“t's not just my opinion, A.I. is changing everything including music and yes, it creates Blues. I'd ask people to listen to some of that and imagine how humans can deal with the challenges presented. Young folks coming along need to prefer humans over computers, and it's a tough decision. Science fiction has become science fact. Even in live performance, computers are augmenting human performance. A.I. A.I. may be the biggest challenge facing the Blues and our lives. That's a revolution.”Danny Marks: Back to the BluesDanny Marks, one of Canada’s most enduring and deeply revered figures in blues and roots music, releases his new album 'Back to the Blues' (2026). Spanning 13 tracks and drawing on more than five decades of living, listening, and playing, the record is both a homecoming and a declaration: a master musician at the height of his craft, returning to the music that has always told the truest story. ‘Back to the Blues' is an album that breathes with the full weight of a life spent honouring the form. From the jubilant, stomping invitation of “Blues Party Tonight” to the aching reverence of “Blues for Lonnie Johnson,” Marks moves through the tradition with the ease and authority of someone who didn’t just study it but lived inside it. Produced by Alec Fraser Jr. and Marks himself, 'Back to the Blues' is a record made by musicians who know one another completely. Fraser serves double duty on bass and background vocals, anchoring the record with warmth and authority, while the drum chair rotates among four of Toronto’s most seasoned players and recorded across multiple storied Toronto studios and remastered by L Stu Young at Loud Mouse.(Danny Marks / Photo by Don Dixon)For those newly arriving at the name Danny Marks, the biography demands a moment. Co-founder of Edward Bear, the celebrated Canadian band whose hits filled radio across the country in the early 1970s, Marks went on to work as a sideman alongside Rick James, Bo Diddley, and Ronnie Hawkins,and shared stages with Paul Butterfield, Led Zeppelin,and Humble Pie. He brought the blues to generations of Toronto listeners as host of BLUZ FM on JAZZ FM91 and through his television series Cities in Blue on HIFI TV. In 2006, he received the Blues with a Feeling Lifetime Achievement Award,a recognition that speaks not only to the breadth of his contribution but to the singular depth of his commitment. With 'Back to the Blues,' that commitment finds its fullest and most personal expression to date. Interview by Michael Limnios                   Archive: Danny Marks, 2025 InterviewSpecial Thanks: Danny Marks & Eric Alper What was it like being part of the Blues-Rock scene back in the 1960s? In your eyes, how exactly did the blues shape the evolution of rock and roll?The Blues Rock scene in the 1960's was reinvigorated by the younger generation in the USA, the UK, and my hometown of Toronto. We were part of something big.  Folks like Paul Butterfield, John Mayall and Ronnie Hawkins were making the scene. Also the Stones, Yardbirds, and the Lovin' Spoonful to name a few. Blues was reborn in Rock and even Pop Music then. At the same time, greats like Muddy and Wolf, BB, Albert and Freddie King were rocking out. It was an awesome era. What was it that initially drew you into the blues scene in the first place?The first thing I ever learned to play on guitar was the Jimmy Reed lick from his song we all called Peepin' and Hidin'. Such a simple move in the key of E. My older brother showed it to me when I was eleven years old. He had all kinds of Blues records on 45rpm. That really got me. We loved all the originals. That influence carried over in the first bands I joined. I have loved many kinds of music, but the Blues always rewards my devotion with a way forward. That's why I always go back. What has been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome both personally and artistically, and how did that challenge help shape you into a better blues musician?The biggest obstacle I've had is finding a place in life, somewhere between acceptance and self reliance. I never want to be part of the club but I like many things other folks do. Life is full of contradictions. I love solitude but I'm happiest centre stage with my guitar turned up and the band rocking it! More and more I'm finding the sweet spot, despite the obstacles in life's path.  “Blues was reborn in Rock and even Pop Music then. At the same time, greats like Muddy and Wolf, BB, Albert and Freddie King were rocking out. It was an awesome era.” (Danny Marks / Photos by Don Dixon)You recently released a new album titled “Back to the Blues”. How would you say this record stands out compared to your previous work?“Back to the Blues" is a journey about the times and the influences, naming names and recalling dreams of being, going and arriving. It feels like a cohesive work and I hope it's received that way. I love the idea of an album as a concept. An album represents the highest form of musical presentation and artistic expression. From my heart to yours, it's personal.Do you have any interesting behind-the-scenes stories from the making of this album? Also, if you could ask Lonnie Johnson just one question, what would it be?If I could ask him one thing it would be for him to please listen to my song. There's a reason I saw Lonnie Johnson with a halo back in 1969. I didn't know it at the time. Years later, when I sang Blues for Lonnie Johnson at the Maple Blues Awards, the performance was filmed. That film reached a TV network executive who offered me the series Cities in Blue which ran for a decade on BBC First TV. Lonnie really was my angel.  In your opinion, what is the biggest musical revolution happening today? What major changes do you foresee in the near or distant future of the blues world?It's not just my opinion, A.I. is changing everything including music and yes, it creates Blues. I'd ask people to listen to some of that and imagine how humans can deal with the challenges presented. Young folks coming along need to prefer humans over computers, and it's a tough decision. Science fiction has become science fact. Even in live performance, computers are augmenting human performance. A.I. A.I. may be the biggest challenge facing the Blues and our lives. That's a revolution.  Danny Marks - Home(Danny Marks / Photo by Don Dixon)See More

