ma Durga" has been my theme song or mantra. It was really powerful for me and for other people too. When I sing it, people are holding themselves and being compassionate toward themselves.

That's what's missing; we don't have that kind of nurturing support to love ourselves, or know God is the ultimate lover who loves and holds you. And that is what Amma is doing; she's loving everyone. Anyone who comes up there for a hug, she gives them the same amount of love. Whether you're a celebrity or the poor and dying, it's that ultimate love. Also Mother Earth gives us that all the time and we don't see it, though some people do. She's giving us that and we keep doing what we do with the earth and not being conscious, and the Mother's still there giving me another chance to have a child and this life and creation.

I think I'll always sing those mantras because it's so important to me. When I think of doing another mantra CD I think, "I have to keep singing Mother." I just worked on a compilation CD that is specifically made for doctors giving this music to their patients. On it I basically just sing, "Mother, Mother," in English, Spanish and Italian. Sometimes just saying the words "mother" is so beautiful. If we can say these mantras and get out of our heads about our own mothers, but instead recognize that nurturing love that is there for all of us, then we can really feel it. Everyone feels it inside somewhere so I love that music can bring that more to people. At my shows I love when it's exciting and people are dancing, but the most powerful thing is when you get people to open, whether they're crying or want to go give someone a big hug. After I play my music, that's how I feel; I feel like my heart is so much more open.

LINKS:

DonnaDeLory.com

Donna on Nutone Music

Flip over to any news station, media outlet, twitter account or hip website and you'll soon discover that today is Beatles Day, 09.09.09. It marks the release of The Beatles Rock Band, The Beatles Remastered Box Set and the world is abuzz again with Beatlemania.

It's common knowledge that the Fab Four (to varying degrees) developed an interest in meditation and spirituality in the late 60s, which (as any true life practice should do) rubbed off into their lyrics and songwriting.  So with that said and in honor of this special day, here's a short list of our favorite spiritually-charged Beatles tunes.

TITLE: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (Listen)

EXCERPT: "Jai guru deva om, nothing's gonna change my world, nothing's gonna change my world."

REFLECTION: Utilizing a Sanskrit mantra (roughly translated as "Victory to God divine" or "Hail to the divine guru"), "Across the Universe" speaks to experiencing the divine in "limitless undying love" and in the multitude of forms ("Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes"). But perhaps the most beautiful truth lies in the simple chorus. When we're centered in spirit, it matters not what the dance of life does around us. Nothing can perturb us; nothing can shake us, ever. "Nothing's going to change my world."

TITLE: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (Listen)

EXCERPT: "There's nothing you can make that can't be made, No one you can save that can't be saved, Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you, in time - It's easy. All you need is love."

REFLECTION: Of course everyone knows the chorus of this song, which proclaims that all there is, all there ever will be and all we'll ever need is love. As Brian Epstein put it, "It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message... The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything." The Zen koan-like verses are also quite profound: "There's nothing you can make that can't be made." Take that Bodhidharma!

TITLE: THE INNER LIGHT (Listen)

EXCERPT: "Without going out of my door, I can know all things on earth, Without looking out of my window, I could know the ways of heaven."

REFLECTION: Lifted almost verbatim from Chapter 47 of the Tao Te Ching, "The Inner Light" is proof of writer George Harrison's spiritual search and influence. Over a merging of classical Indian instrumentation with Western song form and delivery, "The Inner Light" speaks of looking within to discover the whole universe instead of searching without. Wise words, indeed, as we too often seek outside of ourselves when all that is required is to uncover the spark of the divine that is closer than our breaths.

TITLE: I ME MINE (Listen)

EXCERPT: "All I can hear, I me mine, I me mine, I me mine; Even those tears, I me mine, I me mine, I me mine; No-one's frightened of playing it, Ev'ryone's saying it, Flowing more freely than wine; I me mine."

