Tom Volhein

About tomvolhein.com
I have no idea what this site will become. I imagine it as a studio. I write, post songs and am considering posting some visual art of some kind – probably from others. Right now it is growing on it’s own. I enjoy my friends’ and family’s visits and am writing and posting with them in mind. My hope is that someday, visitors will comment and enter the site in a variety of ways.

About Me
Since the 1960s, playing music has been a personal manifestation of life for me. On the road, in coffee houses or the studio; in combos, groups or as a single, playing music was an expression of personal, social and political thought. I worked as a musician for 20 years, playing all kinds of music; folk, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock and country; throughout the US, in all kinds of venues.

After stepping away for almost 20 years to raise a family and explore other careers, I came full circle back to my musical roots. With a life time’s worth of experience I am searching for what has meaning for me today, what feels relevant and fresh. This site is a piece of my exploration and expression.

About the Work
At the simplest level, my art is the body of music and thoughts that I have created; some of them recorded, some created live with friends, in music and thought circles, in coffee houses, at art galleries, at festivals, and on street corners. At a broader level, my art work includes the changes that occur as a result of my music, my words, and all my compositions, relations and creations.

I create from the ether of existing art and from my own personal inspirations, which stir me in some way and are intended to stir others – cause them to think, and perhaps even join me in the creation of music, musical ideas, thoughts, and new approaches to thinking. Nevertheless, I am not the one to determine if what I am doing is worthy of being called art, and if so, whether the work is good or bad. That is for others to decide. I just want to create it and put it out there.

About the Works
Music
In addition to a musical composition, each piece will contain some explanation, some visual art and other things that I believe help transmit the “point” of the piece.

I want to create songs in a variety of ways. First and simplest is a cover tune – words, music and interpretation the same as the author. Beyond these, I want to do arrangements, interpretations, and originals. No originals yet. I have some simple poems hidden away, and am thinking that something will manifest as I work at it.

I often change the words of another author’s song. This may seem blasphemous to some. Nevertheless, I want the song to feel authentic to me. As I sing a song, I am telling a story. I render the story to fit my life. Sometimes the author’s story is also my story. For example, Jackson Browne is the same age and his life parallels mine in some ways. In his song, “Running on Empty,” he presents dates and ages about the road that coincide with my road life. For this and other reasons, most of his songs seem to fit me without alteration.

On the other hand, there are stories where changing the person or sex of the characters more readily tells my story. In Cowboy Singer, by Dave Carter, I changed the lyrics from first person to third person. It feels more natural to me that way. Whereas Dave Carter may have considered himself a cowboy singer, I don’t consider myself one. So, it feels more authentic to me, for me to sing the song about a cowboy singer friend of mine than to make the story about myself.

I tend to render historically accurate songs identical to the original – for obvious reasons.

Influences

Musical Style/Genre
As far as the types or styles of songs that I like to play, it is simple really. I just know when I like a song, then take some time getting to know the words, and what I believe the author is trying to say. I love acoustic music, centered around guitar and voice. Add some fiddle, maybe a little mandolin. All supported by bass. I like stories, poetically rendered – or maybe poems musically rendered – rhythmic, lyrical, intelligent. As far as content, I love personal stories first and foremost; then social commentary, then history. I tend to call it folk, but don’t truly know what folk music is anymore. That is a whole other subject (i.e., can of worms).

Musical Influences
Lately, influences include Dave Carter/Tracy Grammer, Greg Brown and James Keelaghan. They have created some of the best music I have heard in years. Their lyrics are not trite. They use words that fit perfectly with the message, some so regionally colloquial that I have to look them up in the dictionary. Past influences include Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Eagles, Bonnie Rait, Joni Mitchell, The Band – jeese I’m getting high just remembering. There are many others. But for the music I am playing now, I would say that these artists represent the kind of music that influences me.

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