“If we admire the music of a certain composer and having studied his style very thoroughly we draw up rules of musical composition based on this composer we then go to send our children to music school to learn these rules in the hope that if they apply them they will become first class musicians which they usually fail to do. What might be called the technique of music as well as the technique of morals, as well as the technique of speech and language is very valuable because it gives you something to express if, and I repeat if you have anything to express. But if you don’t, if you don’t have anything to say not even the greatest mastery of english will stand you in good stead unless you can manage to fool your listeners by talking beautiful nonsense and make it sound profound.”    -Alan Watts

I love this because I think it’s a profound insight not only with all the arts but with language and communication too.  Message will always dominate over technique.

I’ve done a lot of work with the technical side of music but it’s not more important to me than the message and the feeling of the words that I’m singing.

I’ll stand in the middle of my soul
It’s all that I have
Even if I’m the only one who believes
It’s not that I can’t pick it up and
Start it all over again
Sometimes it’s better to be alone

David Olney, a master songwriter and not the best singer or master of guitar technique died onstage a few days ago (*article here), and the meaning in his expression and his bravery for putting the words to page was his greatest achievement and contribution to the music world.

When we agreed upon a plan to record and mix an entire record in 24 hours under camera, there were many forces and agendas that came together.  While an ambitious and enthusiastic producer and cameraman wanted to get his rough pilot in front of some west coasters for a shot at getting a reality TV show, I only wanted to get my material recorded and “out” for the fans that wanted it.

And as you can see, the art director decided to mimic one of the most popular TV shows of the time, 24, this was after all 2006.

Many powers at work, each coming together slowly, planning, then a few days of execution and then off into the sunset and ultimately in different directions.

Despite contractual promises, the pilot was never made (such was life sometimes in such matters).

There’s a time to bend and compromise and a time to not bend for anyone or anything at all for any reason and everyone’s got to to figure that out for themselves. 

24 isn’t on spotify but it does exist on apple music.  You can download it HERE but only until Feb 1st as that delivery system will be replaced.

Enjoy!

I was asked last night about the title “Renegades and Healers.”  What does is mean?
“Those are the people who change the world.”

We gonna fly over everything that they see / When no one knows what happens next/ We’re going to be renegades and healers 

Big thanks to MVYRadio for debuting this one on New Years Day:

I spend a lot of time talking with others and while a lot of it is about the “music” and about “that time this or that happened” it’s a big thing to have so much history with so many and be focused on the future at the same time (this is a trick friends and if you can figure it out for yourself, you’ll be way ahead).

How do you talk about the movie you’re going to make when the last one … was really so good that everyone will compare anything you do to it?

Gratitude is the thing that keeps me locked in.  I am forever grateful to all the people who surround me, support me, engage with me, and believe in the relevancy of what I do, not that music is just a passing soundtrack to our lives, or some kind of trick passage to becoming famous or rich, but that it’s an art, something that has message and purpose and can incrementally make our lives greater in relationship to how far we dare to listen.

Thank you and here’s looking forward to 2020!

A big thanks to all the birthday wishes from everyone, it’s appreciated.

I spent some time recording my thoughts on my number one tech device (*pictured below) on the holiday (coinciding with my birthday) and in the age of smart phones I was questioned on using such a primitive device in lieu of the massive handheld computer we all carry around (because it’s clearly less).

This recorder is dedicated to my song ideas and sketches.  Any absence from view or any lack of it in my surroundings reminds me I’m not keeping up on my writing.  This miracle simplicity is so often overlooked, that we are capable of doing “more with less,” we often miscalculate our options and choices with what we do and how we do it, and so we throw out the old ways in a dash for the new.  Many of the greatest math and engineering minds did more with pencils and paper than some of todays science rockstars.

The 15 “Renegades and Healers” song selections were taken from a group of 100 that were born on this little sony handheld.  And making rough drafts of each of them also means having the task of listening to them and deciding when it’s time to throw some away (delete) and move on.