The New Album and What It Means

I’m really excited about the new album and all the possibilities it opens up creatively and in my life.  Of course we never know what the future will bring, but when I’m caught up in the moment it doesn’t really seem to matter what will happen tomorrow.  I’m just enjoying it and breathing in the fullness of life.

I started my career in my 20’s in the hopes that I would become a singer/songwriter.  I had an album of my own out by the time I was 22 and was on my way, but somewhere I lost the urge to write and the confidence it takes to fly in the face of reason.  

So I settled into a career of interpreting other’s songs.  That wasn’t all that bad.  It gave me a chance to explore a heckuva lot of genres and styles, and I know I became a better player and singer because of it.  (To be honest I don’t think I would have gotten very far on my own music in my 20’s.  I had some talent, but I lacked the seasoning to write anything of any real depth.)

But as I neared 50 I not only got the urge to write, but also any writer’s block I had experienced over the years in between soon vanished.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe it was the extra blood flow since I started to exercise regularly.  Maybe it was more reading and conversing that spurred my vocabulary.  Maybe it was something outside of me.  Whatever it was, I was on my way. 

I had concrete ideas of what I would write - visions of Dan Fogelberg writing majestic songs with soaring guitar and piano parts and high vocals, or maybe trick guitar parts ala Stephen Stills.  That’s not what my brain had in mind, and I soon learned to surrender to what it had in mind for me.  

The first batch of songs have been marvelous for me.  All kinds of emotions and styles have emerged, with interesting melodies and different phrasing and progressions.  It’s been a real pleasure to get to know whatever this drive is inside of me.  And it led me to record an album in about 9 months that was released in December of last year.

And now I have this new baby of an album that I need to nourish and push out into the world.  I’m, of course, unsure of exactly how to do this in this new world of independent promotion and unbelievable opportunity.  I never would have imagined that my albums would be available worldwide next to every other artist on services like iTunes and Spotify.  It’s humbling and energizing all at the same time.  

So I’m taking small steps as I explore the best ways to announce my project to the world and hope they treat it kindly.  I really did put some sincere energy into this project that I hope those who listen will pick up on and cherish.  Who knows?  It’s exciting all the way!

Tom

Still trying to figure out what 50 means

Well, I haven't been very good about figuring out what having a blog means - just like I haven't figured out what being 50 means. I still feel young, and after losing weight and getting in the best shape of my life I feel spry enough to do anything I set my mind to.

My songwriting is a little bit in a lull, but the muse is still there whenever I turn it on - it just takes the time put aside to do it. I think exercising has brought my mind to life just like it has brought my muscles to more vitality. I'm not saying I'm not still forgetful, because I still am, but at least I feel less groggy-headed (if that's a word.) Being able to create means all the world to me. It's the one thing that always puts me in the game. I love words and melody, and the interplay is sometimes very hard to get where I want, but the process and the result are very gratifying.

I'm not any more organized than I was before 50. I know this just takes time - just like songwriting. If we didn't have to make money it seems there'd be more time. I've been trying to practice GTD for the last couple years. That's a method for getting things done better. It's mostly just about getting ideas out of your head and onto paper so you don't forget them, and also so you can lay them out in front of you and make some sense of where you are and where you want to go. It sounds goofy, but it really does make common sense. I think some folks see it as cultish, and I did too before I read about it a little more. If you do GTD or are interested in it I'd be happy to explain it better. GTD doesn't have that much to do with my organization though. I just need to take time to clean my office, redo my website, and clean up my file system.

Speaking if time, I'd better get on with the day. 50 isn't retirement age for me. But then I don't think I'll ever retire. :-)

I'm really bad @ this blogging business

I know it's been a long time since I've posted.  I have many times had some good ideas to write about, but I haven't had the time.

I'm putting together a good post, so be patient.

Starting My Blogger Blog / What I'm Up To

Well, I'm 50 now.  I've spent the last year trying to remake myself.  It started when the doctor told me my cholesterol had finally reached an unsafe level.  Instead of taking Statins to control the cholesterol I decided to start an exercise program - slowly at first and then building it up.  I also cut back on fats and sugars a bit - not a whole lot, but enough to make a difference.

After 4 months my cholesterol was well within the normal limit and I began to make a plan on where else I wanted to go.  At this point I decided I'd better do the things I had put off for so long in my creative career.  So I ended a five-year gig that had been holding me back and started to write again.  This was no small task.  I have tried to write for many years and have hit all kinds of roadblocks.  Mainly I have had writer's block that I just couldn't break with all kinds of writer's techniques.

But somewhere between the change in mindset and the change in body something changed.  I suddenly could come up with clever phrases and ideas.  Rhymes began to fall into place again.  I began to enjoy crafting lyrics and melodies.  I booked time in the studio and began to listen to the CD Baby DIY podcast  and plot a course.

How far am along?  I have 9 songs in process in the studio and a huge number of ideas that I have organized and am working on regularly - not quite as rigorously as I'd like to, but it's a good start.  I have started to build a better following (I hope), and I am hoping to have an album out by winter, and then I'll start to market myself to the festival and house concert market.  I haven't really figured all this out, but I'm making progress.

So how does it feel? Great!!! It's wonderful to be creating and really feeling alive again.  I feel really sharp mentally and in shape physically and very capable - as much as I did in my early twenties when life was fresh and new.

I hope to be posting some samples of my work and lyrics as this blog proceeds, and I'm also trying to work FaceBook and Twitter pages in addition to my website.  I'm not doing the greatest job so far, but I'm learning.

Join me in my quest.

Tom