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Can artists really change the world?

An artist can play many roles being more than just a performer or a creator.

And artists can also be an activist.

Tonight, our artist activist is a musician, filmmaker and sculptor.

I'm excited to have our conversation with him and he's bringing his music into our studio.

I'm so happy you're joining us.

From Los Angeles.

This is KLCS PBS.

Welcome to Everybody with Angela Williamson, an Innovation, Arts, Education and Public Affairs Program.

Everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by viewers like you.

Thank you.

And now your host, Dr. Angela Williamson.

Peter Harper is our guest.

Peter, thank you so much for being here.

Angela Thanks for having me.

It's such a pleasure.

Well, I'm so excited to have you sing in the studio.

But before you do that, yeah, I would love to spend some time getting to know who you are because you have so much talent out there.

But what I really love is what I went to your website and see that you're also an activist and you can't be part of your family and not be a musician and an activist.

So tell our audience about you.

Yeah, I you know, I grew up in a family where, you know, my my grandparents came to California because they were blacklisted on the East Coast and.

And growing up, you know, I'd spend hours and hours with my grandfather literally every day after school I'd spend in his music store or the Claremont Folk Music Center.

And and he would say to me multiple times, I can you know, he would say, you know, think like a communist, behave like a capitalist.

And I, you know, as a kid, I always thought, wow, I don't even I have no idea what that means.

What was Grandpa saying?

Right.

But as I got older, I realized, you know, he's saying, you know, in your mind, make sure that you're caring and you're kind and you're generous and that you recognize that there's a humanity in this world and that sharing is important.

But at the same time, you know, you got to earn money and you got to make a living.

And and he lived by that.

And as I got older and saw that I was able to put that information together, you know, what he was trying to teach me or what he's trying to tell me.

And so as a musician, you know, one of the great things is that you get a platform of sorts.

And with that platform, you have the opportunity or the option, I should say, to either talk about the things that are important to you or not.

And and we're living in this really wild time where I feel like if people don't take the opportunity to utilize their platform to talk about things that are important to them, then they're wasting a chance at saving a world that looks like it's spinning in all kinds of crazy directions.

So, I mean, between, you know, the war between Ukraine and Russia, between A.I.

and what A.I.

is encroaching in terms of people's work and viability for livelihoods, for some, for millions and millions of people.

There's just so many things in the world.

And when you could scale all the way back down to like the microcosmic level, you have simple things like Colton's heroes, where you've got a guy who, you know, he had a son with a traumatic brain injury and, you know, and when that happened, he started a foundation to help other parents who are dealing with kids that have had similar injuries.

And so you know, for me to be in connection with these issues that have them circulating, whether directly or indirectly in my life, it would be criminal or negligent to ignore them.

And so I try to do what I can when I can, how I can.

And you can't.

You know, at a certain level, people ask you to do a lot of things.

You can't do everything.

But but, you know, to be able to do the best you can with with all the causes that are near and dear to your heart and also some that are slightly further away from your heart, but are still really critically important.

You know, you do the best you can.

Well, and I find this really interesting when I'm talking to you, because when you're just telling us about this, it's obvious it's second skin.

It's just part of who you are.

And that was kind of hard to run away from based on how you were raised, correct?

Yeah.

I mean, I you know, it's funny because, like you said, second skin, I think about it.

It's it's breathing, right.

So it's not a you know, don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly happy for somebody to find, you know, enlightenment.

I'll put that in quotes later in life and go, Whoa, I got to donate some of this money, right?

I got to do something for philanthropic.

And that's great.

I've got no problem with that.

You know, anybody who wants to help should help when they're capable of helping.

I grew up as an artist in a family of artists who what you did in life was you created okay.

And you supported.

Right.

And those were that's the foundation of things, right?

Like, you know, I make every single day, I'm either painting and drawing, I'm sculpting, I'm writing, I'm singing, I'm performing.

So, you know, when I say artists, you know, I know some people think, well, I paint and that's awesome.

That's amazing.

But in the sense of like all the arts, I I've grown up with all of them and I try to do a little bit of all of them.

And I and because I'm of a certain age, I've been able to dedicate enough time into enough of them that it's not just kind of dabbling.

It's like, you know, really feeling each space, you know, I must have cast bronze for close to 20 years, you know, watercolor, you know, like I said, painting, sculpture, all these things that were all, you know, I do woodblock carving and screen printing.

And then I go out on tour and I sing and I make music.

And you create films, you know?

Yes.

And I make I make short movies.

Yeah.

You truly are.

I mean, you embody what a true artist is.

I mean, there's just not one thing.

It's all these different parts that makes who Peter is.

So my question to you is, how do you, from day to day choose which part of Peter will come out and express what's needed?

That's a great question.

I think so when something is second nature or second skin, as you said, it's almost like your brain makes a choice without you consciously making the choice.

So like, I wake up and I go, Yeah, I've got to.

I don't.

There's a song right here.

I've got to get this down.

And then I'll, you know, I'll play it and I'll record it and I'll write down, you know, the chords and make sure I've got the lyrics.

