Winding Down
I believe lost items have spirits and they long to be re-united with us. Why do some things make their way back and others don’t? Why is life so random? Why do we sometimes work harder than others to reach the same goals? Why do we end ‘situationships’ that are bad for our health but we miss them just the same? Why does eating beans make us live longer? So many questions. Which brings me to a favorite line in a book I read this year: “You don’t have to understand life. You just have to live it.”
Holiday Cards
Every December for the past 26 years I’ve sent out holiday cards — since shortly after my daughter was born. It was around the time my career was taking off. The image on the card has always been light in spirit — usually the three of us in a loving configuration. Two kitties on the back. And then sadly, only one. It’s been a pleasure sending this yearly greeting. To touch base. To get touched back. But this year I’m having some trouble. What would the message be? 🕎🎄💜
Liaising With Lucy… (Woodward)
Lucy has the kind of voice that makes me angry. I tell her that no matter the lessons I’ve taken, the breathing correctly (or not), or my own rockstar fantasies, there’s no substitute for being born with the equipment that allows a certain kind of magic to flow from ones lungs. I’m in awe of how that voice keeps her moving about the planet.
Now And Then
I’m a purist when it comes to the Beatles. Don’t touch them. Don’t change them. Protect their legacy. Let them be. But if you miss them enough — after all, there are those of us who never recovered from their dissolution — if this one-last-final-Beatles-song resurrects for you what is gone or gives you something to hang onto or smile about by all means … enjoy. 🙎🏻♂️🙎🏽♂️🙎🏻♂️🙎🏽♂️
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR Tinnitus Update
Maybe I’m just another sucker who paid FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS for a placebo — something to believe in — and all it was was a contraption that would accompany my slow burning acceptance. Time — that beautiful 4 letter word — is the remedy for so much, no matter the supplements we take, the yoga we do, the hugs we receive. All along … it’s time.
Gregg
We lost another soldier — my friend and so many of yours — Gregg Sutton. When I met him in the 90s Gregg schooled me. He showed me the ropes. He pulled me out of the safety of my tidy world. He was sloppy. Dangerous. I was his passenger. It was such a good ride. I will miss you beyond words.
Play It Back
A few weeks ago songwriter goddess (and friend) Lauren Christy asked me if I would participate in the Teen Cancer America Play It Back Music Program. We’d spend the day with a handful of adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors and … write songs. I imagine that if you were diagnosed with cancer as a child you might wonder if it was your fault. It might change your whole orientation to the world. To friends. To family. You don’t sweat the small stuff? You cherish every sunrise and sunset? So who’s mentoring who?
What is Happy
If people ask me if I was happy in my 20s, although it appeared that I was outwardly, I have to say I wasn’t always happy in the true sense of the word. BUT … I was enjoying my growth, my evolution, my angst because … I had songwriting in my pocket. I had an outlet. If I had a dark day I could turn it into art. And THAT made me happy. 🙂
Under The Influence
Writing under the influence changes your judgement. It just does. That said, I’m all for it as long as you're not too invested. As long as you're willing to wake up the morning-after and forgive yourself for the sin of thinking you were a genius the night before when in fact you were a fool. 😳
Used To Be Young
I love Miley’s low range. Her dirty gravelly tone. I love that she doesn’t have to incorporate melisma-for-days to prove she’s a diva. I love that she’s an artist who’s comfortable with mistakes, vulnerability and growth. Selfishly, I hope she keeps on growing.
Thank You ❤️
After spilling about my tinnitus last week the empathy and 411 poured in literally from all over the globe and man, I never realized how many of us have it. We just never talk about it I guess. But after weeks of going down the Google rabbit hole looking for answers, cures and comfort … it was my online community and music biz friends that lifted me up and pointed me toward the light at the end of a the tunnel. 🙏
Tinnitus 😳
I come to you today with a mystery malady. I wasn’t gonna mention it but I changed my mind because when you share mystery maladies, especially an ear-related one on a forum where there are a lot of sound-centric creators, we may get some clarity. So here goes…
Out Of Africa
Going on Safari was magical and life changing. What impressed me beyond was how all the creatures (well the herbivores at least) co-exist so peacefully. Respect one another’s right to be. (We humans can learn from them.) 🦁🦓🦒🦍🦏🦛
Musical Theatre Masterclass
Remember a few months ago when I said ‘Everybody is working on a musical’? It’s true. Well almost everyone. Some of us are working on two. Or three! After decades of pop-songwriting the Musical Theatre space is an understandable exciting pivot.
Neil
My older sister was a Neil Young/CSN fan and she played Four Way Street ALL THE TIME. Our bedrooms were separated by a thin sheet-rocked wall and I heard everything. “Cowgirl In The Sand” was my favorite track. Maybe I wanted to be somebody’s ‘cowgirl.’ Who knows. Someday I’d be old enough to “play this game.” Whatever game that was. What can I say? The song stirred me.
I Think About You Daily
“I Think About You Daily” is a 6 minute drunk text with major 7ths about the passage of time and the people (or person) we leave behind. Chrissie Hynde is into telling it like she is…always has been. Plus, she’s older. Less to lose. Less to prove. Then again…she never really grew up entirely. I think that’s the secret. She still crushes and regrets and loves again for the first time. 🎸
Kill Your Darlings
We hunkered down today and decided to experiment with a non-structured song. We resisted our pop sensibilities and incorporated many different unrepeated sections — a quantum leap out of our comfort zone. We might have to write three versions of the same song before we feel like we hit the mark. There’ll be elements in the versions we scrap that are wonderful and will never see the light of day. It’s been said that writers must “kill their darlings” — get rid of the most precious and especially self-indulgent passages for the greater good of the literary work. Like that. Not easy but necessary. And painful! 💔
10 Songwriting Habits
Hello songwriting junkies!
I detest listicles and their clickbait intentions but I came upon a piece I wrote for Songwriting Magazine called “10 Key Phrases to Help You Tap into a Deeper Level of Songwriting Creativity.” The list is actually random brain farts 😜 that I didn’t think too much about. On the re-read however, I thought — ”Yeah!” So … I’m sharing with you. I hope you find something here that ups your game. 🎸🎶
Ticket To Harry
I’m obsessed with “As It Was.” Sometimes I go to a concert to hear one song! Also, I like to observe the modern fan-culture condition. I’m confident Harry will demonstrate. Will it be the Beatles at Shea? Hell no. But a night to remember for sure.
