Mason Jars - A Song Outside the Comfort Zone + Kickstarter Update

A quick note about where the Kickstarter campaign is at we're at - with known contributors, just over the $2000 mark.  It's pretty (*&@#@# cool if you ask me.  It's easy, it's quick and it's what you want to do!  Please click the link and consider pledging what you can.  Just a few more days of these asks, so thanks for hanging in there.

http://kck.st/13yC74Y

For today's song spotlight - "Mason Jars".  I debated whether to include this song, both on the album, and here as one of my little features on my blog/FB.  I think it's important but the subject matter is uncomfortable.  Still, that's what art is about - challenging our comfort zones and pushing us to find new ways to see the things that make us who we are.

The lyrics have been featured as a poem in the Gap Toothed Madness - a local Sacramento anthology - with very little changed.  It's a fitting song for a Sunday, because it deals with how the people who introduced me to God via the Pentecostal faith, poisoned my heart by molesting my young body.

I created a simple sound to contrast the subject matter much the way this contrast has felt inside over the years.  It's very short, and I think it's very sweet in its dark innocence.  I think it brings up a difficult but important subject and, while I went back and forth about whether I wanted to put this out there, I decided that it was more important to be true to the story I'm telling and my project than to be comfortable.  I've often found amazing things just outside my comfort zone.  I'll post a link to the sound and ask you to take a listen, find the power below the song and imagine what it - along with the rest of this project - could sound like given the proper treatment.

Songwriting Lessons From the Avett Brothers: Part 2

Ola.  Late last year I posted a piece about how the Avett Brothers were influencing my approach to song structures.  I promised more when the songs were completed and, from a songwriting point of view, they are.  I feel they are two of my strongest to date, and what I called at that time "Saddle Up" has turned into a very fun song to play, though I imagine it coming from a woman, now, which, alas...I am not.

So, three points to touch on.  First, I need you to think about checking out my Kickstarter project - video below.  It won't take long, and a few bucks might make the difference between getting me into the studio or not.  

Now, of these two songs, one will actually be included in this album.  This one my kids sort of helped write.  Check out that story in the original post, but what resulted is a fairly short, simple song I feel packs a nice punch, both in the stick-to-your-heart melody department and the stick-to-your-brain lyric department (both of these departments are located in the back near the restrooms, if you were wondering).  In part one I mentioned the Avett-inspired approach makes it more difficult to build the bridge.  In this case, I wrote a chord progression that is requesting a solo.  I may just forgo the bridge entirely.  Anything I've written has detracted from the simple power of the verses.  Here's a preliminary recording. 

As you can hear, the lyrics changed in minor ways, but the basic flow and structure has stayed he same.

The next song I mentioned was, "Go F*** Your White Horse", formerly called "Saddle Up".  The title is a joke and comes from the front side of the pre-chorus (or part B if you view the song as having 3 parts, A, B and C) "Go find your white horse".  I used the same approach to the lyrics and overall song structure, and this time I even used a rhythm very similar to a popular Avett Bro's tune.  The chord progression is backwards and in a different key, but it's there.  Points to anybody who guesses which song.  No, I'm not risking breaking new ground musically here; I'm just looking to put together a solid song that lets the lyrics shine.

I call the "B" section a pre-chorus because, while a bridge does usually bridge a verse (or a solo) to a chorus, it represents more of a deviation from the pattern established by the verses and choruses.  In "White Horse", that portion of the song is very much part of the pattern (A,B,C/A,B,C).

A: Verse 1

Can the fight end when we lay down our heads

Or when we wake up will we wake up the dead

Do you find strength in the wars that we wage

Or do they like me just fill you with rage

B: Pre-Chorus

Go find your white horse yeah

Go find it today

Go find your white horse and  

We'll ride out of this place

C: Chorus

Maybe in the saddle we can find a way

To save this thing instead of saving face

But I've had all of these matters I can take for one day

Saddle up, it's make or break

A: Verse 2

Does the night end when we raise up our heads

Does a light end when we bury the dead

Do you find strength in the walls of this cage

Or do they like me just fill you with rage

B: Pre-chorus

Go find your white horse yeah

Go find it today

Go find your white horse and

We'll ride out of this place

C: Chorus

Maybe in the saddle you will find your grace

Match the fall of that horse's gait

But I've had all of these battles I can take

Saddle up, let's take a break

That's it, folks.  Thanks for your eyeballs.  And for your backing - watch my video below, click the link, get involved!

StipeSongs.com - Website Launch

Just a quick note to mention that I'm launching a new website to act as the web entry point for my album project.  The songs themselves are coming along nicely, and I'm excited to put together a Kickstater campaign to finance some studio time for vocals and some clean acoustic takes.  The new web address is:

www.stipesongs.com

Feel free to take a look and please, please - let me know if you see any type-o's or other issues.  Your help is invaluable when it comes to my not looking like a fool.

