Burning Bright – Tiny Desk Contest
I submitted a video of “Burning Bright” to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest today!
My wife’s birthday was yesterday. (Happy Birthday, Natalie!)
January 8th is also the time when I return to bad habits, ones I vowed to break with New Years resolutions, so I’ll let Nat’s birthday be reminder to reflect on some goals.
Here are some habits I’m doing to be a more productive musician and songwriter:
1. Delete all social networking apps from my iPhone.
I deleted all social media apps from my phone in early 2014, and it’s been a blessing. One, my hands needed a break from devices since I worry about carpel tunnel. Two, I had to cut out distractions. I’m continuing this for 2015. No Facebook or Twitter on my phone. I’m considering deleting Instagram, too.
2. Start the day exercising or practicing guitar
This is the most difficult habit for me to achieve. Breakfast, coffee, and my computer have been my morning routine, but I’m wasting too much time at the kitchen table. I need to start the day off working sooner.
3. Use a pen, notebook and non-Internet-connecting recording when songwriting.
I mentioned in my blog this last month, and I’m sticking too it! No more Internet distractions or phone with me when I’m writing.
4. Read more, preferably a book a week
One would assume a former English teacher doesn’t need to prioritize reading, but I do. As of December, I’ve been reading again at a pace that equals my college years! In December, I finished or reading some of Jack Keuroac’s works. Last week, I reread the Hobbit and skimmed the Fellowship of the Ring. Now I’m reading the last two books of the Lord of the Rings series for the first time. I also picked up some of Donald Hall’s poetry books at John King Book Store.
5. Carry a tiny notebook everywhere I go
Natalie put me a little notebook in my stocking for Christmas. It’s always in my pocket in case a lyric or idea comes to mind. I’ve relied too much on my iPhone to store new ideas, and I’m returning to my old writing habits of my college days. Forget the phone; it’s back to pen, paper and a prepared mind!
6. Write out tomorrow’s schedule the day before
My free-flowing life as a musician can often be too unscheduled. Since I set most of my own deadlines, I need to set my schedule and routine more specifically.
7. Get Lois, our dog, daily exercise
Lois is an energetic, basket case in constant need of attention, but it’s easy for us to hibernate in the winter. I’m vowing to get Lois more exercise, which might be as simple as throw the tennis ball in the backyard for 15 minutes on extremely cold days.
8. No phone in the bedroom
Again, one of my most important goals this year is to cut down on screen time, and I’ve broken one of my worst habits: reading news sites and blogs on my iPhone when I can’t sleep. I’ve been fighting some insomnia as of late, and I’m starting to get better rest.
Hope everyone is sticking to their resolutions! Also, wishing you artists, writers, and songwriters a productive 2015!
Is the pen mightier than the computer? My notebook and Zoom H4 recorder
How do we honor those we love and lost?
I’ve been reflecting about the two Holly graduates that died last week in separate motor accidents.
It’s a punch in the stomach to hear when the fates cut the thread too soon for young adults, so full of life and future. How do we find comfort?
During my last band class at Expressions Music Academy, the young musicians were shouting out possible songs they wanted to perform next season, from Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” and I was playing sections of the songs off Spotify.
Between songs, one of the students paused, smiled, and said, “God, I love music. Don’t you just love music?”
It was my favorite moment of the season for these kids, more than the learning the songs in rehearsals and more than performing the songs in concert…His statement brought the experience full circle.
I’ve been thinking about these two separate occasions, life and death, today. There is maybe only one way for us to honor those we love and lose. And that’s to continue to live life fully, with honesty, with love.
I’m thinking of you Bronchos, a lot, this week. God bless,
Mike
It seems like the last ten years of the Internet has brought out all of the trolls from their caves.
News articles, music blogs, Youtube videos–all overrun with thoughtless, negativity…The trolls have won the message boards, leaving them meaningless. My general rule in life is to never read the comments section.
