FtC music Lee Harris: Renaissance Man By Chris Assaad

There are a lot of things to love about Lee Harris. Among these are Lee’s channeled spoken and written messages, which launched his career as an intuitive One experience of his monthly Energy Update is enough messenger and transformational leader over a decade to know why over a hundred thousand people tune ago. Then there’s his vast library of guided meditations in every month to get Lee’s pulse of what’s moving and healing sound journeys on a range of topics from energetically and collectively for so many. Lee has a gift Cultivating Joy, to Money, to Sex and Sexual Energy. for intuitively reading, interpreting and translating energy There’s also his increasingly popular online courses, in a way that gives insight, understanding, clarity and not the most notable of which is his annual Rebirth course, least of all, hope and empowerment to his audience. which takes people through an intentional discovery and He is also extremely genuine, kind, funny and almost visioning process to set the tone for the year ahead. surprisingly grounded and down to earth for someone Dig a little deeper and you might come across a few with such strong ethereal ability. hidden gems in the Writing section of Lee’s back And all of that is just the beginning and an entry point for catalogue of creations, and a new book to boot, Energy many, into a rich world of highly transformative and deeply Speaks, that’s being published by New World Library and healing offerings from a globally-acclaimed messenger, due out in late March of this year. leader and multi-talented artist, who truly embodies the spirit of what it means to be a renaissance man.

104 FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE PHOTOS: Tanya-Malott Shining throughout his body of work, and often subtly but It is our great pleasure to present this feature on Lee powerfully underscoring and interwoven into his potent Harris, and to shine a spotlight on his music. In this intuitive messages, channels and content, are the angelic intimate interview, Lee shares about his journey from singing voice and healing musical expression of a truly pursuing a traditional music career to his unexpected gifted artist and songwriter. success as a channeler and healer, and the emergence of a truly one of a kind offering that features sound healing A closer look at the man behind the Lee Harris Energy and live music as key, essential ingredients. Lee also world of wonder-filled creations, reveals a true artist and shares about his passions and inspirations, including his lover of many art forms, whose first creative passion was more recent discovery of painting and visual art as an for music. A powerful visionary committed to creating a expression and outlet. Last but not least, Lee’s wisdom, positive impact on the world and inspiring others to do warmth and healing energy permeate his thoughtful and the same, Lee is a gentle, old soul deeply committed to heartfelt responses as he opens up and shares more thriving in this human life and using his voice as a healing about some of his own greatest creative challenges and balm and guiding force to his ever-growing community in breakthroughs, and sheds light on a powerful message these unprecedented times. that continues to come through with urgency in his work.

PHOTOS: Tanya-Malott www.facethecurrent.com 105 Chris Assaad: Though you are music and singing, as at school and in started to verbally channel my guides, most widely known for your shows, I could learn and remember which I also didn’t foresee. I see the monthly energy updates and melodies very fast, and also create two as very connected. your transformational offerings, harmonies to musical lines. I didn’t you’ve described music as your realise I had an affinity for it - I just “People feel music first, and “favorite art form” and “your thought that’s what everyone did at deepest source of connection to the time. But now I see that I had an understand it second. We Spirit.” How did your journey ear for music early on. all want (and trust) a direct with music begin and what Music was my sanctuary as a troubled makes that form of expression teenager. Listening to music was a experience, and music is a so special to you? place where my sensitivity could seemingly invisible force that Lee Harris: As a kid, I loved to sing rest, and my emotions could expand, along with songs I would hear on the and I could escape from what I was we culturally have learnt to radio, and later, in shows at school struggling with in my internal life. I (musicals and concerts). My mum devoured a lot of musical theatre let into our bodies, hearts and tells a story that when I was 5, I was between age 8-14 and from then on, minds.” given a solo in a school Christmas singer-songwriters became my gurus, show, but that I never told her I with their message-based lyrics, CA: What have you discovered, was doing it. So the day of the show, and emotionally liberating music. I personally and in your work as she’s there to watch and she saw me didn’t start writing my own music a transformational leader and walk alone to the front of the stage, until I was 21, and I was shocked facilitator, about the healing and immediately started to panic, as when it happened. The experience of power of music? she thought I was doing something hearing melodies playing in the ether, LH: That music goes directly to our wrong. I sang a song called ‘My Pigeon sometimes with lyrics too, and then senses, our feelings and our soul, House’. She still remembers that to bringing them to the guitar to craft without the mind being a gatekeeper this day. I have no memory of it now, and write was just pure magic to me. that we need to navigate first. People but I do remember feeling confident It felt like the best thing in the world feel music first, and understand it as a kid with anything to do with and it was about a year later when I second (if mental understanding

