The day you've all been waiting for!
Go listen to/download the new song "The Belly of a Whale" off of The Ground Above Us by following the link:
The Belly of a Whale
I'm so excited to get this project started!!! This project is not
only new music for you, but represents a new chapter in my music
creation process. That sounds about as crystal clear as the person in
the photo up above, right? (although, I'm 95% sure that's me (: ) So let
me tell you about it in the same words I so eloquently wrote for the
website announcement:
So what is The Ground Above Us?
The Ground Above Us is going to be a collection of
songs that takes a close look at our self-narratives. Who do you tell
yourself that you are? Who do you tell others that you are? Who do other
people tell you that you are? The answers to those questions tend to
become so ingrained in us that we think of them as a permanent part of
our identity: "I am who I am." But in recent times these narratives have
been given an incredible amount of power(social media anyone?), and it
has changed everything in tremendous ways. I thought now would be a good
time to write some material that shines a spotlight on these stories
and to re-think how we use them to relate to our own self and others
around us. I call these stories The Ground Above Us.
The Ground Above Us also represents a new approach
to my music that I'm really excited about sharing with you. I'm going to
be releasing singles through monthly emails. These singles will have an
over-arching theme that will be announced every 6 months. At the end of
six months, I'll bundle the songs as an EP and also put them out to be
streamed on your favorite streaming service. It will be like a
serialized concept album or rock opera that takes a new turn every six
months. This is exciting because it will give us more time for
discussion around the art as it is being created and released. How cool
would it be if your input could influence the work of your favorite
music artist?!!!
(end of website announcement)
So cool, right?! This is going to be a work in progress as I figure
out this new method of music writing and story creation, but I love the
idea of making it ongoing and keeping things fresh and new and open
dialogue (for you and for me). So plenty more to come because I've been
hard at work - there's artwork coming up for the project, more photos to
be released, a performance video, behind the scenes, etc..A lot to be
excited about!
Also, I wanted to mention that the amazing string parts that you're
going to be hearing on the tracks of this project were played by Tammy
King who (along with many other credits) is the fiddle player for The
Steeldrivers. I was VERY lucky to have her play, and I absolutely love
how the tracks turned out.
And other news,
I have some shows coming up in South Carolina, Virginia, West
Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia, and we are already looking at
more areas, so check out my calendar here
if those areas are close by! Or just go check out the snazzy new web
page layout with some new photos taken by the amazing Stephen Byrum who
runs Young Blood Films on My Home Page
I know this is a huge post, so I'll end here. I just didn't know how
to tell you everything that's going on without brimming over (with
joy/excitement!)
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Songs and Stories from Nashville
Hey Everybody!
I hope you've been having a great summer. It's definitely my favorite time of year. I grew up in southern TX around Houston and developed a taste for sweltering heat. So I kinda love this stuff.
Also, I just recently got back from a quick trip over to the mid-South and had a blast. For those reading this who made it out to those shows, I just want to say that I really enjoyed getting to meet everybody. Also, thanks for coming out - the concerts definitely blew away my expectations (in Lawton ya'll packed the room plus some!), and that's solely based on your kindness.
On to the news:
For the Nashville area:
I get asked a lot by my friends in the Nashville area if I play in town (where they wouldn't have to travel crazy distances to see a set). I've been putting a lot of my efforts into playing in neighboring areas and haven't had a lot of options for you. But good news! I'm now one of the regular performers at Cafe Lula (in the Ryman). The August schedule should be posting in the next couple of days, so I should have some local gig times posted soon. Stay tune-d.
For the East Coast:
We've got a really cool project going on where me and 3 other songwriters have put a show together called Songs and Stories from Nashville. This is a project my buddy Dave Minninburg organized, and it's something I'm excited to be a part along with Dave, writer Eric Haines, and Marc-Alan Barnette. We'll be playing our songs in the Nashville Writer's Round style. This is going to be our first few shows, but we were excited by the interest it has generated so far and plan on keeping the project going. Here's a quick video to give you a little more info:
Here's our current dates coming up:
- 7/22 Sat. 1-4pm @the Salamander Resort & Spa (Middleburg, VA)
- 7/27 Thu. 7-9pm @the Bright Box Theater (Winchester, VA)
- 7/29 Sat. 4-6pm @the Villain & Saint (Bethesda, MD)
This is our first run out of what we hope to be many. So let me know if you would like us to head to your area! And if you're close by to these venues, we'd love to see you. I can say of the other 3 writers that they are top notch. It's going to see a great show!
