Brook: Do you feel that music is a good way to express political feelings or statements?
howie: Absolutely. Music is a good way to express everything! But we humans are all political creatures – an artist’s politics are always in their music, whether they are explicit or implicit. Sometimes by saying nothing, you say something. A song is a great way to ask a question or point out something in a medium that can potentially reach many people, and help them see a new point of view or encourage them to hold their position, and know why they hold it. I express myself politically in the music I write – sometimes very clearly, sometimes in vague or disguised language.
B: Have you written any material that does just that (express political feelings or statements)?
h: Yes. One song from howie&scott’s first album, called “Mightier Than The Sword,” is a very strong statement in favor of words over war, diplomacy over violence, from a very personal to an international level. When we play it, I occasionally improvise new lyrics to fit a particular situation that is on my mind or my audience’s mind. My newer work is not as explicitly political, but the core outlook is definitely still present. I did write a new song before the war with Iraq, but we haven’t performed it because I haven’t taught Scott how it goes. Its more lyrically subtle, but still a criticism of President Bush. I compare his approach to foreign policy to Texas high school football – hilarious mayhem ensues!
B: How do you feel about nationally known artists who have released political songs?
h: More power to them! If an artist has a platform from which to speak, they are free to speak about what they choose. Now, nobody is obligated to listen to, play, or buy their music – so there might be a business risk – but who knows? It could pay off too. There’s also a little thing called artistic integrity. I create what I create – only when something is finished do I ask what I should do with it. Should I publish the song, or perform it, or keep it for myself & my friends? Each artist has to answer.
B: What about censorship that some politically active artists have faced due to their political expressions?
h: Its too bad, but as far as I know its legal. I don’t think its “censorship” in the proper sense, that government is keeping these artists from releasing their political messages. Its more of a self-censorship of the population, which is really even more dangerous – a few people who operate big media outlets (Clear Channel radio, MTV, etc) make decisions about what kinds of messages all Americans will hear – and these few have their own interests to promote that are not necessarily the interests of you or me.
B: How has the war affected you as an artist?
h: The war doesn’t affect my art directly – the war affects me, and then I create art. The war has made me distrust the current administration, it has made me feel like I need to stand up for oppressed people, stand up for right and good and sanity in this world that our policies are turning crazy. And they are OUR policies now, stolen election or not – if we don’t like them, we need to elect people who will change the path we are on. All of this stuff is part of my reaction to the war – it changes who I am – and I (being the person to creates my art) write songs that reflect this. I write songs that hopefully encourage other people to think and reflect for themselves, and introduce them to a progressive way of thinking about the world. I try to be enlightening and encouraging and loving in my songs, whether I’m talking about a dream I had or want to have or the nightmare the troops and citizens alike are experiencing in Iraq right now. Its not pleasant stuff, and that’s present, but I think there’s a way out too and I think we can be good and faithful people and I try to always come back to that.