Coincidentally, on the date of the unveiling of the new of Martin Luther King monument in Washington, I came across this photo from the not too distant past. There is something profoundly symbolic about this photo of the 44th President of the United States and Canada’s 27th Governor General. Forty years after the assassination of Dr. King, we witnessed a Canadian Vice-Roy and an American President of African heritage. They got to these lofty positions on merit because the barriers were removed to the extent that they could rise to their rightful places in their respective societies. Their achievements demonstrate something extremely important. We can change. People can change and societies can change. Dramatically.

The Mounties in this picture also demonstrate that we can keep the best of our history while moving beyond the worst. Now I'm certainly not saying the activists are all out of work or that racism is over, but look at this photo and take a moment to consider that many living Canadians and Americans remember the sting of racial segregation. It is still too early to predict the full legacy of Barack Obama, and while he certainly hasn't yet turned out to be the agent of change many hoped for, he is without a doubt the result of change. A change that is so very profound. The fact that someone who a few short decades ago would be relegated to the back of the bus would hold the highest office in the United States and a Black, Francophone female refugee would be Her Majesty the Queen's representative in Canada is worth celebrating. This photo is a reminder that idealism like Dr. King's isn't 'pie in the sky', a 'waste of time' or 'pointless'. It is the fuel that provides people the courage to face the formidable adversary that is the ugly status quo and when you are on the side of right, it is the essential result of setting your compass in the proper direction.

The late Jack Layton also believed in our potential to change as a society. Regardless of whether you agreed with his underlying philosophy or every policy he proposed, he engaged politics with bravery, integrity and conviction and, in so doing, inspired people and achieved something no previous NDP leader ever had.

So while networks like Sun and Fox news do their best to frighten the holders of historical privilege into class warfare - while policy makers move us toward corporate supremacy - while the cost of living goes up and your civil rights go down - while aboriginal Canadians continue to live in third world conditions and while police misconduct is becoming so dangerously common place, let us remember the legacy of fighters like Dr. King and Jack Layton. Let’s remember that we can indeed change but that affecting change requires courage, conviction and sacrifice. We can change. This picture is just one small bit of proof.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Strength to Love, 1963

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.” – Jack Layton August 20, 2011

The Toronto CD Release Party is scheduled for July 30th at the Bread and Circus. Cover is $10 and if you pay $15 you get a copy of Lovers, Leavers and Believers!
Also on the bill is fellow Uptown Underground Recording artist Greg "Ritallin" Frankson, from Ottawa and Toronto Reggae Rockers Down By Riverside!

Here are the latest www.nathanbishop.com poll results. 26 people responded. "That week in Montreal" and "4 Cups of Coffee"we tied for 1st place with 5 votes each. There was a three way tie for second place between Till I met your sister, Opiates and El Cocinero. Good intentions was third. Here are the full results!


1. That Week in Montreal 5
4 Cups of Coffee 5

2. Till I Met Your Sister 4
Opiates 4
El Cocinero (I Just Wanna Know) 4

3. Good Intentions 2

4. What Am I Supposed to Do 1
So Damn Special 1
Without You 1

5. Lyin' in a Bed 0
Lose Control 0

Were your views reflected in this sample? I still need to pick a lead single to market to radio! Comments are welcome!

Its been a long time coming! While working on this album, I've moved cities, built a recording studio, my mother's house was burned down by a pyromaniac, I was injured in a car accident but hey, I think I mentioned all that before! The main thing is that the album is on sale and it feels sweet!  Watch this site cause I'll be coming to a place near you very soon with a bundle of these to sell! Remember - if you buy them from me, you cut out retail and I make more! If you can't wait, grab 'em any way you choose!

If you download the whole album you get a free song!  When I was setting up the online store, there was an interesting feature called fans set price. It came with a minimum price which was exactly the price I was going to charge anyway, so I guess its just for those who really want to go above and beyond the call of duty!

If you do, thanks a million but there's no shame in paying the minimum!

When I left my last band and decided to go solo, there was  a lot more to it than just playing a few gigs. Although I did that, I had to let me own sound develop that was distinct from what we'd been doing before.  Over the years I had written a lot of tunes, and experimented with a lot of styles, this was to be my chance to really bring them to life. I started to book studio time and record this album.  I had a lot of great musicians join me in the studio, but I found that the whole process of working with other musicians and booking outside studio time was a tough process to coordinate, not to mention, it was starting to get pretty expensive.  I moved from Ottawa to Toronto for a change of scenery and to spur some creative juices.  When I got to Toronto, I started to build my own home recording studio. I'm not talking about a bedroom with a mic in the closet, I'm talking about a soundproofed, treated protools studio, with all the trimmings.  Uptown Underground was born. That gave me the freedom to work on tracks at  4 in the morning if the spirit moved me. And I started to play a lot more of the parts myself. The last few tracks I worked on for the album I actually got to play all the parts. Making the production sound exactly like it did in my head.  

While I was working on this album, a lot of things went down.  My mother's house was attacked by an arsonist FOUR TIMES and finally burned to the ground on the fourth attempt, I had an engagement break off and there's other things that happened. - Hey, we all have problems, I'm sure many of you have gone through worse troubles than mine. What I'm saying is it wasn't always easy to focus on music like I'd like, but I let the stress inspire me to work even harder.  Uptown Underground is open for business and my debut solo album lovers, leavers, and believers is going on sale June 1st 2011.  It is for sure a good time in my life and I'm very excited to share this music with you.

N