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!

                                          

The dream album

I just spent a few hours alone in the car driving back from Dryden. I've always been a fan of 4 hour drives when it's just me, the car and my thoughts. And my thoughts on that drive were about the next album and how in the world am I going to bring something better than the last CD. 'Deepening' is for sure the better of the two albums I've released to date and dare I say one of the best looking CD's out there. No, not just because it's mine, but the album; as I think about it now; was a culmination of some really great happenings. Here are a few of the many great things that took place while making 'Deepening':

#1 As I was in the midst of recording, I was very low on the funds to complete the CD. $10,000 low actually! Long story short I received a generous gift of $10,000 from a wonderful couple I know. 

#2 My family and friends all put so much into making this an amazing second album. From the music itself to the look, feel and name. 

#3 I recorded with two great Winnipeg producers. (Lloyd Peterson and Arun Chaturvedi)

#4 I recorded half of the CD in my previous boss'/landlords/friends/neighbors house.

#5 The design and concept of the album is amazing! 

So you see my problem? It's almost like the "Dream album"!

All I hope and pray for, is that I am still many years away from making the greatest album of my career, but rest assured that I will do all I can to make Album #3 the best I've ever done yet and perhaps once there I will be able to share a new "Dream album" with you.

The next year and a half

It's kinda crazy when I look ahead and see how the next 17 months will play out. Here's the agenda at the moment:

August 2009 - April 2010 - Write and record my third album (While still playing shows and promoting "Deepening")
October 2009 - Release a song to radio
October 2009 - March 2010 - Plan for Spring Tour
May 2010 - June 2010 - Canadian Tour
July 2010 - August 2010 - Festival Season
August 2010 - September 2010 - Possible trip to Europe
September 2010 - Release third CD
September 2010 - December 2010 - Tour new CD

There are about 1,000,000 more details in there obviously, but thats pretty much the outline!