Dirk Lind

On singer/songwriter Dirk Lind’s Facebook page, he has two small sentences under the “about” heading that read “I eat life and poop music. True story.”

That is Lind in a nutshell – what comes out of him are songs that urge listeners to leave their worries at the door, close their eyes and sway or get up and dance like no one is watching.

“We are all connected to each other and to everything else in the universe,” he said. “We are happiest when we are kind to one another.”

His beats and lyrics encompass the notions “enjoy the ride” and “it’s more about the journey than the destination,” advising others to “take a seat and find the tune, try and laugh it will all be over soon” and to not “fall down and lose your heart.” Lind explained, “I think the closest I’ve come to effectively expressing some of those ideas in a song was with ‘All of Us Are Strangers.’ The title is a bit ironic, because the theme of the song is really how we are all connected, and how we are so much alike.”

In other songs, he suggests that if you look closely at another, you might see yourself and that sometimes we trade our childhood for loneliness and pain; while he does touch upon life’s woes, he does it in a way that makes you think that it’s not so bad.

“There are enough people out there writing great songs about heartache and sadness,” Lind said. “I’m a happy, optimistic guy, and I want my music to reflect that feeling.”

Lind’s musical journey began in Mussoorie, India, where his parents taught music at an international boarding school. For 11 years, Lind “scampered around the mountainside” and had friends from all over the world. Before moving to the United States when his father was offered a conducting job in Virginia in 1980, Lind knew how to play the violin and the cello. He explained the transition on his website as culture shock: “I was completely unprepared for the world of racial divides.”

Lind’s move to America opened him up to a whole new world of popular music. “I had totally missed out on 1970s pop culture,” he said. He saw the Ramones in concert and began playing in punk rock bands. Later, reggae introduced Lind to Jamaican sounds while Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album opened his ears to the music of Africa.

Lind has played in many bands and plays an array of instruments – percussion, guitar, keyboard, bouzouki, mbira and didgeridoo. He has made three albums with bands and two solo albums. In his South Hill home, he has a basement studio where he records his music. In the near future, a detached garage will be made into a music studio.

You can catch Lind performing Thursday evenings at Luxe Coffee House, 1017 W. First Ave. - The Spokesman-Review

Dirk Lind is the type of honest singer/songwriter I respect. Not necessarily because he’s going to change the world or is exploring never-before-seen sonic territory, but because he’s contributing to what I feel is a strong and open communication of the human soul. He plays from his heart; something that the late Bill Hicks would admire. He is an artist expressing himself, pure and simple. A man with a story to tell.

In my line of work, I’m exposed to many artists every day who are trying to become something, something other than themselves. They want industry coaching, to be moulded and shaped into something, anything as long as what comes out of the pipe can sell records. It’s because of this trend that perhaps we can ironically be thankful. It’s this trend that makes songs like Dirk Lind’s “The Winter Line” that much more affecting in comparison.

“The Winter Line” is the lead track off Dirk’s 2011 album entitled “Division Street”, and it’s a piece with an energy of grace and beauty. It’s absolutely beautiful; music you can genuinely feel. There is only dedication and devotion in his lyrical expression here, not the usual dramatic relationship fodder we’ve grown accustomed to, and it comes across as powerful rather than cheesy. “Delilah” is another very worthwhile track that holds it’s own; once again beautiful and heartfelt. The words show a brilliant lyricist with the lines “Oh, I’m blinded by the the spangled light of day. Oh, I’m on the edge of throwing everything away.”

“Lovers Left Behind” continues the sad and sweet tone of the album, adding some well-chosen backup harmonies, bass, lead guitar and jazzy drums to the mix. Like a hats off to the Americana and folk greats of yesterday, this sounds like a classic, like something you’ve heard before. There is a sense of wonder and appreciation for life in Dirk Lind’s voice that you rarely hear, and at the same time, when he says “Some drink to forget. I drink to remember you. Someone lost along the way. Someone lost. Someone found again” you feel the saddening loss of a loved one. This music is as affecting as can be.

“Stone” creates an atmosphere different from the other tracks, with tremolo-infused guitars, reverb and piano backing up Dirk’s slightly raspy melodies. The shift into electronics works for him, because he comes across as an artist with no boundaries. He could easily do what Sufjan Stevens or Thom Yorke do as far as experimentation, but he chooses a more subtle approach, more like Leonard Cohen, and there are elements of Mr. Cohen’s influence here. Other highlights from the release include the intentionally slow-paced Bob Dylan-influenced “Division Street”, which finds Dirk Lind singing “Everybody got somewhere they got to be…Everybody got something they want to keep for themselves”. Truthful lyrics once again become an appropriate and powerful focus. “Don’t Let Your Troubles Be Your Guide”, much like Paul Simon’s best work, puts a positive, yet hard won message of wisdom into an upbeat and almost poppy format, and it’s works wonders.

Dirk Lind as an artist is like the wise man who you’re actually inclined to listen to. Maybe you just met him at the right time, or maybe you were ready to open up and leave your cares behind. The door is open, and trust is naturally there. He is a truly great musician and storyteller, and I will be eagerly anticipating his next album.

Dirk Lind also has a great approach to presenting his music, opting to make is accessible and easy to download – does free work for you? You can stream and download his music below, but I encourage you to also support the artist by purchasing his music through the major digital outlets. - Independent Music Promotions

DIRK LIND
Division Street

The son of two classical musicians, who spent most of his childhood in India, is probably the last person you’d expect to have a banjo on his album. But Dirk Lind is not one to be confined by genre. Lind’s Division Street is mainly in an indie/folk vein. His arrangements are full of complexity yet don’t clash, all coming together into a solid album inspired by Spokane’s notorious thoroughfare. (TH) - Inlander Northwest