Listen Now

David LaMotte

Musician, Speaker, Author

  • David LaMotte
  • About
    • Bio
    • Support
    • Guatemala
    • Nobel
    • In the News
    • Photos
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Music
    • David’s Music
    • Custom Songs
    • Hymn
    • Listen Now
    • The Other Way Around
    • More Music
  • Books
    • David’s Books
    • Worldchanging 101
    • White Flour
    • S.S. Bathtub
  • Speaking
    • David’s Speaking
    • Retreats
  • Calendar
  • Store
    • All Items
    • Music
    • Books
    • Signs
    • Custom Songs
    • Other Stuff
  • Contact
    • Booking Inquiry
    • Support
    • Guestbook
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
    • Contact David

November 26, 2008

A Change Is Going To Come

David LaMotte calls it a career

Mountain Xpress
by Jason Bugg in Vol. 15 / Iss. 18 on 11/26/2008

The word “change” has been thrown around a lot these days as a slogan, an idea, a mantra for some and even a source of derision for others. But for singer/songwriter David LaMotte, change isn’t just a buzzword—it’s where he finds himself and his career.

“Changing countries, changing careers, fatherhood, it’s a big deal,” LaMotte says.

The performer, who over the course of a 10-album career has walked the line between heart-on-his-sleeve folkie and champion for social justice and human rights across the world is ready for his next step as a musician—retirement.

“[Retiring] is really poignant,” LaMotte reveals. “[Music is] basically all I’ve ever done. I got out of college and as an adult it’s been the only career I’ve ever had.”

Instead of hanging up his guitar and cutting his hair for a buttoned-up position in the real world, LaMotte has instead decided to pursue his work as a peacemaker. LaMotte’s work recently was noticed by the Rotary World Peace Fellowship and as a result he was made one of 60 Rotary World Peace Fellows.

Starting in February, LaMotte will attend the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, to pursue an advanced master’s degree in International Relations, Peace and Conflict Resolution. That’s pretty heady stuff for a guy with a guitar.

But LaMotte isn’t just any guy with a guitar. He’s a humanitarian who has devoted time to building schools and improving the quality of life for children in Guatemala, in addition to his touring schedule. It’s tireless work in a time when the notion of changing the world is something that is usually reserved for bumper stickers and flyers advertising punk-rock shows.

“What we’ve been doing in Guatemala for the last four years has been really powerful in showing me how many huge things can be accomplished with just a small turn in direction. It has stripped me of a lot of cynicism. I do believe that the world can change,” LaMotte says.

LaMotte’s passion for helping people may read like bleary-eyed hippie optimism to some, but the soft-spoken singer is looking at the world through anything but rose-colored glasses. Instead, LaMotte sees victories in little things, right down to bumper stickers and punk-rock credos.

“I don’t ever laugh at anybody who thinks they are going to change the world. I think they can,” he says. “Even if you are just playing bar chords really fast and talking about doing something, you might be helping to change someone’s mind.”

Those tiny gestures are part of LaMotte’s grand view of changing the world. At the moment, though, he’s worried more about people’s perceptions that it’s frivolous to want to help.

“I think we’ve come to this weird place in our culture where naïveté is confused with idealism and being cynical is confused with realism, and the truth is that the world gives many reasons to be hopeful and to be cynical,” LaMotte says.

But the cynicism is long gone in LaMotte. Instead, there is a bittersweet air surrounding his upcoming (and sold out) Grey Eagle show, which is billed as his last. For one last time, LaMotte will strap on his guitar and play the songs that have made him matter to so many people over the past 18 years. In the quiet moments before the upcoming show he still finds the time to laugh about the end of an era.

Muses LaMotte: “If you don’t want absolutely everything about your life to change radically, don’t put out a CD called Change.”

[Jason Bugg is a Sylva-based freelance writer.]

who: David LaMotte
what: Farewell concert from Asheville’s beloved singer/songwriter and storyteller. Concert is sold out.
where: The Grey Eagle
when: Saturday, Nov. 29

Related

Filed Under: Australia, In the News, Music News, Peace Work

Sign Up for David's Monthly Newsletter

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your Cart

From Instagram

This is truly a life-changing trip. And you are tr This is truly a life-changing trip. And you are truly invited. It’s also coming up very soon – less than three months away. We have a beautiful group of folks who are going, but there’s still room. In order to help fill it at short notice, we’re offering a $200 per person discount, and a payment plan of up to twelve months to spread the cost. Learn more and please consider signing up now to join us: davidlamotte.com/2023/come-to-ireland-with-me
Load More Follow on Instagram

Featured

Come to Ireland with me

March 20, 2023

Hey friends, I'm taking an amazing trip with good friends this summer.  You're invited. My dear friends Gareth Higgins and Brian Ammons lead retreats in Gareth's native Northern Ireland, and … Read More

From the Store

"The cover art is by artist Scott Neely, who doodled this guitar drawing while actually sitting at a concert of mine, listening to me play my instrumental song Shadows."
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Copyright © 2023 · David LaMotte · Website by Tomatillo Design

Keep in touch!
Sign up for David’s occasional updates

No thanks, I’m not interested!