Past Blogs:

    It Was A Long Way To Fall (1.3.08)

    Stories...Available on CD Baby (12.6.07)

    What's been going on? (12.21.06)

    Playing at the Canvas (8.26.06)

    Thoughts On The Bistro (8.10.06)

December 6, 2007

Stories…Available on CD Baby

I’ve been getting a lot of flack from friends and fans that I don’t blog.  You’re going to have to forgive me; I’m more into writing songs and talking to people in person than writing blogs on MySpace or my website.  Don’t get me wrong, I see the value in getting ideas and thoughts out to a wider audience of people.  That’s why I am writing after a long vacation and have dedicated myself to write on a more regular basis. 

I think it helps me to have a plan, so I can stick to it.  So here it goes.  I’m really excited to let everyone know about my CD, “Stories From the Abyss” which is available through CD Baby, through the music page on my website, and at my performances (at a reduced price to get you to come out and see me).  This week I plan on giving you some insight into the struggles of making a CD as an independent songwriter and performer and in the next few weeks I’ll tackle telling you all about how each song on the album came about.  In the meantime, if you have any questions for me about the CD, about me, about my performances, feel free to email me and I’ll answer those questions in my blog (see I’m making a real effort to stay on top of my blog; aren’t you all proud). 

“Stories From the Abyss” is a collection of songs I have written and performed over the last few years.  Last few years you may ask? Don’t let a songwriter fool you.  We write hundreds of songs but only a few make it to an album or online as an MP3 for sale.  Another little known fact, we always have another album full of songs in waiting and by the time we record those songs we have another pool of songs to choose from.  As a songwriter I can’t rely on the moment to come up with material for the next collection of songs or I’d crack under the pressure.  Performers are human and we are subject to the same laws of humanity as the rest of you.

“Stories” took a long time to make.  The writing, editing, recording, photographs, productions of music and photos, took two to three years!  I tested the music out at open mic nights and performances.  I even got feedback from others in the music industry.  Then there is the challenge of finding money as an unsigned artist to make it all happen.  It was overwhelming at first, but if you love something enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen, or at least find something entirely unexpected out of the experience.  For me both happened.  I both made my dream a reality and saw my music evolve and take on a new meaning after I added layers and complexity to it.  That’s the fun of it all. 

Sometimes a CD is a collection of random songs.  Sometimes an artist (in this case me) chooses a theme that all the songs are related to, telling a story.  “Stories” (you guessed it) tells a story of a particular time in my life.  Another little known fact, don’t ever let a songwriter tell you a song isn’t about them.  It’s always biographical.  Even if they talk about someone else, they’re usually talking about themselves.  “Stories” tells a story about heartbreak and loss which also ends in hope and promise.  I’m staying general here because I feel that you get to decide what the music is for you.  I’m always amazed at what people think my songs are about.  They often think a song is about something I never intended it to be.  Often times another person’s interpretation is better than what I set out to say.  That’s the beauty of art.  No one can tell you what something means because it’s more about how the music speaks to you. 

Everyone goes through loss.  A boyfriend or girlfriend dumps you.  Divorce, death, graduations, or getting laid off are other losses that happen to us all. “Stories” is about loss in my life.  It’s also music for you if you have experienced loss and are trying to pick up the pieces and begin again after that loss.  I hope you enjoy the CD because I’m proud of it and it has so much meaning for me.  Life is different for me now.  I have written much different songs since “Stories” but it is so important for me to remember that time in my life.  That period in time and the lessons I learned have made me stronger and also made me who I am today, a better person. 

That’s enough for now.  I feel like I’ve gone from zero to ninety miles an hour after not writing for so long.  I need a tune up.  Look out for my next blog where I’ll be giving you background on the opening track to “Stories”, “It Was a Long Way to Fall”.