Sometimes life happens and that’s all that can be said as to why it’s taken soul singer-songwriter, Glenn Lewis almost eight years to return to the music scene. After becoming one of the most promising voices during the “neo-soul” period with his 2002 release World Outside My Window, Glenn quickly faded away. After navigating his way through industry politics he is now preparing to release a new album this spring. Rolling out spoke with Lewis and learned that during his hiatus he wasn’t just working on music, he was also building a relationship with his long-estranged father, which has given new purpose to his music and life. –souleo
You were gone for a long time so was there any major life experiences that made you grow as a person and artist during that time?
My dad messed with substances and he had a problem, as a result I didn’t see him for 18 years. When we found each other it was uncomfortable like, ‘now you will check for me when you see my album out?’ There was that and his actual substance abuse. I tried to be supportive and be there as much as I could, and over time we built a relationship.
When young men don’t grow up with their fathers they often have identity issues surrounding what it means to be a man. Is that something that you struggled with?
When your dad is absent you don’t trust anybody else to teach you how to be a man. The good thing that came out of it is that it forced me to set a certain standard. By him not being there it was like this is what I will not do. Even being able to connect with him I can see another side of what it means to be a man. I understand now that sometimes you do make the wrong choices and go through things. So you can’t really judge another person and that’s what I learned from his own walk in life.
How has this experience given a new meaning to your lyrical content and musical direction?
It’s gotten me back to a place of appreciating the relationships around me. I put that in my songs because sometimes the messages in certain songs get away from the point of celebrating and appreciating the bigger picture in life.
“Good One” by Glenn Lewis is available for free download at glennlewis.bandcamp.com.
