sorry it's been a while. this week i visited my family in myrtle beach. i actually got a little sunburn for like the 5th time in my life. in other news, my hair is definitely longer than my sister's and my good friend Jamey taught me how to use loops while recording.
check out this powerful and humbling article by keith green.
6.18.2005
6.11.2005
"thank god jesus didn't copyright the gospel"
in response to all the FBI warnings on every CD you'll ever buy, here's a pretty compelling essay on legal issues with christian music copyrights.
my own songs are licensed under a creative commons license... similar idea. for me, I can sleep at night knowing that:
my own songs are licensed under a creative commons license... similar idea. for me, I can sleep at night knowing that:
- i've not demanded full credit (and subsequent reimbursement) for songs that God inspired in me anyway.
- the government hasn't determined when I can and can't share my songs. after all, copyright laws are kind of arbitrary, especially amounts of reimbursement set for recording or "performing" worship songs.
- after all, allowing downloading, sharing, and burning of my songs is simply more realistic and technologically relevant.
- people won't be giving more to me, for the sake of my comfort, than they will to the Church, to missionaries, or to the needy.
- money much less of an obstacle to the Lord doing his work through my songs.
I do go back and forth regularly with this issue: what if a Christian label were to sign me, expecting me to comply with these laws? would I give up my soapbox for the sake of expansion of my ministry?
6.09.2005
record mode
been recording like crazy - well at least like it drives Jodi crazy. see i get into what we call "record mode." that's where yours truly can go for days without shaving/bathing/moving. i'm stuck in front of the microphone or the PC where i do all my recording. i'll break to use the bathroom or get some water. but i'm pretty much useless otherwise.
i think there's a certain aroma and hairstyle that go with record mode too, but i'm not sure. i've only seen one other person in the midst of record mode other than me, and that's rob watson.
anyhoo, Jodi always loves it. right. it's tough for me. i can't sit and watch a movie or lay in bed or mow the lawn or take a shower when i know there are tracks sitting, lonely, waiting for more vocals, more guitars, more cowbell.
finished lots of guitar tracks today. also finished most of the instrumentation for an acoustic/tribal version of one of my songs that'll probably be a bonus track on the album. maybe a B-side on one of my U.K. singles! neal "silky smooth" leazer is playing bass on pretty much all the songs. i hope he plays bass on every one of my albums as long as i live.
i think there's a certain aroma and hairstyle that go with record mode too, but i'm not sure. i've only seen one other person in the midst of record mode other than me, and that's rob watson.
anyhoo, Jodi always loves it. right. it's tough for me. i can't sit and watch a movie or lay in bed or mow the lawn or take a shower when i know there are tracks sitting, lonely, waiting for more vocals, more guitars, more cowbell.
finished lots of guitar tracks today. also finished most of the instrumentation for an acoustic/tribal version of one of my songs that'll probably be a bonus track on the album. maybe a B-side on one of my U.K. singles! neal "silky smooth" leazer is playing bass on pretty much all the songs. i hope he plays bass on every one of my albums as long as i live.
6.05.2005
worship with banners
ken might be able to relate to this article. can you believe this is happening in Raleigh?
6.03.2005
how many earths would we need?
this is a really challenging quiz and website. i'm too embarassed to say how many planets we'd need if everyone lived like me.
6.01.2005
frustrated
kinda annoyed right now. gigs are trickling in and each one seems to be exceptionally low in attendance. in other words, we show up to venues with gear and full setup, only for disappointingly poor attendance, with comments like "you guys sound great - we feel so bad because we usually have way more people than this."
it was sorta funny the first few times, but when about half of our gigs end up with the above scenario, one starts to question.
so then recording is going... slowly. finally recorded the drum tracks for 5 songs two weeks ago. haven't done anything since then. granted, i had a 5-day jaunt to PA last week, and I really can't start recording until the bass tracks are finished. guess things don't move along very quickly when you're not a cohesive band, dedicating 3 months straight to recording.
ah, such is the life of an indie solo christian worship leader. i could also be a bit mellow because i got off work at 7am today....
it was sorta funny the first few times, but when about half of our gigs end up with the above scenario, one starts to question.
so then recording is going... slowly. finally recorded the drum tracks for 5 songs two weeks ago. haven't done anything since then. granted, i had a 5-day jaunt to PA last week, and I really can't start recording until the bass tracks are finished. guess things don't move along very quickly when you're not a cohesive band, dedicating 3 months straight to recording.
ah, such is the life of an indie solo christian worship leader. i could also be a bit mellow because i got off work at 7am today....
5.25.2005
5.19.2005
episode III
jodi, alvin, nicole and I saw revenge of the sith at midnight earlier today.
in a word, SWEET! i guess was probably going to love it no matter what. aside from the expected poor script and acting in a few places this was probably my favorite in the prequel-trilogy.
in a word, SWEET! i guess was probably going to love it no matter what. aside from the expected poor script and acting in a few places this was probably my favorite in the prequel-trilogy.
5.12.2005
recording
well then. seems it's been a bit long since i last boasted, er... posted.
this week we did pre-production for 7 songs from my (God-willing) new album. it took me about 6 hours to set up and record everything - from miking every member of the band, to mixing on-the-fly, to getting my 4-track to work.
aside from a few compressor glitches, and the fact that no one else in the band could hear my vocal but me, all wen't pretty darn well. lead guitar sounded kinda hot in the mix, but otherwise i'm happy with some decent demos as sketches of these songs emerge. also, during two really great takes, we ran out of tape - artists unknowingly running out of canvas, then trying to re-create the magic.
if songwriting/performing is like bearing and raising children, where writing the song is conceiving - recording is definitely labor.
maybe i should have a baby dedication for my 10 new children in the fall?
this week we did pre-production for 7 songs from my (God-willing) new album. it took me about 6 hours to set up and record everything - from miking every member of the band, to mixing on-the-fly, to getting my 4-track to work.
aside from a few compressor glitches, and the fact that no one else in the band could hear my vocal but me, all wen't pretty darn well. lead guitar sounded kinda hot in the mix, but otherwise i'm happy with some decent demos as sketches of these songs emerge. also, during two really great takes, we ran out of tape - artists unknowingly running out of canvas, then trying to re-create the magic.
if songwriting/performing is like bearing and raising children, where writing the song is conceiving - recording is definitely labor.
maybe i should have a baby dedication for my 10 new children in the fall?
5.01.2005
carl
carl is my bass player. an interesting character is he. funny. gifted. creative. kinda forgetful. among other things, carl has:
- shown up 5 minutes before we were supposed to start playing (i had to call him 10 minutes before that to remind him we had a gig that night);
- called to cancel a gig because he was on his way to San Diego to propose to his girl;
- forgotten the power supply to his bass amp; and...
- not played the first few minutes of a set because he was putting in his earplugs.
this weekend, however, i witnessed something that truly amazed me. something beyond mere randomness and spontaneity. something that still has me in shock and disbelief.
in the middle of a very worshipful moment, as sacraments were being handed out for a communion/worship service where we were playing, carl ran off the stage, to the lobby area where his bride-to-be, leslie had been sitting.
I thought for sure that something was wrong. either that he was about to throw up, or that leslie (that's "less-lee" - not "lez-lee") was in the back having a seizure, or something very serious. he stopped and exchanged a moment with leslie, then RAN back up to the stage with...
...a strawberry milkshake in his hand from In 'n Out.
he later said that his mouth was a little dry and he needed something to drink. we are all now perplexed at the oddity that is carl deese. remind me to make sure he has his milkshake on stage with him before we start.
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