And it's like, Oh yeah, that's a court.

And I'll spend a day, you know, making a song.

The next day I'll wake up thinking, Am I going to work on another song?

But it's not a song.

It's, you know, you know, today's a sculpture day and, and I don't think about it.

It's just I get up and I start to do whatever is calling me.

And then that's that's how the day unfolds, you know?

I mean, in the last few years, the majority of that calling has been focused around music in some way, shape or form.

But but now it's just not limited to that.

I'm I mean, I'm making things literally all the time.

So like yesterday, I, I had some extra time and I was sitting on the couch and I thought, hmm, you know what should my next woodblock print be?

And I was going through all because I like to take photos and I and then I'll take a photo and I'll rasterize it, you know so make it sort of so it's literally not black and white, like old school, black and white, but it's literally the color black and the color white.

And there's no other to, you know, there's no grays in between.

And then when I find an image that I like, I think, Oh, that would make a great woodblock.

So then I'll look at that image and then I'll carve the image into the woodblock.

And so, you know, just with extra time on my hands, I'm thinking about the next project, right?

I haven't started carving it yet, but now I found two images that I really like that I think, oh, those would be those would be great prints.

And, you know, and that's where it goes.

I mean, just like, I had time.

And that's where my brain went and that's where my hands went.

And then that's what I created.

And then that's lined up the next project.

So when I wake up, you know, two days, three days, four days from now, and I say, time to carve, then that's what I'll do.

Well.

It was hard for me not to laugh when you said I had some time.

I'm like, How?

Because.

Because I mean, that's the one thing I love about people that are just so talented and so creative is it's almost as if you can find your own time to get those, get those projects started, get them done.

And so so my question to you is, when you meet people and they just think, oh, you're just a musician, how do you get them to to show them that you embody more than just that?

Well, so that's a great another great question.

When I when I get out on tour, I do this thing.

So so for example, on the stage, I'll bring a shirt out and I'll bring a screen out and I'll screenprint a t shirt on stage as part of the concert.

And then because all my merchandise is handmade by me.

So like, because here's my philosophy right?

Yes.

When you make music, there's a portion of your existence is about being a narcissist, right?

Like, you're like, Look at me, everybody.

I make art, right?

Like, look, it's really.

Hard not to, but yes, I understand.

Right?

And so one of the things that I'm so incredibly grateful for is that people actually show up to the concerts, you know, like how many musicians write songs and then don't have a venue to perform them or find a venue, but then don't have a fan base to come listen.

So, you know, I've been blessed with this wonderful fan base, incredible group of people from, you know, between Europe and the United States.

And and so they pay money to come listen to me play songs that I wrote.

Right.

And what they think about that, like what a huge honor.

Like “ah-ha ”.

Like that's at the moment.

Like, wow.

It's like I can't even begin to explain how deeply grateful I am that I've found and people have found me and appreciate what it is that I'm creating.

So then I have this idea because when I first started, I was just doing what everybody else was doing and hiring a screenprint guy to make shirts and, you know, sell shirts at the merch table.

But then I realized, like, you know, as an artist, if I make each piece of merchandise by by hand, then I'm not selling merchandise, I'm selling people art.

And then because they've come to support me when they buy what I'm selling in another ten years, 20 years, 30 years or when I die, or what they've purchased, then becomes worth that much more because it's limited edition.

You know, oftentimes, you know, there'll be 50 T-shirts or there'll be 50 screen block block prints or they'll be ten belt buckles or whatever.

Im just amazed that you're doing this while you're saying it at the same time, because some of us it's hard to walk and talk.

But this is amazing because I can I'm picturing your concert and and I'm getting more when I come and see you.

I'm I'm getting your music.

But the music that you written from your heart.

But I'm also getting your art.

Yeah.

People don't people don't realize, you know, when they when they you know, when you go to your average concert, you buy your ticket, you go to your seat, or maybe you stand in the pit or whatever the case is, the person comes out, sings the songs.

Maybe they say, like, “you are great!

” At my shows.

It's a whole other experience.

Like, you know, the crowd is singing.

I'm singing.

I get down into the crowd, we dance.

It's like it's a party.

It's yeah, it's.

You're making and you're making art on the side.

And I'm making.

Then I make art.

I screenprint on stage and I do a whole thing because like, you know, we, you know, there's 24 hours in a day and if you sleep eight of them, which is healthy, right?

Then you've got 16 hours to like get after it.

Right.

And so, you know, if you're efficient with your time, you know, you got to put your you got to put your meals in there.

You got to put your exercise in.

There you go.

And then you put you know, there's creative time, but creative time is split, right?

There's so much that happens in your mind before it happens in real life.

So like all have written a song here.

And so by the time it gets to hear it, it can be fast.

Yeah, right.

And so or, or it can happen halfway.

It doesn't have to be finished that day.

So I can write half of a song one day and then wake up two weeks later and write the other half, you know.

And so, so long as I'm working every day throughout the day on projects, there's enough time to do a little bit of everything.

