A New City, A New Life, A New Beginning

More and more, I find that I've become obsessed with new experiences.  I thrust myself into unexpected situations, and search for the outcomes that would further my artistic expression.  From the time I first began listening to music (I suppose I mean once I began immersing myself in the music I owned, and dedicated a good 4 or more hours of my day doing so), I always found myself setting my cd player and/or iPod on random - a practice that ensured that I very rarely experienced the same song twice in the same day.  This always forced me to listen to the tracks that would otherwise go unnoticed if I were only picking the tracks I recognized and adored.  This is a practice that I still abide by today.

However, as recent conversations have forced me to analyze, I seem to thrive on the same course of action in life, in order to consistently challenge myself and to avoid, as much as possible, any sort of stagnation in my day-to-day... and now I live here in L.A.  A world so unlike the places that I've come to understand; a place full of randomness and variable possibility.  I've come to further a dream I've had for years, a dream that now seems somewhat unoriginal, given the exchanges that I've had with the locals.  Everyone here wants to be a rockstar, wants to be famous, wants to be rich.  Although it may be disheartening to hear countless self-appointed "musicians" ramble on about their failures to succeed in such an over-saturated market, I am undeterred.  I am here for a reason: I've willed it.  No one can take away an ideal - ideals and dreams are the only things that we have that cannot be tainted or tarnished by the outside world, unless we so choose them to be.

On the contrary: how wonderful it is to learn from those that have talent and drive and a future!  How stirring to be involved with greater musicians - greater people!  I recently stayed with my cousin and his band, Los Burbanks, who were staying with another talented group named Velorio... and what an experience it was to hang around truly talented and inspired artists.  It seems I learn something new every time Jay invites me to go see one of his shows.

 

I was discussing different creative approaches with Eric, and an idea dawned on me that has captured my fancy, at least for the moment: record a live jam session with each instrument recording separately, and then proceed to cut and splice those individual tracks to create something organic yet electronic - a sort of IDM-influenced live jazz-rock sound.  Hmmm... just something to ponder.

I've waited for what seems a lifetime for school to start, and finally, I am watching the wave begin to crest.  I start in a little less than a week, and I'm champing at the proverbial bit, biding my time until I can spring up and surprise a listener with something new and fresh (and so clean..... clean).  I have 9 months to utilize the information, the guidance, and the gear that will be bestowed upon me to create the first of what will hopefully be a long line of aural masterpieces.

Respect,

B.