When you tell someone you are musician/songwriter, the question invariably arises; What kind of music do you write/play? I have always had difficulty coming up with a suitable answer to this. And it's not that I haven't tried.
Often I just respond that I play rock and roll, which, tome meansthat I like to work with an ensamble that includes guitar, bass, and drums. But sometimes I like to play. mandolin instead of guitar. Sometimes I play solo with just a guitar or mandolin. Some of my songs sound like folk songs. I have a song that might be described as hip-hop.Another one sounds Celtic.
I really try to let the songs be what they are…whatever that might be. Sometimes it takes a long time for a song to mature; to grow up and become what it was meant to be; to grow into its personality, like an individual.
One thing that I think is present in almost all of my songs is my sense of a deeply troubled world. I can't shake it. I think I was born with it.
It's not that I haven't known happiness. I have had my share ofjoy in life, and still do. I just had a delightful supper with my loving family. Of course that makes me happy. It also makes me think of all those who are doing without, and I cannot be content. It isn't right and we must change it.
So my songs always have this dark side to them. But maybe it's not dark…maybe it's light and all this happy stuff is really darkness…okay, lets not get carried away now.
Anyway, I've been thinking about all this stuff and lo and behold!!! I've discovered my genre! I play Uneasy Listening!
So if you are an uneasy listener,you might like my songs. And if you like my songs, shoot me an email at richard@richardstrick.com and I will put you on my mailing list and send you these monthly updates ( The Ides ) as well as any breaking news about appearances of myself or myself and my band,Barbed Wire Valentine.
Thanks for reading,
Richard