Interview with Mitchell Trupia: Blue-eyed Angel or Red-hot Devil?

By Joyce Shafer, Author, Weekly Columnist

The Green Street Band takes position on the stage. Some in the audience know what to expect. Others are there for their first wild ride. Blue eyes and a quirky grin capture attention. Chords blast then are followed by a graveled voice that punches holes in the air with intensity. Lyrics are offered with equal jabs to the senses. Each line is food for thought to chew on, savor, spit out, or swallow.

I interviewed songwriter, guitarist, and lead singer Mitchell Trupia from Brooklyn, New York.

JS: Many of your song lyrics have a level of "rawness" to them -- sometimes cryptic, sometimes blatant. What motivates you to put it all out there for listeners?

MT: To be honest, I write for myself whether it's a song like "Only You
and Me" or "The Vampire Song." The motivation comes from real or
imagined life experiences, dreams, hopes, and desires. David Prater, a
past producer of mine once said, "You have a certain desperation in your
songwriting." Well, these are desperate times. Each week I try to figure
how to buy enough gas to get to my next show!

Seriously, I tend to write from the heart. I hope to keep it real and be
true to myself. If what's in my heart resonates with someone, that's
great. It's genuine that way. I don't like mental chains or restraints. There appear to be restrictions in society about how we're supposed to behave, what we're
allowed to say, and how we're supposed to present ourselves in public. I would rather not hide what I feel. I think the listeners relate because I'm being honest and open. Someone came up to me after a show recently and said my lyrics touched them profoundly. I walked away almost in tears. Songs like, "Straightjacket," "Biological Net," and "Give Soul Love" are so personal that I didn't think anyone could relate. Glad to know I was wrong.

JS: Which song or songs do you feel a particular affinity or intensity about
and why?

MT: Shortly after working at Ground Zero as a recovery volunteer -- after
9/11 in NYC -- I began writing "Give Soul Love." This was just before my
mother passed away. It was near the holiday season, but I didn't get a
chance to finish it until a year after she was gone. I call it one of my
soul-gifting songs. Another song is "5 Roses." It' is my gift to the Lord
Death. Death takes so much, yet gives us something back proving to me --
there are no endings. The lyrics are, "5 roses, 5 stories, my worries
subsiding I can breathe again." The roses are the gift. 5 represents humanity; human life. The 5 stories nearly fell on my head and killed me during a partial wall collapse at Ground Zero. The stories also relate to different truths we have regarding a shared experience.

Other songs I've written, years after the 9/11 experience, include "What
Do You Need?" I rarely play that one live because it's a song about
necessity, and oftentimes I see the excess surrounding everyone -- the
materialism, the consumer mindset. I just can't play the song if I hear
someone bragging about their latest new car, designer handbag, or i-Pod that
day.

I tend to feel sorry for people who are obsessed with filling their
lives with soul-less material goods. I feel their emptiness. Why not
make something for someone you love? Write a song. Draw a picture.
Prepare a sacred meal. Anything. Do something...instead of shop.

A lost carnival of souls
Some things You will Never understand

Now I'm Standing on the Road
With the Answer in my Hand

I've got to Break on Through
To the Promised Land

I've got a burning need to know...

Why?

I've got a jigsaw soul

Lyrics from "Jigsaw Soul" ©2008 Mitchell Trupia / MagickWorks. Used by permission.

If you want to take a bite of something edgy, check out songs and lyrics at http://www.myspace.com/MitchellTrupia; or better yet, catch them live. Just wear rubber-soled shoes if you want to stay grounded. Performances and audience responses are known to get electric.

Hi Everyone,

Good news! I am pleased to announce my poem and illustration for "Biological Net" has been published in the anthology, "Trails Through the Greenbelt" edited by Jack M. Freedman.
Most of you know the poem has become a song that I perform once in awhile. Will try to upload a live performance soon.

Click the link above to purchase the anthology today and help support cultural creatives that are changing the world one word at a time..