“I want music to be a beautiful escape from the stresses of life that everyone is faced with. Like all entertainment and art, music should take you out of your normal head space and let your imagination have free will to wander wherever it may.”Hussy Hicks: The Music of ExperiencesKnown for their killer live shows, Hussy Hicks captivate audiences with their infectious energy, tight harmonies, and musical versatility, creating an unforgettable performance that leaves fans wanting more every time. Straddling the line between Folk, Blues, Country, Rock and Roots, the band have earned themselves a mighty reputation, growing, from festival openers to festival favourites, seeing the group now appear at the biggest blues, roots, folk and country festivals in Australia, the USA and across Europe while selling out their own tours across the three continents. Leesa Gentz’s soaring vocals and Julz Parker’s insane guitar work are at the heart of their electrifying sound backed up by the tasty, rock solid rhythms of Ali Foster (drums) and Tracy Stephens (bass).                                 (Photo: Leesa Gentz & Julz Parker of Hussy Hicks)Since their formation in 2006, Hussy Hicks have built a loyal fanbase, with their latest studio album, Swimming in Uncertainty, reaching #1 on the ARIA Jazz & Blues Chart and topping the AIR Independent Album Chart. Their 2025 live album went straight to number one on the ARIA AUS Country Chart and was also ARIA Australian top 10 and #1 on the AIR Charts. Leesa Gentz and Julz Parker talk about the band, the blues, and the Australian blues scene.Interview by Michael LimniosHow has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?Leesa: I fell in love with music from a very early age when my parents would take me to watch live concerts. I knew that I wanted to be a musician from around 10 years of age and have always followed that passion, luckily with a lot of support from my family. I would say that meeting Julz Parker was a big turning point in my musical journey - I had grown up in a very industry based world, having signed a record contract with ABC Records at 17 years old and having management and A&R really shape the direction of my career and the music that I was making, but Julz took a totally different approach to her career and was very capable of managing everything independently and focussed on having as many great musical experiences as possible. This was a real eye opener for me and when we started playing music together it really was (and continues to be) for the absolute love and joy of it.Julz: Music has been a vehicle to allow me to experience the world through my own eyes and the stories of the people I've met. I guess the moment that changed my music life most was the moment I realised that I wanted to be sitting at the table playing music with my dad and his friends rather than playing with my toys.How did the idea of band come about? How do you describe band’s sound, music philosophy and songbook?Leesa: Hussy Hicks became a band through our friendship and mutual admiration of one another's talents. We simply loved playing music together and both of us are passionate about travel and gaining new experiences so the combination just worked in a really natural way. We basically started touring together and never wanted to stop. Our approach is very straightforward - we want to play as many shows to as many people as possible in as many places as we can. The music we write is shaped by our experiences of the world, by the people we meet along the way and we generally try to share our observations, inspirations and ideas about the world through our songwriting.What is the story behind band’s name: Hussy Hicks? What keeps a musician passionate over the years in rock, blues, folk music?Julz: We stay passionate by always just trying to honour the sounds and styles that take our interest in each moment. We have both spent our whole lives in love with music and that means lots of times to fall in love with different sounds and styles, in fact Hussy Hicks name was born out of an idea that we would jam a bunch of songs in a bluegrass style - that never happened, but it was the only name we had when we did our first tour in the USA in 2006 - now we've gone too far to change it.“Music has been a vehicle to allow me to experience the world through my own eyes and the stories of the people I've met. I guess the moment that changed my music life most was the moment I realised that I wanted to be sitting at the table playing music with my dad and his friends rather than playing with my toys.” (Photo: Leesa Gentz & Julz Parker of Hussy Hicks)Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Australia?Leesa: There really is a strong Blues and Roots scene right across Australia and it's driven by communities of passionate music lovers and musicians who run Blues music clubs, concert series, host monthly jams and put on festivals. There is a real sense of community overall and we've been very fortunate to be embraced as a bit of a staple in the domestic scene. Blues music has a legacy that I feel almost everyone can relate to and the format is really suited to improvisation and personal creativity within the structure of something that we're all very familiar with. This makes it a fun and interesting style of music for interaction - for both the players and the audience.Julz: I think firstly it's a great format for live gigs, the audience gets a familiar overall template but gets to go on an adventure with the improvisational twists and turns of each performance. There is a huge blues influence on all Australian popular music, pub rock etc so I think we can all connect to the genre.Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?!Leesa: There are countless highlights, but one that immediately comes to mind is from a very early tour we did in Germany, probably 2008 or 2009 when we played the Berlin Carnival of Cultures, which was unlike any festival I'd ever been to at that time. We somehow got totally lost in a massive sea of people when we were trying to load our gear to the stage and ended up walking several kilometres with all of our equipment before we found where we were supposed to be, plus it was raining so we were a little disheveled when we arrived, but we made it in time for the set! And this is one of the earliest memories of playing a big festival stage with loads of people.. we started the set and the rain went away, the sun came out and the crowd grew in huge numbers. I remember being so blown away by the reaction we received and wanting to savour every second of that opportunity to play in front of so many people, all of whom seemed to be loving our music! We sold all of the CD's we had right there with us so Julz sprinted back to where our gear was stored to grab the rest of the stock we'd bought for the whole tour - most of which we also sold on her return. It felt like a real triumph and it will always be a special memory for me.Julz: Well I guess now that it's all finished I have to talk about the 9 times  we got to play Bluesfest Byron Bay - we were so lucky to have one of the world's greatest Blues festivals right in our home area. We won the busking competition back in 2010 and it was an absolute honour and a pleasure every time we got to play it. Over the years we got to see so many world class acts right up close, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Rait, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Tedeschi Trucks band and so many more. Easter will never be the same round here now it's gone.