inspirations, idle thoughts and other distractions

ever wonder why you see the trailer or preview of a movie, often a huge mega-blockbuster movie and the date that appears at the end is like 100 years from now? if it’s even a date at all. usually it’s some vague mention of a season like “Summer 2023” and you’re like… what the…? why so far away? well, that’s often how it goes with new music. people always want to know “when’s the new record coming out?” and you have to somehow explain roughly when and WHY THEN as opposed to say maybe, oh I don’t know… YESTERDAY?? we get so impatient when we want to see something or hear something we’ve been anticipating. so much so that it’s almost impossible to begin to understand what all goes into it and why things take so long to manifest. 

much like the feeling I’ll get after watching a trailer for the new Star Wars movie, it feels like I might explode if I have to wait any longer before I can share my new music with people. that being said, it’s only because I am the closest person to the process that I am able to somehow breathe through it all and trust that it really does take the time that it takes, and for good reason. there’s quite a bit of planning that goes into getting a project it’s proper ‘day in the sun’ if you will. if there’s any kind of real expectations for the project to succeed, you have to sort of trust in the process. and ironically, when things do begin to unfold, they do so very quickly. like today, I’m en route to LA to spend a couple days shooting a music video for the first single and take some pictures for the new record’s artwork. these are real shoots with real artists, crews, call sheets and so on. (oh to be an artist with a budget! even a modest one. just fine.) there’s an actual deadline now for the release of the single and the subsequent release of the rest of the project. there’s a radio team assembled. there’s a publicist with press releases at the ready. there’s an agent booking shows and a manager drumming up additional marketing opportunities. a band rehearsing for a promotional tour and a social media network a buzz with what’s to come. all of this takes a minute. more than a minute. I can only imagine how many minutes J.J. Abrams will need to dial in the return of C3PO and R2D2, Luke and Lea. 

at some point though, after all the waiting, the prep time, the pacing back-and-forth, back-and-forth, there’s invariably a moment when, if we’re lucky, we find ourselves honestly present, aware that it’s actually HAPPENING! like AS it’s happening. a true real-time experience when we forget about the anticipation, we forget just how long we actually waited, how long the line was when we got in it. when the previews are over and first few notes of that famous John Williams score belt across the galaxy and the yellow, angular words begin to scroll up and yes far, far away…  

or, in this case, when you go to iTunes and you’re finally able to click on the “buy” tab and begin the download. that’s a pretty awesome moment. for me, right now, I have a call time for a music video shoot. this too, is an awesome moment. it’s happening, folks. it’s really happening. 

just finished reading the latest issue of Rolling Stone. the one with Louis C.K. on the cover? really great interview. it’s interesting how intrigued I’ve become with the craft of stand-up comedy. it really is an exceptional art form. especially in the hands of masters like Louis C.K. I find the process so interesting. not just getting up in front of a crowd and making them laugh but all of it: the development, the creative process, the honing of bits, the timing of delivery, the give and take with an audience. maybe it’s because so much of it falls right in line with being a touring singer/songwriter or troubadour. especially as a solo artist. lately I’ve really enjoyed telling stories to set up my songs during my shows. to be honest, it feels like since having been on the Voice people are a little more prone to listening to the storytelling. makes sense I guess. who knows, maybe my stories weren’t all that great before. maybe folks are listening a little closer these days because, much like any great comedian’s work, it’s taken time for not only my stories to mature but for me to settle into a stage presence that warrants closer attention, an ability to tell the stories that keep the audience involved, engaged. 

reading the interview I was struck by just how informed Louis C.K.’s observations are. he talks about how every great artists’ tools are developed during hard times. that to struggle is to learn. that to honestly strive to improve is the only way to experience true success. he had a great quote that I actually tweeted shortly after reading it:

“The worst thing happening to this generation is that they’re taking discomfort away from themselves.”

it sounds a bit critical out of context but what I think he was getting at is that with all the modern distractions at everyone’s disposal, it has become increasingly easier to simply avoid the uncomfortable, to choose to NOT be present during hard times. like a form of social or collective escapism. I should mention that he was as well referring to those who seek a more meteoric rise to fame. those that would rather forgo the bad reviews, the shows that bomb, the creative blocks that ensue when artists push themselves to new heights. it’s all got to happen. it’s all part of the process. maybe it’s because I can honestly say that I’ve been at my craft for about as long as C.K. has been at his that I find his words to be so inspiring, his insight so familiar and his work so important and relevant now. I can only hope others might find mine to be that same. 

