Chris Trapper is an award-winning professional musician. His heartfelt songs have been featured on numerous soundtracks and TV shows. He toured this summer with Pat Benatar, Sammy Hagar and George Thorogrood. His wife, Hania Khuri-Trapper, is a published author devoted to health and wellness. Their inspiring story of support - pursuing separate passions, together - is the focus of November's cover story.
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By Tom Leyden
Photos By: Rick Bern Photography
“There’s a lot of songs about falling in love. There’s not a lot of songs about staying in love.”
Lounging in a worn, tan leather chair, back-lit by sunbeams shining through a sliding glass door to his living room, Chris Trapper effortlessly captures the essence of commitment in a sentence. The poetic observation rolls off the tongue as his wife, Hania, sits across the room nodding in agreement.
As we chat about life and love and the challenges related to both, Chris reflects back more than a decade, when a personal experience inspired him to write and record one of his most touching and powerful ballads. He was a husband caught off guard by what he encountered in a hospital room.
“Hania caught a very bad case of pneumonia and was hospitalized with it,” said Chris. “I went to see her. Here she is, this young woman, 36-37 at the time, and there were all these tubes attached to her. That’s where the song, ‘Skin’ came from.”
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You and I know how to weather the weather, even though we have holes in our shoes.
But still we learned that you never say never, you were covered in tubes in a hospital bed
I said, “I will love you still.”
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Skin is one of hundreds of songs written and recorded by Chris, a Westwood resident and accomplished solo artist whose music has been featured on movie soundtracks (The Devil Wears Prada and There’s Something About Mary) and television shows (Malcolm in the Middle and E.R.). It’s also been streamed by millions worldwide. While many of his tunes resonate, it’s Skin that uniquely hits home.
“I’ve played it at lots of weddings, as a surprise guest,” said Chris. “It’s been many couples’ first dance, people seem to relate to the theme.”
Connecting so personally with an audience begins with a characteristic, unique to Chris, that sometimes makes Hania cringe.
“He’ll ask questions most people wouldn’t ask somebody,” said Hania. “I’ll say, ‘You can’t ask that person that.’”
"Just did!" interjects Chris.
They both explode in laughter. Finishing each other's thoughts and playfully interacting comes with 20 years of marriage.
“But I love to hear people’s real stories," said Chris. "Not just what they do for work.”
“He’s always listening to people and learning about them and in many of his songs I can hear the different details he’s told me about people he’s met,” said Hania. “I think that has something to do with how the inspiration happens.”
When the inspiration sticks, typically a powerful piece of art is born, delivered acoustically on stage – guitar and voice. The poetic and magnetic songwriting inspires some of the world’s most talented musicians.
“I watched him go from nothing to being signed by Capital Records. I watched that whole progression,” said Hania. “He had to really build himself from scratch and that was hard, but he did it. And then all of these very successful artists started recognizing him as an amazing songwriter, like Rob Thomas and Colin Hay, and these people were like, ‘Come on tour with me and write with me.’”
Thomas, a solo artist who also fronted Matchbox Twenty, has won three Grammy awards. Hay, the lead singer for Men At Work, remains active as a performer and is known and admired for his storytelling in song and on stage.
Chris most recently spent the summer on separate tours, opening for Pat Benatar, Sammy Hagar and George Thorogood – a standard travel and performance schedule for the father of two boys, Sami and Faris, who both attend Westwood High.
The way Chris performed on stage always impressed Hania, but music wasn’t the top draw as she was getting to know her future husband.
“To be honest, it wasn’t, no,” said Hania. “Our groups of friends started hanging out often and we just kept getting drawn to each other within the group of friends. There was more of a connection between him and I. That kind of happened slowly, that friendship built and we ended up becoming close, slowly over time. I think we were dating for six months before we said, ‘Are we dating?’”
During that courtship, both Chris and Hania learned more about each other’s independent spirit, creativity and drive. Chris isn’t the only artist in this relationship.
Hania Khuri was reared in the 0-2-0-9-0, graduating from Westwood High School in 1989. Four years later, her studies at Syracuse complete, she began a career in graphic design.
“I worked at a design firm in the South End in Boston for 10 years,” said Hania. “I ultimately became a senior designer. It took a long time and it was a hard road for me, but when I became a senior designer, I decided I wanted to go on my own. Chris supported that shift from stability, like healthcare and benefits to the unknown.”
