Let's go all the way to the US and speak to a recording artist and songwriter, Roy Lucien Baker. Roy, welcome to Vision Australia radio. Great to speak to you.

Let's go all the way to the US and speak to a recording artist and songwriter, Roy Lucien Baker. Roy, welcome to Vision Australia radio. Great to speak to you.

Hi, Peter. Thank you so much. Great to speak to you as well.

Hi, Peter. Thank you so much. Great to speak to you as well.

Now you've recently released your latest single, How's It Going and are you pleased with the way things are going?

Now you've recently released your latest single, How's It Going and are you pleased with the way things are going?

I am, does your girlfriend know about me? Came out about three weeks ago. It's been going very well and I'm very excited to see where the rest of the year is headed with it.

I am, does your girlfriend know about me? Came out about three weeks ago. It's been going very well and I'm very excited to see where the rest of the year is headed with it.

You're a busy person, Roy. We've been trying to track you down. You do a fair bit of travel. Obviously things are going well as far as your recording and sort of performing career goes.

You're a busy person, Roy. We've been trying to track you down. You do a fair bit of travel. Obviously things are going well as far as your recording and sort of performing career goes.

Yes, I, I'm all over the place. I, uh, I leave back to LA Sunday, so I'm in San Francisco right now. I'm here for a show on Saturday, and then I'm out of here Sunday for another show next week in LA.

Yes, I, I'm all over the place. I, uh, I leave back to LA Sunday, so I'm in San Francisco right now. I'm here for a show on Saturday, and then I'm out of here Sunday for another show next week in LA.

So work is good, business is good, if I can put it that way.

So work is good, business is good, if I can put it that way.

Yes. Very good.

Yes. Very good.

Roy at 19, uh, something rather unpleasant happened to you. Do you want to share that story with us?

Roy at 19, uh, something rather unpleasant happened to you. Do you want to share that story with us?

Yes. Uh, at 19, I was diagnosed with glaucoma. So how that started is I was at a concert the evening before, uh, the morning I woke up and I couldn't see out of my right eye. And, um, I initially thought it was just allergies, and it just kept getting worse. The vision just kept getting more blurry. And my mom had taken me in to see a, uh, optometrist. And she came back in the room looking like she had saw a ghost. Um, she told me. And my mom, your son has a cataract of a 75 year old in his right eye. And at 19, I didn't know what a cataract was. I wasn't familiar with that. So she immediately referred me to a specialist in ophthalmology. And, uh, the cataract was taken care of for for about a month. I had the surgery. I was in the, you know, getting my checkups with him. But my pressure started increasing after about a month, and it just kept getting worse and worse, eventually to. We got to the point where I was in the hospital basically every day getting pressure checks until it became too much. And I eventually had another surgery, another eye surgery where a tube was inserted into my eye. And since then I've had seven major eye surgeries and of course, all the hundreds of days of treatment. But now we are on year. I think we're going on year 11 with this now. Um, so it's it's, you know, it's it's been there for about 11 years now. And I'm very grateful for my doctors and the treatments that I was given. Um, I continue to be given when I go into the hospital.

Yes. Uh, at 19, I was diagnosed with glaucoma. So how that started is I was at a concert the evening before, uh, the morning I woke up and I couldn't see out of my right eye. And, um, I initially thought it was just allergies, and it just kept getting worse. The vision just kept getting more blurry. And my mom had taken me in to see a, uh, optometrist. And she came back in the room looking like she had saw a ghost. Um, she told me. And my mom, your son has a cataract of a 75 year old in his right eye. And at 19, I didn't know what a cataract was. I wasn't familiar with that. So she immediately referred me to a specialist in ophthalmology. And, uh, the cataract was taken care of for for about a month. I had the surgery. I was in the, you know, getting my checkups with him. But my pressure started increasing after about a month, and it just kept getting worse and worse, eventually to. We got to the point where I was in the hospital basically every day getting pressure checks until it became too much. And I eventually had another surgery, another eye surgery where a tube was inserted into my eye. And since then I've had seven major eye surgeries and of course, all the hundreds of days of treatment. But now we are on year. I think we're going on year 11 with this now. Um, so it's it's, you know, it's it's been there for about 11 years now. And I'm very grateful for my doctors and the treatments that I was given. Um, I continue to be given when I go into the hospital.

And how is your sight at the moment?

And how is your sight at the moment?

I like to say that it's just kind of there. Um, my left does all basically all the main seeing for me. My right. It's like a complicated relationship we have. It's just really blurry on the right side. And really it's just like, you see, like colors and whatnot. So my left does majority of the seeing for me. It never really went back to normal after all the glaucoma surgeries, but we reached a point of stability where I'm able to go in now, every other month now for treatment as opposed to every day and every week as before, which works in my favor. So I'm able to go out and do my career, you know, keep going forward with that stuff.

