Inspired, Creative, and Blessed

This stunningly beautiful weather as we move into Spring is certainly inspiring! And there's lots to get inspired about right now too. 
   I'm working on writing this year's Christmas show - check out the Projects page - getting the scripts finalised, the music sorted, and creating the set (some challenges there!)
   I've also agreed to become the new director for Novocastrian Players - a local theatre troupe with a 40+year history.  It means I'm writing a new show for them and doing the prep for its production in mid 2013. I'm looking forward to working with such an experienced troupe.
   With 2 shows to write, I've been heading off to the beach for inspiration - and this glorious weather is helping the process.
   At the same time, I'm working with a new backing singer - Kathy Clarke - who has a stunning voice although next to no performance experience.  But it's joyful to be able to share the skills and knowledge with her and watch her develop her skill set.  It's been some 12 years since I've had a singing partner (it took me a loooong time to get over the loss of Jules!...hint hint Jules - are you ready to get back into harness yet?)
   And on top of that, I loved working with Anousha Victoire on the Petticoat Pioneers project....she obviously enjoyed the work too because she's asked me to form a new duo with her.  We're also working on another project similar to Petticoat's.  So I'm excited to see what 2013 will bring.

Being immersed in the creative world of music is truly a blessing. I look around me at a world gone mad; where greed is the new god; where suicide is rising because people can't cope with life; where humanity and community are foreign words to those who hold power; and I know that the Grace of Creativity is where I find my centre. I'm thankful every day for the blessing of family, music, and creative inspirational friends.

New Flavours add new zest to life

I’d like to tell you a story about a musical friend…who’s been to literally scores of music festivals over many many years and in all that time, and all of those festivals, she has avoided the traditional Sunday morning Gospel service like the plague.  As if she might catch something contagious simply by association. Quite funny really. 

Even more so was the look on her face the day at one festival when she arrived for the next concert in the program and caught the last 10 minutes of gospel because that concert was running overtime.  “I never knew it was like THIS …all those beautiful harmonies…I can’t believe it!” And of course the traditional Sunday gospel service is ALL about the music – there’s no ‘service’ really, it’s always old-timey gospel songs which are harmony based. She didn’t realise what she was missing all those years because her mind was simply closed due to her pre-conceived notions.

Now this story got me to thinking about how resistant some people are to any music beyond what they've always listened to.  Very common as people get older – but also somewhat common in young people with limited experience and exposure.  And why is this so?  Why are some people so resistant to anything new, different? 

•    Is it because ‘we’ve acquired so much knowledge that we can’t fit any more in’ ? 
•  tastes so set in cement that ‘we can’t try any new flavours’? 
•   views and beliefs so dogmatic that ‘we can’t open our minds to new thoughts and ideas’? 
•   convinced that ‘our way is the only way and nothing else counts’?

…or is it simply ‘fear of change’ that keeps some people locked in a prison of familiarity?

Challenging our attitudes, beliefs, tastes on an ongoing basis is what stops the rust from setting in.  Just like our wardrobes get clogged with junk if we don’t have a periodic clean out, so too does our thinking need a shake up now and then. 

Since I started writing music, I’ve tended to blur boundaries and challenge the pigeonholes of genre.  Young artists today are doing exactly that as a matter of course. So if you’re only listening to the music that fits into the tired old boxes, you’re missing out on a whole lot of wonderful new flavours, new tastes, and a whole lot of new views, thinking, ideas.
Think about it ....explore some of the contemporary music that's being created today.....explore a music genre that you've previously dismissed...who knows, it might give you a whole new perspective on life itself.  Music tends to do that!

Articulation - who cares?

In a recent coaching class, someone [no names now] made the comment that for a singer, articulation can't be that important because nobody listens to the lyrics anymore!  I was too dumbfounded to make a comment at the time.

If this were really the case, we'd all be tuning to the classical music station...we'd all be listening to opera ....and nobody would be singing along in the car! [er, unless you sing opera that is]

Music is integral to the human spirit.  It uplifts us.  It soothes us.  It motivates us. It inspires us. Many of our memories are linked to music.  We use it to mark the important milestones in our life ....birthdays, weddings, celebrations of all types.  We treasure it as a solo experience and we share it with other human beings.  When the music has lyrics, it is called a song!

Songs are the fabric of, and the witness to, our lives.  Lyrics can become a mantra for many people [dare I stick my neck out and say 'most people'?].  Here are a few of my own examples:

• upon achievement - the lyrics of Queen's "we are the champions of the world"  
• successfully tackling a challenging task - Annie Lennox singing "sisters, are doing it for themselves"
• currently, when I'm struggling with something, the lyrics of a Whitney Houston song - "step by step, bit by bit, stone by stone, brick by brick"

As a songwriter, the challenge is always in finding a way to get the message across in fewer words. For me, some songs are just for fun - so if the listener can't hear the lyrics, they'll miss the joke (or worse, the punchline).  Most of my songs, though, have a message - and often multiple messages.  I often structure my lyrics to be interpreted in different ways - in order that individual listeners will find meaning to fit their need.

