I am fascinated with Hawksley Workman again. (Part 1)

May 29, 2013 by Blake Morneau in Interviews

This was the second time I talked to Hawksley Workman and the second time I got along exceedingly well with Hawksley Workman. Workman is an artist I respect immensely, someone who's work can be at once sprawling and artistic while being wholly accessible, if sometimes frustrating. This interview was done in February of this year and was supposed to be for FEEDBACK magazine here in Victoria, but my editor there seems to have disappeared so it sat on the shelf for a bit, finally finding its way to the Martlet. This was a really long conversation, in fact this is Part 1, so now, for your reading pleasure...Hawksley Workman.

I talk to Vandana Shiva, real-life Superhero.

May 27, 2013 by Blake Morneau in Interviews

Music is what I write about because it's what I love. It is a powerful communicator and a vital part of any thriving culture. But, at the end of the day, it's just music. There are people out there doing important, compassionate, world-changing things that improve the lives of everyone and everything they come into contact with. Eco-feminist and human love-beam Dr. Vandana Shiva is one of those people. When I found out that she'd be speaking here in Victoria at UVic on the eve of her receiving an honourary doctorate from the university I jumped at the chance to interview this vitally inspiring person. I had originally planned on doing a phone interview before she arrived as a preview piece, but instead was given the privilege of sitting face-to-face with her and conversing like humans. I consider myself a relatively intelligent person but I the nerves I felt going into conversation with this intellectual titan where nearly overwhelming. I asked some things that I may have already known, but that I wanted articulated to be by one of the most important and inspiring people working today. As we sat across from each other I was quickly calmed by her calm demeanour and warm smile.

When the night did come for her to receive her honour from the University of Victoria, I was amazed not at the turn out of people, but at the passion that she inspired in everyone in that room. Dr. Vandana Shiva is a beacon of light and hope in a world that is seemingly more enveloped in darkness and chaos by the day. Seemingly is the operative word there...

Homeboy Sandman is the hero Hip-Hop needs.

May 12, 2013 by Blake Morneau in Interviews

For two years now I've used my Music Rags column at the Martlet to further the cause of good, honest music and because I love it so much, I have placed a heavy emphasis on Hip-Hop music. A great Hip-Hop MC can, in their best moments, shed light on the truths of both self and the surrounding world, by opening up forgotten lingual chambers of the brain. Like all things, Hip-Hop is constantly changing, finding new guiding lights and few of those new leaders shine like New York's Homeboy Sandman. I tracked him down for a chat at the end of 2012 and I must say I felt (And still feel) incredibly blessed to get the chance to talk to and pick the brain of one of Hip-Hop's most important spokesmen.

I party hard on the phone with Andrew W.K!

May 08, 2013 by Blake Morneau in Interviews

I still have memories of getting a sneer of hipster-disapproval from the local vinyl dispensary when I took Andrew W.K.'s I Get Wet to the counter many, many moons ago. His bearded gaze attempted to pierce its way into my soul, but it was all for naught, because my musical soul was protected by glorious party-armour. Andrew W.K.'s music is more important now than ever as people become increasingly passive, quiet and seemingly hopeless. His spirit and enthusiasm is a lethal antidote to the current of lazy, addictive apathy running through so much modern media. I was lucky enough to talk with this most inspiring, awesome dude before he played a solo show here in my beloved Victoria. Nicer and more gracious than I could have ever expected, the fascinating Andrew W.K. left a smile on my face that still seems to be stuck, a year and a half later.

I talk to one of my musical heroes, Dan Bern, and can't help gushing with praise.

April 25, 2013 by Blake Morneau in Interviews

For over 10 years Dan Bern has been a staple of my listening diet. His music has helped me through more of my life than almost anything else I've heard in my time on this planet. When it became clear that my time as a weekly columnist at the Martlet may be coming to an end (It isn't ending. My column will continue in the fall.) I had to think of someone great to cap off the year with and I'm still so grateful that Dan was so easy to access and willing to talk to me. The conversation starts a bit slow, but really picks up steam part-way in and we covered some fascinating stuff. There was a lot of fan-boy praise involved and I think it made Bern a tad uncomfortable at times, but it was necessary for me to able to continue with the interview. I've wanted to thank him for years and getting the chance to do it properly is something I will cherish as long as I can remember it.