Interview for Spud Alford

In 1990, after ten years of law practice with a respected firm in his hometown of Columbus, GA, Allen Levi, gave his business suits away, locked up his brief case, and moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. For the next two years, he studied for a masters degree in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh and, in the process, renewed his lifelong love for singing and songwriting. He would return from Scotland to three years of part-time law work before becoming a fulltime singer-songwriter in 1995. Now, two years later, he is "busier than I ever imagined I would be" and knows what it means to wake up "thrilled about going to work." A self taught acoustic guitarist who reflects the diverse influences of James Taylor, Dan Fogelburg, Harry Chapin,  Stevie Wonder, as other folk and popular musicians from the 70's, Levi is poet, musician, storyteller, teacher, and evangelist rolled into one. In each role, he draws on his love for words to communicate the sacredness of simple things, "in celebration of little things and little people," he calls it. A bird egg, a goldfish in a bowl, a woman standing at a graveside in a country cemetery, a field of sunflowers, a unfound Easter egg, a tie-dyed t-shirt - such are just some of the subjects that inspired songs on the 5 CD's that the prolific songwriter has produced from his studio since 1995.

A Christian of 19 years, Levi travels the country performing for groups of all descriptions - college students, businessmen, young couples, singles, Christian, secular - with a mission of "provoking thought, inspiring joy, and pointing people to 'life that is truly life.'" We caught up with him recently upon his return from a month of work in Colorado. Before leaving for a September schedule that will take him to engagements in Montana, Colorado, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee, he took time to tell us about his work.

SA: How does one move from 13 years of law practice to a career in music?

AL: Most people assume that I just got fed up with law practice one day and said "enough is enough." Actually, though there were parts of the work I strongly disliked, I basically enjoyed my work as a lawyer. For my last three years of  practice, I was working half days. With the balance of my time, I was developing music, building a small studio, and asking people, whose judgement I trusted a lot more than my own, lots of questions about the sanity of trying my hand as a singer songwriter. Everyone was encouraging and, in mid 1995, I made the move.

SA: Well, we can tell by your schedule that there's a lot going on. Has your new career lost its charm at all?

AL: No one could love their work more than I love mine. There are challenges to keeping all the balls in the air sometimes, but I gladly accept them for the sheer joy of being able to do what I feel like I was born to do. It's been two years now and I can't imagine doing anything else.

SA: You are a professing Christian, and yet much of the stuff you write is not overtly Christian. Is that a fair observation?

AL: Yes, that's fair; though, I would point out that I still believe strongly that what I write is totally consistent with and expressive of my faith as a Christian. I'm convinced that faith should impact and inform every experience of life for us, whether we're in a church building, a football stadium, or a courtroom.

SA: So your faith is reflected in what you write and sing, even when your subjects are not "religious"?

AL: I pray that's the case. My Christian life began when I was 22 years old. I remember very well what is was like to be an outsider to things Christian and I consciously write things that might connect with those who are not Christian. Music that is overtly Christian, say praise and worship type music, represents a destination. As a Christian, it is my hope and prayer that all people everywhere will someday sing praise to Jesus Christ. If that music is the destination though, I guess mine would be a signpost, encouraging people who aren't there yet to at least look in the direction of God. Praise music helps those who are already Christian to look upward with more focus. My songs invite people to look around, and maybe find the finger of God in everyday life. I try to interpret common things, simple moments, universal experiences from a believer's perspective. I just finished a song, for instance, about a little girl learning to ride a bike and her need to trust the one who was running at her side. It's a song about a father and daughter but has clear spiritual implications.

SA: You're still single and yet you write quite a lot about fatherhood don't you?

AL: Yeah, I come from a close family and have learned a lot about fatherhood from the two Fathers that I have: my dad and my God.

SA: You've recorded 5 CD's in the past two. Can you tell us about the material on each of your recordings?

AL: Each recording I've done has its own personality but they're all similar in that they are driven by the acoustic guitar and are, I hope, lyrically  picturesque. My first recording, "Love Looking Down," is an assortment of music styles, tempos, messages and was written with something for everyone if that be possible. "Open Windows" is a collection of soft acoustic music, at least some of which can be described as "lullabyish." Some of the lyrical content is the best I think I've done. "Talking with Tyler" is a musical conversation with my dog. It's a humorous, heavily metaphorical project with spoken parts between the songs. About half of it was recorded before live audiences. It's guaranteed to make you laugh but also has some poignant moments as well. I'm working of volume two at present. "Rivertown" was written with the '96 Olympic in mind to celebrate the South and tell some stories about my hometown. I recently did 6 performances at the Springer Opera House in Columbus. One cut in particular is performed with a black gospel choir form Columbus. We recorded the song in their Sunday morning service. I refer to it as the highlight of my musical life. My most recent project "Liberty" was done with younger listeners in mind and is more percussive and rhythmic, but still lyrically rich.

SA: Any regrets about leaving law practice?

AL: Not even a hint of regret. David wrote in Psalm 16 that the boundary lines had fallen for him in pleasant places. I know exactly how he felt. I love my work.