Thank you!

DJ

Ender's Game Movie - Battle School Team Logos

This just fell into eyes. I have mixed feelings about the movie, because I just doubt it will ever live up to the book in my head, but I'm excited. I need to read the Bean series before then - the movie is supposed to encompass both stories.

These are the team logos for the Battle School:




After seeing the Hobbit with my son recently, I think I can view this movie as a retelling of the books rather than the book made into a movie. Peter Jackson showed me it's possible to tell a different version of a story and remain true to the soul of the original.

Any movie retellings that just didn't work? Did work? Haven't happened but couldn't work as a movie?

Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

The Wheel of Time - "The Asha'man"

Today, the 14th (15th counting the prequel) installment in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series went on bookshelves across the world.  I began reading this series as a teenager when, as I've heard so many people say, a friend handed me a ragged copy to read.  I find it hard to count the number of people I've connected with over this series in the years since, both alive and dead.  I don't know the Jordans, or Brandon Sanderson (the author who completed the series after Jordan died from a blood disease in 2007) but in some way I count them as family, along with the expansive collection of vivid characters they created.  I've read many great books since picking up this series, but there's something about a piece that traverses so many years that climbs inside your life and sets up shop. 

I'm no gleeman, but in the wee hours preceding this monumental occasion 23 years in the making, I was inspired to do this rewrite of Jimmy Webb's great song, The Highwayman.  This song is a quartet of verses, each telling the tale of a different life of a working class man (a highwayman, a sailor, a dam builder and a starship pilot), and hints at a return to the original highwayman - always coming back.  This is the premise of the Wheel of Time, as the author James Oliver Rigney, Jr. explored the trappings (both figurative and literal) of a cyclical existence.  In my version of the song, you'll glimpse the life of an Asha'man (a male magician), a Sea Folk Swordmaster, an Ogier builder and the Dragon Reborn - the only hope for the world when the final battle comes (for me it started today as I downloaded the audio book at 12:10AM).

It just makes me sad that Robert Jordan wasn't here to see it - the completion of this series, that is.  As Brandon Sanderson so expertly wrote, "You go quietly, but leave us trembling."

(reference linked lyrics below)

I was an Asha'man, Tarmon Gai'don on the mind
Pain in the Aes Sedai
Many a Trolloc fell when I destroyed their Fade

Many a Seanchan died upon my Saidin blade
Fought Dumai's Wells long before they say I died

Yet I am still alive.

I was a Swordmaster; I was born upon the tide
My Sailmistress I'd abide.
We sailed our vessel through the Bay of Tanchico
I went aloft when our Windfinder sent a blow
And when the yards broke off they say that I got killed
But I am living still.

I was a builder from the Stedding of Shangtai
Sung wood Andoran pride

I left Caemlyn from what was an Ogier groveThrough the Ways where the Black Wind always blowsThey say I'm lost to the madness of that sound
But I am still around, 'cuz the Wheel spins me back around and around and around and 
around and around and around and around

I'll fight the Dark One out there beyond the Blight
And when I reach the other side
I'll join my brothers in the Wolf Dream if I can
Perhaps I may become an Asha'man again
Light, I could even have Lews Therin in my brain
But I will remain

And I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again

The Wheel spins me back again and again and again

A Memory of Light

Advantage: Self

Someone once told me, I shouldn't assume the advice of others is more valuable or prescient than my own instincts. Man, how come I never think of things like that?


Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

Doctorow on Character

Hello,

I just read this article from Cory Doctorow on how fictional characters come to life. It does a great job of illustrating a theory I have that good fiction can't happen until there are at least two great ideas to rub together, but on a micro scale and applies specifically to character development. I like the analogy he uses of finger puppets as new characters. It made me think.

A good read for writers, but also for readers who have had a visceral reaction to their favorite characters when placed in difficult spots, and are curious where that came from:

http://www.locusmag.com/Perspectives/2013/01/cory-doctorow-where-characters-come-from/


Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

Happy New Year - the State of Stipewriter

Hello and happy New Year!

As you can see, the content has been light for DJ Stipewriter for the past few weeks. I've been going through my projects and trying to prioritize, then there were the holidays and there have been a few readings that I wanted to prepare some new material for. As such, Spatchcock and Faceballs have both been back-burnered and my focus directed toward more pressing projects. Once I clear a couple of the short term projects away I'll revisit those cartoons and figure out which one I want to focus on. I'd like to work on the artwork more and just don't have time. Faceballs may win out because of this since it really doesn't require much artwork at all.

