This is my interview with Jeff Lohan. He is a close friend of my
family. My parents have known him for a long time and always go to see him
play at his gigs. He has even played at some of our parties. He has published
an album (my dad happened to take the picture for the cover) that I have
started listening to it. I actually really like it and I am really inspired by
how good he is and how he puts his life story into his music.
^His Cover
Anyway here is the interview. Hope you enjoy!
What is the process you took?
Lucky for me my parents recognized that I was interested in the
guitar. I started playing when I was 9 years old. My parents also got
me involved in our church folk group. This turned into playing with middle
school and high school rock bands with friends that played for schools
dances and CYO dances, then after a 5 year hiatus, I started to really
follow my own path and have been lucky to have had people that have wanted to
listen and play with me over the years. I was never afraid of standing on
my own, or running without the crowd.I really never looked at playing as a
competition, I only ever competed with myself.
What interests you musically?
Mostly rhythm guitar. Recently my vocal control.
Writing and recording is now a growing interest.
Rock, folk, country, music with a good message or a feeling I can
relate to and want to share.
What made/inspired/motivated you to play guitar?
I think a big part of my original inspiration was a cousin of my
mom's that would play her guitar at family vacations and holidays. I've
been lucky to have had a close experience with the guitar starting just after I
was born.
Mary Ursula has given me that same guitar. She bought it the
year I was born. 1961
The way my youngest daughter writes has also been a huge
inspiration for me to write.
What made you want to play professionally?
My parents were always supportive.
Friends have push me along from very early on. It seems a lot of
people saw something in me that I had a hard time seeing. And it's very
validating to get paid for something you love to do so much. At this
point in time I don't see me ever stopping.
Was there a guitarist you looked up to? Why?
Carlos Santana - I always felt like he was talking through his
guitar.
The Eagles - good feeling music with no particular leader of the
band. they have always felt like they were just 5 guys just helping each other
out.
James Taylor - his ability to connect with an audience with just
him and the guitar.
What were some of the challenges you went through to get where you
are?
Realizing that I was not as good as I thought I was at times, and
also being better than I thought I was at times. Learning that my
perception of my playing is different than the people in the audience. It is
easy to be hyper critical of my performances, but I have to understand that the
listener is listening to my playing of a song and having their own experience
from their prospective, not mine.
What held you back the most?
Myself. I justify it in many real and not so real ways.
I am very happy with where I am at this point in time as a
performer and as an artist. My journey has helped make me who I am today.
I feel I'm ready for whatever is next, and hope that I recognize it when
and if something happens.
What is the best thing about playing guitar?
It is a great escape. Even when I'm playing to a crowd, I am
really only playing for myself, I am in my own world.
it can take you places you never thought you could go.
When someone you don't know tells you how your music makes them
feel, it is a great experience. When someone asks who wrote the song
you just played, and you get to say that you wrote it. I think the best
highlight having my 16-year-old daughter play some of my gigs with me.
That is cool!!
What are some important things you had to do to get where you are?
Listen, work outside of my comfort zone, fail, get up and try
again, succeed, fail, be willing to not accept average, to work at trying to be
the best I can at that moment, and be willing to stand alone when
necessary, how to share and supportive with others. Learning to
recognize what needs to be worked on and also hold on to and recognize the
beautiful moments that happen.
Because of my guitar, I meet your parents, and you. That
would have never happened if I hadn't been following my very mysterious path.
And your dad wasn't following his.
What are some tips/what can help me?
Follow your heart, you want to learn from everyone you
can, and then use that information in your own individual way. Everyone
started out copying someone else. No one becomes known for
coping, the trick is learning how to be yourself.
This interview was really interesting for me to read. I learned a
lot about him that I never knew. When I read how happy it made it when his
daughter played with him I realized why my dad wants me to play. I was really
shocked when I saw that he meet my parents when playing the guitar. It made me
realize, even more than I already have, how much music bring people together. I
love that music can create friendships and connections with people you never
would have meet before. I also love how a song can become associated with a
memory or time in your life and when you hear it you have a flashback to that
memory. Music is just so amazing and I don't know why I ever stopped playing.
~Stay Tuned~