Jun 24

Jun 24 Celebrity Talk - Up Close with Geoff Erwin

Music for a cause – sign me up! Singer, songwriter Geoff Erwin recently raised $10,000 for The Code Green Campaign by hosting a virtual concert. Listeners were able to jam out to Erwins’ latest while giving back to front-line workers.

“[The mission of The Code Green Campaign is] to improve mental wellness for all first responders,” says Fiona Taylor co-founder of The Code Green Campaign.”

Erwin is a relatable artist that is inspired by: Bono, Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Bob Marley, and Marvin Gaye to name a few. IdentifyLA got a chance to speak with Erwin himself on his music, fundraising efforts, and more.

The following has been edited for clarity.

IdentifyLA: Does Music play a role in our Collective Healing?

George Erwin: No doubt in my mind that music plays a very big role in our collective healing. You can chart history through songs, from the Blues, to Jazz, to Motown, to Country, to Pop. Music is one of the only ways that we have to express our personal take on what's happening now, in this moment. For me personally, music is healing. Every song I write is a healing for me personally. My goal is to provide healing for others through song, to bring us together, look beyond our differences, and see the beauty of our diversity. We're all in this together.

IDLA: Why did you choose this new charity, the Code Green Campaign? What do you like about it?

GE: We chose this cause before George Floyd lost his life and protests and riots ensued. Now that all of that has happened, there is no question in my mind that this is the right cause for this moment. I've interviewed one of their founders and a paramedic who was profoundly positively impacted by their work. What I've learned is that they use Storytelling and Mindfulness This Saturday, on 6.20.20 we're doing our second "Worthy Cause Concert" benefiting the "The Code Green Campaign". Their mission is "Improving the Mental Wellness of First Responders". Those include all first responders, like EMT's, Paramedics, Fire Fighters, and Police Officers. practices to help first responders to process the trauma that they experience on a daily basis. Code Green works with organizations and individuals to forward the goals of suicide prevention, providing access to therapy, and breaking the stigma that heroes don't need help. It's clear to me that we are a country in need of transformation. Code Green is one organization that is working to create the proper conditions for transformation to occur, by promoting mindfulness, compassion, and self-care.

IDLA: You’ve done a fundraising benefit concert before; how much did you raise last time?

GE: We raised $3,300 for the First Responders Children's Foundation, which is wonderful, particularly given this was our first concert. That money will go to great use for First Responders and their families. We're really proud of that and moved by all that contributed.

IDLA: Are you writing new material?

GE: I recently debuted "This is All There is" at the concert on 6.20.20. This song is inspired by the recent riots, protests, and lives lost. I wanted to encapsulate the sense of loss I feel as a result of how we, as a nation, have failed to live up to the promise of equality for all people. The lyrics point to what it's like to lose oneself completely and realize that "this is all there is." While the flavor of the tune is somber, it builds to an inspiring conclusion, recognizing that we have a choice in recognizing this is it, and each of us can "dance in light". Most of my music is dedicated to the idea that I/we can recognize all of the suffering we endure, and create a path forward that is powerful, authentic, and loving.

IDLA: Let’s talk about your album! What’s your favorite song on the album?

GE: I love all of them for different reasons. Each song represents a time of reflection in my life where I needed a boost to rise above. My mother once told me I should call my record "Notes to Self". That makes a lot of sense considering that music, for me, is a way to process the tragedy of life and create something new that inspires me. I suppose that is the gift that I am trying to give in my songs. A sense of catharsis and recreation that one can only discover for oneself.

Erwin will be doing another virtual concert in July. Keep up with the latest on socials: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.