Let's talk about dreams for a minute.
If you hang out with me, you will soon come to find I have a small man-crush on Nashville. And I mean that in the most heterosexual way possible.
There is a group of musicians down there I have become incredibly awed with. They completely encapsulate the "musician" image I hold in my head perfec, to the "C". I have had the pleasure of seeing 3 out of the 5 in concert, and have been blessed enough to shake their hands and fan-boy out for a couple hours.
Following them on youtube, facebook, and the sort has allowed me to process this dream I have of being a musician in a way that pulls me in tighter. Besides being amazing at their crafts (songwriting, instruments, performance, etc), they have life measured out to balance their talents with relationship.
They are all best friends, always playing shows and writing together, doing bible studies, and just living in community with each other. A few are married, some are out touring while the others keep Nashville warm, but you can tell that the music isn't the most important thing to them.
Dreams are important and good to have, but you should never lose sight of what is most important.
Enjoy Andrew Ripp's "Dresden Wine", and try not to get addicted. It's almost impossible.
The others:
Ben Rector
Matt Wertz
Dave Barnes
Steve Moakler
Monday, March 5, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Sing For The Summer
I thought today would be an appropriate day to post such title.
Finally, after 4 long weeks, Drew Hartley and I have finished post production on the new Raw Potatoes. There have been quite a few (positive) hic-ups along the way, but nothing that didn't add to our character and understanding of this musical journey, and life as it were. Small aside *small aside aside - I took that phrase from a Dave Barnes post, credits where they should be*, I have never heard of positive hic-ups but I am pleased to announce they do indeed exist.
We shot the video outside. Sounds awesome, and 'twas, but it was also 43 degrees (not to be confused with the popular 90s boy band 98 degrees, which would have been fantastic in more than one way).
An hour and a half of bone chilling breezes will give you an appreciation for the heat accompanied with summer afternoons like nothing else.
We survived.
All of that to say, I'm so incredibly blessed to be able to do music, and I will do videos in 43 degree weather no problem if that means I can someday make a living from this. I have been mentioning coffee shops, songwriting, and this EP we are chasing that will be released early summer, and I don't think I have been this excited since I got my first Easton Synergy hockey stick when they first came out all those years ago.
I am excited because I finally have something to play for. I have something to put my full heart and motivation into, and I get to do it with 3 friends that you couldn't buy. So, the songs that come out of us, I know will be real. Nothing less.
I thought I would share some lyrics that I've been scratching out. I hope this allows you guys to come along with me, and us on this adventure. God bless.
SING FOR THE SUMMER
This California sunrise
Looks beautiful today
We could make our way there
It's not too late
This California dayside
Could color my blood
This watercolor heart inside
Sings all night
Sing for the summer
For the lover I found in you
This California moon won't shine
Without a song
We could howl to the morning light
All night
Sing for the summer
For the lover I found in you
Sing for this moment
For the romance I found in you
Finally, after 4 long weeks, Drew Hartley and I have finished post production on the new Raw Potatoes. There have been quite a few (positive) hic-ups along the way, but nothing that didn't add to our character and understanding of this musical journey, and life as it were. Small aside *small aside aside - I took that phrase from a Dave Barnes post, credits where they should be*, I have never heard of positive hic-ups but I am pleased to announce they do indeed exist.
We shot the video outside. Sounds awesome, and 'twas, but it was also 43 degrees (not to be confused with the popular 90s boy band 98 degrees, which would have been fantastic in more than one way).
An hour and a half of bone chilling breezes will give you an appreciation for the heat accompanied with summer afternoons like nothing else.
We survived.
All of that to say, I'm so incredibly blessed to be able to do music, and I will do videos in 43 degree weather no problem if that means I can someday make a living from this. I have been mentioning coffee shops, songwriting, and this EP we are chasing that will be released early summer, and I don't think I have been this excited since I got my first Easton Synergy hockey stick when they first came out all those years ago.
I am excited because I finally have something to play for. I have something to put my full heart and motivation into, and I get to do it with 3 friends that you couldn't buy. So, the songs that come out of us, I know will be real. Nothing less.
