When I started working on the 'it's up to us...' project in early January I really wasn't sure where it might lead me. Had I known, I might have been a little more anxious to start it. I didn't give it long to steep, it was ready to be poured as soon as I started it. It's been difficult keeping up with it, all the songs wanted to be written at once.
What I love most about this new world for artists and fans of artists, is that we're allowed to talk now. I care about my sphere of influence, my circle of friends. I love the connection.
I remember when I lived in LA, there was a period of time where I felt I might suffocate from the saturation of the market. Such an unhealthy place for an artist to be (not LA, but that head space). At that time I had dozens of people telling me how I had to sound, look, play, show up each day - seriously, what does that have to do with being an artist? It's the exact opposite of being an artist.
Today, I have a home studio, a world class producer, and nobody telling me what to do. Nobody has invested in my career, because it is not for sale. What you see, read and experience here is me. All I really care to do is to be an artist and to have that touch you. And isn't that really what being an artist is supposed to be about? I needed to step away from it far enough to see that clearly. I see it so clearly now I'm jumping for joy.
So here we are, the end of May. It's been four months and I'm at the end of the project already. I decided this week that I would make 'it's up to us...' an EP and release it. I'm working on a new arrangement for Playing Field and that will be the last track. By the end of June it will be released. It feels ready.
I have created a couple of videos to accompany the project. You can view them here. While not traditional music videos, they are an important part of the project for me. The videos are meant to represent visually what the songs mean to me and the emotions and ideas they provoke for me. It's a first for me to produce videos. I'm enjoying that work as an extension of my art. I'll be posting them on You Tube to coincide with the release.
Part of the work I've been compelled to do while here on earth is to help people wake up to the magic around us. Each day as I watch the world pass by through my artist's eyes I see such beauty and such promise around me. I also see a lot of people that don't see that.
Since I've been focused on this message through this music, I have been attracting the people I needed in my life to reassure me I was not alone. So now, instead of feeling overwhelmed by the pure numbers of people looking to make it as an artist - I am energized by the number of people wanting to see peace on this planet. Society is coming to knock at my door, the message is ready to be heard. You are part of that. We're all ready.
That is what the 'it's up to us...' project has taught me - it's up to us...!! They say the teacher learns through teaching. It's true. This is the beginning of a new age. How exciting is that? We're all part of it.
Check back here for further details about the release and my goings on as I attempt to make it fly. If you're inclined to fan my wings, I'd be grateful.
I rely on word of mouth advertising (which is really the best kind). In short, as an artist, I need to impress YOU enough that you want to tell your friends about me. I trust the process. It's organic. It feels right to me.
Thank you, for coming to knock at my door, and for caring about the planet, and for passing my message along. I hope you enjoy the music. I hope it's more than that too - I hope you feel energized to show up everyday with love in your heart. Live with love and you will get so much love back in your life it will leave you breathless.