REFLECTION: A reflection of the Ego's destructive impact on our personal lives and the world, "I Me Mine" is yet another testament to George Harrison's growing disillusionment with ego and interest in compassion and connectedness. As this song's Wikipedia article shares, "the Bhagavad Gita 2:71-72 can be translated as 'They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego-cage of 'I,' 'me,' and 'mine' to be united with the Lord. This is the supreme state. Attain to this, and pass from death to immortality."

OTHERS:

• "Within You Without You"
• "Let It Be"
• "Help"
• "Because"
• "Here Comes the Sun"

Thoughts? Other suggestions or reflections? Leave some comment love...

By James Lumsden (of When Love Comes to Town)

In early December, my band will be performing for a short seminar at Berkshire Community College as part of my presentation of "a spirituality of rock music." As I work to streamline and synthesize my spoken comments, one idea that is taking root has to do with eros and agape. One is an ascending spirituality - longing and personal - while the other is a descending encounter with the spirit - sharing and communal.

They have sometimes been called opponents: eros is carnal and unsatisfied while agape is spiritual and nourishing; eros is inferior and human while agape is elevated and sublime; eros encourages selfishness while agape builds authentic, holy community. But there is a growing chorus - from Pope Benedict VI to ethicist James Nelson - who oppose this dualistic segregation. Rather, they suggest, that both forms of love are true and noble and both share something of God's healing grace. I think the Sufi poet, Rumi, understood this, too, and shared it in his poem, "Love Dogs."

One night a man was crying Allah! Allah!
His lips grew sweet with praising,
until a cynic said, “So!
I’ve heard you calling out, but have you ever
gotten any response?”

The man had no answer to that.
He quit praying and fell into a confused sleep.
He dreamed he saw Khidr, the guide of souls,
in a thick, green foliage.

“Why did you stop praising?” “Because
I’ve never heard anything back.”
“This longing you express
is the return message.”

The grief you cry out from
draws you toward union.
Your pure sadness
that wants help
is the secret cup.

Listen to the moan of a dog for its master.
That whining is the connection.
There are love dogs
no one knows the names of.

Give your life
to be one of them.

There is a longing - the ascending experience - and a resting - the downward encounter - and both are of God: there is need as well as sharing, a time for mourning and a time to dance. And when it comes to practicing this in a spirituality of rock music, it is precisely THIS truth - the embrace of holy/human love - that can be nourished.

To be sure, there is always a Dionysian impulse towards loss of self and even destruction in music - especially rock music. It could be Wagner or Metallica. And there is schlock and crass manipulation throughout the music industry: think most of Tin Pan Alley or Bubble Gum songs.

At the same time, however, if it is true that God's quest for our healing is so strong as to be embodied in Christ - that God is authentically present with us in suffering, shame and pain as well as joy and celebrations - in our trials and rejoicing - it is my hunch that this occurs in the rock music that integrates eros and agape.

I hear it when the Psalmist sings of God calling forth a time in Psalm 85...

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Or when Christians speak of the unity of word and flesh in their lives: the integration of both the inward and outward journey of faith; putting on the fullness of Christ in spirit and truth; living into the Paschal Mystery of Jesus where we experience in our own lives the life, death and resurrection of the Lord. In all of this we are talking about the harmony of eros and agape.

+ It is playful and real
+ It is humble and holy
+ It nourishes the body and soul while building community

And it offers a prophetic critique of anything that defiles or destroys God's beauty, truth and love in creation. I'm not speaking of ALL rock music - most is rubbish or just a little fluff that is fun - but there is some that move us into that place where compassion and justice embrace and kiss: the marriage of eros and agape.

