Unemployment And Me

I've been without a job for officially two weeks now. I can't even begin to tell you how strange this is...but I will try.

The last time I was without a job was 7 years ago. Oddly enough it was also in the month of November. I had left the receptionist job I was working at for 4 years because I just couldn't take it anymore. Being a receptionist is shockingly draining. Maybe it makes me sound like a lazy person, but have you ever been a receptionist? Try answering a phone that never stops ringing for 8 hours a day for 4 years. It is enough to drive a person mad. That was all I did. I answered the phones and directed calls. It made my brain turn to mush. That constant beeping of the phone "ring" seeped its way into my dreams. I couldn't answer my own phone without saying the name of the company I worked for. And to this day I still hate talking on the phone. I am so happy texting is a thing.

You can see the murder in her eyes.

Now I find myself unemployed and not by my choosing. I was not prepared to not have a job. I was not prepared for my routine to go away. I now find myself constantly trying to just do something and failing. I'm trying to fill the void of working by mimicking a work day here at home, and it's just not happening. It's like trying to quit smoking. You find yourself chewing on pencils and sucking on lollipops and it's just not the same. You just want a damn cigarette. I just want to go to work. I know that sounds strange. But there is a lot more that goes into work than just work. And I miss all that.

As with everything, there are pros and cons to not having a job. I was lucky enough to be given a severance that buys me some time before total panic sets in. But since the panic isn't there, there's no sense of urgency and I fear I might be breathing a little too easy right now. This severance is going to go by quickly. I am still looking for jobs daily, but I'm looking for that ideal job instead of just looking for work and pretty soon those ideals aren't going to matter so much anymore.

I'm trying to make the most out of a bad situation. I'm trying to find enjoyment in my days at home. But it's hard. It's really hard. I'm trying to put myself on a schedule that I follow daily to fill the void of not having a work schedule. But with each day, the schedule slips a little more until it's 10:41am on a Wednesday and I'm still in my pajamas.

Hey! Look at me! I'm happy!

I tried getting up by 8:30 and doing yoga, eating breakfast, drinking coffee and looking for jobs, working on a household chore, lunch, another household chore, work on music related items, go for a walk, do the dishes, and then it's the end of the "work" day.

But then I slept in until 9:00 and skipped yoga. And then the household chores got too easy and only took 5-10 minutes. And then going for a walk in the cold didn't sound very pleasant.

There are always excuses.

I used to dream of days like these. Full days at home where I could get all the things done that I'd been wanting to do. But the thing is, when you have a possibly endless supply of these days, you start to want to spread the joy out a little bit. So I find I spend a lot of my time thinking about the things I'm going to do tomorrow.

I've been applying for some jobs. Right now I've been trying to keep it in the "things I really really want to do" category. Which, apparently, there aren't many of those things at those places that I'm qualified for.

I've also thought about starting my own thing. I thought about taking up dog walking as a business. I love dogs, dogs love me. It would get me exercise. I could set my own hours. But it's just not that simple. I should probably get certified and trained and that's $650. It's not that I wouldn't put that money into it, it's that I don't have that money. And the training is out of state which then you have to add in flight and hotel costs and I don't have that money. I'm unemployed, remember? We are also a one car family and I would need a car to bring the dogs to the park and I don't have that. I would just end up walking them around the neighborhood over and over again...and that's no fun for anybody.

I find myself wanting to be Cloud Cult's song "Running With the Wolves". Just run away from it all and find some farm to live on that magically doesn't cost anything and just grow tomatoes and play guitar all day. I wonder if they have an opening in their cult.

Also, this might be the best song ever.

I left my job with big ideas on how I was going to spend this time of unemployment. I was going to go out to local shows as much as I can and network and get my name out there. I was going to make a music video, because why not? I was going to get this house in tip top shape so that, if we decided it was best, we could sell it. I was going to work out everyday. I was going to focus on making my life what I want it to be.

And I guess like quitting smoking, just because you have one doesn't mean you've failed. I'm having a setback and I have to know that's okay.

But I also need to figure out what is going to propel me forward. I do not want my happiness to rely on some corporation offering me some job so that I can continue to pay my bills in a timely manner. That is the mindset that I have, though. That is the mindset I grew up with. Get a job so you can get your steady paycheck and benefits and someday when you are very old you will get to retire....maybe.

