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Are you in Orange County, California - or do you know someone there?
Songsalive Songwriter Showcase
November, 17, 2009 - 7:30PM-8:30PM
Sam Ash Music
14200 Beach Blvd
Westminster, CA 92683
View on Map
My schedule can be found here...
http://feeds.artistdata.com/a-AR-Z0H955GZV08QJGG3/shows
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The Year Behind/The Year Ahead
In December of last year (2008), I sat down and wrote some goals. Life, business, and music. Some I've achieved, some I have not. I suppose any honest person who set ambitious goals will say the same. That is the nature of setting goals.
When I look at what has happened musically - my songwriting production, the recording of my first CD (Girls, Songs, and Other Delusions), my performances, and connecting with - dare I say it - fans, my intellect says, "Good job. Amazing progress has been made."
The less-intellectual heart is another story. I am impatient to the extreme and do not like be thwarted. Truth be told, life does its share of thwarting and we all had better be ready for it. As the label on my laptop indicates, "My response is my responsibility." Fortunately, Rebecca provides some perspective. She points me back at 1 year ago and helps me look at how I've grown musically, vocally, and in my understanding of the overall process involved in all of this.
I have laid down 17+ basic recordings, with another 10 or so that I am filtering through. The goal is 2 new CD's - (Where I Belong/Everyday Lies/???) and one with no working title (let's call it CD #3 for now). Additionally, I continue to learn about the recording and production process. I've begun collaborating with some other professionals - including Jeff Finlin (The Songwriter Chronicles). He has done some drum work on a couple songs in his Colorado recording studio.
This was all done remotely - thank goodness for high-speed Internet. I'll be writing about that process too.
I've purposely played much less lately - in fact, begging off any open mics in the Los Angeles area. Recording is the focus and it must occur between consulting, parenting, and the other joys (honestly) of life.
But I am working on a number of exciting initiatives for 2010. Goals & Dreams that are both exciting and scary as hell.
Here is a preview:
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The Joy & Pain of Songwriting
A new song is like a drug. The rush of creativity is addictive. For instance, since this past weekend, I've written 3 new songs - one that I've already shared with a couple of you - and with an amazing response. Thank you!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!!
I love it! / I hate it!!
Here is the challenge. I am tasked to record 10+1 songs. And close on their heels, another 10 or so. Since selecting/finalizing the 10 songs I hope to record, I've written another 7 songs - that I like. I have another 40-50 completed and lyrics for another 40 or so.
Recording is interesting - and can be enjoyable but, to be honest, is often tedious. Both writing and performing live have a sort of frenetic/kinetic energy. Recording, requires more patience and simply takes more dedicated time. I can work on lyrics while driving, taking a shower, doing yard work, etc.
Recording requires more dedicated time. Time that is often hard to come by. And when a new song starts forming and find myself choosing to use my time on it rather than working on my recording. I cannot, at this time, afford a producer/engineer and so am also taking on that role myself as well.
So, while I am thankful for creative rush I've been going through, I must necessarily focus my attention a bit more.
Part of that is calendar management and part of that, hopefully, is the collaboration and band project I've started. I have a few others who are providing creative input into the recordings - both instrumentation and vocals. Look for more information on this soon.
In the meantime, continue to look for new videos or recordings on my website, facebook, and elsewhere. And thank you for your comments and emails.
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As always, thanks for listening/reading!
If you haven't done so, connect with me on one of the sites below and pass this newsletter along.
Thanks,
Matthew Moran
Facebook | MySpace | YouTube | Twitter ~ website ~
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