photos and interview by Rob Ribera
How do you connect to folk music?
The language of folk music, oftentimes, writing in the vernacular, in the spoken word is something that I’ve always loved and there are a lot of different aspects to it, but that would be the biggest thing that I love about folk music.
How do you see this festival changing over time?
This is the first time I’ve ever been here. It’s the first time I’ve in real life experienced The Newport Folk Festival, so just to be around… there’s such vibrancy here. An example of that, I wouldn’t see as much of this at home. As long as people are writing honestly and are writing… it’s incredibly encouraging seeing this. You mentioned earlier on how the focus tied in politically sometimes and stuff like that. I was always told that everything is political. There’s nothing that you can say that isn’t tied in some way to a greater, I suppose to the big picture. Here, I think as long as people are being honest, and everything here, everything I’ve seen is just very honest reflections, very honest expressions of what it is to be a person right here, what it is to be a musician, what it is to just live in these times.
How do you connect to folk music?The language of folk music, oftentimes, writing in the vernacular, in the spoken word is something that I’ve always loved and there are a lot of different aspects to it, but that would be the biggest thing that I love about folk music.
How do you see this festival changing over time?This is the first time I’ve ever been here. It’s the first time I’ve in real life experienced The Newport Folk Festival, so just to be around… there’s such vibrancy here. An example of that, I wouldn’t see as much of this at home. As long as people are writing honestly and are writing… it’s incredibly encouraging seeing this. You mentioned earlier on how the focus tied in politically sometimes and stuff like that. I was always told that everything is political. There’s nothing that you can say that isn’t tied in some way to a greater, I suppose to the big picture. Here, I think as long as people are being honest, and everything here, everything I’ve seen is just very honest reflections, very honest expressions of what it is to be a person right here, what it is to be a musician, what it is to just live in these times.
Who are some of the musicians that you’ve drawn from or that you admire from your own country?
Have there been any bands or musicians here that have surprised or inspired you?
