Christopher Graham Feature
Since he started playing songs at an early age, Christopher Graham has been bringing his old-school singer/songwriter style to Northern VA while trying to appeal to a crowd that may not have even heard of his influences. Chris and I go back to 2010 when we first started booking shows together for our separate projects. He later recruited me to play drums in his band. We discussed his past, present, future, and why he might not have a backing band for a while.
You can catch Christopher and his EP on March 29th at Caffe Amouri.
What got you started playing music and writing songs?
I got started writing songs actually after hearing John Lennon’s Double Fantasy album. The songs flew from my parent’s turntable in to the air.
What was your first show ever?
My first public performance was when I was 13 years old at Franklin Middle Schools Beat Poetry Cafe thing they did.
It was like a mock coffee house kind of deal. I actually got in the local paper with my name and photo and everything for performing Bob Dylan songs.
I know your influenced by a lot of old-school singer/songwriters, but who influences you the most and why?
Recently it’s been a very eclectic group of artists. But I’d say Buddy Holly, Elvis, John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens. That’s my go-to for inspiration. But lately I’ve been listening to Jack Johnson’s stuff, 1950′s R&B and some of the Brooklyn music scene’s bands that were just starting out back in ’06. I love Akron/Family and the Woodsist stuff. Any kind of music that really makes me feel something.
What separates you from most of the bands/artists on the local scene?
My songs and my performances [separate me]. I’m a firm believer in what old Pete Seeger said back when he walked among us. “It ain’t the singer, it’s the song.” I think a lot of local bands forget about that. “Come to my show,” or “Come see my band and I’ll see yours” There’s a lot of that kind of talk which is meaningless if were talking about music. So many of these local bands have a hard time making it because they get caught up in “being in a band”, or some image kind of thing.
Unfortunately many times live shows with rock bands or punk bands turn in to some kind of lackluster head banger’s ball where there’s this wall between the band and the audience and it creates this sort of awkward tension and apprehension. I think when a band separates themselves from the crowd, they’re not playing for themselves anymore, they’re playing for other people. They’re playing for that scenester chick in the front row who was locking eyes with the singer, they’re playing for that other band that they dont get along with because of some dumb high school rivalry and it becomes about all these things but not about the one thing that counts. The music.
So that’s where my performances differ. My goal is to interact with as many people as I can and to let people know how happy I am they came, because without all their support, I’d never sing again. I try to put the emphasis on the songs and the stories that lay inside them. My goal is to pass on songs to other people that I hope they’ll enjoy.
What are your plans for 2014?
In 2014 I’ll be releasing an album called Nativity. I’ll be doing a lot of promo for that obviously a lot of gigs. I’ll be relocating up north in the summer to an undisclosed location. More likely than not I’ll have another full LP ready by the fall, maybe a little more bluesy. Also I’ve been working on an online comic strip that’s soon to be released so…who knows.