I was going to watch a movie tonight, and went into the studio and started messing with this idea…I could not play the bass part the way I hear it – so its pretty brutal, but just for fun I thought I’d put it up – thinking of calling this “you call”, but as you all know – everything is subject to changes…it is cool to me that I can share a ruff idea “virtually”, and not worry about costs etc…I called my label to ask if they minded me putting this up for public consumption – but I just got an answering machine – it was after hours non – emergency.You call

And cast me into soft, warm, damp, dark mould,
All unaware of light come through the dusk,
I yet should feel the split of each shelly fold,
Should feel the growing of my prisoned heart,
And dully dream of being slow unrolled,
And in some other vagueness taking part.

GM

this song might sound like some kind of B grade slasher movie on first blush, but I would like to think there is something more in it for those of discerning taste…it is actually less about a basement, say mine (where by the way my studio is located)…and more metaphorically that place where you and I know we should not go, the place where our shadow will find us…that place where our true self is replaced by an imposter. I got the idea from this chapter in Phantastes. This song features ample vocoder, synths, strings, electric bass guitar, reverse effects, saloon piano, my banging Ludwig drums mixed in front and a surprise or two. Enjoy.
dont go in the basement

dont go in the basement

dont go in the basement
scary place down there
they’ll find your replacement
and they won’t even care

look at that toothless smile
wishing you great harm
serpentine beguiling
bustin out his black charms

dont go in the basement
creatures of the night
lost souls in the casement
angels watch you right

play the drums

dont go in the basement
dont go twisted out
gently here reminded now
dont go feed the doubt

testing your resistance
try the holy call
souls sold for a pittance now
all the while He saw

na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na (2x)

someone came up to me the other day and said “I wish I could play the drums like you”. Oh I said – you grab a stick and hit a drum for starters – do you want me to show you how? “Nooooo”, they responded “I was just sayin”…and there, my friends, lies the rub. If a person who has never played an instrument really knew the almost manic requirements to play an instrument even decently – most folks eyes would glaze over. Tedium in study, practice re-learning and repetition would scare most folks away and it does. Another point that stops a lot of people from playing music is the fear “what if I am not any good”. My response is twofold. 1) Practice and get better. 2) If you play the best you can and folks critisize you – who cares what they think? FERGETABOUT’EM! If you enjoy the sound of a guitar or drum and the sensation of moving the airwaves with plucked string, resonating drumkit or blowing horn – maybe your joy will be shared by someone else…maybe you will bless another one fine day. Maybe some day you will be good enough to have people pay you for your skills. If you don’t move masses, does it really matter? As far as styles – whatever! Classical, funk, rock, jazz, electromangularfizzrap…have at it. Styles and taste buds are varying, and the main thing to consider is that you work toward sounds and styles that edify. If you choose not to, you do so at your own peril. It is absolutely astounding how many people choose to inject sounds and music into their emotional being that are tension filled, hateful and preach plain old evil. I believe a lot of this is just being deceived, but there is certainly more to it than just a casual mistake, we do after all choose what we put in our mouths / bodies everyday, and we benefit from or suffer accordingly. Same with sounds and music. Music is the single best emotional modifier I know of. Do you want to feel aggresive and energetic? Do you want to slow it down and chill? Do you want to dance? Do you want to travel deeply through the forests of the mind into an uncharted and adventurous land as a complex story unfolds in your minds eye? Do you want to worship the King of Kings and celebrate His goodness? Do you want to immerse yourself in a tale of love? Heartbreak? Get inspired? Have at it with music. Listen to it, learn to play it, sing it – and let the critics and nay sayers mumble. Understand, that like any endeavor – if you intend to have any kind of proficiency at it, it will require sacrifice. Remember too, that if you are passionate about something, very likely over time you will find others who share your passion, in a way you can enjoy together. If it is writing it, playing it or just listening to it, right now is the perfect time to get your passions moving…and what a great gift we have in the ability to emote, strengthen, resolve, warn, celebrate, unite, communicate, dazzle, humor, praise (etc etc) with music! It is reaching out to you inviting you to participate….what are you waiting for?

Production is heavy underway for the new video and song which I hope to have out in the next weeks…here are kenneth and lisa, both amazing in their acting instincts. Kenneth you may recognize from spots on TV, most notably the one I have seen is during Twins games, he is the fishing guy in this commercial here he is on shoot day for the video (click to enlarge)

Lisa is a busy dancer in local dance companies, I don’t have any vids for her stuff but I’ll tell you she was the phenomenal temptress, here is her look on shoot day. The name and background of the song will be coming soon as well, as well as a few images from the video as they develop.

