Behind the "Cup of Coffee" Music Video

This was an amazing and incredibly busy day in April. It took us a long time to get the video out because I'd been hoping that I'd be able to get a video for "War!" out first. Alas, I underestimated how busy 2013 would be, but I'm happy that I was able to release this before year's end.

"Cup of Coffee" (the video) is a project spearheaded by Eliot Aether, who approached me earlier this year saying he felt a connection to the song and wanted to do it justice by putting a video together. Eliot has worked with some great talent in the past, and I knew I'd be in good hands.  He singlehandedly gathered a team of camera operators, a Director or Photography (Sergio Arguello, guy with a great eye and amazing resume), a makeup/hair person (Tammie Lee), as well as an post-production team that worked for months to get the final video together.  We shot in the beautiful piano studio of David Andersen (davidandersenpianos.com), a room full of Steinways that just about took my breath away. Also to thank - for her warmth, openness, and sweaters (it was cold that day) is the sculptor Tanya Ragir (tanyaragir.com), who lives with David and agreed to let us take over their backyard for an afternoon.  You can't see it in the video, but her sculptures are placed around the backyard, and they're perfectly inspired.  Justin Juarez is the handsome guy who agreed last-minute to be part of the shoot. I think we pulled off our romance fairly convincingly - apartment arguments and awkward beach strolls included.  My favorite part of shooting with Justin was making up something to be mad at him about (kind of hard, since he's such a nice dude).  I think I recall making up a bit about how I had caught him talking to some girl at a bar, some blonde girl with big boobs. To which he retorted, "I don't even like big boobs!"  That got us laughing for a little while.

Anyway, here's the video if you haven't seen it!  Thank you to the amazing team who put it all together!

Official music video for "Cup of Coffee" // DOWNLOAD the track at [http://alfamusic.bandcamp.com] // Heard on E!'s "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"

Presented by Antidote30/Playa Design
Executive Producer: James Elliot Green | Producer: Jared Green
Director: Eliot Aether | Director of Photography: Sergio Arguello
Camera Operator: Abdul Malik Abbott
Editor: Katrin Leo Pako | Colorist: Jake Blackstone
VFX: Jason Fordham | Makeup & Hair: Tammie Lee
Actor: Justin Juarez | Special thanks: Tanya Ragir (tanyaragir.com) & David Andersen (davidandersenpianos.com), Phil Roc, Katz Carter, Paul Condon, Rob Bieselin.

About the track:
"Cup of Coffee" is from the album "World Go Blue", released 29 January 2013
Nick Adams (drums), Alfa Garcia (lead vocals, piano, guitar), Marc Lacuesta (BGV's), Paul Wight (electric guitar), Steve Wight (bass)
Written by Alfa Garcia. Published by Gas Can Music, Orange County, CA.
Recorded and mixed by Paul Wight. Monrovia, CA. Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music. New Windsor, NY.

LYRICS: http://alfamusic.bandcamp.com/track/c...
www.alfa-music.com

Mid-December; digging out thermals.

The cold is a daily fixture now, creeping in despite the sun; making things still and forcing the hurried mind to slow. I am grateful that "cold" in LA is in the 40's-50's. See, I'm headed for Chicago this weekend, where it's more like 18 degrees. Brrr.  I'll have to dig out the thermals.

But despite that, I am happy to be able to go back and headline for Mt. Prospect's fundraiser event to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan and the recent Illinois tornadoes.  I got a call a few weeks ago from an acquaintance I'd made out there, who owns the beautiful E+O restaurant out in the suburb.  I don't know what made him think of me, but I'm grateful.  Chicago will become my most-visited city in 2013.  I think this will be my 4th trip out there this year.

Speaking of benefits, my songwriter friend Andrew Abaria and I put together a fundraiser concert this weekend at his gorgeous home in Silver Lake. We raised $900 for Direct Relief's efforts in the Philippines and got 4 boxes worth of clothing to donate to my family's church in Bohol, which is distributing goods to the earthquake victims.  I couldn't help but think about how lucky we are, as I folded well-made polo shirts, designer jeans and intricately woven blouses into Atlas shipping boxes. How lucky we can give this stuff away.  How insane there are people in this world who don't even have a reliable set of clothing to wear every day.

Austin, Rob and me putting together the last of the clothing donations.

Meanwhile, I'm getting together the December songwriter's Round at The Renaissance on Friday, which I'll be playing along with some other new LA songwriters I've met.  And then debuting the "Cup of Coffee" music video tomorrow.  I am really excited for this one.  I was a little unsure at first - thought the whole ordeal was too made up for me - but now...now I think it's just right.  For as much as it's about sticking to your guns, being an artist is also about trying out new experiences. And that's definitely how I see the whole experience of shooting this music video. 

Oh, by the way. I almost forgot. I was featured in Candy Magazine in this month's issue!  Kind of awesome.  The shot is below.  I've never seen Friday Night Lights, but it sounds like a neat comparison...