Waiting Game - Live @ Conspiracy

Promised to put more music into this blog, so here it is, a video captured when I played Waiting Game at Conspiracy Bar.

Creation

I've been reading through the pages of http://creation.com and have found their articles enlightening and awe inspiring. I remember being a child and learning that God made everything in 7 days - I totally believed it. However, that thought was slowly changed when school introduced me to the theory of evolution. Soon I figured that the interpretation of God's creation in Genesis is no longer relevant, and how wrong have I been! I am reminded that God "did" as what the Bible teaches. Funny how a site full of great information is now required to remind me of something that I simply believed in when I was a kid. Hope you can check out their site, even if you are not a fan of "Creation" :).

Is it going to get better?

As each year unfolds, I always ask – “Is it going to get better?” At times I feel that every year is worse than the last, so I evaluate and then ask: what makes a year “better”? Is it more wealth, is it better relationships, is it security, is it a specific accomplishment, is it (insert anything here) – and the list goes on and on. So what makes each year better? Here’s a lousy answer (or excuse if you’d like to call it that) – that I came up with:

Each year is better simply because we are allowed to experience it. Strip off all the add-ons in life – we find that it’s all about life and being alive, that is probably one of the best lessons Ondoy has taught me. So with that I am thankful to God for continually allowing me to experience life – with all it’s ups and downs, and I am also grateful for the added bonus of experiencing life with the people I love. :)

Song #1: Waiting Game

Song #1: Waiting Game

Back Story: This song was written around the main guitar lick, as opposed to the traditional way of writing, heh. I wanted a song that has a light / easy message to contrast the highlight on the guitar playing. So there you have it.

Demos

Since I have dedicated this blog to music and how it relates to my life - I might as well fill this up with actual music. I'll be posting demos of songs that I have written, and add in a bit of back story.

2009 CODA - "Once in a Blue Moon"

The song "2009" is about to enter it's CODA. As proof, the twelfth full moon has risen bright last night as if signalling the beginning of this year's ending. CODA according to Merriam-Webster is "a concluding musical section that is formally distinct from the main structure".

So to conclude my 2009, I looked back and saw another year of great loss, opportunities, blessings, disasters and gifts. To keep this long post short, here are some of the highlights: losing our loving "Lola Mama" - we will miss her much, finally being able to grab the opportunity to be musically more active, receiving the continued blessing of having a healthy and happy family, being hit by the worst flood and survived, and being given unexpected gifts right before 2009 closes - to end the year right. The song of life doesn't have to end with 2009 though, soon by the grace of God, I'll be listening to and singing the new melodies of 2010. :)

Weird facts of 2009: We will have a 13th full moon for 2009, which will be lighting our night skies on New Year's Eve - December 31. When there are 2 full moons in a month, the second full moon is called a "Blue Moon". What a way to transition 2009 to 2010 - now you can truly say "Once in a Blue Moon". ^^

John Mayer's Battle Studies

As much as everyone else, I'm very excited to hear the new studio album of John Mayer, Battle Studies. I've been a fan of his work, but I'm one of the few who prefers his older albums and would rate Room for Squares as his best work. For me, that album has the most memorable hooks, great songwriting and most importantly - songs that are "relatable" - if there is such a word.

So far, I've heard the tracks that John Mayer prereleased as videos: "Who Says" and "Heartbreak Warfare". Both songs are great but not as climatic as I hoped it was - Who says sounds like a lost track from Continuum, while Heartbreak Warfare has that Heavier Things vibe.

Both are ofcourse good, don't get me wrong but it seems like there is a shortage on topics to sing about - and singing about his "rockstar" self (Who Says) just doesn't cut through to normal human beings like myself. In fairness - it's still an honest song, and I can only imagine how it is to want to be "Stoned". Heartbreak warfare on the other hand has some tasty hooks, but lacks on the "guitar" aspect (Can't blame me for wanting more guitar after hearing John Mayer Trio :P).

