You: Whoa, seriously?? A short Sunday post?
Me: Yes… (don’t faint)
BUT: I have a new song coming out soon. I’ve got it pegged to be out by mid-June. I actually have several new songs planned for release. But it’ll start in June. 😊
Ok, that’s it for now. More next week.
🙏🎶🎤
👋
Today’s post is kinda short??? 😱 Yes, it’s true. I have tons I could write, but seeing how I’ve written tons the past couple of weeks, it seems a shorter post is in order. And this one is actually ABOUT music. 🎶🎹🎶
I have joined this endeavor in order to give myself a deadline for getting this next release mostly done.
Why?
Answer: I got picky on myself. And I’d like to get some of these songs out NOW (as they seem timely). Besides, I’m on the fence about the other two and I’d rather write more material.
So, I’m off to do more writing…
✍️
Each week, something stranger than the prior week appears to happen in our country. Anything from a screwy remark (like Canada should become the 51st State) to firing half the US government in a hatchet plan has become reality. It’s like watching someone playing darts with a rifle. Sure, the US has a deficit. It’s bad. Sure, $56,000 dollar toilets are ridiculous. That kind of fiscal abuse should be evaluated and revised. But millions of us (both sides, not just Dems or ‘Pubs’) are NOT agreeing with the way this is being handled. I suspect more than complacent acceptance shortly. Resistance is fomenting.
There’s that little thing in the U.S. we’re known for — i.e., Conscientious objection and civil disobedience. It may not be a giant movement of millions parading on Washington, yet, although I won’t be surprised if that happens. It’ll be states objecting and ignoring the direction. It’ll be citizens showing up and yelling at representatives. It’ll be voting in hordes when the chance comes.
I’ve read articles with quotes from independents (who voted for the current president in 2024) lamenting their choice now they see what’s happening. True believers will not be dissuaded. But people who gave the current administration “a chance” (based on the rhetoric they’d heard in election season coupled with the way they wanted to hear it) sound angry now. They regret their choice. They regret the comments about privatizing the postal system. They regret the dismantling of the parks systems. That’s NOT what they signed up for.
This is the sort of stuff that fuels the themes that turn into songs. Like that Canada remark? That’s a song begging to happen. Title: The Fifty-First State. Maybe I’ll write it.
I’ve got FIVE songs arranged now. Two more to go and then on to vocals, finalizing, mixing, mastering, and ultimately releasing. It’s a bit like having a root canal. It takes a long time (sitting in that dentist chair) and there are multiple visits. I’ve had at least two of those. I know whereof I speak. (Perhaps this why I avoid the dentist…)
🦷
Good Day All!
So far, this year, I have posted every Sunday (like I said I would at the top of year). This is a milestone for an ADHD’er. I have yet to get distracted, forget and not post. Of course, we’re six weeks into the new year. Give it some time!
I now have four out of six songs mostly arranged. I did have a seventh song in mind, but I’m not sold on it. I’ll save that one for some other project in the distant future (if it gets realized at all).
When I note “mostly arranged,” I’m not referring to all the vocals done. I mean the instrumental aspects — e.g., that the song is far enough along to add the vocals. I’m one of those who likes to arrange the “band” first and THEN sing to it. There are those who like it the other way around — i.e., they show up with a guitar and voice to record, AND then the arrangement is built around that. Yeah… not me.
When I sing in the shower 🚿, I hear a band 🎸in my head backing me up. Drums 🥁, bass 🎸, accompaniment, the whole shebang. When I actually get to building the arrangement, that ephemeral band in my head surrenders to the actual sounds I find. Besides, there’s fun in discovering something other than what I originally conceived. The whole process becomes a kind of hide and seek with the sound modules as a song is born.
This is where I’m at lately: Discovery mode. It’s one thing to write the song. It’s quite another to arrange it. Arranging can be a little like rewriting the song. I consider a form of editing, though. It’s just building on the ideas that feed on each other from one layer to another.
All this to note: Things are coming along.
For any songwriters out there reading this, I have found a home group to help stay on track. Every couple of months, they have a goal of going 100 days committed to something you’re doing with your songs. It can be anything from creating an album (a lofty task) to simply cleaning up your lyrics folder. But it’s something you do for 100 days.
I’ve joined them a couple of times now. And I’ll be joining again in March. This will actually help to get this latest release out. My specific goal is to have all arrangements and vocals done by the end of it.
There’s this whole other thing called mixing and mastering and releasing. That’ll happen AFTER it, in the summer. It’s too ambitious to believe the entire release would be done by the time June rolls around. Prior experience has proven that. But to have it ready for mixing and mastering? That’s a realistic goal.
This group is out here (on the web): https://100daysofsongwriting.com
If you’re writing in your room somewhere (quietly writing some songs) and want to join a group of friendly, similar people, this might be for you!
🎵🎹🎵
👋
It’s Sunday and time for ranting about something. I notice in the past couple of weeks, though, I have been rambling on about the climate and fires and doing something (even if it’s small) to help. And there’s been nothing since the beginning of the year about music, of all things.
This is a music site, right? I should likely write about it.
(By the way, I felt so awful noting I’d been eating chicken 🐔 recently. I’ve gone back to being a vegetarian 🥗. I went through about 3 weeks there of losing my way. But I’m back now. I feel better, thanks for asking.)
I have been working on arrangements. I have three about ready for vocals, and I’ve started arranging another one to add to the pile. At the pace I’m going, I’ll have all six done by April (probably mid-April). I would record vocals next. Then there’s mixing, mastering… (🤔 thinking). So, the release wouldn’t be out until June. Hmm, that’s rosy. Let’s be more realistic and say July.
This is, of course, in the event that I continue to work on it and not get distracted by about anything else. Fireflies?? ❤️🔥 They’re pretty. A sunny day? ☀️ Let’s walk. The moon full? 🌕. Let’s look at it. Did you say trip? 🧳 Where’re we goin’?
I have a brain equivalent to a moth. Ever seen a moth fly? They’re kind of chaotic. When they do finally zone in on something (like a light 💡 ), they remain obsessed with it until they literally burn out trying to merge with it.
This is like my approach to songs at times. I can get obsessed and hyper-focused on it. I’m either working on them feverishly or completely ignoring the process. This is also why any release of mine can take five years to get out the door.
I AM A MOTH.
My hope is this year, I’m a happy and less obsessed moth. Oh, I’ll still be a moth. But maybe my flight pattern will be a little more direct, and I won’t be burning up by the light.💡
🎵🎹🎵