Developing A Sound

A common question the last few days as the artist-manager pairing process has been taking place has been what my goals are for the semester. What do I want out of the program? It's been harder to answer than you might think.

I'm not sure that I'm necessarily here to kick-start a career.
I don't know that I want music to be my career. I mean, if things head that way, great. But if they don't, that's okay because I'm content doing music as my hobby and passion. I was talking with a friend here the other night and he said that the appeal of fame for him isn't about money, status or being known, but simply the recognition of passion. I think that is true for me too. I just want people to know I'm passionate about music--my close friends, the ones who really matter, can know that without me having a big career in music.

I want to be a good songwriter.
I want to know why a certain spot in my song sucks, and how to fix it. I want to write good songs because writing songs is how I say the things I can't actually say. It's how I process. And I want it to be good. I don't need to write good songs because I'm all about sharing them with the world, I need to write good songs because I'm all about finding the best way to export all that takes place in my heart and mind.

I want to find "my sound".
My music has always just been my voice and the piano parts I write. But that's not a style or a sound--it's a scratch, the beginnings. I'm so stinkin' excited to be getting a band together and playing and letting us all collaborate to find what works best. Currently, I'm thinking of something edgy/rock/Evanescense-Amy Lee oriented. And I'm stoked about it.

Rehearsals for CMC Live shows start this weekend. I'm finding my niche of people--and it's a good one, I feel good friendships forming--people I feel comfortable around which is nice. Side note--Nashville gets 1/2" of snow and everyone freaks out. Lame. And--they ran out of salt so the road by my apartment isn't salted...just nice and icy and on a hill. Awesome.

I've met some incredible people and been to some unbelieveable places--like Blackbird Studios (the best studio in the world) and Emac studios, Reggie Hamm, Jason Halpbert, Nathan Lee...it just goes on and on and on...

Well. That's all there is for now.