Minnesota Stories:

A Minnesota Musician's Melodic Appeal for Cleaner Energy

Minnesota singer and guitarist Steve Blexrud reflects on how a Minnesota life has shaped his view of nature and his art.

As a musician, the sounds, smells and patterns found in nature have a great influence on me. I also like to tell people that "music is the mirror of life" and that certainly is the case with things we find in the natural world. Many times I've noticed the way that the simplicity and clarity of a piece of music is really made up of many intricacies that form the whole, just like in nature. When I want to write lyrics or search for a new song idea, I'll often go to a woodland or lakeside somewhere to clear my head of the day to day noises and distractions.

Our natural environment is more important to us than many people realize. So I sometimes write songs that get people thinking a bit about the environment or songs about enjoying the outdoors. We take care of our homes but often neglect our larger home, the planet.

Climate change is one issue that concerns me, because I want my kids and grandkids to live in and experience the Minnesota I've come to love so much. That's why I wrote the song Grip of the Black Gold about global warming and our dependence on oil and fossil fuels. I wanted to do it without being too political or one-sided in my effort.

I wanted to do something to help spread awareness about these issues, and through the universal language of music, I hope I can help move people to action in their daily lives. Move them to demand that our government(s) quickly implement laws that would slow or possibly even halt global warming, and strongly urge other countries to follow suit. I wanted to explain that humans have a choice, we often hold the key to the shape of things to come. And we ALL will be affected by our choices.

I believe being exposed to nature as a child is very important to developing the creative powers of the brain and I am grateful to have been raised in the beautiful state of Minnesota where there are many forests, fields and lakes to explore. Parents need to make sure their children come to know and appreciate the earth and where their food, air and water come from. I learned early on as a scout and outdoors enthusiast, that we are just a part of this picture, we don't own it. I'm for careful management and giving people a real feeling of ownership in the future of our natural resources, especially our young people.

I say get outside and listen to the sounds of nature. When you hear something, try and think if there is a musical instrument that was made to sound like it. Certain sounds make us feel light and supple, while other sounds make us feel sad or emotional, or frightened. We all need nature in our lives. I need nature to de-stress me and put me in the proper frame of mind to create music.

Have fun out there and take time to care!

To hear the song "Grip of the Black Gold" please go here. You can also download the song (many thanks!) by following a link on the same webpage.

Steve Blexrud
Singer/Guitarist