For generations, the forced exile of the Armenian people from their ancestral homeland was often reflected in the somber undertones of their music. Fast forward more than 100 years and the Armenian musical voice has not only survived – it thrives.
Filmmakers Lisa Hagopian and Eric Harabadian are putting the final touches on “We Thrive,” a documentary chronicling the modern Armenian-American musical experience in a variety of genres. The Dearborn Heights couple has been working on and seeking funding for the film for months.
“We’re both Armenian and musicians and writers and creative people, and we wanted to do something about the Armenian-American experience,” Harabadian said. “I really don’t think a lot of people know a lot about our culture, so we wanted to do a film with a contemporary spin mixed with a little of the traditional and historical perspectives.”
The film, which is set to be released in the fall, features interviews and performance clips from Detroit composing and performing legends Simon Javizian, Hachig Kazarian, and Dan Yessian. Other interviewees include beatboxer Stevie “Stevie Soul” Ansara, rockers Tanya and Tia Dmuchowski, and violist Kim Kashkashian.
Even though “We Thrive” focuses on the Armenian story, Hagopian and Harabadian say it can be enjoyed by audiences of practically any ethnicity.
Detroit-born musician Dan Yessian (center) is interviewed by filmmakers Lisa Hagopian and Eric Harabadian for their “We Thrive” documentary. Yessian is known globally for composing music for United Airlines, NBC, and other clients. His memorable local commercial jingles include the Think Ford First, Little Caesar’s Pizza Pizza, and Dittrich Furs broadcast campaigns. (Courtesy Photo)
“We wanted to show that there’s more to Armenian history and culture than the Genocide (of 1915),” Hagopian said. “We don’t have just Armenian music, we have classical musicians, jazz, blues, rock, probably not what a lot of people expect.”
Also featured in the documentary is Wayne State University graduate Eliza Neals, a powerful blues-rock vocalist, musician, producer and recording artist. A former opera singer, Neals is busy touring in support of her latest album, “Badder to the Bone.”
Neals remembers her parents playing various instruments during family sing-alongs when she was as young as five.
“I always wanted to sing and I found joy in singing,” Neals remembers of her Armenian upbringing. “Then I was introduced to blues and jazz when I started at Wayne State and I would watch and sit in and sing and people liked my voice, and I thought I can make a living doing that, so it kind of grew on me.”
Neals eventually formed her own band and found that music was her passion, adding, “if you really want to do something, you find a way to do it.”
Having enjoyed heavy rotation on SiriusXM, Neals has also been blessed to work with some of the music business’s heaviest hitters. She is a protégé of legendary Motown singer/songwriter Barrett Strong, and collaborates with Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Peter Keys on her latest E-H Records label release.
Just how music can heal people is something anyone can relate to, Hagopian said. Within the Armenian diaspora, everyone has a different perspective on it based on the artistic talents they have.
“That’s why the title is ‘We Thrive,” she said, “because despite the Genocide and the trauma our grandparents went through without therapy or counseling, yes, we thrive, and one way to do that is through the arts.”
Upon completion later this year, the filmmaking duo are planning a local premiere of “We Thrive” before seeking wider distribution.
To learn more, visit “We Thrive Movie” on Facebook or www.vision561.com.
https://www.pressandguide.com/2022/07/26/modern-armenian-american-musical-experience-chronicled-in-documentary/