Hidden A While

Here Comes The Sun.

That’s the rumour anyway.

I’m going camping with the family, so let’s hope so. But, if it doesn’t seem to come (I live in the UK!) then you’ve just got to do your damndest to remember that it never really went away.

It just got hidden for a while.

Heading West

It does help to have stage posts along the way when you’re Heading West.

Coz “West” is a long way away. It can and will feel like forever. And reaching somewhere, anywhere, between here and there, should feel like a victory. Because it is. It’s a sign that we’re a little closer.

We’ve come a long way.

Mind Blowing

There are two things that I find particularly mind blowing. One of them is the size of the universe. I haven’t got my head round that yet.

The other occurs when I travel to one of the millions of places I have never visited before, and see people, who I have never met and who I probably never will, just going about their lives. Similar, but different, in unknown ways, to my own.

It makes me think: how many stories are out there, waiting to be told? Or simply being lived, without any expectations at all.

There are probably as many stories out there as there are stars in the Universe. It wouldn’t surprise me.

Mind blowing.

Good Day

At times it can feel like everything that has gone before is there, still on our backs, to be carried yet again.

Feelings, like the weather change. Sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting a while.

But, unlike the weather, we can change our feelings by the amazing little trick of telling ourselves a different story.

Today, is gonna be a good day. It helps even to write it.

(Thanks for the reminder Chris.)

Memory Adjustments

I just checked through one of the H4Life streams we recorded, on behalf of H4Life performer Beki Hemingway, in order to send it to someone for a potential gig. Previously I had almost exclusively listened to the streams as the host, or as the person who felt responsible for the output.

I often did enjoy listening at the time, but the responsibility I felt undoubtedly affected those levels of enjoyment. And in my head it was all too easy to remember it as a mishmash of music, connections issues, and dodgy sound.

It was so nice to listen without all of that, and to realise how lovely many, if not most of the streams were.

We didn’t do such a bad job after all. But it’s weird how our brains (well, my brain) often tells a different story.

Perhaps we shouldn’t always believe what it tells us.

The Ballad Of Clyde Burt

The Ballad Of Clyde Burt is a cross-Atlantic song writing collaboration with Jan Risher, a woman whom I have never met.

We should never let technology become the cart that drives the horse. But it is amazing how the Internet has enabled connections that would never have been previously possible. And, at its best, when it enables these kind of positive collaborations and friendships, it is a thing of wonder.

I like my “village”. The place where I stay. The home I live in. And I always want to have these physical, geographical roots. We all need that I believe.

But I’m delighted that these days stories can be shared and spread, in a way that they never were before. I’m glad I, a Scottish based songwriter, can play a part in telling the story of a young farmer from Louisiana.

Glad You’re There

We were singing along to one of the great songs at the wedding yesterday. Stand By Me.

But I don’t know whether it’s completely true.

I think I will be afraid sometimes, and I will shed a tear. Even when you are right there beside me.

It’s great to have you there all the same. It would be a lot tougher without you in the hard times. And the good times wouldn’t be as good.

And that’s what the song is about really.

A Love Song

Wishing all the best to my friends Fran and Pete who are getting married today. Fran is a wonderful songwriter, and has a fantastic ear for a melody. And Pete came along to our songwriting retreats because of Fran, then inevitably got dragged into bravely having a shot at writing one himself.

I don’t think Pete, who is an engineer by trade, would have ever imagined writing a song before he met Fran. It’s amazing what love can do. And it’s another fine example of stepping outside our comfort zones and trying things that we might never have imagined doing.

Although I would definitely not recommend that you ever use me to sort out an engineering problem.

Good luck to the happy couple! They’re lovely people and it’s going to be a joy to celebrate with them today.

Sherwood

Just a recommendation today, as I’ve got a long journey ahead today.

