Love. It's such a simple word and yet so divisive. Just ask Lenny Kravitz. He has been singing about its virtues since the release of his debut album Let Love Rule 30 years ago.
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A new song of his, Here To Love, is being used by the UN Human Rights Office for a global anti-racism campaign and Kravitz is bringing his world tour of the same name to Australia in April. Yes, love and kindness continue to be challenged by facism, xenophobia and discrimination but Kravitz continues to champion unity and equality the only way he knows how - through song.
"Love is such a simple thing but unfortunately so many people don't seem to understand that," he said by phone from the US.
"It could be so simple if our hearts were in that space but we have all these other things like power and greed and control that motivates and divides people.
"We're willing to completely destroy our planet based upon certain people making money. It's an absolute shame that we still haven't learned to live together in harmony, globally."
Kravitz says he makes a conscious choice to channel any anger he may feel at the state of the world into positive action.
"From the day I put out the first album Let Love Rule it's been a constant direction for me and it's been a concrete message that has not changed," Kravitz explained.
"That's what I use music for. To represent love. I make music for myself, I'm expressing myself, but if you inspire even one person to love rather than hate you've done your job. I've been fortunate enough to meet so many people over the years who are healed by the music and I am humbly grateful."
Like many creative types, Kravitz is drawn to the bohemian vibe of Byron Bay in NSW and says he can't wait to return there for Bluesfest 2020. It will be his first visit to our shores in eight years.
"When I came to Australia for the first time in '93 it was a very special time for me. It was for my Are You Gonna Go My Way tour," he said.
"I got to hang out for a bit, I got to see a lot of the land, I got to meet a lot of people. I fell in love with Byron Bay a few years ago. I love the ocean, I love nature, I love being in that kind of environment - it really invites creativity."
Regarded as one of the greatest rock musicians of our time, Kravitz has transcended genre, style, race and class over the course of his career. Revelling in the soul, rock and funk influences of the '60s and '70s, this writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist has won four Grammy Awards and set a record for the most wins in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category.
In addition to his 11 studio albums, which have sold in excess of 40 million worldwide, Kravitz sidelines in acting and has appeared in The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Precious and The Butler. Kravitz also owns a farm in Brazil where he grows his own produce and spends a lot of time disconnecting from technology, and is a keen photographer who has exhibited in Italy and Japan.
"I just love being creative, you know? I've always loved photography and capturing the moment; those microseconds in life that can speak so loudly. It's a wonderful medium."
- Tickets to his Here To Love Tour, which comes to the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on April 6, are on sale now through Ticketek.
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