As I do each year, it feels appropriate in the wake of 2023 to pause and reflect on the twists and turns of my musical journey over the last 12 months. It’s been a period filled with proud music milestones and new experiences, but also continual challenges, risks, and occasional self-doubt. However, such is the dichotomy of pursuing art while […]
My Music Milestones of 2023: Growth, Creative Risk and Reward Read More »
I recently finished a new song that I’ve scheduled to go live before the end of the year. Tallying up the overall costs and budgeting for promotion prompted sobering reflections on the precarious economics of releasing independent music when the realities are that costs may never be recouped. For transparency, here is my full expenses breakdown for this single track:
The Hidden Costs of Releasing Independent Music in the Streaming Age Read More »
Today, I want to reflect on an inescapable feeling that sits at the heart of my own experience as an independent musician and driven creative person who is determined to impart my own unique footprint on this world while I’m still alive. I don’t want to sound dramatic. Still, I feel like my own experience is likely common, an unspoken
Rehearsing Resilience: The Path to Triumph Over Musician’s Guilt Read More »
Here I am on the second day of November 2023, updating my new, swish blog almost 4 months since my last post. So much has occurred in these past months for me, and in the world that we live – much more than I have the energy to reflect upon, nor you have the patience to sift through. Since this
Celebrating the release of ‘The Year of the Rabbit’ music video, join me as I dive into the behind-the-scenes journey of recording, mixing, mastering, and release.
Reconnecting and Looking Ahead: Embracing the Musical Journey Greetings music enthusiasts, Welcome to the final installment of my reflection series (for now). Today, I invite you to join me on a journey through the doubts and challenges that have coloured my musical path during the COVID-19 pandemic up until this point in time. We’ll explore how the absence of gigs
Reflections on the Journey: A Return to Music – Part 3 Read More »
Rediscovering my Sound: Unexpected Songwriting Styles Greetings music lovers, In this blog post, I invite you to join me on a sonic adventure as I explore the evolution of my songwriting style during my recent(ongoing?) period of obscurity. Life’s demands and external factors have shaped my journey in unexpected ways, leading me to discover new sounds and genres. Today, I’ll
Reflections on the Journey: A Return to Music – Part 2 Read More »
A Pause, a Transformation, and the Arrival of Arthur Greetings music lovers, In this blog post, I invite you to join me on a reflective journey through the past few years—an era where I took a temporary hiatus from releasing music. Life presented me with significant changes, challenges, and responsibilities that shifted my focus away from my musical career. Today,
Reflections on the Journey: A Return to Music – Part 1 Read More »
I have a songwriting itch. A creative hole in my pocket. I want to fill it up with new musical ideas and songs but I’m worried that nothing will stick. I want to do things in a different way. At the same time, I’m a stickler for processes and methodology. This brings me to part two of this blog series.
I’m currently shaping a songwriting process. One that is more reliant on the DAW, which seeks to use it as an instrument, as a tool. To support this process, I’ve also worked some magic in Excel and created a random parameter generator.
Are blogs still a thing? I want them to be a thing…. But my last post was a long, long time ago. Pre-global-pandemic long. Regardless of this, I’ve been busy. I mean… most people are busy. But I feel like I actively seek it out. It’s a symbiotic face-hugging alien sort of busy. Lately, it’s also been a productive sort
My new album ‘Stare Into The Dark’ is now out everywhere. Recorded live at Blue Sky Recording Studio in the Blue Mountains of NSW over three days, Stare Into The Dark is my third full-length release and includes many of the songs written during my 100 songs in 100 days songwriting challenge. Like my previous album, Violet Road, the creative
The gravel is loose today Traffic lights flash green I hope nobody gets hurt Mid-week panic is rampant Even children rush Should have stayed in bed today
Dark room, Swinging light, Dim and wet, Hid from sight. No sound, Silent fear, All alone, Quiet tears.
Cold and bright Hold me tight Give me sparks The match I strike This I know I’m bound to go Show me out Toward the snow Drag my feet And likely freeze Raise my hands Upon my knees Kiss the floor Feel no more Numb to touch The final pause
Come, my brothers, far and wide to view the memory maker It opens with an envelope and closes with a taper The present is the past and now the last thing you remember The first thing when you wake tomorrow wishing it was later On the surface memory is something you discover Lying in a darkened room, waiting for your
Secrets held within a bag Reveal the long-lost answer The only sign upon the tag A name you don’t remember Counting from a backwards clock Is gradually getting louder Your breathing slows, your numbness grows Reach out for your lover Rising metal fingers ease You lean in for the first time A book of fleeting fantasy Is faded from the
Merry widows stand in line The curtain call of truth divine They do not know which show will play Or if theres even a show today The only truth can’t be denied To inevitably stand in line Evening dress and favourite coat Open heart and lovers note
What is Australian Americana Music? According to the newly launched Americana Music Association of Australia, Australian Americana music builds on established definitions of the genre and “melds them with aspects of uniquely Australian sounds, stories and lyrical content, often influenced by our history, people and place in the world.” fyi: Americana is contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American roots music styles, including country,
My Spotify Playlist – Australian Americana Spotlight Read More »
UPDATE 11th April 2021: since my Soundcloud Pro Account membership lapsed, many of the track were unavailable. I have now amended this by adding them to my own website’s playlist function. Enjoy! ———- Yesterday at around 7:30pm, I wrote my 100th consecutive song in 100 days, successfully completing a songwriting challenge that I commenced on the 9th of May, 2016.
