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Activist and singer-songwriter SONiA talks to Katrina Fox about her new album, tango, and performing in a bomb shelter.
 Why did you pick the name ‘Disappear Fear’ for your band?
The basic premise for the name ‘disappear fear’ is simple. When you disappear fear between people, what you have is love.
How important is it for your music and songs to have a ‘message’ eg of peace and why?
When Cindy and I recorded the very first disappear record ... called, Echo My Call I thought a lot about how long plastic lasts ... how my music would live a lot longer than our little bodies made of flesh and bones ... so in the larger picture of time I am essentially leaving this earth with a creation and or creations that will have a lasting positive effect on the cycles of evolution. To leave only angry, pissed-off and self-pitying ‘she got away’ ballads would be not how I want to be remembered. I want to create inspiring thrusts of light ... great miracles of thunder to live into ... that is what I strive for. Not that I don't have my angry moments of angst like in ‘16 roses’ or silly easy-to-swallow love songs gone good, gone bad ... like ‘Ride this Ride’ or ‘Gangsters of Love’. I try to be in my own shoes and try some other sizes and styles as well in genre and topic. Bottom line, I think by figuring out what is true in my heart, this creates a sound that resonates a sense of peace in my listeners.
What are the things you feel most passionately about in the world?
I think that love is love and that gay people should not be persecuted for their/our loving. I think that countries should allow people to follow their hearts, their passions, their religions, their goals and be supported. I think the more loving we are in ourselves the more open/loving we are of others ... kind of like the more you love yourself the more you can love someone else ... these kind of philosophies would serve nations well. I think there is room in the Middle East for a Jewish nation and a Palestinian nation based on and not limited to respect of each other on both sides. I think it is ridiculous and shameful that there is still so much hunger in the world and poverty. I think most of the hunger in the third world could be eliminated in 2008 by having i-tunes donate 18% of their downloads to the United Nations World Food Programme just like we do on a micro-scale at my record company on every song downloaded.
I think that the United States should also have an ‘I’m Sorry Day’ for the many atrocities it has committed as a nation, starting with the Native Americans to the stolen slaves from Africa and so on. I think maybe it should be an I’m Sorry month. I think some folks still have a lot of anger; maybe this would help resolve some of that and then they could gracefully and effectively move on. I think harbouring a lot of personal anger and guilt creates diseases in our bodies.
How do you feel about the notion that many issues/causes are linked – eg gay rights, women’s rights, animal rights, peace, environment etc?
Yes, I believe that many of these issues are linked together: gay rights, women's rights animal rights; the Green movement because they are all about a world that works for everyone, all colours, all races, all sizes and abilities.
You sing in four languages on the new album – why did you choose those ones in particular?
Spanish is hot; very romantic and musical. The word for word in Spanish is palabra ah ah ah ...you see just one word and there is music. Hebrew brings a sense of tranquility to the music ...Arabic brings a sense of earthly direction and possibility. I have been attending peace demonstrations nearly my whole life and to sing now in the language of those said to be America's enemies, to actually walk a little of the walk up the hill is far more empowering than to just stand in line and say, ‘Yes I want peace.’ And to actually try to learn the language, this is very important. Part of the very obvious reason that there is hostility between nations is because we literally don't understand each other. I believe multi-cultural exploration leads us to multi-organic celebrations ... no doubt. Hebrew and Arabic are 6,000 years old. To get thoughts of our modern day around these words is challenging. But only with this very effort can we begin to experience the divine light of one another and live like the real family we already are.
In a world where MTV, Paris Hilton and endless numbers of pop starlets are dominating the media, how does someone such as yourself survive in the music business?
My focus is music and this is driven by my ache to see this world within my lifetime put its precious energy into the garden that it once was and could be again. Since this is my priority I depend on the cogs of the wheels of the media machine to see that what I am doing has bling as well. I am not looking to be the next Paris Hilton. I think we could use more Gandis. I am fortunate that throughout my career press such as CHERRIE have found me and fans have let them know about me. We have truly grown out of people coming together through my music. Each day little by little I am more loved/known and that is the way my career goes.
As someone who obviously cares about peace you’ve no doubt seen or heard about some atrocities – how do you cope with the emotions that come up regularly ie what strategies do you employ to ensure you’re not constantly depressed by it all?
If you just go on the numbers like how many have died in Dafur this week? How many in Iraq, how many in the Middle East? How many unnecessary deaths in Baltimore? How many have committed suicide listening to Rush Limbaugh? Yes you can get really depressed. I look into the eyes of the folks that approach me at my concerts and they are real ... they are beautiful and it is said that if you save one you have saved humanity ... so one by one we go. Sometimes I do get down but if the one I touch happens to be the captain of a missile launcher then maybe my songs can move him to change careers. There are many stories of great folks that are not world renowned, but I hear the stories and I am moved and inspired.
At CHERRIE, we love animals and have a strong cruelty-free ethic. I note you’ve donated to PETA in the past. Can you say something about how you feel about animals?
We had a sweet brilliant cocker spaniel for 11 and a half years. Hardly a day goes by when I don't miss her. She was a wise and patient friend. Animals deserve respect. I think as we (the human race) advance as a civilisation so does it reflect on all living things particularly the furry ones. If you are smart you will let them teach you; they know a lot of things we the standing upright humanoids have forgotten.
Are you vegetarian?
Not completely today. For most of my adult life I have been a true vegetarian. I will be totally vegetarian again.
Tell me about the time you performed in a bomb shelter in Israel.