I like to say that it's just kind of there. Um, my left does all basically all the main seeing for me. My right. It's like a complicated relationship we have. It's just really blurry on the right side. And really it's just like, you see, like colors and whatnot. So my left does majority of the seeing for me. It never really went back to normal after all the glaucoma surgeries, but we reached a point of stability where I'm able to go in now, every other month now for treatment as opposed to every day and every week as before, which works in my favor. So I'm able to go out and do my career, you know, keep going forward with that stuff.

What about talking about it like you are to us? And we really appreciate that. You've been very open with that. I've read a number of different interviews that you've done. So it's kind of good to make people aware. And I guess, you know, 19 you think you're kind of ten foot tall and bulletproof, as we like to say, but things can happen. Bad things can happen.

What about talking about it like you are to us? And we really appreciate that. You've been very open with that. I've read a number of different interviews that you've done. So it's kind of good to make people aware. And I guess, you know, 19 you think you're kind of ten foot tall and bulletproof, as we like to say, but things can happen. Bad things can happen.

Yes. And very suddenly, you know, going, I was just at a concert and I had the time of my life. And the next morning I woke up and I straight up just couldn't see. And I, I just thought it was allergies, but, you know, to go from a cataract to being diagnosed with glaucoma was just so out of left field for me, and I was never familiar with anything in the eye and the realm of that side of, um, you know, the medical field and everything. And to have gone through everything in the last 11 years. I'm grateful because it's it's helped me. You know, glaucoma gave me something to come forward with and talk about and raise awareness as opposed to, you know, there's not a lot of people that talk about this publicly. And if I could be one that openly shares my story with everyone and, you know, have have that help people, I'm more than glad to do that.

Yes. And very suddenly, you know, going, I was just at a concert and I had the time of my life. And the next morning I woke up and I straight up just couldn't see. And I, I just thought it was allergies, but, you know, to go from a cataract to being diagnosed with glaucoma was just so out of left field for me, and I was never familiar with anything in the eye and the realm of that side of, um, you know, the medical field and everything. And to have gone through everything in the last 11 years. I'm grateful because it's it's helped me. You know, glaucoma gave me something to come forward with and talk about and raise awareness as opposed to, you know, there's not a lot of people that talk about this publicly. And if I could be one that openly shares my story with everyone and, you know, have have that help people, I'm more than glad to do that.

We've got World Sight Day coming up October 10th. So very, very timely. What about the impact it's kind of had on you as a person and also as a performer? As a songwriter, does it, you know, sort of peculiar sort of way give you a bit of inspiration or maybe some material for for songwriting?

We've got World Sight Day coming up October 10th. So very, very timely. What about the impact it's kind of had on you as a person and also as a performer? As a songwriter, does it, you know, sort of peculiar sort of way give you a bit of inspiration or maybe some material for for songwriting?

Of course, my whole first album is about that time period, basically when I was first diagnosed, up until I was released out of my everyday treatment from the hospital. Um, so very, very impactful on my life and everything that I do. Um, and I wouldn't be here telling the stories that I write and create now without this experience that I've gone through over the last 11 years, you have.

Of course, my whole first album is about that time period, basically when I was first diagnosed, up until I was released out of my everyday treatment from the hospital. Um, so very, very impactful on my life and everything that I do. Um, and I wouldn't be here telling the stories that I write and create now without this experience that I've gone through over the last 11 years, you have.

Been public, and obviously you're well known, particularly in the music industry. And, you know, people that love your music. I saw I think you're nearly up to 400,000 hits on YouTube, which is very, very impressive, right? Um, do you find that people are contacting you and sort of saying, hey, Roy, you know, thank you for sharing your story. You know, I've got a similar one or, you know, my, my, my father or my, my child has got a similar one. Is that kind of a, a powerful thing to be able to kind of do as well?

Been public, and obviously you're well known, particularly in the music industry. And, you know, people that love your music. I saw I think you're nearly up to 400,000 hits on YouTube, which is very, very impressive, right? Um, do you find that people are contacting you and sort of saying, hey, Roy, you know, thank you for sharing your story. You know, I've got a similar one or, you know, my, my, my father or my, my child has got a similar one. Is that kind of a, a powerful thing to be able to kind of do as well?

