FINDING MUSIC AND THE ART OF THE PROPHETS IN HOLLYWOOD: RICHARD ROSSI RELEASES HIS RECORD "SEASONS OF MY HEART"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Studio City, California, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) April 9, 2011 -- SM: So how does Hollywood compare to Pittsburgh?

RR: The culture in California is more supportive of creative exploration and reinvention. Pittsburgh is slower to embrace change, but it will always be home because of my family and friends being there.

SM: Speaking of family, your brothers play on the new CD.

RR: My brother Pete plays bass and my brother Tony plays drums on the new tracks. It was a family experience because we played together a song I wrote for my Mom ("Mama"), and a song I wrote for Tony entitled "Song For My Brother." The song is very vulnerable about my love for my brother and how much it hurt to be separated from him. As children, our father suffered mental illness and sometimes we had to split up and stay with different people. The song is so emotional. It was always a bit awkward between us when I performed it because I can express feelings as a musician I struggle to say in real life. So recording it together was really something. A lot of feeling comes through.

SM: You played professionally as a family act like the Jacksons in the past, right?

RR: Yes. My Dad and me on guitar, Mom on keyboard, Tony on drums. Joe plays blues. My sister plays piano. We've all played together. All seven in the family play music as well as both my children.

SM: How long have you been working on the CD? Why have you waited 14 years to put out an album?

RR: I had a creative and successful period as a singer-songwriter in partnership with John Walker when I was in my late teens. I think we both went through a period of feeling the loss of that. He writes poignantly about it in "Story Of A Lost Guitar Player." After that, I worked for years solely as a minister. When my wife and kids and I headed to Hollywood, I started working as an actor and making films. I still played professionally and wrote songs but I was pursuing other art forms and the guitar was always there making me money and helping pay rent. I was recording the songs that are on this CD over the entire period but never felt it was the right time to release it.

SM: Your first album back in 1993 "New Wine," was clearly a Christian rock album, and your second album "Full Circle" was criticized by evangelicals for exploring the darker themes of depression and loss without the clear soul-saving emphasis of New Wine. To what extent does "Seasons" explore faith, and is it closer to either of your prior records?

RR: This new CD shows the best of my work, eight songs that audiences liked the best from the two prior albums plus eight new songs that go with the story of my new novel "Stick Man." My faith and spiritual journey will always be a part of my work. I grow as a musician and artist by growing in my life and my connection with the Master Musician. After all, God created the songs of the birds. I agree with Martin Luther's quote. "Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitation of the soul." Playing guitar and singing my songs makes me feel grounded.

SM: Much has been made of your leaving fundamentalism. How has your faith changed?

RR: I had to unlearn some of the toxic teachings of rigid religion and self-defeating beliefs to truly blossom as an artist. The Falwellian fundamentalism I was indoctrinated with when I attended Liberty University was dogmatic, which is death to creativity. Music was used strictly as a propaganda tool there. True creativity is an emotional expression that enables an artist to be naked and not ashamed. The God I worship today is pure love. Unconditional, universal love for everybody no matter who they are or where they come from. God created you and me in His image, and our music and creativity express that. Our talents are gifts, and what we make from them is our gifts back.

SM: Are you surprised by the success of the CD?

RR: Yes. Although success is taking the gifts God gives us and making something with them, as I said. Knowing people are buying and downloading the songs means so much to me, especially after a long period of writing songs and keeping them to myself.

SM: All all 16 songs originals?

RR: Yes, I wrote all 16 songs, several with John Walker from the New Wine material.

SM: In addition to singing the songs and playing guitar, what other instruments do you play?

RR: I play harmonica on a few songs like "Kingdom Is Near," and "Santa Monica." I play strings on love songs like "All My Life."

SM: Did you play acoustic on most cuts?

RR: Yes. I used a flamenco Spanish guitar that belonged to my Dad on a Latin song I wrote called "Dancing In the Rain," as well as on the most popular love song on the CD "All My Life." I played electric when I wanted a gritty lead sound, like on "Street Preaching Man."

SM: Speaking as a listener, it's your best work yet.

"Seasons Of My Heart: The Stick Man Soundtrack" by Richard Rossi is available for $9 at Amazon.com in both CD and MP3 formats.

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