“Blues music has a legacy that I feel almost everyone can relate to and the format is really suited to improvisation and personal creativity within the structure of something that we're all very familiar with. This makes it a fun and interesting style of music for interaction - for both the players and the audience.” (Photo: Leesa Gentz & Julz Parker of Hussy Hicks)What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?Leesa: As far as music is concerned, I believe that there is always a magnificent future to be created, we just have to not get stuck in our ways and keep the door open to new ideas, possibilities and ways of doing things. Everything has changed a lot in the 20 years that we've been a band - a substantial amount of our early tour profits came from CD sales, and I'm still a huge fan of supporting live music by buying physical copies of albums on CD and vinyl - but that has gone from being the normal way to listen to music to now being something a bit niche for collectors. So as a rule, people have gotten used to not paying for music, and I see how that has rippled through the whole industry to where now people are even reluctant to pay for live concerts, because there is this overall consensus that music should be free and available everywhere, all the time, at the touch of a button. But the flip side of that is the Superfans, who will support the bands they love however they can, so there has been this real movement in the industry to keep coming up with great content to satisfy not only our own creative needs, but also the wants of a fanbase that are ready and able to support the arts... so long as you can build up a dedicated fanbase. We're so lucky to have amazing fans and we take a very grass roots approach to building our community, so for us it's never been about trying to have a hit song or a viral internet moment - as great as that would be if it happened organically - it's about making the kind of music that inspires us and trying to find interesting ways to bring that music to our existing audience, while always trying to reach more people who will like what we do. I truly hope to be able to keep making music with my friends until a very old age.Julz: I just love the sounds of bands kinda living on the edge so I guess the modern trend of everyone playing to tracks leaves me a bit cold. I just hope that the next generation of kids realises how great a live music experience can be. When it's too polished I kinda feel you may as well stay home and listen to the album.What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?Leesa: I want music to be a beautiful escape from the stresses of life that everyone is faced with. Like all entertainment and art, music should take you out of your normal head space and let your imagination have free will to wander wherever it may. Everyone has their own unique perspective and I love that we can celebrate that through music and the arts, as opposed to all of the negative discourse that we see on social media and in the political sphere. I feel so lucky that I get to 'play' and not 'work' for a living and my aim is always to share as much joy with my audience as possible, because we all need joy in our lives.Julz: I think people gathering together is so important, especially these days where so many ideas are fleshed out online. Music is a great connector and community builder. If I move to a new town I can go and find gigs and be told who else to go see, what events are happening, and what albums I should be checking out. Before you know it you are part of a community. The wider the community the more we realise that most humans just want the same things.“I just love the sounds of bands kinda living on the edge so I guess the modern trend of everyone playing to tracks leaves me a bit cold. I just hope that the next generation of kids realises how great a live music experience can be. When it's too polished I kinda feel you may as well stay home and listen to the album.” (Photo: Leesa Gentz & Julz Parker of Hussy Hicks)What does to be a female artist in a Man’s World as James Brown says? What is the status of women in music?Leesa: Women have always had and will continue to have an important role in the music scene. Sure, we sometimes have to deal with people who think we mustn't know anything because we're just a bunch of girls, but generally - after so many years in the music industry, people treat me as a human and not a 'girl singer' and I am very comfortable with my place in the music world. However, I do hope that the industry becomes a little easier to navigate for young women who want to create a life for themselves in the creative arts, because the truth is that we all had to be pretty tough back when I was starting out, and I value all of the lessons that I had to learn back then because they are things that have served me well throughout my career... but we actively do whatever we can to support the women we meet who have less industry experience than us, and I feel that a lot of the men who we work with also believe that gender equality in the industry is something that is beneficial to all of us.Julz: I just find it funny that 'female' almost ends up being a category or a genre. We've had festivals literally say 'we've already got a girl band' - when no one seemed to care or notice that the other 8 bands on the lineup were all boys. The other thing I find is how often you'll be clashing on time slots with other female bands. It's like some programmers have decided that there is a good time for the girl bands to play - no matter the intensity of the show or profile of the band. Generally we can't complain though - we've had an amazing time traversing the ins and outs of this man's world.What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?Leesa: I have learnt that it is absolutely okay for me to be my authentic self and that what I have to offer as an artist is valid and there WILL be an audience out there who digs it. After years of trying to work out what I 'should be' according to everyone else's opinion of me, I now know that what I have to offer the world is uniquely mine and no matter how much I try to be something else, it will only