When audience members come up to me after a gig and tell me that "that song really touched me because ..."  or "you played a song last year that changed my life ..." then proceed to share their own story,  well, for a songwriter it lifts me to a new high and I know I've done my job well.

So I'm putting out a new challenge on Facebook each day this week .....share the lyrics that make a difference in YOUR life.  I'd love to hear from YOU ...so leave a comment below or jump on to Facebook and join the challenge.

WAITING FOR .....INSPIRATION?!

Oh Dearie Me!!
What a start to 2011......trapped in the Queensland flood, a traumatic escape, devastation for my son, and we're all still trying to come to terms with the experience and the fall out.

Is it any wonder that I'm lacking inspiration right now?

Funny, but everyone says "oh, there'll be a great song out of this, won't there?" Yet that's the last thing I feel like doing.
Fortunately, I'd finished a couple of songs during December - when I took a much needed break after a very heavy 2010 - planning to be back in the studio for recording in January.   Well, with the studio dates set for late January, the floods put a stop to that too!  So those new songs will have to remain as live-performance-only for the time being.

I'm back in SE Queensland in late March for a short tour and a series of small gigs so if you're around the Brisbane area and want to come along to one or two, just let me know.   Here's a brief look at a couple of the newies that I'll be sharing - and eventually recording:

• Cover Your Load - purely for laughs....about getting caught short on a road trip - we've all done it!
• Day is Done - a ballsy blues with guts
• Wasting Time - a funky little number
• All Dressed Up - a quirky tale of love's revenge
• Granny Hell- yeh, I said I'd never record it but I will - shhhh, don't tell!

Hope to see you at a gig soon.

OH.....by the way....for those of you in the Newcastle area who have been wondering when I'm going to get around to delivering the Borderless project here - it's coming to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Bolton Street on Wednesday Night March 16 (that's St Pat's Eve - appropriate for a show about Irish female settlement in Australia, eh?)

"BETWEEN THE LINES" - Episode 21

Back again after a badly needed but dreadfully misused break...and sad to say I have come back with nothing to contribute to the script! Fortunately, my friend Helen - also a writer, and a darn clever one too - had some ideas for Gemma that she has passed along for me to consider. THANKS HELEN! Although I suspect that you, too, enjoyed a somewhat misspent weekend? huummm?

Because Gemma's character has changed a bit, the piece won't fit neatly into the dialogue as it is ....but I really like what you've put together. So I'll edit the copy - minimally to fit the re-shaped Gemma - and shoot it back to you for approval ...hope that's ok with you?

But time is - not ticking, not marching - absolutely bolting away and I realise I have just 6 days left to complete the script ready for the first cast meeting. Uh Oh, gotta get cracking. When last I looked, Sheri was the final character to reveal the underlying aspect which demonstrates the link that connects them all. So now the task is to bring it together, fit the final pieces in place, and bring it to the conclusion I want.

should be easy enough, yes? [huh, what do they say about best laid plans 'n all?] I'll let you know tomorrow! oh, and there's a casting call out for the role of Gemma so if you know anyone in the Newcastle area who'd like to jump on board and give it a go, let me know ...


Tune in tomorrow......same dot on the dial.... this is a daily blog to help me maintain focus and momentum - the script for this show needs to completed before the 3rd May. Constructive ideas and comments are welcome

Between the Lines opens on 12/13 June at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Newcastle

Celebrate and Appreciate the Music of life

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without music? Or musicians?

You know, there are many disciplines which are essential to maintain our lives ....medicine, education, farming, et al. Vital Disciplines that take care of our Body and our Mind. But life -living - is MORE than just body and mind. Let's not forget that nourishment of our Spiritual essence is just as important.

In almost every significant moment of our life, there is music. We celebrate with music, we mourn with music, we get married with music and when we need solo time and space we comfort ourselves with music.

When we feel sad, we console ourselves with music. When we need motivation, we put on powerful, energetic music. When we make love, we use music to set the mood. At football matches, the music prepares us for the match. In every possible life situation, music speaks to our very soul. It uplifts, inspires, comforts, cheers, supports, and soothes us.

Music crosses all boundaries - generations, cultures, demographics, societies, gender, geographics. It is the universal language that speaks to the inner being of each and every one of us on this earth. It has the power to move all races - it has the power to change a society ....yet the gentleness to settle a disturbed infant.

Why then do we take it so much for granted?
Why then do we so often treat the musicians who make it - and those who create it - with such little regard?

Take a little time today to observe the music around you .....and to appreciate those who gave it to you.