"I feel our society is becoming more divided. A lot of the social tension we are experiencing comes from people trying to defend their views, that are rooted in their identity. However, if you think about it, many aspects that we perceive to be defining our identity such as the color of our skin, our gender, the time and place we are born and even the people that we meet during our journey are not under our control."…

"The impact of music and arts in general I think is very strong. They are part of everyday life for everyone. It has always been like that. There are no communities that survived without their art. Music has the advantage that it is letting you create your images. To dream by yourself."

Nikos Papavranoussis: A Music Landscape

Nikos…

"I've coined my own phrase when it comes to musical paths: what is noble in making music is making music. Music is like eating. It's never wrong to eat. Some folks will covet certain music more than others, and as with cooking certain universal truths relating to physics and aesthetics will prevail, but the quality is always personal, for listener and for performer."

Virginia & The…

"The fact that music can save lives is true, but not more than a baker when you are starving or a doctor when you are sick, so be grounded, kind and respectful to others giving them the best music you can."

Riccardo Grosso: Blues On The Road

Italian musician Riccardo Grosso is playing harmonica for a living and has been around since early 2000s,…

"Music reflects all of our stories. It’s a record of our history. Music brings people together and crosses barriers that otherwise wouldn’t happen. It creates opportunities, for listeners and creators, to collaborate and explore new ideas and perspectives."

Diane Durrett: The Truth of Music

Singer, songwriter, producer Diane Durrett is a board…

"Blues and Jazz are very honest and direct musical forms. As Keith Richards once said, “Blues is a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.” Sincere and honest Blues and Jazz music won't lie or mince words. As a working bluesman you try to face life and music with a “sharp stick” and see the world through a prism of your truth because Blues and Jazz are about musical and social individuality."

Ramon…

"Music is a sort of a universal language, and it appeals to everybody. It's not complicated and but it's not repetitious either. It doesn't get boring…"

Bobby Black: Swinging Steel Blues!

Best-known for gracing the pedal steel chair in Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, Asleep at the Wheel, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Bobby…

"I think that the music is expression for the people and there’s always some kind of a big trend going on, but I think the blues will always be around like jazz and like people that want to play music on their instruments live and I don’t see any problem with it stopping. I think it’s going to keep going and keep going and there’ll always be new people to pick it up and run with it. I think it’s just going to keep going no matter what the fancy trends are…

"Black music and the civil rights movement go hand in hand, as Nina Simone says „the artist’s duty is to reflect the times”.  The music and art created by the black diaspora has shone a light in so many ways on inequality, the injustice of black people and the effect that racism has on its people and culture. It has shown what should not be, and what could be."

Dionne Bennett: The Spirit & Soul…

"I think the greatest thing about Blues and Rock is that they relate to the general population, it’s about human concerns, real life not some childish fantasy. We all feel pain, love, worry, joy and depression and in their best forms Blues and Rock express those feelings and enunciate them for the greater community. As the old saying goes :- “3 chords and the truth” that’s all it needs. Keep it simple and we can all relate to it."…

"The blues in the past had to be powerful enough to hold and nourish people who were being badly mistreated. My hope and fear is that this power will continue and  that it will continue to hold and nourish anyone who needs it?  I’m saying yes."

Mick Schafer: Back to the Blues

Vocalist, guitarist and band leader Mick Schafer has been singing since…

"Music has the ability to connect people, to change moods, and elicit all sorts of emotions. I’ve never wanted to be famous, or win awards, or anything like that. For me, I’ve only ever wanted to express myself through my music, and to connect and inspire people in the same way that my heroes and influences connected with and inspired me with their music. That’s all I can hope for: that my music reaches people and makes them feel."…

"The Blues is pure emotion. As long as people have souls, they will feel the blues. I wish everyone could experience this music."

Zac Harmon: Keeping The Blues Alive

Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose distinctive style continues the lineage of American Blues Music. Born and raised in…

"I feel that the impact on racial lines is that we all have problems and situations, but life goes on with or without us. I want to affect people through being able to get a chuckle out of my lyrics and not take everything so seriously."

Willie Jackson: All In the Blues

Willie Jackson is a native of Savannah, Georgia Music has been a huge part of…

"Staying true to your vision. Take advice and suggestions from people you trust, but in the end, trust your instincts. Dare to dream, and don’t listen to the non-dreamers."

Neil "Porkroll" Taylor: Americana Blues

The Porkroll Project, from the greater Philadelphia, PA area is hard rocking 5 piece blues band who play a high energy blend of fresh…

"The music business has changed a lot in my lifetime - but I think it’s important to remember that it’s been changing the whole time - like last century, the century before that, and probably much further back than that.  What I really hope for the future is that live music can continue and continue to be popular. Because a sort of magic can happen when performers interact with a live audience and with each other. There’s nothing else like…

"Knowing your worth is important in this industry that is largely run by men; then adding tax. That's one of my motto's. The Status of women I believe is that the Future is Female. I see women coming together, networking and encouraging one another as we continue to level up in Blues, Soul and Jazz. I belong to a network of women who gather together since Covid and have been a tremendous support system and networking community. Women are "Comin for…

"It is a touching of the soul, breaking barriers and communicating the special and important things that words can often not express. I would like to think that I can remind them of their spirituality and the innate qualities of sensitivity that modern life and smart phones/screens can distract us from."

Will Johns: Bluesdaddy Top Cream

Striking a…

"I have learned to Love what I do and to be proud of what I have accomplished. The Blues for me is an art form that allows myself and so many musicians to express our feelings and our emotions with our music."

Joseph Veloz: Feel The Fusion Music

With new album Joseph And The Velozians (2021), Joseph Veloz presents his signature fusion of…

"Music can be so influential in all levels cultural, social, spiritual and make people realize that changes can be made for the betterment of the world and also personally. A song with a positive message can reach all over the world simultaneously now with the social media times."

L. Shankar: Seasons Greetings…