Native soul: Interview with Irv Lyons Jr.

It’s not necessarily soul, but Irv Lyons Jr. is a soul man. He writes about his feelings and turns those emotions inside out. The notes and arrangements of his tunes portray moods just as much as his lyrics and vocals do. Lyons is an Oneida Nation Native who is one of Central New York’s most notable songwriters. He divides time between two projects:

Irv Lyons, Jr. and The Light and his other band The Ripcords. The Ripcords are nominated for two awards at the 2019 Native American Music Awards: Best Blues Recording and Best Video Performance; and Irv Lyons Jr., is nominated for Song of Year and Best Rock Recording (“Sisters and Brothers”), a compilation album recorded with friends.

I caught up with Irv Lyons, Jr. in advance of the Native American Music Awards to be held on November 2 in Niagara Falls, New York. An edited transcript of the interview follows.

How has being Native affected your music?

Being Native, I think that it’s intrinsic that we have an appreciation for the arts whether it’s music or painting or drawing or pottery, it’s something that is very important to our culture. Singing, dancing, drums and music it’s something that is developmental to Natives, maybe everyone, but I think we express ourselves through drums and through singing more. I heard it ever since I was a kid.

What was your first recollection of music?

My mother had a 45 and a 33-rpm collection. I guess Ray Charles was the guy I really liked but she had everything from Bo Diddley to Fats Domino, Johnny Burnette, and Johnny Cash. She had a phonograph with all her 45’s and I would just sit there and listen. When I was 4 years old, my uncle had a guitar that I kind of, played and it’s where it all started. I did love music and that was special but my mother drove it home and when I listened to those people, it opened a new world for me.

The movie “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” references Native contributions to rock.  How do you feel about this legacy?

It’s something to be proud of. That’s my heritage. Finally, there was a movie that came out and recognized the achievements of Native musicians and we need more of that. Redbone (“Come and Get Your Love”) is the only Native group to ever hit the Billboard Top Ten.  I don’t know what the reason is for that but I wish we could change that. I wish we could become more mainstream; I think Natives get locked into a stereotype and people don’t associate Natives with being able to be integrated into mainstream rock n roll, jazz, classical, whatever and it’s hard to break through that ceiling.

What has drawn to you to your style of music?

  Starting as a child my main influences were R&B, and Santana was an influence ever since I was 12 years old. You can hear Santana in my music very clearly along with Steely Dan and Sting. Someone said that Irv Lyons Jr. is Santana meets Steely Dan meets Sting.

What makes your style unique?

 Well… I play upside down. When I was a kid and I wanted to play, my parents said to me, “If you are going to learn to play it is going to be on this.” and they handed me a right-handed guitar. A left-handed guitar was simply too expensive. So I figured out the chords on my own… self taught. I play in the style of many greats, Jimi Hendrix, Albert King & Doyle Braham Hall Jr. People get a trip out of watching me play… no one can figure out the chord I’m playing since I’m upside down on a right handed guitar. Influences of music make my style unique as well. My genres been depicted as Latin infused R&B. I’ll combine jazz and rock chords together with Latin riffs. Also incorporated are a lot of tri-tones. This sound is unique and really reflects who I am.

Have you ever met your musical heroes?

If you could arrange it I would love to but no.

Here’s an interesting thing. It’s interesting that we have to have a Native American Music Awards because it’s so difficult for us to break into the mainstream. The Grammys actually had a category that they did away with. This event (Native American Music Awards) actually turns out to be important for Natives because since we can’t be recognized at the Grammys, the NAMAs are the equivalent for us. And it shouldn’t have to be “us”; we should all be under one pot. It’s a shame the Grammys took our category away.

Describe your creative process.

The majority of my songs are written in the morning. I’ll start with a riff then that will develop and take its own course. The riffs turn into the music, which always comes first, then the lyrics.   When I’m struggling through life is when I write my best songs.I have written 4 albums. My latest, Sisters and Brothers, came to me rather quickly. Each song was finished in a matter of days.

What brings you joy?

There are lots of things that bring me joy. I really connect with nature. Summer nights, viewing and listening to the ocean, looking at trees, smelling the fresh air. I like to feel close to my Creator. This is very important in my culture. I really enjoy doing things for others. We are here on this earth to help each other. That is what we are taught. The simple things in life also bring me a lot of joy like having a beer, enjoying a good meal and spending time with family and friends.

 photo credit: Sandy Roe

Nomination for Song of The Year, “Looking for the Light” https://nativeamericanmusicawards.com/track/1787234/irv-lyons-jr-lookin-for-the-light-irv-lyons-jr

Iry Lyons, Jr

website: https://www.irvlyonsjrmusic.com/