Simply Six: Steven Graves

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew
they wanted  to   be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show,  to   another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later.  Is there  such  a defining moment for you?

Its hard to say, but I guess it was when I was about 5 yrs old listening to the Beatles, Motown, Jackson 5, Creedence and others.  I could feel this music in my soul.  It made me feel alive.  I knew there was magic in music and that it was something I would always have in my life.    When I was younger I always thought of myself as a guitar player.  It was about 10 years ago that I realized that I could express so much more by singing as well and then I started writing my own music, and there was no turning back!

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening   to?  Who are some of

your favorites?

I love the old school records and artists such as The Subdudes, Derek Trucks Band, Ben Harper, Robben Ford, Mark Knopler, Lyle Lovette.  I absolutely love everything that David Gilmour does!   Same goes for Jerry 

Garcia.  Ocassionally I like to listen to old CDs from the 70's era like James Gang, Pat Travers, Eagles, Eric Clapton, JJ. Cale, and Neil Young to name a few.   And then there are the 60's music compilations that I love too.  That music was so free and loving!   When I want to be on the quieter side I like Kirtan chants, and meditation music like Carlos Nakai.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record

or live?

I would have to say that my greatest moment is still in front of me.  Everyday I wake up and feel gratitude for my ability to play music, to connect with the audience and hopefully make the world a better place through the music that comes through me.   Everytime a new song comes through me, I am amazed and thrilled.    I can't wait to share it with the world.  I try to live in that space where anything is possible.  My last CD Release Party was  certainly a magical day, we packed the place, beautiful outdoor  garden, band sounded awesome,  and  it was an amazing  time!

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something   to  listen   to?

How much can music influence current events?

I believe that music ABOVE all other cultural elements in our time, has had the greatest influence on our world, more than all the politicians combined.  Music has always been the catalyst for change.  From the rock n roll of the 1950's breaking down the racial barriers,  to Motown of the 60's providing the music soundtrack for our lives as the civil rights movement blossomed.   The popular music of the 60's Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Bryds, Cream, CSNY, etc. the list goes on and on this music brought millions of people together for a common consciousness   The counter culture, the environmental movements, gay rights, feminism, Malcom X, Mohamad Ali, they all coinsided with massively popular music.    In more recent times, there have been all the great benefit concerts, Farm Aid, Micheal Jackson's "We are the world".   John Lennon's imagine.  I feel that as artists we have a responsibility to reflect something positive and offer inspiration in our music.   I  hold this goal  for all that I do in my life.

It seems to me that much of popular music today has less to do with the message or with emotion, depth, or musicianship, but more with selling a product.   This is not to say that there aren't thousands of GREAT artists out there making quality music and saying something positive with their music as well.   I believe that there remains a enormous population of folks out there who still love music and want to hear music that makes them feel good, moves them and makes an impact on their lives.    I hope in some way to have this type of impact on people and to make this world a better place.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected

your career as a musician?

Technology has had a tremendous impact on the industry.   Now almost anyone can record using simple devices such as phones or sophisticated computer programs which are not accessible to everyone.   Internet radio stations, bloggers, on-line magazines, JANGO radio, Pandora, Last FM, you tube, and literally hundreds of on-line sites provide music for free.   This has lead to a title wave of artists and music,  some not very good, and some extremely well done.   There seems to be a perception that music should be free, which makes it difficult for musicians to make a living unless you achieve major success.   On one hand their are so many avenues for my music to heard, and most of them are free.   On the other, its very difficult to be heard or even listened to over the flood of music and musicians.   Also culture has shifted to some degree away from the days when you would look forward to sitting down with a bottle of wine or six pack of beer, a joint, and listening to side A and side B of a record.   Pink Floyld's Dark Side of the Moon comes to mind!  Music in the not so distant past was more of an active experience.  Now many artists sell more music for 3 or 4 second cell phone ring tones then they do CDs!   A sign of our instant gratification, minimal attention span, popular consumer culture.  However, out of much this seemingly soulless and shallow experience, millions of people and thousands of artists are getting back to making great music and performing at house concerts, festivals and other venues where its about the experience and connecting with people.   Also the computer age has altered the quality of music.  MP3's compromise the musical integrity of the sound, but there's no getting around their convenience and popularity.  Digital recording has for the most part replaced analogue which most will agree was a higher quality, bigger and warmer sound.  For my recordings, Blue Coast Records has mastered them, trying to achieve the highest quality most analogue-like sound possible.  Social networking is both a blessing and  curse for us musicians!!    Sometimes I need to remind myself that I need to be playing my guitar, writing music, rehearsing, etc. and not spending hours on the computer trying to promote my music and attempting to be heard by the masses!

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of

shoes would you be?

I would have to say barefoot!   When you go barefoot you are able to connect to the energy of the earth!   I believe we are all being called to reconnect to ourselves, to each other and to our planet.   Barefoot in the forest, barefoot on the beach, connecting to the land and to mother earth.   Symbolically barefoot is back to the basic human element.  No  consumerism, no looking  good, no pretense, just feet for walking, we all have them, we're all the same when you get down to it, and we all have a path to walk, individually and collectively!