The Sound Of Sunshine — the inspired and inspiring new album by Michael Franti & Spearhead — is a kind of musical sun shower, a bright, beautiful and often buoyant song cycle created to bring all kinds of listeners a sense of hope during rough and rainy times for so many in our world.
“Music is sunshine,” says Michael Franti, one of the most positive and conscious artists in music today. “Like sunshine, music is a powerful force that can instantly and almost chemically change your entire mood. Music gives us new energy and a stronger sense of purpose. Music is something you can’t hold in your hands, smell it, taste it or even see it, yet somehow just coming together and feeling these little vibrations that tickle our eardrums can somehow lift us all up out of our most difficult moments in life to unimaginable heights.”
In the mid-Nineties, Franti first formed Spearhead, and increasingly in recent years, he’s found his own voice musically and his own organic brand of popular success. Franti and Spearhead’s last album, 2008’s All Rebel Rockers — recorded in Jamaica with legendary producers and players Sly & Robbie – became the biggest hit of Franti’s career, hitting the Top 40 on the Billboard 200, and yielded his biggest hit, the Top 20 “Say Hey (I Love You).”
“I had a nice, long time to get ready for that first hit, and so I really appreciated it when it happened,” says Franti. “So when we were just mastering the new album, I was saying to my manager, “Boy, wouldn’t it be fun to have a sophomore hit?” He was like, “Sophomore hit? You’ve already been through grad school, man” So yes, I’ve paid some dues, and that’s made getting this far — and still being here — mean even more to me. The funny thing is that `Say Hey’ went into the Top Twenty right as I was being wheeled into surgery. I got the text, and I thought, `Wow, I’ve finally got a hit record, and I’m not even going to live to enjoy it.’ That put everything in perspective too.”
Michael Franti is not a man to openly chase success – in fact; he’s not a man who even wears shoes(for the last ten years). Still, Franti has absolutely no problem hearing his music on the radio now. “When I was a kid, I used to listen to AM radio on family vacations in the car, and at family barbeques and my dad would leave the radio on. So songs that were the silly pop hits became a really meaningful part of my childhood – and of my adult life now. So when I think of the fact that there’s some family out there on the beach in the summer together listening to `Say Hey,’ it makes me feel really good. The truth is a good pop song that makes you feel good can be something of value and meaning to people.”
Arguably the most cohesive, romantic and life-affirming album that Franti and Spearhead have ever made, The Sound Of Sunshine reflects the fact that, as Franti puts it, “With time, you get a better sense who you are and how to put together all your musical passions into your own sound. I feel like for a long time, I dabbled in other sounds. Like `Let’s do something with a reggae vibe here.’ Or `Let’s really rock here.’ But now, I write everything from the acoustic guitar up — which keeps you honest. Then Jay Bowman, my songwriting partner and I, take a lot of time figuring out what’s the best way to present this song and make every word of it come across and ring true.”
Even the recording process for The Sound Of Sunshine reflects Franti’s desire to communicate directly with his audience. “We started in Jamaica actually recording a bunch of tracks with Sly and Robbie who are, of course, great, and we used some of those tracks. Then we got home and started mixing the record. Then I went to Bali and wrote some more songs, but we still didn’t have it finished. So we said let’s bring a portable studio on the road with us. We’d literally recorded the drums in the locker room of the Toronto Raptors or in the shower of some NHL team. Then we’d go right onstage and play the song and see how other people would react to it. We’d see what worked and go back and record it again the next day. So these songs have really been road tested in front of live bodies.”
For Franti, “To play for people and share your songs with them is to make a real connection. That’s why we play outside our shows for those who can’t afford to come inside. They need the songs too – maybe more. That’s the reality. And as a musician I was on tour with put it recently, “Our fans didn’t come to us from a reality show. They came to us from reality.” And so, we mean something in their lives. We’re the music they put on when they drive their little kids to school, or hang out with the person they love at night. There’s no higher honor. So they have an investment in the music. And that means so much because this music is very personal to me too.”
Recently, I had the chance to ask Michael Franti some questions about his music, inspirations, and who he’d love to work with. You can read about that below.
When did you first realize you had an interest in music and what sparked that interest?
I always loved listening to the radio ever since I was a kid, but I didn’t ever imagine playing music until I got to University. The room I lived in was right above a college radio station, so I would here the baselines coming up through the floor and I bought myself a bass and said, “hmmmm, I could do that”, and I caught the music bug.
What drives and inspires you to do what you love?
I want to create a habitat of happiness for other people through my music. I’ve written lots of socially inspired lyrics over my two decades of doing music and I don’t know if music can actually change the world but I know it can provide a glimpse of an alternative to the way it is today. At the end of the day, I think music is most powerful when it creates an environment for people to connect and express their emotions to each other
Do you find it easy to sing and perform? Does it come naturally for you?
I love to sing and play guitar, but sounding good at it does not come naturally for me. It’s something I’ve really had to work on, but because I love it so much it doesn’t feel like work. It’s always a joy to practice.
If you had the chance to work or record with anyone, who would you choose?
My three favorite artists of all time are Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, and John Lennon. Kind of tough to do a collaboration with any of them, although I did do a version of “I Shot the Sheriff” from the original Bob Marley tapes that will come out on a compilation of Marley songs. Last night I did a show with Train and Pat Monahan and I talked about doing something together.
How would you describe the sound of your music?
My music draws from everything that is in my record cd and ipod collection. I always write songs from the acoustic guitar up, but when I start writing a song I never know if it’s going to end up a loud rock song, a funky dance anthem, a sunny reggae groove, or just remain an acoustic song. I hate labeling music.
How do you feel that you’re different from other artists in your genre?
Well, my music comes from my heart. I try to infuse it with positivity, danceability, and lyrics that are easy to sing along to, but if you listen to them repeatedly, you find the deeper meanings in the verses. Everyone’s heart speaks different feelings and puts them in different musical soundscapes. That’s what makes music great.
What are some of your short-term and long-term goals you have lined out for yourself?
I want to continue traveling the world, touching other people with my music and being inspired by the people that I connect with along the way. Every day as a band we try to get better at what we do. The social issues that I’ve always talked about in my music I’ve become more involved in outside of my songs by being directly involved in anti-poverty work and connecting with local groups in every city I meet. In January of 2011, I’m opening the Stay Human Yoga Retreat Center in Bali. Yoga is my other passion.
What are your upcoming plans for promoting your music and latest album?
Our plan in 2011 is to do lots of international touring. We spent 2010 touring the U.S and Canada. While we were on the road I started writing songs for the next album and I will continue to write and hopefully by the time we finish this tour, I’ll already have another record ready to go.
[Keep Clicking Thumbnails for a Larger Image]
Images Via: TotalAssault
