Interview with Peter

Drawing by Peter Himmelman

Interview by: Ellen : )

November 25, 2002

In an effort to get us caught up on what's new in Peter's career, I did a brief interview with him, which you will find below. Enjoy!

How closely are you working with Trampoline Records, and how did that come about?
I'm good friends with Marc Dauer, a partner in the company; and I've worked with Pete Yorn on some demos we did a few years back. Marc asked me to give him a copy of Unstoppable Forces, and they all liked So Many Little Lies. Right now, my relationship with Trampoline Records is limited to just that one track on Volume 1. But I like what they are doing, and I wouldn't rule out subsequent involvement.

Himmelvaults, Vol. 2 - What can you tell us about the history of some of the recorded music on that CD?

Liberate Me
This was a track I did just before I was signed to Epic in 1991. I used Al and Andy, and some guys from a Gospel group in Minneapolis. It was recorded in Minneapolis by Rob Genedak in a basement studio -- I always liked the feel of this recording.

What The Jones's Eat For Lunch
This was a song I recorded one day (around 1995 or so) and then forgot about. It has a very interesting sound probably due to the unusual chord progression. I love the title and the way the vocals sound.

100mph in Reverse
I recorded this song the day I wrote it as with many tracks on Himmelvaults 2. I plan to add drums and bass to this someday. I think it sounds natural, and I'm proud of the guitar playing I did that day.

Confident Horizon (Did you use this for a TV show?)
I think they used this on Baywatch. I've always had bigger plans for this song. Nice lyrics and chord progression.

Next Year in Jerusalem (When did you write this, and what inspired you?)
I wrote this several years before I became an observant Jew -- (It shows my leanings, doesn't it?) -- I wrote it on Nantucket during some gigs we were doing as Sussman Lawrence -- probably in '84 or '85. It's a song that I'm very fond of.

Are you writing and recording anything new?
I'm starting a new kids' record right now. I've written 2 songs for it so far. They don't take long. It's just sometimes hard to find the time with my other commitments.

What's happening regarding releasing a new studio CD?
I have the new contracts and their revisions in hand. I need certain things. They need certain things. You know how it is... Thank G-d, I'm in a position where I'm not desperate to do a deal. I hope to have the record out in the Spring for a Summer tour.

How was your trip to Israel? How did you feel when you were there? What were some of the high points of the trip? What was the most significant part for you?
I have loved Israel and its people in a deep and most inexpressible way since I was first there when I was nine years old. I dream about being there, and I am somewhat sad when I am away.

To have been there at this time with a purpose - which was to bring joy and music - was especially gratifying for me. There were several moments during the trip that inspired me to the point of tears, but the most moving part was perhaps when I went to play for seriously ill children at a hospital in Jerusalem. There was a little Arab girl -- probably 6 or 7 years old -- who had cancer, and I was playing for her, trying to get her to smile. Next to her was an Arab woman in a chador who was there with her own sick child. The woman kept glaring at me with a hatred that you can't know if you haven't felt it. There is no parallel for it in the U.S. - It's an ancient, biblical, jealous hatred in a class of its own. Anyway - when I finally got the little girl to smile by letting her strum my guitar with my pick, the Arab woman started to smile - just a little - and I thought to myself, 'If these people would just stop killing us - just accept that we are here to stay - we could be their biggest allies and support.' That does however seem very unlikely...

We hear your work every week on Judging Amy. Is there any movement on perhaps doing a soundtrack for the show?
I don't really know. I mean no offense to you for your having asked the question, but I have to say that after all the time and effort I expended a while back to get it going, I don't really care at this point. (Editor's Note: I just happened to check out the JA fansite and noticed that someone has started a petition for a Judging Amy soundtrack. Please let's support this big time. All you need to do is go to the message board there, and create a reply message to add your name to it. Here is the link to the petition thread: http://pub55.ezboard.com/fjudgingamyfrm1.showMessage?topicID=863.topic)

Are you scoring other shows or films?
I just did music for a film on Comedy Central. We finished 2 songs for ESPN, and I am working on a theme song for a new show on NBC.

If you weren't scoring music or focusing on your own recording/touring career, what other kind of work would interest you?
Developing my own TV show -- More on that later...