An interview with Loris Holland by Ryan Stride Our next interview is with multiple Daytime Emmy and Grammy award winning composer, keyboardist, writer and singer: Loris Holland. An amazingly talented, genre-defying musician who has worked with a veritable who’s who of household names from Aretha Franklin to Rita Ora. He has also escaped the confines of commercial music, distilling his 30 year musical journey into The TomorrowBand, a personal project combining poetry, music and short films, which embodies his personal vision of world peace. Recently Loris released the song My Brother’s Keeper, a touching tribute to the essential workers who are risking their lives on a daily basis as the world faces this pandemic. RS: Loris, a true pleasure to have an artist such as yourself here on The Peace Dimension blog. Firstly, how have you been coping during this quarantine phase? LH: I have highs and lows, fear and boldness…varies with the day. But mostly I feel very small. I’m adjusting to this new way of life. I mourn and rejoice... depends on the day. Today I’m relatively happy. RS: Now you are both a composer and a singer. I know there are many other parts of the music process you have expertise in but right now just tell us how this pandemic has affected or influenced your creativity as a musician? LH: Thank you Ryan for the interview. The industry of music has filters on all creativity based on marketing viability. A standard that has ached me for decades, but it is what it is. This pandemic has brought the world to its knees and it’s difficult to ignore. It has actually activated me creatively after so many friends have lost the battle with this virus. I am only writing songs that are relevant to our present social condition. It has reignited my sense of purpose as a songwriter. RS: Interesting that you say that. I know NYC has been hit hard by this virus. As I said earlier I am really sorry to hear you lost some friends recently. Now this is something that inspired you to write My Brother's Keeper, right? Can you tell us a bit more about this song? LH: I watched daily as the death toll kept rising, and realised my privileged position. I didn’t have to go out everyday, to risk my life, like the mailman, bus driver, police officers, doctors, nurses, janitors, farmers, and countless others who had to... just to maintain the rest of us. I felt like a coward, but my appreciation grew daily. I called family members in the medical field, and heard horror stories that brought me to tears. Then I remembered the Bible story of Cain killing his brother Abel, then trying to cover it up. When God asked him where his brother was, he posed the question to God “ Am I my brother’s keeper”? The fact is that we are being kept alive by our brothers and sisters ... the essential workers on the front lines of this pandemic....Our Heroes!! Then the song came... “ I’m here... I’m here..” RS: Yes agreed! It is great if we can all acknowledge the work of the caring souls. During times of troubles and stress people often find strength, release and inspiration in music. Are there any songs you have found raising your spirits right now? LH: Great question! Two old songs have been invading my spirit lately.
RS: Hey quality songs! In my book The Peace Dimension I mention meditations that people can use to not only find internal peace but also to access their own creativity. Are there any mind body exercises that you use to help you to keep calm right now and also to nurture your creative gifts? LH: I find peace in my faith that The Creator is in control of all things. Sometimes we need a timeout, experiencing struggles to refocus our perspectives and appreciate others... even when they seem not to appreciate us. Love has no conditions. And I don’t believe there can be peace without love. They’re married. RS: I really like the way you draw that connection between those two forces. Now here I am sharing with people about what I refer to as The Peace Dimension and you have The Peace Process so its seems we have a bridge here! Can you share more about The Peace Process that you mention about on your website? LH: Ha ha! That question hits my core. I’ve written so many peace songs that no one has heard yet. Ok... I’ll be brief. I believe that Peace is a process that begins with forgiveness. The scars of wars are unmanageable, they fester and become malignant... stressful. My motto is: Smile at your neighbor, say peace & love. Go in peace, come in peace, walk in peace, and find peace before peace finds you... then you’ll hopefully Rest In Peace. Obviously easier said than done, but it becomes easier when we begin to forgive, tell ourselves that our peaceful dimension is sacred, and we will not allow someone else’s immaturity and insecurity to penetrate that special place. That’s my short answer. RS: Your motto sounds like potential lyrics for your next song! Over the years I understand you have worked with some truly established names in the music industry: Whitney Houston, Smokey Robinson, Al Green, Celine Dion, LL Kool J, Rita Ora, Carlos Santana and Lauryn Hill, and Aretha Franklin and many many more. Could you share with us any