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Fantastic fusion of Lyricist, musician - The Hindu
October 1st, 2009
by by Meera Srinivsan
Chennai: "There is nothing more powerful than an authentic voice," says lyricist-cum-singer Carrie Newcomer. The written words and music complement each other to relate to the listener at a very deep level. The American artist spoke to The Hindu on Thursday hours before her performance here to mar 'Gandhi Jayanthri' and the beginning of the Chennai Peace Festival.
After her visit to New Delhi and Kolkata, Ms. Newcomer sees a deep sense of history, music, spirituality, language and food in India. She values the interaction with musicians representing different genres such as classical Baul and fusion.
In the U.S. she does not confine her work to a select group of musicians. "I work with a lot of different kinds of musicians. I think I am restless as an artist and try new things and always try pushing my artistic edges."
Among things that have moved her a great deal in this trip and about performing for audiences in India, she says there are things that translate, making it possible for her to instantly connect to new audiences. "Music can go deeper than words and culture. I think music can say things at a very deep level."
Apart from music itself, there are feelings such as hope. The need for hope translates everywhere, she says. "There are something’s that translate in terms of stories, too. Even when I write based on personal experiences, with my own voice, it is based on the idea of what we recognize. There are some things that are universal, and others that are personal. I love combining the tow."
On her recent album "Geography of Light,' Ms. Newcomer says it is about "Navigating parts of our lives that are about light and shadow. There are not a lot of easy answers, but some very good questions. And it is important that we ask them, because they will come u again in our lives." The album also explores a few other themes such as finding something extraordinary in an ordinary day. She recently finished recording her fourteenth album 'Before and After', which is to be released early next near. "The theme is change and how do we walk gracefully through change and transition even when we are not feeling so graceful about it. "
On the role of lyrics in her music, she says" "Well, I'm primarily a story teller. I come very much from the story. For me, language is very important. The story is very important." Themes around people and relationships fascinate her the most.
"I love people. I really do. They are amazing, confusing, fascinating, inspiring ad funny. . .I write a lot about relationships. Not just love relationships, but family relationships, spiritual relationships and community relationships."
While Ms. Newcomer may be narrating stories on complex human relationships, she consciously seeks to keep her work simple. Simple is not easy, it is elegant, she emphasizes. "A song has very little time to tell a story. You have a few verses a couple of choruses and maybe a bridge to tell a full story. So every word has got to count. Every word has to unfold in a beautiful way, because if you lose your listener for one line, you have lost them for many lines." As a lyricist and singer she weaves stories into music, which, she says, enhances the stories. "Everything we do with the music enhances the story. If the story aches, then the music aches. If the story makes you want to dance, then the music makes you want to dance. It works together and I love that about being a songwriter and singer, as I get both."
On the role of music in propagating peace, she says music can be a common language. "When you have people singing together, differences will fall, as we remember the thread that connects us. Music can do that."