Much like Continuum, I better appreciate his songs AFTER seeing him play the song live, so probably my take on the two songs will change after a few weeks. Can't wait to hear the new album to see where John Mayer currently stands musically. :)

Music vs Noise

What is the difference between Music and Noise? Tapping your table may sound irritating to others, but to you it's just your hand drumming to a beat in your head. Some people might consider heavy metal music as noise while others enjoy it. The same goes with old love songs - teenagers might dread it while the young at heart enjoy it. So maybe - what makes them different is the way we hear them.

A lot of things right now sound like noise to me. I guess it's time I change my attitude towards this seemingly pesky things and see the good in them - which upon closer inspection I can say they are not so bad. Take a deep breathe and re-evaluate everything and listen to these "noise" with an open heart and an open ear - and "hear the music".

The Pre-bend Chromatic Note

Yep, the pre-bend - preparation for that sweet sounding milked note. And yes - the irony - the effort you have to put into it - while making sure it is muted. It may seem like a waste of effort but all will payoff when the right timing comes for you to play that note and milk it with vibrato. Sweet note heaven.

At times all I see and hear are those good notes without taking notice of the "pre-bends". Now that I'm at it - I'm beginning to doubt if it is even worth pre-bending at all, just to make that one note special and flexible. But when I visualize what I want my life and my music to be - I regain focus and I understand that it is all worth it. All for that one special note.

I believe that in life, just like in music - everything is special, but it doesn't hurt to have some notes standout - by preparing for it, with hard work and dedication.

In Repair

This line from John Mayer's song In Repair is exactly the phase where I am in right now.

"I'm in repair, I'm not together but i'm getting there"

The same with my acoustic guitar, had it repaired at Guitar Hospital, following another musician's advice. It was my first time having my guitar fixed by someone who doesn't work at a store / someone I don't personally know. At first there was a lot of setbacks, weather went bad, had a lot of things to do, and it feels like it's stopping me from getting my guitar fixed. But earlier, when I saw the sun - even when I am supposed to rest - I took the chance and went off to have my guitar fixed.

Meeting A and his family was a positive experience for me, and seeing how his home is setup to accept Guitar repair / modifications and the like, that is THE job! hehe. When I got in there were already 2 customers sitting down having some guitar related chats while Mr. A was showcasing his favorite Telecaster. And man that was an awesome sounding guitar. The same goes with his Strat, which I promptly "tested". He had a lot of stories about tone, guitars, amps, feedbacks, grounding and a lot more. I also looked around reading the name tags on the guitars that are lined up for repair. I was hoping to get my guitar back before Friday for a gig rehearsal... but looking at the guitars of "famous" musicians lined up for repair, reality struck me. I'll be without my guitar for longer. Awwww.... but still it is reassuring that known musicians entrust their gear to Mr A. :). Anyway this is an opportunity for me to be more intimate with my '83 Fender Strat. :)

Back to Me

Finally remembered this lonely blog... Thanks to X for reminding me :P.
Well at least I was preoccupied with a good thing - I've been very active with songwriting recently. I joined an online group of Filipino songwriters (http://songwritersph.net/forum) and have found home away from home. Everyone is talented and very passionate about music, and not just someone else's but their very own music. They are also very helpful and give opportunities and feedback to newbies like myself.

I can't believe that I have written some great songs and even performed the songs I wrote on stage in just a matter of 2 months. Looks like I'm finally on the right track, and have satisfied my cravings for music. I really needed a channel to pour all my musical juices :P. Well there is still the occasional work and other distractions, but am positive something good is coming up. So heads up...

Distractions...

So many things has been distracting me from accomplishing what I need to accomplish... >.< There's work, there's family and there's personal entertainment... oh and yeah the all important REST. Well since my work week is almost over, I need to plan ahead for this week so I can record some new songs, and make sure that distractions are kept at bay. Arghhh....

