We spent yesterday writing and jamming at an unforgiving and frantic pace leaving myself, Anthony, Farshad and Sherry in a total state of drained bewilderment. We’re recovering tonight with incredible homecooked meals and more writing and jamming.
I’m preparing myself to live as authentically as possible in 2010. I’ve already been a victim of gangsta shit (robbery) and minor emotional distress – but I’ve heard that it’s at your personal breaking point where you gotta work harder than you ever thought possible to achieve your dreams…
Have you ever heard of the 10,000 Hour Rule?
It was made famous by this dude named Malcolm Gladwell who released an informative and dope book called Outliers. In it, he specifically alluded that the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing that specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours.
Sounds boring right ?
But what if you practiced without even knowing….like it was the very essence of who you were and you knew you just had to do it anywayz.
What if you were so passionate, 10 0000 Hours wouldn’t even be enough to satisfy your cravings for it?
When I was a kid, I used to think that huge drum kits were the way to go. How could you go wrong with 4 kick drums!? Then, my first (and only) drum teacher let me in on a secret. Any drummer who spends that much time playing toms and cymbals is probably a pretentious self indulgent dick wad. His view was that really dope drummers only need a kick/snare/hi-hat to kill it.
Although I was skeptical at first, I realized in time that he was kinda right. Then for some reason, I began to find really big drums sets kind of comical.
Like this one:
Like, I’m pretty sure if the song has room for that many toms, it’s because the rest of the band stopped playing at some point because they got sick of the drummer doing fills. How do you even REACH the cymbals!?!?
And this guy just looks like a dick….
Plus, why would you wanna be in a band where it’s gonna take over an hour just to set up the DRUMS?
Don’t get me wrong - at some point I WILL record a self indulgent cheesy prog rock record for fun. My drum kit will probably look like the ones in the photo, and I will probably have over the top tom fills and ridiculous double kick patterns…..BUT IT WILL ALL BE A JOKE!
<Click for Tuesdays Song>
I don’t know about you….but this song could use more toms….(or cowbell)
Sometimes things happen in your life that have the power to stop you in your tracks (AKA smack ya upside tha head AKA deter you from your mission AKA ruin everything).
Last week, after an incredible two day music bender with our super friend Sherry St Germain, my bag was stolen outside of our studio. It contained my laptop/HD camcorder/digital camera/life.
When I discovered this had happened, things went into slow-mo.
4 REAL – Just about had a nervous breakdown.
The next couple days were spent in a haze of self pity and depression. Try to understand…..I had mapped the next 6 months out! Many things I had planned were now foiled. This COULDN’T have happened.
To make matters worse, the police couldn’t do anything because I’m a moron and I didn’t write down any of the serial numbers for my equipment, therefore diminishing my chances of having them find it. They probably have better things to do anywayz…..
ALRIGHT ENOUGH!
I’m not asking for your pity, or trying to garner a sympathy vote. Just know that I lost some DOPE footage and a couple incredible sessions with new music I’ve been working on.
BLESSING IN DISGUISE – Last week my hard drive temporarily failed causing me to back up my laptop in fear. So almost everything else was saved!
COINCIDENCE? I think not!
So know this – I’ve just arrived from a dark place that’s becoming brighter due to my eternal optimism…Now, all I can do is use this experience as a jet pack to boost up to the next level. Whoever stole my belongings has bad karma now anyway, so no more worrying.
I’m staying positive and I won’t give up! – This just fuels my ambitions even more!
If you ever actually read this blog, you’ll notice that the last week was a botched attempt at making consistent posts everyday while surviving a whirlwind of activity. I just wanna get everything done before Christmas.
(what do you hope to get?)
This is when I take a cue from Prince, and thangs get COOL.
Don’t expect an explanation.
I just want anyone who happens to be stressed out/emotionally distraught/hyperactive/unsure/anxious/pessimistic/blahblahblah/discouraged/hopeless/morose/glum/bleak/dejected/sad the opportunity to get down tonight – TO THIS.
