The weeks/ months ahead

As part of any good business it's important to know where you're going. So recently I spent some time thinking about where I would like to be in the next two years.

My hope is that I can be earning enough so that my wife Pam won't have to work as much as she does to support me, take my music abroad (US and Europe) and have a few more discs under my belt. Here's my plans for the next few year to move things in that direction:

1. Promote a song on national radio (Starting next week)

2. Book a December tour (Between now and November)

3. Book a spring 2010 tour 

3. Promote another song on radio

4. Write and record another album (Done by April 2010)

5. Book festivals for the whole summer next year

6. Release the next album in October 2010

7. Tour the new album (October - December 2010)

8. Begin booking shows in the US (For a 2011 tour)

9. Look into booking a few European summer festivals

10. Possibly release another album in the spring 2012

Ok, so there's about 1,000,000 other steps along the way, but now you get the gist of what I am planning to do. Wish me luck, I feel I may need it. 

Looking for a little help

OK, so this one is a bit unrelated to the actual making of the next album, but in all fairness this will help in the development of my career. 

I have been officially nominated for 2 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards (Entertainer of the year and Best folk/acoustic album). The next part is where you come in. I need all the votes I can get and it all starts with you! All are welcome to vote and you don't have to be Aboriginal. This is the second and final round of voting, so if you voted before (Thank you) you can vote once again in this round. I am up against some pretty big names in the industry (Buffy Sainte-Marie, Crystal Shawanda, Tracy Bone and Eagle and Hawk) so I could use all the help you're willing to offer. 

If you really want to take the big leap perhaps you wouldn't mind asking a few friends to vote too. Follow the link above and sign up if your new to voting. If you have voted already you can use your previous pin and password. I know it's a long shot, but my fingers are crossed!

Movies that move you

Here's a list of some movies that I've watched recently. 

All of them are great and they all make me want to write better music.

Once

Garden State

Dan in real life

Elizabethtown 

The Cronicles of Riddick (Just kidding, but a good watch)

So much inspiration so little time

I got to spend the last few days at a song writing workshop with some very talented writers/performers/producers. We stayed at a lodge outside of town and spent our time writing/playing and recording from morning till night. It was probably the highlight of my summer.

I have always been a little intimidated when it comes to writing with others. There's something about bearing your heart to people and feeling like your giving too much of yourself and also the "What if they don't like it" thought tends to creep in. But this week I was invited to join in on a few sessions and I truly believe I became a better writer for it. The only down side is that I could've spent a lot more time sharing ideas with them. 

Please go and meet some of my new friends.

www.myspace.com/quinzy

www.myspace.com/jphoe

www.myspace.com/thewakingeyes

www.myspace.com/davinportband

www.myspace.com/headinthesandproductions

www.myspace.com/ruthmoody

Enjoy!

Another bit of inspiration

Leela Gilday is a wonderful musician from Yellowknife. I am glad to say that she is a friend and she plays and sings beautifully. She's got a new album coming out soon. Check her out.

My weekend at the cabin

I recently spent a few days away at the family cabin to write and record a few new songs. Here's a sample of that writing retreat. It's a song about how we need to let go of some of the things that hold us from becoming the best possible version of ourselves. 

Let Love in

Lay down your guard

Lay down the fight

Let go of the worry 

You're holding tonight

Lay down your pain

Lay down the fears

Let go of the heartache

and love will appear

If you just let love in

If you just let love in

If you just let love in

The walls that surround 

Let love tear down

Lay down the hate

Let show your heart

The past that you cling to

Wont heal the scars

Let show your Joy 

Lay down your same

Let go of the heartache

and Love will remain

If you just let love in

If you just let love in

If you just let love in

The walls that surround 

Let love tear down

Great new song

As part of my "job" I make a point to stop by some of my favorite musicians myspace pages to see what's new in their world and to listen to some new music. So once and I while I'll send you along to an artist I enjoy. I'll start with Imogen Heap. She's great! Her latest song "Fast Train Home" is sweet!