 
Published: June 10, 2007 6:09 PM EST
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior
(Juniorscave.com)
Music Spotlight: Gary Revel
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THEY SLEW THE DREAMER. | |
Gary Revel is an artist that is not afraid to speak his mind especially when it comes to the words in his music which can sometimes cause Government Officials to react drastically (read on for more on that on). The truth of the matter is that Gary is a role model to other artist who conform under the general censuses to stay true to one's own plight. What will draw you to him with his mannerism of presenting the music to you and the powerful words that follow. I really enjoyed listening to his tracks as I found myself being transferred at times to other places both familiar and unfamiliar to me. Recently, Gary took the time to do a Q & A for the magazine. Check it out and let's discover the magic of this talented musician.
http://www.myspace.com/garyrevel:
Myspace Account
Q. What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
A. The words. I have always been most fascinated by the words of a song. I work very hard to write songs that say something important and help to satisfy human needs.
Q. What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?
A. The interference of Government Officials, Departments and Agencies in the marketing of music. I have a very personal relationship with this matter in that I wrote a song in 1977 that uncovered the truth about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the release of the single record of the song was commercially sabotaged by the FBI's program of using the media to squash works that uncovered their participation in the MLK murder.
Q. What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming
recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects,
etc).
A. I am writing songs and marketing my music mostly via the Internet. I have a music video of the song I just spoke of, THEY SLEW THE DREAMER. It is getting considerable attention and is available on the Internet. I am also negotiating a deal to bring the story of my investigation to the motion picture screen, well actually my business manager, Jud Phillips and film-maker William Sachs are doing the negotiating but it sometimes feels as if I am almost too involved in that too.
Q. What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a
recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the
show/recording?
A. I have performed concerts in peoples' living rooms and recorded vocals for songs in bedrooms with very little equipment. The quality of those kinds of things are offset by the very natural and spontaneous feel you get.
Q. In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have
lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?
A. There is no doubt that where you live affects your music and your taste in music. My many years in Hollywood, California probably is the major influence on my music today. Of course coming from Alabama and growing up in Florida provided me with a Southern Accent and an understanding of Country music that continues to come out in my writing and performing also. Beyond that I have lived in New York City, Nashville and Memphis Tennessee and am spending a lot of time on the road right now and visiting places like Katy and Killeen Texas. All of these places leave their own little feel to my overall artistic presentations.
Q. When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about
it?
A. I finished a song most recently in October of last year titled 'WHAT I LIKE'. It is available in my Acoustic Sessions file from my website at: http://www.garyrevel.com/Acoustic_Gary/Gary_Revel_-_What_I_Like.mp3 I have several songs that I have started and not finished - chord progressions and/or lyrics just waiting for me to get the right inspiration to get back into them. Some songs come quick and easy and some take a while. For me writing a song is similar to getting an article of clothing fitted by a tailor. You want the seams and fit to be perfectly attuned to the body that they cover. In other words, I want the music and lyrics to provide the hearer a true presentation of the thoughts and feelings that make the song.
Q. As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less
interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other
people...and why do you think that is?
A. I love all music and never tire or become less interested in hearing new stuff. I get uncomfortable when a lyric is demeaning to women or just blatantly promoting violence but other than that I just love music of all types.
Q. Lately, what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn
to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from
yours?)
A. Over the last couple of years I have become more interested in the Blues. I have always enjoyed the unique quality of blues music and have an admiration for the fact that so many Blues artists have been successful for all these years with just 3 chords and 12 bars repeated over and over again. That to me is kind of a mystery in itself that I can sit and soak up this entertainment, really enjoying it, and yet it is so musically simple. It's just amazing. However, I don't know why a lot of people are calling stuff the Blues when it is musically NOT the blues - but that's another matter for another time. If you want to hear some real blues, here is a little blues song I wrote about a year ago,'Howlin' At The Moon Blues'http://www.garyrevel.com/Acoustic_Gary/Gary_Revel_-_Howlin'_at_the_Moon_Blues.mp3Q.
Q. Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and
think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time
favorite recordings by this band/musician?
A. Amy Winehouse is awesome. I love her vocal stylings and phrasing. My all-time favorite recording is the Beatles White Album, of course I would be neglectful if I didn't mention the fact that I believe Elvis Presley is the greatest recording artist/entertainer that ever lived.
Q. What's the saddest song you've ever heard?
A. It's a song I wrote many years ago but is relevant again today. I just happen to have an acoustic demo of the song, 'IF I HADN'T GONE TO WAR' at:http://www.garyrevel.com/Acoustic_Gary/Gary_Revel_-_If_I_Hadn't_Gone_To_War.mp3
>>>Thanks for your support!
Photo used in this story was provided by Gary Revel.
Gary Revel
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