JJ’s Muse

I woke up at 5am this morning. I felt fresh and alert, and thought I could go for a run, so I did.

The idea for a run had crossed my mind last night, but no fixed plan had been made, and as I already was going to have an early start, I didn’t really think a run would be able to factor into my morning.  So I received my early rising as a gift.

‘Living in the Now’ – the title for this post. Last night I found I had saved this as a post title on the 11th May. Obviously I had had some inspiration at the time, but I couldn’t muster any recollection of what that was. – A moment now lost.

As a writer or indeed artist of any creative description, there is a real validity to living in the now. Writing down those thoughts when they come, recording those song lyrics, sketching out that drawing, taking that photo, pitching your idea to that chief exec…

Living in the Now can also be essential in capturing those moments of quality time with a loved one or a friend. I am all for planning. I am also for making the most of phoning a friend as you’ve finished early, are in the neighbourhood or they just ‘ran across your mind’. I’m sure you can all identify a time when you have capitalised on a moment like this, and the enjoyment that has come.

Look out for those moments today!

It’s 12.55am Friday morning, the noisy birds are chirping and Bishop and my brother are tweaking some of the tracks and recording guitar, so I’m  taking a moment out to catch up with the world outside the vocal booth!!! I have also had something to eat as my cereal and toast breakfast was at 10am yesterday morning.

I didn’t think we’d be able to do all the tracks and suggested we drop one of them. But, my brother – who at around 3am Thursday morning went to bed for the first time since waking up Tuesday morning- was adamant that we should stick to the plan.

His determination (pigheadedness) has reaped rewards. All the tracks are now done vocal wise, two have almost full instrumentation, and according to some friends who dropped by – it’s all sounding very nice.

I must say that these past 2/3 days have been challenging, sometimes frustrating, and confirmed that I definitely prefer live gigs to studio work, but I am feeling very rewarded by the experience. I am also excited to see what may happen next as I step out once again into the world of music, session singing and explore seriously my song writing.

It’s amazing what a chain of events a simple question can lead to.

Arrived in Wales at 1am this morning. – Nothing unusal there, we always tend to travel at those mad hours in the morning. What was unsual was that there wasn’t the usual struggle to keep awake, no need to sing road signs and whatever else to ensure arriving in one piece!

So why make this mad trip?

Ans: A simple request for some singing sessions, followed by the question “do you have a showreel?”*, began a chain of events which started as a plan to do a simple recording at my brother’s and has become an ‘out of orbit’ plan to record 5 tracks of varying styles, with lead and backing vocals, drums, bass, keys, guitar and whatever else is inspired along the way, ready to take home early – first thing early – Friday morning!!!! – Whatever happened to pressing record on a tape recorder and if you had a mic you felt stush

Before heading for bed, we had a look at the studio, it’s looking good.  Bishop’s guitars are looking impressive on the walls, the desk looks ‘da business’ without being pretentious, Continue reading