I kind of want to do a bunch of little things. Make money off of blogging and playing music and walking dogs and try to just make enough of it doing those things to get by.

Originally this was supposed to be a funny post about how I spend my days. But I guess I kind of went off instead. This is pretty much exactly how my days go anyway so I guess the post still had the same point...just not as funny.

Recording Day 5

Quick session last Friday to get any one of my acoustic guitars to not sound like crap. We managed to get it done. We recorded the acoustic guitar for my song "Flavor", which, surprisingly is really the only song this time around where the acoustic is so front and center that it needs to sound really good or it destroys the whole song. And I think we managed to do that. Get it to sound good, that is. Not destroy the whole song. I actually brought over a guitar that had been sitting in the basement for a very long time. Well, I brought over 3 guitars, but that was the one we ended up using.

We also recorded the ukulele parts for the two ukulele songs. One of them is a last minute addition that might not make the album. I am undecided. If it does, I have to swap out another song and I don't know if I want to lose the song I am thinking of swapping out.

Decisions, decisions.

I suppose I don't have to swap out a song. But the album is already going to be 13 songs long and 14 just seems a little over the top. Plus, there is the whole album flow thing. I think I'm going to record them both and make a decision when they are both done and pick the one that fits the best.

The other can be a bonus track, right?

Lyric Of The Day

"the window's open now

and the winter settles in

we'll call it christmas

when the adverts begin"

- from "The Animals Were Gone" by Damien Rice

(it is totally the time of year for Damien Rice)

Thanks...

I was all ready to write a bitter post about how there is nothing to be thankful for this year. That with 2011 being the awful year that it's been, there is really not much for me to be thanking the Thanksgiving Turkey Gods for this year.

But I don't want to do that.

Because, as I said a couple of posts ago, there have been a few positive moments this year. Maybe this is the post to look back and remember that sometimes things are good.

1. London and Paris

I went to London and Paris this year. How crazy is that? I always dreamed of going but never thought I would actually ever do it. But it happened. And I am so grateful that I did it. The husband and I just decided to say fuck it and go for it. We booked the tickets and worried about the rest later. The trip is proof that if you really want something, you will make it happen.

Just hanging around outside Abbey Road Studios

2. Shows, Shows, Shows

I played a lot of shows this year at some really cool venues: Turf Club, 331 Club, Amsterdam Bar and Hall...I played at the Stone Arch Festival! I traveled to Michigan to play a show there...I feel fairly comfortable on stage now. I have a good set of songs to perform. It's been a good year for shows.

Stone Arch Festival

3. Musical Meetings

I had two wonderful moments with two of my favorite musicians this year.

When I saw that Dan Bern was coming to town, I thought it would be so very cool to open for him. So I found a way to get a hold of him. Unfortunately an opener was already booked, but he gave me a challenge: Learn a song written before 1950 and he'd let me sing it on stage. So I did. I learned "Johnny B. Goode" and he held up his end of the bargain and let me perform it. He was so kind with his introduction, the audience was so warm and welcoming and encouraging and then he joined me and we tried to sing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" as a duet, but I was in such a state of shock and euphoria that I couldn't get the words out. It's a moment I will never forget.

I was thrilled to see that Erin McKeown was coming to town and playing a really cool intimate venue. I got my tickets the minute it was announced. It also just so happened that she was playing the same day that I was playing at Stone Arch - and right across the street. I tweeted that I was excited to play Stone Arch and also for her show later that night. She retweeted my post. Then, at her show, I introduced myself to her and we chatted for quite a while. She's a super cool person who treated me like someone she'd know forever. Later, we gave her a ride back to her hotel, swapped merch, and hugged it out. Then, a week or so later, she tweeted that she was listening to my album and really liked my voice. And I just about burst.

3. Eddie Vedder

Along with Erin and Dan, I saw some incredible shows this year: Ani Difranco & Anais Mitchell, Lykke Li...but none stand out more than the Eddie Vedder show I went to back in June. I've never witnessed a show like that. He needed no fancy light show...no crazy on stage antics. In fact, he sat for most of the show, effortlessly engaging with the audience and keeping us all totally engrossed in everything he did. And that voice....I could listen to it all day long.

4. Recording

I started recording my second album this fall. I'm very excited about it. I've been working closer with Shawn on the arrangements and it's really making the songs flesh out and they have so much more body to them. I can't wait for people to hear it. I've very proud of what's come out of the sessions so far. It's all sounding just like I imagined it would.

