When I feel too lazy to write, I force myself to write. This is probably one of my self-projects I'll be trying to work on all summer. I haven't had much time to reflect on life this year, and there's much to be evaluated. Don't mind if I ramble a bit here...
For the first time, I've had a few chances to truly network outside of my somewhat sizeable circle of mutual friends, and third-degree friends. This week I went to a workshop on music placements along with 2 reputable music supervisors. They evaluated my song and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive for "Blue." It gave me a bit of hope that there can be a future for my album, even now that touring is over, press is done, and it's been a few months. Of course there's still a music video for "War!" that I want to do, the release of the "Cup of Coffee" MV, band gigs, and playing in the Philippines later this summer (knock on wood!). But I really want this album to take it up a notch as far as licensing... so I'm also making that a focus for the summer.
Besides my teaching this week, I filmed a music video for Kollaboration and participated in one of my friend's music videos at a warehouse in Central LA. It's going to come out great, according to the director (who also did my "Blue" video), so I look forward to the product. Today, I spent some time getting comfortable with playing Alt-J's "Breezeblocks," which I plan on doing a video for. I really enjoy that song and today was the first time I really got a feel for it. I also did a rough idea of a melody for a collaboration with Dan AKA Dan. Felt pretty productive.
This weekend will be about spending time with Rob's dad, who's visiting from New York. It's good to have a little piece of home here. It'll also be good to have some downtime, although I have to admit, I'm trying to keep the productivity rolling... I have to go back to New Jersey in a week and a half, and then take a weekend trip to SF after that, so that will slow down progress a little bit. In the meantime, I'm debating whether or not I can swing a week-long trip to Nashville to get some writing and recording done with Marc. We'll see...
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Awake. After many days of slumber.
Yikes. Has it really been almost a year and a half since I last wrote on this thing? That's a big fail on my part, so...sorry. I can say I've had a good explanation, but that won't be a good enough explanation for me, and since this is a blog, I'm probably the only one who's really affected by the fact that I haven't written soooo [big breath]... yeah, I'm back!
2012 was a crazy year, and not always in the good ways. No longer a total LA newbie, I got a real sense of LA's many pitfalls - getting sucked up in "people", in being "somebody," in comparing myself and cheapening the many gifts that come with being a musician/songwriter, in vanity, in heartbreaks and being the heartbreaker. But at the same time, it was a year of real growth. I did my Kickstarter for my album and it was a great way to rally my morale after a painful first half of the year. I realized how many people from all over are still rooting for me and my music. That isn't really a testament to how great of a person I am (cuz I'm not), but more to the redeeming belief people have in you when you're trying for something real, something genuine. I guess that's what I have to remember next time I lose touch with who I am and what I'm trying to do.
I spent Fall completing my album, and it was a much shorter process than Second Skin had been. It was also more rewarding - I got to work with some fantastic musicians in Nashville, as well as my favorite producer Marc Lacuesta (I don't throw "favorite" around lightly), and some great folks here in LA as well. Finally, all the directionless tantrums of the last few years had culminated in one goal-oriented effort, and the album came out at the end of January this year.
2013 has been extremely busy, up until the end of April. As you can see, it's been about a month of "normalcy" now, and I've reacted to it with the hurried panic of a swarm of bees. I guess I'm no good at routine; have forgotten now how I dealt with directionlessness. Not that I'm directionless - I would venture to say that isn't the right word. But I'm trying to figure out where to put my focus on next, there are too many things at the moment. I'm trying to embrace the question.
After the album came out, I had shows from Feb-April, so I was never home longer than 3 weeks. Being on the road provided a liberation I easily loved when it was lived, but made the days at home a little hard. I was grateful to be able to do it, though. Most of the shows came from 2 showcases in the Fall, and I was humbled to have been given the opportunity. Meeting with students from all different parts of the country was really eye-opening and invigorating. They made me feel young. I mean, I am young, but you know...
We got publishing for 'World Go Blue' and also shot the video for "Blue" (below). Then we did a radio and press campaign, that helped get the album on CMJ's charts. I was also finally able to beef up the "press" section of my press kit. Now that summer's here, I am hoping to finally get my bearings on doing more regular videos. It's not my strongsuit, but I'm challenging myself.
2012 was a crazy year, and not always in the good ways. No longer a total LA newbie, I got a real sense of LA's many pitfalls - getting sucked up in "people", in being "somebody," in comparing myself and cheapening the many gifts that come with being a musician/songwriter, in vanity, in heartbreaks and being the heartbreaker. But at the same time, it was a year of real growth. I did my Kickstarter for my album and it was a great way to rally my morale after a painful first half of the year. I realized how many people from all over are still rooting for me and my music. That isn't really a testament to how great of a person I am (cuz I'm not), but more to the redeeming belief people have in you when you're trying for something real, something genuine. I guess that's what I have to remember next time I lose touch with who I am and what I'm trying to do.
I spent Fall completing my album, and it was a much shorter process than Second Skin had been. It was also more rewarding - I got to work with some fantastic musicians in Nashville, as well as my favorite producer Marc Lacuesta (I don't throw "favorite" around lightly), and some great folks here in LA as well. Finally, all the directionless tantrums of the last few years had culminated in one goal-oriented effort, and the album came out at the end of January this year.
2013 has been extremely busy, up until the end of April. As you can see, it's been about a month of "normalcy" now, and I've reacted to it with the hurried panic of a swarm of bees. I guess I'm no good at routine; have forgotten now how I dealt with directionlessness. Not that I'm directionless - I would venture to say that isn't the right word. But I'm trying to figure out where to put my focus on next, there are too many things at the moment. I'm trying to embrace the question.
After the album came out, I had shows from Feb-April, so I was never home longer than 3 weeks. Being on the road provided a liberation I easily loved when it was lived, but made the days at home a little hard. I was grateful to be able to do it, though. Most of the shows came from 2 showcases in the Fall, and I was humbled to have been given the opportunity. Meeting with students from all different parts of the country was really eye-opening and invigorating. They made me feel young. I mean, I am young, but you know...
We got publishing for 'World Go Blue' and also shot the video for "Blue" (below). Then we did a radio and press campaign, that helped get the album on CMJ's charts. I was also finally able to beef up the "press" section of my press kit. Now that summer's here, I am hoping to finally get my bearings on doing more regular videos. It's not my strongsuit, but I'm challenging myself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)