Some news organizations have turned to disabling all together. Popular Science did this in 2013, saying “Comments can be bad for science.” Some Youtube stars are boldly disabling them, too.
When comment boards become anarchy, an opportunity is lost. Artists used to write back to their fans. Thoughtful discussions bloomed.
I felt dismayed considering this during the wake of Ferguson, Eric Garner, and the two NYPD officers murdered. How do we combat real negativity when we are surrounded by it in the digital age?
So I’m starting a personal experiment for 2015. I’m calling it #thekindtroll.
Each day I’m going to find one corner of the Internet and write something thoughtful, something positive. It might be a friend’s Facebook page. It might be a stranger’s Youtube cover of a song. It might be a writer’s article.
Seth Godin wrote about the power of committing to a “daily agenda.” I know I can’t beat the trolls, but in the Hobbit, a little sunlight goes a long way.
On Songwriting: My Phone Is Killing Me
When I started writing songs, I used the time honored way to draft: write in a notebook and record with a tape recorder.
That process didn’t stick.
In college, I gravitated toward drafting on a computer. Then the iPhone voice memo app became my most used option, more than texting!
I’ve had long conversations with other songwriters about their songwriting processes. In 2007, Marshall Block, producer and owner of Real II Reel Productions, told me a common trait he noticed among great songwriters.
He said they all use pen and paper to draft their songs. He challenged me to return to the same practices again. Abandon that computer!
So I tried. And failed.
I missed the speed of typing on a computer. I missed the ease of searching for words on online rhyming dictionaries. I missed legibility.
However, I want to admit a nagging suspicion I’ve had this year. My iPhone and MacBook have been hurting me more than helping me.
They are filled with tools; they are also filled with distractions.
* * * Achieving the Flow * * *
There is a process of creation where an artist enters the flow period. Time stops, and the artist is in complete focus.
I used to achieve this state of mind a lot throughout 2000-2007. I’ve noticed it’s hard and harder for me to get there.
I don’t know if this is a coincidence, but 2007 is also when I bought the first generation iPhone. Enter in that miraculous ability–to check my Twitter feed, to browse through Facebook, to read an email, to watch a Youtube video–at any time!
I’m left to ask: Am I using my phone, or is it using me? Whatever the answer, my songwriting remains sporadic, with many unfinished, abandoned ideas in the voice memos app.
* * * Back to the Notebook * * *
Last night I returned to Marshall’s advice, with a few added rules:
1. Schedule in a block of time to write.
2. Leave phone and laptop upstairs; turn off phone.
3. Experiment in a notebook.
4. Record with a simple recorder that doesn’t connect to the Internet. (I use an old Zoom H4.)
5. Allow any ideas to be written in the notebook. Allow any musical concepts to be recorded.
Is the pen mightier than the computer? My notebook and Zoom H4 recorder
After three hours, I had a full song finished! More importantly, I had one of the best songwriting experiences in a long time.
* * * Guinea Pigs and Babies * * *
I know, this isn’t a new epiphany to offer the world, but it’s an important, personal one.
We’ve entered a new era of creativity, one where we are fighting our technological advancements as much as being enhanced by them.
I have been a Guinea pig in this social experiment, and at many times, I’m failing. There is only one way for me to stay productive, and that’s to choose to disconnect from time to time.
I’m preparing for a wonderful, new distraction soon, too: a baby in March!
At SERFA 2014, songwriter Elaine Mahon gave me some tips to practice songwriting in shorter, focused chunks of time, so I’ll know how to work when a baby sleeps. I’ve been trying this more.
* * * A Warning * * *
People are warning me how a new baby will affect my schedule; however, no one warned me how technological distractions that we take for granted do, too.
I thought I’d offer a quick warning to the younger songwriters out there: Get away from your devices when you work.
There is a good chance they are hurting us more than helping us during that early stage of creation that we call brainstorming.
And that’s the most fun part of music…