The only place people in a group of five or more were allowed to gather was in a bomb shelter. My concert was scheduled up in Karmiel so folks came from various villages around the north and listened to me sing my songs. In the background of bombs falling all day long for weeks and weeks and not knowing what will be ... in so many ways the essence of what is truly important in life really sounds a lot different than most of what we hear in the chatter of the radio day today in Oz and in America. I was/am blessed with the opportunity to be heard; that is really it. That no bombs hit us that night, that we could be together for a few hours and feel comforted by the music ... it was beautiful and unforgettable.
What are your own thoughts on the whole Israeli/Palestine conflict?
In the words of the late great Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir: “When teaching peace to our children is more important than teaching war, that is when there will be peace.” I think the people of all denominations can easily live together in Israel and in Palestine, as people begin to trust each other and date each other and make friends and eat together. And as each culture sees light and wonder in the other ... each day they are closer to peace. Regardless of what gets enflamed by the governments or Hammas/Hezbolah or the ultra-orthodox extremists. Most Israelis and most Palestinians want peace and are willing to do what that takes to make it real.
Tell me about the inspiration behind the song ‘Big Giant Planes?’
Well part of it was to take the imagery of big giant planes and put it into a love song instead of the World Trade Towers... but the song itself comes from my experience at Camp Democracy in Washington DC last year.
Cindy Sheehan is the mother a young soldier who was killed while serving in the US Military in Iraq. Mrs Sheehan wanted a direct explanation from President Bush as to why her son was killed. So she set up a tent outside of Bush's ranch home in Texas. The media followed her each day and more and more folks started going down there to join her cause including Joan Baez. Then it was to be that Mrs Sheehan had to have an operation so for the last two weeks before the surgery, she obtained permission to set up tents on the lawn of the Capitol and hold rallies against the war. This was called Camp Democracy.
On some days thousands and thousands attended this camp of tents on the lawn and activities were scheduled all day long each day. I was asked to head up the largest media rally but I was in concert elsewhere so due to my schedule they put me on stage on a Tuesday morning. That particular morning it was raining off and on and so the number of folks attending was quite small; mostly it was other folk musicians. On the way to the event we drove on a bridge over the Potomac River. I noticed in some places the river was quite wide but in some places really quite narrow. But I got to thinking that if I was a fish going down the river it did not matter if the river was wide or not, the important thing was I could get through it.
So, I started to think about that revelation in relation to this under-attended rainy Tuesday morning Anti-War Folk Music Concert. What I realised was that sometimes it is just a few people carrying the torch but that fact doesn't make the cause any less significant. That was the essence of the song.
The other part is for a very close friend we have in Israel. There is usually a moment for me in life when I am tapped on the shoulder and told “this is for a song”... it was one of those moments. And did President Bush ever explain to Mrs Sheehan why her son was killed in Iraq? No he did not, not yet.
Why did you call the album tango?
Tango is the only word that is the same in all four languages: English, Arabic, Hebrew and Spanish. It means a passionate dance between two people.
How does it differ to your previous work eg No Bomb Is Smart?
No Bomb Is Smart is an acoustic CD in an Americana format that is lots of acoustic guitars and harmonies with me and my sister and songs with Mandolo and dobro and upright bass. It was recorded just south of Nashville. It is very down home and the songs are well crafted and sung very personally. I wrote these songs over a four-year period Where as with t a n g o my intention initially was to create a Latin sounding CD, taking older songs and putting them completely into Spanish and writing some new ones in Spanish as well. Then my tour of Israel during the second Lebanon War occurred and I was deeply affected by my experiences there so I knew I would need to include them on my next CD. So the sound/genre moved from a Latin exclusive sound to the world folk/rock genre. This is my very first world folk rock CD.
I believe you identify as a lesbian. What are your thoughts on the gay marriage issue that in some ways is polarising even the gay community?
I think gay marriage should be available to couples that want it. I don't think it is fair for any society/government to shame and to financially disempower gays.
Can you say something about your current girlfriend?
She is how I touch the world. She is how I shine and smile and how I dance. She is love and until the very last sunset that I would ever want to see I will kiss her.
Where can people in Australia buy copies of your CDs?
At all of our concerts is the best immediate place. As I write this we really don't have solid distribution of most of my CDs and not the latest one at all. Of course everything is available at Amazon.com and i-tunes and on my website www.disappearfear.com People can order it at most record stores. We are in the computers, but we would like to be on the shelves.
Tell me about your project Guitars for Peace.
Guitars for Peace is a non-profit organisation that we are setting up to put guitars into the hands of children in war-torn countries and the Middle East. This idea came when I performed in a Palestinian village in the West Bank. Donations will also include other musical instruments, musical instruction and donations to all third world nations. A dialogue has begun to bring guitars to the native communities here in Australia as early as January 2009. To become involved in Guitars for Peace, visit www.guitarsforpeace.org. I am co-authoring a How to Play Guitar book with my multi-talented guitar shredder buddy Tobias Hurwitz. The book will be multi-lingual and hopefully understood without actually comprehending any written language at all.
Tell me a bit about the musical you’re working on.
The musical is a funny gay-themed coming out story written by Jody Nushotz. It basically demonstrates that by being who you are, the real joy in Life is delivered. Jody has written the story and I am currently writing the music and libretto. We hope to launch it in Provincetown, MA, USA during Women's Week in 2009. There will information about this at our website.
Any other comments?
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with your audience. Australia has been incredible to me and I love my time here. I invite all of CHERRIE readers to join our email list to be on top of our/my next tour of Oz and new music by signing up at www.disappearfear.com. We never spam. We send about one email each month and it has special offers to listees only. Shalom.
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