5. Matt

I don't know how I would have made it through this year without my husband. It's so comforting to know that I always have someone by my side. We hold each other up as best we can. Even though at times we both have a hard time holding ourselves up, we always come through for each other. Thanks for always trying to make me laugh.

Hello! We are in Paris!

And that's really about it. Those are the ups that have happened this year. 2011 started with a lot of promise but the moment that pipe burst in our front yard in February, the floodgates opened and we've been trying to stop the leak ever since. I really hope 2012 changes all that.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone. Here's hoping I get a heaping mound of mashed potatoes and some warm dinner rolls with butter. That's really all I ever want on Thanksgiving.

To Muse, Rant, and Ramble

Let's get back to the basics here:

Musing: I've been thinking about what I want to do with my life now that I have this "opportunity" to make a change. Part of me wants to run away from the corporate world forever and live on a commune or something. But, the logical side of me tells me to "Get A Job!". I do have a house to pay for and a recording habit to feed.

This is how I muse.

What's funny is that I tend to express these thoughts on the internet, like now, and then I freak out and think about some recruiter looking me up online to check me out before offering me an interview and seeing me openly think about these things and then thinking to themselves "well, she doesn't really want this job." It's a weird social media world out there right now. I will say that I refuse to apply for just any job and that any job I apply for is going to be a job that I really do want.

But, really, why should thoughts I post online matter to a potential employer? Of course I'm reevaluating things in my life and asking for advice from friends and family and people in my social network. A person should be allowed to do this without consequence.

Still, it freaks me out and I am tempted to delete what I wrote above. But I won't.

Rant: Have you seen those awful Black Friday Target commericals? They make me stabby. I don't watch a lot of TV anymore and I'm proud to say that since I've been laid off, I have not turned the TV on during the day. No daytime talk shows for me. But I do still have programming I watch in the evenings and whenever I do, the commercials just stun me. It's amazing when you step away from that particular advertising world for a while and then come back to it how loud and aggressive and just wrong it is. It's all IN YOUR FACE!!! BUY BUY BUY!!! It makes me tense. I have to look away, it almost hurts my eyes.

These Target commercials are the worst, though. They are everything that is wrong with the world. I'm not going to pretend that I celebrate Christmas as some god following happy birthday baby jesus person. I celebrate Christmas because it's what I've done my entire life. But these commercials just destroy any sort of Christmas joy I had left.

I call them sickies. And, yes, I know this is a Walmart and not a Target.

Whether you are Christian or not, Christmas should be about something bigger than getting a good deal on a Blue Ray player. Even if that something bigger is just spending time with family you never get to see. And opening at midnight on Friday? Target, I am disappoint. Why not just open up Thanksgiving morning and be done. Thanksgiving has completely been usurped by Christmas now anyway. Its only purpose is to give everyone Friday off so they can shop. It's only a matter of time before businesses smarten up and realize if they give these sales on Thanksgiving, they can get everyone back in the office on Friday. Just wait. It will happen.

Also, I guess I can cross Target off my list of potential employers.

Rambling: I picked up the new Noel Gallagher album last weekend. I have been waiting for Noel to release a solo album since I first got way too into Oasis and realized Noel is the most ridiculously awesome person ever.

Awesome.

The album is exactly what I expected it to be. Noel knows his niche and sticks to it. And I appreciate that. And the album title, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds...what is that? Love it. Just nonsense. The album isn't going to change your life and if you weren't already a fan of all things Noel Gallagher, it probably won't catch your ears. But I enjoy it very much. I find it very comforting in these times. Kind of like how the Eddie Vedder ukulele album felt this summer. Funny how my 2 rock star crushes from the 90s have reemerged as musical saviors of my soul. Thanks, guys.

Dream Log #10

It started with the husband and I lying on blow up rafts in the middle of a lake. We started floating back to shore, between boats, just drifting. We decided to visit a friend who lived on the lake.

