Multi-talented country singer-songwriter and humanitarian IMAJ joined Fred Minnick--the world's leading bourbon authority--for a thought provoking and insightful conversation about race and diversity, the state of country music, Confederate monuments, and creating equality and harmony with a message of love and peace for the new episode of The Fred Minnick Show podcast. It's available now via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart, YouTube, Google Podcast and TuneIn.
The two also discuss IMAJ's emotional and powerful song and video, "8min 46 sec (I Can't Breathe), in homage to George Floyd, as well as her poignant song and video "Colorblind," from her album America's Sweetheart.
"I wanted to write a song that could tap into what everyone was feeling and give them a sense of solidarity...something that puts you there in the moment with what happened," IMAJ explained. "Sometimes music is all you need to connect with other people. A lot of times words don't help because people are on two different sides of the spectrum. Sometimes it takes music that touches the spirit or goes to something deeper within all of us to really connect us."
Listen to The Fred Minnick Show podcast here: https://pod.link/1490483021 and watch video of the new episode here: https://youtu.be/wD6Mw9eIRQ4
Minnick said, "I'm a whiskey guy who's been slowly getting more involved in the music industry. When I first met IMAJ and saw her perform at Hometown Rising, my first thought was, 'Why isn't she a household name?' She is so incredibly talented it's unreal. IMAJ is also a beautiful human being who is not afraid to speak up and talk about issues we need to discuss as a country. I am honored IMAJ chose my podcast to spread her message of love and how silence allows racism to continue. This interview is powerful."
Often called "The New Face of Country," IMAJ, who also happens to be the daughter of '80s TV icon Philip Michael Thomas (Tubbs on Miami Vice), takes you back to a time when wishing others "peace and love" was de rigueur and lyrics touched your soul. IMAJ says her main goal in life is to spread world peace through music. "As any human being, I live for freedom. With that life, I work through music towards a more compassionate and peaceful world in which we all can enjoy that freedom," IMAJ said.
Previously describing her poignant song and video "Colorblind," IMAJ explains, "Colorblind isn't about ignoring color, it's about seeing beyond the stereotypes of color, to see each other for who we actually are. It's about seeing the vitality of diversity; in our skin, in our language, our culture, our gender, our faith. There's an intelligence that lies beyond our antiquated fears of one another. That intelligence is LOVE." "Colorblind" has had more than 3 million views on Facebook.
Fred Minnick, a Wall Street Journal-bestselling author and television personality, is a renowned drinks writer who started The Fred Minnick Show in January to showcase his two passions: music and whiskey. Look for Lee Brice, Craig Campbell and Derek Trucks to appear on upcoming episodes of The Fred Minnick Show. Past guests include Daryl Hall, Mick Fleetwood, Chase Rice, Ashley McBryde, actor Harry Shearer, tennis legend Andy Roddick, Slipknot's Clown, Johnny Christ of Avenged Sevenfold and Lindsay Ell, among others. It pairs musicians, athletes and actors with good drinks, and airs every Friday.
For more information on Fred Minnick and The Fred Minnick Show, and to sign up for his "Drinks" e-newsletter for future podcast updates, visit: www.fredminnick.com.
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