100 songs in 100 days Songwriting Challenge – A Reflection Read More »
In my time spent exploring the internet, researching songwriters and reading independent musician blogs, I have occasionally come across something known as the 100 songs in 100 days Challenge. With this floating somewhere in the back of my mind, I sat down on Monday with my guitar, coffee and iPad. I had just finished the successful run of A Man Walks Into
Yesterday, I returned home from the Tamworth Country Music Festival. This was my second time attending Tamworth, with the last one being in 2011. This year’s festival was filled with its fair share of highs and lows but for the most part, I had an incredible time. I met countless amounts of new people and talented fellow-musicians who I am
As you can see from the previous top 3 albums post, there is a major advantage in having friends that share similar music tastes to you and who are also avid taste-makers. However, sometimes this isn’t the case. In those situations, don’t underestimate the power of quality music blogs. Before I get going on my next top 3 albums of now, here are
In addition to being a creator of music, I am also a passionate listener. From now and into the foreseeable future, I’ll be adding a weekly post sharing some albums that I’m currently listening to. My Top 3 Albums of Now will be from any era and are not limited by newest, edgiest, best or worst. Writing about these albums may not mean
Hey everyone, We’re having a great time on the road bringing my music to new and exciting places around NSW. Here’s a short update as part of my planned Tour Blog: So far, some of the shows have been fantastic (Byron and Newcastle), and others not so much (Tamworth). We all played to our first empty room with our gig in
On Wednesday 25/6/14, I attended a free for members event organised by the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) titled ‘Marketing Your Live Gig 101‘. Due to afternoon/evening private teaching commitments in previous years, this was my first time attending one of APRA’s events. So before I outline the night, let me just say how happy I am to have a service like
Towards the end of last year while I was overseas, my housemate sent me a message to notify me that he had brought his grandma’s record player home… I didn’t know how to react. While I was really exciting about the prospect of delving into the wonderful world of vinyl, I also knew that it would mean the beginnings of
It’s always tricky writing a catch-up post after leaving it so long without any updates on this page. This must be mostly due to the pressure that I put on myself to include absolutely everything. Writing now, I have surrendered to the prospect that I will indeed miss out on a thing or two. But that’s OK! Also, apologies for
Here in Australia, we have a new Prime Minister called Tony Abbott. With a new leader comes a new party and with that, differing (and at times opposing) policies which determine how we live today and how we will be affected in the future. In case you were curious, I voted for the other guy. I am not going to
As of writing, I am currently at the halfway point of my final Prac in Music Teaching over at St. Patrick’s College in Sutherland. The prospect of finishing this degree, which has occupied 90% of my time over the past 4 years, is a very exciting one. Only 3 weeks left (including this one). I have to say that this
You know those things that we intend to do, but don’t often get around to doing? Those tasks that slowly eat away at both our sanity and patience until we finally reach a point where we say “no more”? If you don’t know what I mean, see the following video: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9tRGMBGzNs Recently, on a return trip from the Blue Mountains
I’m feeling pretty good right now. I’ve just finished my second last Semester of Uni and all my time can officially be spent on music, sleeping and video games. =D As such, I have just given my website a long overdue update. This includes a new look for my header, a few aesthetic fixes and some retina resolution love. I’ve
You know what’s really daunting? Looking at a blog such as the one on my website and thinking about what to write. How am I going to fill out enough words to justify this post as readable? I’ve had an epiphany. I don’t need to write up long posts. Small and sharp is where it’s at. Expect more updates… shorter
What a massive break between posts! 2012 was a massive year and 2013 is going to be even bigger. Over the past few months, I’ve been busy recording an album with help from the wonderfully talented and polite Pat O’Grady on Engineering/Production. Here is Pat’s website: https://www.pogmusic.com/ We have a solid 11 tracks making the cut so far with half
Fans, Friends and Family, The Biennale gig was great fun. The boys played well and the crowd was diggin it. See if you can catch a glimpse of us in the following video: Asahi Super Dry presents The 18th Biennale of Sydney’s ‘Art After Dark’: August 24th, 2012 Also, on Saturday I attempted my 7th Grade exam
Spot us in this Vid.. and I am offically a 7th Grader. Read More »
Hey everyone! Firstly, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to leave this blog so long without a post. I’m not very good with the whole internet punctuality thing. Heaps has been happening since my last update. SO… I’m posting two blogs right now. Yes two. Here are some of those happenings: Went to South Island of NZ and more specifically
Happy Thursday! What a busy few weeks this has been… In addition to my high school prac, performance exam preparation, and private teaching commitments, I’m also trying to get back into a regular gig pattern. More shows the better I say! 🙂 On the topic of gigs, last night at Sappho’s bookshop, cafe and wine bar went great! Despite the
I woke up on this overcast, rainy sunday with the intention of posting about a gig that I have this Wednesday at Sappho’s (see sidebar on right or facebook event here)…However, following a quick email check, I discovered that one of my heroes – The great finger and flat picking bluegrass/country/americana guitarist Doc Watson has sadly passed away at the
Greetings. My High School Prac is going great. I’m currently at a School in Sydney’s highly multicultural south west… Couldn’t be happier though! I’ve also added an image gallery… A few albums up, more content to come. Next on the agenda – book some more gigs and post them up. 😀 Speak soon.
Greetings! My writing of this post represents something great…It represents my intention to maintain this blog as something constant. Let’s set ourselves a goal of maybe 3-4 times a week? Yeah? Yeah. Moving on.. As of late, I’ve been slaving away on my Vodafone iPhone-tethered internet to get this website int0 some kind of presentable shape. I’ve added pages, content
