Interview

The specific Out of the Shadows campaign is over, but Evanescence singer-pianist Amy Lee won’t ever stop bringing to light the realities of epilepsy.  Her brother, Robby, had his first seizure when he was 8-years-old.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. Seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain.

Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They can have many symptoms, from convulsions and loss of consciousness to some that are not always recognized as seizures by the person experiencing them or by health care professionals: blank staring, lip smacking, or jerking movements of arms and legs.

Lee became the American chairperson for Out of the Shadows in 2006. Donations to the site at the time went towards epilepsy awareness and education.

“People don’t know what to do when someone’s having a seizure,” Lee told Samaritanmag, during a recent promo visit to Toronto for Evanescence’s forthcoming album (out Oct. 11).

“People freak out if someone is having a seizure. They think there’s something wrong with them or they’re on drugs or demon-possessed. I think, especially in young people, we have enough against us to make us feel awkward and different that things like that we should be able to understand because it’s totally not that weird. We all have our little differences and quirks about us. And I want to spread awareness. It’s really common.”

In elementary school, Bruce Cockburn remembers a teacher wishing upon her class that they all grow up to be “radicals,” a person intent on forcing change by uncompromising methods.

The future folk-rock singer-songwriter doesn’t known how that might’ve affected his desire to make a difference in the world, but in the 1980s — after the release of his hit single “If I Had A Rocket Launcher” — the Canadian became known as an outspoken political activist and hasn’t wavered in his firm stance against war-mongering, environmental damage, and various injustice.

His latest album, his 31^st, Small Source of Comfort, has a couple of issue-oriented songs, the comical “Call Me Rose” about Richard Nixon getting reincarnated as a single mother living in the projects; and the somber tribute “Each One Lost,” written after his trip to Afghanistan where he witnessed the ramp ceremony for two fallen Canadian soldiers.

Samaritanmag.com talked to Cockburn about landmines, finding a cause, and music’s power.

Have you seen changes come about in the causes you’ve supported over the years?

“How can I answer that backwards? Yes, I’ve seen changes. There have been changes. The landmine issue, for instance, was probably the most dramatic example of that where the campaign went from being very low-voiced murmuring to being this groundswell and then, ultimately, producing a treaty [The Ottawa Treaty or Anti-Personnel Lane Mine Treaty in 1997], to which most of the countries in the world are signatory, banning the manufacturing and use of landmines. It’s not a complete victory because there are some major holdouts there, including the U.S. and Russia and China.” 

Justin Bieber isn’t the only musician behind Pencils of Promise.  British singer Natalia Kills, signed by Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, and whose album, Perfectionist, comes out August 16, is already supporting the New York-based charity which builds schools in the developing world.

“I recently opened an online eBay store where some of the proceeds go to Pencils of Promise to build schools,  so if it’s something I’ve worn before for a particular appearance, sometimes it ends up on my eBay store,” Kills tells Samaritanmag, during a recent stop in Toronto when she was on tour with Robyn.

Kills, whose real surname is Cappuccini, says she chose Pencils of Promise for a couple of reasons.

“A lot of my friends like to work two or three days a week for a few hours at least in an office for a non-profit organization,” she says. “It’s always to do with humans. I know it’s important to save animals and save the planet, but we have to start by saving human beings first and making their lives better, in my opinion, before we start on the rest of it. Basically, I have a few friends who like to do that and that’s how I found out about it.

“I think it’s actually the fastest rising non-profit that exists at the moment. They’ve built over 35 schools in less than 5 years, so they’re doing really well right now.  I don’t know anyone else [musician-wise] who supports it, but I know me and Justin Bieber do. “

Bieber started Schools 4 All with Pencils of Promise founder Adam Braun, a campaign that challenges students, parents, entire schools and communities to launch a personal fundraising page to help PoP build more schools. According to the site (www.schools4all.org), it has raised more than $143,000 to date, which equals seven new schools. The campaign ends June 30 and the person who raises the most money will receive a visit at the school of their choice from Bieber and Braun.