As we headed to their house, we discussed seeing him again. When we opened the door, there was Murray and our...cat. Yes, in this dream we had also owned a cat. It seems we had given them both up because they had become too old for us to care for. But there they were. Perfectly fine. Wandering around the living room. I sat down and Murray greeted me as if I was a stranger. He was kind, but distant. I started to pet him as he walked away, running my hand down his spine. I then said "hey Pumpkin. How's my little Pumpkin Pie?" (those were my nicknames for him)

He immediately turned around and pounced on me, licking my face and giving me his little nibble kisses (sometimes he would get over excited and instead of licking, he would nip at me). I could feel his little teeth. It was so real. He was so happy. I was so happy.

I looked to Matt, who was holding our cat (?) and we both started to tear up. We decided it would be best to go.

As we headed out the door, Murray followed us out, his leash attached to his collar. We looked to our random friend and said, I guess he's coming home with us. So we took Murray and our cat and headed for the door.

Suddenly we were pulled up in front of a house. We were sitting in the front of a truck packed with all of our belongings. We went inside and started to get settled into our new place. The cat wandered around, investigating.

We slept on the hard floor that night. The next day we made breakfast and it hit me that Murray wasn't in the house. We had left him in the truck all night. I can't even begin to describe the agony this gave me in this dream. I started crying and ran out to the truck to get him and brought him inside.

He followed the cat around the house and seemed to ignore us.

I laid on the floor and looked down the hall at him. He stared back at me. I said, "come here babydog". His tail wagged, he gave me one of his Murray smiles, and he started to trot towards me but slipped on the hardwood floors (just like he always used to do). But unlike before, he popped right back up and ran down the hall towards me. He stood over me and gave me a million kisses. He was so happy. I was so happy.

I started to wake up at this point. I tried desperately not to. As I did wake up, I could feel him. I felt a weight on my back. I was trying to roll over, but it was like something was holding me down. I laid there for a little while longer trying to capture that moment with him again. But it was gone.

Mates of State at the Fine Line

Friday was Mates of State.

Being the delicate state of mind that I am in and how emotionally drained I am, it was hard to be super energized for such an energetic show. I think Mates of State have, like, one slow song so a roughly 90 minute set of full on dance music was a little more than I could handle at this time.

But they were good. Really good. I don't know how they keep that energy up the whole time. And Jason Hammel, the drummer and co-vocalists, is amazing. I don't know how he sings and plays those drums like that at the same time for the whole show. It's not like he's just keeping a steady 4/4 beat the whole time. He's really doing some crazy stuff.

And they were wearing long sleeved shirts, Kori (keyboardist and co-vocals) was wearing flannel. Flannel! And I swear she didn't break a sweat. How do people do that? I could perform in a tank top and daisy dukes and I would sweat like crazy.

They did a great job of mixing up their set. I'm not crazy about the new album, so I was pleased that they never once played 4 in a row from the new album. They kept it completely mixed up. One new song, a few from the past, another new one, a few more from the past and so on. Since the show I've given the new album another try and I like it a bit more. It's funny how hearing songs live can do that.

Wow. This is quite the rambling non-sensical review. Sorry about that.

To summarize: Mates of State played a great show at the Fine Line, but I was too tired and sad to fully enjoy it.

The End.

P.S. I'm playing at the Fine Line on November 30th. Thinking of trying out a Mates of State cover. Though I'm not sure which song to do....

A New Leaf

So, I don't have a job anymore.

Scary stuff, right?

I'm watching the first snow fall of the season...a temporary change in the landscape.... and thinking about the changes I am currently facing.

It's been a tough year. One of my worst, honestly. There have been some patches of light along the way - and I'll get to those in a future post - but for the most part, things have been pretty bleak. I began my first foray into credit card debt. My dad had a near death experience and is now spending his days in an assisted living home that, while not terrible, is not how he or I would have opted for him to spend his "golden" years. Murray, my wonderful beautiful special little baby dog, died and I still can't say that without crying. And now, I am jobless and not by my choosing.

What's a person to do with all of that?

Winter is approaching...well, physically it is here. The snow is coming down. My days look to consist of being stuck at home, alone, with no car for the worst of the winter months. Dark. Cold. Scouring the internet for that perfect job....

Sounds....unpleasant.

At the same time, I also feel like I've been given an opportunity. I think I need to look at it that way. Now is the time to make some changes. I feel like the universe has been screaming that at me for months now and I've just refused to listen. Now I don't have a choice.

I now have some time to take care of me. Yes, I will still spend part of my day, every day, looking for work. But you can only search for jobs for so long each day. There are only so many out there. The rest of the time I can devote to making my little life a little better.