You know what? When they do come up to me, which I get it often, actually, I, I didn't think that was going to happen when I, you know, first started opening up about my experiences and whatnot. But, um, when they do come up with me, I remember each and every one of them, and I feel a special connection to them. And, um, yeah, I have a song called memories that will stick with me for life. And every time somebody comes up to me and talks to me about their experience with glaucoma or anything dealing with, you know, the eye and and all that stuff. I always cherish our interactions and, um, take that to heart because it's, you know, it could be a very heavy subject to talk about and to have them physically come up to me and they come up to me after my shows quite often because I, you know, I bring it up during my shows. I always it's a part of me and I, I embrace it and I don't try to hide it. Um, and I'm glad that the conversation is open and they feel comfortable talking to me about, you know, what they may be going through. Or, like you said, their parents or grandparents or someone they know and love has gone through.

You know what? When they do come up to me, which I get it often, actually, I, I didn't think that was going to happen when I, you know, first started opening up about my experiences and whatnot. But, um, when they do come up with me, I remember each and every one of them, and I feel a special connection to them. And, um, yeah, I have a song called memories that will stick with me for life. And every time somebody comes up to me and talks to me about their experience with glaucoma or anything dealing with, you know, the eye and and all that stuff. I always cherish our interactions and, um, take that to heart because it's, you know, it could be a very heavy subject to talk about and to have them physically come up to me and they come up to me after my shows quite often because I, you know, I bring it up during my shows. I always it's a part of me and I, I embrace it and I don't try to hide it. Um, and I'm glad that the conversation is open and they feel comfortable talking to me about, you know, what they may be going through. Or, like you said, their parents or grandparents or someone they know and love has gone through.

What about your early days, Roy? What got you into music?

What about your early days, Roy? What got you into music?

I've been singing since I was three. Um. And writing since I was 11 years old. Uh, my mom, my mom is very big in music, and, uh, both of my parents always had music on in the house and raised me in that world. I was in church choir growing up, middle school band, jazz band, all that stuff. So it's always been a part of me.

I've been singing since I was three. Um. And writing since I was 11 years old. Uh, my mom, my mom is very big in music, and, uh, both of my parents always had music on in the house and raised me in that world. I was in church choir growing up, middle school band, jazz band, all that stuff. So it's always been a part of me.

Now, when you are 30 or are said to be 30. So what sort of influences were around? Well, 27 years ago. And what about today? What influences you? I see a couple of, um, what should I say, uh, older stars or more mature stars kind of influence you as well? Uh, people like Bruno Mars and Prince.

Now, when you are 30 or are said to be 30. So what sort of influences were around? Well, 27 years ago. And what about today? What influences you? I see a couple of, um, what should I say, uh, older stars or more mature stars kind of influence you as well? Uh, people like Bruno Mars and Prince.

Yes. I love I grew up with R&B music and of course, Prince Michael Jackson, you know, and then the modern day older stars like Bruno and The Weeknd and all those amazing artists within the R&B world, those are, you know, what I've been raised on and continue to be raised on and inspired by and aspire to be. I just grew up loving that kind of music. I also grew up on like Elvis and um, Miley Cyrus and all just generational acts that have impacted what I do is.

Yes. I love I grew up with R&B music and of course, Prince Michael Jackson, you know, and then the modern day older stars like Bruno and The Weeknd and all those amazing artists within the R&B world, those are, you know, what I've been raised on and continue to be raised on and inspired by and aspire to be. I just grew up loving that kind of music. I also grew up on like Elvis and um, Miley Cyrus and all just generational acts that have impacted what I do is.

That kind of part of the appeal. If you like, that you can be very eclectic with your, uh, with your choice of music that either you listen to or that influence you.

That kind of part of the appeal. If you like, that you can be very eclectic with your, uh, with your choice of music that either you listen to or that influence you.

Yes. You know my first album, Roy self-titled, has various genres, from country to pop to alternative. This new album, Lover Boy Lucien, which is where the Does Your Girlfriend Know About Me single comes from, is primarily R&B, but it's nice to be able to have been raised around different genres and different artists because it's been helpful to me as an artist as I evolve that I can pick little things from the inspiration that they've given me and put into my work.

Yes. You know my first album, Roy self-titled, has various genres, from country to pop to alternative. This new album, Lover Boy Lucien, which is where the Does Your Girlfriend Know About Me single comes from, is primarily R&B, but it's nice to be able to have been raised around different genres and different artists because it's been helpful to me as an artist as I evolve that I can pick little things from the inspiration that they've given me and put into my work.

A little bit, or maybe more than a little bit about you. You obviously you're very keen to kind of, uh, you know, make your music impactful, but also kind of lift people's spirits. I mean, you know, we're going through some pretty tough times. I guess we always go through some tough times as an individual or indeed as a race, if I can put it that way. Uh, you're kind of focusing, if you pardon the pun, on trying to sort of lift people's spirits. Yes.