SONG EXAMPLES

1. Eros - reaching out/inner questions/searching:

• City of Angels – Red Hot Chili Peppers
• One – U2
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps – the Beatles
• Soul Sacrifice – Santana
• Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
• Born to Run/Thunder Road/Badlands - Springsteen
• Get Up, Stand Up - Bob Marley

2. Agape: community/being loved/healing:

• Beautiful Day and Grace – U2
• Don’t Give Up/Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel
• Heaven – Los Lonely Boys
• Bowl of Oranges – Bright Eyes
• Everyday People/Stand – Sly and the Family Stone
• A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
• No Surrender – Bruce Springsteen
• When I Ruled the World - Coldplay

Originally posted on James' excellent blog When Love Comes to Town, HERE.

by Brennin

Visit Brennin at...
Brennin.com
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter

Nashville's Brennin has released a new album of honest, conscious rock entitled Bring Back Tomorrow. Inspired by the likes of The Eagles, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Chris Cornell, Brennin's music embodies a "timeless" quality and explores themes of social responsibility, cultural and religious tolerance and transformational love.

"Try"

"I believe 'Try' is the most important message on Bring Back Tomorrow. We live in a very diverse world and because of that we can't seem to get along. We have to learn to meet our differences with peace, agree to disagree, humble ourselves and love one another for the sake of humanity. Love is a very powerful thing and I truly believe it is the only way to heal our world." (Brennin)

Click to Play

by The Morning Birds

Visit The Morning Birds at...
themorningbirds.com
Inspiration Point on iTunes

The Morning Birds are a three-piece band from L.A. who describe themselves as "a hybrid of musical and spiritual understandings expressed through music, art, and moving images." The band's new 16-song album, Inspiration Point is available on iTunes.

"Bag Full of Sunshine"

"The song was written together while on the road. We wanted to convey the idea of persevering over the obstacles we all create unconsciously and continuously struggle through - while still holding onto faith in yourself, even if it is very faint. Finally coming to the understanding that you have the power to release yourself from the 'little things' and live in love." (The Morning Birds)

Click to Play

[You can also download this track for FREE here (offsite)]

"One Door Land"

"'One Door Land' is a call to awakening, as an individual and as society - waking to the understanding that we have been living a life based on beliefs taken on from others, feeling lost and alone in these false understandings, and seeing that they have not created the life we desire. It is our explanation of struggling and helping each other to find a way to release them and create a life based on our clarity in individual truths." (The Morning Birds)

Click to Play

"When I sing, I feel like when you're first in love. It's more than sex. It's that point two people can get to they call love, when you really touch someone for the first time, but it's gigantic, multiplied by the whole audience. I feel chills."

[Janis Joplin]

By Tom Crenshaw and Trevor Harden

Acoustic-reggae rocker Trevor Hall's new self-titled album (Trevor Hall, Vanguard Records) features guest performances by Colbie Caillat, Krishna Das and Matisyahu. Over its 12 fantastic tracks, he explores themes of spiritual lightheartedness ("Internal Heights"), death and surrender ("Who You Gonna Turn To?"), unity between faiths ("Unity"), the story of Krishna ("Volume"), his accepting of all spiritual paths as one truth ("Many Roads") and more.

RockOm met up with Trevor at his CD release party in his hometown of Hilton Head Island, SC to discuss his spiritual practice, a chance encounter in India and themes from the new album.

RockOm: How does it feel to be in the Vanguard Records family now?

Trevor Hall: Vanguard is great. They’ve really been amazing. They’re much smaller than my previous label but it makes it more of a family vibe. They’ve been very helpful with promotion and hooking me up with some nice people and have been wonderful to work with. I’m really looking forward to seeing the rest of what they do with the record.

RO: One of your classic songs, “Lime Tree”, made it’s way back onto your new album. What was the decision to include that again?

TH: That’s such a popular song and it’s only on one EP from a long time ago so we wanted to formally release it and redo it – I’ve grown a lot since then. We had my friend Colbie Callait come in and sing on it which was great and it just fits the record I think. We only redid that one and “31 Flavors” but the rest of the album is all new material.

RockOm: Let’s get into some of those songs. In “Who You Gonna Turn To” you repeat “Surrender to the Most High; surrender, I say surrender.” For people who are not sure how to do that, what would you say to them? What does surrender look like or mean to you?