I find myself scanning through the headlines, occasionally catching a glimpse of the latest news coverage of the bombings in Boston and as instantly emotional as it is, sadly I find myself lost in a fog that somehow keeps me from truly connecting to the pain and grief that those impacted must be feeling. I mean all you have to do is listen to any one of the countless eye-witness accounts of what happened, or listen to the police chief or any of the trauma surgeons as they give their daily briefings on new developments, to fully understand just how devastating these events have been. 

how do we relate to those suffering such unthinkable pain and grief if we’ve not ever endured the same? how do we cast judgment on the seemingly endless coverage of such horrible events if we’ve never been left with so few answers to so many questions? how are we not somehow caused to sympathize for those who have suffered similar hardship in the wake of senseless destruction, death and despair? the events in Boston have had such a powerful effect on us as a nation. and although the news media tends to over-sensationalize events like these, the coverage still somehow allows us to feel connected to not only the people of Boston but to the rest of the country. our pride as citizens of the cities we live in is rivaled only by our pride in America itself. I suppose that when we say “we are all Boston” it serves as both a sign of unity though as well, a sobering reminder that on any given day, anyone of us could suffer a similar fate. 

as we pray and sympathize with one another through the aftermath of this unimaginable tragedy, maybe we can also take time to imagine ourselves in the shoes of those even beyond our shores, the poor citizens of cities and countries crippled by years and decades of war and strife, the likes of which the folks of Boston need not look too far to fully comprehend. as our pride of country supersedes our pride of city, so might our pride as humans transcend our differences as nations. 

peace and praise,

-TL

it’s really cool when you perceive things a certain way only to realize that they were, in fact, exactly as you had perceived them. working with Adam Levine on the Voice was like nothing else. in a few short weeks, we managed to get to know one another in a very constructive and creative way. but to see him go so far to prove that he is indeed a man of his word by not only signing me to his 222 Records record label but also inviting me to share the stage with him and the rest of Maroon 5 this summer, is something altogether unimaginable. this is going to be truly unforgettable.

http://maroon5.com

been busy working on the new record so I haven’t had as much time for blogging as I I’d like. actually, that’s not true. I’ve probably had more than enough ‘time’. it’s more like I’ve just not been in the right headspace for journaling much or pontificating on such things as inspiration, dreams and war, or even peace for that matter. making records is a very strange pursuit. making something out of nothing. having something to say that others need to hear. keeping it viable. making sure it speaks to both your inner wisdom and the world at large. this is the first time I set out to make a record entirely from scratch. by that I mean I decided to write all new songs as opposed to going into the studio with a bunch of songs that maybe represent a particular period of time, inspired by a transition or experience, possibly a season or two. it was an interesting challenge figuring out what to write about. though I’m now happily married with kids and can easily reflect on those sentiments, (ok, we’ll call it ‘gushing’) I’ve also been through quite a bit in my fairly short lifetime and have so many different memories and emotions to draw upon, that I figured why not incorporate some of those elements too. as well, I’ve become a rather curious observer over the years and have taken to living vicariously through others, if only for a song, a chorus, a verse, a mere line, one at a time. it all adds up and makes for an interesting melting pot of images, stories, melody and song. 

as you embark upon the writing cycle, you slowly begin to amass an eclectic array of demos. these are the earliest recordings of a song, be it on your iPhone or hand recorder or often times you’ll write with people who fancy themselves producers and luck out, maybe get a full-blown recording of the song that seems nothing shy of ‘radio-ready’. ultimately though, you have to get them all to fit on the same record so getting too heavily invested in any one direction can make things a bit difficult later in the process when your forced to surrender elements from the demos that don’t entirely work with the rest of the material. (they call this “demo-itus.” for real. they do.) basically, making records based on demos is like taking a house, leveling it to the ground then rebuilding it using the same blueprint, albeit with entirely different materials, making slight changes to the floor plan as you go. in some cases you simply decide the house just isn’t big enough and could use a string arrangement and some background singers, horns and of course, “more cowbell!!” it can be nerve-racking. it can be disheartening at times. at the same time, it can be the perfect excuse to fall in love with your music all over again. you break the songs down to their bare essentials and trust that no matter what happens, the initial spirit and intention are still in tact. hopefully, the path becomes clear and the people you’ve entrusted to help you succeed are honest and capable, discerning and well-intentioned. fortunately for me, I seem to have found those very people. or maybe they found me. who knows. it all seems to have a ‘meant-to-be’  feel to it. I’m realizing just how much growth has occurred in my 15 or so years of making records and somehow it’s strangely humbling. it feels good to hand the reigns over to those more capable, to trust the process, to do my part in the collaboration. suffice it to say, I’m beyond eager to get this stuff out for others to hear, to get back on the road putting these songs on their feet, watching them take on a life of their own. talk about a proud parent. haha!

