Tag Line
Apr 19, 2009 sojourn
Pressing edges into song, what?
I edited the tag line for my blog, really just shortening it from “pressing life’s edges into song” to “pressing edges into song“. For all practical purposes this is the first time I’m peeling back the context for this theme and it’s got my mind churning faster than I can type.
When I press, and I often do, I get fragmented. Many of these fragments end up on the fringes of what’s happening, or life’s edges. Like when I try too hard to please someone, and fail another, or myself. Or my work suffers because I allow circumstances out of my control to press me, to put me in difficult positions I should avoid at all cost. Then there’s the proverbial painting myself into the writer’s block corner because I’m too scattered and frustrated and thinking everything I write sucks, and begin wondering what’s the point in writing at all?
This, of course, is all fodder, all grapes on the vine waiting to be pressed into a story, prose for a blog post, and, yeah, maybe even a song. But more often than not I let my insecurities and self-consciousness derail me. I reread an interview with Rodney Crowell last week in which Rodney is deemed as one who ascribes to the notion “… self-consciousness is the enemy of art.” Also last week, Bob Lefsetz posted a blog titled “Dylan on Buffet” that really spoke to me this week, too, in which he declares “The role of the artist is to open the door just a little, so we can experiment, so we can take the unpopular route, so we can become enlightened.”
I guess I’m still crawling out of my shell as a writer, still allowing the threat of rejection to stifle my creativity. Sure, it’s not all doom & gloom. There are many encouraging signs, too, and that’s what I need to focus on. I see and hear lots of friends and peers just tearing it up with their work, getting their songs and music played everywhere from MTV to Internet radio to churches to nursing homes, both live and recorded. That’s the goal, eh? To have our art seen and/or heard? Surely a big goal for me.
I just had a pretty positive song evaluation done where my “coach” qualified the song as being about recovery from addiction. Now, I agree with the assessment, but the more specific perspective from which I wrote the song is that we all live on the edge of addiction, the edge of love, the edge of understanding, knowing the real “you” comes out in the end. And that what really matters is having relationships with those to whom the real “you” is perfectly acceptable. Serendipitously, someone tweeted a Dr. Seuss quote this week that sums up this mind set so much better than I ever could, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
My edges have already taken me somewhere today, for that, I’m grateful.
Risk the Reward
Mar 1, 2009 sojourn
What a whirlwind 24 hours… the culmination of planning a workshop, then both witnessing and reaping the fruit of hanging out and learning from seasoned veteran artist and songwriter Craig Bickhardt. Going out on Friday nights is always tough for me, with work and my desire to just degauss at home. But once I get to the venue, relax and enjoy the show, I realize every step of this mini-journey is so worthwhile, and this past Friday night was a great precursor to the next day’s workshop.
Saturday morning it’s an early rise and get to the Well to setup and greet our workshop attendees and presenter. The day goes off without a hitch, the interaction very much in tune with expectations for our time with Craig. Our NSAI chapter is so dynamic; we had a couple of brand new faces and some recently signed members in attendance, all willing and enthusiastic participants. And Susan, our hostess at The Well serves the group like family… just can’t thank her and The Well enough.
No punches pulled in the accounts Craig shared of both success and rejection, perspectives on the current and future states of the music industry, especially as it pertains to the songwriter. But even with the less that “hopeful” picture, I think we all left encouraged to press on with our respective art and raising the bar for the work we produce.
There were many nuggets of wisdom shared. Craig’s views on creativity always stir introspection. He told a story of two groups of children being asked to draw pictures, one was offered candy for doing so, the other just asked to draw. The drawings from group that got the candy were not very creative at all, the focus was on the reward, not the potential art. The group that created without the objective of being “compensated” for their effort produced thoughtful and inspired works of art.
What’s the point?
To me, and I think we as writers know this, there’s risk in being a writer. It takes time, often significant amounts of time. Time away from family, sacrificing sleep, and time away from our comfort zones. It takes guts, and money, and shattered hope through rejection, and the fear of sharing that first draft or forgetting the words or melody, on and on… there is risk in being an artist.
What about the reward for taking such risks? Truth is, there is no realistic promise or guarantee of tangible reward. But the heart of what I got out of this segment is the need to do a gut check on my motivation for creativity. I need to expose the nagging slack in my discipline and slay it by making time away from being tethered to the Internet, closing the door to my studio and being willing to sit in silence as my mind and being dive into a character, scene or feeling that might end up in a song, story, or other form of art.