Not long ago I was reading a blog that talks a lot about investment, money and finances. My time spent there reading the blog is based not so much on the fact I have a lot of stocks or even a lot of money. I don’t. The reason I read the blog is there is ample evidence a lot of our current events come down (unfortunately) to power and money, speaking from the worlds “top” governmentally, socially etc…in other words, if you are interested at all in what is going on in a socio-economic or political sense – you would probably do better to follow the flow of money in the world than cnn, foxnews or some party cabal. Anyway…moving on to my point. One of the quotes written under one of the postings at this site was about value…the writer said value was not a function of quantity but of quality…this is paraphrasing a bit – but his point is startling. How many people do you know that put value in amounts? How much money? How many things? And in the process ignore the quality of what is most worth noting, and that is the quality of life. We might add to his point that quality is determined to a large degree by purity. Pure wool, pure orange juice, pure gold…pure music (in this sense music that is free and clear from noise and is life like or bringing the listener into the closest proximity to the actual music statement) all with the least taint are of the highest value….and best of all – purity; life cleansed in the blood of Christ offering you and I complete forgiveness for our sins. If you can read this you have an internet connection and are likely wealthy from a worldly standpoint. You, like me, are in the top 1% globally. We have running water, electricity, a home, a fridge with food. We can walk down the street free from fear to stores filled with anything you might desire. If you pay any attention to the folks around you, you will know contentment is a rare commodity. There is actually a secret to being content regardless of ones circumstances. So where does that bring us? What do you value? Are you content? Are you pursuing what makes you feel most alive, or are you having the life sucked out of you as you pursue “things” in their tyranny? It is my prayer that you would know Christ on a personal level, and that you would seek Him first, and let the rest be added. In this process alone do we come to understand true value.

got a new snare head Saturday and wanted to mess with writing a little something and stumbled into this piece…not exactly a standard

messed with some bigger drums, an obligatory drum roll, native singing, and soaring sounds…and no, this is not the “Car-esque” tune… anyway – enjoy.

tea in tyva

I have a confession to make. I am easily distracted. My daughter calls it the “squirrel” syndrome. She got the idea from the movie up. Note – mediaplayer is in playlist mode – so please close after video… Truth is I am barraged by fascinating and beautiful sensory input. That would be from this thing called life. A friend of mine jokes about it being from my eye catching shiny things. Anyway, from a creative standpoint it can create moving hurdles, as ideas come and go, move in and out of the minds periphery in varying degrees of fascination. Someone pretending to understand might try to enclose this in the coffin of a name like ADD or something (which I would happily refute should anyone care to do so). As a matter of fact this creative life is mysterious and wonderful, it is deep and wide with possibilities, it is broad and long in travel time – with no apparent end in existence, unless imposed by the creator. I hesitate to use creator for people – as in truth we are more akin to finders (more on that later and elsewhere). Anyhow – I planned on doing a quick something yesterday – stumbled onto a vintage sounding something else completely that inspired me to write something Car-esque. You know Ocasek and Co? Anyway – it could be frustrating if I wanted to deliver any of a number of other things already in the works…or I could just share what I did – and a lyric idea I wrote on my way to the drum lesson I was giving. I know many folks won’t be able to get anything whatsoever from this scribbling – but it will all make sense when I put the song out OK? Besides – I like the colors… The imagination is an amazing gift isn’t it? SQUIRREL!

(oh – and by the way – any time any one of us “makes an image” in our mind we are using our imagination – let’s be careful about that sacred endeavor ok?)

I was talking to a friend from Nashville recently – he was sharing his thoughts on music, his music, my music, his bosses music (very big boss > hint > blind piano player singer with many hits and awards)…and he suggested I do a ” buffet” style album – like, you choose 10 tunes – I make the cd. Could be cool. I am planning on either a best of from the wallops stuff, or maybe the special order approach…not sure…maybe both. I have some kewl art for the album, and this will be the first time I do the proper release through itunes etcetera. I was also thinking of adding a business link, where I can ruminate on my experiences in the business of music. It may not put you on the Forbes 500, but it should be entertaining and somewhat informative. I am hoping to put a short bit up on my next tune which will be accompanied by a video in the next few days when I have a better grasp of timelines. Thats all for now!

soldiers cast lots for Christs clothes as He hangs on the cross

circa 1480
silence