by abby crabill
photo courtesy of logan j parker
Logan J Parker is a London based singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer. An avid supporter of the Extinction Rebellion movement, Logan creates her records in a fully solar-powered studio. She also produces her music through her own independent company, allowing her to own her copyright. Logan is currently working on her debut album, which is due to release in 2021. She enjoys interacting with her fans via social media, sharing both original tracks and covers. Her first Christmas track titled "Sweet Songs of Love" will be released this year on December 25th. The music video will also be released on Christmas Day.
What genres of music have influenced you as an artist?
Logan: “Definitely soul, blues, jazz, and old school rock n’ roll. I was obsessed with soul when I was a teenager. I remember listening to all of Ray Charles' albums on repeat. Then I discovered Billie Holiday and Vaya Con Dios. My dad got me into Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Queen, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, and my mum got me into Mississippi Delta Blues. I also remember being really young and listening to Shania Twain on the radio and loving it! My sisters loved her too.”
What is one of your favorite instruments to play, and why?
L: “I would say the guitar. It was my first instrument and it feels like an extension of me now. I wouldn’t be able to face life without a guitar in my hands.”
What was one of your favorite songs to cover, and why?
L: “‘Ruth Brown — I Don’t Know,’ such a great tune and works perfectly on the electric guitar. I think my vocal range is very similar to Ruth’s. She is one of my idols. It is also a very sentimental track and I love it.”
What is the best part about sharing music through social media?
L: “I think it’s the engagement with fans. I like to hear from them, especially when I release a new song. I love to know what they think. I make music for them really and social media is that bridge between us. Especially now, throughout this pandemic social media has been the only space where music lovers can connect in real time with the artists they love.”
You were able to be a part of the whole process of creating your new song, “Sweet Songs of Love.” What have you been able to learn from the whole creative process, from writing the track, to directing and co-filming the music video?
L: “I learned a lot! It’s funny, I wrote that track in around two hours time I would say. It came out of me straight onto paper and it was intact and just perfect the way it was. I didn’t have to think much about what I wanted to say or how I wanted it to sound, the song had a will of its own. And when this happens you have to respect and treasure it. It is a gift from heaven, I would say, to be able to make music that is pure, honest and heartfelt. I am very proud about my music. I feel like a proud mother and my songs are my kids. Answering your question, for the first time in my life I went all the way to direct, assist and edit a music video of my own to a professional standard. I did it on Premiere Pro and I had to learn a lot about this software to be able to make it all work. It cost me many hours of sleep, but it was worth it. I’m really happy about the whole thing. Musically speaking, the song starts a little bare, just my bo-can guitar and vocals, it is very heartfelt. Big ballad-y kind of thing and then the band kicks in and it’s wonderful. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Can you give a bit of background into your song, “Sweet Songs of Love?”
L: “Two Christmases ago I was in love, my boyfriend at the time was away with work in Indonesia and I was missing him a lot, so after I wrote the song and recorded it on my phone I sent it to him on WhatsApp. A few days later he broke up with me via text message. I guess he didn't like it! [laughs] I think I haven't found a man strong enough to accept me the way I am. The fact is he later came back apologizing saying he was scared. I forgave him and I wished him well, but he wasn't meant for me.”
What are the things that inspire you to create your music?
L: “Heartbreak, depression, love, hope, hate, anger, frustration, I guess everything that is emotional. I have been harshly blamed by my ex-boyfriends of not being able to keep my emotions in check. I don’t agree to this, I think my art feeds from these emotions and without it there would be no music at all. If people took more time to understand one another instead of criticizing everyone harshly we would be living in a better world. Also, people inspire me, objects, places, stories, books, movies, everything that is palpable and non-palpable, everything that lights a sparkle.”
photo courtesy of logan j parker
What does the saying "pain creates art" mean to you as an artist?
L: “Oh, it says it all. Pain is the fuel. There are different sorts of pain though. There is the pain of accepting yourself, of embracing and revealing your insecurities and fragilities, and there is the pain of misunderstanding when your art is exposed to criticism and people are ruthless. It works like this: it’s pretty much like a cycle. You’re in pain for whatever reason, then you write a song about it, you feel better, it is a relief somehow, it’s almost like a confession. Then you get it out there, you perform it live and people listen to it. There’s some people you really want to impress, there are some places you really want to go, but then someone comes and knocks you down, and God it hurts. You’re instantly back into that dark room with the same old pain as a sole companion. And then you have to make peace with it and carry on. Pain never leaves an artist, it lives within. It runs in our blood.”
Finally, what sort of projects can we expect to see from you in the future?
L: “I like to believe I’m the creative and bold type. I like to make things happen. I absolutely love connecting with people. There is so much to be learned! I think I want to be more committed with my community in the future and I want to help people with my music. I want to get more involved with charity and volunteering work. I need to feel I’m useful in order to be happy because I truly love helping others. So this is definitely part of my plans for the new year. I would also love to collaborate with other artists and push my boundaries a little. I really need to go back playing live gigs! That’s one of the things I missed the most this year. Answering your question, you can always expect original music from me.”