Lee Rice is a traveler, a musician, a survivor and above all – an amazing person. His music comes from the soul, as all music should, and his lyrics are poetic and meaningful. He’s currently working on his second album. Lee’s been through a lot, seen a huge chunk of the world, met a lot of people and put a smile on their faces. He has some amazing stories to tell. Enjoy 🙂

1. Hey Lee! I feel like this might be easier for you than it usually is for other people we interview: please describe yourself without mentioning anything about music.

Asking me to describe myself without music, is like asking me to breathe, without breathing 🙂 I’m passionate and focused, and more than a little troubled, at least at times. Nature moves me in a very deep way, and I feel most connected, and most at peace, when I’m alone with nature. Friendship mean a lot to me, and I’ve made many that have become close friends, and more like family. Without music being mentioned, that’s the best I can do.

2. Now add the music part.

Music is kind of everything to me, it is my heartbeat and whole purpose in life. It kind of always was, but I let life get in the way. The first thing on my mind when I wake up is music and the last as I go to sleep. The whole day is filled with me either playing or writing, or something in between. My father had a huge vinyl collection as I was growing up, so I was lucky to be brought up around great music. In school I sang in the choir, and I played cornet in a group called The Boys Brigade. Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and now it is my life. With that comes fear, and my biggest one is going deaf.

I sometimes ask myself what my music is about. I write what I see, what I feel, and it’s usually not easy to write or perform. I sometimes feel that people will hate me for what I’m singing about, but then I sing it anyway. It’s more important for me to stay true to what I feel, than people’s opinions. I’ve been playing for more than 3 years on the streets now, and watching people for a long time. I’ve come to understand what people’s eyes are saying, and in many ways, this has made this much challenging. I’m often relieved when it’s sunny, so I can hide behind sunglasses.
Whenever someone comes to talk to me, I always take them off though. I’ve also found greater rewards for my writing, from the people I’ve met and the experiences from that.

3. You have very deep and meaningful lyrics. What’s your music about?

My music is about many subjects, but mainly life, and the challenges of it. Sometimes love, sometimes nature.
Overall I guess that after watching us for so long, I feel we are more and more disconnected from each other. So these feelings about what I see, on the news, emotions from people I meet, time alone with nature, and so on. They all influence my writing. I never plan what I write, I just let the inspiration come, and I always stop writing if I feel it isn’t from the heart.

4. Pick one of your songs and quote a few verses from the lyrics.

Plastic girls, dressed in pearls
Walking down the streets
Business men in shirt and tie
And sales you’ll never beat
Gucci bags and tramps in rags
Oh the great divide
A gypsy woman begs for change
She’s ignored by passers by.

5. A strong Bob Dylan/Neil Diamond influence can be heard in your songs – who else has inspired you?

My biggest influence is definitely Pink Floyd. Others include Johnny Cash, U2, Tracy Chapman, Simon and Garfunkel and John Lennon and many more.

6. Describe your creative process.

I really have absolutely no creative process. Some songs have started while I’m on the street, I catch a certain look, or get a certain feeling, then i try and find the chords to match it. The song then either grows or it doesn’t. I write a lot more poetry than what I turn into songs. Some I get strong feelings for, so I dedicate the time to see if I can find the music to match it. Again, some grow, and some don’t. Then as I play new ones more and more, I really become either very attached to them, so they get stronger, or I feel it’s not as I would have hoped. The most important thing for me is the feelings. If it isn’t there, I won’t continue with either the writing or the music.

7. So, what have you been up to these past few years?

Wow, these last few years have been insane. I’ve pushed myself to breaking point again and again. Been to so many places it makes my head spin. Pretty much lost my mind on more than one occasion, but somehow I’m still going.

8. Tell us about your journey! Where did you go? What did you see? Whom did you meet?

I’ve played in 311 places, in 22 countries, and many of them, many times. Who knows how many times I’ve camped in the wild, but hundreds. I’ve slept next to beautiful fjords and waterfalls, I’ve slept under bridges, in a cave, on park benches, at the side of highways, in people’s gardens, and so on. I’ve hitched thousands and thousands of kilometres, made many, many friends. Risked my life with insane drivers, but overcome many fears in the process. I’ve battled with myself and nicotine addiction, more times than I count. Lost many family members over my openness and new lifestyle choices. People often say to me “Wow, you are really living the dream” I always say, “Come and join me for a while, and then you will see.

