I can't imagine Celine Dion ever snorting coke, or Josh Groban popping pills. Maybe they do, I just cannot conceive it.
My business colleague Jayson says I'm the only musician he knows who has never taken drugs (I'm not sure if sniffing poppers counts - I did it once, it gave me a massive headache and I kept thinking, "My God I've just lost 10,000 brain cells!"). He feels I'm missing out on some psychedelic music experiences which would make me a more authentic artist and would enhance my songwriting, which I confessed to him I think is average (though I have every intention of improving that).
Anyway, I told him I already have enough vices, one of which is food, so I'm not sure I wanna get all high. I'm actually terrified that if I open that door I won't be able to close it again... So maybe I should just stay the squarest musician on the planet. I have had to make peace with the fact that I'm not a hard-core rocker anyway. I couldn't imagine myself riding a phallus on stage like Mick Jagger. Maybe I need to get more outrageous.
Days to go: 318
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Day 46: Tae Bo
Bought myself the Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVD yesterday - with money from my Christmas gigs - so that's how this is a relevant blog post!
Anyway, I did Tae Bo a couple of years ago with an instructor, and I really enjoyed it, so I thought I would give it a bash again, seeing that my bod is not looking as hot as it used to.
Image. I wonder if it really makes that big a difference. Mind you, I was speaking to a production lecturer and DJ at Soul Candi a few days ago, and we both agreed, you can make crap music and get away with it if you look great and are packaged well, but the converse is not true: you can make great music but you won't get away with it if you look like crap. I'm sure some people would disagree. I think you'd get away with it if you're already an established artist, but I think it's harder as an unknown.
Days to go: 319
Anyway, I did Tae Bo a couple of years ago with an instructor, and I really enjoyed it, so I thought I would give it a bash again, seeing that my bod is not looking as hot as it used to.
Image. I wonder if it really makes that big a difference. Mind you, I was speaking to a production lecturer and DJ at Soul Candi a few days ago, and we both agreed, you can make crap music and get away with it if you look great and are packaged well, but the converse is not true: you can make great music but you won't get away with it if you look like crap. I'm sure some people would disagree. I think you'd get away with it if you're already an established artist, but I think it's harder as an unknown.
Days to go: 319
Friday, March 5, 2010
Day 45: Body Talk
I went to see Beyers, my Body Talk dude, today. BT is a technique to get your organs to communicate with your brain so that your body can heal itself - in a nutshell.
Anyway, without me telling him, Beyers started prodding and pressing my body, and it told him that I am frustrated and unhappy that I am not fulfilling my music dreams. How spot on is that! But he also cautioned me to celebrate the victories. For example, my soul is not as out of whack as it used to be, thank goodness!
So yeah, this music dream is a work in progress. But it's true: it ain't going away, so I might as well deal with it.
Days to go: 320
Anyway, without me telling him, Beyers started prodding and pressing my body, and it told him that I am frustrated and unhappy that I am not fulfilling my music dreams. How spot on is that! But he also cautioned me to celebrate the victories. For example, my soul is not as out of whack as it used to be, thank goodness!
So yeah, this music dream is a work in progress. But it's true: it ain't going away, so I might as well deal with it.
Days to go: 320
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Day 44: Fortysomething
My sister turns 40 today in two weeks. I'm not that far behind, and with the Hollywood Size 0 mentality inculcating our perceptions of the world, it's easy to think that at 40 I'd be a has-been, or worse, a never-was. But I'm reminded of one of Tina Turner's backing singers, who was interviewed during a DVD about Tina's 60th birthday party.
This is what she said: "The music industry tends to think that if you're over 21, you're over the hill. Around 38, 40, that's when you really start singing, and everything before then has been a rehearsal." Wise woman.
Sting said something on the same DVD, and it seems appropriate to include it here, since I wrote about him yesterday: "As you get older you should get better. She's definitely one of those people - a role model for all of us." Wise man.
I'll be bringing out an album next year I'm calling Fortysomething. It'll tie in with a huge party I'm having for my birthday, which will double as an album launch. I couldn't think of a better way to live it up.
Days to go: 321
This is what she said: "The music industry tends to think that if you're over 21, you're over the hill. Around 38, 40, that's when you really start singing, and everything before then has been a rehearsal." Wise woman.