Much love,

Mitch

p.s. a 2 minute Live version of Biological Net is up on my player. Check it.

When the Boss Steps Down..a New One Takes His Place
NewsBlog by Gary Hill (Writer/New York)

About three to four years ago, I went to a place called "The Muddy Cup" in Staten Island where I've done performances from time to time.  This one particular evening, it was an open-mic karaoke and decided to sing "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" by Simon and Garfunkel.

Well, right after I stepped down I went to get a hot chocolate when suddenly, I hear someone in what sounds like Bruce Springsteenish start singing "I'm On Fire". He was very rockerish with a boyish grin and most of all, he had the vocal stylings of a cross-between Springsteen and Dylan, that guy is Mitchell Trupia.

Afterwards I met this guy and we became friends even sitting on each other's sets during a Songwriter's Live performance.

During this particular time, I took the time to listen to some of Mitch's original material. The angst of break ups and even the anxiety of 9-11 shows up in his body of work.  Songs like "Give Soul Love" and "Straight Jacket" shows the range in his capturing the true moment of feeling and "I' Would Do Anything" can easily take you back and remind you of early Springsteen... think the "Nebraska" album.

His raw vocals gives him the hard edge that every folk rocker dreams about and his melodies are so catchy that you will end up singing it hours after hearing it.

Now, Mitch has moved south to South Carolina where he slowly builds a following and his music gets much coverage from local media outlets. He has started to build a fan base with the locals and now will be heading back north to bring his music to us as he and his band, 420 Green Street, will be doing some performances.

Although I miss seeing my friend and brother, I feel like I've kept totally in contact with him through his career and I can not be more proud.

When Bruce Springsteen decides to step down as the Boss, the next in line to fill his shoes would definitely be Mitchell Trupia.

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(press play to watch my video again)




..>

I am an indie artist. Not interested in a multi-national, major label, because I worked for one for over 10 years. ;)
I write from the heart, but I am also my own worst critic. I'm very hard on myself, sometimes.
Well, I sit here alone and wonder if anyone gives a shit lol...
So, it is great to receive so many kind messages about my music.
I would like to share some of it with you...

Here are some cool emails I received:

RE: Give Soul Love / Om Jaya - on YouTube!


"Mitchell, your music touches many people. I cried when I saw it."
- from New York

"Mitcher is The Acoustic Punk! You rawk! Glad I saw this at the Red recently. You owned the room, Mitch."
- from New York

"Speechless. OMG. I have tears in my eyes!"
- from Oklahoma

"This song is infectious! I watched it over and over."
- from Dallas, Texas

"Dude, your voice reminds me of Bowie. I LOVE this song! I will
give...from my soul. Luv ya!!!"
- from New York

(Thought I should add this one too)
"This sucks. Play Strutter or some Maiden next time! LOL"
- Anonymous

"Very George Harrison. I love it!"
- from Chicago

"Powerful, Progressive, and Positive... These are the attributes which make your performances so Persuasive."
- Jaclyn Shaw, singer/songwriter - New York

"Hey, I saw you play soul love when I was visiting NY and I must say, you sure know how to capture an audience and keep them entertained. So PASSIONATE!"
- from Florida

"You have such a powerful voice (you give me chills!) and ooh your
passion reminds me of Bruce Springsteen and...Eddie Vedder! Intense."
- from London

"WOW!! Great peformance. I had a deJaVu right away when I started watching. Was this televised at all??
I swear I saw this recently, u weren't in San Diego (where I live) were u?? hee I probably sound crazy, but I know
I saw this performance some how.... U are very talented!!!!!!"
- from San Diego, CA


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Thank you everyone. I really needed this right now. You guys are great!!
It is so awesome to know that my songs have touched many of you and I
will try to get some more clips up on YouTube in the near future.
Much love to all of you,
Mitchell

*Special thanks to Ron Shepard for playing guitar with me during that show.