anecdotes about working with a couple of these music greats? LH: I found out that I’m still a student, I’m always learning from the greatest and the least. In saying that, I have met and worked with many great singers and musicians who no one knows, and I’ve also worked with well known amazing talents. I esteem the known and the unknown greats the same. The known greats have a constant battle with fame. Fame is not as great as people may think, it can destroy you if you don’t remain humble. Look at MJ and Prince. My best experiences have been with great artists who are still humble, but I’ve learned from them all and do appreciate them for even wanting to work with me. RS: In the 90's you worked on the album Grace with Jeff Buckley. So I want to ask you what is your interpretation of the song Hallelujah? To you what is Hallelujah about? LH: Oh the memories of Jeff!!! What a great and humble guy he was... I miss him. God rest his soul. Hallelujah is a praise, the highest praise. We should celebrate. That’s what the word means to me. However the song didn’t really have a religious meaning. I think it just celebrated life in all its attributes... joy and sadness, the makeup of the human condition. RS: Ok, I must get you back here again Loris and next time, I will ask you for a Jeff Buckley story! Now sound and music can have a very real influence on people, their energy, maybe even their reality to some extent. Music could be seen as something that is very, very powerful. Do you think people have to also be wary of music that has negative energy behind, within or coming out of it? LH: I can write a book about this. I’ll try to be brief. The origin of music is mysterious. What we know scientifically is that there is a series of calibrated invisible tones, called harmonics and overtones. This rainbow surrounds our atmosphere, and governs the rules of music and emotions we feel when triggered by certain tonal combinations. What is even more amazing is that these emotions are global. This is why film composers can manipulate our emotions ... it’s all harmonic science . I teach this science to all my beginner students. The Creator of this amazing rainbow of tones is obviously a great intellect. It just couldn’t appear out of nowhere, with so specific a calibration of tones that affects us all. Music is tones and rhythm. We all have a natural rhythm... our heartbeat ... so we respond to rhythms, we walk and run in rhythm . We even talk in rhythm. I do not believe that there is negative energy in music, even if the creator of that music has negative intentions. The negativity if any, usually comes in the lyrics. RS: It sounds like you have some interesting projects up ahead. What’s your involvement on Who Shot The Sheriff? LH: That is a film by John Andrews. I composed a few pieces for John, who asked me to be the film composer... I accepted. RS: Loris we are living in a very different world right now - and as someone who I’m sure often composes or sings straight from the heart is there a message or some thoughts you would like to share with people right now? LH: I would say, find peace. It’s the only equalizer to fear which produces stress... our main killer. I say “assassinate stress”, look for peaceful solutions to everything. Value your peaceful state highly, and don’t allow others to contaminate it. Forgive them because they are unaware of the damage. Remember, misery loves company, so your peaceful place will he challenged by those who are just jealous of your love. Be helpful to your neighbors even the silly ones. So... keep on loving, the peace just flows with it . My saying is “ Peace & Love are the twins that win”. RS: Great wisdom there. Thank you. Loris in my book I mention and share about The Peace Dimension. What does The Peace Dimension mean to you? LH: I think I’ve answered that question in all my answers... but here goes. Peace is married to love. There is no peace dimension without love. More love= More peace. RS: Loris, thank you for sharing your gifts with the world and I wish you great health and continued success with your music career. LH: Thank you Ryan for inviting me. I wish you continued success with The Peace Dimension... God knows we need it. We are brothers in the peace cause, and I am thrilled about that. Peace & Love brother. If anyone would like to find out more about Loris and his projects, please visit: http://www.lorisholland.com/ Here is the link to My Brother's Keeper. The Peace Dimension by Ryan Stride is available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk Copyright © Ryan Stride 2020 All rights reserved.
Jerome
5/10/2020 12:01:20
Bless up my brother you came a far way from your mom,s to IETC old piano to Eversonics band back of Lodge rocky sometimes smooth toad better things yet to come live peace and happiness Comments are closed.
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AuthorBorn in London, England, Ryan wishes to share with people how the mystical can be found in the moment, allowing great things to happen. Ryan is also a writer and social commentator who is currently working on a script and several new book titles. ArchivesCategories |