It seems like the world does another ‘180’ every time I update this Soapbox page. It gives me a lot to write about, for sure, but it weighs heavily.
Recent political moves to take away reproductive rights from Americans is horrifying. This will further deteriorate the already unworkable and expensive health care systems we rely on, put mothers and doctors at great risk, and, of course, target the poorest and most vulnerable citizens.
The climate catastrophes and environmental deterioration is sickening to watch. Simple resources, like clean air and water, and food, can not be taken for granted. Soon the earth’s population will reach 8 billion and a large percentage will be malnourished, poor, and living in a politically unstable country. Yet there are people who advocate for a growing population. The simple equation of resources, number of people, and disproportionate wealth distribution must be eluding them. Not to mention what all this will cost species of animals, vegetation, etc. that are already on the brink of extinction.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I wear my heart on my sleeve and my songs reflect how I feel, with little filter. In my introspection, I see how my disappointment with the way ‘things are going’ defines much of my artistic output.
Since my late teens I’ve felt that we were just on the wrong road as a species. I empathized with the plight of native peoples; I thought (and think) that their philosophies and approaches were perfect, when you consider the best practices for a sustainable and healthy environment.
I don’t understand the continued racism, sexism, intolerance, and bigotry; I don’t understand why people are threatened by alternative lifestyles, why organized religion is still a ‘thing’ when it has been shown time and again to be a haven for predators, a powerful socio-political tool, and a major reason for division, violence, and war…all the while not paying taxes.
I know that I offend many by calling out organized religion, and that is regrettable, but I am a victim of their abuses on all levels, and you’ll have to forgive me if I need to express these thoughts and emotions.
In my work I make a point to be brutally honest, vulnerable, open-minded, and to criticize in good faith. I sincerely believe that brutal honesty is the key to progress. The explosive nature of honesty is often enough to blow things up and reorder the broken pieces in a better, more enlightened, way…but it does take willingness and compromise from all sides.
I admire musicians like Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, Frank Zappa, Nick Drake, Elliot Smith, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Sandy Denny. I listen to their music for the emotional content, the truth, the heart, and the fearlessness they show in their work.
I’m also a big fan of comedians; some are today’s equivalent of the great philosophers…people like George Carlin and Bill Hicks are perfect examples.
Many (but not all) of the people I list above as influences are gone now, we can only hope that others will come along to follow in their footsteps, to offer us truth through artistic expression.
// Neil
31 July 2022