(Me) (Geminid Meteor Shower) (Resemblance?)
As I predicated earlier, 2012 is already shaping up to be a most interesting and magical year so far (though not without a need for some tenacity, intention and effort). First, I have some announcements concerning shows: First, I am playing at set at Culturefix this Sunday at 9:30. I am also extremely excited to tell you all that I will be playing at Rockwood Music Hall on February 18th at 3 PM! Rockwood Music Hall is wonderful place to play, complete with a stage, piano, cool environment, and great lighting. I've wanted to play over there for a while and I'm glad I finally have a chance. It's right in the heart of the downtown corridor in the LES (off Houston Street) and they even have a little rope and carpet in front of the entrance.
(New Song- Check post below to listen)
And I have other developments, but more on an artistic level. Recently, I have been thinking about integrating some spoken word into my sets. At this point, I am trying to just flesh out the details of a larger vision for my music- something bolder, grander, more theatrical. A show that can properly suspend reality to enlarge the possibilities for storytelling and expression. For a newer song of mine, called "In the Floodlights," I added this spoken intro to set the scene that transpires in the song:
"There was a time we used to meet out back in the floodlights, and we’d wait for each other when there was nowhere else for us to go. Past the clothes lines, the ghostly light of unwatched TV’s,, and the din of cars from the road, we’d find each other there. Our breaths fall upon each other in silence, and pointed towards those parts of ourselves that we wanted to share but couldn’t say. Before we found words, there was an unborn understanding. And we’d faithfully dip into the wilderness of our dreaming, away from the noise and glare of those scenes where appearance and preconceived notions were everything. But here, everything was silently understood. When we stood in the floodlights we had a place to ourselves, a world rendered by our wishes, dreams, and preoccupations. In the surrounding darkness were misunderstandings, the wind was our journey, and the light was our truth.
And so tonight, our constellations are falling And tonight no one but me is calling. So meet me there away from the scene, Hold me close and have mercy on me."
For me, songwriting is a vessel and vehicle of an an earlier interest of mine, which was poetry. At this point, I want to bring to life a more comprehensive show complete with songs, storytelling, spoken interludes, some stage design, more musicians, video, and maybe some dance? I feel like now, we are in a time of which the suspension of reality is more palpable than ever, and we are learning the ability for all of us to sort of create our own reality and energy, for better or for worse. I think the time is ripe for music, theater, and dreams and in general. This all may sounds like a lot to bring together, but little by little I shall. For now, the songs and the music itself is more than enough.
Speaking of dreams, I have had some powerful dreams recently. I had one dream in particular last night which was so strong, it recalled other dreams, and the locations of these former dreams in my own dreamworld (yes, I have these strange fantasy locations that I return to over and over again). I'd rather not try to describe the whole dream, but, in short, I started writing lyrics to one of my new songs, and I felt like these words were being dictated to me from a purer plane in this dream. All these people (from all parts of my life) were saying words to me for this particular song, line by line, or in little pieces, sometimes suggesting a line with mere looks. Somehow the dream seemed to signify to me something triumphant, and reaffirmed my purpose as a musician and songwriter. This was a dream so intense I don't think I'll ever forget it. And I think the barrier between these dreams and reality is thinner now than ever. They are bleeding into one another, and we all have a greater understanding of how work between these different planes of consciousness. After so much disembodiment, I think we want these deeper layers of awareness. And so we shall.
Forever, (friends suggested I use this tag- we really won't last forever......or shall we?)
Eric Contractor