The Last Day. Day 29.

Okay.

It's nearly 8pm on the last day.

I have three more songs to do to complete FAWM, and I'm going to try to do them. I'm all over the place, style-wise. Just pulling out of my hat whatever I think will come out fully formed.

I had a lovely yesterday, if you're wondering. The best, actually. Full of music and great food, and stunning warmth from some amazing directions.

Mmm.

;-)

jul

The Last Days. FAWM. Day 28.

I am on a concerted push to try to finish FAWM with fourteen songs. I only have 9 now, the last two I *just* posted. I am not happy with the quality. But that's not the point.

They've extended the deadline a little to International Date Line time, which means I get a few extra hours. And I will need them as the rest of today will be spent taking care of another part of my life.

I am *loving* every little new thing I learn to do in Cubase.

x,
j.

Woah. Got Sucked into a FAWM Vortex There. Day 24.

Wow, sorry for taking such a blogging hiatus, there.

I am utterly and completely consumed. By a few things, one of which is FAWM itself. People are doing some *great* work this year. I've been trying to hold up my end. My electric guitar has been getting its revenge, being so much fun to play, especially when combined with the POD. Still Wanting More is about twelve guitar tracks, stacked over a couple of hours. Was terrificly fun to do that one. I've also been pushing the limits of my fingerpicking, and the tracks have been surprisingly trouble-free. Hm.

It's really hard for me to not start comparing my work to other people's. This throws me into an existential depression. I've been skirting around the edges of it, truthfully, but haven't fallen in. It's a theme in my life, to feel like a chronic outsider, to see all the Regulars patting themselves on the back on the other side of the glass. It's okay, though. I know that I do the best for myself just going on my merry way.

I'm probably not going to finish with 14(.5). But, I will try to get to 10. Which is where I think I was last year. Or maybe not, my memory is *terrible* these days. I am currently at 7.

There are a couple of other things consuming my thoughts. One is another musical project with a March 15th deadline. I am *itching* to start, and will provide more details in a few days, once FAWM is over.

And then, my life has been meteored by something else I wasn't expecting. No worries...It's all good.

Oh yeah, and my album gets mastered next week!

It's all happening,
jul

FAWM. Day 14. Happy Valentine's Day.

I finally cracked the POD book, and did some rock today. There was something majestic about the sound of those guitars, I did a stereo pass, and then another, and then panned them each hard left and right. Wow, I can't tell you the thrill those guitars gave me. I'm calling it a FAWMgasm.

It's Valentine's Day.

Anytime I think about Valentine's Day, I think of my sophmore year in high school. The guy I liked had just gotten a new girlfriend. I walked around the school, trying to get them out of my sight, and ended up running into them wherever I went. Would turn obscure dark corners, trying to find a place to cry in peace, and there they would be, her with a huge bunch of flowers and balloons in her hand and him grinning like an idiot.

Not pleasant memories.

Met with JL today for dins, we've got another day's work in finishing up the acoustic EP.

The album is weeks away from being done. Mastering early March.

Yay!

FAWM. Day 13.

We're at the end of day 13, and I've just added track #3. *sigh* So....far...behind.

Tonight's track was a little triumph, I got through the finger picking without too much hassle; even double tracked it with first takes, and no punching in. My voice wasn't the best tonight, but I got through it.

I need some heavy duty creation mode over the next coupla days. The thing is, I like listening to new songs every time I go to the FAWM site. I can spend hours just clicking around.

It's 11:30, but I think I'm going to pull out my POD handbook, plug in the Paul Reed Smith, and see if i can figure out how to work that baby.

You know who's amazing? Tears for Fears. Acoustic.

FAWM. Day 11.

Way behind. Way, way behind.

Some people have said some nice things about the first couple of songs I posted. Which is nice.

But there are TWELVE!!! more to go. Some of what's coming is going to be crap.

*sigh*

It was a good, good weekend, though.

Twelve more to go,

j.

FAWM. Day 8.

Sorry I've been away from you so long. But, I have good news to report.

Finally got to FAWMing today. A trip out to Long Island didn't happen, so I had time, and it was in the back of my mind that I should finally finish and post some songs. I stared down my computer, frowning and screaming at it like a spoiled kid. And then I finally opened the software and got to work.

A couple of minor technical problems and 24 hours later, I have two songs posted. Can't say I'm ecstatic about either of them, but they are a good two days' work.

The same minds that brought you Strangle Disco last year are now bringing you...CasioCore. I found a Casio PK-1 hiding in a box, and so will darn well be participating.

Right now I have a headache. I haven't eaten all day, and feel perfectly justified in ordering some bad food and wolfing it down.

Cheers!

jul

FAWM. Day 5.

I missed posting yesterday, my anal-retentive side is *very* upset.

I finished a song. Can play it, even. It's just not that interesting.

Have been checking in daily with Jodes and that is good. Makes me feel slightly less rudderless.

A few FAWMers are sending me music, I'm crossing my fingers there's something my slack-self can do with the tunes.

Came in to work 2 and a half hours earlier than normal. Wanted to avoid the mess and the crowd of the parade for the Giants. Which meant that I had to be awake and out the door at some ungodly hour. I can hardly keep my eyes open at the moment, but in about fifteen minutes I get to leave here and go home and stare at my instruments. Got an idea of how to rearrange myself space to make it a little more user-friendly.

My buddy Burt posted a song yesterday that made my jaw drop. It's really good. He used a mandocello. And now I want one, whatever that is.

I'm a sleepy, head bobbing mess right now. You know what I need?

Caffeine and sugar.

j.

FAWM. Day 3.

Here's a quick note before leaving work:

I got a little tug on my songline today.

I'm going home tonight and seeing where it leads.....

j

FAWM. Day 2.

Gah!

I'm stuck at work, and I'm stuck on a lyric at the same time. Not a happy camper, me.

Had a nice dinner in town with a few friends last night, and then came home and worked on a bit from about 1am to 4am. Could be interesting, but so far it's not. The lack of words (usually my strong point) is really bumming me out.

Songs never come when I try to force. I can make something fit over a melody line, but I don't ever feel good when I force it. I'm trying to make this lyric "make sense" and I don't work like that, usually. A part of me that I can't control at all speaks in metaphor. And right now, that part is *silent*.

*sigh*

And I'm at work. And it's dreary outside.

Going to go
try to find
something productive
to do with myself,

jules

FAWM. Day 1.

Hm

Haven't written a note today. I'm not really feeling inspired.

Could be because today I had retinal laser surgery. It is the most intense thing that has happened to me in recent memory - the insistent blur of the dilation, the blinding laser and bizarre pain. I just want to keep myself in a dark, locked room.

But I only get a few minutes before i have to leave and meet some friends for dinner this evening. Then I will come home and set up all my guitars and basses in stands, like a little army, and see if I can be inspired to pluck at one of them. I'm going to turn on my computer, just to make sure I know how to do it.

People have posted songs - good ones - already.

Hm.

j.