John Arthur Martinez released his latest album ¨You Play My Heart” and it is becoming the album to buy for a Christmas gift. John Arthur Martinez was invited to be interviewed in The Alvarez-Galloso News Hour to talk about his latest masterpiece.

The rest is history.

 

 

1. 1.    What was the inspiration behind recording «You Play My Heart»?

 

My co-writer Jan Landry and I wanted to use musical instrument metaphors instead of similes to paint the mental pictures of passion and romance. I think in this instance it means more to say «You play my heart and I’m a Spanish guitar» than to say «You play my heart and I’m like a Spanish guitar. No, instead I AM the guitar!

2. How long did it take to record your latest album?

 

Counting the writing process a little over three years.

3. One of the songs in the album is «Tennessee Left Texas».

 

What was the inspiration behind «Tennessee Left Texas»? Believe it or not «Tennessee Left Texas» is not just an attempt to pander to my fellow Texans and Tennessee fans Instead it’s a true story about a beautiful 4 year old girl my co-writer Rick Bussey and I met in Bertram, Texas’ Crazy Gals Cafe, where we both performed. Tennessee’s mother left Tennessee’s father to take a job out west taking the brown-eyed girl out of the state of Texas. Yes Tennessee is a real person. A late twist is that Tennessee has now returned to Texas.

4. «Learn To Dance In The Rain» is another great song. What was the inspiration behind the song?

Would you believe the internet! «Learn to Dance in the Rain,» co-written with Jan Landry was inspired by a phrase I read repeatedly on Facebook. Jan and I both try to find petal of joy even in a garden of gravity. If it seems the rain keeps coming down, rather than hiding behind the living room curtains, step outside and learn to dance in the rain. That’s what the song means to me.

5. You included «Cajita De Milagros» in this CD. «Cajita De Milagros» has become a universal song. Why has it transcended ages and boundaries?

 

First of all I did not realize it’s become a universal song! Maybe it’s because we now realize the natural alternatives and the power of positive thoughts and prayer can heal–the science is there now. Cajita Milagros is about a distant relative of mine as I shared before: My dad’s brother’s wife’s mother, a Mexican curandera, who used to cure the country folks in the farmlands northeast of Austin with herbal remedies and prayer, using plants like peppermint, chamomile, aloe vera, etc. My wife loves this because she’s a modern day curandera who’s encouraged me to use herbal and homeopathic cures to relieve my serious allergy issues. Because of his wife’s influence he is no longer dependent his old routine of anti-histamines, allergy shots, antibiotics and steroids. Grammy winners Joel Guzman & Sarah Fox handle the background vocal duties as Guzman adds his signature accordion. Young gun Caleb Rojas adds a Santana-like guitar, and Kurt Baumer plays the haunting fiddle lines.

6. You participated in the «Jammin For Salmon» Beneift. What is the purpose of this benefit?

 

My friend William B.B. Morse, who plays bass on the new album, believes that we should make every effort to help those in need right in our back yard. Many of them are children of single mothers, or of breadwinners working fast food jobs at minimum wages. They do not choose to be burdens on society. B.B. believes that if we can help feed those kids, single mom’s and struggling folks, then by God, let’s do it.

7. Will you be doing concert tours to promote the album?

 

Yes, I’ll go to the East Coast next week and I’ll do house concerts around the U.S. for the next year in different areas like Northern Cal and Souther Cal, Florida, etc. I’m also doing a skype conference with my Swiss booking agent about a possible European tour. Man, I’d love to get to Spain too, where I’ve never been.

8. What is your message for the rest of the world?

 

Remember my friends that there are more things that unite us than divide us. We all want to clothe and feed our children. We want what’s best for them. We all seek laughter and happiness. We all have an innate desire to create a better world for not only ourselves but those who follow.

My thanks to you John for your time with the interview. My best wishes for you and your family and may you have a lot of success with this album. –

 

muchas Gracias!
Roberto