When I was in Nashville I got to hear some songwriters. Pros. Write hits. And they all collaborate. Very interesting. Talked to them about it. Has got me thinking.
One of them said, "People always ask me if it frustrates me that I gave away half the rights to these big hits. Not really. The songs are better because of the cowriters."
Hmmm.
That doesn't come naturally for me, but on this trip I've had the chance to work with two people.
Jonathan Reuel's Earthquake Trees: Things I Make
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Carrying Buckets
I get all bent out of shape about my calling and responsibility. I think so much depends on me and I worry and struggle to be faithful. I lose perspective.
In reality I have a little job. I carry buckets. I carry them a certain distance and then set them down for someone else to carry. Or sometimes I carry them to a destination and pour them into pitchers or troughs or swimming pools.
This is either extremely relieving or depressing, depending on who I'm working for.
In reality I have a little job. I carry buckets. I carry them a certain distance and then set them down for someone else to carry. Or sometimes I carry them to a destination and pour them into pitchers or troughs or swimming pools.
This is either extremely relieving or depressing, depending on who I'm working for.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Recording
I've been working on the next CSM delivery for months and months now. I'm also working on another project that includes some songwriting and recording. It's been so much fun and so infuriating to be recording again. I love the process of creating in the studio.
I'm a bit frustrated that I haven't hit whatever it is that will take the music to the next place it has to go yet. Although I'm trusting the process and the One that is my muse, source and destination, and who, for whatever reason, is wrapped in mystery and relates to me through silence, song, images and ideas, based in, coming from and drawing me towards . . . love (and also, from that place, hopefully something new, valuable, different, and strong musically).
I'm a bit frustrated that I haven't hit whatever it is that will take the music to the next place it has to go yet. Although I'm trusting the process and the One that is my muse, source and destination, and who, for whatever reason, is wrapped in mystery and relates to me through silence, song, images and ideas, based in, coming from and drawing me towards . . . love (and also, from that place, hopefully something new, valuable, different, and strong musically).
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Live Music
As we've been traveling around the country searching for city to live in we've got the chance to hear some good bands. We saw Deer Tick in Austin at a good little club, and just saw Deerhunter at the Fine Line in Minneapolis. What's with all the deer?
It's been good to hear bands live again, to see how they handle the mysterious task of creating, communicating and sometimes disappearing into the music.
In the past when I heard bands I'd usually want to be up there playing, or I'd feel depressed because I wasn't there. And then when I was playing out I'd miss hearing bands.
At this point I'm enjoying the gift of hearing and content where I'm at, performing very little but writing and recording a bit more again.
It's been good to hear bands live again, to see how they handle the mysterious task of creating, communicating and sometimes disappearing into the music.
In the past when I heard bands I'd usually want to be up there playing, or I'd feel depressed because I wasn't there. And then when I was playing out I'd miss hearing bands.
At this point I'm enjoying the gift of hearing and content where I'm at, performing very little but writing and recording a bit more again.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
God on Scale
I imagine God saying something like"
"You humans get so worked up about scale, distance, weight, etc. Why? You should be impressed by what really matters. These things can be helpful in cultivating a sense of awe and humility, but their substance is less than many things you overlook daily."
"You humans get so worked up about scale, distance, weight, etc. Why? You should be impressed by what really matters. These things can be helpful in cultivating a sense of awe and humility, but their substance is less than many things you overlook daily."
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Drinks and Babies
Some of us fiercely want our work to be meaningful. To make a lasting difference. We agonize about this. We long and struggle for it.
A while back some friends, Christa and I had pina coladas with pineapple, coconut and ginger infused something. They were excellent.
We talked coconuts and how what we were drinking could have become another coconut tree -- or it could have been (and in this case was) harvested to become a drink for a group of Virginian twertysomethings.
Both are good options. Both can be bad. Which is meaningful? Which makes a lasting difference, though?
Sometimes I want the work I do to produce babies, that is grow into something else that last and reproduces. Sometimes I just want to make, have or share a good drink. Both can be meaningful. Both can make a difference. ("If you give a drink to the least of these..")
I'm praying, hoping and working on trusting that God will take my ideas and my work and let the coconuts that need to grow into new trees do so, and the ones that need harvested -- well let them be turned into good drinks and enjoyed!
Again, I think so much rides on who you're working for.
A while back some friends, Christa and I had pina coladas with pineapple, coconut and ginger infused something. They were excellent.
We talked coconuts and how what we were drinking could have become another coconut tree -- or it could have been (and in this case was) harvested to become a drink for a group of Virginian twertysomethings.
Both are good options. Both can be bad. Which is meaningful? Which makes a lasting difference, though?
Sometimes I want the work I do to produce babies, that is grow into something else that last and reproduces. Sometimes I just want to make, have or share a good drink. Both can be meaningful. Both can make a difference. ("If you give a drink to the least of these..")
I'm praying, hoping and working on trusting that God will take my ideas and my work and let the coconuts that need to grow into new trees do so, and the ones that need harvested -- well let them be turned into good drinks and enjoyed!
Again, I think so much rides on who you're working for.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Recording again and my other blog
I'm recording again. I'm in NC with family, and just got some basic gear so I can record again. My computer died a few weeks before we went to Asia in August, so this is the first I've been able to put song ideas down since then. Feels good.
I have a CSM coming out soon, so I'm working on that as well as a project based on our travels in Asia (which will include original art, music, photos and illustration from the trip).
Christa and I have a blog about our travels:
http://howwillyougohome.wordpress.com/
I have a CSM coming out soon, so I'm working on that as well as a project based on our travels in Asia (which will include original art, music, photos and illustration from the trip).
Christa and I have a blog about our travels:
http://howwillyougohome.wordpress.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)