106 FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE ever becomes something people it for me. That I couldn’t create the receive your newest creation? do around music). We all want (and spoken word channeled message, LH: The irony was when I had the trust) a direct experience, and music until I first had the song. So I created vision for Golden World, I thought it is a seemingly invisible force that a mantra, the centerpiece of the song, would be easy to do and the idea for we culturally have learnt to let into that Davor Bozic and I then fleshed it happened in a really great time in our bodies, hearts and minds. When out across a seven day period, adding my life. But as soon as I embarked I run my transformation events and other vocals and instrumentation. We on the project, so much fell apart in retreats, if they are longer than a were on a tight deadline as we were my personal life, almost overnight, day, I always bring live musicians and/ both headed to Costa Rica to run a so the whole thing actually took two or drummers into the room. Music retreat, so in theory, we really didn’t and a half years to complete, and the becomes the pulse underneath the have time to do it. But music, when nature of it changed as a result. work we do, and for many, it helps it’s alive, doesn’t care about your them feel their way into the work plans - haha! It was fantastic and so I didn’t really know what the and themselves far faster. Plus, it nice to be consumed by something audience for my channeled work makes it more fun for all of us! that had such a power and strong would think of the album, but I driving force energy to it. knew I had to do it for myself, as CA: Your latest musical release I had neglected music while the is entitled “This Is The Voice” CA: In 2012, you independently other work became in demand. and you’ve shared that it was “a released a full-length album Perhaps the most interesting (and joyous labor of love to create”. entitled Golden World. This surprising) part of the process for What was the inspiration behind project came after several years me was I went through so much self- that song and what was the of having put music on the judgement about my singing voice creative process like in bringing back burner during your rise while making that record. I was very it to life? to success as a channeler and unhappy with my vocals in the first intuitive guide. What was your LH: I’d agreed to record a channelled year of recording, and was much experience of coming back to message on ‘Feminine Energy’, and as happier with my songwriting and our your passion for music and how is often the case, I knew that creating production work.I felt this internal did you feel knowing you had an a song for it would be the way into pressure to not mess the album up established audience ready to www.facethecurrent.com 107 as a vocalist, and that was tough. So CA: Your live events and percussion to my healing work, and it became a real healing journey for workshops have evolved over then we made a pop album called me as a singer. My voice as a speaker the years and blossomed into ARISE together too. We found, as the and channeler had found an audience, a beautiful blend of teaching, years went on, that songs add a great and I no longer judged my speaking group facilitation, energy work, element to channeling and meditative voice at all. But my voice as a musical channeling, live music and sound spoken messages, so that became artist, wasn’t in that same place. So healing. How did live music and a new thing too and it has evolved those sessions in the vocal booth sound healing find their way into organically over the years. Kirtan were painful, difficult and like going your transformational work? artist Narada Wise would do the live into the boxing ring with my own workshops in the USA and Canada LH: It was organic, really. I got put mind. But the process worked out with me, and Davor would do the with Davor Bozic from Slovenia, great, as I committed to keep going at European events. who I collaborate on nearly all my it, and eventually, I got over my own recorded music with lately, onstage CA: A big part of your work and mind, tired of all the self-doubt and in Vienna, where I was a guest your live offering is channeling was able to finally accept myself and speaker at a conference. We clicked wisdom in the moment for my voice in a new way. I’m so proud and I didn’t realise Davor had such your audience on a specific of that album now, the vocals, and the a wealth of musical expertise and theme, often with live music as beautiful work Dan Burke did on it experience, but on an instinct, asked a companion. How do you go as co-producer and instrumentalist, him to collaborate more with me. He about preparing for this and and it remains my favourite full length felt the same, so we started working creating music to match the release so far. I hear that comment together in live workshops, with theme of the channels? from a lot of my audience too. him bringing instrumental music and

