Music Review and Interview – Peter Donne (AKA Legolassie) – “Father, Brother”

Peter Donne’s performance of Father, Brother, is an entirely acapella rendition of a song that is very personal, very spiritual at heart, and seems to convey a subtle desperation, a cry for help of sorts. It’s a song that sounds like it has the potential to be quite powerful if it were fully recorded, contemporary studio quality, surrounded by music, mixed and mastered accordingly. There are moments when it could possibly be a great song for a band such as The Cranberries to take on, the powerful chorus section reminded me at times of their immense song Zombie.

As a vocal only performance it’s a little difficult to write an intricate review of the song all in all, but Peter Donne’s background includes some interesting elements that perhaps have paved the way for this kind of expression through music. He has stated that he was in fact a monk for over 18 years, which leads me to think of the kind of choral chanting that possibly takes place in that kind of environment – in all honesty, I can only speak about it based on a small number of films and publications that have represented this way of life to me, I have no personal experience of it. But, based on that exposure, the idea of the voice as a powerful tool in life would make a lot of sense.

Peter describes himself as a rock vocalist, and the performance would definitely be more at home among a considerably heavy sounding band – there is plenty of passion, plenty of strength and volume. Peter stated that he has explored contemporary hardcore rock over the past couple of years and perhaps this has led him to the vocal presentation he expresses today. He also mentioned a brief background in classical music, so again it would be interesting to hear some fully produced songs from the singer, to get a more precise idea of his influences and his art. He’s an artist hailing from Europe’s own Belgium, and a few more of his acoustic and acapella videos can be found over on his Youtube channel.

By Rebecca Cullen

Travelling musician and writer from Manchester, UK.

Exclusive Interview:

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

I learned about Exposed Vocals through Twitter, when I started following them, and the courtesy of CEO Randy Morano, taking interest in my Rock vocalists’ endeavors.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

 

I grew up in Ghent, Belgium – Europe, in an average, middle class family.

In primary school in the eighties, I was picked for semi professional choir with regular, also international, classical stage experience. That’s where being an artist started.

Exploring contemporary Rock since three years, I turned to Post Hardcore Rock, direct heir to Rock Legacy. Unemployed for two to three years; Belgian Unemployment Agency RVA granted me non funded side project on Rock music, as no official Rock music education exists in Belgium.

 

Knowing my skills and background, my place is a Rock in Rock music waves;

my first name, Peter, (gr. Petros) literally means “Rock”.

I am a vocalist, a musicologist by background also.

A Band Artist  I should be.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

My nicknames and shorts derive from LOTR Trilogy Artist “Legolas”;

I won’t reveal much about that, really: people who really know me, are aware of my inspiration.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Two sides on every coin;

Many artists feel very angry about stealing their art, which constitutes a crime, and rightfully so. A former teenhood friend is director to the Belgian institute against plagiate in music industry. My covers on YouTube are all, or almost, licensed and monetised, and thus professionally assessed also.

I can expect them to be paid for. I invest time, money, musicality, life.

Last but not at all least, there is p2p online community;

thorough thought reveals, this online sharing communities basically offer musical exploration to broad social strata. It’s like a free online musical art library – only not as professional as Petrucci.

It can help people mature their musical preferences, explore and then purchase music, buy concert tickets; integrate music into their daily life.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

I myself didn’t manage to get into a Rock Band or stage performance yet.

That’s about belgium not willing or able to invest in my Rock music life, It’s about choices. In the US or UK, I expect professional environment to be offered, On what I objectively perform; not on what any ideological or political fixation or cliché states me to be.

Back to subject; Amateur Bands do really great gigs also.

Two essentials: quality time through bands’ musical stability, grow into one or more (sub-)genres, with musically matched, blended – in musicians. Try and offer mature sound.

Secondly: Know Your goals, Your audiences’ needs, and so, into which specific social stratus You perform. Deal with compromises. First of all, still “Money makes the world go round”.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

I learn from mistakes doing covers: mistakes help evolve.

It’s not only about professionalism and staying cool, it’s also about audiences’ and sponsors’ maturity in feedback, letting You grow.

Your responsibility to point that out to them, when necessary.