So long as you don't start like, you know, you're going, you know, you're, yeah, you're going.

And at the same time you're talking and you mentioned in there the importance of self-care too, because especially with the music that you write and you sing, I mean, it's all there's a holistic, I mean, a vibe that I get when I listen to it.

Yeah.

Thank you.

I think that, you know, self-care is critical.

I mean, you really have to take time to yourself and also be willing to stop doing things.

You know, there's you know, there's sometimes we just got to put everything down and say, okay, I'm done for today, you know?

And I feel like everybody needs to do that for at least an hour to 2 hours throughout the day, Like, stop doing it, put the phones away, put everything down and just stop, you know, and just let it be in that moment.

And that's a perfect way to end our segment.

But before we end our segment, because when we come back, you will be singing in our studio.

What is one takeaway you want our audience to feel as they listen to you sing your music with your band?

I started with music at the age of 37 and everyone told me I was too old and it was too late.

And now I have a tour of the world of my one of my biggest markets is France.

And so I've learned from the age of 37 forward to speak French in order to communicate better with my audience.

And and so what?

I want to leave everyone is never, ever give up on a dream.

If there's something that you think you want to do, if there's something that you love, you just chase it.

Don't worry about what other people think or feel or say that's not on them.

And it's your job to either chase it or not chase it.

Right?

And so get out.

Chase it.

That's where the fun of life is.

Perfect way to end our segment.

Pleasure.

Come back to hear more from Peter as he sings in our studio.

I know they will.

They won't leave.

The challenges our planet animals are facing sometimes feel a bit heavy.

The animals haven't eaten in a day, two days.

They haven't drank anything.

They're old, they're dehydrated.

But remember, there's good happening right now at home.

We were able to get into the unit and we have all four of your cats.

Are outside and around the world for any animal any disaster search ifaw.org/disasterready When I was in foster care, I never knew when I would have to move.

So I always had my suitcase ready to go.

Then one day I was adopted.

My new parents open their hearts and home to me.

My parents cooked my favorite breakfast for me every morning.

My parents secured trips.

I never thought I would go on.

They gave me a home and an even better reason to use that suitcase.

My parents aren't perfect, but they're perfect for me.

On a dark night, baby, you just might think maybe I might be a broken sound.

But nothing is perfect.

They say something is broken.

No way you can find me In the lost and found and break me down into little pieces.

shut my sound into little.

places hoping that I won't go away.

Break me down into little pieces.

Shut my sound into little creases, hoping that just might make me stay.

But I won't be scared like some ashes that have grown cold.

and I won't be battered like some slave that has been sold has been sold has been, has been sold.

On a dark night, baby, you just might think maybe I might be a broken sound.

But nothing is perfect.

They say something's broken.

No way.

You can't find me in the lost and found.

and break me down into little pieces.

shut my sound into little creases Hoping that I wont go away And break me down into little pieces.

Shut my sound into little creases hoping that just might make me stay.

But I won't be battered like some slave that has been sold And I won't be scattered like some ashes that have grown cold.

Oh, oh, oh.

Have grown cold Oh, oh, oh.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

It's a pleasure to be here at KLCS.

To my left is Miguel Martinez on the bass.

Miguel, give it up.

Woo!

And to my right, on Thurmond, pedal steel.

Joti Rockwell, who bring out the mandolin a little bit later.

My name is Peter Harper, and it's a real pleasure to play for you.

We're going to sing a song called Me and My Bird, and it's coming up on my new album called We're Coming.

Woke up this morning, found a bird in the room found the bird all alone, nowhere to go.

She looked like she been hit.

She looked like she been bit.

She needed a place to get up off those feet because trucks drove by flocks of birds flew high, But they left Her all alone in the road to die.

I lent her my hand, give her a place to rest her head, the when she fell.

This is where she say.

We all live in a cruel world.

To be a condo to fly is free.

As a bird, you have to.

And we are living a world where the truth.

Can be bad.

And a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush they say.

Thats Just words they say.

There's just what they say.

That's what they say.

The time just as bad as we say.

Side by side.

No way.

It's me and my bird watching another birds fly by.

Time passed us by, as we sit side by side.

The winds.

Remember watching other birds fly by, watching birds fly and watching birds fly by.

Love watching birds fly by.

Joty, what those birds sound like those hybrids.

First, the real tweety ones.

Everybody.

What's happening?

It's me, Peter Harper.

Again, Thank you for staying tuned in.

It's a pleasure to play here for you.

And this next song is called For Love.

Miguel Martinez, Joti Rockwell, killing it on the side.

Ive been patiently waiting.

You've been anticipating that we would be consecrating for.

Love for love for love, for love for love for love the rings have been traded one day with this big love.

Please save love for love for love for love can be.

Wonderful.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thanks for having you.

Thank you over there.

And thank you for joining us on everybody with Angela Williamson.

Viewers like you make this show possible, Join us on social media to continue this conversation.

Good night and stay well.

I'll take us out.

Hi, I'm Angela Williamson, host of Everybody With Angela Williamson.

Thank you for watching.

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