I overcame testicular cancer, including an insane blood clot. This put me out of action for 3 months.
And through all of it I’m more addicted to writing and music than ever. I’m maybe also more afraid about losing my hearing, because I push to hard. But I’m determined to continue. Next target 350 places 🙂

9. The life of a travelling street musician is not an easy one – what keeps you going?

What keeps me going is I feel I make at least some kind of difference. Many people smile and listen, many judge and look at me like I’m a dog, but I make many people smile anyway. The children give me a lot of motivation also. They are often the ones to bring the parents over, and they are often the ones with the biggest smiles, and without fear of eye contact. What keeps me going the most now is the target of friends, I know I will see on the road, and the constant surprises of heart warming hospitality.

10. Tell us about your first album – how did it happen?

My first album was planned for a long time, but I was also afraid of being isolated with just me and guitar. Guitar has been and still is, a constant uphill struggle. I’m very left handed but I was encouraged to learn right handed, so I did. Then I lived with a friend who was left handed. He could see how much I struggled with the rhythm, so I tried his guitar, it was like heaven. Long story short, I sold my guitars and changed to left handed. Then I practiced like a madman for several months and had a problem with Carpel Tunnel and arthritis, so I had to change back, ha 🙂 So yeah, it’s been tough. I’m now 5.5 years playing and I still think about it way to much.

Back to the album…. I made a great friend from Poland, who is an amazing guitarist, so I invited him for the album, and it became much stronger thanks to him. Of course, I listen back to the album and I feel it could have been much better, but I guess that is normal. It’s also helped with my determination for the next album.

11. You have a second album coming up. What should we expect? What’s different from the first one?

My second album will in some ways have similar stories, but my guitar style and writing has changed and grown.
Around 8 months ago I decided to try finger picking for the first time. Once I made one song with this style, it really changed me and my writing. It’s still difficult but I’m growing a little every day. I feel the next album will be a lot more personal and emotional, but also have more depth. It is all from the heart and an honest portrayal of what I see and feel.

12. Tells us about your book! It sounds very exciting 🙂

Many friends suggested that I write a book to accompany the next album, about my journey. My initial response again and again was, I’m more of a poet than a writer. Then I gave it more and more thought. I realised that there are many crazy stories to tell, a lot of poems, and many pictures. The problems came when I realised that the only way to tell the story is also to write about how I came to live this way.

My childhood and teenage years weren’t the best and I made my fair share of mistakes. I’m proud to have grown so much since them years and it’s insane to look back at the stranger from then. Perhaps that’s why I decided to call both the album and the book, I’m Alive. Once I wrote the song I’m Alive, it felt like it was meant to be. The book was originally going to be called 300 places. I’m writing a little most days and around October or November, I hope to finish both the album and the book.

13. Name three artists or bands we’ve probably never heard before but definitely should.

When I first heard songs from Ray Lamontagne – Til the sun Turns Black, it had a big impression on me. I love his voice and the unbelievable depth of his lyrics.

I have loved Dead Can Dance for many years. They split up and Brendan Perry made a solo album called Ark. His voice and lyrics are awesome. Another album that I’m kind of addicted to.

Most people have heard of Fleetwood Mac, but maybe less so of Lindsey Buckingham. He has some epic solo work and his guitar playing is one of my more recent inspirations. The album Lindsey Buckingham – Live at the Bass Performance Hall is fantastic.

14. If you had to pick one thing from everything you’ve learnt by your experience and give it as advice to our readers, what would it be?

The one thing I feel more than anything else is that we should stop being afraid of each other. Smile more, look each other in the eyes. Try a few words, start a conversation, and so often new friendships are made. We should spend more time looking up, less time looking down, especially at our smartphones. I’ve met so many people, from so many different nationalities, and once a little bit of effort is made, without judgement, so often friends are found. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve stayed in people’s homes, from a few words, or a smile. I honestly think the world is a better place for everyone if acceptance replaces judgement. It’s a win, win, situation for everyone.

15. What does it mean to be ‘alive’?

To be alive means trying to make the most of everyday, even when odds are stacked against you. Standing up for what you believe in, no matter what, and following your dreams. Wow, that was tough 🙂

You can find Lee and more amazing music and people on Drooble 🙂