I thought I would share some lyrics that I've been scratching out. I hope this allows you guys to come along with me, and us on this adventure. God bless.
 |
| From Drew Hartley's Amazing Grace video www.youtube.com/DrewHartleyMusic |
SING FOR THE SUMMER
This California sunrise
Looks beautiful today
We could make our way there
It's not too late
This California dayside
Could color my blood
This watercolor heart inside
Sings all night
Sing for the summer
For the lover I found in you
This California moon won't shine
Without a song
We could howl to the morning light
All night
Sing for the summer
For the lover I found in you
Sing for this moment
For the romance I found in you
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Songwriting
I learn a lot about myself when songwriting. Mostly, I learn my insecurity. Will they understand it, will they get it, will they like it, is it fast enough, does it drag on, it isn't good enough, it isn't good, etc. I think songwriting is supposed to feel like this though. If it is easy, if each song comes without any pain or work, then you aren't really discovering yourself, thus no one will discover themselves through your music.
There has been a strange feeling for the last few days, weeks, that I'm deciding to take a route for music. It is weird deciding something. Obviously, none of this would be possible first without God's infinite grace, and second fans pushing you along. But nonetheless there is a decision to take a leap, to dive head first into the clouds, and hope you catch a breeze that will carry you through to somewhere, wherever that somewhere may be.
I have also noticed the mystery of songwriting. When you don't have that first sparkle that catches your eye and leads you to a hit, when you don't have that sudden burst of "I have to write this," there is a lot of time taken up by wondering what will catch you. And, there is a reaction that comes from this wondering; you open up a net. You open up a net waiting to catch that idea floating somewhere inside, but ironically you have a guard that says "nope, not good enough, let's wait for the next one." If you let yourself wait, if you let yourself try to catch the one that will thrust you into songwriter heaven, you miss out on a lot of songs you didn't know existed. At least that is what I've discovered.
I've spent the last couple days in Starbucks (not my coffee of choice mind you, but good enough to lose yourself in a coffee shop daze for a few hours) soaking. Youtube, blogs, interviews, live videos, iTunes have all kept me company while I try and let inspiration flow freely into my net. I've had a great time enjoying a process (one thing I have a terribly hard time with). I have beef with processes. I'm very used to the right nows, but a lot of the last year has been real and ripe with "process." I'm in the process of learning to love the process. But, also hating processed foods, for what it's worth.
I know there is a shine that will capture me, but it is the in-between that we mostly wade through. For me right now, I'm in the thick of it.
I am in kahoots with some pretty awesome players, and we plan on releasing an EP early this summer. There is time, but is the time on my side is where my thoughts seem to land today. God willing, time won't be a factor. This just might be the beginning.
There has been a strange feeling for the last few days, weeks, that I'm deciding to take a route for music. It is weird deciding something. Obviously, none of this would be possible first without God's infinite grace, and second fans pushing you along. But nonetheless there is a decision to take a leap, to dive head first into the clouds, and hope you catch a breeze that will carry you through to somewhere, wherever that somewhere may be.
I have also noticed the mystery of songwriting. When you don't have that first sparkle that catches your eye and leads you to a hit, when you don't have that sudden burst of "I have to write this," there is a lot of time taken up by wondering what will catch you. And, there is a reaction that comes from this wondering; you open up a net. You open up a net waiting to catch that idea floating somewhere inside, but ironically you have a guard that says "nope, not good enough, let's wait for the next one." If you let yourself wait, if you let yourself try to catch the one that will thrust you into songwriter heaven, you miss out on a lot of songs you didn't know existed. At least that is what I've discovered.
I've spent the last couple days in Starbucks (not my coffee of choice mind you, but good enough to lose yourself in a coffee shop daze for a few hours) soaking. Youtube, blogs, interviews, live videos, iTunes have all kept me company while I try and let inspiration flow freely into my net. I've had a great time enjoying a process (one thing I have a terribly hard time with). I have beef with processes. I'm very used to the right nows, but a lot of the last year has been real and ripe with "process." I'm in the process of learning to love the process. But, also hating processed foods, for what it's worth.
I know there is a shine that will capture me, but it is the in-between that we mostly wade through. For me right now, I'm in the thick of it.
I am in kahoots with some pretty awesome players, and we plan on releasing an EP early this summer. There is time, but is the time on my side is where my thoughts seem to land today. God willing, time won't be a factor. This just might be the beginning.
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