C.W. Mundy is a renowned painter, his beautiful Impressionist works are exhibited across the U.S. and in Europe. Yet, for the past decade, he has had a dream to create art of a different sort—the musical kind. That dream is now a reality, with the release of his new CD, Road Trip: Crossing Borders.
Let’s talk about Road Trip. How would you describe the music? What is the significance of the title?
Contemporary bluegrass, jazz, New American Roots, and one Latin Pop tune.
My wife Rebecca and I are on the road a great deal of time and producing artwork On Location “en plein air.” Some of these songs developed as a result of these trips.
We also wanted the music to be the backdrop and good listening music for others’ travels and Road Trips.
You’ve been playing banjo since 1966, yet you chose to follow a quite different path in Fine Art. What was the catalyst for this music project?
It was finally just time to do this project! It’s always been a desire to have my own record with great artists on it. God made this happen.
Did you write all of the songs for the album? Is there a similarity between songwriting and painting?
Yes, all the songs are my originals.
And yes, it is all the same. A great painting has a strong “centrality of focus.” An instrumental has a melody in the A part. A vocal has the chorus.
Action – rest – rhythm. It’s all the same.
A number of your songs reflect the Christian experience. How does your faith play into your work, as a painter as well as a musician?
Christ is the “Centrality of Focus.” It all starts with prayer before I pick up a brush to paint or grab my banjo to pick. God gave me these gifts and I greatly appreciate and respect them!
Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?
I was in a band in L.A. in 1975 when God ended it because of the death of one of the members of the group. God told me on that very day that my art career was ahead of me and music was over for now.
A few fun questions…
What is your favorite comfort food and why?
Gourmet Italian pizza! Because of our travels throughout Europe, I have become a pizza connoisseur.
This website features writers as well as musicians. If you wrote the story of your life, what would it be entitled?
“I told you I was sick!” No, just kidding. It would be God’s Mercies Are Everlasting.
If you were a song, what kind would you be?
LOVE!!
As a personality, are you a major or a minor chord?
With major being “upbeat” and minor being “mellow,” I have the luxury of being both! I strive to keep my identity in Christ.
In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?
I’ve often remarked that I’m a child trapped in an adult body! The only difference is that I want to be responsible.
I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, and/or your favorite pet as a child.
We have an orchestra of very loud tree frogs just before dark near our back deck.
Also, “Patrick Alowishus Brady Mundy” – our Heinz 52 Special that I will reunite with in Heaven, according to Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven!!
Thank you, C.W. It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.
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For more information about C.W. Mundy’s artwork, visit his website at www.cwmundy.com. To learn more about his music, visit www.moonsurfrecords.com.
To listen to samples from Road Trip, logon to http://www.moonsurfrecords.com/about-road-trip-cw-mundy/songs/.
To purchase the CD, logon to http://www.moonsurfrecords.com/about-road-trip-cw-mundy/where-to-buy/.
For a list of upcoming oil painting workshops and exhibits by Mr. Mundy, logon to http://cwmundy.wordpress.com/.