Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Busy

This whole time I thought it was laziness, but now I realize I just have no time. I'm constantly making lists of Things I Need To Do, and constantly failing to get them all done because something goes wrong or I don't have enough time. And then there's the business of writing and recording songs...

It's nice to know that keeping music on my mind every day for the past month has made me aware of this, but not nice to know that I still barely get anything done regardless.

However, last night I made significant headway on a new song AND new video.

This is why I need a vacation, and this is why I'm taking one.

Friday, August 20, 2010


This picture has nothing to do with anything I'm writing.

I'm taking a trip. It will begin in early October, and end in late December. I have a lot to do in the next month.

One of those things is getting a new album out. Honestly, I don't know if I can do it. But I have to try. I'm already more than halfway there.

I have roughly 52 songs and demos in various states of completion, any one of which could end up on the album. Sometimes you can have too many options. This is what I've been struggling with all summer.

I have been doing more writing recently, and I've been working on a live set with the second official member of Lost on Purpose. We have a couple songs down and the harmonies are sounding incredible. We will start playing shows when I return. But for now I need to record this album. I need to make schedules. I can't afford to waste any free time. On top of this I still need to make several small trips for work, and will probably go on a small tour with my other band (The Ross Sea Party). I probably only have 35 days in Los Angeles from now til October.

Such is the life of an unknown musician.

Monday, August 9, 2010

The Neistat Brothers

My buddy told me about this new show on HBO that has zero publicity. It's about two brothers who film pretty much everything that happens to them - on iphones, point and shoots and 'real' movie-making cameras. Then the edit it together. They got their show in HBO. Incredible.

What's even more incredible is how inspiring the show is. I consider myself to be a pretty DIY artist - I've done everything on my own. But they put me to shame. Just watch the show if you have the chance. I flew through the entire first season in 24 hours.

Then I wrote another new song.

I don't really need new songs. I have dozens of old ones that are pretty good and deserve to be recorded. But I need to get in that zone. I need a new approach. I need to get crazy.

When the time comes I will be ready. And that will be soon, since I'm leaving the country.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Success

I wrote one song yesterday. And I actually quite like it.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Futility Quest

I still haven't written those two damn songs. Something always comes up. Last night I decided to make bagels on a whim. Not toast bagels... actually make them from scratch.

It's not about the songs, it's about the discipline. It's not easy. I'm a musician, yet I feel like I hardly ever write and record. Then again I've released six albums.

Today I have nothing planned except for seeing a show later in the evening. I'll have a couple hours free right after work. I already baked bagels so I can't use that as an excuse. I do need to work out (I might be running the Ninja Warrior course on Saturday... that's a whole other story) but that shouldn't take very long.

Oh, and then there's the issue of the next album. I've had a few songs finished for months, but then all my recording mojo flew out the window. I have a song that is a guaranteed single... and it's been in the same unfinished state for OVER A YEAR. I just can't figure out the ending. Then again I haven't sat down with it for more than 30 minutes.

So it goes.