Tim Behrens was kind enough to answer our interview with the performers of  September’s AITP Online Festival.  Tim is deep and thoughtful, he has a reputation as one of the most inspiring songwriters on G+. Sit back let a few tunes play, and get to know him a bit.

Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a little about yourself. how and when did you start making music? 

I’m a singer/songwriter/lyricist in Kansas City, have been playing music in some form or another for about thirty years now.  In recent years, I’ve turned my attention to keyboards and midi orchestration.  I love sound design, scoring for videos, mixing acoustic folk with more cinematic sounds, and using the iPad as an instrument and production tool.  Acoustic guitar and singing are my ongoing passions, something I took up as a rebellion to the more stringent confines of classical music.  I still ‘hear in classical’, am greatly influenced by my experiences with the saxophone in high school and college, but don’t worry about the theory as much as I used to.  I am now at a point where I just try to write and play things that feel meaningful, without being too self-critical or getting too lost in the traps of perfectionism.  It’s a journey, and I’ve got a long ways to go.

Why do you do it, now?

I still have aspirations to get my music out there, to be a part of the community and scene, to record and collaborate, to share, to hone my writing.  Honestly, though, as I get older my dreams of grandeur have been replaced by a more immediate appreciation for just enjoying the process.  I’m a father, a homeowner, an IT professional.  Music is something I always come back to, that I re-dedicate myself to on a nightly basis, when all the pressures of the world tell me to quit.  It’s not that I have a great reason for why I do it now.  It’s just that I really can’t envision a life where I don’t.

What were some of your early influences and what inspires you today?

I grew up in a small town where hard rock and top pop were king.  It wasn’t until college that I discovered the world of independent musicians, the hard working bands that toured the college circuit and really laid a foundation for a lot of what is out there now.  More generally, though, I love a lot of the sounds of the 70s (Pink Floyd, Santana, Allman Bros, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles), I love crossover country and bluegrass (Allison Krauss and Union Station, Nickel Creek, Nanci Griffith), I love those who might be called  ‘musician’s musicians’… Sting, John McLauglin, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Monte Montgomery.  I love the groove players, old and new… Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz.  Man, how do you narrow it down to just a few?  I continually find myself googling for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, for clips from the Transatlantic Sessions.  So many great musicians out there.

Lastly, I would say that the people, and bands, I’ve grown up playing with, the people I’ve met through AITP (too many to list), the organizations I’ve written for (Virtual Photo Walks, Travelling Guitar Foundation, the March of Dimes)… they’ve all been huge influences on me, and have really opened new chapters in my musical life.

What was the last song you listened to (disc in the car or what-not)?

I’m not making this up… The last song I listened to was ‘Surrender All’ by James Olmos.  Beautiful song by one of the Music Festival performers.  How cool is that?  Before that, it was some tunes off the New Civil Wars album.  I’m in love with their sound.

How did you connect with Artists in the Plus and what attracted you to working with them?

I have the distinct honor of having been in one of the very first hangouts with John Voshell, when he was first testing the waters for AITP.  He had this idea of supporting independent musicians by sharing their music and news through the G+ stream.  I remember saying that I loved his intentions, but just wasn’t sure it would work.  I’m glad we can joke about it now,  J.  Anyways, in the months that followed, I really gained an appreciation for his determination, his work ethic, his pure desire to help others, saw his idea just grow and grow.  It’s an attractive thing for so many reasons, but ultimately it’s the people that I’ve met and worked with that keep me coming back, wanting to do more.

Last year’s festival was a huge success and changed a lot of things about music on the net. Were you a part of that?

Yes.  I performed, I watched, I enjoyed.  Can’t wait for the next one.

What would you like to see as a result of the festival, this year?

I’d really just love to see things continue to grow.  It’s such an incredible tool for networking, for interacting with artists, making new fans, friends, and connections.  It’s doing all the right things now, and I’m hopeful that more people will take notice.  I see the online world as the future of music, a whole new world of opportunity for independent artists.  I fully believe AITP, and some of the other great shows at Google+, are helping to shape what that means.

Have you been using services like Hangouts On Air, U-Stream, Street-Jelly, or others to perform live via video on line? What kind of reaction are you getting?

I’ve performed a lot through Hangouts On Air, and also help run a little show called the Song Lounge with James Olmos.   I’ve played a bit on You_Now, am considering doing more on Street-Jelly.  Each ‘venue’ has it’s quirks and plusses, but all of them have very supportive communities and keep me motivated.  Google is still my favorite, just because the Hangouts allow you to interact directly with those who are listening.

Village Studios in LA will be hosting the festival, this year and there will be a studio stage in North Carolina and another in Norway. Will you be travelling or performing remote from your own studio?

Wish I could.  Maybe next year.  I’ll be enjoying it all from my home studio.

If you could ask one performer to join you on a record, who would it be?

I’m sure it would be James Olmos.  I really love his voice, the rawness and truth in his lyrics.  I know that conversations we’ve shared have inspired new songs for both of us.  I’m looking forward to more of that.  If I could choose another, I’d say I want to work with Kate Butson again.  She has such a beautiful voice.  We collaborated on a Christmas tune, one of the few songs I’ve recorded that I still love to listen to without fighting off a critical ear.

What one thing would you change about this world, if you could?

I’m answering these questions the morning after hearing about possible chemical attacks in Damascus, seeing images of children who were put in harm’s way.  Regardless of what comes to light about ‘who did what’, it’s clear that there are those in the world who do not respect life, who dwell on differences, who strive for control at all costs.  My heart broke when I saw those images, when I thought of my three year old on the couch a few feet away, the world I want him to grow up in.  I don’t know what I’d change, but I think it’s good when we ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing, pursuing the things we are pursuing, and how we can line those ambitions up with the greater cause of peace, awareness, serving our fellow man, our planet.  It’s hard to wade through the hype, through the waters of social media, the music world, the things we are fed as ‘equations for success’.  It’s even easier to forget we are all connected, we all deserve a bit of peace, and that we can all impact the world.  Even the smallest act of kindness is still an act, an intention that can inspire, grow into something larger, shine a light on what is important and true.  And I hope that I can, in some small way, continue to do that through song.

Where can we find you and your music?

I have a lot of random recordings out there, but am not a ‘recording artist’ per say.  You can find some of what I do through YouTube (youtube.com/user/timokc), on my soundcloud page (soundcloud.com/timbehrens), a few random things through iTunes and Google Play, or on my website at timbehrens.com.  If you do come looking, don’t hesitate to find me at Google+ and say hello. I love to meet new people, and it is their support and kindness that keeps me playing.  You can also find some of our conversations with other creative souls at thesonglounge.com

In closing, is there anything you would like to add or anyone you would like to shout-out to?

Just want to thank you for all you do, both in supporting musicians and in support of the AITP music festival.  There are so many great, and talented, people out there, and there are more opportunities than ever to meet them, learn about what they are doing, find inspiration and collaboration.  It’s a great time to be a musician and I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.