“Beckoned by the promised land...”
Winter Greetings!
There's more daylight about since last I wrote, and I find that quietly reassuring. Maybe there will be some further cold snaps to brace against in the coming days, or who knows, maybe we will just have a gentle ascent into the warmth of Spring.
I've been feeling quite hibernate-y recently, and thought it no bad thing to go with that, rather than force myself into outward busyness. So, not much going out and about with my guitar of late. It's been quiet on the gig-front, but I've been relishing time in my home-studio to work on stuff to take to the studio-studio. I've had a few sessions with producer Paul Worthington at Broadwater Studios in Gateshead to start shaping some more recordings.
Next release:
Land Like No Other Land
17th Feb 2023
After the previous Dialogic release in January which was my ballad 'Invisible', next up is the more up-beat 'Land Like No Other Land', releasing mid-month. The inspiration for this stemmed from seeing an extraordinary place in a vivid dream one night. It was a vision of beautiful land, far off in the distance, the like of which I'd never seen before. It was other-worldly, and hard to describe. But I knew I wanted to go there, whatever it took.
Spotify Pre-Save
'Land Like No Other Land' is out Friday 17th Feb 2023. Here's a pre-save link.
Taking a Risk
I feel fortunate to have forged a good working relationship with my producer, Paul Worthington. He uses many skills to help me transform songs like these, which may have started as a seed from a dream, into finished recordings which I can share with the world. Along with all his creative and technical help, I have greatly valued his guidance and encouragement in exposing my creativity to the public. I have a strongly introverted part of me which needs plenty of encouragement to venture out there. Paul has been a trusty, encouraging guide.
I see it in myself and others, that it takes a certain courage to risk sharing one's creative efforts with the world at large.
It's about feeling vulnerable. And at the heart of this vulnerability, in my experience, is the objective certainty that plenty of people are going to dislike my creations. One man's meat is another man's poison - a tricky proverb for a vegan, but it's self-evident that some music leaves some people unmoved, or even moves them at speed away from the music. Growing up, as part of establishing identity, it was normal in my day to show yourself to favour some types of music, whilst being vitriolic against whatever was 'uncool'.
I reckon society is more tolerant of difference now than it was back then. But the mystery of the great range of different individual taste is here to stay (thankfully - how beige it would be if everyone liked everything), so you can be sure that plenty of folk aren't going to like the fruit of your creativity. Maybe some lucky few, deep down, couldn't care less what other people think. But for me and plenty of others I know it can feel a deep-down risky business. Perhaps there's encouragement in the face of this risk just to acknowledge that it's a normal part of the terrain, and no big deal, that some people aren't going to like what you put out. Relax. No biggie.
The reward for facing the risk of the distasteful judgement of others, and doing it anyway, can be greatly worth it.
By 'reward' I don't mean that actually it all turns out ok because everyone likes your song after all, thank goodness. Instead, I see it in terms of vitality and growth. By taking a creative risk and having a go at sharing it with people, you tap into an aliveness that ripples out, to the benefit of everyone. This aliveness is an end in itself, and it is the fuel for positive change, for fresh growth out of stuckness.
Open mic this Friday 3rd Feb 2023
If any of this resonates, I'd encourage you to take a risk with your own unique style of creative expression, for the needed energetic benefit of yourself and others.
If making live music is a part of your creative expression, come and take a risk at sharing your song or tune, and creating some ripples of vitality, at an open mic I'm running this coming Friday evening, 3rd Feb 2023, at Repas 7 By Night in the centre of Berwick. Poetry offerings are also welcome. And of course, every bit as important as the performers, audience members are also welcome to come enjoy the thriving local music scene, with the hospitable warmth and food and drink on offer from our host, Leo at Repas 7 By Night. Hope to see you there!