Musician and social activist Holly Near has spent her life creating a dialogue around the need for change. Near has always allowed her music to represent her soul, and in doing so has remained true to her purpose in speaking out against injustice. She sees an opportunity on the horizon, and is eager to perform in the Change Is in the Air concert on Sun., April 27, at the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, which she hopes will draw people into the circle of social awareness and create a worthy discussion that will help lead to action beyond the doors of the venue. Windy City Times spoke with Near through e-mail recently to find out more about the concert and social activism.
Windy City Times: Hi, Holly. Are you excited for your Chicago visit this month?
Holly Near: Pleased.
WCT: Besides the concert, do you have any big plans for how you will spend your time in the city?
HN: I have been to Chicago off and on since 1972. Each time I see something new or something again with a new eye. In the early '70s, I remember going to The Chicago Stock Exchange and thought, 'Oh, my. This can't possibly be how it works!' … One more memory: I was there visiting a friend during an election. When we left the house to go out to breakfast there was a note on the door saying, 'Remember to vote.' When we came back from breakfast there was another note that said, 'You still haven't voted!' I am laughing remembering.
WCT: The title of the concert is Change Is in the Air! Obviously, we are in the midst of a major election. Was that the basis for the title, or are there other changes you are thinking about as well? What does that title mean to you right now?
HN: I believe we as human beings are being offered an opportunity for transformation as a global community. So, yes, change is in the air. People are discontented and hurting. Hunger, joblessness, violence, prisons, global warming. We have the possibility of a deeply rooted awakening to the authentic. What humanity will choose to do with it is yet to be seen. It's a very exciting time for our species.
WCT: Speaking of the election, I read where you said that we are in a 'window of opportunity' with this upcoming election. Do you think that the candidates are capable of moving through that window, and of really achieving significant change? What do you think about the election at this point?
HN: The candidates have already moved through the window of opportunity. That is different than whether they can achieve significant change. That comes later. This particular campaign has people talking. It has encouraged critical thinkers to put forth major works on race and gender. It has opened the door of conversation in ordinary places between ordinary people. This is good. What the candidates have not had the freedom to do is really discuss the issues. The system prevents it. My main criticism of the election process is the system itself. … We need to change the system so that we all vote for our ideal candidate and then we vote again ( all on the same day ) in a runoff between the two top candidates.
That said, we won't really know what either candidate can or will do until they are in office. It is completely defined by whom they chose as advisors, how courageous the congress [ is ] , how involved the people [ are ] . So for me, any time I work for social change in an election year, I use it as an opportunity to strengthen a social change movement because after the election, the candidate has inherited the corporations, the debt, the wars, the misinformation ( some of which they helped to create ) . The world will benefit most profoundly by a healthy social change movement.
I am not a star-struck believer in the Democratic Party. But I do like to choose with whom I will struggle, so I believe we absolutely must defeat John McCain.
WCT: How do you persevere and continue to make politically and socially conscious music without becoming overwhelmed by the negative?
HN: The world has been spinning for a long time. I'm only here for a small period of time. It is not my job to fix everything. As I see it, my self-appointed job is to love this planet and contribute to its well-being while I am here, to take the torch from those who went before me and then pass the torch to the next one. I try to keep focused on the awe and wonder of being alive and at the same time not ignore the horrors in which my species participates. I show up. I try to be counted. I try to remember that my visibility might be an inspiration to someone else. I use music and art to help me think clearly. That is why music is so important in the transformation of human kind. A marching band can inspire misdirected courage in young people and lead them to sign up for war. On the other hand, a marching band in a gay pride event can cry out, 'Come on! Let's have the courage to love each other!' Powerful this music is. I do not take it lightly.
WCT: You've said that the Internet is not enough for activism and change, that people need more than a virtual world, I guess. I am wondering to what extent you see the Internet as a helpful tool and at what point it sort of allows people to talk the talk but not really walk the walk?
HN: The Internet offers global information access. What we will do with it is yet to be seen. Will it be used to build community or to isolate? Call me old-fashioned, but at some point I believe we have to walk outside and be with each other.
WCT: At the same time, the Internet has been a wonderful way for politically and socially conscious bands to gain attention and reach a wider audience. Do you see a revolution on the horizon for the music industry through the Internet?
HN: The jury is out on this for me. Lots of people now have access to making CDs and putting the music on the Internet but now it is very hard for young artists to find an audience. For the most part, I think that still requires live performance.
WCT: I know you performed on a recent Olivia cruise. How was that experience?
HN: I went on the 35th-anniversary celebration cruise. It was lovely. I sang with Meg Christian, who I had not seen in probably 30 years. Although cruise ships are environmental disasters, I must say that this lesbian cruise company has done a lot of work confronting homophobia wherever they go. At first there were places that held demonstrations as the ship arrived, not wanting all those lesbians to set foot on the soil. But now, there are signs that say, 'Welcome Olivia Ladies!' Is homophobia gone? Of course not. They are welcomed because the locals have come to realize that of all the cruise ships, the lesbians are the nicest, the most laid-back, shop a lot and tip the best. And in the midst of that economic criteria, they start to see that maybe it isn't as bad to be gay as they previously thought. And that, no doubt, is good for the GLBTQ folks who live their full-time.
WCT: What was it like to be surrounded by so many lesbians and all that estrogen?
HN: I am very used to being around a lot of women, a lot of lesbians. It can be fun or annoying, just like being around any humans who gather around identity. But I think for women who work in the mainstream world, it must be mind-boggling to have a vacation where you don't feel danger when you kiss your sweetheart. The world is still very hard on 'other'. ... I am reminded how fortunate I am to have grown up with an open mind. I take it for granted but, in truth, it is an unusual gift to have been given. How sad it is for those who are full of hate. What happened to them as babies? What happened to Bush and Cheney as children? I don't know, but let's remove them from public office so they don't hurt more people!
WCT: What can fans expect at the concert?
HN: I would encourage people to think of it as a chance to gather, a place to invite a friend who might not know there is such a thing as social change music. Cultural events are a good way to bring people into the circle; it lays a scrumptious table for discussion after the show.
The concert will be held Sun., April 27, at the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 615 W. Wellington. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the performance at 7 p.m. Other acts include Emma's Revolution and Voices; see www.waucc.org for more info. Near will also be appearing at Women and Children First on the same day at 2 p.m. for a CD signing; see www.womenandchildrenfirst.com .
