Marching. On.

Hi there.

FAWM/RPM wrap-up: Counting the two co-writes and one remake, I am turning in 13 songs (FAWM's goal is 14). I could have mailed off an "album" for RPM (only 10 songs), but it would have just been a bunch of incongruous material thrown on a CD; I couldn't genuinely call it an album. So I didn't complete RPM.

In the last few days of FAWM, my mind started to rebel against songwriting. I wasn't feeling inspired, at all. I think the week in Canada absorbed much of my creative energy, and my body just resisted writing crap to make a deadline (not that some of the songs I did post weren't crap). Add to that the fact that there are some talented MoFos on that board. Not just songwriters, but players and arrangers as well. Which made me less willing to turn in something that isn't my best work.

But it's a fun, wild, inspired community of people. I am glad to have taken part, and I will again. My goal for next year will be to turn something thoughtful and coherent, keeping February free enough to turn out something special.

There are still three demos left to do (I posted placeholder lyric pages), and I plan to get through them all today.

My computer (complete with Cubase and interface) is arriving today!

My sister is safely installed in Korea. She's got her own room and bathroom, which is just about all a person needs, I think.

Recipe #1: Yesterday I had a craving for dip. I even dreamed about having dip (with crackers, in the kitchen of a 19th century castle, with my younger brother and sister - go figure!). So, I bought the ingredients and made dip for the first time. Nothing fancy, just a spinach dip thrown together with Lipton soup mix, sour cream, mayo and spinach. Mmmmm. Immensely satisfying.

I also got a new fridge. When I came back from Canada, the cooling mechanism on my fridge had busted, and everything inside (not much, to be honest) was nasty and warm. The super brought over a new fridge yesterday. The 45 minutes it took to get all the magnetic poetry off the front door were simultaneously cathartic and sad, as all my poetry from the last couple of years fell away.

The words now wait in a bowl, to be thrown up again in some other order.

Certainly a metaphor for...something.

In nine days I meet again with my producers to chart out the instrumentation and schedule to complete my album.

March, I've decided, is "get my ass to the gym" month.

jules

Wow, I've Just Been *Slack*, Haven't I?

Dude, it's cruising by my head too fast to blog about it, really.

Canada, in all its northern glory, was *amazing*.

We got through drums from 11 of the 14 tracks. Anton was *amazing*, I can't imagine the work he had to do to play like that. Chris was the driving hero, driving the six hours there and back all on his own. The studio we worked in is owned by the Tragically Hip, a big house out in the sticks. It snowed the whole time, there was a frozen lake outside my window.

I'm FAWMing and RPMing, kinda. I was happy enough to just breathe and see the sights while up in Ontario - I didn't get *any* writing done.

I did finish a Strangle Disco track yesterday. Can't stop listening to it, really. I suppose this is what people think I sound like when they first meet me. Which is not what I usually sound like at all. It was fun to create the track, though.

I am listening non-stop to my friend Butch Rice. He's a really great singer-songwriter (and super cool guy, on top of all that). I wish I could play guitar like him.

Off to meet K for dins. More soon, I promise.

j.

FAWM/RPM - Day 11.

Well.

I mixed until 2am this morning, and uploaded my songs to the FAWM site.

Some people said some nice things, and that's good.

I'm Envy Green at the quality of some people's recordings on that site. I was a little lazy about my performances, frankly. I feel like I need to up my game.

Headed home. Suddenly realized I'm leaving the country the day after tomorrow at some ungodly hour. There are a *ton* of things to do.

jules

FAWM/RPM - Day 10.

I took some time today to troll around on both the FAWM and RPM sites. Damn, there's some *great* stuff on there. Running home in a minute to mix my first five, feeling a little less confident than before.

Dude: My new favorite thing? Strangle Disco!

jules

FAWM/RPM - Day 9, Continued.

Okay.

A Room of Messy Reds and Eyes Burn So Brown both got recorded today. Eyes Burn collapsed in a cacophony, I'm beating on the wall and screaming "All You Need Is Love", among other things. Fun.