Andy Black Veil Bride Biersack Romani states: “If You can do as I do, come on stage and show me!” (parafr), before You ruin a concert.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

I don’t; anxiously waiting for opportunity; a fish outside the water.

An alternative for full touring and gigging, I thought about being a step – in at concerts to gain experience, but that doesn’t depend on me.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

I don’t, for now, write any lyrics. I am in a struggle for survival modus, as in belgium, I continuously have to live and fight in an unsupportive, hostile environment. Rehearsal space impossible, funding impossible, staging, singing in a band impossible.

My musicality has to restrict itself to – whenever circumstances permit so – vocal rehearsing, studying lyrics, covering/recording. Whenever, my inspiration would come from my broad experience in life and spirituality, as most Rock music is, or poetry. I wouldn’t mind, however, singing another’s’ lyrics, if they blend in with my vocalists’ outlook; why not?

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

I have a YouTube Channel, with licensed, monetized covers. I also am YouTube Partner using Creator Studio; it helps me out in basic technicalities. People there can follow my vocal evolution.

However, this is a partial display under most difficult circumstances without any support!

Apart from that I’m on SoundCloud which is more practical for a forum, but I look for any professional, interactive ànd free online platform; my profile is on BandMix also, but without covers for now.

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

I don’t think You’d find any, really; Rock always has been a “pain in the ass”; qualified “embarrassing”; but that’s what You should expect!. “Rebel, Rebel”, “Pierce the Veil”, of what’s wrong, and hardships we face, Rockers identify with; Rock cult values exactly thàt quality.

However, if any, then one particular song might be embarrassing; “pissing on Your grave, middle fingers up” (parafr), does not really seem sociable. Even then, society often changes only, when it réally gets bashed.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

One part I would be invest in three mayor Rock Bands, stabilising my own living conditions by its rent, and assurance of retirement funds. Half of revenues would go to the next poorest person I chose, and in dire need, who never had opportunity in life, so as to realise.

 

A second part would be kept in reserve, while a third would be divided over,

 

1° Projects, providing Rock musician rookies with funds for investing in necessary rehearsal space, material and platform after thorough, objective screening, fully neutral to politics &  ideology; offering them a third of revenue for future investment, a third for personal pay, a third for new projects.

2° Health Care research funds.

3° Heritage for my beloved one.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

I already Exposed my working conditions; any upgrade will depend on necessary sponsorships, so, Yes, I miss out mecenas, and maybe,  management?

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

As stated before, YouTube, SoundCloud and channels like Exposed Vocals and KissFm Radio, of course! Later on, I like to take use of Bandcamp paid channel, and such.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Budokan for sure, would have preference;

I always was a “bridging” personality, and Budokan historically intertwined east and west Rock tradition. Already from my Desert Operations.nl Wargaming period I was known for “bridging” qualities. Society is not ready, mature, up to that, I am afraid, in its current constellation.

About artists, It’s up to their experience to assess me for any blend in with their balance, their musical match, who am I to do that?

Full Acceptance of who I am, within my context, and my non competitive constructiveness are of key importance.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

I have been exploring a restricted number of bands in Post HardCore Rock for learning its specific vocals from my particular background,which proved quite productive. Screamo still remains to be accounted for.

It’s time for band & staging experience now, when possible, adding up by non Post HardCore, Classical Rock and Classical Music I already know of experience, which will definitely need recapitulation.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

For now, I remain unemployed. My situation restricts possibilities and sociability;

I have to accept, working hard on future perspectives, exactly as I am doing. As soon as possible, I realise, I need rehumanising from my isolated position in society, which, again, needs acceptance.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

I don’t really; I do remember buying Pink Floyd, “Dark Side of The Moon”, Michael Jackson, “Thriller”, Bob Marley “Bus By Babylon” (courtesy to Saxofonist Pol Mareen 🙂 ).

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

I have to invest more time in administration then proves productive for job search; belgian administrations are not always as effective; a bureaucracy. I am single, so almost no family responsibilities. My main responsibility remains creating basic living conditions, living up to unemployment benefit.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Public should first get to know me with my Rock vocalist specifics, before any fanbase establishes.

But anyone can learn to appreciate me through YouTube covers, and, I hope, future video productions or stagings Again, that doesn’t depend on me.