I'll have time to work out every day. I can drop those pounds I gained over the years spending 8 hours sitting at a desk, snacking, with Potbelly sandwiches always at the ready.

I can get organized. Our house is full of so much stuff that we never use that just takes up space. It will be nice to begin to go through it all - a little every day - and start clearing out the clutter.

I can fix up this place. Maybe paint the bathroom. Replace that light fixture I hate so much.

And I can really work on my music. My days are free now to write and record and really do this right. I can go out to the venues at night and talk to people and not have to worry about getting up in the morning. I can play anywhere at anytime. I can make videos. I can put myself out there as much as I choose. I'm really looking forward to that. (In fact, check the Upcoming Shows page on this blog...I already have shows lined up!)

But, in the end, I will need a job. The bills have to be paid. I really want to think about what I want to do and what I know I don't want to do. I have ideas. This is a turning point. An opportunity. A chance to make my world what I want it to be.

I'm thinking...Doggie Daycare.

Lykke Li At First Avenue

Strobe lights. Fog. Black Drapes. Percussion. Lots of percussion. Massively percussive. Lykke Li rocked it last night at First Avenue.

I’ve loved Lykke Li since I first saw her video for “Little Bit” via MySpace or something way back in 2008. She’s an interesting little creature…sort of looks like a cross between Fiona Apple and an Olson twin. She wiggles and jerks and throws her head around. But I had no idea she was so rock n’ roll.

Her stage set consisted of black drapes hanging from the ceiling all around the stage, a fog machine, bright white lights, and drums everywhere. This was automatically very cool since good percussion makes me happy. And there was a lot of good percussion last night.

Her band was stellar…and live. It’s rare for an artist that makes this sort of dance/club music to have actual live musicians on stage, but that’s one of the many things I love about Lykke Li. Upon first listen, you think, oh this is fun. It’s got a good beat. I can dance to it. But she goes way beyond that. The thing that first grabbed me about her first album was that it was quite obvious that the majority of the instrumentation was created live…not by ProTools. That’s a big plus. Then you go beyond that and really listen to her lyrics and they are beautiful. There’s so much more there than a good beat.

But this is about her live show.

Her set kicked off with the instrumental ending to her song “I Know Places”. The fog encased the stage and then First Avenue while strobe lights flickered to the beat the black drapes twirled and danced around. It was very dramatic. “Jerome” was the first song she sung. It took me a while to warm up to this song, but recently I’ve been enjoying it more. And last night just made it better.

The rest of the set she moved around the stage, occasionally beating the living the shit out of a floor tom and cymbal. Every song of hers could be a radio hit. There was not one clunker in the set. She also did a stunning cover of "Unchained Melody".

There was a very excited fan of hers right up front and she totally flirted and waved to him throughout the night. I thought that was very cool of her.

Oh, yeah, we were also up front. I don’t know how that happened at a sold out First Avenue that we arrived late to. But there I was, right against the railing in front of the stage. That never happens.

Her opening act was an interesting Folkish duo called First Aid Kit. They each had super long hair that they would fling around maniacally and these dresses that looked more like curtains or something straight out of a cult. Their voices were beautiful though. I plan to do some digging around online today to learn more about them.

All in all it was crazy good show. I was sad that I was severely hungover from the night before and didn’t have the energy level she so deserved.

If you haven’t already, check out Lykke Li. You’ll fall in love. Her latest album is Wounded Rhymes and it came out this year. Every single song is excellent. You will not be disappointed.

Great slideshow of photos from last night can be found here.

And here is a super cool video I just found of Lykke with Bon Iver doing one of my favorite songs of hers "Dance Dance Dance"

Another Weekend

I did stuff this weekend. Not sure it was a good idea, but I did stuff. You see, I caught this horrible chest cold the previous weekend and it is killing me. I seriously want to lock myself in my bedroom and never leave until it’s gone. I have not coughed like this in years. Years and years. It is THE WORST. No lie.

I had a lot of plans for this weekend and had to let most of them go as I dealt with this sickness. I was bummed.

But I did do some stuff. Like:

Turf Club on Friday night to see L’Assassins and Red Pens.

I love the Turf Club and cannot pass up a Friday night there when there are bands that I enjoy and people I enjoy hanging out with. So I went and had a nice time and heard great music…but I think I should have stayed home and gone to bed early. I was feeling better that night, but I think it did me in.

