The world of normal went bye-bye a while ago. And for indie musicians, the process of making music keeps getting more brutal; touring is in the realm of fairytales, and with the death of Net Neutrality, the web is nothing more than exploitation. And yet, we persist, mainly because we have to and secondly because we want to. It's not the music that drives me crazy; it's the industry.
Songwriting is a craft that is not purely based on skill, as I swear some songs sweep down from the heavens, fully formed as Something Like Jesus did. My job was not so much to write it as to transcribe it. I remember the moment like it was yesterday: Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Music is Life.
Speak Your Truth
Something Like Jesus is streaming live now on Bandcamp & all the other rip-off streaming sites.
OK - here we go; finally, the demo sessions have begun. Life for me has finally taken a positive turn toward stability (lol), giving me the space to get things done. I laugh because "stability" for a broke-ass independent musician like myself would probably make most non-creative people winch. But for me, I don't need much - but I do need to feel safe at home and a good part of my life; that just hasn't been the case. So the struggles I face aren't just creative; they are fundamental. But that's also why making music brings me so much joy - but there is no freedom without struggle. 
But damn, it sure does feel like a trend. If you are one of my ardent supporters (whom I cherish dearly), I'm sure you've wondered what is going on in CrushedVelvetland these days. Postponed and failed live streams, delayed postings, and the like; things may seem dire from outside the process. But to be honest, it's just the bullshit everyone goes through when they are on a journey of change. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy; is the mantra that continuously courses through my mind. And while the hits and potholes keep coming, the beat goes on.
First up on CrushedVelvet's 
Every great hit started as a Demo because no song is real until you lay it down. Like every writer I know, I travel with a couple of things: various forms of writing implements, a ridiculous amount of notebooks, and an mp3 recorder as one never knows how or when inspiration may hit. In my old studio back in Seattle, I had 3-foot post-it notes with lyrics hung on the walls as songwriting is as visual as it is auditory for me. Just walking into that room got my creative juices flowing instantly. And getting a good demo is worth every bit of pain that goes into the process. And let me tell you, there's plenty of pain to go around when you're making music. 
We are the sum of our experiences. Change one incident along the way, and you'd be a different person. And while hindsight is 20/20, life is always best lived in the moment. I'm not saying to throw caution to the wind, but tomorrow comes from what you're doing for today. As the grind of Covid persists, it's even more critical to be present in your life and make peace with your past.