ever be a genuine offering if I stay true to myself. This is a lesson that took until well into my 40s to learn, and I wish I understood it earlier. Not to say that I haven't taken inspiration from so many wonderful artists and learned so much from watching incredible live shows, but what happens when I'm on stage, and in the studio, is something that has value and that no one else can do in the same way that I do. To see this as a strength and not a weakness is the real lesson because it has enabled me to grow as a musician with a real sense of self which I think is really what creates enduring relationships with the music lovers who choose to follow us on our musical journey.What are you doing to keep your (band’s) music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?Julz: We just keep making the best music we can and taking in all the influences we are exposed to through a life of live music. We are always jamming with different musicians around the world, young and old. I don't know the secret to relevance but I do always hope that when people spend some time with our music, recorded or live, they get a bit of a glimpse into our passion and truth and it helps them feel something. Hussy Hicks - Home((Photo: Leesa Gentz & Julz Parker of Hussy Hicks)See More

“It’s more of a challenge for women to get recognition and respect in the music industry. It’s still a boys’ club in many ways. I feel like women are always having to prove themselves. There’s still an assumption that women aren’t going to be as skilled and accomplished as men, particularly as instrumentalists.”Anni Piper: Blues, Chips and MenAustralian born recording artist Anni Piper, known as the First Lady of the Blues in her homeland, returns with a new album. ‘Men Are Like Potato Chips’ (Release Day: June 1st, 2026) is the seventh studio recording from Piper, who now resides in Portland, Oregon. She is not only a sultry vocalist but an accomplished bass player, insightful composer, and show stopping performer. The nine songs that make up the recording are originals with the exception of John Prine’s ‘Angel from Montgomery’ featuring Tim Langford of Too Slim & The Taildraggers on guitar. Piper made this album a family affair and is proud to feature her son Flynn Piper on backing vocals. Stylistically, it is a diverse collection, ranging from traditional blues to face-melting blues rock. Piper’s originals are thematically quirky, often humorous, and offer a bold, unique perspective on relationships and intimacy.(Anni Piper / Photo by Sveinn Kjartansson)Piper states unabashedly “It’s been more than twenty years since I released my first album. Over time I got so tired of hearing that I needed to be careful not to be ‘too sexy’, and finally I said ‘f**k that’. I’m a sensual person, and I’ve been doing this too long to not release art that authentically reflects my personality.” Piper’s debut album won Best New Talent at the Australian Blues Music Awards. She subsequently secured a deal with Blues Leaf Records in New Jersey. Piper decided to make her home in the USA, where she has performed at festivals and distinguished blues venues in over 40 states, breaking hearts and taking names everywhere she goes.Interview by Michael Limnios                         Archive: Anni Piper, 2015 interview Special Thanks: Frank Roszak, Anni Piper, Sveinn Kjartansson & Doug DeutschWhat drew you into the blues scene? What musicians have continued to inspire you and your music?The first time I remember hearing the blues I was 14 years old and it was Paul Butterfield Blues Band playing ‘Born in Chicago’. It grabbed my attention immediately and I guess I never was able to let go of loving that sound. Stevie Ray Vaughan was a huge influence when I started playing the blues. His musical catalog obviously shaped a generation of guitar players. I absolutely love artists like Freddie King and Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, and as far as blues players of today, Ana Popovic is one of my favorites. She is just insanely good when she plays live, and she can even work a wah-wah pedal in stilettos. That’s my kind of artist. Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album ‘Men Are Like Potato Chips’?This album was a long time in the making. It’s been six years since my last release ‘Blow Up Doll’ which came out right at the start of the COVID lockdowns. All my launch gigs were cancelled and it took a long time for me to find my feet again. I had the opportunity to get creative in the studio on this new recording, I’m using a lot of breathing as ambient sound. For example, the song ‘Devil Bride’ has a lot of horror-style demonic sounds underneath the guitar solo, and that’s just me making creepy breath sounds with a bunch of effects added. In ‘Match With A Sasquatch’, I wanted a sound effect of shaving cream spraying, but whipped cream sounded much better so that was fun to experiment with.All the guitar tracks were recorded by Ted Swanson and Tim Langford in their home studios, which was a new way of working for me, as I’ve always had the guitar players live in the studio on my previous recordings. They might have done things from afar, but I flew my son Flynn Piper into the USA from Australia to sing backing vocals.“Music, of course, is the universal language. I love the fact that you can walk into a blues jam anywhere on the planet and start playing tunes together because of that shared skill of improvisation. My sound is best described as blues rock. I love the structure that comes with a traditional 12 bar blues, however, I also enjoy having some freedom with my songwriting and being able to step outside that format.” (Anni Piper / Photo by Sveinn Kjartansson)How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?It depends – sometimes I need to lock myself away from the rest of the world in order to get any songwriting done. Sometimes, like the song ‘Stalker’, the entire song came to me while driving to Ted Swanson’s home studio for a pre-production session. I finished the demo that same day. If you listen to my lyrics, it’s pretty clear that I have a sense of humor. I like to have fun, and I don’t take myself too seriously. I think that comes across in my songwriting. Thematically, I cover a lot of different topics. The new album includes subject matter that ranges from potato chips to sasquatches so it’s pretty broad and eclectic. Thematically a lot of the songs are about relationships, or to put it more bluntly, about sex. Well, it’s on my mind a lot of the time!What has been the hardest obstacle for you to overcome as a person and as artist and has this helped you become a better musician?Oh boy – there are a lot of personal issues that