In many ways it is difficult to believe I am in my sixties. While some of the energy and physical abilities are not what they used to be, the drive, passion and beauty in my life still motivate and push me forward everyday. There is always something new, grand and amazing to learn or experience.
I have reached another time and point of reflection. Early February of 2015 my daughter Alisa and I discussed starting a blog. She had an idea powered by an amazing sense of urgency. She wanted me to not only give more people the opportunity to hear the songs I have written and recorded over the years – songs she had grown up with, went to sleep with, woke up with and watched as the final versions became etched in what ever media was available at the time – she was firmly committed that I should also tell ‘my story’. She insisted (over and over) that I have had a fascinating life and wonderful experiences that people would enjoy and even learn from.
I don’t feel special, exceptional or – I hate to use the word worthy, but it does fit here – though I have known and attracted so many amazing people and been very lucky to have been involved with them to become a focal point in their lives.
I was not sure what the benefit was and frankly I – as I often do – found it difficult to believe others would be interested in the realization of dreams, struggles and successes I managed to accomplish over the many years. I knew how much the people and music meant to me, of that I had no doubt and never down-played. I could talk about them for hours. It was the subject of promoting myself that was always alien territory for me. I just never considered going there.
She did not give in. She refused to give up. She did not accept my cavalier attitude when talking about my work. She also saw me as a person who played by the rules – sometimes to a fault – and saw the limited acknowledgement and success I had achieved while others became famous by using ‘tactics’ that were not even in my personal vocabulary. Her design was to use my vocabulary. To ‘play the game’ on my terms, to reach out to an audience without standing on a drowning man’s shoulders to get above the water.
That month; February 2015, I surrendered. We launched the MIDIMike blog. I wrote articles and ideas for posts. She pushed and pushed to make sure I shared my stories and the feelings experienced for them. She worked hard to set up the blog site, reach out to other bloggers, schedule releases of songs and so much more. In fact, reading this article she will probably say “you are doing it again!”. She would point out this is not about her, but about my work and my life, which are so often one in the same. Old habits and all that LOL.
I was not sure if this would survive three months but I was determined to put in at least as much effort into the blog as she did. I was not going to be the reason if it did not match her goals and plan. If it lasted six months we could say we gave it a great effort.
The first anniversary for MIDIMike came this month. I look at the articles posted, the comments from followers, the amazing relationships and shear talent of this community and wonder how I could find anything more ‘worthy’. I have learned so much from so many of you it is difficult to thank each of you individually, but I am sure you are aware that I try very hard to do so. I do not take your selfless time, effort and caring for granted.
You have allowed me to share past events and the emotions experienced during those and current events. From deaths of loved ones, creation of new songs and old ones, tragedies, fires and life changing events friends have been faced to new poetry, ancient videos and my recent unemployment late in life. It has been an amazing year.
On this anniversary, I am also aware of your support. Your kindness. I am only driven harder than Alisa could drive me, if you can believe that is possible! I will continue. Not only with MIDIMike and our community but with more of the music behind everything I do. Your comments have inspired me to bring more of these gems out of deep storage, or to take unfinished works out of the closet and record them.
To take your advice and to thank you again for so much, I am releasing a new EP on this first anniversary. “Before The Chase“ is now available on iTunes and CD Baby. A new song along with new/updated recordings are on this first release. I promise you there will be more and I will continue to share the stories behind them with followers of this blog, and I guarantee to listen to and be guided by your comments.
Like so many talented musicians and artists we do not start out thinking ‘this is a great career path’ and we will be rich making popular songs. We start because we feel it and enjoy what we do. The truth is probably closer to reality – we do not become rich until someone else realizes they can make money from those talented people and their works.
So much in one year. Totally appreciated.
Before The Chase on iTunes
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Going With the Flow This is a calming piece based on the string sounds from one of the plug-ins on my recording software program. Sometimes a new sound or new toy can inspire themes, songs and projects. This is one of those situations where I am listening to new sounds and noodling on the keyboard to hear the new tones and to see how the patch responds to the keyboard and controllers. As I was listening to the new sounds, I enjoyed the string sound I was playing with and started recording the noodling I was doing. I played for about five or six minutes and stopped recording to listen back.
