soul: why music is one of the most important gifts we have with okiem
We are currently living through an unprecedented moment in our generations history. Things have stopped across the world and we are being forced to confront so much about ourselves and look at the way that we live our lives. It seems like a time to reflect, a time to simplify our day to day routine and a time to appreciate so many of the things that we have taken for granted. Music in many ways has become throwaway, our favourite artists albums released one second and forgotten the next. Yet music can unconditionally offer us so much when we stop and begin to really listen and feel again.
Okiem
I first met OKIEM when he was playing keys with Jay James Picton back in 2012. Following their gigs across the city from The Jazz Cafe to The Borderline, OKIEM always stood out as a superstar musician. He had heart and integrity. He was way more than the shows he was playing and yet he supported so many artists with such grace. Touring with Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Delilah, Leona Lewis and Duke Dumont amongst many others. He was always humble with a deep understanding and respect for both them and the importance of his craft.
Fast forward to 2017, OKIEM released his debut album ‘Xiro’ and stepped forward as a remarkable artist in his own right. Not only as a classical pianist but as a composer. When you take away the stats based industry that the music world has become and take it back to what music should stand for, artists like OKIEM are our new foundation.
Before you read on any further, take a moment to link your phone or computer to your favourite headphones or turn up your go to speakers. Now press play on the video below and read on. This is OKIEM…
How important is music?
There are so few things in the world that truly connect us all and bring people together and music is one of them. It is one of the most important gifts we have as humans.
Being a pianist you have an ever-changing and diverse audience. What has been a stand out performance for you and why?
I had the opportunity to perform for a very special memorial. It was for a famed mountain climber called David Lama who’s life was taken too early at just age 28. It was a scary honour to be asked by his management and his family to play such a large role in this event as David had seen me perform earlier that year and connected with my music.
To deliver a moving performance for people who’ve never heard of me or heard my music is always a challenge but it was the most powerful experience as there was such high emotion. Being in nature up on an Austrian mountain was epic in itself and then we added a ‘sea of fire’ where hundreds of people held up stakes of fire. You could really feel the power of nature! So to play my music in this atmosphere is something I’ll never forget and something that can never be re-created.
Have you ever experienced the healing power of music? What happened?
Yes, absolutely. I wrote my first album as a way to heal myself. What I found was through the music I felt emotions that I didn’t have the words to describe. I’m not great at talking about my feelings and emotions in words but through the music I started to make sense of what I was going through and it changed me. I remember listening back and thinking if this making me feel like this then I’m sure it will help others as well. My music comes from a very pure place of intention and that will never change. I think that’s why people really connect with it. A lot of people cry at my live shows and express thanks for helping them to feel certain emotions that they needed to. I have a guest book that I let people leave messages in after shows and there are pages and pages of a similar messages:
You have played piano for a mass meditation, how did it impact the people who took part?
Yes, I did this with my good friends from a company called ‘Just Breathe’. It’s hard to describe as there is a feeling in the room that is just an energy - you have to be there and feel it to really understand it. It makes a huge impact when you have a thousand people all connected in this way. Again there were a lot of (good) tears - I think sometimes we need to connect to ourselves on a real level where for whatever reason we have, we can let go, slow down, feel free, feel happy, enjoy a memory, feel sad, feel content, send out positive energy and if we need to even have a cry.
You recently collaborated with The North Face, tell us about the project...
It was the perfect collaboration where The North Face came up with the idea of ‘off mountain explorers’ or people who are really pushing boundaries in their particular fields whatever that may be. We put on a concert together where we came up with some concepts to really enhance the experience for the audience. We used light and dark to excite the senses as well as including voice overs from members of the audience to make it as immersive as possible. It’s definitely one of the best concerts I’ve ever done. The feedback from the audience was that is was powerful experience and one that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. I had my orchestra with me which features some of the best musicians in the country. My collaboration with The North Face is ongoing so we’re hoping to create another live music experience in the near future.
Touring all over the world as a musician, how did you find balance on the road?
For me, my mornings are so important. I get a workout in usually 4 or 5 times a week before breakfast. If I’m travelling it’ll be in the hotel gym or in the hotel room. I love to walk and I need a good coffee. That mix starts my days off right and then things stay on track. My lifestyle requires a lot of good energy, for creativity, for being around people a lot and for performing on stage consistently at a high level. My mind is full of ideas so tools I use (and recommend) would be the apps Evernote, Wunderlist, Voice Recorder and Headspace.
How do you feel that music can help us when times get tough?
Music gives us strength, hope, happiness, freedom… it allows us to be vulnerable, sad, devastated, helpless. It gives space for such an array of emotions many of which we don’t have an adequate word for. As humans we all feel things so it’s great to connect to music especially when things are tough. It may be lyrics that tell our own story or that we just need to hear, or a melody or a sound but it really has a great power to enhance our human experience.
connect with okiem and find out more…
visit his website: http://www.okiemofficial.com
listen to his album: https://open.spotify.com/album/28ZqcAhWsbMIjwbyWIPjRg?si=ZPYyitDWQRqr6nMIEjnwhw
follow him on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/OkiemOfficial/
