An Interview With Stanley Bronstein
Don’t let gatekeeping deter you. I used to feel intimidated when someone made things complicated, but then I realized this is actually a way of keeping me from learning about what they do. The best people to collaborate with are inclusive, and make a difficult project feel simple.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Kori.
Lisa Kori is a Santa Fe–based artist and conservatory-trained musician whose debut album, Daughter of the West, reimagines the folk music of Asian-American immigrants in the American West. Drawing from her own family history — spanning Chinese general stores in Texas, Japanese internment camps in California, and activism in San Francisco Chinatown — Lisa brings forgotten narratives to life through music.
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
Thanks for having me! I’ve written music since I was young. But it was a detour through art and design that inspired me to apply the concepts I’d learned to being a musician. Especially the line of thinking that an album can reflect a collection of research, just in the same way that putting together an exhibit has a body of research behind it. That turns the songwriting process from a lonely one to realizing that we’re always in dialogue with larger stories than just our own.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Not one particular mistake, but a lot of them. As a teenager, I used to play piano, and I’d get it right in practice, then get on stage and my fingers would stumble over the keys. At the time, I asked one of my friends (Michael Rosen, he’s a keyboardist in the band Cones) how to stop making mistakes, and he said “don’t!” As in, don’t make any. I think I took it with a mixture of laughter and offense. But it worked. It was the mindset shift from worrying about what would go wrong at a show, to believing that things would go well. Then they did, for the most part.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
We all have a unique perspective. Find yours! It’s tempting to chase what other people are doing, but I believe integrity and staying true to yourself is more compelling over the long term.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
One person who comes to mind is drummer Paul Pearcy. He’s played with Willie Nelson, the Chicks, Ray Wylie Hubbard. I thought he would find my ideas to be out there, especially pairing country and Western rhythms with Asian folk melodies, but he was so enthusiastic to dig in and figure out how to make it work. He also showed me that being a bandleader is not just counting off a song, but about committing to a shared vibe and feeling.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
In trying to find the music of the gold rush, railroads, and Hawaiian plantations for my project, Daughter of the West, I had difficulty finding source material. I’m currently partnering with the Music of Asian America Research Center to have a conversation about why this is, and learning about other artists like myself who are creating music that addresses or reconstructs the missing history. This will be aired on Currents TV as part of the Asian PaCivics Program run by the Slants Foundation.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
Participating in the Americana music scene, I saw how people would pull out a song that their grandparents had sung, or their grandparents’ grandparents had sung. Folk music is an oral tradition. In lieu of not having music that was passed down to me, and discovering that it doesn’t exist on a larger scale due to historical processes of exclusion, I’m trying to figure out a way forward culturally. Hopefully this work will help others too!
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
At one of my shows, I met filmmaker and community organizer Terry Ngo. She was excited about what I was doing and invited me to contribute music to her short film. Her films are about the experiences of Vietnamese refugees in the Southwest. I enjoy when my work resonates with people and they share the wonderful projects they are working on themselves.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
I appreciate the support so far in getting this project out into the world, and I hope that my work inspires others to share their stories too. In general, I hope we find ways to support creative work of all types.
Why do you think music in particular has the power to create social change and create a positive impact on humanity?
There are a lot of emotions, or even micro emotions, that don’t have a name. They all exist in music though! It can communicate a feeling where language falls short.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”?
- The things that give us resistance are often where we have breakthroughs. The process might be difficult. It’s ok. Take a break, then try again.
- Don’t let gatekeeping deter you. I used to feel intimidated when someone made things complicated, but then I realized this is actually a way of keeping me from learning about what they do. The best people to collaborate with are inclusive, and make a difficult project feel simple.
- There’s a line of thinking, if I have external success, then I’ll believe in myself. But it always seems to happen the other way around. Every time I’ve believed in myself and what I’m doing, that’s when it resonates with others.
- I think there is a societal aversion to dreams and fantasies. But in the simplest sense, a goal comes from distilling a dream into a best case outcome and outlining steps to achieve that. Make space in your life for imagining the things you want to do!
- Lastly, watch what you say, because it just might happen.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
This may be a rather boring answer, but I always come back to universal health coverage. Having the basics covered is what allows folks to take creative and career risks.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
Here’s a song that’s running through my head, from singer-songwriter Don Richmond of Howlin’ Dog Music Group, who I’ve collaborated with.
“There will be no other day, exactly like today. There will be no other morning, with the clouds arranged that way.”
I love hearing a song that’s so well written, and it’s a poignant reminder to pay attention to the sweetness of the present.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Gosh, perhaps Lucy Liu or Ming-Na Wen. Growing up, there weren’t a lot of Asian-American women in entertainment and their successes were inspiring to me!
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
About the Interviewer: Stanley Bronstein is an attorney, CPA, and author of more than 20 books. However, he doesn’t consider any of those his greatest achievement. His most significant accomplishment was permanently losing 225 pounds and developing the personal growth system that made it possible — The Way of Excellence. As a catalyst for change, he has dedicated his life to helping others maximize their potential, transform their lives, and achieve optimal health. To learn more, you can download a free PDF copy of his latest book, The Way of Excellence Journal, at HYPERLINK “https://thewayofexcellence.com/”https://TheWayOfExcellence.com.
Music Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Lisa Kori Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.