We Catch Up With JP Reali And Talk About Obvious Reflections

Following on from our review of JP Reali‘s new single, ‘Obvious Reflections‘, the artist himself took the time to speak to us about the song, and his long career.

You wrote ‘Obvious Reflections’ 40 years ago. What made you bring the song back today?

I originally wrote this song about the Ronald Regan administration, and the current presidential administration has resurrected and is expanding those failed policies, so it seemed like the time was right to release this song.

You updated the lyrics to reflect today’s political issues. What changes did you make, and why?

I wanted to make the song’s lyrics more relevant to what is happening in the United States today, so I added some words, like Immoral Majority, which is meant to be a jab at the U.S. Supreme Court and its partisan agenda.

The song talks about corruption, inequality, and other social issues. What message do you hope listeners take away?

I hope Americans will wake up and realize that for the last 45 years, one of the two political parties in this country has only cared about themselves and their wealthy donors.

You believe people have the power to hold politicians accountable. How can music encourage people to take action?

Music has a way of creeping into your brain, even at a subconscious level. I hope people will heed the message of ‘Obvious Reflections’ and get involved in the electoral process. Democracy is not a spectator sport.

You’ve been playing guitar for nearly 50 years. What keeps you inspired to make music?

The guitar to me is my life’s blood. Every day I wake up and can’t wait to pick up my guitar to see what new riff or song might come out of my instrument. I always think, “Today could be the day I write that hit song”!

How did artists like Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers Band, and the Grateful Dead influence your sound?

All those musicians are amazing guitar players. Hearing the different way each band incorporated blues into their own music really made me want to do the same with my music.

The music video was directed by Dick Dangham and uses images of the National Mall. How did you come up with the idea?

I wrote this song in 1986 during the height of MTV’s popularity. I had always envisioned a music video including the National Mall in one way or another. Dick helped make that idea come true.

You’re now exploring more jam band music after years of focusing on the blues. What inspired this change?

I have always been a fan of the great jam bands. That is where I started my musical journey almost 50 years ago. I have taken a detour into hardcore blues, but my true passion is playing with a looser, more open musical format, one that is more conducive to extended solos and grooves, so it seemed like a natural progression to move back towards the style I played during the 1980s.

You spent many years working as a sound engineer. How did that experience help you as a musician?

Being able to understand that the sound person is the one who connects what you do as a musician to the audience that has come to hear your music gives you a new appreciation for the technical crew.

Before we wrap up, what would you like to share about your music and future?

My producer, Jim Larson, and I continue to work on new songs and are planning to release some more original material in the next few months.

You can watch the music video for ‘Obvious Reflections’ below, and find out more about JP Reali and his music online on his official website, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

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