A little bit, or maybe more than a little bit about you. You obviously you're very keen to kind of, uh, you know, make your music impactful, but also kind of lift people's spirits. I mean, you know, we're going through some pretty tough times. I guess we always go through some tough times as an individual or indeed as a race, if I can put it that way. Uh, you're kind of focusing, if you pardon the pun, on trying to sort of lift people's spirits. Yes.

You know, with the new album, Lover Boy. Lucien, I had a role in this record because my first album obviously really covered the years of my glaucoma diagnosis and even a little bit before that, and that was obviously a much darker time considering everything that I was going through heavily during those early years. But with Loverboy, Lucien, I had one rule. I just wanted to write joyful songs that make people feel hopeful and happy, and make them just want to celebrate and believe in the goodness that could be within love and everything you know. Surrounding no negativity was allowed during the making of that record, and I'm glad because it's been such a joyful experience to be able to talk to people like you and to be out there sharing music that just makes people happy, instead of these negative vibes that continue to surround us with, you know, within the world, once we turn off all the happiness.

You know, with the new album, Lover Boy. Lucien, I had a role in this record because my first album obviously really covered the years of my glaucoma diagnosis and even a little bit before that, and that was obviously a much darker time considering everything that I was going through heavily during those early years. But with Loverboy, Lucien, I had one rule. I just wanted to write joyful songs that make people feel hopeful and happy, and make them just want to celebrate and believe in the goodness that could be within love and everything you know. Surrounding no negativity was allowed during the making of that record, and I'm glad because it's been such a joyful experience to be able to talk to people like you and to be out there sharing music that just makes people happy, instead of these negative vibes that continue to surround us with, you know, within the world, once we turn off all the happiness.

The great word joyful, isn't it? I love it. It makes you smile just saying the word.

The great word joyful, isn't it? I love it. It makes you smile just saying the word.

Yes, yes, all the time.

Yes, yes, all the time.

Roy, you also had a fairly serious accident at one stage, didn't you?

Roy, you also had a fairly serious accident at one stage, didn't you?

I did. Um, so when I got released from my more permanent treatment in the hospital from glaucoma. I had gotten hit by a car about 2019. Yeah. August 2019. I got hit by a car. I was out for a five mile run and this guy couldn't see me. But it was broad daylight. And yeah, he he hit. He hit me and I flew on to his minivan and I flew off. And I guess throughout the process, I was dragged and, um, a whole bunch of of a lot of things that just happened all at once during that, that, you know, accident. But just like the glaucoma, I, I'm grateful for the experience that happened after it. It just it's made me embrace life more and cherish things even more, you know, not that I wasn't already. When everything went down with my eye, I had to look at life with a different perspective and getting, you know, being in that accident really shifted things for me and really just gave me more drive to go out there and pursue my music wholeheartedly and make sure that I find a way to use the voice that I've been given to give joy to people who need it the most.

I did. Um, so when I got released from my more permanent treatment in the hospital from glaucoma. I had gotten hit by a car about 2019. Yeah. August 2019. I got hit by a car. I was out for a five mile run and this guy couldn't see me. But it was broad daylight. And yeah, he he hit. He hit me and I flew on to his minivan and I flew off. And I guess throughout the process, I was dragged and, um, a whole bunch of of a lot of things that just happened all at once during that, that, you know, accident. But just like the glaucoma, I, I'm grateful for the experience that happened after it. It just it's made me embrace life more and cherish things even more, you know, not that I wasn't already. When everything went down with my eye, I had to look at life with a different perspective and getting, you know, being in that accident really shifted things for me and really just gave me more drive to go out there and pursue my music wholeheartedly and make sure that I find a way to use the voice that I've been given to give joy to people who need it the most.

It's a great voice, too. I guess it's one of those things where you can kind of either, uh, you know, curl up and feel sorry for yourself or get on with it, you know, do something positive, you know, make make the world a bit more joyful. You said you chose the latter. Yeah.

It's a great voice, too. I guess it's one of those things where you can kind of either, uh, you know, curl up and feel sorry for yourself or get on with it, you know, do something positive, you know, make make the world a bit more joyful. You said you chose the latter. Yeah.

I did.

I did.

Yeah.

Yeah.

What about in the future, or do you think much, much ahead, I guess. You've got you've got to kind of try and keep, uh, if you like, uh, reinventing yourself, if I can put it that way. Or looking for new angles, new, uh, new ways to kind of express yourself.

