Interview: Freedom Heartsong
Interview: Freedom Heartsong
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
I have truly always made music all of my life. I can remember writing and singing songs in elementary school, constantly creating something, musically and artistically. Picking up the guitar at age 9, I was already being heavily influenced by greats like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and all the 90s grunge of youth. Music and art have been the cornerstones of my life, today and for the rest of my time on the earth.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
I love spending time at the beach, in the forest, in the mountains, in nature, meditating, breathing fresh air and filling my soul with the beauty all around. That inspiration is life giving, and nourishes so many parts of me, that I then translate into music. Spending time with my family and loved ones really fills my cup as well, bringing me the deep experiences of love, happiness, and real life, which fuels my creative process as well.
How long have you been performing?
Since I was a kid, and I started to get more serious about it over a decade ago.
Where are you based and how did that influence your music?
Southern California. The land of sunshine, beaches, the ocean, good vibes and open minds. I cultivate this energy to be omnipresent in my body, mind, and soul, as I work to communicate that feeling through each song, to inspire others to embrace the state of mind it represents.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
I think some of my most memorable shows are times when I drastically, tangibly see the uplifting shift that happens for people, and when they communicate that to me directly. I feel that is always present to some degree, which is why I perform, to inspire. But, when you talk to people after, and they tell you how this song or that lyric was exactly what they needed to hear, or changed their whole life or perspective for the better, or the experience helped them deeply heal something they have been dealing with for a long time, that’s it. That’s what it’s all about.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
There’s a little local club in Santa Monica called Trip which I really love. It’s just so intimate and always filled with great vibes and interesting people. I also was blown away by the beauty and artistic architecture of The Cutting Room in NYC, truly one of the most beautiful venues ever. Yes, there are a few places I definitely want to play, especially The Fillmore and Red Rocks.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Well if we are talking about living and past artists, I would do a combination of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and The Black Keys.
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Make music and create constantly. Be true to yourself as an artist and never compromise who you are because of other peoples’ opinions. You are the only person that will always be part of your career. Enjoy the journey and make up your mind to achieve whatever your goals are, never give up, and you will succeed.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Always stay true to your heart, it will never steer you wrong.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
All of my songs carry so much meaning for me, each crafted and created through and from whatever experience I was having at the time, or feeling I needed to communicate, eliciting a wide range of memories. Some that stand out to me are “Ecstatic Magic” and “Evil Grieves.” Both of these were kind of the beginning of each record so far, and also were submitted for Grammy consideration. “Ecstatic Magic” reminds me of my soul sister and back up singer at the time who has since passed, and the musical magic we created on that track. “Evil Grieves” serves as a constant reminder to me and others that you really can live a life that’s made for you, which brings me lots of encouragement on days when I might be feeling down.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
Ah, this is a hard one! I really have a blast playing all of the tunes, and never play a song I don’t enjoy. I love the tunes with fun guitar solos like “Peace Despite The Pain” and “Warrior Of The Light.” “Life At The Beach” is also such a feel good tune, I really like groovin’ on that one. I love the emotion of “All Along The Watchtower” and that is one of my favorite vocal songs. “Warrior Of The Light” definitely seems to be a favorite right now for other people too.
What is the creative process for Freedom Heartsong, and what inspires you to write your music?
I observe and experience music all around us, everywhere, all the time, anything and everything is a song, and I am just tapping into that flow. When my experience or environment deeply speaks to my spirit, I write it down in a creative outpouring that seems to perfectly capture what is coming through my soul. I am inspired to write music to communicate hope, to create peace, to fuel self-discovery and awareness, for people to realize that they are IT, everything they have been searching for is right inside of them and they can create anything they want in life.
Tell us a bit more about your latest single “Warrior of the Light”
This is a song about fighting for what you believe in, for what is good and fair, for justice and equality. Instead of using violence and hatred, it is offering an alternative approach of coming together to use the power of music and love to uplift, inspire, and propel humanity forward into a brighter day. “Warrior Of The Light” is a call to never give up or give in, and to persevere with courage to achieve your heart’s pure and true desires.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
My music brings a message of hope, inspiration, determination, love, peace, laughter, real life perspective, kindness, victory, self-reflection, growth, development, faith, truth, encouragement, good vibes, self-awareness, and self-actualization,
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
Not really, we keep a great sense of humor going, and are together to share great music with the world.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
So many great things on the horizon! The release of my full length album “The Humane Experience” is coming June 17th, 2022 worldwide via Dark Star Records, Sony Music, and The Orchard! We have lots of shows coming up that we are planning in support of the release and beyond, so stay tuned as we continue to announce dates. Tons of musical good vibes on the way!