I’m still struggling with in my life. How about trying to overcome my tendency to be an introvert? I wouldn’t describe myself as particularly outgoing. I do better when I’m around people that I know well. So of course being a performer on stage forces you to overcome that inclination toward being shy.How has the music influenced your views of the world? How do you describe your sound and music philosophy? Music has given me the opportunity to travel the world and perform. If I hadn’t been a musician, I would have stayed in my home town in Australia for most of my life. I wouldn’t have seen all the amazing sights, and wouldn’t have spent time with a variety of interesting people that I never would have had the chance to meet. I’ve been lucky enough to have been exposed to many different cultures and I’m grateful for the way new perspectives have allowed me to grow in self-awareness. Music, of course, is the universal language. I love the fact that you can walk into a blues jam anywhere on the planet and start playing tunes together because of that shared skill of improvisation. My sound is best described as blues rock. I love the structure that comes with a traditional 12 bar blues, however, I also enjoy having some freedom with my songwriting and being able to step outside that format.“Blues is an art form that it important to preserve because it has universal themes we can all relate to. Musicians travel, so they pick up ideas from the places they visit and help promote them so we can all enjoy something new from a different part of the country or different part of the world.” (Anni Piper / Photo by Sveinn Kjartansson)How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music? What has remained the same about your music-making process?My first album was released 22 years ago! I can hear the difference in my vocals. I have a lot more control of my voice nowadays. I think my songwriting process has stayed very much the same over the years. Ideas usually come to me when I’m not actively trying to write a new song. I’ll use voice memos on my phone to record ideas in the moment so I don’t forget them. It can take time for me to develop my ideas and have them come to fruition. For example, one of the songs on my latest album was written 12 years ago. But another one was finished two weeks before we went into the studio, so it varies. I have never owned a home studio and that’s something I would like to explore in future.How do you find opportunities for women in the music industry and the blues rock scene in particular?It’s more of a challenge for women to get recognition and respect in the music industry. It’s still a boys’ club in many ways. I feel like women are always having to prove themselves. There’s still an assumption that women aren’t going to be as skilled and accomplished as men, particularly as instrumentalists. I’ve been told before that I ‘play bass like a man’ from audience members. I don’t think they understand that isn’t necessarily a compliment.Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music/musicians in today’s society?Blues is an art form that it important to preserve because it has universal themes we can all relate to. Musicians travel, so they pick up ideas from the places they visit and help promote them so we can all enjoy something new from a different part of the country or different part of the world. Blues music originated with African Americans and I think it’s important for young people to have an awareness of their history and culture. There are so many examples of Black excellence in this music that I think it will continue to be inspirational for many future generations. Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?I’m passionate about working out. Most of my music equipment is heavy! So I like to be strong and physically fit enough to move it without it being a struggle. I’m single and I live alone so usually I don’t have any help to load and unload things. I think it makes a big difference to my stamina and energy levels on stage.“Music has given me the opportunity to travel the world and perform. If I hadn’t been a musician, I would have stayed in my home town in Australia for most of my life. I wouldn’t have seen all the amazing sights, and wouldn’t have spent time with a variety of interesting people that I never would have had the chance to meet. I’ve been lucky enough to have been exposed to many different cultures and I’m grateful for the way new perspectives have allowed me to grow in self-awareness.” (Anni Piper / Photo by Sveinn Kjartansson)What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your career so far?I remember hearing ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Led Zeppelin – the opening track of the ‘Led Zeppelin II’ album -when I was 12 years old. My older brother brought it home and put it on the stereo and my mind was blown. That was probably the moment that started me on the track to becoming a musician. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. Also hearing ‘Born in Chicago’ by Paul Buterfield Blues Band when I was 14 was another big moment in my musical history and that was the point when I decided I really wanted to explore the blues. But rock music has always had a huge influence on me too, and it definitely comes out in my songwriting.In the past I would have said winning an Australian Blues Music Award was my biggest career highlight, but that was surpassed last year when I got to record my new album and sing a duet with my son. Flynn Piper sings ‘Angel from Montgomery’ with me, and it’s the only cover song on the new album ‘Men are like Potato Chips’. I have photos of him at 5 years old in the recording studio during the sessions for one of my earlier releases. He’s now 23, and he lives in Australia while I am based in the USA. We don’t see each other as often as we would like to, so it was a very special moment for both of us to finally perform together.What keeps a musician passionate over the years on stage? You’ve worked in many different settings, from clubs and bars to open air festivals and theatres. How do you navigate between these different worlds?It’s like a compulsion really, there is something so incredible about connecting with an audience on that level. When you enter the flow state, everything else just falls away, it’s like an out of body experience. It’s addictive and I haven’t been able to stop chasing it. Different venues require matching my energy on stage to the vibe from the people who are there listening. More intimate venues are different, I might tell more of the stories behind the songs. Whereas at a festival I will try to work with a bigger stage, move around more, and pull the energy and connection from my band.