If you get the chance watch the 6 part drama Sherwood which has just finished running, but can be found on BBC iplayer. Based on real life events it examines the effects made by certain political decisions on a mining community in Nottinghamshire where I grew up. It is brilliantly acted and superbly written, dealing with complex political and interpersonal relationship in a very nuanced way. The murder mysteries that put the dramatic in the drama, have many twists and turns, and add interest and excitement, but in many ways are almost incidental to the very human stories playing out.

One Thing At Once

I’m learning to sing a song in which somebody else will be playing the guitar. It’s enjoyable to be able to focus on the singing, and not worry about the guitar part.

And as a good ‘ol, ubiquitous, guitar strumming, singer/songwriter it has made me think about how important it is to learn to be able to do each part well, the singing and the guitar playing. And how it might be useful to focus on them each separately before trying to bring them together. I often find myself rushing ahead to that bit.

It’s amazing how our brains can adapt to do more than one thing at the same time. But it probably would help our hard working grey matter, if we had each part nailed, before we tried to mix it up.

One thing at once.

Not As Drunk!

It’s always interesting to read another perspective on home music gigs. For instance, I wouldn’t have thought to start an article on the subject like this:

The audience at home concerts is usually not as drunk as in clubs.

But it is true. At least, with one exception, for the Homesongs I’ve hosted or performed at.

For those who have tried to play original music in a pub, club or bar setting, there are lots of extra obstacles to overcome in order to get the intention of the audience. It’s always harder. And for some kinds of music it’s almost impossible.

We don’t have to make life so difficult for ourselves.

There’s a lot to be said for a focussed, fairly sober audience, who are intentionally there for the music.

Tell Me Why

It’s Monday.

I once sang the song “I Don’t Like Mondays" in front of my biggest audience to date. It was towards the end of a local festival, late, but early, at 1am on a Monday morning. They danced on the tables.

I don’t imagine that was an effect that Bob Geldof ever thought he would achieve when he wrote the lyric which, as you are probably aware, is about a 16 year old girl who had a gun, and went on a killing spree at her school in the US of A.

We take what we want from a song. Whatever we need to get by.

Once it’s out there, it doesn’t belong to the songwriter anymore.

Wanna Be

If you happen to be a mainly unheard of Singer/Songwriter have you ever done that thing when you imagine playing live at T-In The Park, or, and this is definitely a lot sadder, being interviewed by Graham Norton on TV?

It’s because of things like this, and much worse, that most people are glad that private thoughts remain private. They reveal far too much about our insecurities, our impurities and our hang ups.

I, of course, am as perfect in my thought life as in my real life, and I only speak about this subject in purely hypothetical terms.

But I think it is good to be clear about who we Wannabe. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to become attached to some lazy trope of a dream that probably wouldn’t suit us in the least, or make us happy, even if it did materialise.

Glad we’ve got that, zigga zig ah, cleared up.

Eilish

I’m really out of touch with most modern music, much preferring to play and write than to listen these days. Unless it’s live or someone I know personally. But one huge mainstream artist that has caught my attention is Billie Eilish who last night, at the grand old age of 20, headlined the Pyramid Stage of Glastonbury.

Hats off to her (and her brother who is very much her backing band and producer) for making songs that sound fresh but still fairly timeless, and manage to deal with the usual themes of a young life in such a compelling way. She seems to have her head on straight, so hopefully can handle the high levels of attention and fan worship without it messing her life up.

If you haven’t listened here’s Happier Than Ever….just a young girl’s break up song, but a damn good one. That’s the way to get it off your chest.

Murderous Instincts

Firstly, you need to know that we’ve got a cat, because one of our children wanted one. But this cat has hunting instincts and we know that she has been very active during springtime when the birds are breeding. I love birds, so….Grrrrrr! Read through to the end to discover why this is at all relevant to anything….

I’m contemplating a slightly different way of holding Homesongs when I host them after our gig in September. It might suit me better.

At the moment I’m inviting or being contacted by artists who then travel to Campbeltown to perform. I, as the host, then become the local promoter, because I live here and the artists usually don’t.