That makes five demos total, all the songs I've written in February thus far.

It's 4:21. I'm going to cook some turkey burgers and head for the city. Someone on the RPM forum asked which guitar I decided on, so I'm going to post a picture there. Of the guitar I'm going to buy tonight. Yay!

There's a great deal of mixing and burning to do tonight, but I want to make sure I have tracks to upload tomorrow.

Now that I'm close to showing these to people, I'm getting sheepish!

No worries.

jules

FAWM/RPM - Day 9.

Howdy.

Got in almost an hour ago, but wanted to say hello before heading off to bed. Here's a picture of what my bed looked like before I cleared it away:


I've been working on demos all day long.

But, doing demos is like a race against time for me. My challenge, when I choose to accept it, is to complete a full sketch of the song before I get too bored or impatient and throw everything down in a huff. I work quickly. First takes, everything. Some of the vocals and playing are pretty shabby. The idea of playing these for people makes me want to howl with laughter.

I demoed a song called Kisses Are Fatal first, finishing the lyric in the process.

In the process of recording A Diamond. Mine., I realized that the key is a little too high for me to sing comfortably. Didn't re-record anything, though. I had high hopes for the harmony vocals originally, was thinking something a la Rickie Lee Jones. I felt a finger hovering over the getting bored/impatient button. Did a little somethin' somethin', finished the track, and took a break.

I honestly intended to stop there for the day. After turkey burgers and a little Bill Bailey on DVD, it was coming up on 7pm, and I was due to leave my house shortly after 8pm to go meet my friend P. in the city. My body continued to work in spite of me, and recorded Can't Recall The Moment You Fell Down in less than an hour. The playing on this was less together than usual, perhaps. The timing gets tricky on this one; I'll have to play this every day for a week to get it right in front of a microphone.

Mental Note: Save two tracks on every demo for shaker and tambourine. They've both been getting a lot of use today.

These songs are not yet mixed, and I used all 8 tracks of my VS880 for all three of them. So to get them in finished form tomorrow will take some time. I may go ahead and record two more before mixing anything. A batch of five should be a nice healthy first submission for both sites this weekend.

This week's FAWM challenge: A song with two chords! Oo!

Tonight I had drinks at Merchants with my friend P. P. and I see each other two or three times a year. It was good to catch up with her, lots of changes going on. She's always buoyant and positive, and supportive.

I took the train home in the cold; warmed a cold cup of coffee and engaged in my new favorite practice of putting my pajamas on the radiator before slipping them on. Reminds me of when I used to get my jeans right out of the dryer.

My eyelids want sleep. The problem is that there's good comedy on BBC7 for at least another hour. Sleep may have to wait. For the deliciously surreal Adventures of John and Tony.

Am thinking of Lori Carson's beautiful song Anyday from "Where It Goes;" this song can drag tears from my eyes, if I'm not careful.

jules

FAWM/RPM - Day 8. Quickly -

I'm rushing, to find an outfit to go meet a friend in the city for drinks at nine.

But, I won't likely be back before midnight, but I wanted to let you know:

I recorded *three* songs today.

Tee hee.

later,

julz

FAWM/RPM - Day 7. The Quiet Girls Have Taken Over My Life.

It's a bit after 10pm.

I almost feel like I just woke up.

I did spend a lot of time today sleeping. But, I also started compiling the info for my tax returns. I'm more than halfway through. Another day or two of research and then I can call the accountant.

You know, the only reason I'm being diligent and doing my tax returns is because what I really should be doing is recording these songs for FAWM/RPM.

But, I'm not exactly slacking off. While I didn't do much freewriting today, I completed a fourth lyric, called A Room of Messy Reds, that's been kicking around for a couple of weeks. Just typed up the couple of verses I had, and the rest came tumbling out in about ten minutes.

Been listening to more music lately.

