Inspired #153 - Jermaine Peterson
Following his stunning debut earlier this year, Manchester based singer-songwriter Jermaine Peterson is back with his new single ‘Through the Silence’. The track mixes jazz style trumpets with chilled guitar sounds to create a beautiful foundation for his vocals to grow. He took a moment to talk about the inspirations behind his music.
1Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
It’s so hard to narrow down to three but I’d say Nina Simone, Bill Withers and Bob Marley, (special mention to Donny Hathaway, Miles Davis, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Prince, Roberta Flack, Loose Ends, Kanye West, James Blake, Amy Winehouse, Marvin, Michael, Stevie, Luther… ok I’ll stop). I just feel that with Nina, Bill and Bob, the music truly flows from a deep place within them and it’s all about message over image - substance over style.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
I always find myself rewatching The Shawshank Redemption because, besides it being a great film with the sickest actors and dialogue, there’s this real message that hope can get you through any situation - regardless of how testing it is. Morgan kills it!
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
It’s a cliche but my hometown of Manchester inspires me the most for one reason - the people. It's here that you will find people from all walks of life just getting on with it, with their heads held high - the civic pride and openness inspires me greatly. The arts, the culture, the parties, the ‘realness’, the humour - everything really.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
My Granny Lil. She’s the matriarch, the head of the family, the person we all turn to first when in need of some good advice. She’s brave, strong, funny, kind and managed to keep the smile on her face throughout life. Despite the hardships of years passed - she remained pure hearted and her resilience transcends throughout the family. She built a strong unit and we are forever grateful for her.
What were your inspirations when writing the track?
I was in a nice jazz bar called Mojo, in Copenhagen, watching a blues artist from the smoking area, which was inside the club at the back of the room. I somehow managed to make friends with a (clearly drunk but wise) Russian farmer living in Sweden and partying in Denmark. He was talking about how, for him, the human body is just a vehicle that the spirit drives and I’d never thought of life in that way before so I suppose that moment links in directly with the theme of duality in the lyrics - The inner voice or ‘spirit’ guiding the physical, with a message of hope, through dark times.
How would you like to inspire people?
I don’t intend to inspire people so I have never thought about this. But the legacy that I hope to pass onto my son would show him that greatness can only be achieved if you hold on tight to the thing that makes you unique. Love and power is the message, always!!