This came about because in 2 days I turn 39. When I was 30 I made myself set some concrete goals I wanted to accomplish before 40. There were only two items that I can recall, finish recording a complete album of original material and publish a full length novel. With just 367 days left, I thought it was time to take inventory and redirect my attentions accordingly.

I've set 3 main priorities:

1. Submissions for Writing Excuses retreat scholarship (Due date: 1/15)
- Short story - 50% written.
- Changes to CNF piece about Joe and the Wolfdream - not started.
- Revisions to prologue to "God's Muse" - not started.

2. Novel - God's Muse (Due date - 1/4/2014)
- Status: 30% complete with first draft.

3. Linens and Things, the album (Due date - 1/4/2014)
- Songwriting - 95% complete (4 of the 15 songs needs a few lyric tweaks)
- Initial recordings - 5% complete (stalled due to equipment issues)
- Peripheral instrumentation - not started

So, my hands are pretty full right now. Rather than force out mediocre posts on a daily basis, I'm going to focus on quality when the inspiration strikes. I'm also considering releasing a novella here in serial form (mostly written already), but only if I'm making progress on items 2 and 3 above.

As always, thank you for your eyeballs.

- DJ

Sometimes Things Aren't Always What They Seem

Thank you for your eyeballs.

- DJ

Unnecessary Signs: Installment 4X7

Very glad the sign was there. Coulda been a real mess:





Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

So...human

This is tough to read but I had to share. I've been introspect lately, and very unproductive. Forgot that life was fleeting. Time to remember that. I can do better, so why don't I?

"I got excuses
But no matter which I use if
I lose
I lose
Because I choose to lose."

http://news.yahoo.com/neighbor-took-6-young-survivors-home-205020443.html

Postings might be a bit light as I re-prioritize some projects and enjoy the holidays with both hands.

Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

WTF Wednesday - The Hobbit

We are über-excited in our household for the release of the Hobbit this month. I thought I'd share this onion parody on what to expect.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/highlights-of-the-hobbit,30618/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=standard-post:teaser:default


I know the article is a joke, but it's not the first time I've heard it's going to be a trilogy. I hope it's not true! I have seen everything in the previews except for Smaug, which in the final third, so could it be they just haven't made that part yet?

I doubt it, but thought I'd feed into the ambiguity.


Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

Evil Mr. Vaccine

Found on Twitter. Laughs ensued. Sharing followed. Please enjoy.



Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

Poetry Reading Monday December 3

Hello all,
I will be doing a poetry reading this coming Monday (Dec. 3) at the Sacramento Poetry Center. It is 7 minutes of pure DJ sandwiched by some very talented writers. The event is to celebrate the work of the 2013 American River Review literary magazine, which I'm honored to be included in for the second year in a row.
Doors open at 7, words flow at 7:30.

Thanks for your eyeballs.
- DJ

WTF Wednesday - Faceball

Hello All,

I'm busy.  I'm frustrated.  I'm not getting the things I want to get done done.  I'm at my wit's end. 

I'm just about ready to run and jump off the world when a) I realize that I will always land right back on it and 2) This exists: http://faceball.org/

Faceball tourney anyone?

Now, a word about NaNoWriMo.

I was feeling failurific as the month came to an end, because I am only halfway to that golden 50K word mark. Here is why I shouldn't. NaNoWriMo is a great inspiration to just write - get any words out, hopefully some ideas that present a clear plot will surface. But for me, it doesn't allow me time to do other things like draw or write songs. These are the things I think spur me on toward inspiration when the writing dries up. During WriMo I feel guilty when I do those things, like I'm shirking a responsibility, so I stop. Then absolutely nothing comes out. I need those distractions to keep me going. I'm glad WriMo works for some, it's just not conducive to my process. Then again, I could be just making myself feel better for not having been a "winner", though I am not alone in my thoughts that NaNoWriMo just isn't for every writer.

Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

A Healthy Alternative to Fried Taco Shells

Welcome to the Monday after. In the interest of getting back to healthy, I thought I'd share this lovely invention.




Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

WTF Wednesday - "Literally" the Best Day Ever

Do you remember when words used to mean something?  I mean, when they literally used to mean something?

Literally has lost its meaning.  This word used to mean "in the literal sense" - in other words, these words I have said are something you can take to the bank. I'm not speaking figuratively - the reason for this term to exist is to differenciate these two concepts. 

More and more I'm hearing things like:

This is literally the last twinkie on Earth.
  - No it's not. 

I would literally kill for a twinkie right now.
 - If you would then my obligation as a citezen is to inform the police.

There is literallly nothing to do right now.
 - Then how are you talking?

I literally have nothing to wear.
 - Good, then that makes the choice easy.

