| The
latest musician to join in with Red Di is new to the West Coast and the
San Francisco Bay Area, but is not new to Reggae or his vital role as a drummer. Lou
Neuburger has played an important role for Red Di this past year
and his attitude and drive is what original Reggae music is all about. What follows is a recent interview with
Lou -
Q. Where are you from? What part of
the country are you Native to?
A. Syracuse N.Y. I'm native to all over N.Y. state. It's beautiful
country, and is definitely a huge influence in my life, musically and other. My
roots, you know?
Q. Why were you motivated to re-locate to California and specifically
the San Francisco Bay Area?
A. For music. I lived and played around New York City for many
years. Had a great time, but struggled with the overall hugeness of the place.
I wanted to go to a more community oriented, smaller city. Somewhere that places open up
for people to make a mark in their lives if they want. In New York, I always felt
like no matter how many people were at the show, no matter how many gigs you did, no
matter how good the music you were making was.... the word never got out. In San
Francisco, if you're involved wholeheartedly, and you are doing something good, people
notice.
Q. What is your music background? You currently play Drums for
several Reggae bands including the Jethro Jeremiah Band, Dub
Rebels, and Red Di. What led to what? Did you play other
instruments before you picked up the drums?
A. It's always been the drums. Rhythm captivates me. Grabs
hold of my thought like the mysterious force that it is, and massages me into a zone I've
come to love and need. From there, I found reggae. I had listened to reggae in
the past and didn't understand it. Thought it was too simple, or not enough effort
went into the music. That was when I was young and wanted the extreme in everything.
After I had developed my relationship with rhythm, and started understanding the
way the energy can spread from body to body, the way
music can transport you to a different level, I grew closer to reggae. To me, rhythm
is life. Since time began, people have
been getting together with other people to communicate, celebrate, grieve, in general,
feel together. This is best demonstrated with rhythm. One person playing a
rhythm is nice, but when you start adding other people in the mix, an energy starts
getting passed around. It is the mixture of a few
open minds and open bodies connecting, communicating, and creating something together.
It is a very deep process, and makes me feel so human, so living, so connected to
this world. This became a very personal exploration for me, and I take every
opportunity I can to explore it further and to share it with others, hence many projects I
currently work
in. Each very different, each very enjoyable.
Q. How did you get steered toward Reggae music? What was it about
Reggae that caught your interest?
A. First and foremost, I love to make people dance. Nothing feels better
than when you take that energy that is circling between the musicians and spread it out
over an audience. If you watch, you will see other people pick up on that energy and
start to react to it, dancing starts, and now that person is a crucial part of the energy
in the room. It is no longer shared by just the people holding instruments. Secondly, in
my last answer I spoke of that feeling I got when I started exploring rhythm as life
itself. I haven't yet found a music that seems to be a more direct path into human
life and emotion than reggae. There is so much history there. So much
structure and specificness goes into each beat, and if you do it right, an amazing energy
gets created. I feel like I'm getting in touch with ancient spirits, as well as the
deepest parts of my own being. It is a very spiritual music. And the people
that know that side of the music take it very seriously. I enjoy this
commitment to
creating music that's spiritually uplifting that reggae artists have. There is a lot
going on in this world that needs to be changed, and reggae in a way, is an elevator to a
higher level that we can all get to if we try. Love is the Foundation. As long as you live
with love, you will understand reggae's message.
Q. What bands have you been in (what genre of music?) and what bands
do you currently play in?
A. I have been in every kind of band. eclectic pots and pans
with kazoos and whistles bands, to blues bands. lots of Jazz, rock and roll, I did my free
style, three piece, Phishy, improv structured band thing, I've played for Belly Dancers,
African dancers(hand drums) modern dancers, Latin-fusion, Heavy Metal, Prog-rock, Funk
bands galore, Orchestra, and played in musicals. Marching bands.... you name it. Now
Reggae has its hold on me, and I hope it never lets go. Currently, most of the projects I
am involved in are Reggae. Still so much to learn, and it's such a nice
road to be traveling.
Q. What kind of message or vibe do you get from Reggae music
generally?
A. I think Bob Marley said it best when he said "It's all about
Betterness" you gotta strive for that dream. One Love. We are all here on
this beautiful earth living out our existences blind to so much. It's a very
spiritual message. One that has nothing to do with "the keys to my Beamer" or
"Reach fi mi M-16" Whether you're spiritual path be Jah Rastafari, Allah,
Christ, Mother Earth, or another
it's about love, receiving each other with understanding, and really listening to one
another. Unfortunately these are concepts that seem to be preached, but not
practiced in these days. Reggae is a sort of wake up call to the people trying to
listen, trying to strive for that "betterness". We
have to stop creating differences and start creating common grounds in which we can meet
one another and allow for peace. I feel this common ground when I listen to the
message in reggae music.
Q. What are other interests that you have aside from music and
Reggae? How
else do you like to spend your free time?
A. Right now it is snowboarding season and I will be up in the
mountains a great deal. The mountains also make me feel that closeness to the
divine. Other than that, I just enjoy being with friends, seeing them achieve
beautiful things, and supporting local arts and goings on in the area.
Everyone go out and support your local artist!! Even now you find yourself saying
"where did all the artists go?" Well, their all at home busting their ass
trying to figure out why nobody wants to give them support, or a lease, or a showing, or
room to play their music. Art is life, creative expression is the only thing that
makes us more than nails, so let's not all turn into nails o.k.? |
