Mark Johnson of Playing For Change, was Created to Inspire, Connect, and Bring Peace to the World Through Music

Playing For Change: a multimedia music project

Making the Band

Mark Johnson is a Grammy award-winning producer/engineer and award-winning film director. In hopes of showcasing musical talent found on the streets, Johnson parlayed his musical knowledge and technical skills to turn his vision into what is now known as Playing For Change. Mark has recorded and filmed music around the world in over 45 countries and has dedicated his life to connecting the world through music.

The humanitarian spirit of peace and unity at the root of all this makes the goals lofty and the logistics difficult; yet, somehow, Johnson cuts no corners, even in the wildest destinations.

Beginning in 2004 with the dream to “inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music.” A small film and recording crew made its way through places such as New Orleans, various Native American reservations, Barcelona, South Africa, India, Ireland, and more.

“I was on my way to work at the recording studio one day, and I was in a subway station. As you know, there’s music playing in the subway every day; but on this one day, the platform was packed with people. I looked around to see what it was, and I saw two monks, painted all in white, with robes on. One was playing a nylon [string] guitar, and the other one was singing in a language I didn’t understand. Everyone was packed in; I saw people with tears in their eyes, smiling and laughing. As I got on the train and went to work in the studio, it occurred to me that some of the best music I’ve heard in my life was on the way to the studio, not in the studio! That was the day I realized great music and great art are moments in time. They exist everywhere and, with recording equipment technology, we can harness those moments. That was the birth of Playing for Change, [as well as the inspiration] to travel to natural environments — subways, street corners, Indian reservations, African villages, Himalayan mountains — wherever people are playing live, outside in natural environments. I wanted those moments,” Mark said.

Interview by Michael Limnios / Transcription by Anna McBride

What have you learned from your experience with the Playing For Change project?

Mark: What I have learned is that no matter how many things in life divide us, music can bring us together. Everywhere I go, when I record a song around the world, we unite together different religions, politics, different races, everything is different. The thing with music is that the things that make us different are what make us stronger. So, experiences, they put their own experiences into their instruments they put those experiences into singing and so people become more united around the world through the music. It doesn’t matter if politics divide us or religion divides us. The music brings people together.

In traveling all around the world, what are your conclusions from the local folk music scenes? From flamenco, tango, son, reggae to soul, blues, and other genres around the world…

Mark: I love seeing where music has traveled. One thing about music is that it is everywhere. Different styles are being passed around the world. A lot of what I record is blues and a lot of blues comes from West Africa. I love to work on music that reunites musicians that were separated from the slave trade. So starting with music in Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and onto the Caribbean, Jamaica, Haiti, and into Mississippi you put all these lineages together and you get the blues. Each local tradition feeds like a river into the ocean, the ocean being the blues. You can see the same thing happening with flamenco and the gypsies,. .. also a lot of music that comes out of the Congo ends up being a big influence on South American music, particularly the rumba. And so I love making music that reunites all of these cultures that have been separated from their local traditions and then making this a bigger part of the picture of music and then telling that story around the world.

What do you think is the key to a life well-lived? What is happiness for Mark?

Mark: I think happiness for me is trying to experience as many inspirational music moments as I can in my life. That was my goal when I set out as a young man, to get out and get involved with as many inspirational musical experiences as possible. That’s going to lead you to so many great moments in life. You get to learn so many lessons and you get to learn them smiling and with people that can become a part of something bigger than yourself. If we believe in something bigger and each other that is what I think is the key to a life well lived and I would like to take that journey.

What was the best advice anybody ever gave you that you keep like a motto in your life?

Mark: The greatest advice I’ve been given and it’s from a friend of mine who is 98 years old, he is a legend here in America, his name is Norman Lear. Norman told me three things in life remind us that we are all connected: music, laughter, and transcendence. And so that’s my motto is to be involved in music, laughter, and something bigger than myself.

What is the impact of your project? What is the impact of music in general on human rights, civil rights, political, spiritual, and socio-cultural implications?

Mark: Music is the voice of the people, but it’s more than that; it’s the feeling of the people. So, think about that for a minute… the feeling of the people. That’s going to allow you to understand what’s going on and then actually make changes. Every part of society needs to change, and evolve, to get rid of fear and greed. Those aren’t just individuals; those are systems around the world that are enemies of any society. The thing that can help people understand that is music. It can give you the tools to persevere positively through hard times. You can’t go through your hard times in life feeling negative because then it just creates more negative. I think that what Music does, whether it’s social rights, civil rights, everything we face as a society when it’s through the lens of music is to move through it positively. That’s what we need is positive solutions we can feel. That’s what Music does for us that’s why we invented music as people; for these opportunities to go through hard times as people and lift each other.

Where does your creative drive come from?

Mark: I always wanted to try to see the light in the eyes of other people and try to find the good inside of somebody, because if you can find the positive in somebody then you have this connection. I believe that we could be so much better to each other. I have the drive because creativity gives you the ability to make a change. Changing myself too, you know, trying to be a better person, trying to listen more and understand more and see things through other people’s experiences. Creativity and art, are always tools to be able to see the world in a new way and to help reinvent hope and opportunity. I believe we are going to make it as a human race; that’s my motivation.

Higher Ground 2020 (Stevie Wonder) | Playing For Change | Song Around The World

How do you choose the songs that Playing For Change projects?

Mark: There are so many different reasons for choosing a song. Like choosing the song “Stand By Me” or “One Love” to encourage unity. Or songs like “Gimme Shelter” or “Get Up Stand Up” because life is happening now and children are starving, people suffering and useless wars happening. I try to pick music that matches the human emotions we are all experiencing. Sometimes you need songs to lift you and move you forward. You can’t just stand still; it starts with each one of us individually. We want everyone in the world to feel a part of this project because music is truly for everyone.

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