Peter Hlavin, better known by his fans as JOURNEYMAN, has released his debut album Along The Way: The Journey Begins. We got the opportunity to catch up with Hlavin to learn more about his musical career both past, present and future. Read on to find out more.
Who is your biggest musical inspiration? Why?
I may be dating myself with this answer, but my biggest musical inspiration is The Beatles. First, they were self-taught musicians. I am also self-taught with no formal musical training. Thus,they are musicians to look up to. My motto: if they can do it, I can do it. Second, all their songs are uniquely different. They did not allow themselves to get too comfortable with any one sound, beat or groove – always reinventing their music. Since I do not sing, I incorporate different vocalists into each song providing the listener a feeling that we are all going on a musical journey together. A magical mystery tour, so to speak. Third, the chemistry between the musicians, seasoned with some internal competition, created not only an environment for creativity, but also fostered a dynamic tension that lead to energizing performances. Collaboration with artists and the friendships developed along the way help create the “magic” required to develop quality music.Last, The Beatles were “first movers.” That is, they were always on the forefront of utilizing new instruments (e.g., sitar, Moog synthesizer), producing new vocal techniques (e.g., backwardvocals), and creating unique “projects,” such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This provides me with “outside the box” creative thinking.
What is your favorite part of being a musician?
I love the challenges presented by the creative process (e.g., lyric and melody development, instrumentation, etc.), as well as channeling my energies to move a song/project along to completion. I realize that the process will ebb & flow and detours will be encountered along the way. So, I put myself in a positive frame of mind to anticipate and tackle these issues if/whenthey arise.
When it comes to inspiration, do you wait for it to strike or do you treat your creative process like standard 9-5 meaning you show up regardless if inspiration is present?
Great question! I would describe my inspiration as a hybrid model. I do believe that there must be a level of discipline associated with music making. I have been involved in athletics a longtime and found that to be a champion you must work regularly at your craft and it helps if you practice at a designated time of the day. This allows one to build the rest of the day around thisdedicated activity. Although I’d like to carve out specific time to work on things regardless of whether inspiration is present, this may not always be the case. I tend to let inspiration reveal itself to me over time. Sometimes creativity may be presented whereby I need to drop everything else that I’m working on and go with the flow of music making for days on end. Other times, the opportunities presented must be treated like a marathon race. That is, there are times when I need to sprint, times when I need to run at a steady pace, and other times when I need to walk in order to catch my breath and think. Thus, approaching inspiration like a marathon allows for a sustainable pace, allowing me to maintain my enthusiasm while avoiding burnout.
What has been your most memorable experience (live performance, collaboration, etc.) as a musician thus far? What made it the most memorable for you?
My journey began in the fall of 2017 when I walked along Camino de Santiago in Spain, Europe’s most popular pilgrimage. Following my trip, my creativity surged and over the course of twoyears I wrote and produced over 20 songs, each of which carries a different vibe, message, and in most cases, utilizes a different vocalist. Nonetheless, all the songs share a common theme – ajourney, mine and those of others in various life situations. On February 1, 2020 I held my first concert promoting this collection of journey-related songs, with center stage occupied by seven talented performers. Since I do not sing, I told stories about each song and/or the artwork (paintings) that I created to accompany select songs. Further, while the singers performed, I painted a canvas live on stage. And the icing on the cake is that my first EP album – Along The Way: The Journey Begins – was released that same day.
What is your earliest musical memory?
In elementary school, I believe it was 6 th grade, my teacher took his guitar out from his locker and asked the class to rise and sing with him. He asked me to sit down… I could not sing verywell. With no vocal or instrumental career in the cards, I soon found myself using my talents at school musicals as a member of stage crew, designing, painting and moving stage props aroundin collaboration with other members of the stage crew team. So, while I certainly did not have the talent to perform, I did find a way to remain involved in the musical realm.
What do you want people to know about your latest release?
I chose the name JOURNEYMAN because I wanted to take listeners on an extensive and colorful journey, musically. My mission is to bring joy and inspiration through music to all who are on apath of their own and walking in the midst of their own journey. I accomplish this by using uniquely different and talented vocalists on each track of the album and mastering tracks in different genres. My hope is that listeners feel as though they are on a journey around the world, listening to different artists, at different levels of their career, in a lane of their own. Of course, the albumneeds to make the listener feel at home, comfortable yet excited to get into the next song, and join in on the journey with the next featured artist.
What are your plans for the future?
My first seven-song album – Along The Way: The Journey Begins – is the first album of my “Camino Project.” This album will be followed-up by the release of two additional albums atvarious intervals during 2020. With respect to performances, additional integrated shows are planned for in the greater Los Angeles area during the fall, assuming the Coronavirus pandemicdoes not force postponement.
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