DJ Interviews: Christopher Lawson

 Here's my interview with singer.songwritter Christopher Lawson

…….Here is Chris Lawson’ Thank you 

How'd you get started in music?

I was always fascinated by words and often wrote poetry as a child. However with the hectic pace of life and living I just didn’t have the time to write for many years.

One day I took my car into a local mechanic shop for a general maintenance tune up; there I met an old friend. He reminded me of a poem that I wrote in our high school english class that he never forgot. A few days later I began to write again. After about 4 months of writing I just got this urge to take guitar lessons. To tell the truth I can’t really explain it but everything just fell into place after that.

Music and songwriting has always been personal and reflective to me so I was very hesitant about approaching anyone about the music that I was working on. Finally after about 3 yrs I decided to take 7 songs to Boom Studio; Boom Studio lead me to Dream House Studio. I recorded a variety of material at both music studios but I still didn’t feel like putting anything out into the public domain. One day Mark Zubek and the Zeddrecords Team from Toronto contacted me. Finally after 6 years of working on music I released “Flame” as my premier single; Say Yes, My Time, Secret, and Bad Girl followed. 

Who are your inspirations or influences?

My style and influences is quite unique I am the son of Jamaican immigrants.

I do have that strong reggae influence but I came to Canada as a child. Growing up in the the Greater Toronto Area has really shaped my musical sound. There was so many different sounds that I would hear just walking through my neighbourhood. The Italian opera songs that my neighbour use to play; the rock and roll guitar of Neil Young; the piercing voice of Celine Deon; the high tenor still voice of Steve Perry the lead singer of Journey. I did not know it at the time just how unique and beautiful the city of Toronto was and still is. Toronto has the world in it; it is the world’s largest immigrant community. it’s hard to really say what or who my musical influences are because my ear my heart and my spirit is constantly picking up sounds and ideas from inside me and all around me. All I can say is that these artists have always drawn me close Sia Furler, David Bowie, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and Bill Withers.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

Always create from the heart. Take nothing or no one for granted. The universe will shine its light on you and the world will find you.

How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers?

I am probably my worse critic, I try to make everything that I do the best it can be. There is a naturalness to my performances and music. it is very tough at times to put my thoughts and ideas into music, but I always try to be honest in the music. I also have a graphic arts background; where I use colours and imagery to get my message and ideas across to the audience. 

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

I am currently working on my premier album; it should be out late 2023.

Hence because I have  a large catalog of unrecorded music the Zeddrecords team and myself are trying to record songs that will express what I really want to say.