Glancing back, Looking Forward 2015-2016

I'm always looking forward to the next adventure, but it's worth talking about all the good things that have gone on this year.

Have there been challenges?  Yeah, there have.  I spent months standing in faith for a job.  I got a lot of rejections, and feelings of futility and worthlessness tried to come at me in multiple arenas of life.  But my life is an adventure, not a tragedy! (and I'm happy to report that I got a great job that still allows me to do all the stuff I need to do as a musician and artist).  So let's get to the good stuff.

I released The Spark Recharged ( I just got on spotify to check my own release date and make sure it was actually this year!).  It was such a cool project to see come to maturity.  I really enjoy all different types of music, and I wanted to explore an electronic sound.  I got to dig into everything from EDM to chillstep, and I'm really happy with the result.

I very much believe in "Recharged" AND the original "Spark" EP (plus Look Forward!).  You have to understand, I was a kid in his basement writing, recording, mixing, and mastering everything, knowing what he wanted to see and hear.  Of course there are things you look back on and say "knowing what I know now, I could have done this or this better, or perhaps differently".  But still. I'm very happy with what's begun, and I believe in these songs.  I want more and more people to hear them. I'm thankful that God gave me the skills and equipment to create with, and I'm always excited about going to the next level.  Share it with your friends and lets get this in everyone's ear!

And these things have been on the RADIO!  I got to be a guest deeJay on WAIF's "Silent Witness Radio", and came back later in the year to do an on-air acoustic set with Michael (Peet) and Larry.  I got played on 96Rock Cincinnati, WEBN, and "Cincy Music Showcase" 100.7 and 106.3FM (also known as "The Project").  I got contacted by some web-based radio for permission to use my stuff as well.

Now, I wrote the song "Time to Live" right before a bunch of this radio stuff happened.  Interestingly enough, here's the pre-chorus lyric:

"How many times have we just let the monster tell us that
We'll never make it on the radio?
It's just a lie and I won't let that sucker hold me back
'Cause they'll be smart enough to play me though"

I got to do some great interviews with Iain Moss of JesusWired.com as well as Don Thrasher of Dayton Daily News!


More production came to the stage show, including props, wardrobe, and video. 

HOURS and DAYS were spent figuring out live video production, making clips, auditioning solutions, and drafting ideas for stuff that could be built.  Time went into picking out and customizing wardrobe for the stage.  We even got together and built "The House Chunk" from the Premonitions painting.  It has a much deeper meaning than you've seen yet, but one day soon it will all make sense!  I'm building more than just music here, there's a larger universe at play that, if you look, you'll see clues to all throughout my work in multiple mediums.

As far as the video is concerned, some great donations by several people on and off my tech crew has made it possible to bring a great production value to the stage.  Oh yeah, and I just got some scrims!

We played some great concerts.  Just look at this stuff.

I screen printed a lot of shirts, and got a nice setup put together in the basement.  That being said, it takes time!  The screens, the ink, the tape, the shirts, the colors the sizes.....my goodness.  So in the future, I'll probably give some of that work to a local business.  But still, if I want to do a special run on the fly, I can!

Peet and Sarah got married.  It's great having them on the music team, and we enjoyed going out to Maryland for the ceremony!  Peet (ok, his actual name is "Michael") was on the frontlines with me in college jazz band, and it's cool to be able to share that history as we take to various stages.  And Sarah is always willing to come help at concerts, which is very much appreciated.

I got my Master's Degree. It was quite a challenge, having been a music major in Undergrad, stepping into a Master's program made up of Business MBA courses and Communications Department courses.  After all, most of the people there had already spent four years in those fields.  But, I had success!

Onward and upward.  I'm thankful for my support crew, which has grown since this began (Mom, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Teresa, Tyler, Missy, Austin, Sarah)  It takes more hands than just mine to load gear, set up a stage, and plug everything in.  There are conversations being had right now about things to be created and done this year.  New levels.  I want more people to hear the music.  I've been performing with my live band both onstage and on the web.  What a time to be alive, when we can set up in front of my computer and play a concert for someone in Norway.  There are concerts to organize, videos to think about, new contacts to become acquainted with, images and art to create, and as always, new music to develop.  There are new adventures to be a part of, and people who need to know that THAT is how it's supposed to be.  And you're gonna love it.