Stina Nordenstam achieves so much atmosphere, with minimal instrumentation. I have The World Is Saved, her latest, on medium rotation. Certified Genius Tchad Blake mixed this baby, and it shows. But I dig Stina; am now determined to go back and collect the rest.

Lori Carson's writing is achingly beautiful. Very emotional, very delicate. Not my usual fare, to be honest, but her lyric skill is superb. I always think I know what I'm going to get with Lori, and she always surprises me. Where It Goes may be my favorite, but Stars and Everything I Touch Runs Wild are also great.

Both these women rarely raise their voices above a vibrato-less whisper. But they communicate so much.

I have guitar fever.

The discussions I started on FAWM and RPM on which guitar I should get have been very lively and informative. But I suddenly want to try all of them, everything. Brands I've never even heard of. I'm going to borrow an acoustic from Gibson (I have a hookup! Yay!) and try it out for a while.

I keep thinking back years ago, when I went to Manny's Music and tried a $3000 Breedlove guitar. I only strummed a few chords, but that guitar felt smooth as butter. Mandolin Brothers (on Staten Island) is the only Breedlove seller now in a five mile radius. I will make a visit out there when I come from Canada.

Did I tell you?, I decided on the Strat. I'll pick that and a little bitty amp up tomorrow or Friday. Other than that, I'm focusing on recording five songs before Sunday. Burt brought it up that I'm missing out on the real purpose of these sites, to post songs, to give and receive feedback. And he's right.

Tonight: I am restringing my acoustic guitar, and setting up my recording equipment.

jules

FAWM/RPM - Day 6.

I'm sitting here at work, just letting my mind wander.

I have a songwriting notebook to jot ideas down in, but sometimes lyrics come a little easier if I'm typing. I've completed a high level scan of song #3, called Eyes Burn So Brown (which happens to fit in with last week's color challenge). I may spend some time this week working up the demos on the equipment I have currently.

Going to try to write another two songs this week before I see Jodes again on Sunday night. Need to speed things up - I feel like I'm *way* behind. I *really* care about the songs I'm trying to finish, and that is probably slowing me down. It's too important that they be *right*. So, I'm going to put those aside and work on all my crap songs. The ones I know it will be a miracle to finish at all.

I won't be able to see my sister before she heads off to Korea, which makes me a little sad. But, I working up something to send to her. Heh, heh.

What else?

It's the last day of work for the week. I plan to make this weekend a productive one.

jules

FAWM/RPM - Day 5.

Hi. Been away for a couple of days, didn't mean to do that. I am a jumpy, jumpy jumping bean.

It was a busy weekend at work. Met up with Jodes Sunday night for some chat and Earl Grey.

I've been writing at a couple more songs, haven't finished anything further.

I ordered my computer equipment today! Yay! Excellent. Will have a functional recording system in a matter of weeks.

My lil sis is headed off to Korea in a couple of weeks. Having fun packing, sis. Love you.

j

FAWM/RPM - Day 2.

Another early writing session yielded the requisite three pages, and another song: Can't Recall The Moment You Fell Down. This is actually a full reworking of a song I wrote a year and half ago, new melody and all. Again, saving the pronouncement of "finished" until I get this down on tape. But the lyric is mostly complete and I'm happy with it.

Today I hung with my buddy JLaw.

We went to the Apple Store, which is way too slick for me. It's way too bright in there, as you might expect. Everyone's got a cool haircut. And there's protocol, a specific place to go depending on what you need. But not a single sign in the place.

The people behind the counter all wear t-shirts with the word "Genius." on it.

Seriously. That is their title: Genius.

After asian cole slaw and vietnamese coffee, we went and played more guitars on Ludlow Street.

My song pieces are all jumping in front of my face, begging to be finished. The challenge this week is to write a song with colors in the name. I have a couple on my list that I could work on.

Workweek starts tomorrow. Waking early to write a bit an prepare for my gig tomorrow night - singing backup with a friend of mine. Should be fun.

jules

FAWM/RPM - Day 1. 10pm. The Difference A Day Makes.

Wow, what a fantastic day.