“My sound is best described as blues rock. I love the structure that comes with a traditional 12 bar blues, however, I also enjoy having some freedom with my songwriting and being able to step outside that format.” (Anni Piper / Photo by Sveinn Kjartansson)How do you prepare for your recordings and performances to help you maintain both spiritual and musical stamina?I work out seven days a week when I’m at home and also when I’m on the road. Bass guitar is a heavy instrument and wearing it for hours during a performance can start to put a strain on the shoulders. I struggle with anxiety in general, but particularly around live performances. I feel like mentally I’m at my worst on days when I’m performing. I’m the bandleader, and my name is on the marquis, so the buck stops here and if anything goes wrong I’m ultimately responsible. It can be incredibly stressful, even just making sure everyone gets to the show on time is difficult because I often don’t have any control over that. I have been doing hot yoga for 15 years and have found that extremely helpful. The relaxation techniques help me to focus, and the breathing from yoga also helps my lung capacity for singing.What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?I think one thing I have learned from music is that playing original blues music isn’t going to pay the bills. This is the first time I have recorded an album in six years and to be completely honest maybe 20% of that was not feeling ready but 80% was because I didn’t have the finances to make that happen. Studio time, hiring musicians, and radio promotion are all big expenses. While you make some of that money back eventually, it’s really a big gamble on whether your music is going to be successful or not, and whether that investment is going to pay off. I had a particularly hard tour a few years back where I drove 3000 miles across the USA alone with a car full of music equipment. I had no budget for hotel rooms so I slept in my car and showered at the gym every morning, and picked up my band at the airport after a week of driving. We still had to sleep on friends’ couches during the tour. It was exhausting and I knew I wouldn’t be capable of doing this forever – so I decided to go back to school. I am now working as a nurse full-time and doing music part-time. I don’t regret my decision at all because I am making great money and I enjoy nursing as a career even more than I thought I would.I work in a behavioral health facility so my patients are experiencing either mental health issues or substance detox when they come into my care. Having nursing as a career has allowed me to become financially independent for the first time in many years. So while it’s a lot to take on, I feel that it was the right decision. My colleagues often tell me I am like Hannah Montana, that I can be anonymous at work and be a rock star by night. I like the way they describe it!What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?                                   (Anni Piper / Photo by Sveinn Kjartansson)Blues is timeless. It’s about universal themes that we can all relate to, young or old. I have been more focused on social media for promoting my music and have been successful with that. I never had many followers on my Instagram account but one of my recent reels from the recording studio has had almost 1 million views. I think another way I have tried to modernize and reach another generation is by using curse words on my latest album ‘Men are like Potato Chips’. I had always been very against this as a songwriter. However, I have found some things about my current home town of Portland OR to be very frustrating. There are too many musicians for too few gigs, and there is a cutthroat attitude around the ‘old guard’ in the community that can lead to exclusion. For example, I have seen situations when someone who has been hosting a jam session retires, the venue doesn’t choose a new host. The old host of the jam session bequeathes the privilege of the jam session to a new host and it’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. It’s like a feudal system, and I feel like I have been expected to bow down and pay my respects to musicians who are arrogant without merit.Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really want to go for a whole day?Easy - I would travel to the future and take the next hit song back with me!Anni Piper - HomeSee More

“I believe that there are very similar things between Blues and the music of Mexico, in their lyrics, in their feelings, both speak of very similar experiences, and I also believe that they have a lot of strength due to their past since both cultures come from very difficult times in which there was slavery, sad things, and I think that is why it seems that there is brotherhood between both genres! There is a very special feeling that makes them very compatible.”Jimmy Huerta: Let The Good Blues RollVocalist, composer and guitarist Jimmy Huerta aka Jimmy Huk who from an early age became interested in music, started to learn and listen to bands. He began his career playing in the streets of the City of Aguascalientes (Mexico) around the year 2001 until forming a musical project with the Fart Blues band with which he played in different forums and bars and then began his career as soloist. His remarkable technique for playing the blues is undoubtedly composed of a varied range of feelings and rhythms that the public manages to easily capture in their presentations, creating a pleasant atmosphere with very deep lyrics that take the public on a journey through several of their experiences in life. With the Fart Blues band from Aguascalientes he recorded 2 albums with songs of his authorship, he has several recordings already as a soloist and several albums that can be heard on YouTube.         (Photo: Jimmy Huerta aka Jimmy Huk, Mexico)Music has taken him to travel several states and play in important cultural forums and festivals in the country of Mexico in the field of blues. Among his musical influences are great artists of Delta and Chicago blues like Jimmy Rogers, Mississippi Fred Mcdowell, Muddy Waters, Robert Loockwood jr, Mance Limpscomp among others. Blues music has always been his inspiration in the life. Currently he continues to play in various forums as a soloist, performing with his guitar and occasionally inviting musicians to play with a full band. He continues to give street shows in the city of Aguascalientes, generating a good response from the audience, offering a pleasant time of Blues music. Jimmy Huk always guarantees in his presentations. Interview by Michael LimniosHow has the music influenced your views of the world? What does the blues mean to you?Music for me has been a great escape from reality, it has helped me in very difficult moments in my life by making me see the world with a better vibration, Blues music for me is total freedom! It gives you the power to always move forward fighting in life and express your deepest feelings in an honest way and makes you take out all your demons! For me it is music that helps you get rid of all the stress.How do you describe your sound and music philosophy? