RAP SESSION: LENNOX FLEARY

Biography

Caribbean-born singer/song-writer Lennox Fleary left his home in Grenada to pursue his childhood dreams of music. Self-taught guitarist and singer, he realized that poetry through music was his purpose. He emerged in 1991, and began composing and performing throughout California, Oregon and Washington. With a simple organic sound that features an infectious acoustic rhythm inter-weaved with soulful vocals, Lennox captures audiences from all walks of life. Personal yet universal, his words drawn from life experiences are shared, making connections with audiences touched by the spiritual energy woven smoothly through every song. Lennox currently resides in Los Angeles and has just released a brand new album under the Walkin' on Water Records label called "My Father's House." You can learn more about Lennox and hear his music at his Myspace page.

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You told me that this CD was 16 years in the making.


Lennox: Yes, 16 years ago I began documenting a relationship that has developed over the course of my life. Now that documentary is captured on a little shiny disc that can be shared. It's a 12-song project, titled after track one "My Father's House." I'm so excited about this project. I wrote the title track in 1991 back when I wasn't sure how deeply I was willing to trust God's plan and His call. I've hoped to share it since, so this is great milestone for me, getting it to a format that I can share with people everywhere.


Your music is hard to categorize. Care to take a shot at it?

Lennox: I call it acoustic fusion. I don't know how to categorize it either! I love so many styles and I think they blend together and change as my life journey progresses. There are some elements of pop and rock and funk and blues and jazz and calypso...it's just the sounds I hear in my imagination.


The catchy title track, "My Father's House," has special significance. What is its message and how does it minister to you?

Lennox: In one word "hope." It was that song that He used to reveal to me His plans for my gift, which speaks to the hope referred to in Jeremiah 29:11. He has a plan for my future here on this planet. That song embodies hope for me, both here and later. Many times I would give up or walk away, but for knowing that He did not say goodbye, He is working on it and will come back for me. It makes me work when I'm lazy, He's building, I should too. For me it's been an all-purpose companion. I find it's cheer when I'm quiet and balance when I'm high. As in high spirits .

Your recording had contributions by talented and well-known musicians in the industry. Take us through the roll call.

Lennox: I have been so blessed. I got to meet some amazing musicians on this project. Tom Macomber is our producer and he plays banjo on one song and sings on another. Tom found these incredible guys, starting with Kevin Sherill on drums and Brian Chapman on bass. Brian knew a percussionist named Ron Powell, whose resume includes names like Sinatra and Santana. The guy was unbelievable, and such a generous person. He just came in there and gave heart and soul. Ron told us to check out guitarist Mike O'Neill who was phenomenal--he's played with a lot of well known artists as well, including George Benson, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. Mike led us to Reed Gratz for the keyboards. He actually played a real Fender Rhodes on this recording. Reed told us to get Nicole and Natalie Ganther for backing vocals. My pastor's daughter Liana Bumstead, actually drove down from Oregon to add her gorgeous voice. Steve Kuhn was the recording engineer and Suren Wijeyaratne is the mixing engineer.

You are a rarity because you're self-taught, don't read music, and are just now learning music theory. How do you manage to write and play such great songs?

I'll hear the full arrangement (in my head) and I wish I knew more about music so I could actually show people what I hear. It's a bit of a handicap not being able to paint the picture adequately. Other times I "see" a video. Like for "Gethsemane Blues", I saw a video in my head and then wrote the soundtrack to it. There's something about the garden of Gethsemane. "My Friend" was also written there and I also saw a video in my head for that one. It's not the sort of thing you just tell people. I hear things and I see things. That's called crazy.

You have lived in the inner city, including Hollywood for a few years. How often do you get to express your faith in the vernacular of the culture around you?

Lennox: Every day. Anytime you talk to people, we're all looking for the same thing. We might not know to call it faith. Hope is more accessible word and Love even more so, but at the bottom line, we're all looking for something to believe in. I think the best way to share faith is listen. If you listen long enough people will tell you what hurts, and if you hear enough hurts, you'll come across one that you've had before, which is the perfect time to say, "hey that happened to me one time, and here's what worked for me."

The emerging church calls us back to becoming "story tellers" in our preaching. Are you a story-teller in your singing?

Lennox: Yes, it's the stories in these lyrics and the stories of how they came to me, that I most enjoy sharing. We don't relate to facts, we relate to stories because we can see ourselves in them. That's what happens to me. I read a passage of scripture and it reminds me of a time of joy, or pain or some other memory from my experience. It's that story that inspires me and brings the music and the lyric together. I actually see the story visually in my imagination when I'm writing.