TH: Well, I’m trying to do that myself! [laughs] But before we jump into the songs it’s important to understand that a lot of the songs aren’t where I’m at presently. They’re all speaking to me too, you know? I’m singing what I’m hearing so they’re all lessons for me too – speaking to me, teaching me. I’m trying to surrender, too, so I don’t know what I could say to other people. But from what I’ve heard from people above me is that surrender is a very powerful thing. Especially in music - music automatically demands a state of surrender when you listen to it. Or if you’re in a live setting, you can’t dance or let yourself go unless you surrender to the sounds. Music is a very powerful instrument in helping with the process of surrendering, I think.

“Who You Gonna Turn To” is a song that is obviously about dying but it’s maybe not bodily death. Maybe it’s more of an ego death or something. Who you gonna turn to at the end of your life when all this is gone? Are you going to turn to your money or your friends? You come alone, you go alone. It’s a song about death but I think it’s a very positive song because it’s saying “I know who I’m going to turn to.” “My mama’s on her lion and papa's home in Zion” – the eternal Mother and Father, that’s who I’m going to turn to.

RO: On your previous albums, images of the divine seemed to be mostly (though not entirely) feminine - such as Durga and Shakti - but it seems like in this album there are some references to a father/masculine divine who often is referenced alongside Zion. I was curious if that's been a new development in your spiritual journey and/or if your friendship with Matisyahu had some influence in that.

TH: I don’t know, I just think that’s what was coming through. Where the Mother is, the Father is too. Where the Father is, the Mother is too. I don’t know if it was another aspect of my inner life but that was just my meditation at the time. I think I had been meditating on the “divine Family” rather than one parent. I don’t know if there’s anything “secret” there or not – I hope so! [laughs]

RO: In the song “House” you sing “far beyond what you call God.” Do you think we limit ourselves sometimes by holding an image in our head of a personification of God when in reality there could be so much broader of an understanding?

TH: I think it can. But there’s so many different ways to love God. They’re all the same goal to me. I don’t know what other people think, but to me it’s one goal. Some people worship God with form, some people worship God without form. Some people say that worshiping God with form is limiting God, but in my experience I think that all ways eventually lead there. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing as long as you love God. That’s what I think. It doesn’t matter if you’re married or not married, it only matters how much you love God. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the city or town or temple, it just matters how much you love God.

I was watching this movie the other day about one of my favorite singers and they interviewed this fruit vendor in India. She sang this devotional song and it just blew my mind. And she’s a fruit vendor – do you know what I mean? She doesn’t have a garb on; she isn’t a nun. Wherever you are, that’s it. I just think that love of God is the highest thing, so whatever helps with that and keeps you open minded is all right in my book.

RO: On “My Baba” - your tribute to Neem Karoli Baba – you have chant master Krishna Das singing on the chorus. I'm sure that was a joy and pleasure to have him agree to back you up on that song. Tell us what having him on the record means to you as well as how that came to be.

TH: That was big time! [laughs] I was very happy. I had only met Krishna Das one time and the way I had met him was kind of funny. I had talked to him on the internet and we have a mutual friend. He was going to India the same time I was and he sent me an email that said, let me know where you’re going and your dates because maybe while we’re there we can link up. I said I would let him know but I never did just because I was so busy and couldn’t remember. It was my first trip to India so I was a little antsy and so I never got around to emailing him. So one night we’re in Rishikesh, which is a little town in the Himalayas right by the Ganga, that is absolutely gorgeous. We went into this little café to eat dinner and my friend said, “Hey, there’s Krishna Das.” [laughs] I turn and over at the next table was Krishna Das and all these people were around him asking to get pictures. He looked kind of bummed out, like he wanted to get away. So I waited until everyone left and I went up to him and said, “Excuse me, Krishna Das?” and he groaned, “Yes?” I said, “I don’t mean to bother you, but my name is Trevor.” And he was like, “Trevor! Why didn’t you email me?!” [laughs] We talked for a little and found out we were going different directions but we saw each other and it was kind of like Baba’s play. It’s just so funny. It’s the only time I’ve seen him physically.