What about in the future, or do you think much, much ahead, I guess. You've got you've got to kind of try and keep, uh, if you like, uh, reinventing yourself, if I can put it that way. Or looking for new angles, new, uh, new ways to kind of express yourself.

I do I, I continue to find new avenues to figure out who I am now. It's interesting because I, I see myself evolving in real time as we're doing this, the single and the new album. Um, I'm in the studio actually. Next week I'm working on Christmas music, which will be out. Okay, so there's much more to come. I'm always I'm always doing something creative and making sure that I have extra joy to bring to people within, you know, within the near future.

I do I, I continue to find new avenues to figure out who I am now. It's interesting because I, I see myself evolving in real time as we're doing this, the single and the new album. Um, I'm in the studio actually. Next week I'm working on Christmas music, which will be out. Okay, so there's much more to come. I'm always I'm always doing something creative and making sure that I have extra joy to bring to people within, you know, within the near future.

Pardon me being a little bit cheeky, but have you got a favourite Christmas song?

Pardon me being a little bit cheeky, but have you got a favourite Christmas song?

Oh my God.

Oh my God.

Please Come Home For Christmas is one of my all time favourite songs. And then I also really love Miss You Most at Christmas Time by Mariah Carey.

Please Come Home For Christmas is one of my all time favourite songs. And then I also really love Miss You Most at Christmas Time by Mariah Carey.

Yeah, yeah, it's.

Yeah, yeah, it's.

Pretty pretty much a classic. Have you had a chance to meet some of the artists that? Well, obviously Michael Jackson's no longer with us, but have you had a chance to to meet some of the artists that have influenced you and kind of, uh, you know, sort of, uh, shake hands.

Pretty pretty much a classic. Have you had a chance to meet some of the artists that? Well, obviously Michael Jackson's no longer with us, but have you had a chance to to meet some of the artists that have influenced you and kind of, uh, you know, sort of, uh, shake hands.

A chance to.

A chance to.

Work with some of their band members. Um, indirectly. So like Loverboy, Lucy and my new album, Justin Timberlake's band plays on on the Record.

Work with some of their band members. Um, indirectly. So like Loverboy, Lucy and my new album, Justin Timberlake's band plays on on the Record.

Okay.

Okay.

And Diana Ross's musical director C.C. Thomas is also on the album, um, playing bass. He is obviously very close to Diana Ross. He knew Michael Jackson. Yeah. Um, so it's been nice to work with people that have been indirectly involved with these artists. They've also worked. They've all worked with Bruno Mars and all the all the artists that I list. So it's been nice to be in that realm and hear stories about the artists that inspire me and see how they've impacted my work, and to also have, you know, their musicians be on my records is a huge honor, and I'm so grateful that they want to be a part of my stuff and help me create the worlds that I write to life.

And Diana Ross's musical director C.C. Thomas is also on the album, um, playing bass. He is obviously very close to Diana Ross. He knew Michael Jackson. Yeah. Um, so it's been nice to work with people that have been indirectly involved with these artists. They've also worked. They've all worked with Bruno Mars and all the all the artists that I list. So it's been nice to be in that realm and hear stories about the artists that inspire me and see how they've impacted my work, and to also have, you know, their musicians be on my records is a huge honor, and I'm so grateful that they want to be a part of my stuff and help me create the worlds that I write to life.

Roy, I'm grateful you've made some time for us today. So your your music is out. People can get it pretty much everywhere and anywhere.

Roy, I'm grateful you've made some time for us today. So your your music is out. People can get it pretty much everywhere and anywhere.

Yes.

Yes.

Terrific. And you've also got a website and YouTube channel. So we'll put that information up on our Facebook page. Roy, again, thanks so much for speaking to us. And thank you for being so open and, uh, speaking. So, uh, you know, personally about your, uh, story with glaucoma. I'm sure a number of people can identify with it. And may you keep up your a good work and hopefully we can catch up with you again in the future.

Terrific. And you've also got a website and YouTube channel. So we'll put that information up on our Facebook page. Roy, again, thanks so much for speaking to us. And thank you for being so open and, uh, speaking. So, uh, you know, personally about your, uh, story with glaucoma. I'm sure a number of people can identify with it. And may you keep up your a good work and hopefully we can catch up with you again in the future.

Thank you Peter I hope so as well. Thank you so much.

Thank you Peter I hope so as well. Thank you so much.

Well that was great fun. That was well and also very, very powerful. That was Roy Lucien Bazor there talking to us. So all the way from the USA.

Well that was great fun. That was well and also very, very powerful. That was Roy Lucien Bazor there talking to us. So all the way from the USA.