L'Assassins

Red Pens

Recording Day 4

Studio

I spent Saturday at the recording studio working on some songs for the new album. Unfortunately, I think my illness seeped through the tracks because I’m not too happy about how things sound – at least the new new stuff we started. We added stuff to some songs that are close to finished and that sounds great. But the stuff I just started on Saturday sounds a bit lackluster. I also think it has a lot to do with my guitar. My guitar sounds like shit. I really need a new one. A new new one. Not a used one. This one goes out of tune so easily. It buzzes everywhere all the time. It is completely unreliable. And it no longer sounds good on tape. The first couple of tracks we did with this guitar turned out really well. But now, I think its time has come. And it makes me sad.

Yesterday I pulled up all my guitars from the basement and played them all and they all sound like shit. Not sure what I’m going to do about this. Unfortunately, recording may have to be put on hold until I get my guitar situation figured out. This upsets me.

Watched All of Community Season 2

I’ve seen season 2 of Community. I watched it as it aired. I have certain episodes downloaded on my computer. But, being that I was unwell, I needed something to watch all day while I laid on the couch, drinking tea and sucking on cough drops. So I picked season 2 of Community because I love Community. The show is so ridiculously good. Season 2 in particular is awesome. WATCH IT!

I stayed home from work yesterday. I woke up feeling worse than I have all week. Actually, I woke up around 6am coughing. I couldn’t stop. It lasted all morning until I fell back asleep around 8:30.

So I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday to help me get rid of this – if it’s not gone by then – and to take care of some other more personal things. Awesome. I hate going to the doctor.

I’m also out of sick time at work which puts me in a bad spot.

And I have a hole in my favorite pair of boots.

And I realized I don’t really own any pants…and winter is coming.

Did I mention my dog is still dead?

Things kind of blow right now.

Oh, and since I’m sick at work, here’s another 25 songs that are getting me through my day:

1. “Highway 16” – Haley Bonar
2. “On the Radio” – Regina Spektor
3. “Desire” – Ryan Adams
4. “Jimmy Jazz” – The Clash
5. “Dogs Eyes” – Wye Oak
6. “Hanging on the Wire” – PJ Harvey
7. “Illuminine” – Thurston Moore
8. “Riverside” – Agnes Obel
9. “Wendybird” – Haley Bonar
10. “Minerva” – Ani Difranco
11. “Lived in Bars” – Cat Power
12. “Shot Down” – Pink Mink
13. “Lost in the Supermarket” – The Clash
14. “Goodbye” – Eddie Vedder
15. “Connect the Dots” – Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles
16. “Ashes of American Flags” – Wilco
17. “The Wind” – PJ Harvey
18. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” – Bob Dylan
19. “Catherine” – PJ Harvey
20. “Them” – Mimicking Birds
21. “Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor” – The Eels
22. “Dream a Little Dream” – Eddie Vedder
23. “Devilish Man” – Haley Bonar
24. “How Come You Never Go There” – Feist
25. “Wrong “Em Boyo” – The Clash

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today my dad turned 70 years old. 70!

I have to chuckle. My dad is a very impatient man. When I was a kid, every time we would be driving somewhere and have to stop at a red light, he would start to complain and say "Jesus! I'll be sitting here until I'm 70!"

And, now, here he is at 70 and he is not sitting at any red lights.

Apparently the assisted living home where he now lives sang him Happy Birthday at dinner tonight. He said he hated it. But I know he secretly loved it.

It makes me happy that he is now a part of a community again.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

From the Den...Volume One

I said I would do it and I did. Even though it’s a little late, it’s here. My EP of cover songs.

Whenever I have the house to myself and I’m feeling up to form, I will plop myself down in front of the computer, load up Garageband, and record. Sometimes it’s just demos of original songs I’ve been working on – gotta get them down before I forget them! But, most of the time, I just fiddle around with other people’s songs. It’s good practice. I learn what all the buttons and options are in Garageband and, I find, when you break down a song of someone else’s, you see how it’s made and it can help your own songwriting process. Songwriting can be overwhelming at times, but when you take a song by a great band like The National and break it down and realize it’s just piano chords like everything else, it can be inspiring.

As the title suggests, there will be more of these to come...

Also, it’s FREE to download, so take it, share it, enjoy it when you are away from the computer.

As always, thanks for listening!