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?I believe my sound is based on the traditional aspect of Blues music with my lyrics in Spanish influenced by the master creators of this genre. My musical philosophy is to have fun making music and let the show flow, let whatever needs to come in the show come! Each concert is unique and with different details, just enjoy the moment! I think that technique and feeling must come together and of course let the soul express itself and transmit its feeling without thinking if it is going to be perfect or not, just let the music be!Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Mexico?I think it's because in Mexico people feel very identified with that music! Blues music expresses many of the emotions that people have inside such as problems, unrequited love, problems with alcohol and of course it has happy moments to dance! So I think it makes them forget about everything while enjoying the music.“Music for me has been a great escape from reality, it has helped me in very difficult moments in my life by making me see the world with a better vibration, Blues music for me is total freedom!” (Photo: Jimmy Huerta aka Jimmy Huk, the blues musician gives street shows in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico)What drew you into the music and blues scene?  What moment changed your music life the most?Since I was very little, there was a guitar in my house that a cousin left when he went to Vietnam; He couldn't come back because of a grenade explosion and, well, I started playing the guitar strings and I felt like that was my path. The music transported me to another world inside me and I started listening to bands! and it made me feel very good. I was very curious and started buying magazines and books to learn; Well, I had already heard groups that played blues, but I didn't know what it was. It was when I went to a blues festival called AguasBlues in the city of Aguascalientes where I saw a blues band for the first time, it was the J.C. Smith Blues Band, and I was blown away! I felt like it was the music I wanted to make. I could feel the power that Blues music transmitted, a great essence that gave me energy.What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?I think what I miss most is the honesty that was in the songs with a lot of feeling that transmitted great emotions!  but I feel that good musical bands are coming out, I think there is a lot of talent for new generations. My hope is that God will give me the opportunity to fulfill this musical mission for several more years and provide people with more music and somehow make them have a fun time in the future. My fear is not fulfilling the mission for which I was sent to this planet, I believe that music is what I came to leave in this dimension!What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?I think music is very important as I feel it frees people's souls and unites many sectors of society! Music has the power to unite people even globally, create communication between humanity, elevating their spirit! I hope that music affects people in a positive way, that it becomes a strong bond where we can all enjoy it together without prejudice and that it is a reason for brotherhood!What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experiences as a busker musician?I have learned that the important thing is to leave a pleasant time for people who are passing through, maybe someone comes home angry from work and stressed out and maybe you make their day happy with a song. The street is a good forum to make your art known and I have learned that you can connect with people, you are closer to their vibrations and it has helped me to know more about people's feelings by seeing their eyes and often talking with them helps you to know their concerns and something about their life, that inspires you to make songs.”I could feel the power that Blues music transmitted, a great essence that gave me energy.” (Photo: Jimmy Huerta)Are there any similarities between the blues and the genres of local (Mexican) folk music and traditional forms?I believe that there are very similar things between Blues and the music of Mexico, in their lyrics, in their feelings, both speak of very similar experiences, and I also believe that they have a lot of strength due to their past since both cultures come from very difficult times in which there was slavery, sad things, and I think that is why it seems that there is brotherhood between both genres! There is a very special feeling that makes them very compatible.See More

“The Blues are like the roots of a tree that grows and branches off to country, rock, bluegrass etc. It ALL came from the Blues. It comes from hurt, it comes from love lost, it comes from the heart. It simply is the most real music I have ever experienced.”Adam Smith:Visualizing the Spirit of the SouthAdam Smith is an award-winning documentary photographer with nearly three decades of experience chronicling the music, people, and landscapes of the American South. Known for his deep tonal range, powerful use of shadows, and striking humanism, Smith captures the enduring history of a fading world with integrity and deep compassion. His career took root in 1993 at the University of Mississippi under the mentorship of Tom Rankin, leading him to document legendary Mississippi Delta and Hill Country blues artists such as Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, and Othar Turner. This raw, unfiltered portraiture led to a lifelong collaboration with Fat Possum Records and caught the attention of legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz, whom Smith assisted for her 2003 book American Music. Throughout his career, Smith has expanded his portfolio to include country icons like Marty Stuart—collaborating on his acclaimed Ghost Train album—as well as contemporary roots and rock artists like Jason Isbell, and Drive-By Truckers.