Wow! I am thrilled to receive our guest. If you were around in the 70's only one word will tell you who he is "Woman". If not here are a few hints: He sold over 3 millions records. He is known worldwide. He is the great Shawn Phillips.

Thank you for dropping in for the interview!

How are you?

Apart from getting over a little cold, I'm fine. Thanks to the airlines, who are Bio- incubators for all the various forms of Rhinovirus. Thank you for asking.

How is the new CD being received?

So far, the people who have heard it, think it's a masterpiece. Personally, I think so as well.

When you think of the fact that the majority of people, and bands that go into the studio, and spend months on end trying to make a product, whose only goal is its commercial feasibility, and every track sounds the same when they're finished, and we spent a total of one and a half months on the entire production, and every track fit the vision of what I wanted it to sound like, you know that there were some extraordinary ideas that made this CD. Its only goal was to create an audial experience for the listener. Considering the caliber of the musicians playing on it, it will make its presence known, as time goes by. You cannot ignore a work whose sole purpose was to be musically creative, and innovative.

Isn't strange in a time were violence is so prevalent that peace is identified with an era instead of a needed reality?

There are so many avenues that promote violence for young people who are growing up in this world. The problem exists, in that they never understand what real violence is, and how fast it actually happens. If we are to change this, we must, from the early stages of infancy teach them how to be. Not how to be something, or someone. Only then will peace become a prevalent reality.

What thrills Shawn Phillips the man?

At my age, not much. The "Been there, done that", syndrome is about a 25, on a scale of 10. I guess what gets me off the most, is when I finish writing something new, knowing that no one in the entire world has ever heard it, and it will be my privilege to present it to them.

Looking back over your career at what time in particular you told yourself "It can't get any better than this!"?

To be truthful, I would have to say right now. The future is imagination, and the past is memory. The fact that I'm alive, healthy, and kicking, and able to still be creative says it all.

I remember when a friend played the song "Woman" on his turntable (for the younger one turntable where used to play vinyl record they were not invented for "Scratching")When I asked "Who you were" He said "Only the most important folk artist that ever existed!" Did you consider yourself a folk artist then?

No, I did not. I had past that stage long before. I was already experimenting in many forms of musical expression. The media is the only way the public can know an artist, and that's what they were saying about me at that time.

So much as happened since then! Are you optimistic for the future?

Of course. As I said, the future is imagination, and I have a great imagination. The only thing I am not optimistic about, is the music business. As long as money rules this business, and not creativity, the public will continue to be ripped off.

Tell us about your involvement in the cause of fireman and ems?

The worst thing that will ever happen to me in the music business, is that I might fall off a darkened stage one night when the lights have gone down, and I'm leaving the stage. Big Deal ! When you go into a burning building that's fully involved, with a partner, you are on the edge. He is trusting his life to you, and you are trusting your life to him. When you are standing in the middle of a very busy highway at peak traffic hour, and cars are going by at 130 KPH, with no traffic control as yet, and you are trying to extricate someone trapped in their vehicle after a horrendous crash, with a Hurst tool that weighs almost 35 kilos, you are on the edge. When you arrive at a residence, and have been called to a Priority One Cardiac Arrest, and you set your mind to employ your training, and put the paddles on them, and shock them back into this world, and they look at you and say "Thank you for saving my life", you know you have done something very real, and made a immense change in someones life.

Who is, to you, the most important artist of all time?

That Sir, is a question I cannot answer. There have been so many artists in the last century that have made a difference, and they have never been known by the general public. Today, the media lets us know about all the artists there are according to them. All 17 of them. Brittney Spears, N/Sync etc.

thank you for participating in this interview any last words for our readers?

Yes, don't let your tastes be manipulated by the media. Be true to your heart, and listen to what moves your heart. Not your feet. I wish you all Health, Love, and Clarity.

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