Contact

As I embark on another year I feel energized and excited. This month took me the entire month to write. I'm not handing my homework in at the last second because I've been slacking. The song started as a concept. I thought about the notion that if the end is nigh this would be the most exciting time to do your existing. The signs of our times made a strong argument that we might be. With Katrina, modern politics, alleged alien visits, technology, 9/11, the recession, wars on multiple fronts and the recent tragedy in Haiti our generation has already seen more than our great-grandparents could have imagined.

I then began work on the instrumental aspect of the song. I didn't begin working on the lyrics until the song worked beginning to end as a solo guitar piece. This is a departure from my normal approach. I usually allow words and melodies to change the guitar part and the arrangement. It wasn't a conscious decision to do that at first. After I had it worked out musically I then decided it was to strong to get changed by the lyrics.

I recorded the song's guitar and then used the recording to write my words. I recorded the vocals as I finished writing each section. I had a decent version to build on from that and began working on some overdubs. I then started playing the song live to get more comfortable with it. It began to flow better the more I played it. Kate commented that what I played in the living room sounded better than the recording. On the last day of the month I decided to scratch the recording I had and try to capture the song the way it had progressed. The re-recording went very quickly and I got my overdubs in, a clean recording and some help from Kate. 2010. Sounds like the future.

Contact

The Calendar Project 2010

This project has been one of the most fulfilling artistic experiences of my life. I love doing it and I love looking back. It's been a journal documenting my place in life as it has continually changed. I can listen as my perspective, children and musicianship grow. It started as a new years resolution to write more songs but has grown into a conviction to keep writing even as life has become more demanding. Many people put their guitars down when kids, work, bills and all of the responsibilities of adult hood take over. I don't want that to happen to me.

I feared last year that I was keeping the project going only because I didn't want to "end my streak." This is not a good enough reason to write a song. I want to feel inspired. I need to feel compelled to pick up my instrument and hammer out ideas until the song is born. I have to feel restless until the song is finished. You can tell what months are phoned in for the sake of keeping it going. I won't do that this year. I've decided to keep the project going, but not because of a streak. I am doing it this year because I made a promise to myself to not get to busy for music. I'm going to make time every month to pick up the guitar and express myself. It's a renewed resolution to write more songs. As I get older I have more to say but less time to say it.

I want to make this years Calendar Project a commitment to myself to be a better song writer, a better singer, a better guitar player and hopefully a better dad through the process. This has been a great release for me and I'm excited to see where this year will take me. Thanks to all those who listen. I hope you enjoy the journey.