At some point in time, a fabricated dividing line was created that separated our great human race. Be it war, famine or mere cultural boundaries, that dividing line has grown to be much too present in today's world. Because of this, it's rather easy to forget just how connected each and every one of us are as human beings.
Many would argue that the key to blurring these lines is as simple as music.
Producer Mark Johnson and his mission Playing For Change, a music project that looks to inspire and use the universal language of music to encourage peace and unity, is the perfect example of such, proving to show that above all, we are people first. And music, over many other things, can help us to remember that.
Since it's birth in 2002, Playing For Change has released two albums featuring musicians all through the world, with each being truly unique. What comes from one listen is some inexplicable feeling of peace and harmony. Perhaps you don't know why, but it's there.
This coming June 17 marks the release date for Playing For Change's third record, Playing For Change 3.
Before kicking off "PFC", Johnson tells me he was "searching for something" at the time. "I was looking to be inspired and I wanted to do something with my life that could be inspiring to other people." Through his travels, Johnson has met a slew of similar people who use music to bare their soul and spread the word of peace. "It's about the transcendence and being a part of something bigger than ourselves. Music connects people. Your gender, your opinions, your religion, those things don't matter in music."
Many would argue that music can be used as a tool to connect one human spirit to another. In Playing For Change, the separations of land, sea, cultures, or beliefs mean nothing; once music is brought in, Johnson believes, it can transcend us all. And in that moment, you find something truly human. "I wanted to find something that could connect us all and inspire us all," Johnson says. "It felt like we were living in a world that was dividing everybody and I wanted to find a way to connect everybody. And I believe that music is the best way to make that happen."
Aside from featuring many musicians in areas ranging from the Congo to Louisiana, Playing For Change 3 also welcomes in the likes of Keith Richards and Sara Bareilles, which ultimately helps the cause gain a "stronger voice," as Johnson tells me.
To celebrate the release of PFC 3, Mark Johnson sat down with Music Times to discuss the album, the magic of music, and how the art form connects people.
Music Times: Playing For Change 3 comes out on June 17. How do you go about choosing the songs?
Mark Johnson: In the beginning, we wanted to pick songs that could truly unite people, so I started with songs like "Stand By Me" and "One Love." These songs are undeniable in bringing people together. So, not only did we want to bring people together but we wanted to bring people up. Therefore, we decided to choose songs like "Gimme Shelter" and "Get Up Stand Up," songs that would evoke a little more action. Then we picked songs of celebration, such as "Three Little Birds." We really use music as a tool to inspire people. And it's not just when things are going well... it's all of the time.
MT: If I remember correctly, "Get Up Stand Up," which appears on the new album, was a completely improvised piece, correct?
MJ: Right! It came right out of the moment. The first three musicians on the Keith Richards track started that up after "Words of Wonder." That was a real journey and we had so many different genres of music on that one. Anything from Keith Richards to a mariachi band.
MT: When you enter these countries, is it easy for you to get musicians to participate?
MJ: It's easier now because of YouTube. We used to have to translate but YouTube has helped that. All we want is to give them a universal platform.
MT: You definitely seem to be doing so. Editing it all down to one seamless track, regardless of the various styles of music involved, must be quite interesting.
MJ: I think having all the different types of music in one song goes to show the world that music was meant to be the way it is. And it's funny; the editing may appear tedious but it's never to us, the ones editing, because it's so exciting. We almost don't know what it's going to sound like in the end. When you mix mariachi, reggae, a didgeridoo, a steel guitar, you can't plan that. You just keep creating something new.
MT: I think that shows even more so that music is a universal language.
MJ: Exactly! And it also shows that music transcends everything. It's a unique way of uniting people.
MT: Both Keith Richards and Sara Bareilles appear on the new album. Obviously, this is touching something within all these musicians, whether they are well known or broken and poor. What does it mean for you to have such noted musicians, like Richards and Bareilles, participating in PFC?
MJ: I love that question, because it's true; some of the musicians are broken and some are from cultures that are considered broken, but there's still so much love there.
We visited the Congo, and one of the musicians there who sings on "Get Up Stand Up," Mermans Mosengo, just so happens to be one of Sara Bareilles' favorites. I think that shows how connected we all are to music, no matter who you are.
When Mermans sings, he sings with so much emotion and life experience in his songs. I can see why she loves his music. I think that's what inspires so many people. And when you get people like Keith Richards or Sara it gives us a stronger voice. It just says oh, everyone feels this way.
And you know what, Playing For Change is as much for the listener and audience as it is for the musicians involved. It's meant to inspire. It's about continuing to build connections and get this out there.
MT: I remember watching the DVD and seeing the children dancing in the Congo. It was quite an uplifting, emotional experience.
MJ: Definitely! Most people view the Congo as riddled with kids with machine guns and people who are starving, but when you go there, there's so much laughter and joy and history.
I think Playing For Change is also about giving people a different lens to view the world. There's a lot of negativity, yes, but there's also so much positivity in the world. We often forget how connected we all are.
MT: So, you've been doing this since 2002 and have done 3 albums. What have you learned from all of this?
MJ: The main thing is that every person in the world has to persevere from something, and music taps directly into that. A perfect example is while recording this project I was one day recording a homeless man, the next day I was in a palace recording someone else; both musicians – poor and rich – looked at this project the same way. There's a true connection in Playing For Change.
MT: What advice do you have for younger generations of musicians, of people?
MJ: I think the best advice is to continue to grow and find positive ways of connecting with people and inspiring others. Never give up, no matter how bad things are. If you believe in something, you have to fight for it.
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Be sure to check out Playing For Change on Facebook and Twitter. You can purchase the album this coming June 17. Also, look out for the Playing For Change Band as they kick off their 27-city "Peace Through Music Tour." The tour will hit major markets all across the US. Visit the site for tour dates.
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