I'm literally going to explode from all the Turkey I've eaten.
 - Shit kids, someone get the camera!


I think I'd be a better person of people didn't suck so much.

Thanks for your eyeballs.
 - DJ

Dennis for President

What we need is an autonomous collective. True power derives from a mandate from the people. Stop the violence inherent in the system.

Help, Dennis, we're being repressed.




Thanks for your eyeballs.

- DJ

WTF Wednesday - The Fiscal Cliff Notes

This image is from Howard Taylor the creator of Schlock Mercenary.  If you've never checked out his comic, please do - it's the best free online comic currently out there about a space mercenary made of poo.  It sounds silly, but it's actually very smartly written.

He tweeted this picture this morning, which made me laugh, then made me cry.  If this country doesn't find some real leadership, the standard family of 4 stands to loose $4000 in tax cuts.  I don't know about the rest of you, but that pretty much zaps my family's return, which we've grown to count on to fund our summer vacations and the occasional large purchase splurge.  That money, for most people, goes straight back into the economy. 

Politicians, do you F-ing jobs!

Thank you for your eyeballs.
 - DJ

Songwriting Lessons From the Avett Brothers

Happy Tuesday,

Since I've been absorbed by writing projects lately, I haven't had much time to play music, but I have been working on a few projects in the background. 

The little bit of time I have had to play has produced three new song ideas that are the best I've had in a while.  One is almost complete and is called "Saddle Up (Make or Break)" and is just waiting for 4 lines to be written in the bridge to get placed in the done column.

So, on my lunch break today I played about 5 minutes of a melody that started with me singing fun lines to the kids while they played outside this weekend.  The lines always ended, "So I left my kids at the supermarket."  You know:

     - I didn't know, they'd cost so darned much, so I left my kids at the supermarket
     - I didn't think, it would cause a big scene, so I left my kids at the supermarket
     - They started acting like kids often do, so I left my kids at the supermarket
     - I had a chance to join the circus so I left my kids at the supermarket

Anything to get a laugh from the kids.  But I loved the melody.  So I had 5 minutes at lunch today and picked up the Martin, strummed a bit.  Fresh in my mind was a line I'd jotted into Evernote a while back "Living echoes of a life I never led."  Eventually it worked itself into a full verse, though my 5 minutes were up and I had to zip back to work.  The second verse kind of wrote itself as I was trying to rush to get the first into the Evernote database.  And here's why: The Avett Brothers.

I've been studying their song structures a lot lady, and am really intrigued by the similarity between the words of different verses and how those verses can have widely different meanings - just by changing a word or two.  The cool thing about this approach is that the similarity of the wording helps to reinforce the melody so that by the end of the 4 minute song you feel like you've not only heard it before but could sing along with the whole song (you will probably get some words wrong, but you'll feel like you *know* the song). 

So with both these songs I looked at ways I could make minor changes to the words, change or deepen the meaning and reuse them as subsequent verses.  I'm very happy with this approach and it actually gives me a nice box to work inside when I am trying to add verses.  It does appear the bridge will be the difficult part of the song when using this approach, but I think the end result will be a more divergent bridge that makes the rest of the song more "homey" when you return to it.

I'd like to share "Saddle Up" once it's in a more complete state.  The words don't do it justice and I really want to complete it before I put it out there.  For the sake of demonstration, though, I will share the lyrics I have so far for the new song I just started today.  Notice how the wording of the first two stanzas are mimicked in the second two.  It will be interesting to see where it goes, but as of the song being 5 minutes old it looked something like:

I wish I could say at the end of it all
That I gave all I had to give
But I'm living echoes of a life I never
Took the time or pride to live

It's all my fault
But that don't heal bruises
It only solves
Who wins and who loses

I wish I could say after the fall
That I'm prepared for the winter cold
But as the spring closes I'm left to myself
Still drunk from the days of my summer, my gold

Find in the faults
A wealth of excuses
It doesn't change
Who wins or who loses

The first and third stanzas are definitely more different, and I think because of this the meaning of the fourth stanza has a lot more depth than the meaning of the second stanza, even though half the words are the same.  Not sure if the concept comes across without the melody, but I hope you get the gist of it.

Besides these projects, I've got a track list finalized for the album, and a title.  "Linens and Things: The Potentially Brilliant Wreckage of an Exceptionally Ordinary Gentleman."  I just have to get my iLok replaced so I can get back into ProTools and see if I can pretend to know what I'm doing on that side of things.  Hopefully recording will resume early next year.

Thank you for your eyeballs!
 - DJ
(NaNoWriMo Word Count = 11587...only about 6K off target...probably ought to quit writing songs and blogs and such).