Essra Mohawk has recorded a dozen albums, many receiving critical acclaim, and penned the hit "Change of Heart" for Cyndi Lauper.
Essra’s career as a songwriter took off when Cyndi Lauper recorded ”Change of Heart“ in 1986. It went to #3 on Billboard’s top 200 in 1987, winning an award from BMI for airplay. The album it was on (”True Colors“) went platinum. Since then many artists have recorded Essra’s songs and continue to do so.
For more information be sure to check out her official website.
Below is the interview she gave to Cyndi Source. She is candid and honest about herself and her work. That is a rare find now days. On a personal note, I want to thank Essra again for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions. I enjoyed our exchanges and appreciate your kindness.
When did you first feel you were your own writer/performer?
When I was 14 (a year after my parents bought me a piano), I started writing songs on a regular basis and performing in coffee houses. I’ve thought of myself as a singer/songwriter ever since. I considered myself a singer from the time I was 5.
When did you start writing songs and what was it that got you started?
I wrote my first song, ”Rainbows“, when I was 8. My parents wrote songs together and many times as a child I came up with a rhyme they could use. Growing up with my parents writing songs, made songwriting second-nature to me.
Do you recall what your first song was about and why you wrote it?
As I mentioned before it was called ”Rainbows“. It was about rainbows and although I don’t remember, it’s possible I wrote it after seeing a rainbow. I do, however, still remember the song.
How much of the person in that song is Essra Mohawk?
Love and romance was my prime motivation for writing song after song when I was a teenager. From age 14 until menopause and beyond, that’s remained a constant in between songs about peace, friendship, life and the human condition. I put myself completely into everything I write. How can I separate my art and lifework from who I am? It’s always been like that when I write – from the very beginning until now.
Generally speaking now, what makes a song a hit?
Once upon a time, I would’ve answered that by saying: great lyrics set in a great melody with emotionally moving chord changes. Add an arrangement that makes it all stand out plus an outstanding vocal performance and you have a great record! But these days, I’d have to say it takes either a huge budget for promotion and airplay (legal payola) or the fortune to be recorded and released by an already established artist. The quality of the song itself doesn’t always seem to matter but I believe that the pendulum is swinging back towards better songwriting.
Which one of your songs do you like best?
I have favorites from each of my albums. I could maybe narrow it down to a dozen but not just one. Usually my favorite songs to play are songs I haven’t recorded yet. I still enjoy playing CHANGE of HEART, but over ten years ago, I transformed it into an R&B ballad and I love it more than ever. You can check this new version out on my ”Essie Mae Hawk Meets the Killer Groove Band“ CD
My other favorites on that album are: WALK B4 U FLY and NOT THAT JESUS
My favorites on ”Love is Still the Answer“ are LOOSEN UP THE SQUEEZE and LONELYTOWN
You can listen to those at CD Baby or iTunes.
WORLD OF PEACE is one of my favorites on ”You’re Not Alone“, the album I recorded for Evidence:
http://www.evidencemusic.com I like the title track a lot too.
How did you become involved with Cyndi Lauper?
Through a mutual friend, Bonnie Ross, a Red Cross nurse I met at a blood drive in Philly. We became close friends and a year later she came to me looking for a song for Cyndi. They were good friends and had lived together for a while. I had just recorded CHANGE OF HEART and Bonnie insisted it was perfect for Cyndi. Apparently she knew what she was talking about! She gave it to Cyndi in NY the next day and after listening to it, Cyndi called me. I still have the phone machine tape: ”Hi. My name is Cyndi Lauper. I’m a friend of Bonnie’s and I’m calling about your tape.“ Within a week of handing the tape to Bonnie, it was already being recorded as part of Cyndi’s album, ”True Colors“!
They took a song off the album in order to include my song, CHANGE OF HEART! It all happened very fast!
Was there a particular inspiration for the lyrics of Change Of Heart?
There was a person who was an A&R man at a major label who I considered a friend but who had stopped returning my calls due to a religious conflict within him. (He had begun practicing Buddhism due to my encouragement and when he changed his mind, he stopped speaking to me.) As part of my Buddhist practice, I began chanting for him to have a ‘change of heart’ and speak to me again. On my list of things to chant for, I wrote that he ”will have a change of heart and be my friend again.“
Around the same time, I was told at the end of a publishing meeting that they thought I had a great voice but my songs weren’t commercial, ”not desperate enough“ and ”too encouraging“ is what the publisher said. Well, I felt very desperate by the time I got home and I immediately sat down at my piano and wrote the song ”Change of Heart“ to my A&R friend who still wasn’t speaking to me. The song manifested all in one sitting!
Meanwhile, on my list right below the entry about him, the next item on my ‘wish list’ read: ”A top artist will decide to record one of my tunes and have a big hit with it.“ Writing ”Change of Heart“ turned out to be the cause for both items on my list being fulfilled. Cyndi released it as a single and as it rose up the pop charts finally peaking at #3, my estranged friend took notice and called to congratulate me!
What are your thoughts on Cyndi's version?
She stayed true to the musical arrangement and tempo on the original demo I gave her, while making a few slight changes melodically and lyrically. All in all I was very happy with the results. I thought it was a great record. She did a great job and I still enjoy listening to it when it comes on at the Supermarket!
What is your opinion of Cyndi as an artist?
I think she’s a great singer and performer with a signature voice and unique persona.
Do you have a favorite Cyndi song?
Definitely ”Time After Time“! A great song by Rob Hyman, a great performance by Cyndi, a stunning record!
What have you recently been working on, and what is up next?
I’ll do my best to not wax eternal in answer to this question ... Where do I begin? The answer is complex.
Currently, I’m the primary caregiver for my best friend, long time personal assistant and life partner, Jim Hinchliffe, who has end stage lung disease, a terminal and debilitating condition. He hasn’t been given long to live but he’s already outlived his doctor’s prediction by 9 months! No matter what, I’m here for him for the duration. Of course, that means very little performing or recording. Naturally, I continue to write. It’s impossible to fully restrain my compulsive creative juices. About 25 songs are waiting patiently in cue to be recorded.
Till this year, I’ve continually released albums of my music on my independent label, MummyPump and on other indies at the rate of about one a year. Both a jazz album and a new age album are in their planning stages. Several producers have approached me to record an album with them. The horizon looks bright!
Meanwhile, I receive requests for songs for various major artists on a daily basis. Also my recordings have appeared on Joan of Arcadia and most recently, All My Children.
My involvement with Musicians and Artists for Peace led to a recent performance at the Peace Full Sail internet event in Melbourne, Florida. The first song of our set can be seen on youtube. A DVD is in the works as well as an autobiography I began writing several years ago and plan to finish as soon as time and circumstances allow. In conclusion, as long as people come to me for my music, I’ll keep delivering. No end in sight.
Picture courtesy: Official Myspace
Bio courtesy : Official Site
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