THIS WEEK’S MUSE
TRACY CHAPMAN
“Songwriting is a very mysterious process. It feels like creating something from nothing. It’s something I don’t feel like I really control.”
Tracy Chapman is a singer-songwriter who, since her debut in 1988, has released eight best-selling albums and is a four-time Grammy Award winner. And while she doesn’t describe herself as a social activist, she is happy to be a vocal supporter of minority groups, social injustice, and gender issues.
Born 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. Chapman was raised by her mother and, armed with a ukulele aged three, was writing songs by the age of eight. The Cleveland of her childhood was a city reacting to self-imposed social change, evident in part by a school integration program. For Chapman the result of this change manifested itself in racial abuse, growing accustomed to racial abuse and physical assaults outside of school.
“I found myself in the middle of a race riot when I was about 14 years old, and I found someone pointing a gun at me and telling me to run or they’d shoot me.” By the time she was in her teens, the songs she was writing reflected and referenced the problems around her.
She thrived academically—“As a child, I spent a lot of time at the library”—and received a scholarship to Tufts University where she studied African Studies and Anthropology.
Her playing and songwriting continued to develop and by 1985 she was getting noticed and coming to the attention of record companies.
Soon after she graduated, in 1987, she was signed as a recording artist by Elektra Records in the US. Today, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide.
Great success hasn’t removed her from what she sees as her social responsibilities. “I think it’s important, if you are an artist, to use your music to stand up for what you believe in.” As such, she associates herself with causes she feels passionate about – Amnesty International, the American Foundation for Aids Research, anti-war lobbying.
“We do need to think about how we have security – everyone has a right to that – but we also need to think about how we maintain civil rights and personal freedom.”
She is also happy to see progress being made in gender equality. “There have been some gains made in terms of more equality for women in the workplace and in the way the legal system deals with issues of violence against women.” But nor is she blind to the need for further progress. “We still need to have a discussion and there needs to be improvement.”
As a songwriter she sees great value in being in the privileged position that enables her to speak her mind. But she doesn’t see that as the exclusive territory of an artist. We should all do what we can to “stand up for what we believe in” or “try to do some good in the world. I don’t think artists have a greater responsibility than anyone else.”
“I’m still thinking and hoping there’s an opportunity for people to have better lives and that significant change can occur.”
HAPPENING
LEES YUNITS
Wednesday, from 8–9am – in person
Online – Friday, from 8:30–9:30am – online
Yoga: Journey to Joy
With Lees Yunits
Everyone can do yoga, and Lees teaches yoga to beginners and advanced, to the stressed and to the curious, to retirees, young mothers parents, artists, and professionals.
Everyone benefits from stretching, breathing and meditating. Joy is the byproduct. There will be some meditation, whether simple stillness, or transcendental, counting, mantra singing, or guided.
$15 – Drop-In, $75 – 6 weeks
IN-PERSON WEDNESDAY
ONLINE FRIDAY