Beverly Glenn-Copeland, the revered artist, has returned with his long-awaited album, The Ones Ahead. This studio LP marks his first in nearly two decades and follows the success of his acclaimed album Keyboard Fantasies, essential listening for any true music fan. In addition to his new album, Transgressive is reissuing Glenn-Copeland’s 2004 album, Primal Prayer, on September 1, featuring the song ‘La Vita,’ recently sampled by The xx’s Romy. And if you needed to catch up on some essential BGC listening, reissues of his early works, Beverly Copeland and Beverly Glenn-Copeland, both released in the ‘70s and revered as modern jazz-folk masterpieces, received the special reissue treatment on the 7th of July.
The Ones Ahead beautifully merges Glenn-Copeland’s signature instrumental and ambient style with new synth/ambient jams. The album pays homage to important figures in his life and offers a diverse musical journey, from reflective stories to soul-stirring anthems. The songs preach love, respect, and our collective responsibilities as caretakers on the human journey. Glenn-Copeland’s heartfelt and empowering lyrics, combined with intricate electroacoustic arrangements, create a transformative listening experience that cements his legacy as a masterful songwriter and healer.
You’ve had the most extraordinary life and a whole new generation now look up to you as an inspiration. What do you take away from this new generation of fans?
I have had quite the extraordinary life, haven’t I!
What do I take from this new generation of fans? That they care deeply. That they are looking for meaningful ways to make sense of the madness that has descended on the planet. When I am with them, I often experience an opening, knowing they are teaching about their dedication, kindness, and reclaiming our society for the better. They are working in small groups everywhere despite difficult consequences, and this is very encouraging to me.
I also love that they have released the musical focus on genre. The music coming out now is so rich in a multitude of influences from various musical traditions. And this has created a space for the music that comes through me to be heard.
How does it feel to have things come to fruition later in life? Was there ever a point where, and I don’t want to say ‘gave up’, but a point where you thought things would not go the way you had hoped?
Well, it feels wonderful that it has come to fruition. After so many decades of very little interest in my music, by the time I hit 65, I was pretty sure nothing would come my way, and I was okay with that.
When Elizabeth and I first got together as a couple in 2007 (we’d been friends since 1992), we were both still hustling work as artists and living on the financial edge. I remember once jokingly saying to her that when I died, the world would discover my music and she’d be set for life. In her inimitable fashion, she said something like, “Hell no, that’s not happening. I want you to experience the fruits of your labour!” At which point she started to reach out to people about my music, but in those days, there still wasn’t a lot by way of palpable interest –my music has never fit into any particular genre and that was still offputting to most. She also started a prayer campaign and what I have learned about Elizabeth is that when she prays, often things happen. The thing about prayer is that you have to be good with the fact that the timing isn’t in your hands. So she kept praying and we kept hustling. We moved east in 2011 in an effort to find a way to live on less, settled in a community along the Acadian Coast in New Brunswick, Canada and opened a theatre school. After 5 years, we had built something to be proud of and were looking into expanding with a vision of building a theatre centre when the economy in the city we were in tanked, and we had to close up shop. It was then that the email from Japan that changed our lives came in.
How does your spirituality influence your music? Was there a particular energy or spiritual outcome you channelled when penning this new album?
I have always believed in something called the “universal broadcasting system” which is to say the universe itself –it sends concepts and music that I would have never in my ordinary state of consciousness come up with. I am a Soka Gakkai Buddhist. The central focus of the Soka Gakkai is a chanting practice, and yes, it is the practice that Tina Turner turned to shortly after she left Ike. The spirit of the Gakkai is to chant for not only what you need as an individual, but to manifest a caring world for every living being.
As for The Ones Ahead, there was no particular energy I was in touch with as I put together this album outside of my central purpose, which is to be of service, to encourage the generations that are having to make their way in these challenging times.
In the early days, new technology played a huge part in your creative process. This new album features a lot of electroacoustic elements. How has the speed at which technology continues to improve affected your music now? Would you say it is still something that you are drawn to?
It is interesting to me that I was on the cutting edge where using technology was concerned when I wrote ‘Keyboard Fantasies’ but now I can barely keep up :) AI scares me. Soon we may not know if it’s me singing, or if it’s some sort of technological component that’s claiming to be me singing. So I am cautious...
How do you think your classical training affected how you write your music?
Classical music is more than my training. I grew up with it. It infused my life from early childhood when my father played 6 hours of classical music on piano every day. It effects how I write music quite deeply though that influence may not always be evident in every piece. My early training set up an important element of discipline that is with me to this day.
I’ve read that you’re not someone who listens to a lot of music, which is interesting because I know quite a few composers who are the same. Is there a piece of music you’ve been ruminating over recently? If so, what is it about it that made you want to actively listen?
The album What’s Going On? by Marvin Gaye, specifically the song “Save the Children”. I’m not sure I’d say it’s specifically influencing me, but it’s encouraging me, and has ever since I first heard it in 1971. This album is nothing short of prophetic. Marvin was definitely ahead of his time. A huge part of my focus over the decades has been my work with children and youth. I’d love to do a cover of “Save the Children” sometime in the future.