As the independent owner of Khuri Design, Hania enjoyed success, working with notable institutional and large non-profit clients including Harvard University and The Ireland Funds, to the hospitality industry including Chiara Bistro, Heritage of Sherborn, Sorellina, Mooo Restaurant and The Inn at Hastings Park. And she has even donated her design talents to brand Westwood organizations such as the Westwood Food Pantry, Westwood Environmental Action Committee, Westwood Council on Aging and Inclusive Westwood.
The design business continued to grow, and Hania felt an urge to pursue something equally fulfilling.
“I went to yoga teacher-training to deepen my practice and learn more. But, once you learn all these healing tools, you’re so motivated to share them. At first I started teaching in towns where nobody knew me. I figured I’d give it a year or two and see what happened.”
Chris chuckled recalling the moments of doubt, two independent spirits pursuing separate passions… together.
“I was at Hania’s first class she ever taught,” said Chris. “There were what, two people in class? Then, think about it, last year she was asked to be a lead presenter at Gillette Stadium for ‘Yoga Reaches Out,’ and there were how many people? Like 750-800.”
“It kind of gives you a little confidence that your decision was right,” said Hania.
That decision to ‘follow your heart,’ made by both Chris and Hania, was fueled by the assurance their soulmate’s heart was along for the ride.
“Chris would write for film and TV,” said Hania. “When Sami was born, I remember having a c-section and being in the hospital for five days. Chris walked in and told me he had an offer to be in a film in San Francisco, like… tomorrow! I just said, ‘Go. You have to do it, you know? I’m fine. I’m fine.’”
That film, August Rush, featured a soundtrack that was nominated for a Grammy in 2009, including Chris' song This Time.
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I say I’ll wait for you to put your fake teeth in
You say you’ll wait for me to spray on my hair
You’ll still steal my heart when there’s no body to reach in
I’ll be kissing you when you take your last gasp of air
‘Cuz I will still be there. I will still be there.
If you break in two, or turn into a skeleton I’ll give you my skin.
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Hania had watched Chris grow from obscurity to fame, supporting him every step of the way through an unpredictably thrilling course of ups and downs. His music became more popular, his calendar more crammed and as kids entered the picture, the Trappers considered where to set roots.
“I was petrified to move to the suburbs,” said Chris. “I thought… move to Westwood, start wearing khaki pants, start playing golf. I thought it would be drastic change and my career could never sustain being a suburban dad.”
It ended up working out fine, with Chris able to maintain his rock and roll wardrobe and atypical lifestyle while Hania reconnected with the town where she grew up.
“When I came back to Westwood I saw it through very different eyes,” said Hania. “I love what I see now. I love that it’s a little more diverse than when I was growing up, because I was probably one of the only ethnic people growing up here. Now I feel like it’s a little more diverse and the community’s very loving and supportive of each other.”
That doesn’t mean this unique couple doesn’t get some interesting questions.
“People always ask me, ‘How do you live?’” said Hania. “I just tell them he’s a touring singer / songwriter who writes songs not just for his own career, but for other artists, films and TV. We may be unique here in Westwood, but when we visit our friends in Los Angeles, we feel like boring suburban people.”
When the pandemic struck in 2020, Hania adapted and found new ways to reach her yoga audience, understanding peace-of-mind and tranquility were obscured by the anxiety and uncertainty quarantine and social distancing presented.
“I remember thinking, this is a time that people need yoga the most,” said Hania. “How can we not have yoga for people, because that’s why yoga’s there, for people when they need to heal, you know?”
Hania started recording virtual classes and making them available online. She also began sharing her weekly inspirational messages with her students by email. As time passed, the collection grew and there was enough for her to publish a book.
"Rest & Return – Weekly Reminders to Pause, Reflect and Just Be" was published in 2021, a 122-page collection of photos, reflections, poetry, and accessible techniques of yoga, breathing, meditations, and journaling. Edited by Sarada Peri, a Senior Speechwriter for President Barack Obama, Rest & Return reminds the reader, “We are all just walking each other home.”
“It became a healing tool for anyone going through struggles or anyone who just needed a reminder to find compassion for themselves and to seek moments of peace in their day.” said Hania. “People would reach out and ask me to sign books for multiple friends each going through different life challenges. It’s the ultimate happiness to feel like your work is helping others.”
