This project is a personal journey for me that ties together all of the various skills I have developed during my life. My work emerges from the nexus of art and technology, yet I am firmly rooted in the traditions of gospel and blues music. A true Canadian, I am forging an identity of the polyglot of puzzle pieces that were in the box I was handed.
My environmental works go back to when I was in grade 8, living in Toronto, the first COPE environmental action chapter started. I volunteered and was given a survey to take door to door. My grandmother listened to a popular call-in radio show and at lunch time one day, I called in and told them about the survey and the importance of the environmental threat. That was my first radio interview and I was very nervous about calling, but the experience of knocking on doors and talking to people had convinced me this was an important message. Almost forty years later, I am still trying to make a difference, as I still believe that the problems created by humanity’s impact on planetary resources is the biggest challenge we face.
I became a musician and a songwriter who still wanted to make a difference. The Live More Lightly Song was written in 1997 and it contains the audience interactivity that I like to include in my songs. After studying African traditions and my own gospel roots, the technique of how to encourage community involvement through musical contribution became clearer and I wrote this song in that mode. In my opinion, people are more responsive to ideas if you ask them what they would choose to do — not tell them what they have to do. I want to sing with people not at them!
However, I was involved in raising my children and the long term project of getting my BA, Major in Music degree from UBC. The song, and all of my other projects took third place behind family and school work. I graduated from UBC in 2006 and my children are all growing up. I started to think – “What is the most valuable thing I can do?” The most important threat faced by my children, and humanity in general is environmental degradation. How can I take positive action?
The Live More Lightly Song remained in my memory and I started to plan this project. I am facing my fears as I “do just one thing to make a stand”. The public reaction to my songs has been very positive and I reassure my self that this song was given to me for a reason. I hope that I am able to fulfill the purpose of encouraging people to live more lightly.
I want to thank all of the people who I have met and who I have listed in my Sources of Inspiration Page because it is seeing your dedication to fulfilling your dreams that keeps me going.