But with the album I had this song called “My Baba.” I really wanted to do a song for [Neem Karoli] Baba because he’s my biggest inspiration. As the song was coming the chorus happened to be “Hari, Hari, Mahadev.” As we were going into the studio I thought, man it would be cool to get Krishna Das to sing on that. So my manager contacted him and they talked for a while. When he heard the song he thought it was great and said “Let’s do it.” He didn’t come to LA because he was busy but we sent the track to him and he recorded it and sent it back. He’s so awesome; he didn’t ask for anything, he’s such a great guy. It was a big thing for me because I love Krishna Das and he’s part of the Neem Karoli Baba family. That’s probably one of my favorite songs on the whole record.

RO: In "Many Roads," one of the lines that resonated with me most is "Are you made from magic? Are you made from wishful thinking?" As people of faith, those questions still come up, don't they? As much of our life and lifestyle are dedicated to serving and loving God, there's still those moments that we have to ask whether it's all a figment of our imagination. What do you do when the doubt comes?

TH: It seems to come often, doesn’t it? [laughs] You just have to have faith. Baba said that many things go into one's spiritual practice but the three main ingredients are faith, devotion and patience. For me it’s hard to remember it’s not an overnight process. You have to plant the seed, you have to water the seed, you have to cultivate the land and cultivate your mind. You get impatient but that’s where you’re growing. You know, there are yogis in India who have been doing this for thousands of lives. They’re up in the caves chanting God’s name 24 hours a day and here we are – you do a mala in the morning and you’re like, “Hey, where is it [enlightenment]?” It’s just you have to be patient. Baba also says that we may forget, but God never forgets about his devotees. God never forgets about us even if we’re doubting so you just have to believe. I mean, where can you go [away from God]?

RO: In the song “Volume” you talk about the silence that can be found. How would you best tell someone to begin finding some silence amidst all of life’s noise?

TH: Oh God, you’re asking the wrong person. [laughs] My mind is like a freakin’ jukebox and I don’t even know what CDs are inside it.

RO: But you find it onstage at times?

TH: Yes, well everybody has a way of finding silence - whether you meditate, whether you sit by yourself and listen to your breath or listen to music. But for me music is very powerful and there’s a place where the sound is coming through and you’re just listening to the sound. When you’re singing you’re listening and you don’t feel like you’re doing anything. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, whew, it’s heavy. Sometimes outside it’s so loud but inside it’s just so silent. Like, I feel that in a lot of places in America, outside it’s silent but inside we’re not very relaxed. But in India it was very different for me – outside there was noise and all of this stuff but inside people have a little bit of silence. So it’s kind of a trick - Mother’s trick, an illusion. You have to be careful, she can trick you. [laughs]

But with “Volume” the chorus is “Close your eyes and hold me and no harm will befall you.” Krishna said that to the gopas, his friends in the field. “That’s what is spoken to me when I turn down the volume.” You can’t hear it until you quiet down.

RO: You’re going to have a lot of young people here at the concert tonight. Some of that is going to bleed over. They’re going to look at you and go, “This cat’s got his act together” – little do they know… [laughs]

TH: Little do they know the TV I watch [laughs] and the things I do in my off time.

RO: But if they listen to the words to that song, it gives them lots to relate to.

TH: The whole song really is about Krishna. “Rain comes down but he holds the mountain; Blue like sky, can you tell me why?” Krishna’s skin is blue and then my favorite story about Krishna is where he holds up the mountain. When he was a young cowherd boy in the fields, his village would pray to Indra, god of rain, to give them rain for their crops. One day Krishna said, “Does Indra accept your offering? Does he come down and eat it with his own mouth? There’s no need to do this. Just believe in me and everything will be fine.” So Indra has a little bit of ego and gets very mad that this little boy is taking away his worship. So he holds the rains and then one day he just lets it flood. All the people in the village are very worried. They think they’re going to drown and that Indra is going to kill them. So they go to Krishna and say, “You have to help us. Save us!” So in Vrindavan there’s a place called Govardhana Hill and you can go there today. And Krishna lifted up the mountain with his pinkie and held it above his head. There are many famous pictures of this. All the villagers come under the mountain and they have a big festival for seven days where they eat and drink and be merry. It really humbled Indra.

