3.13.03 - SXSW: Soul Mining With Daniel Lanois
by Jianda Johnson
Daniel Lanois, Keynote Speaker @ SXSW
When Keynote Speaker Daniel Lanois (www.daniellanois.com) hit the stage, all ears were on him. He wouldn't have it any other way. Folks did their best to steer him toward "music biz Q&A" cookie cutter answers, but this renowned producer/musician/songwriter, having collaborated with everyone from Aaron Neville to U2 to Brian Eno to Emmylou Harris, simply demanded that we do one thing: "just listen."
Eschewing questions, Lanois took it upon himself to create more questions
than answers, writing a poem rather than a keynote speech. Key ideas:
Of U2 and like-minded bands, early on, his poem intimated they had "belief that they can make a difference with caring." Of studio sessions: "Are we not here to have a common language? I don't want any hidden information in the studio. I don't want my steering wheel to be a brake pedal." And: We have synchronicity in our favor." On our lot in life as artists, as music lovers: "Passion before commerce." Of his signature steel guitar sound, Lanois
noted: "I play it every day as a way to stay connected with my early values."
Of finding your own voice as an artist or producer, Lanois mused: "Mimic,
copy, then run away from your heroes, and find your own voice eventually."
Of remaining passionate about music, especially in the music business, Lanois cooed, "Sonic experimentation is still my friend. We've reached a place where we have too much music. Silence is golden. Enjoy silence, or you might stop loving [music]." Aside from the quips and soft-spoken musings, Lanois was here to promote his latest release, "Shine," and to keep our sparks lit no matter what part of the music biz we were in.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Jianda, you're the coolest - thanks for doing this! "Soul miner's daughter": you do look quite a bit like Loretta Lynn now that I think of it.
2 - jianda
ha. EO. i love your lil' comments. :)
3 - zombyboy
I'm listening now to the new CD (streaming it from Anti) and it's beautiful. It goes in so many directions, though, that at times the transition from one song to the next is a little jarring.
Wish I could have been there.