On Oct. 29, 20 GRAMMY U students had the opportunity to attend Ben Harper And The Innocent Criminal's sound check before their concert at the Orpheum Theater. Harper then sat down with the students and answered questions about his career and his experience as a renowned musician.
Harper began by explaining that music has been a presence in his life since childhood. When asked about how Memphis music has impacted him, he pointed to Johnny Cash and Muddy Waters as two of his greatest influences. Harper also described his experience recording the GRAMMY-winning album There Will Be A Light with the Blind Boys Of Alabama as "life changing." When students inquired about Harper's writing and recording process, he explained that all of his records are demos, and the more he performs the songs the better they get. He then joked about people telling him that his live shows are better than his albums, saying, "Would you like my record to be better than my live show?"
The music industry itself was also a topic of conversation. Harper discussed his relationship with his record label, Virgin Records, and how he used guerilla tactics to get his record deal. Toward the end of the discussion, Harper asked the students a question: "Now that everyone is selling 30 percent less music, how do you make up for the loss without becoming a sellout? What constitutes selling out?" The students felt engaged as Harper asked each of them to give him their opinion. The GRAMMY SoundCheck was a success and students left thrilled to have met such an influential artist.