First of all, I would like to welcome everyone reading my blog. I have been meaning to start a blog – at least for my own documentary of the last few years – if nothing else.
If anyone reading hasn’t figured it out yet, I am a singer/songwriter/writer. I love creating, I love performing, and I love seeing the reactions (whether good or bad) from people when they read or listen to what I do. I feel there is something magical in creating something, and there is something motivating in the philosophies that are imbedded in creation.
Life as a “Wanna Be” Rock Star – as I call it – is stressful, disappointing, exhausting (mentally and physically) and extremely rewarding at times. I can definitely say that I’ve come a long way, and still have a long way to go. So, for all of you reading out there – if you’re just starting in the music/writing world, hopefully some of my mistakes and achievements can help. For all of you a lot further along than me, perhaps you can call me out on anything stupid that I may be doing. And perhaps maybe, we can just all help each other.
For some of us, the music comes naturally, for others, it’s the lyrics. And, for the lucky ones, the music and the lyrics, it all comes screaming out almost effortlessly creating prophetic blends that involuntarily submits its listeners to the joy and mystery of the music. Really, it’s nauseating to those that struggle. For me, the word “frustration” doesn’t even begin to describe my path. As a writer, I love words and melding them together – so putting lyrics together is a therapeutic joy. However, when it comes to adding music to those lyrics, something that fits the message perfectly, is catchy and mesmerizing – that is another story. For years I did everything I could to avoid adding the instruments. I worked with arrangers, producers, even put together a band (that was a bad idea, but for some people it works). But, in the end it was unavoidable, and that ever menacing piano had to become my best friend. For two years that best friend was a destructive abusive one; and, the abuse was not coming from me. Some days, it was as if the piano mocked me, daring me to produce something within the hours and hours I sat there that didn’t sound like crap. Other days, I would avoid even looking at the piano, thinking that somehow if I ignored it, the break would relax me and next time, a breakthrough would come. Over two years of playing, studying, and reworking, I learned that perfection takes time and yes, you can learn to do things that are hard. Slowly I began to figure out how to create rhythms, melodies, and harmonies. While I feel far from a master, I’ve been lucky to find great arrangers and musicians along the way to teach me and add to the rhythm that I started.