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It is important to

finish something. Produce “things, get “ them out into the world, not be afraid to tell people your ‘thing’ exists

LH: Occasionally, there is a song amazing how it always works out. is a dangerous place for us to be, from the back catalogue of albums and actually causes more harm than CA: What guidance can you offer that has never been performed putting something out into the world to any multi-passionate creatives live but seems to fit what’s going despite your fear of the response. and artists out there who are on in the room that day, so we often faced with the pressure will rehearse and play it together, to choose and focus on the one “I had many people in the sometimes an hour or less before thing that they can do best? performing it. But more often than early years tell me what not, we literally write brand new LH: Ha! That hasn’t worked well I ‘should’ be doing to be songs to order on the day, which lets for me. Even in my work every day, me craft lyrics that directly relate to I wear many different hats, between successful rather than things that were said and shared by CEO, Creator, Collaborator, Author, participants in the workshop sessions. Speaker, Intuitive, so I think if you are helping me become more This adds a certain pressure at the built that way, which most people in of who I was. And I was so events and means you don’t get much younger generations are these days free break time during a long day and too, you will suffer if you don’t get to wanting things to go well for evening, but it’s a great way to literally express the different sides of yourself. ‘channel’ the group into a song and But that said, it is important to finish me that I think I took some works so well. And you choose the something. Produce things, get them of it to heart more than was songs intuitively for what you sense out into the world, not be afraid to the evening message will be about. tell people your ‘thing’ exists. I think good for me. It took many Sometimes my mind has wondered often finishing and marketing your why a song we’ve written is so gentle own work is the stumbling block for years for me to let go of what and sweet, and I’ve learnt now not people, so they don’t choose to focus other people thought and to question it, as often the channeled because they’re afraid of what might message (which I never know the come up in and for them if they start to tune in on why I made details of beforehand) might be finish something and put it into the music, and trust what felt strong or impactful, so the gentle world. Sabotage yourself first rather song was the necessary balance. It’s than be criticized by others, which right and good to me.”

