The Secret Mission of the Folk Musician - Part 3
post 29 – what is “folk” music anyway? - an interview with Jon Stotian
In the past eight years or so, I have observed that negativity finds tremendous acceptance in public conversation today, while uplifting ideas and optimism are stigmatized and often only whispered privately. That’s just one reason I found my interview with nationally touring folk musician/Wisdom Catcher Jon Stotian so refreshing. He’s not afraid to share positive perspectives.
In Part 1 of the interview, Jon explained the value of sharing songs and stories with honesty and truth. In Part 2, he shared his thoughts on integrity and compassion. His love for excellence and consciousness of how his work impacts others was apparent throughout our discussion, and his ideas can be applied to many fields beyond music - public speaking, public service, parenting, teaching, and more. Part 3 picks up with me asking:
“Why do you describe your music as ‘folk’ music?”
Jon: “First you have to ask - Why label music at all?
“Have you ever wondered why some race horses wear ‘blinders?’ Horses have practically 360 degrees of vision. This can be good because it shows them where they stand in their surroundings. But seeing everything going on around them can be distracting and disorienting. So we don them with blinders to block their peripheral vision. This focuses their attention forward - toward the goal, so to speak. It reduces distractions, making them less likely to veer off course. And as a result, they run faster and reach their goal faster.
“Now, people aren’t horses, but similarly, labels can give musicians and music lovers better focus. Calling music ‘folk’ or ‘blues’ says a lot about what the music is and isn’t. The music I play certainly doesn’t qualify as classical, or jazz, or hip-hop. Folk, yes. Blues, maybe. And a little of this and a little of that. But if you are a ‘folk’ music fan, you should enjoy the style I play. If you’re a jazz or classical fan, you might want to throw tomatoes at me.”
“So I call my music ‘folk’ to give people an idea of what it is and what it isn’t. It’s the same thing with concerts, festivals, or recordings. If an event or recording is described as ‘folk’ you should have a pretty good idea of what music you will hear. That’s the value of labeling your style of music. It’s a courtesy to others.”
Spook: “What is your definition of ‘folk’ music?”
Jon: “This is dangerous territory, but I’ll give it a try. It’s fair to say, there are as many definitions of ‘folk music’ as there are people defining it. But here’s how I see it – whether right or wrong:
“First, you can say ‘folk’ music is about folks – about people. So, it often addresses our common history, landscape, culture, struggles, and values. Things we share – more or less. It’s about us – what makes us who we are – or what we can be. ‘This Land is Your Land’ is a good example.
“But, to me, even more, folk music is of the people. It reflects and promotes our values – like you say all the time. And most of all, people sing it. Or it fits into a concert with other songs people sing. To me that is paramount.
“To call a concert ‘folk music,’ in my estimation, it must, in some way, involve the audience. It’s not just for listening, but for singing along. Or clapping along. Or shouting out answers to a question in a song like ‘Foolish Questions.’
Participation
“Pete (Seeger) summed it up in one word. ‘Participation.’ We all collectively own and participate in folk stories and folk songs. Now, this may be just me, but if a concert does not somehow get the audience involved, then it might be better to call it something other than ‘folk.’ Maybe ‘singer-songwriter’ or ‘blues’ or something else. But I would not call it folk – at least not as its primary ‘label.’
“Blues is folk music, but it is first and foremost blues. Singer-songwriter can be folk music, but it is primarily singer-songwriter. The same goes for bluegrass and many other genres. But what do you call songs that people can sing along to – songs that get the audience involved? Like I said this is dangerous territory. I am sure a lot of people will disagree. But that’s what I call folk music.”
Spook: “What unique value would you say folk music has?”
Jon: “More than any other genre – in my humble estimation – folk songs can impact individuals and even go as far as to change the world – precisely because they come from the people. You can read a book once, or watch the same movie ten times. But when you sing a chorus over and over – maybe hundreds of times - the message of the song gets ingrained in you.
“Songs like ‘This Land is Your Land,’ ‘If I Had a Hammer,’ or ‘We Shall Overcome’ have had profound impacts on our culture. People who have sung these songs hundreds of times, at the very least are aware of the questions: WAS this land really made for you and me? DO I really have a hammer, a bell, and a song to sing? What is that song that we sing anyway? And what exactly it is that we need to overcome?”
Further in the interview, Jon discusses the “secret mission.” Until next time,
Keep the Flame Alive!
I really like this. Thanks for sharing.