(Image Credits: © Adam Smith Photography)In 2020, he expanded his archival work with The Killing Floor, a podcast showcasing his rare field recordings and interviews with R.L. Burnside. Smith is developing Down In Mississippi, a multi-media series of exhibitions across Georgia and Mississippi. Moving beyond traditional galleries, these events merge his three-decade photographic journey with live performances from musical counterparts like Cedric Burnside, Kenny Brown, and Alvin Youngblood Hart. In 2002, he moved to Atlanta to serve as the Chair of the Photography Department at the Atlanta College of Art. Smith’s work has been featured by NPR, CNN, and Guitar Player Magazine, and is permanently displayed at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.Interview by Michael LimniosImage Credits: © Adam Smith Photography - All Rights ReservedHow has the photo art and music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your life the most?I have always loved music since I can remember. When I attended University of Mississippi for undergrad in 1993, I took a photography class under documentary photographer Tom Rankin. Tom pointed me to a place called Junior Kimbrough’s Juke Joint. It was only open on Sunday nights. I was basically the only young white kid running around out there. I had never in my life experienced a place like this… the music, the sweat, the dancing and celebration of life a celebration to Junior’s music.I had a “come to Jesus” moment there. I said to myself, if I could ever capture the power, energy, and feeling of this place on film (still) then that is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. A calling if you will. I feel like I have done just that with my life’s work.What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your art? What do you love most about the act/art of photography?I gravitate toward documentary photography, I always have. Mississippi Blues and its surrounding landscapes are real… real people singing a deeply personal music that comes from pain. I gravitate toward “realness.” I also have had to branch out and work with country and rock & roll artists as well, but I still search for “hungry musicians,” people singing and playing passionate, well-written music. I try to capture the feeling I was feeling in my photography. I sincerely hope it comes through to the viewer.“Music is EVERYTHING to me. I still get chills that run down my spine when I hear music that is well written and performed with energy, passion, and feeling.” (Image Credits: © Adam Smith Photography)What's the balance in photo art between technique and emotions? What do you think is key for a good image/shot?My technique is shooting manual on all my cameras… I RARELY use flash. I shoot in very low light situations… It gives a certain grain and grit that works well with Mississippi Blues.I try to evoke emotions in my photography. It is very important to take in the scene, be where your feet are. You have to know your subject matter to a good degree. To anticipate their next moves and be there to capture it. I want the viewer to “feel” when they look at my work. I work hard to convey the deep culture in the South. I try to portray my Blues subjects in a positive and proud light that they exude.Why do you think that the Southern Black culture and Blues music legacy continues to generate such a devoted following?Because it is REAL! In this day and age of AI and social media where everything seems plastic and fake. This music and culture is somewhat the same. It has not changed. It is real, genuine, and from the heart… from folks that are real, genuine, and from the heart.What keeps a photographer passionate after three decades in photo art? How does music affect your mood and inspiration?Wow, good question… not gonna lie… it is extremely hard to make a living out of work like this. You have to really believe in yourself, believe in your work. It helps that these days I have somewhat of a name for myself in the photography world. People know my work, that feels really, really good. We all want admiration for our life’s work.Music is EVERYTHING to me. I still get chills that run down my spine when I hear music that is well written and performed with energy, passion, and feeling.“My technique is shooting manual on all my cameras… I RARELY use flash. I shoot in very low light situations… It gives a certain grain and grit that works well with Mississippi Blues. I try to evoke emotions in my photography. It is very important to take in the scene, be where your feet are.” (Image Credits: © by Adam Smith Photography)What is the impact of Photography/Music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want your photo work to affect people?I think documentary photography and music has a huge impact on socio-cultural implications. It is a way of showing the good and the bad of a culture… the needs and the wants of a community. Mississippi and the South have had a dark history that we can’t turn away from. Mississippi has made great strides to try and move past this and learn from our mistakes. I can tell you from personal experience that Mississippi has its problems, but the racism that I experience in other parts of the US is WAY worse than what I come across in Mississippi these days.I want my work to stand on its own. Whether it is an image of R.L. Burnside, The Black Keys, or Marty Stuart. I want people to have an emotion when they look at my images. If there is no emotion… I have not done my job.Who was the most photogenic and difficult bluesman? What touched you from the landscapes of South?I would have to say R.L. Burnside was my favorite friend/client to shoot. You could stop by R.L.’s house and bring a 6-pack of tall boys and just hang with him. He was hilarious! Lord, I miss that man. No one really comes to mind that has been real difficult. I would like to think we have a mutual respect for one another at this point in my career, and the subjects I try to shoot.I love just riding down through the Mississippi Delta with nowhere in particular to go. Riding down side roads and exploring. My landscapes tend to lean toward rural landscapes. I gravitate toward images that show how time has worn down, and been forgotten about. I generally shoot most of my landscape photography in black & white.What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experiences? Why is it important that we preserve and spread the Blues “Culture”?The Blues are like the roots of a tree that grows and branches off to country, rock, bluegrass etc. It ALL came from the Blues. It comes from hurt, it comes from love lost, it comes from the heart. It simply is the most real music I have ever experienced. To me, it is extremely important to still document and preserve this music and culture. It is a way of life, and I want to continue to preserve it in any way I can.Adam Smith Photography - Home(Image Credits: © Adam Smith Photography - All Rights Reserved)See More