Sean Ono Lennon remixes father’s music
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SEAN Ono Lennon’s first experience reworking his father’s catalog was terrifying and intimidating, but he had two main goals in mind to keep him on track — preserve his father’s message in the songs and help the late icon’s music reach a younger audience.
On October 9, which would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday, “GIMME SOME TRUTH. THE ULTIMATE MIXES” was released. The collection features 36 tracks handpicked by Sean Ono Lennon and his mother Yoko Ono, who serve as producer and executive producer. The duo worked closely with engineer Paul Hicks to maintain the essence of the songs, which were completely remixed.
Ono Lennon, 45, shares the same birthday with his father and says he came out stronger at the end of the emotional process.
“I knew it was going to be kind of introspective for me, obviously,” he said. “I was scared going into it, and I had a fear of messing everything up or not being helpful or it being too emotionally difficult. Ultimately it was very healing. It was like therapy. I’m very glad I got to do it.”
“GIMME SOME TRUTH. THE ULTIMATE MIXES” includes Lennon’s post-Beatles songs — from “Imagine” to “Woman” to “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night” — and will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally.
“For me, the real motivation is this music can’t be forgotten,” Ono Lennon said. “Especially ‘Gimme Some Truth,’ which is the track we chose to lead with. I’ve never felt like my dad’s music was more needed in terms of message than it is right now. I think a lot of cynical people assume that, ‘Oh everyone knows those songs.’ No, they don’t. There are a lot of kids who don’t know the difference between Ringo and Paul, and don’t know the difference between Mick Jagger and my dad.”
In an interview, Ono Lennon talked about the relevance of “Gimme Some Truth,” working on his dad’s music and finding his voice in the process.
Q: What was it like to work on this project?
A: It was really deep and heavy and beautiful. I’d never listened to the original, multi-track tapes before. Just getting to hear my dad’s voice or even mute the vocals, just hearing what the instruments are doing was amazing. It was really fun. It was a little daunting, I guess. I’m still nervous because when you’re messing with music that’s so loved and so classic and immortal, there’s pressure.
Q: It’s almost scary how the idea behind “Gimme Some Truth” resonates today. Is that why the collection is named “Gimme Some Truth”?
A: There was no choice for us. I think “Gimme Some Truth” means something now. We wanted to lead with that. I think it’s a message everyone can connect with. If you’re a good person, what you want now more than anything is a little reality. It just seems like we’re living in an alternate dimension of bulls—. I think everyone feels that way. I think it’s a very important message.
Q: What was it like working with your mother on this project?
A: I was in the studio when I was young, so I learned things like how compression works, how delay works, how reverb works, how to EQ vocals — all from her. I know her philosophy. Her main priority with all mixing is to make sure the voice is clear.
She said my dad famously didn’t love his vocals. He would turn them down a lot. When she was producing “Imagine,” he would go to the bathroom and she would turn the vocals back up and he would come back and turn them down. She really believes that minimizing the vocal is the worst thing you can do. She really wants people to hear the lyrics and thinks the music has to serve the vocal.
Q: All moms are the boss.
A: She may trust me a little more now having made several albums together and we’ve toured the world together. I was her music director for years. I think it may have taken some time, but I think she feels comfortable with me in that way now.
Q: Has working on your dad’s songs inspired your own music?
A: It’s interesting because, first of all, the easiest songs to cover for me are my dad’s, vocally especially. Whenever I try to sing one of his songs, I feel like I can sing them great. My voice isn’t as tough as his, but it’s easier to sing his songs than anyone else’s. It taught me something about how to sing well.
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