Schools are now on summer break, which reminds me that this is my third year doing music full-time and Natalie’s fourth year of being a freelance writer.
This year includes a major success for Natalie and I. In May, Natalie and I were approved for a loan on a house mortgage. (Thank you, Dan Gilbert.)
In a way, this felt like having a hit song on the radio or a book on the New York Times list. (I’ll ignore the obvious difference of being in debt till we are grandparents.)
After two months of stressful offers, counteroffers, appraisal debacles, further negotiations, and dog walks with Lois, we’ve finally did it. We bought a house!
It was the first house we saw during our house hunting.
We saw dozens and dozens of houses in the Ann Arbor area, but Natalie and I knew when we walked into the Cape Cod fixer-upper, this could be our house for decades.
We didn’t know that negotiating on a foreclosure would be worse than a root canal, but we’ve survived it.
Here’s a photo from what soon will be Natalie’s office:
As a musician who wears a lot of hats to make a living, I often forget to stay optimistic and positive. I lose sight of the forest for the trees.
This morning, pessimism crept through the cracks of my attitude, as I read some blogs about the music business, and felt down. I couldn’t put my finger on why. We aren’t all built to become stars, but why must music be portrayed as a fool’s errand?
So I went on an hour long walk with Lois. Returned home, brewed some coffee, sat down to write this blog to clear my head. I realized something.
Not one person actually knows anything about the music business. It’s all bullshit.
Like politics, it’s easier to talk about music than it is to write or perform it.
Sure, some folks know how to analyze what has already happened, but the machinery of the music business runs on its own food sources, and no one has figured them out. Some of us just hop on the machine and see if it will carry us.
Here’s one thing I do know: the art of music is powerful. Being moved by a song changes our lives. Learning to play music is a beautiful craft.
The art of music isn’t a food chain.
And when I get my head out of the clouds, see what’s really important in life, I find I’m happier.
* * *
So I’m incredibly happy to move out of our rental. Trying to live, create, and work in a small habitat has been a challenge for my songwriting. Having a basement to create a studio is going to do wonders.
Natalie pointed out that half of the first floor is about the size of our entire rental:
We will also have a garage, where we can put Lois when she’s being annoying jumping over couches when guests visit. So friends and family, it will be safe to visit us again.
PS: I’ve probably talked about this too soon, since closing is later in the summer; but Natalie said, “Since I’ve already ordered backsplash tile, you should allow yourself to write a blog.”
Searching and Finding New Music: Playlist 1
Here’s some great, new music I’ve been enjoying:
I was inspired by Matthew Altruda’s post on his Facebook feed addressing the need for folks to stay actively engaged with new music. Do we still check out our favorite music venues listings? Give a new band a spin on Spotify? Take a chance on seeing a show of unknown acts?
So I’ve titled the playlist “Searching and Finding.” New music I’ve sought out, or stumbled upon..Stuff that’s not mainstream. Stuff that lyrically moves me, or stuff that got my foot tapping.
One of the best ways to get excited to write music is to listen to music that excites you. I find that when I’m not writing, I’m often not enjoying or interacting with music much, too.
Then, when I get a gig that excites me, or a gig that requires me to learn a few covers, my inspiration returns to me. New song ideas will pop up as I’m working on a learning a song or set list.
This summer, Natalie and I are house shopping (yea!), which has been extremely stressful and interfering with the quality of my writing time.
To combat this, I’ve been exploring some new music to keep myself musically energetic.
We need music more than guns; without art, we’d fall apart.
Being in a wonderful place, personally, yet surprised by tragedy in the news makes me feel unsettled, confused; guilty.
Another gun shooting at a school yesterday…
While hanging out with friends last night, one of our friends said, “Wait, don’t you mean the shooting a few days ago?”
It took a few minutes to clarify which damn school shooting we were discussing.
Here’s a map of every shooting to happen since Sandy Hook. Here’s the President being asked to respond about the gun violence, from a person who knew a recent victim. Here’s a poem about gun violence. Here’s today’s trending topics on Facebook, none about yesterday’s shooting.
Here’s a heartbreaking song with a soothing cello.
Music, art, literature–if we didn’t have these things, we’d fall apart at the seams. The bellows would burst. The world would cave in.
Isn’t it time we do something?
The Crystal Glen Office complex is hosting a lunch break of live music at the Three Days Gourmet Cafe, and the events are open to the public. I’m playing the kick-off lunch break! Let’s do lunch.
Three Days Gourmet Café
in the Crystal Glen Office Complex
39555 Orchard Hill Pl Suite L50, Novi, MI 48375
off 8 Mile and Haggerty.
Music: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