The pendulum had swung. Hania’s focus was shifting primarily to mindfulness and wellness, rooted in the deep wisdom of yogic and Buddhist traditions. Since publishing Rest & Return, Hania has been asked to present and speak at multiple companies and conferences where accessible tools to manage stress and promote wellness are becoming more of a critical need in the workplace.
Meanwhile, Chris continues to build his network, working with artists he’s admired for decades.
“Opening for Pat Benatar this summer was amazing” said Chris “When she entered my musical consciousness, I was in high school when rock and roll meant everything, and she was one of the biggest stars in the world, so just meeting her for the first time was very surreal. I try and always have decorum though, and I’m invited to be there, so it’s not like a subordinate role, but it’s very surreal sometimes and I’ve had lots of those cool moments with all different kinds of performers, luckily.”
The harder you work, the luckier you get. If you’re committed to a passion, that commitment is typically rewarded, but it takes teamwork to truly make it work. The Trappers are a team, pursuing separate passions, together.
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You know you have the most beautiful body
I hate to remind you, but someday you won’t
You’ll be 85 at changing time and I’ll still sneak a peek in
Can’t wait to see the face you make over the hill
‘Cuz I will love you still. I will love you still.
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Faris, Chris, Hania, Sami and Marley
By Jay Resha
Devastating. Awful. Terrible. The bugs and critters! And so many more words – some were so harsh they can’t be printed here. Was this my son and I, discussing the New York Yankees? Not this time, anyway. No, these were the words of our friends and neighbors; angry, aghast and agape about a project which will help our town get more A’s.
Some background...
There are over 7,100 acres of land in Westwood. Maybe you own or live on one, or a quarter of one, or more than one. Maybe you have never wondered how many acres we have in town. Maybe you wonder why acre isn’t spelled aker, like faker and baker and everything else that rhymes with it.
Anyway, we have gradually eaten into those acres through development, and are approaching the end of possible growth. According to the town’s land use document, we have about 25 percent open space – and close to 90 percent of that is protected, so it will remain green (or brown, in summers like this past one). We are a mature suburb with a plan to curb overdevelopment; we will not become treeless pavement and concrete. This is all good.
Now, when Westwood purchased the 37-acre parcel of land known as the Shuttleworth Parcel from Dedham in 1970, it was done so with the stated intention of using it for schools, and thus was born the Pine Hill School (yes, I know it’s Hanlon now). Most of the parcel has remained wooded since then, but 18 acres were approved to be part of the new Hanlon-Deerfield school project, and were clear-cut earlier this year.
So what's the trouble? Well, I'm troubled by some of the comments I have read reagarding photos of the project, showing the swath of deforested land. Praise of the progress is drowned out by inflammatory complaints - too much land was taken, what about the bugs and critters) but the reality is that many neighborhoods and town institutions have been carved out in the five decades since Westwood purchased this land from Dedham.
There was a very democratic path to the finish line of this project – utilizing those 18 Shuttleworth acres to build a school, as was the sole intention.
When completed, we will have an energy-saving, modern resource with which to educate our young people – and some new sports fields, too. Eighteen acres? This is but a drop in the bucket, considering the thousands we have already developed. Our PEOPLE are more important than a couple more bugs and critters, and you can quote me on that.
Look, I understand the need for oversight. I heard extra trees were removed, beyond the scope of the project. Hey, mistakes happen, whether intentional or not, but people took notice of the error, and now there is a promise that the company will plant double the amount of trees that were removed unnecessarily. This is both a win, and a great example that the system works.
Not long ago in this space, I wrote of the importance of sticking together. This is an appeal, not a lecture. Contractors must be vetted and held accountable. Leaders and decision-makers must always do what’s best for their community. Citizens must be an asset to the town and to each other, not righteously declaring that all building cease – shortly after completion of their own.
Get involved. Join a committee. Help steer this big ship. Remember that nobody knows everything and every day is another opportunity to think, learn, and listen.
Westwood Living? No…thank YOU for living in Westwood. See you next month, and I look forward to hearing from you any time at jayresha@comcast.net.
Loving Grace Community Services, in partnership with Father Bill's in Brockton, provides meals every other Saturday to local homeless shelters. LGCS also provides financial assistance and other supplies, including hygiene kits and necessities.
On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, when many families are together celebrating the holiday season with festive and traditional meals, some will not be as fortunate. Loving Grace Community Services will create a safe place for anyone in the community to gather and share a warm breakfast, as a family.