You know the music business. What tips would you give aspiring recording artists who want to cut an album but don't have the funding, connections or resources?

Lennox: I would say learn the power of relationship for it's own sake. This is the MUSIC BUSINESS. Both music and business hinge on relationship. When I'm up on stage singing or in my apartment writing, I'm finding a way to relate to my audience. There is a certain critical mass in terms of quantity and quality of relationships where all the support you need just starts to appear. But relationship building is hard work. My advice is to do it for it's own sake, because at the end of the day, whether I sell one record or a thousand, I've been blessed with amazing friendships all over the world and that's priceless.

What music may we find in your IPOD favorites?

Lennox: James Taylor, Bob Marley, Eagles, Beatles, Steven Curtis Chapman. If I could only listen to one, it would be Bob. No doubt.

When you're not writing music, what do you like to read?

Lennox: The bible for starters. Dr. Seuss.

Why Dr. Seuss?

Lennox: Kids books are so full of optimism, like, O the places you'll go...and the things you will see. Adult books are like, see here, settle down and be practical. Kids books are like, so you think you can fly...well so do I...

Your music is upbeat and funky. Do you get questioned by the saints about its hip-swinging effect?

Lennox: Not so much anymore. It used to be about the music but now it's about the miracle. Jesus is all powerful, I've seen Him work, He is merciful, He continues to forgive me and give me another chance. And since that became the focus, the music is now simply a vehicle and I find people don't even question that anymore, which makes me wonder how much of the questioning was in my own mind.

Let me play devil's advocate. Do you ever question whether God would approve of a lot of today's secular styles of Christian rock/pop bands?

Lennox: Not so much. I find that the Holy Spirit often colors outside my lines. For example, I don't like the hard metal sound where the lead vocal is screaming. I find that anything but peaceful, and yet...

So if Marilyn Manson tried to cross over to the Christian music market, you'd be OK with that?

Lennox: Good question. Is his life changed? Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Are his words changed? I guess I have less discomfort with musical style than I do with lifestyle.

So God doesn't disapprove of any music, as long as you follow Him obediently?


Lennox: I think there is a sound that is pleasing to him. I think there must also be a sound that is displeasing to him. Thing is, I find it dangerous to assume that what I don't like is directly related to what He doesn't like. I do have it on good authority that He prefers obedience over sacrifice. So I would risk it to say, he would accept the unpleasing acoustics of a humble heart, a seeker who is genuine over a pleasant and acceptable music style that simply purveys the financial greed of a self-seeker.

Many churches produce elaborate, contemporary worship services with the seeker-sensitive in mind. Others frown on this practice as another consumer marketing ploy to bring in the numbers and entertain younger audiences. What side of the fence are you on?

Lennox: I feel a greater call to the seeker than to the saint. Jesus says we must worship God in spirit AND truth. Music is a conversation starter (spirit). Until we attract a person's spirit, we cannot even begin a mind connection about truth. If we have no conversation of substance (truth) to complement the seeker-sensitive music, then we'll attract people and have nothing to give them. I am thrilled to find places like Hollywood SDA where contemporary music sits 'em down to listen to an amazing teacher like my pastor Ryan Bell. I'm a "yes" vote on the seeker-sensitive music.

Where would you like to see this album go in terms of success?

Lennox: I'm hoping it will cause someone who might not otherwise take the time to consider Jesus as messiah, to at least think about it and decide who they think He is. I'd like to see it filter through the church communities and then out to the secular world. I dream of the song "My Father's House" getting into a movie or on TV. I really just love that song so much and I'd love for it to become a favorite to people everywhere but I feel like if I just handle his business, He will handle mine. That's the promise.


You're throwing a CD release party at the Hollywood Adventist Church later this month. What can we expect from this grand affair?

This is a chance to celebrate a milestone. Because a lot of amazing people lent a hand, we completed a project. And I want to spend some time with my family and friends celebrating that. There will be live music. I've invited classical guitarist Elizabeth Busch to do a couple songs. I've invited some of my musician friends to join me in playing some of the songs from "My Father's House." I'll preview a couple of the songs from upcoming albums. And there will be time for dinner afterwards.

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The CD Release Party will be held September 22nd at the Hollywood SDA Church, located at 1711 N. Van Ness Ave, Hollywood CA 90028. Doors open at 5, music begins at 6, dinner at 7:30. CD's available $15

Visit Lennox's record label Walkin' on Water Records to listen to and purchase a CD.





Read an August 2007 interview with Lennox on Adventist News Network (ANN)

Catch blog postings about Lennox at The Carioca and Intersections.