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Also see Interview with Peter Buffett on Spirit 7th Fire

 

PETER BUFFETT

 

  

John LeKay. I really like the song “Anything”.  Can you please tell me about this song, and how this came about?


Peter Buffett: Thanks. This song was written after a trip to Liberia. It was my first trip to Africa and it was a real eye opener. The lyrics pretty much say it all...I felt so connected to the people I met and yet helpless - seeing the massive issues they faced.


 JL. I noticed that much of The Imaginary Kingdom lyrics seem to be about relationships; about love and seeing things in a new light.   Also about things going wrong, such as in "How Do You Sleep" and "Go So Wrong". What inspired these songs and do they reflect something that you were going through or were you drawing on something that is more universal than that?


Peter Buffett: Some are personal (Go So Wrong) and some are more universal (How Do You Sleep?, Another Day, Imaginary Kingdom). How Do You Sleep? is aimed directly at our former President. While Another Day was written after a trip to a big box mall (that's been a source of inspiration for a few songs...).

  

  

 

Peter Buffett

  

 

JL. “Wrap it up in Blue” has a subtle kind of retro Beatles feeling to it.  Your sound brings to mind Roger Waters from Pink Floyd. Very nice sound.  Can you please tell me what the transition was like for you to go from doing mostly instrumental albums to also doing vocals?


Peter Buffett: Thanks! It was a huge transition for me. My instrumental work could only go so far in regards to interpretation of feelings and emotions. Some listeners can really be swept up in an instrumental track, but most need a lyric to connect to. As I found myself wanting to express deeper and more complex emotional terrain, I found that I need some lyrics to go along with the music. I really didn't expect that I would be singing the songs (I've written for other people in the past), but there was really no other way to match my experiences to the delivery I was looking for.
  
 JL: Which instruments do you play on this album?


 Peter Buffett:That's sort of a trick question - or this is a trick answer to the question. I've been a studio guy for a very long time. So I have sort of perfected the art - or craft - of sounding like a lot of players when it's really only me. And the technology has progressed so far that I can really realize the sounds I hear in my head like never before. So that's a long way of saying that nearly everything on the album is me - but I'm playing the keyboard to create most of the sounds you hear. I did work with a drummer and bass player on a couple of the songs. And I also work with an old friend, Tom Nelson, on guitar on a song or two.

 

JL:  Would you say that singing has changed the direction of your music in any way and has it gotten you to address other issues with your work (such as social issues etc.)?


 Peter Buffett: Absolutely. The singing has allowed me to really speak my mind. Both socially and emotionally. It's been a lot of fun to get these things out of my system!


 

 

JL: I also get a sense of searching for answers about the bigger picture and what's going on in the world.  When you began writing these songs, did you have an overall theme in mind or did they just naturally come together?

 

Peter Buffett: They just naturally came together. There's no question that my first vocal album, Gold Star, was almost all emotion and relationship oriented. Then my second, Staring At The Sun started to open up into broader themes and ideas. And Imaginary Kingdom has taken me a step further into the bigger picture search... Part of this is aligned with the work I'm doing in the world. As my philanthropic activity grows, I find that I'm struck by the state of the world in ways I wasn't before - hence the song Anything and Set Us Free.

 

JL: Which other musicians work do you really like.


Peter Buffett: I've always been a big fan of Beck. I like the experimentation of Radiohead and the simple beauty of Guster. There are really so many great musicians out there. I feel like I never get to hear enough of what's going on.


JL: Who has inspired your work or who you can relate to?


Peter Buffett: All of the above for sure. But I come from growing up on the Beatles basically. I love keeping songs short and simple (for the most part). The artists from the 60s and 70s ultimately inspire my work more than anything else.

 Peter Buffett - Imaginary Kingdom CD
 

Peter Buffett working in his studio

  
 

JL: Can you please tell me about your creative process and making an album. How does this usually happen?


 Peter Buffett: I come from a time (growing up) when you expected an album every year or so. So I feel that being too precious about the work can get in the way. At the same time of course, I want to be really proud of the work I put out in the world. So I usually work on sketches of songs over a few month process. This can be writing songs with no lyric or melody - or writing a complete piece without full instrumentation or production/arrangement. Then often these will sit for a few months (usually the writing is in the summer when things are slow) and then I'll come back to things with fresh ears. Because I do so much myself, I have to rely on being sort of surprised by what I've done so I can continue or reject the path I was on with any particular piece.

It's very fun to rediscover something and dig into it with fresh ears. I actually have a Vlog (video blog) on YouTube that's a series of videos of me creating a song in the studio. (See left)
 
 

 

 

  

Peter Buffett & Akon

 

Peter Buffett and Akon

  

 

JL: Do you tend to enjoy the finished product or the process of making music more?


 Peter Buffett: I think the process. It's fun to hear it all done, for sure. But the process is a thrill. You never really know what's going to happen next. And I certainly don't know where half the ideas really come from. The very best work is hard to take credit for, honestly...

 

JL:  Can you please tell me about your philanthropy work and how this ties into your music, such as the Christmas album, Star of Wonder.


Peter Buffett: The philanthropic work is definitely opening my eyes to things that bring a whole other dimension to my work - like the songs Anything and Set Us Free. Especially when I can bring images into the mix - as well as other artists like Akon.

The Star of Wonder album just seemed perfect for a holiday giveaway to support those in need. I will probably do that again next year.
 

JL. Are you working on any new albums at the moment or have any concerts lined up?


 Peter Buffett: I have new music in the works (always!) as well as a developing concert series that's being billed as "concert and conversation". It's my version of finding my path in life in the hopes that it might inspire others. I've been doing it on college campuses mostly. It tends to get students thinking about their own path and realize that it's rarely a straight line - but finding your "voice" in whatever way that's done is certainly the greatest reward.

I'm also working on another song with Akon at the moment. We'll be performing at the UN on March 25th as a part of an event centered on human trafficking and slavery.
  
 JL: Are you planning on putting out more videos of your music?


 Peter Buffett: Definitely. The new song with Akon will have a video. And I'll take every chance I get to put visuals to my music.


 JL. I remember we talked about an idea of doing a concert for poverty in the US a few years back. Something like Live AID. What do you think is one of the biggest problems in the US that musicians could address or help out with in these difficult economic times?


 Peter Buffett: Wow - that's a big question. One of the things I've learned as I get deeper into philanthropy is that there are so many people doing great things. And now more than ever there are so many issues that need to be addressed. But the answers are complex - poverty, for instance. It means different things to different people in different parts of the country.

I've learned that the key is listening and doing what stirs personal passion. I rail against what I call philanthropic colonialism - when someone walks into a situation and thinks that they know the answer to the problem - or they're doing it so they feel good - or can tell their friends the good that they're doing. Whatever one does, it must first and foremost be truly for and about the people they're trying to help. This means listening and not always going for the easy fix - the easy answer.

Akon and I started a website that we hope will develop after its relaunch on March 25th - www.istheresomethingicando.com   

 

We're hoping that this can be a place where people come together to discuss ideas about how to give back. Right now, you can find some links there that take you to sites that have multiple points of entry for someone interested in helping out or giving back in some way.

 

For more info visit

www.peterbuffett.com 

 

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