Writer/producer Kenya Barris just launched “grown-ish,” a spinoff of “black-ish” that centers around that show’s oldest child; singer/songwriter Linda Perhacs left her music career behind when her 1970 debut album, “Parallelograms,” failed to catch on with audiences. Now her career is revived, with two new albums in the past few years.
Psych-folk icon Linda Perhacs reflects on her unconventional music journey
In 1970, singer-songwriter Linda Perhacs wrote and recorded her first album “Parallelograms” — a stunning work of psychedelic folk music.
But it wasn’t commercially successful so she went back to her day job as a dental hygienist. Thirty years later the album was rediscovered and reissued for a new audience. But her mission with music has always remained the same:
I create these pieces of music to help people, including myself. These are not random pieces of music. They are composed to bring more healing to those who sit and take the time to listen.
Now in her 70s, Perhacs still works as a dental hygienist. But she’s released two albums in recent years. Her latest is “I’m a Harmony.” And in a new phase of her musical career, Perhacs is also working with young musicians such as Julia Holter.
Interview Highlights:
On her musical influences at the time of writing "Parallelograms":
It was the time of the hippies so yes, there were multicultural things going on all around me, especially in an artistic area like Topanga or Laurel Canyon. Quite honestly, I'm very holistic now ... it infused me with gorgeous ideas for music and for poetry and for lyrics. It was such an enlivening time. I'm so glad I didn't miss it.
On what sparked her return to the stage and writing new music:
I never really got back to music until about the year 2000. And I think what blossomed the future out and made it possible to do the album you now are appreciating, which is my third album, was being asked by Dublab radio — that's run by [Mark] "Frosty" McNeill — if I would do my whole "Parallelograms" album for his radio station's 10th anniversary.
Linda Perhacs performs Jan. 14 at Zebulon in Silver Lake.
Kenya Barris on 'grown-ish' and Hollywood's power imbalance
Whether you call it a reckoning, an awakening or a moment of truth — as the sea of black dresses at the Golden Globes made clear— Hollywood is going through something big right now.
Kenya Barris, the creator and executive producer of the ABC series, “black-ish,” and the new Freeform spin-off, "grown-ish," was at the Globes ceremony because "black-ish" was nominated for Best Musical or Comedy TV series.
But what got most people talking about the Globes wasn’t really who won or lost, it was the women — dressed in black, many joined by female activists — in solidarity with "Time’s Up." That’s the initiative created by 300 women working in entertainment to fight harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace.
"It was inspiring to kind of see people galvanize over a good cause," Barris told The Frame's John Horn during an interview at his office on the Disney lot. "At the same time, I think it's also a crazy time, it's a divisive time in Hollywood, that I hope we figure out a way to not just sort of separate, but actually unite."
“black-ish" is now in its fourth season on ABC. And “grown-ish” recently premiered on Freeform (formerly ABC Family). The series star 17-year-old Yara Shahidi, who plays Zoey, the eldest child on “black-ish.” On “grown-ish,” Zoey heads off to college at the fictional “Cal U.”
Barris spoke with The Frame about “black-ish," “grown-ish,” and about changing the imbalance of power in Hollywood.
To hear the full conversation click the play button at the top of the page or get The Frame podcast.