Dialogue is the essence of a strong relationship. We listen and learn every week.
Musician Glenn Perry and his brother Miles Perry, education manager of Dubai Music School, talk to Sonali Raha
"He is a part of me, without him my music seems incomplete," says Glenn Perry (foreground) about his brother Miles. ©Gulf News |
He's had four videos on MTV, including Laila, his biggest hit, and has performed in concerts all over the world. He has initiated a string of peace concerts in Dubai, getting the musical community to come together and raise anti-war consciousness.
Miles is Glenn's younger brother. He is the education manager of Dubai Music School. He is a jazz musician, plays the base guitar and specialises in teaching piano, keyboards and (rock) guitar.
Glenn Perry: It was fun growing up with Miles, two years younger than myself. From the very beginning, we played in a band together. I had formed a band called The Young Ones when I was about eight years old. Miles was only six but he played the guitar very well.
We were very close as we grew up. We both shared the same instrument - the guitar. He played the base guitar and I played the Spanish guitar. Since they are both string instruments, we understood each other's love for our own instruments. We talked a lot about music, we both had the same teacher - my father, Chris Perry - and we appreciated each other's music, even as kids.
As we grew up I formed another band called Atmosphere. I toured all over Europe in my teens but I always missed playing with Miles. There was something special about him. We share, very deeply, what everyone calls brotherly love.
For us, it is a bond we cannot, and do not want to, break away from. It is a question of always being there for each other. When my brother is sick or hurt, I feel his pain, I share the emotion he is going through. Even when you go through disagreements, you feel that love. You might want to throw him out of the window, but you still love him. We share the same blood, the blood that has been given to us by our father and mother. This is a bond that will never break.
Our bond has actually grown stronger now that we are adults. In all my concerts in this country I get Miles to play with me because I feel there's something missing if he is not in my band. He is a part of me, without him my music seems incomplete.
At the same time, we are very different. Miles is very quiet, generally, until he gets to know a person. Talk to him about jazz music and he will be your best buddy.
We may not talk so much with each other as we are both busy with teaching and I am busy with my recordings and concerts. But in our minds we are always talking to each other. That's what being brothers is all about.
Miles Perry: I remember always being with my brother. We were these freak kids who could hear anything and then play it straight away. Guess we got this from our father. We played together and it was a big high. Music is always a great high. Whenever you get up there on stage you just get lost in your music. You just go for it.
We play in different styles. I'm cut out to play jazz like my father and Glenn plays all kinds of music. I have my own band, Jazz Alien, and we play at jazz festivals and posh corporate gigs.
But even if we are in different countries playing different music to different crowds we are still brothers. That means we are still close. Nobody can take that away.
We are different as people. I am more into music and good musicians and I can get really lost in conversations with them. Glenn is more outgoing.
In school, I am too busy to talk to anyone. Time is too short and there are too many students to attend to. I am very involved with these guys. Music is my life really. I will not let a student go home without giving him something to think about.
Even if Glenn and I do not talk everyday, we are there for each other. I know if I need him, he will be there. I will also be there if he needs me. We are pretty close as a family.