We didn’t spend much time on tools like literary devices, but Craig made what I perceived as a pretty profound perspective regarding imagery… that is, to use imagery to reveal and expand upon a character, motivation, and/or emotion. This is where taking time in quiet is key to “seeing” what I’m writing about.
Though quite tired and drained, I drove home Saturday afternoon through heavy rain inspired to press on as an artist/writer, re-committed to the understanding that being true to my own art means embracing risk and putting forth effort to produce the ultimate reward — art itelf.
Tags: bickhardt, Evening Muse, NSAI, songwriting
Stone Yard
Jan 30, 2009 sojourn
I’m planning out the weekend, co-write in the morning, NSAI coordinator meeting Sunday, slip in a neighborhood birthday party (the adult flavor) on Saturday night, and oh yeah it’s Super Bowl weekend, what… huh?
Where did January [2009] go?
It’s been whirlwind since the 2nd day of the year… started back to work earlier than normal from Christmas holiday due to “the acquisition”, then had to travel out west a week on business. This past work week just flew by, and though I did some writing during the month, I missed both gigs I had scheduled. Fortunately I have enough discipline to keep the fire from going out, and I’m ready to make another surge, I’ve got my flippers and goggles on — I’m diving in with a somewhat refined approach:
- I decided I was still missing that single point of reference for all my lyrics and song ideas, so I bumped my MasterWriter to 2.0 and now have the application on my PC and Mac, and I’ll figure out how to sync the two data sets as I go, but I’ll keep the master on the Mac.
- Didn’t spend enough time on Logic, but that’s a big goal for February, especially learning to program the drums via midi to make better demos of finished songs.
- I’ve also update my productivity maps in MindManager, and have a more centralized work flow for tracking goals and getting to sites and resources I frequent.
- Lastly, I’m enjoying hooking up with some old friends on MySpace and listening to their material, very inspiring, and some flat out really good material.
NSAI has another busy month ahead. Craig Bickhardt will be in town for workshop and show (see NSAI Charlotte site for details), and I’ll get to meet a writer who I really admire that’s coming in from Charleston for the CB events. Plus, I need to make a final decision on travel to Nashville in late March for coordinator refresh and hopefully some networking.
Busy times centered on work really mess me up from an inspiration perspective. Yeah, the muse shows up, we engage, but I have a real problem with focus when I’m spent and things are so hectic I’m just a total scatter-head (hence the bullets above). Some famous philosopher said: a wooden bird starts with the first stroke of the pocket knife, a great meal with fresh herbs and spices, a good song with the “cojones” to say phooey on all this other crap, I’m gonna sit down and write me one.
Guess I’ll head out to the “stone yard” and turn a few over till I find me something to sing about… new month, new set of opportunities.
Tags: bickhardt, grit, MasterWriter, NSAI, stick-to-it
Inside the Circle
Nov 16, 2008 songwriting
Last night I got off my lazy gluteus maximus and made the trek down to the home of good friend Steve Simpson for one of his always enjoyable song circles. Steve is not only a wonderful songwriter and performer, but a true gentleman and consummate host.
There were about 12 writers/pickers there (plus a few spouses/friends) so we all got to do more listening than playing, which makes the time together even more enjoyable. Getting to hear and know more about these writers and their songs is what it’s all about. It’s a place to come and play our songs for what they are, and express what they say, from the heart. There’s no judgment, just listening and enjoyment.
The drive home is about 40 minutes, and as I reviewed the session, I thought of how I often neglect the importance of the story behind songs I write. Not necessarily intentionally, but maybe because I haven’t spent enough time contemplating the “why” behind each song AFTER it’s written. Craig Bickhardt recently posted a great blog on the “vital vision” behind the songs we write, a sobering perspective.
So last night I played songs I felt like singing, those that make me feel like I have something to say. In turn, I was treated to a wide range of music and song that inspired me, made me laugh, and reminded me of why I love to play music and write songs.
I didn’t know everyone at Steve’s last night, but we were all in the circle together. No need for names, the songs helped us see inside each other, and learn a little more about ourselves as writers and individuals. I’m thankful my wife gets it, and pushes me out the door to go and hang out with these folks, even when she can’t make it with me. I’m grateful that Steve is the genuine, humble giver he is… and the chance for a few hours inside the circle.
Tags: bickhardt, simpson, song circle, songwriting