www.facethecurrent.com 109 CA: It’s been said that musicians would never be The Beatles, I could take with art - let all your feelings deal with more day-to-day write a song that made people feel. fly when you make it. I also love it rejection in one year than most But it took many years for me to let because it’s a brain break and I can people experience in a lifetime. go of what other people thought and listen to music while I do it! Have you had any experiences of start to tune in on why I made music, CA: What are some of your rejection on your journey as an and trust what felt right and good to most essential practices for artist? If so, how have you dealt me. maintaining your center and with and overcome them? CA: In addition to your gifts for well-being, and staying grounded LH: I had many people in the early music, writing, channeling and amidst the fast-paced flow of years tell me what I ‘should’ be doing speaking, it seems you are also your work life, and the energetic to be successful rather than helping an avid and prolific visual artist, demands of constant content me become more of who I was. And and have even recently launched creation, travel, holding space I was so wanting things to go well for an online gallery for your art. and being a guide for so many? me that I think I took some of it to What do you love about painting LH: Like everyone, there are times heart more than was good for me. and where does it fit into your I do well with that and other times One guy who owned a music studio, already full creative flow? where balance is more challenging. saw me at an open mic and offered to LH: I found art in 2010 during my For me, the biggest key in all of it has give me feedback. After listening to a tough time, and would on and off been learning to recognise the signals demo of mine, he told me that a song have these bouts of painting, just of overwhelm in me. I can run a lot I wrote wasn’t finished and I should intuitively letting things happen on of energy for a period of time, but rewrite it because the chorus didn’t the canvas. I am more regular with I’m definitely an ambivert - someone rhyme and he kind of told me off it this past couple of years and I who goes between extroversion about it. I was really shocked but sort find it really meditative and moving. and introversion. I spent years not of believed he could be right, and Challenging too, as there is a lot to understanding that about myself, then he told me I should try to write learn, but when it’s flowing and you so I would crash and burn or push and sound more like THE BEATLES, get to play and express, it’s such a myself. Now I know what my limits which was his favourite band. But luxury to get to do it. It calms me, are more, so in busy periods I try and then other people started to connect and very occasionally really annoys include painting, listening to music, with that song and several told me it me too, but that’s a great ride to going and being with our cats, sitting made them cry. So I realised, while I quietly with my husband, or anything else that is not a ‘doing’ or stimulating activity. I also workout five or six mornings a week and that helps my energy stay strong. But the older I get, the more I enjoy moments and short bouts of silence in order to replenish - sitting looking at a tree, or the wall, or watching what the cats are doing helps me come back to the present. CA: You often talk about “the wheel” of creativity and wisdom that we all benefit from and can equally contribute to with our own expression. Who are some of your greatest heroes (musical, spiritual or otherwise) and what moves, motivates, or inspires you most about them and their work? What have you learned from them? LH: I would say two of my first big loves musically were Kate Bush and Tori Amos. Kate is extraordinary, as is Tori in a different way. With those two, I loved the power and the

110 FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE elaborate sonic worlds Kate would that all of the time and I try to see create in her productions, then the that as clearly as I can and be more make people recoil or panic raw intimacy and genius piano work compassionate about the unseen about what they’re seeing, from Tori. This past year it has mostly struggles of others. been Sufjan Stevens, Johan Johansson but we aren’t here to shy CA: One of the prominent and Olafur Arnalds. When a musician and recurring messages in creates work that feels like it fits away from life. We are here your writings and channeled you like a favourite outfit, it’s heaven. transmissions this past year to create the new, every day And it’s an undefinable thing. Maybe has been, “You are needed and it’s the way the song sounds in we’re here, and too often we now is your time.” Who is this the production, or the way it was message for and what does it get encouraged into patterns written, or the voice of the artist. It’s mean to you? like a communion experience with and habits that don’t let us do your mind, body and soul when that LH: We are living in very new and happens. uncharted times on Earth, and I know that.” that fear can make people recoil As for heroes in life and spirituality, CA: Are you currently working or panic about what they’re seeing, I loved “The Four Agreements” by on any new music? Do you have and I can understand that. But, and Don Miguel Ruiz when I first read it any plans to release another this is what the message is about, twenty years ago, and I gifted copies album in the near future? we aren’t here to shy away from life. to friends. Sure, in moments, that’s fine. But we LH: Yes. Davor and I are working In life, I think the heroes to me are are here to create the new, every away on an album that will be in the those who persevere in difficult day we’re here, and too often we same vein as “This Is The Voice.” You circumstances in life. Who continue get encouraged into patterns and never know quite how long these to show up and demonstrate their habits that don’t let us do that. So things take, especially when you don’t spirit and life-force. But equally, most the message is really a call to arms do music full time, but I am hoping people I meet are having to be a hero beyond that, and to live for today. we should have it out by the fall of about something in their lives that we 2019. may or may not know about. They’re “We are living in very new a caregiver, or an overworked parent, for example. That to me is being a and uncharted times on Earth, ymore info: human hero and I meet people like and I know that fear can https://www.leeharrisenergy.com

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