Hello CMT readers - we've got quite a treat for you today. This week's interview features Dr. Guthrie Ramsey who's just released the book "Who Hears Here?"
MW: Dr. Ramsey, it's an honor to be talking to you. Thank you for making the time.
GR: Thank you for having me.
MW: First thing I would like to do is to express my gratitude for a short book title, or better put, not including a colon followed by a long explanation on the front cover.
GR: Yes, indeed. Titles can be tricky. They need to say what the book is about plus be provocative and catchy. Tough to do, sometimes.
MW: OK, let's get right into things, what prompted you to write "Who Hears Here?"
GR: The book collects essays that I’ve written through the years as a music scholar and critic. I wanted to bring the work together in one place.
MW: Could you talk about some of the major findings over your decades of work in this field?
GR: One the most important thing I’ve learned is how crucial African American music has been to America’s musical profile, and how crucial it is to understand this for our society.
MW: Generally, what do you feel is the state of scholarship when it comes to Black music, and Black culture?
GR: We are experiencing a robust surge in the types of topics scholars are researching. It’s truly exciting.
MW: I'd like to switch gears to talk about "A Spiritual Vibe," which for my ears is quite a departure from the new compositions coming from the academy. Could you talk a bit about the history of that project?
GR: Funny, I don’t look at my music as “coming from the academy,” but from a more personal place. The project represents my experimenting with new blends in digital and analog music making combined in a project based on spiritual music. The music was arranged and written a challenging time in my life as a dealt with serious health concerns. I believe music has the capacity to help us heal.
MW: I'm very taken with the vocal parts of the album - how did you accomplish such tight harmonies fitting so snuggly into the mix?
GR: The singers on the album, my daughter Bridget Ramsey Russell and musical collaborator, WAYV WILSON have a great blend and superb use of their vibratos. With their level of expertise, I was able to write close harmonies without worrying if they could make them work.
MW: Your primary instrument is the piano - did choosing that instrument shape how you approach compositions?
GR: I always compose at the piano, so, yes, of course, that’s how I hear music.
MW: Is there any chance it affected your writing/research?
GR: Being a musician has always shaped how I approached my research. It informs how I think about the music I write about, how I hear it, and what I’d like others to know as they read my work.
MW: Maybe you could talk a little bit about the reception of both your book and your album?
GR: I’ve been so pleased how many people are buying and teaching my book and the music in their courses. It’s been very gratifying—surprising even.
MW: Do you ever see the academy and the pop world merging in a meaningful way?
GR: I came into the field in the early 1990s at a time when popular music study was beginning to become one of the most exciting areas of study. It’s only grown since that time, and I expect that to continue.
MW: Is anything new on the horizon for you?
GR:I’m looking forward to writing more music—a follow up to A Spiritual Vibe, vol. 1. I’m also writing a new history of African American music for a wider public audience titled, Sound Proof.
MW: Thank yo so much, again, for this - it's really special to have someone of your caliber interview for this humble blog. Where can people find out more about you?
GR: You can follow me on Facebook at Guthrie Ramsey, IG @musiqologymediagroup and my websites, GuthrieRamsey.com and MusiqologyMedia.com
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