2009 - Sublime

Wow, almost forgot about this blog. Now I'm off to a fresh start. Have been saving up ideas both lyrically and musically, and am ready to show the world what I've got. But then something came up at work and now I'm bugged with so many things to do - and to think of. >.<>

Anyway, I'll be updating my performer profile and be sending em out, and ofcourse auditions - yikes! Wish me luck.

Red Eyes...

Recently, I'm being bugged down by my red aching eyes. I need to work on a lot of things~! Darn.

Celestial Being!

Instead of being musically productive, I waste my time watching these animes:

1. Gundam 00 (currently season 2 - twin drives :D~~)
2. Macross Frontier (just recently concluded... Sheryl San!!)
3. Naruto Shippuuden (full of fillers... >.<)

Start...

Having a "day job" has really worn out my creative juices... It's not that I can't create, I simply "cannot find the time" to be creative, or at least that is my excuse. Now that we have moved to a new cozy apartment, I guess it's time to kick start the thinking and creating process.

Looking at the songs I've written, most of em were written when I was in my "single and wanting ex back" phases... it may seem silly but that is how it was, I don't think I ever wrote anything to a girlfriend until we actually seperated.

Now, I don't want writing songs to be too emotionally draining and I want to write about other things in life so I need to find a different source of inspiration. Sadly, I guess only by practicing to write random songs, just like I practice my guitar and singing, can I come up with some half decent songs that I eventually just throw out. Where are you oh inspiration? Inspire me in a different way please.

I have to admit though that I rarely spend a serious 100% focused time on songwriting, so maybe I'll try that, rather than waiting for the guava to fall from it's tree. So now is the start... I hope!

Dream Journal

I wish I learned about blogging back in my high school days, I could have saved up a lot of my thoughts, ideas and dreams (literal dreams), and it could have been fun to read up about my inexperienced self.

I remember having a notebook where I list down all the dreams that I can remember when I wake up. I was really excited to write down everything that I could remember, dreams that are funny and imaginative, others scary, but what I always love to dream about is flying~! I've had countless dreams about that (even now I still dream about it from time to time). The feeling is simply amazing.

The real world however is a different story - it's passing by so fast. Mostly due to me living in this safe life cycle. I don't think there is anything noteworthy with what I'm currently doing. Maybe I'm just looking at it from a wrong perspective, but everything is just the same everyday. I don't want to be a fool chasing after greener pasture that may not be there, but I can't just live my life knowing that I didn't try to do something special, something new.

I hope next time I have something fresh to write about... writing about the past is getting boring (",)

Fast Forward >>

When I was younger, I was very curious as to what I will become, probably due to boredom - how time sluggishly passes by. Being a fan of sci-fi / anime I'd do weird things... Like closing my eyes then imagining that when I open them - I'm already 10+ years older. I can even clearly recall myself doing this in my double deck bed after I'm bored playing with my toys.

Now that I am where I imagined myself to be, I am both amazed and disappointed. I am disappointed at all the opportunities lost, and the wrong choices that I could have corrected. And amazed at what I've become, the people that have become a part of me, and some of the dreams that I have accomplished. I also find that as we grow wiser - time flies faster.

At quarter life, there may still be more years waiting for me - but now I'm afraid to close my eyes and imagine the future - cause I know how true and fast the future can be. Maybe I should heed Oogway's wise words: "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery and Today is a gift, that is why we call it The Present." Focus on the present, and make the moments memorable, think of new things to do (i.e. blogging?) - I think that can help slow down time.

Am I Special (Part I)?

I've always thought of myself as someone destined for greatness, something above and beyond this cycle of life that "regular" people live in, someone that will touch and affect countless lives... Does everyone feel this way? Is this just a foolish phase that I've been stuck with since I was young?

Chromatic Note?

Another term for passing notes - also known as fillers to give your basic musical scales some color. As per Wikipedia - it is a note that does not belong to the prevailing key, but is still used nonetheless. A double edged sword, which if used correctly will make a great impact, otherwise will cause a big mess. Welcome to this blog that will highlight the chromatic notes of my life - small and big things that happened, both important and non important - oh and weird, crazy ideas haunting my head.