Canadian rock singer and songwriter Eric Bolton shares the music video for his debut original solo song ‘Genesis (Let There Be Love)’. The track is a rock anthem for the ages, which Eric describes as “a song to mark my coming out as gay and beginning to celebrate the big life and big love I always knew I was meant to live.”
Eric grew up as a closeted kid in a highly conservative Christian family with many messages from the church and society putting down his sense of self-worth and confidence. Knowing he was gay from a very young age, he spent over two decades being told that he did not deserve to love or be loved as he was. With depression taking over, Eric then spent years hiding away from the world. In May 2020 at the age of 31, he finally stood up for himself and proudly came out as gay.
Speaking of that time, Eric says, “I decided to take my life back and saw it as my new beginning, so I wrote Genesis immediately after coming out. Stealing from biblical beginnings, I named the song ‘Genesis’ and swapped ‘let there be light’ for ‘let there be love’. It’s been a beautiful journey of self discovery, mental and emotional clarity, and increasing confidence ever since.”
Tell us about Eric Bolton!
Hey! I’m a Canadian guy, born and raised in Southern Ontario, and also have a music school here. I love my community, I love organizing events to support different businesses and causes, and of course I love to make and perform music! I keep pretty busy with performing actually…usually 4 or 5 shows a week.
What is the message behind your art?
More and more I find I’m now writing about getting back to your roots…and I don’t necessarily mean cultural roots, I mean the deep down knowing of what’s right for you. Somewhere along the way we all seem to start shaping our lives in ways that maybe don’t really serve us properly or maybe aren’t a true reflection of what’s right for us. So I have lately been coming back to that inner compass in my writing.
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
Man, well my main inspiration for writing was in just living in a subdued way but wanting to break out of that and learn to be more myself…especially in regards to coming out and learning to stand up for myself. Other artists though who have lyrically inspired me would have to be Jeff Buckley, Glen Hansard, Eddie Vedder, John Prine, Chris Cornell, Gord Downie, Damien Rice, Joni Mitchell, Zeppelin, Springstein, Freddie Mercury, and so many more….but those would be constant fall backs.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
For sure Chris Cornell. I feel like every year I understand what he was about a little more and find I regularly want to tap into the passion he brought forward. I wasn’t even a huge Cornell fan until maybe 7 years ago when I saw Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails together and witnessed what he delivers live.
What was the record or artist that changed your life?
So many, really, but probable ‘Grace’ by Jeff Buckley. Hearing that album for the first time I felt like I’d found someone who I related to from a guitar playing standpoint then felt so moved by his constant emotion and vulnerability. Immensely pure.
Tell us about your latest release ‘Genesis’ and how it came about
Genesis was my new beginning. I wrote it after taking my first steps of taking pride in myself as a gay guy and taking the first steps of standing up against Christian conservative ‘ideals’ for my life. It was insanely empowering. The song came about very quickly actually, just seemed to be right there in front of me. It’s a song about no longer settling for a monochrome world, and wanting to live and love in full colour…which could really apply
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
How would you want people to feel while listening to your music?
Free. Absolutely free. Inspired to get back to what’s right for them and gain the excitement and bravery to shrug off pressures or relationships that are keeping them living for others and not themselves.
Where are some things you really want to accomplish as an artist?
There’s the ever-present dream to see people unite around the music and the message, so the hope to perform at greater and greater levels is very real. I’d add though that I really more and more look forward to collaborating with some of the people who have inspired me.
What inspires your style?
Truthfully, I began writing without having a real sense of writing inspiration…just a connection with the guitar and also a sense of loneliness as a person. It became my little sanctuary. Outside of that though I think I gain a lot of inspiration from picturing the moments where a song will really shine. Like when my band (Shy Harry) and I wrote our song ‘That Good Night’ I could picture the scenery and the setting for the concert moments for that song. I could picture an outdoor show under an open sky. A breeze passing through. A sunset. Then wrote with that moment in mind.
Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?
Oh man, I’ve been disheartened over and over again. I feel though, that giving up has never felt like an option. Music, and music as a career, has now been my full time life for a decade and I don’t really ever look back.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
This will likely not be the BEST advice I’ve ever gotten, but it quickly comes to mind a time when a dear friend told me something along the lines of, ‘you feel like this is your issue, they are making it seem like your issue, but it’s actually their issue’. It’s simple, but it was a great reminder to see more clearly what my mission is, what is a positive influence, and what is pulling me from my path. There’s a lot of noise out there and it’s helpful to narrow down to what really matters.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
This is some hopeful thinking but I truly believe the ultimate power of music is human connection. It’s gathering people together and giving people relationship. In this age of stream counts and viewership I really think the power will make its way back to live music experience. I know live music hasn’t been lost, but it seems to have taken a back seat. I think that is bound to have a shelf life, especially after lockdowns and social distancing…I think togetherness is ultimately going to be what lasts. I’m so ready for it.
