Welcome to another cultural edition of The Alvarez-Galloso News Hour. I have the honor of inviting Andrew Bonnis to be interviewed and he accepted.

I became familiar with the music of Andrew Bonnis after hearing his CD “Post Modern Harmony” upon recommendation by the international artist from Texas Vanessa Lively. The decision was made to interview Andrew Bonnis who hails from Ohio.

The rest is history.

1. What inspired you to record «Post Modern Harmony» and how long did it take you to record it?

1) What inspired me to record my album was really just having a burning urge to do it.  I had been writing my own music for a few years, but all the bands that I had been playing with were either playing covers or there was someone else writing for them.  Once I started playing out solo acoustically, it allowed me to do whatever I wanted to musically…that really encouraged me to start this project.  The entire process took about a year.

 

2. What is the significance behind «Post Modern Harmony»?

2) Post-Modern Harmony is a concept.  The idea is that in this ever changing world full of distractions and rapidly evolving technology, it is possible to remain balanced.  I used the word Post-Modern to describe the time period we are in now…in the sense that «Modern» is now in the past.  Several songs on the album are about finding harmony within and outside of yourself.

 

3. ‘Deeper Shade of Blue» is one of my favorite songs in the album. Who wrote the words and music and what was the inspiration?

3) I wrote both the words and the music.  The color Blue is said to symbolize calm and understanding (among other things) and «Deeper Shade» basically means a deeper meaning.  The song itself is about discarding fear and opening up to the world around you.  The title could be interpreted as «A Deeper Understanding»

4. You recorded «Ballad of A Wicked Man» and «Tune For A Traveler». What was your inspiration?

4) For Ballad, it was more or less a test of writing for myself.  I like songs that tell stories about people and it seemed like an intriguing topic.  The tune isn’t about just one man, its more about how mankind throughout history has been wicked to itself.  Tune For A Traveller is about a trip that I went on with a band that I was in from OH…we toured for 3 weeks out to CA and back.  It really made a big impression on me because that the furthest west I had ever been.  The song is about needing to head out to see things with your own eyes.

 

5. You are originally from Ohio. What were it in Ohio and other areas where you travelled that inspires your music?

5) I try to be inspired wherever I am.  It sounds corny, but if you really take time to look at a place…something becomes instilled in you and (whether its positive or negative) you’ll have material.  I’ve been lucky to have been able to travel as much as I have and it seems that the more you see, the more in awe of the world you become.

 

6. When did you want to become a singer songwriter?

6) I decided that I wanted to be a singer-songwriter about a year and a half ago.  When I started to gig around by myself, I realized that I really wanted to play my own material and not the same old covers over and over again.

 

7. Will you be performing concerts around America and the world?

7) I have been but not with my material.  I recently played some shows in the Mid-West and just got back from playing a bluegrass festival on Vancouver Island, BC.  Surely I will be travelling around playing my music in the future though!

8. Your sister Rowe participates in the album. What were the songs she participated in?

8) Rowe sang background vocals on Hand To Lend, Tune For A Traveller, and Deeper Shade of Blue.  Her first time in the studio 🙂

 

9. What is your advice to those who want to become singer songwriters?

9) Don’t be a carbon-copy of everyone else…have something to say and make it original.  There are millions of singer-songwriters out there and the only reason people will want to listen to you is if you: Have something no one else has, and that something is in demand.  Not being a jerk also helps…

10. What is your message to the world?

10) If there is ever anything that you wanted to do, go do it.  One day you will wake up, and everything will be but a memory

In addition to Andrew Bonnis, I had the honor of interviewing her sister and part of the harmony of this ground breaking album. Her name is Rowe Bonnis.

1. How long have you been singing with Andrew in Bonnis in his band?

1.Andrew and I have actually only sung together a few times before recording. We first sang together for a YouTube channel I made last summer. We have since uploaded a few more videos together.

2. You are one of the participants of Andrew Bonnis’ album «Post Modern Harmony». What inspired you and Andrew to record the album? What was it like participating in the album?

2. Andrew had asked if I would sing harmony on his album, and it seemed like a great opportunity. He has such a great energy and is really fun to be around. We ran through the songs I would sing background on at home. He gave me the unmastered copy of his CD to memorize. It was the first time I was in a recording studio. It was a great experience.

 

Thanks for accepting my invitation for an interview. I also want to extend it to your sister Rowe as well with the same questions. Thanks and best wishes from Miami Florida.

Andrew Bonnis: Thanks again for the interview and opportunity Roberto!

Rowe Bonnis: Thanks for the opportunity!

A pleasure and an honor. Until next time for the readers of the AG News Hour.