Interview with Johnny Proctor on Brian Wilson's Influence

Johnny's song was inspired by Pet Sounds: "I was frustrated by my lack of emotional connection with God . . ."

Phil~ What prompted you to compose "Pray" ...

Johnny ~ Pray was written during a time of frustration over not ‘feeling’ God in my prayer life or his action in response to my prayer. Its about the cross of naked faith – when your mind and spirit agree that God is faithful, he is reliable, and yet all your emotions are screaming within you for some kind of response, or acknowledgment or relief from pain. Musically, “Pray” is very inspired by Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys’ 1966 masterpiece. I was looking for a pensive, introspective, emotionally searching mood. The major sevenths in the theme create that melancholy aura, that emotionally needy atmosphere.

Phil ~ What are you hoping this song will stir up in the listener?

Johnny ~ Basically I want the listener to feel like they are not alone. Being alone, feeling alone, is just awful, especially when you feel abandoned or forsaken. How much worse if that feeling is exacerbated by feeling left alone by your Creator in your hour of need? Musically, I want to comfort and empathize with the listener. I was hoping the little refrain of “li li li’s” would offer a wordless hope of comfort in between the tension in the verses.

Phil ~ How does Brian Wilson's musical style influence this tune?

Johnny ~ Brian is the master of communicating very deep emotional themes in both sound and lyric. He is my guide and inspiration for music. The arrangement is a direct reflection of the some of the textures from Pet Sounds, although my modest artwork is not fit to be compared to that masterpiece in any way, shape or form. Brian liked working with major 7ths because they give the vocal arranger 4 distinct notes to work with in building dense harmony clusters. An example of this is “Girls on the Beach” or “Til I Die”. On “Pray”, I opted for a very simple triad on the backing vocal and mixed it more in the background as opposed to my usual style of featuring the harmonies prominently. Brian does this on several Pet Sounds tracks to include “Here Today” and “Don’t Talk”. It brings forward the lead vocalist and focuses the listener more on the lyrics, the melody and the emotion being conveyed.

Phil ~ Any comments or insights on Brian's new release, "That Lucky Old Sun"?

Johnny ~ I am too delighted for words in “That Lucky Old Sun”! I have devoured it from the day it arrived and it is already getting me excited about new music. Brian and his fabulous group have achieved a work of art here every bit as worthy as SMiLE. Not only that, but the collection abounds with all manner of Christian/spiritual references – God Almighty, sin, grace, blessings, heaven, prayer, and I’d say in the more serious moments (“Midnight is Another Day” and “Oxygen to the Brain”) Brian is telling his own story of redemption. The central theme of the sun being ‘lucky’ because he can hang out and relax all day in heaven seems like a playful metaphor for a Beach Boy vision of God. I love it. And the arranging is as sophisticated as anything Brian has done. It reminds me of Gershwin in many parts – the modality, modular linking of short themes, the reprises and continuity of the musical and lyrical themes – just amazing. The first time I heard it I cried in 4 or 5 places. One place that really grabbed me was when he sang of having a dream of singing harmony with his brothers, supporting each other. That really touched me. The whole CD has had such a big impact on me, I have already produced a new track called “Top, Bottom, Inside and Out” which evokes some of the same imagery and hopefully some of the same joyous sounds. It had been on the shelf for years and “Lucky Old Sun” really inspired me to go ahead and produce it. Its available for free download here.

Thanks, Phil! This was a personal delight!

Pray

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This song is a confession of weakness and a musical journey from Pet Sounds to God's ears.




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