Daryl, Craig, Jay, Ness, Sandy, John, Dermot, Willem and Ron,
Thanks so much for all of your generous feedback. Words are failing me at the moment. But, please know that I've loved reading each and every one of your comments.
Sandy - as far as David and I are concerned, you've already paid for your copy of the album through the love and support you've shown us both while we've developed this album of songs. I've sent you an invitation to the Dropbox folder. You can view it and you should be able to download all of the songs. You may need to register or download the Dropbox app if you don't have it. If you have any troubles let me know.
Willem - what did I learn?....So many things... But here's some that come to mind:
- collaborating with someone (especially if they're as sweet and talented as David) is wonderful. I already knew that of course. But, David and I have been working together so much that it's really become apparent to me just how important it is, especially for me. David has picked me up when I've been doubting my own abilities, helped me to filter out the stuff that didn't work very well, allowed me to try new things that were a bit crazy with good humour and a sense of adventure and more. I think most people would have laughed their head off if I'd told them I might try doing a rap song.
he might have been secretly laughing himself silly, but he went with it anyway.
it's been fun just being stupid with someone too.
- continuing the collaboration theme - I've learned that it's much easier to build on something than start from scratch; David is a song-writing machine.
I think he may dream them too.
and once there is a backbone, it's much easier and heaps of fun filling out the song. In a way, the challenges have been like that too; having some parameters to work to can help in a crazy way as it focuses your thinking.
- I'm limited by my own insecurities; there are so many ways in which I wish I was more .... skilled, talented, informed, a better muso. Maybe top of the list is that I wish I could sing better. I cringe a little when I listen to some of the songs... But, I know on the whole I'm getting better and I'm trying to just put myself out there even though I'm not the singer I'd like to be .... yet.
David has given me heaps of 'therapy' on the subject as has Ness. I love them both dearly for it.
- I've learned that I often approach songwriting .... upside down, and that's OK. I often start with a melody or a bass-line with no idea what the progression is. I (sometimes with David's help) then need to find a progression that works. I had to do that for at least a couple of the songs that I started; Perception, Mr Teflon, Low Road Blues.
- I've learned a bit more about different genres because I wanted to produce a specific type of sound; a little bit more about the blues for example.
- I've learned that I want to improve my skills in a bunch of areas; playing guitar, bass, piano, singing; how to record good quality sound; how to do audio engineering in a way that produces better sounding tracks; lots of other technical stuff, music generally.
- I've learned that I don't know what I can do until I try; I've surprised myself a couple of times by what I've been able to achieve. Sometimes it took many attempts to get a result I liked but that's OK. It doesn't always feel good in truth, but it's been great getting past the "I suck at that" barrier on a couple of things.
- I learned that I LOVE the creative process of writing songs with someone who is equally as passionate about that whole thing.
- inspiration can come from anywhere; Perception started from a few rhyming words that then became the chorus.
And I've learned I can survive on too little sleep for a while but it eventually catches up with me.
One last thing, you have to find your own motivation. In reality this album has been as much work as it's been fun. But it's definitely been worth it.
I'd like to echo David sentiment too. Neil's song-writing challenges absolutely kicked off this song-writing adventure. That's one of the many reasons we've put him on the back cover of the album.
Thanks Neil!
Shel