It's amazing, how things turn on a dime. You invite a little positivity in your life, and some days it *rushes* in. Almost too fast for you to accept it.

Got a head start on my FAWMing in the wee hours, and wrote a lyric to a guitar snippet I had floating around. The song is called "A Diamond. Mine." It's 90 percent there. Bridge? No bridge? I probably won't decide until the actual demoing. (I've decided to not call a song "finished" until I have a fully demoed version of it, so I probably won't be "finishing" anything for a week or so.) It's a wanna-be Patty Griffin song.

*Love* her. She's got a new album out next week, by the way.

I then called the Gibson showroom and made an appointment to go in tomorrow and try some guitars. After a great phone conversation with a friend I haven't spoken to in a while, I decided to get off my rear end and go to Guitar Center on 14th Street.

I *detest* music stores. They're usually crowded, and the salespeople can be anything from unhelpful to condescending. I haven't been to one in a long, long time. But, I decided to go and play as many guitars as struck my fancy, regardless of how crowded it was.

So I went. And it wasn't overcrowded. And Drew, a very attentive sales person, brought me a few guitars and gave involved recommendations for amps. I didn't play that many guitars, but I found a couple I liked a lot.

Then, I went to get dinner. I dropped into the Garden of Eden on 14th Street, and the store employees all start *smiling* at me and chatting me up. I swear. I roamed the store, dazedly trying to get something to eat, and would be startled by another person saying hello. The guy behind the cheese counter just starts handing me free slivers of cheese (the etorki was *lovely*). I had to call the manager and tell him how great all his employees were.

On the subway ride home, I look up at the guy whose seat I took, and he's smiling warmly back at me. New York was really friendly today.

Got some great MySpace messages from (former) strangers today. And, the cherry on the cake is that I heard from another friend of mine who I haven't seen in ages. We're meeting tomorrow to play more guitars and chat.

So, yay! I'll have chosen a guitar by this time tomorrow.

And, I know which song I want to work on next. Let's see what I can do by midnight.

jules

FAWM/RPM - Day 1. Noon.

It's almost noon.

It's freezing in my apartment. I am camped under the covers, trying to stay warm.

I got started shortly after midnight with the three pages of freewriting, and came up with a song in the wee hours. Stylistically, it's not typical for me. Upbeat. Major key. Usually not my thing.

I discovered yesterday that, while FAWM.org is songwriting challenge, RPMChallenge.com is the album *recording* challenge. I'm doing both. The requirements are *slightly* different (RPM requires sending in an album of 10 songs, or 35 minutes of music).

Um.

What else can I tell you?

I need to get off my ass and get my guitar. It's hard getting motivated when your teeth are chattering. Why is it so cold in here?

jules

Album February.

Tomorrow starts Album February.

This is what happens: 14 songs get written and recorded in 28 days.

I'll blog here daily with my progress. I miss the daily blogging and am glad to have an excuse to get back to it.

I spent today scribbling in colors on a large easel pad. There is now a list of 40 solid, but incomplete snippets that could become songs. A lot of juicy bits here. The actual writing of the songs, I'm not worried about at all.

The recording, however, is another matter. I do, occasionally, record rough demos at home. But it's difficult. I get frustrated with my limited playing, or my limited knowledge of the equipment, and can only go for very short bursts. With long stretches between to quell the frustration. Ack! No breaks this month.

In addition to the FAWM goal, I'm setting a couple extra tasks for myself: Three pages of freewriting in my song notebook every day. And, another note added to the top end of my chest-voice vocal range. I just tried it (it's the D). Oof. A *lot* of work to do.

Also on the slate for February are a new computer and recording equipment, and a new electric guitar. I have my system staked out. Not *quite* sure where the money is to come from, but I'll figure something out.

It will be interesting to see what effect the 4 day Canadian drum session has on all of this. My drummer played a *great* gig Monday night in spite of his discomfort. He says his finger is healing more and more every day, so he should be in fine form by the 13th.

So, yay!

jules