I had the pleasure of sitting in on a very cool session this week. a friend of mine is producing a record for these 3 sisters, ages 11, 10 and 9. they sound like a cross between Green Day and the Go Gos. unreal. it’s one thing for kids to want to play at that age. it’s another thing to have such a clear grasp of an instrument. hell, a clear grasp of ANYTHING at that age. you can only imagine how naturally cool and fun these girls really are. the best part was watching my friend commandeer the session while keeping the girls both on their toes and equally at ease. I couldn’t help but think back to my early days of falling in Love with music, so hard and so fast and with no concept of the world around me. I was joking recently with a cousin of mine who I grew up with, playing in numerous bands together as kids. we realized that back then, aside from the fact that we didn’t have internet or even cell phones, all we had was homework and music. (girlfriends came later, fortunately.) but regardless, the amount of growth in the first 4 or 5 years of playing is astounding! especially at that age when your brain is just beyond malleable. you can cram so much information into it and let everything else build from there. it’s always cool to look back and say ‘wow, I’ve been playing for almost 30 years!’ but to sit down and witness a new generation of passionate musicians take the field, knowing that they too will one day think back to this time and realize just how remarkable their lives have been, it’s quite emotional, actually. inspiring to say the least. recalling a time when all I wanted to do was sit in my room and play the guitar or sit at the piano and fast forward and rewind cassette tapes trying to figure out the chords and lyrics to my favorite songs, to think about how much life has transpired, how busy things can get as we get older, how much more important life can seem, and how far and away you can get from that place of innocence and purity, discipline and joy. it’s almost overwhelming. 

“we are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams…” - A. O’Shaughnessy

me and my band at sound check. Highland, MI. 1989

the war is now. very interesting. amazing how 4 little words can inspire an endless array of thoughts and images, feelings and befuddlement. (that’s right. I said befuddlement. it’s a doozie. look it up.) not to mention the adjacent Muppet-meets-Mouse image next to it. it stopped me dead in my tracks and caused me to take a picture. I thought it might inspire an interesting blog. let’s see.

obviously, you see the word “war,” spray painted no less, and it usually reads: “protest.” but without a verb before or after it, it kind of just sits there, motionless, offering itself for us to ponder. the word “the” also kind of stirs the ambiguous pot a bit. it instantaneously bridges the gap between the physical and the metaphorical. one might be forced to realize that our country is still very much in a war in Afghanistan that has been on-going now for over 10 years. maybe it’s a reminder of some of the other senseless and endless wars our country has waged in years past like the “war on drugs” or the “war on poverty.” these wars are very much still unfolding now, that is should anyone give them credence enough to be considered wars. I actually chuckled when I thought about the course of antibiotics I’m currently on and quietly whispered to the bacteria and pathogens wreaking havoc on my sinuses and respiratory system that in fact “the war is NOW!!!” 

and on and on the fog of war stayed with me throughout the day. I thought about Sun Tzu’s famous book, The Art Of War and how as a teenager it seemed like the greatest demonstration of irony possible. Art and War? in the same sentence? was this some pretentious proclamation from Andy Warhol written under a Chinese alias? of course it wasn’t long before I came to understand the profoundly rich principles inherent in Tzu’s writings. (he WAS after all, a high-ranking military general, strategist and tactician.) he gave us such gems as:

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

“All warfare is based on deception.” and lest the folks in Washington forget:

“There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged fighting.”

then I had a funny thought. it actually caused me to do a double take. did the spray paint read: “the war is now” or “the war is won”? again, the power of little words. 

but before my existentialist roots had me shackled to the sidewalk any longer, I couldn’t help but draw some kind of correlation between the phrase and the childish image next to it. it looked to me like a hybrid image of Kermit The Frog and Mickey (the) Mouse. not one against the other, but one as the same. is this some kind of anti-establishment, anti-consumer statement being made here? some type of protest to the homogenization of our cultural fabric? that once everything is acquired, merged and absorbed that in fact the war will be over? that in light of all the bloodshed, senseless killing, and loss of life in the name of ‘freedom’, that the war we should really be concerned with is being fought on the backs of Kermit and Mickey, in an effort to merely maintain autonomy?? I know! let’s call it the “war on individualism!” the iWar. full of apps and push notifications. unlimited data plans and rollover minutes. God forbid we all fight for something much bigger than ourselves. #AintNobodyGotTimeForDat! 

and on that note… stay tuned for the next installment of “add your own caption” with Tony Lucca. may we all fight the battles we are called to and may anything truly worth fighting for be of a war worth winning. 

blessings and praise,

-TL