Sting said something on the same DVD, and it seems appropriate to include it here, since I wrote about him yesterday: "As you get older you should get better. She's definitely one of those people - a role model for all of us." Wise man.
I'll be bringing out an album next year I'm calling Fortysomething. It'll tie in with a huge party I'm having for my birthday, which will double as an album launch. I couldn't think of a better way to live it up.
Days to go: 321
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Day 43: The 4Ps
There's a friend of mine, Greg Brest, a South African actor based in LA. He said the next time I'm there I must come and stay with him and we can hang out and chat, and he can show me more of the town. I'm sure LA will be better the second time around, with friends.
Anyway, he said it's important to remember the 4Ps of the entertainment industry (and we're not talking old-school marketing here): Perseverance. Persistence. Patience. Passion. That's great advice, because as passionate as he feels about acting, that's how I feel about singing and music.
A producer I worked with showed me a scene of Jay-Z and co. working on looking for beats for a song. They spent the whole day looking and came up with nothing. Jay-Z had this to say: "Only two things will get you through this - patience and persistence." Hey man, that's how he got the girl. I totally respect that.
Sting has this to say: "It takes a certain kind of discipline, a certain kind of mentality not just to rest on your laurels, but actually to get better at your craft." What a great musician.
Days to go: 322
Anyway, he said it's important to remember the 4Ps of the entertainment industry (and we're not talking old-school marketing here): Perseverance. Persistence. Patience. Passion. That's great advice, because as passionate as he feels about acting, that's how I feel about singing and music.
A producer I worked with showed me a scene of Jay-Z and co. working on looking for beats for a song. They spent the whole day looking and came up with nothing. Jay-Z had this to say: "Only two things will get you through this - patience and persistence." Hey man, that's how he got the girl. I totally respect that.
Sting has this to say: "It takes a certain kind of discipline, a certain kind of mentality not just to rest on your laurels, but actually to get better at your craft." What a great musician.
Days to go: 322
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Day 42: Tuna
I'm making myself a tuna mayo sandwich. I've been lusting after one all week. I do feel sorry for the tuna, and I'm concerned about dolphin-friendly tuna, but I'm not sure I could do the vegetarian thing. I love spinach and feta and eggs and potato and cheese, so I might manage. We have dogs and cats, though - they will always be carnivorous!
Maybe I should write an album about food and promote it together with a cookbook, or something like Great British Menu or Master Chef. If you think about it, this here blog was inspired by food (one of my vices in life). Loved Julie & Julia - such a cool flick.
What would the songs be? Leek Limerick? I kissed a carrot and I liked it? Okay, this is just getting stupid.
Days to go: 323
Maybe I should write an album about food and promote it together with a cookbook, or something like Great British Menu or Master Chef. If you think about it, this here blog was inspired by food (one of my vices in life). Loved Julie & Julia - such a cool flick.
What would the songs be? Leek Limerick? I kissed a carrot and I liked it? Okay, this is just getting stupid.
Days to go: 323
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day 41: Why I LOVE Rudy!!!!
It's no secret that my favourite movie of all time is Rudy - I'm so inspired by the man's life. Finally listened to my yen for the beach and went away for the weekend, on a slow train to Durban, so I had a lot of time to think and read... I re-read Rudy's book, and it reminded me to never give up on my dream.
So, the truth is, even if I have to wait till I'm 83 to release that album and win that Grammy, as Rudy says, there is no time limit on dreams - just stop making excuses and go live the purpose - and never give up till you get there.
Well, let me reiterate then, and strengthen my resolve: I will not stop until I have made as much music as I possibly can, and have done everything in my power to make it the best music I can make, that the world believes is genius.
And I will never, ever, ever, ever quit. And then even if I don't get that Grammy - and I truly believe that I will - I will have no regret - the name of my new song.
Days to go: 324
So, the truth is, even if I have to wait till I'm 83 to release that album and win that Grammy, as Rudy says, there is no time limit on dreams - just stop making excuses and go live the purpose - and never give up till you get there.
Well, let me reiterate then, and strengthen my resolve: I will not stop until I have made as much music as I possibly can, and have done everything in my power to make it the best music I can make, that the world believes is genius.
And I will never, ever, ever, ever quit. And then even if I don't get that Grammy - and I truly believe that I will - I will have no regret - the name of my new song.
Days to go: 324
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