After wandering on walkabout, I have had the opportunity
to get to know some incredible artists from around the world. Let me rephrase that, artists from below the equator have rocked my
world. As Americans, it seems we fall into this
billboard chart rut of punk pop cookie cutter crap music that all sounds alternatively the
same. Sometimes I stumble across terrific new
artists before the rest of the world, and some that come to mind are tUBrINg www.myspace.com/tubring and Sketching in
Stereo www.myspace.com/sketchinginstereo
whose song “Haystack Home” is hauntingly accurate
when it illustrates that every needle needs a haystack to find home.
Returning home
and listening to what is “now,” I find myself drifting back to New Zealand and Australia
for music that stirs my soul. Is it that political
and economic upheaval has settled in as the norm here, and a clash of cultures still is
horrifying and real there? During our trip, I
sadly noted that I saw only three Aborigine people, the native of the land in
Australia. We had to go to a Maori cultural center
to embrace the people made so famous by a film called “Whale Rider.” Maori are more visible in New Zealand, and it was one of the
priorities for me on this trip to see and hear the artwork and music. Gearloose www.myspace.com/gearloosemusic is a
lyrical example of tropical and folk music by my friend Steven King whom we met in
Christchurch, New Zealand. Ironic that I pray to a Maori prayer rug my great uncle
brought back from this magic land when he was flying around the world with Lindberg. I had also hoped to meet Aborigine people, but sadly it
is one man of mixed blood who has shared his story with me.
So what makes us so
stagnant in looking to others for inspiration? I
heard an interview with members of Eskimo Joe www.myspace.com/eskimojoemusic who talked of how they incorporated sitar into their
music. I was recently told of a band that has
blended cultures in Dehli2Dublin www.myspace.com/delhi2dublin in a crazy
fantastic mix of sound. Dan Sultan www.myspace.com/dansultan finished our
stay in Sydney with one of the best shows I have ever seen at the Annandale Hotel
www.myspace.com/theannandalehotel that my daughter and I left after he
played so as not so spoil the vibe. Last week I
was privileged to have Dwain Phillis of Serpentsounds www.myspace.com/serpentsounds at my home
along with Pete Coon of Tenpenny Joke www.myspace.com/tenpennyjoke having met
Dwain while at Uluru. I was honored to have Dwain
in my community to play an instrument that sings Aboriginal thanks to him sharing his
soul. For those of you that were at Pinetop Fine
Art Gallery, you know exactly what I mean.
Becoming part of a global community is a gift that we all can
share regardless of income, race, or religion. Please take a moment to explore new music
from around the world, not just from your own back yard.
From one ear to another, we can share the sound of music no matter what language we
may speak.
