Interview with Simon Spire

Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins

Simon Spire, photo courtesy of simonspire.com

Originally from New Zealand but now living in New York, Simon is as generous with his  answers as his lyrics are poetic.  His second full length album, Four Letter Words, will be released in early 2012, but until we have that release to enjoy, take a few moments to get to know this musician who knows a thing or two about the perseverance it takes to make his dreams a reality.

Relate:  First memory of music:

Simon:  Sitting by the living room speakers listening to “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens, a recording that I had discovered in my parents’ music collection.  I played it over and over again, trying to learn the lyrics. Unfortunately, I didn’t speak Spanish.

R:  Name one song you wish you had written.

S:  Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”  The sense of disillusionment that the song captures is hauntingly beautiful.  My favorite version of the song is by k.d. lang

R:  To you, what is the difference between chasing music and chasing fame?

S:  Chasing fame seems like an attempt to fill some kind of void within ourselves from the outside, which I think is always doomed to failure one way or another.  Following the music, however, to me means something more aligned with what one truly wants, and with an authentic desire to share, discover and express.  Whether or not a level of fame is eventually attained, you’ve already succeeded by discovering a deeper part of yourself if you’re following the music, and if there’s a real desire to reach people, then hopefully a level of success in that respect can eventuate too, but often that’s out of our control.

R:  I read that “‘Liberate Your Love’ is a call to free ourselves from our conditioning and step into the truth of who we are.”  Do we share the same truth or do you think it is different for everyone?

S:  I think that we all have the capacity to discover deeper and truer parts of ourselves, and that it’s possible for each one of us to touch the core of who we truly are.  This is what the song is about—taking the risk of embracing our full potential.  I think that where this leads in a life, and what is revealed, is different for each person.  But at the same time, as we open more fully to ourselves and connect to what’s ultimately driving us, we may discover that the core of what’s driving us is the same for us all.  Perhaps we find that, when we’re free of everything else that holds us back, we’re connected to and fueled by inspiration, or love.  That’s where the title of the song comes from.

R:  Where did the concept of the video for “Liberate Your Love” come from?

S:  The director of the music video (Ivan Slavov) and I were discussing different ideas for the video, and at one stage Ivan mentioned the concept of using light bulbs as a symbol for our potential.  As we explored the idea further, it seemed like the perfect vehicle for the message of the song.  Not only did the theme of light work with the song’s lyrics, but discovering and bringing to life the light that had been previously hidden really served the themes of the song.

R:  I also read that Lenedra Carroll has helped you a bit in your career.  Describe how your music has evolved from that demo that she heard, and what advice has she shared that you would like to pass on to other struggling musicians.

S:  As I remember that initial home-demo and cringe, I’d like to hope that my music has changed dramatically since!  The truth is that, while anyone listening to that demo would say that I still had some way to go, it did capture the beginnings of my own musical voice and what I wanted to express through music.  Since that time, I’ve learned a great deal about working in the studio to create the sound I want, and I’ve also gained a great deal more experience as a performer.  Both of these factors have enabled me to develop and refine my own sound, and have impacted my music hugely.  Perhaps the most important change, to my mind, is what I’ve learned about myself and the clearer connection I feel now with my inspiration.  That’s fueled the evolution in my songwriting and the development of the music overall.

I was very lucky to have Lenedra’s help, and she was a wonderful guide.  I think that the most important piece of advice I received and would like to pass on is to be true to the discovery of your own unique voice or gifts.  Lenedra always encouraged me to follow my own direction, rather than trying to fit myself into what was considered marketable or trendy at the time.  This is invaluable advice for all of us, I believe; without being true to our own gifts, it’s hard for us to offer anything of real substance.  But in following our own direction, we can discover what we really have to offer.

R:  In many interviews, you’re described as a “nice guy.”  Do you think it’s possible to hold onto moral integrity and musical integrity at the same time?

S:  It can be a challenge, but I think that when integrity is what’s most important to us, both moral integrity and musical integrity will naturally follow.  I enjoy speaking and connecting with people, and I genuinely enjoy learning more about others, so maybe this is why I’m sometimes described as a “nice guy.”  While it’s important to me to always respect others, there are occasions when “niceness” isn’t always appropriate or possible when I’m doing my best to serve my genuine musical vision.  In that sense, integrity isn’t always compatible with being “nice.”  However, I do think musical integrity and moral integrity are compatible with each other; even when disagreements arise, for example, honesty and respect become even more important for serving the integrity of the music.

R:  Having chosen music over a “safe” career, describe a moment where you realized that pursuing music was the right choice for you.  Or do you still have doubts and wonder if you made the wrong decision?

S:  I remember preparing to travel from L.A. to Washington State to record my first professional demo with Lenedra.  I had only recently made the move to the U.S. for music, and I was still intimidated by the career I was pursuing and wondered if I made a foolish decision.  I had been experiencing problems with my voice, whereby I would often strain it and then lose my voice for several days, unable to sing.  As the start date for the recording neared, I again lost my voice, and started to give up hope that I’d ever be able to be the musician I wanted to be.  After an intense few days, I eventually gave up all hope of escaping failure, convinced I had already failed. Unexpectedly, this gave me  a sense of freedom from it.  It became clear to me that, even if I were to fail, there was still something inside me that was calling to this direction of music, and I had to honor that.  From then on, it became about being true to what was inspiring me, wherever it led, rather than trying to get somewhere or seeking some sense of safety.  That journey has been infinitely richer and more alive that anything I experienced before. It wasn’t long before things really started to develop and I began to discover new understandings which, for example, opened the way for learning so that I no longer strained or lost my voice.

Having said that, it’s certainly a challenging career, and at times I’m sure it would have seemed more comfortable to choose a “safer” career path. But then I wouldn’t have been honoring the inspiration inside me.  This musical journey has taught me so much, and continues to teach me every day; for me, the key is to stay connected to the inspiration that I feel, rather than falling victim to the fears that are always lurking when we take on challenges in our lives.

R:  Your album will be released in the US soon.  What is your biggest hope for this record?

S:  I’m so excited to begin sharing this new music with people—after spending a long time developing and nurturing this album, it’s great to be able to then start getting it out to people.  The music I love listening to has always awakened me to new parts of myself, or connected me to a deeper part of myself, and that’s always been something that I’ve treasured.  I hope that my music can do that for others, and that it can play a part in helping people connect to their own inspiration and gifts.  I hope that the music reaches the people who will connect with it.

Please visit www.simonspire.com for more information.

Tags: "Liberate Your Love", album, early 2012, Four Letter Words, full length, interview, new, released, second, Simon Spire, song