Most Talented Musicians
Famous Musicians
The term disability relates itself to any kind of limitation within the activity capacity of an individual. Being disabled in some way is not greater than or less than equal to the term unable to do something. Disability within an individual is a complex situation as it maybe present from birth or have been acquired though the life span of a person living in conditions- both mental and environmental that are not suitable.
However, as the rise of individualism brought out the best in each, respective of what they were best at, we take a look at people who have taken disability within their stride and contributed to the world of music in ways which awe mankind. Take it from the Past and the Present, from disabilities like Diabetes, Microtia, Blindness, Multiple Sclerosis, these people have made it big.
Ray Charles
Originating from the U.S, this man is famous for his contribution to a beautiful mix in music- from the blues to the gospels. His genre of music is redefined as the 1ST African-American who punched in the country sounds to pop music. This singer, composer, pianist and keyboardist was blind and yet had the life of a musician and a bandleader. Not to mention he could perform the saxophone and trombone equally well. He worked for famous companies like the Warner Bros and Concord. With a variety of public appearances, this man has made it to a sensational popularity. With his blindness not coming in the road to success, he has adapted it all and moved on ahead with a mind blasting career.
Piercing Music isn't a band. It's a collective of musical projects fueled by Chicago-based singer-songwriter Derek Porter and a host of talented friends with a fixation on songs themselves rather than functioning as a single, set group of musicians. This creative force has resulted in material that spans sounds, from gentle, acoustic fare to spirited girl-group indie pop. "If this could be a typical band, it would," reads the project's online bio. "But it's broken its own rules, amok with newfound freedom."
It's an intriguing concept that's produced some truly inspired music, and the very talented Porter took some time out to tell us more about it:
WCR: Piercing Music is a pretty unique approach to indie music. Tell us about how it started and how instead of forming a single band or performing just as a solo artist, you came to create a project comprised of subgroups.
DP: As for bands and the solo route, I’ve definitely been down those roads before. I’ve been performing in bands since high school and as a solo artist for three years. I love working within those definitions, but they can feel constraining. Piercing Music allows me to organize all my concepts without getting lost in the rhetoric of, “Where should this go?” or “How can I make this song work for this group?” With the ability to subscribe my songs to different groups, I give the songs precedence and allow them to find the right voice. So it was really just a matter of establishing a broader concept so that my main thing, songwriting, could thrive.
Earlier this year one of the groups, Little Sisters, released a record called Can't Get No Understanding. How would you describe the material on the record, and Little Sisters in general?
Little Sisters features my sister Erika and my friend Chloe on vocals. The songs on Can’t Get No Understanding were, from the outset, written for their voices. Doing a girl-group project allowed me an opportunity to explore themes I normally veer away from and to really get outside of my own head for a minute. I think the songs reflect that bit of freedom. They’re a ton of fun and have moments of sheer ridiculousness. So writing specifically for Erika and Chloe was a real drive for the project. I’d had them as background singers for my solo material, but I knew they could hold their own, too. The other drive behind the project was my interest in feminism. I’ve tried my best to understand relations between the genders and the hardships women undergo. These songs are an artistic stab at the questions I have and the hope that I see. The song “Bound by Your Bars” was the first I wrote for the project. It talks about how, on the surface, it seems like women aren’t oppressed. It seems like nothing is out of place. But when all things are factored in, there are countless impediments they face which prevent them from being fully considered as people. It’s tragic, but male is considered more normal. Writing songs like those on Can’t Get No Understanding are my reflection on those kinds of problems.
You're set to put out a 6-track collection of songs called Strangers, Vol. 1 on March 15 as simply Derek Porter. Tell us more about it in terms of inspiration and stylistic focus. What can we expect to hear?
Stylistically, the record is lush, acoustic based. The vocals are breathy, almost whispered. I think those aesthetic choices reflect the lyrical themes. It’s got a darkly delicate feel, which matches the concepts of memory and distance. It’s one of those intensely personal records that are still relatable.
What about some of the songs in particular? Are there any on the release you are most proud of or excited about?
The pair “I Remember” and “I Forgot” typifies the record for me. They’re two sides of a coin. The whole album wrestles with memory. Sometimes we’d like to remember; sometimes we’d like to forget.
Download mp3: Derek Porter - "I Remember" (from Strangers, Vol. 1, out March 15)
Who or what would you cite as some of the biggest influences to your music and why?
Strange as it sounds, David Bowie has had a huge influence on me, even though it’s not always up front in my music. He’s adventurous and that’s inspiring. Literature also works its way into my songs. I love poetry and couldn’t help but be affected by the great romantics like William Wordsworth or Lord Byron. They’re in there. They inspire me to really dig into my songs and find the same stuff they write about.
