Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Ras Kilgannon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started when I was born and I got here one breath at a time. I was born with a banjolele strapped on my infant neck and my first words were “music is the substance of all the cosmos”. I’ve bounced along the coast of Jacksonville for most of my little life. It’s Grace, the big kind that swallows religion and anger. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I sing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If the road is smooth they are going to sell you a plastic soul when you pull over for gas. The main struggle has been recovering from growing up at church. Particularly the Jax mega-church scene where my talents were siphoned for profit. Thankfully, I still learned how to praise and will carry on in a posture of reverence until I die. Death is the main struggle. When Joe died I thought I’d never recover. You need a grief that deep if you want to actually live a day of your life. Ya know the other classic wanna-be rockstar struggles sucked at my toes too, like cancerous little crawfish. It’s by G*d’s sovereignty that I failed to hit the big time, flopped back to Jax beach, and found so much more than fame or fortune. I found my soul. I met the crab man on the beach. He wasn’t scary as I feared. He was a friend. A true one. There’s nothing wrong with us, we aren’t broken. We’ve just forgotten friendship, and forgiveness, and mercy. The church is still teaching sacrifice, violence, and judgement. Shame. Shame is the greatest struggle, the stickiest substance. Sing until you are free of it. Any song you like as long as you truly like it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most known for the macaroni song. It’s not my “finest” work, but it’s the most lovable and maybe that’s what matters in the end. I collect songs, I find them, I guess I write them but it would make as much sense to say they write me. Poetry too, about religion (and the lack thereof). I paint, and I practice yoga (it’s all yoga). I make little plant stakes out of copper and cool stones I find in the woods (they help the plants grow!) I’m a death doula (I help us all die with my presence). I spend a lot of time with Tibetan singing bowls and can help people profoundly with them (with almost any form of tension). I’m proud of that practice, some day it will take shape. I don’t market. That’s something I’m proud of. Even though sometimes I silence my voice, I don’t pander or proselytize. I listen well, usually. Don’t ask my wife. She’ll call my bull-shit. Watch your profanity! We are all holy (set-apart). I don’t want to be set apart from others, that’s division. I’m unique and happily in the fold. We’re all one. I’m proud that I quit drinking booze. No offense to anyone whatsoever. But you can too! I believe in you. And it’s also totally fine if you don’t want to too. Ya know?! It’s all good.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was supremely interested in music. I was shy, and depressed, and moody and confused. Like most teenagers who grow up in right wing Christian fascist vibrations. My football coach and my choir director are in jail. So angry. I was scared for most of my adolescence. Our entire society is designed to scare children into obedience one way or another. Especially in the south. It’s gnarly. I was interested in rocks, and still am. Sometimes I hear them singing. You have to get very quiet in your mind to hear that. I was also fun and silly sometimes and occasionally I still can be. I was well liked I suppose, but didn’t like myself. I had a girlfriend and we never even made out. I was terrified of girls. The church teaches us to be terrified of each other, oh gosh it shaped my whole personality. I was in youth quake live… sigh. Heard of that? I was the weird religious kid at Douglas Anderson I guess. But I loved it. I loved having my bubble burst. I loved meeting gay people and falling in love with them. I loved learning about the world. I loved all the music. I was, already from that age, very interested in peace. Peace is the true treasure isn’t it.
Pricing:
- Private music healing = $108 (suggested donation)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://substack.com/@ck108?r=1yg0t6&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=blur