The mission of Loving Grace Community Services is to bring hope and comfort to our local homeless communities and reduce the number of individuals and families who struggle to meet the most basic needs - food, clothing, toiletries and other necessities. LGCS strives to create a safe space for everyone benefiting from the outreach by engaging in conversations and connecting individuals and families with additional resources.
You can learn more about Loving Grace Community Services by visiting lovinggracecs.org. The organization welcomes your participation and support and reminds us, in the words of Mother Theresa, "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."
If you would like to volunteer or learn more about how you can support this great effort, please contact Deborah Bondzie at 617-483-3501
A team of Donahue Real Estate colleagues, including Westwood resident Brian Clinton, are collecting canned goods and items for the Canton Food Pantry. All donations can be dropped off on Monday, November 21 between 5:30 and 7:30 pm at 5 Lincoln Street in Canton.
All donors are automatically entered into a raffle for their generosity. Donahue Real Estate will award two passes to Treetop Adventures, a $25 gift certificate to Sombreros and a $25 gift certificate to The Alchemist Baker.
If the time is an obstacle for you, Brian is happy to drop by your home or business, no matter the location or town, to pick up your donation. Call Brian at 617-828-3035
By Sangha Mitra
On November 12, The Westwood South Asian Association hosted its annual Diwali Festival at Westwood High School. The event returned after a two-year hiatus owing to the pandemic. Diwali, a festival of lights, signifies the triumph of good over evil and is widely celebrated around the world by 500-600 million people. Typically, the celebration includes fireworks, lights, dancing, music, arts, and food. Westwood's event was no exception and highlighted many facets of the festivities to the Westwood Community.
The response to the celebrations was spectacular. Almost 250 guests attended the event eager to enjoy the festivities. Some came early to partake in traditional clothes try-on and wear popular items like saree for the evening. In the cafeteria, Thurston Middle School Dean of Students, Edward Walker, performed the ceremonial lighting of the Diya to start the celebrations, followed by music, dance and drama by elementary and middle school children, and speeches by graduating seniors.
The evening showcased many aspects of South Asian culture including elaborate decorations, an art exhibition, children's crafts, henna, and lessons in a folk dance, Dandiya, which featured guests dancing with colorful sticks. The evening also included a sumptuous Indian meal and a lively DJ music that got the guests dancing to energetic Bollywood music.
Flashback to the spring of 2011. It was a wild scene as the powder-puff game wrapped up. Liv Cawley, a senior at the time, ran off the field and quickly changed, doing makeup and hair while throwing on a new outfit. Moments after playing football, she was performing on stage in the Westwood High School auditorium.
“A couple of friends and I produced and put on a charity show for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital,” said Liv as we chatted recently. “Everyone from the game came to the show so we had a sold-out auditorium. We raised a ton of money.”
Eleven years later, Liv is still performing as a country rock singer based in Nashville. It’s no surprise to anyone who watched her perform in musicals through elementary, middle and high school.
“I was in Alice in Wonderland and then I was in Oliver,” said Liv. “In high school, I did one musical at Westwood High School – Brigadoon – but I also did the musicals at Xaverian.”
Liv decided to pursue music as a career and enrolled in Belmont University in Nashville, known for having one of the top music programs in the world.
“The songwriting program is one of the hardest in the country and my professors in songwriting are professional songwriters. One of my professors wrote, ‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus. Once I knew I was around people like that, I knew that’s where I belonged. I never felt more comfortable than when I took those classes in college.”
Liv’s latest release, “Forever Sunkissed” debuted this August, a reflection on the time she spent in Cape Cod as a kid.
“Those were my favorite memories I’ve ever had,” said Liv. “The reaction’s been great. I can see on my end of Spotify when people add it to playlists and it’s been added to a ton of playlists, which is amazing. I think it’s a song everyone can relate to. I wrote it in a way that it’s not so specific to my experience, but people can listen to it and have their own connection to it.”
The path to Nashville was both unconventional and inspirational and Liv hopes other burgeoning Westwood musicians follow her lead.
“I remember I was traveling off the beaten path when I chose a school that wasn’t in Boston. I was very scared about that,” said Liv. “I would tell anyone there now, ‘Don’t be afraid to go where you need to go. Do what you need to do to chase your dreams no matter where it’s at. Just take that leap of faith.’”
Follow Liv on Instagram -@thelivmusic
Forever Sunkissed
Liv released "Forever Sunkissed" in August of 2022.
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