What's Stuck in the Birth Canal

Last year experienced cowriting for the first time and really loved it (Surge on Smith). I thought I was going to be cowriting in Indiana on this last trip, but it ended up being something else -- more like assisting a birth. I joke about being a songwriting dula, but it's a pretty apt description. Here's what happened:

I first met with the songwriter for 3 or 4 hours helping him clarify what he really wants to say and explore through song, and what sort of songwriting would work best for this. Then we picked one of the themes and started writing. From there I threw out some chords and a line from time to time, but mainly just encouraged him and when he hit blocks helped him go over or around them.

It did feel a bit like a way scaled-down version of what I imagine prepping the would-be mother about birth would be like, followed by helping them through it (they do the real work, but they need the help -- maybe the metaphor breaks down a bit since you can't really stop mid-birth with a human baby and people do it with songs all the time), and then celebrating the "kid", messy and red-faced as it may be once it's over. (I suppose rewrites are like baths and cutting the cord, and all the other stuff that reveals the stunning reality that is under all that writhing, crying mess).

A lot of it came down to "you just got to get this stuff out." Not out into the world, just out of your own soul. Many of the songs you have push out don't need to be shared beyond a few friends -- but you never get to the ones more people need to hear if you don't write the ones that are stuck in the birth canal.


A bit of wider application for those of you who aren't writers: there may be things in your life you just plain need to do, things which may require some assistance to get pushed out of the birth canal. You may not want to do them. It's possible you procrastinate or ignore them, even though it hurts. There are many reasons for this. Maybe you're not very skilled at doing these things. Maybe they don't fit your image of yourself (or other peoples' image of you). Maybe it is just because doing something creative or meaningful is hard work and requires the use of your heart, which is a subtle, unpredictable and vulnerable organ.


Examples of this sort of thing that might get "stuck in the birth canal": Hard conversations with loved ones or coworkers, spiritual growth practices, weight loss, balancing the budget, taking a day off, etc.

I'm hosting a songwriters round table-ish gig on Sunday Jitters

7 pm this Sunday (June 3) at Jitters in Millersburg I'm getting a number of songwriters on stage to play their tunes. Some of the Brilliant will be there, so some songs will be acoustic, some more "filled-out." I love more informal evenings like this where the writer can let you into the song a bit more -- if you like that too, come enjoy it. Not announcing the lineup currently because it's still in process. Probably 3-6 artists.

Live at Java Jo's this Saturday night

I'm excited about the upcoming gig this Saturday night. Partly because it's a reunion with Brilliant bassist Toby Hazlett who played on Watershed and the short pre-sabbatical tour. The rest of the rhythm section is drummer/percussionist Kevin Himes. We'll be joined by local legend and multi-instrumentalist Tim Shue, which is worth the price of admission in and of itself. By the way there is no price of admission, so come ready to enjoy great music and use that money you didn't have to pay to get in to buy cds and coffee! It's a great venue but it's sort of little, so come early if you want a good seat.

We'll be playing a mix of tunes -- reaching back into the JRL catalog, hitting Watershed songs, and maybe even throwing in a couple new tunes never before played in Ohio.

7:00pm at Java Jo's, Berlin, OH, this Saturday, June 2nd.

Writing Songs and Recording

I made my recent trip to Indiana for a number of reasons, one being to trade recording/mixing time for songwriting with longtime collaborator Nathan Butler. I help the guy write some tunes, he helps me get some of my recent ones recorded. He ended up with 4 or 5 songs written and I got rough versions of 4 of my new songs recorded. I hope to make them available in some format before too long. It was hard and rewarding work that I was privileged to be able to do. Add to that getting to see my nephew and it made for a fabulous trip.

The Electric Brew

Playing in Goshen this Friday night at the Electric Brew opening for Nathan Butler, old friend, collaborator, drummer on most of my recordings, etc, etc. Can't wait. Great venue. Hope to see you there.

Music Entrepreneurship and Spirituality

After a great week in Nashville coaching bands and connecting with leaders and musicians, I find myself again thinking about the relationship between spirituality, business and music (or the arts in general).

When people whose music has a strong spiritual focus find some way to put distance between their creative work and financial recompense there is often an increased impact.

On the other hand I've seen artists who submit to a rigorous assessment of their work from a business standpoint really benefiting -- not just practically but creatively as well. Read a brief article about musicians and entrepreneurship that hits one aspect of this.

This still leaves me thinking, since my creative work bleeds into the realm of spirituality regularly and the world of business periodically.

Surge on Smith gig

Played two and a half concerts in Texas. The Jonathan Reuel and the Brilliant show was ROUGH! 8 months since my last time playing those songs really showed. Only the brilliance of the Brilliant Texans Joel and Jared kept it afloat. Still love the music though.

The Surge on Smith set was stunning. I almost broke down in the middle of one tune feeling the weight of the ideas in the songs -- people caught in human trafficking -- and the audience really connected. We sold out all the cds we brought (which we arranged judiciously so as to not seem prideful making it look like we thought we'd sell so many). This hasn't happened often for me over the years.

Something is happening with this music. We played at a church we have a long relationship with over the years and the pastor asked Kelly to share a bit about her journey with music and songwriting -- a longtime dream, wrestled with over many years -- I think that was part of why it all hit so hard. That and the kindness of God who cares about people trapped in horrible situations -- and who likes good music! Photo by Wasinger.