When you turn on the news these days, you’re often told how divided the country is, and how fragmented we are as a nation, but Jess Carson of Midland doesn’t think it’s as bad as they sometimes make it seem. “America is not as divided as the news and all that would have you believe,” says Jess. “That’s the part about being a musician is the gathering of people from different walks of life, and that’s what you see every night when you look out at an audience, is people who, you know, are from different places, different incomes, different backgrounds.”
Besides the fact that people at concerts have at least one thing in common – liking a certain artists music, Jess says from what he’s seen, “We want the same things. We’re striving to find meaning and to make some sort of a difference. But fundamentally I think there is an American thing that we all share.”
Midland’s Mark Wystrach agrees, and believes the Declaration of Independence had it right, when it talked about all of us being entitled to and desiring “Pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.”
That’s one thing that Jess misses about traveling, is getting to travel and meet people and hear different people’s stories. He says, “That’s the kind of great gift afforded by a musician life. It’s a lot of time away from home, but that’s one of the cool things that you do get.”
While Midland isn’t able to tour right now, they’re continuing to work on music, including making new music, and promoting their latest single, “Cheatin’ Songs,” which just broke into the top 30 on the charts.
Midland – 4th of July 2 :42
Jess Carson – “America is not as divided as the news and all that would have you believe. That’s the part about being a musician is the gathering of people from different walks of life, and that’s what you see every night when you look out at an audience, is people who, you know, are from different places, different incomes, different backgrounds. And we want the same things. We’re striving to find meaning and to make some sort of a difference. But fundamentally I think there is an American thing that we all share.”
Mark Wystrach – “Pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.”
Jess – “Yeah. And getting to travel and meet people and hear different people’s stories, that’s the kind of great gift afforded by a musician life. It’s a lot of time away from home, but that’s one of the cool things that you do get.”