So that’s the opening line, but all of the references in “Volume” are about Krishna’s life.

RO: The album’s opening song is “Internal Heights.” What does it mean for you to "maintain internal heights"?

TH: That’s just it right there. That is the goal of my life. Where does your strength come from? The eternal Giver. Maintain internal heights. “To see the transcendent Being, got to keep your hands clean.” Maintain internal heights. Internal heights, always, everywhere you go. It’s hard but this song is a remembering. This is the first song and sets the theme for the whole record.

RO: In last year’s RockOm interview you said, “Everything is meditation.” Is everything still meditation for you?

TH: Yes! [laughs] Sometimes you don’t remember it’s meditation but then it gets you and you’re like. Oh! There it is again – that lesson! Too many lessons!

Links:

Trevor Hall's website

Trevor Hall on iTunes

Vanguard Records

Photography By:

Kellie McCann Photography

"Music does bring people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit. No matter what language we speak, what color we are,
the form of our politics or the expression of our love and our faith, music proves: We are the same."
[John Denver]

Scott Valentine song of the week:

Week 18 - "Insomniac"


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"Nothing cures insomnia like the realization that it's time to get up."
-Unknown-

Originally I wrote this as a love song for a girl I had a serious crush on at the time. I didn't sit down and think, "Okay, I’m going to write you a love song because I’m crazy about you. "It was more like, "I haven't slept in three weeks (literally) and I can't stop thinking about you. Now how on earth am I going to get my life back and get some f*$!@#!? sleep!" Such is the genesis of many a love song I suspect.

Obviously nothing came of that pseudo-obsession other this song – something that I was quite removed from when it came time to record songs for the "Summer" record. Being that I wanted this album to be a complete departure from the vibe and feel of the others I decided to let my imagination soar by approaching the melodic delivery from a much different angle. I loved the structure and the lyrics of the original but wanted to infuse it with a more "summery" energy; the original was far too "broody" to be included otherwise.

So it was that I ended up singing in a Caribbean-inspired voice – accompanied with up to seven other tracks of myself singing incoherent off-the-cuff gibberish in the background. When all was said and done, I enjoyed the bounce of the new approach and felt I had expanded the theme of the song to include the notion that waiting on someone to notice you is about as effective as waiting around for someone else to come along and solve all the world’s problems for us; if we don't take charge and become active in the pursuit of our own destiny, positive results might never occur. In the end, I got tired of waiting for her and spending all of my time thinking about and caring for someone who, for whatever reason, wasn't keen on giving me the reciprocation I desired.

The song, like the "Seasons" journey, was pushing me from the head-over-heels-in-love-sick puppy of spring towards the more cautious and careful lover; someone who was eager to find love, but determined not to get hurt along the way. Throughout my life up until I met Ames, I had always put my unquenchable desire to change the world ahead of my personal relationships. I obsessed over what I believed needed to be done and how it seemed to me that nobody else seemed to care too much about the state the world was in. I was losing sleep and stressing myself to no end over something that was utterly beyond the reach of my own control.

During this summer session, I was slowly coming to realize that the most important sphere of influence I could affect was the world of my own choices. I began to see that I could continue to sit around, stewing in my own juices and waiting to get heard as a musician with all of these crazy ideas and opinions about how to save the world or I could get busy living my life in the moment – healing my relationships and enjoying the company of friends and family with whom I had distanced myself from for the past decade. I found that the energy I had spent "waiting" was far better served living the change I wanted to see and that this was inspiring greater change in the people around me. Finally, those closest to me could see that thinking and acting differently about how we see our role in this world could actual create a more relaxed and joyous Scott.

And that was something that they had all been waiting for…

From Here To There,

Scott Valentine

This song and post are part of Scott Valentine's song a week presentation entitled Seasons. Click here for more information.