At the edge of a precipice
Havilah Rand describes herself as a gipsy at heart. Her music comes from
a free spirit and has influences from the sounds of the Irish pubs, the
flamenco bars and all the atmospheres she found along her trips across Europe.
But she has also her roots, the blues, the jazz, and her own vision of life.
Her latest album is titled Bengalese
butterflies, released in 2009, a new artistic Precipice from a songwriter who gives us a music To be seen inside ourselves. Now she’s working
on a new album to be published next spring, a new adventure of a wonderful
troubadour.
What things of
Havilah Rand are To be seen?
As everyone, I am always in some form of transition or
another. Whether it is a change of environment or community or something more
personal, as human beings we have this potential to always be reaching for our
hightest most authentic self. This song is written in the hope of this
authenticity and evolution being recognized by others.
Why do you feel Crazy alone?
I am not necessarily the character this song is speaking
through. It is from the perspective of a woman who has spent so much time alone
that she is comfortable with the spooky more imbalanced parts of herself and
isn't afraid to condemn interested parties to her excentricities.
Disney city, where did we lose
the link with the real things?
While I see the benefits and pleasures that technology
and media brings our modern society, I also wonder if we are becoming more
disconnected from ourselves and our communities. I meet so many people who
complain of loneliness, boredom and loss of direction. I teach kids who suffer
from varying degrees of attention deficit disorder. I blame the constant
stimulation of TV, Video, computers and virtual social communities for this
inability for the mind and heart to connect deeply and steadfast with the
beautiful world of reality and nature that both surrounds us and lives within.
"I’m where the
wild things are" you sing in Tumbleweed.
Where's that?
I am speaking of the wild and unique nature of my own
self. As I get older, I struggle with the desire to be more "normal"
to live in one place, to have a steady job and a family rather than this life
of an artistic gypsy. At the same time, I can't imagine living any other way.
Why did you get
inspired by the Bengalese butterflies?
Bengalese Butterflies are a species of butterfly that I
created from my imagination. I was living in Barcelona in 2005 and had the
feeling of constantly being in love though with no one person in particular. I
had butterflies in my stomache constantly from the excitement of being in a new
place and meeting so many new and interesting people. I was also reading Life
of Pi at the time and one of the main characters is a Bengalese Tiger. I had
visions of huge hybrid butterflies who held the intensity and ferocity of that
tiger. Hence, Bengalese Butterflies.
Your voice, your
acoustic guitar, what more do you need for living?
I love teaching, I love yoga, I love being outdoors, I
love cooking and eating..most of all I am grateful for my family and friends
for their constant encouragement and support.
Have you ever felt
like being on the edge of a Precipice?
I am often at the edge of a precipice, diving into some
new project or idea. This particular song is about being on the edge of sleeping
and dreaming, you are dreaming of being with someone you have admired from afar
and are wanting to fall back asleep so you can relive the moment of finally
being close to them.
What do you expect
from the future?
I expect to keep doing what I am doing, hopefully getting
better, stronger and reaching more people through music and my work with
creativity through wellness. Check out www.holisticartventures.com
If I told you about
a naked ship, what does it suggest to you?
hmmm... a naked ship could be a Nude cruise ship where
there is no clothing worn? Or it is a boat that has no sails? My next album
interestingly enough is called “A High Wave” and has many ocean and boat
themes. Look for it at the beginning of March!
HAVILAH RAND VIDEOS here
An interview by Juan Carlos Romero
Havilah Rand website www.havilahmusic.com
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