But one feature of our Homesongs that I have always enjoyed is the time when those members of the musical members of the audience perform a song or two. And we’ve sometimes had whole gigs like that.

I’m thinking about having a regular date when I host a Homesong, the last Friday in the month for instance, in which we have a kind of open mic for local artists in the house for anyone who wants to come. And then IF an artist from further away wants to play, they can get in touch and the evening of their visit could be split into two halves: the open mic, followed by a break, followed by a set from the visiting artist.

The point being that the event would be a regular happening anyway, and there wouldn’t be the stress that can arise for a host: will there be an audience for this artist who I’ve invited?

That’s not to say that the other way doesn’t work. It has and does, and might suit other Homesong hosts. But something like I’ve described is even more grass roots, and more in the spirit of the old style ceilidhs.

It’s all a work in progress. And the truth is that there is always, as they say, more than one way to kill a cat. Ahem.

ps. Obviously, just kidding. But my apologies to cat loving readers (Rosie!:-)

Who Is The Competition?

We can’t avoid competition or competitions. It’s a part of who we are as humans. But the position we come in the race is only a tiny part of the story.

And only we know the whole story. Because being the last one to cross the line can be a victory for some of us. Just the act of crossing the line. And first place can be a hollow feeling if it was a stroll in the park, and we didn’t do our best.

We are all constantly in situations where it appear to be a competition with others. And sometimes it actually is that. But the most important competition is the one with ourselves, and it’s a blessed relief when we manage to live that truth.

In all of this it’s good to be kind to each other and to ourselves. Boasting isn’t a good look.

Ahem….

NB. All the above was simply an excuse to tell you…it would be remiss of me not to…that I came second yesterday in the parents flat race at the local sports day, at the grand old age of 57!

And, yes, there were more than 2 people in the race. Don’t be rude!

Mind Blowing

Yesterday I saw a swallow on the beach, and a sandpiper on the street. Both of them in different places from which I would usually expect to see them.

Birds are creatures of instinct, and on this occasion their instincts took them somewhere new. Or more likely it wasn’t new for them, but somewhere they were in the habit of occasionally finding food or nesting material before I ever saw them doing it.

Later I was in the chippy, and the fella behind the counter said “I didn’t know you were a singer!” He’d seen me in a charity video recording from the Christmas before last, probably on Facebook.

I’m hardly ever found singing covers. And he didn’t even know that I sang.

Even on an ordinary day there are so many new things to be discovered and attempted. So many perspectives that can change.

Sometimes it blows your mind. Have a great summer.

Slowing Down

I find with some things that feel important to me, like learning a language, getting good at guitar, or trying to build a Homesong network, that the destination can feel a long way off.

The tendency is to speed up.

At which point it is vital to slow down.

Waiting For The Magic To Happen

Expect the unexpected.

When we can’t be completely sure what a particular singer or comedian or actor is going to do…well that is a part of the entertainment isn’t it? In fact, I would argue that there should always be that element of uncertainty and surprise in any form of art. Otherwise it’s not really art. It’s just paint by numbers.

Playing the “hits” by rote might suit some performers and some audiences. And even that will have a certain element of uncertainty.

But when the unexpected is expected, when it’s an intended part of the creation, there is alway an extra level of electric excitement in the air.

We are waiting, on tenterhooks, for the magic to happen.

Not Giving Up

How many times have you felt like giving up?

For me the number must reach the thousands. I regularly find myself running out (temporarily) of the emotional and mental energy to continue.

And then I continue. Like you do, if you’re reading this.

It sometimes looks like everybody else manages just fine, and that we’re the only ones who experience those moments.

Which is why they say that it is good to talk about it.

Which it is.

Well done to all of us, not just for being here and managing to make the best of it, but for actually creating objects and moments of wonderful, awe inspiring beauty, through our actions and our art.

We could do better, but we don’t do half as badly as our consciences sometimes try to tell us.