For Fun:
I love playing music - but my favorite part of the gigging and the traveling is meeting new and really cool people (if it was just music, I could do that in my studio :) ). In Dallas about a week and a half ago, I got to talk to Edward after my set and he was telling me about his own love of words (I mean, check out his blog title :) ) and how he likes to rewrite lyrics to popular songs. He shared one with me on his blog called "Getting Old" (written to the tune of "Letting Go"). I thought it was fun and that I'd share just to help spread the word that there are amazing, creative, and cool people creating art all the time around us. It's one of things that keeps me optimistic about life. Thanks for sharing Edward! Check out the link:
I have exciting stuff brewing that I hope to be able to share soon. Until next time!
John
John
Monday, November 14, 2016
Sunnymeade Live Recordings
I had a cool opportunity come up to play out a house concert series called Sunnymeade Live. The audience there was spectacular that night...and I even had a bit of heckling there that night (all in good fun! :P ) that just made it one of the more fun times that I've had playing songs for an audience. The other cool thing about the show was that one of the host is a working audio engineer in the Nashville area, and he made a live recording of the live set. So I wanted to share that with you! Here's a link to a file with the mp3's:
I just want to thank Ed and Melissa for letting me come out to play, and for the people who came to support. This is a monthly concert so check their facebook page for future shows of other great artist. I'll list that link below along with a link to Ed Brussa's info for those of you looking for a talented music producer/sound engineer for your own projects!
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Check out this good news! I'm headed to TX to compete in the final round of the Songwriters Serenade national songwriter competition on May 7. Here's the press release!
------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2016
Songwriter Serenade competition
11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2016
Parish Hall, 11135 FM 957, Moravia, Texas
Tickets: $10
SONGWRITER SERENADE
SELECTS SEMI-FINALISTS FOR 10th ANNIVERSARY CONTEST
15 outstanding performing songwriters showcase their original music
Austin, Texas — 15 Semi-Finalists have been chosen for the Songwriter Serenade competition, now in its tenth year. The event will be held on Saturday, May 7 in Moravia, Texas. The semi-finalists, including top songwriters from Texas, California, Colorado, Florida, Washington and Tennessee were selected from more than 110 entrants in the competition. Acclaimed Texas singer-songwriters Susan Gibson, Walt Wilkins and Kevin Welch will be judging the competition.
The competition starts at 11 a.m. with the winner and order of finish determined by 4 p.m. Tickets for the event are $10 and are available for purchase online at www.songwriterserenade.com
The crossroads town of Moravia is centrally located just off Interstate 10 between Houston and San Antonio and is also just a short drive from Austin. The competition will be held in a classic wooden dance hall surrounded by live oaks and picnic facilities.
The 15 accomplished performing songwriters will compete for $5,000 in prize money. In addition to prize money, the first place winner will be provided accommodations and transportation to the Folk Alliance International Conference, held in Kansas City February 2017. The first place winner will also be provided a showcase through Real Life Real Music (www.RealLifeRealMusic.com) at the Dosey Doe (www.DoseyDoe.com).
Also, on the evening of the contest (May 7) the winner of the 2016 contest will perform as an opening act for the three Judges, Susan Gibson, Walt Wilkins & Kevin Welch at the Bugle Boy Venue in La Grange. For more information and to purchase advance tickets: www.TheBugleBoy.org
The 2016 semi-finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Bostick, Ben – Los Angeles, CA /http://www.benbostick.com
Carroll, John – Nashville, TN / http://johnplaysmusic.com
Delaney, Andrew – Dallas, TX / http://andrewdelaneymusic.com
Gassaway, Chase – Austin, TX / http://www.chasegassaway.com
Hariu-Damore, Crystal – Houston, TX / http://www.ordinaryelephant.
Holder, Ali - Austin, TX / http://www.aliholder.com
Laven, Rachel – San Antonio, TX / http://www.rachel-laven.com
Louise, Gabrielle – Golden, CO / http://www.gabriellelouise.
Makins, Daniel – Sewanee, TN / http://danielmakins.com
O’Connor, Daisy – Austin, TX / http://www.daisydobedo.com
Rowden, Mandy – Austin, TX / http://www.mandyrowden.com
Starr, David – Cedaredge, CO / http://www.davidstarrmusic.
Wallace, Alice – Fullerton, CA / http://www.
Weber, Dan – Vancouver, WA / http://www.danwebermusic.com
Wood, Stephen Grant – Tampa, FL / http://www.thehummingbirds.
Accomplished singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Ken Gaines, of Houston, will emcee the event.
Established in 2007, the Songwriter Serenade competition gives performing songwriters a platform to showcase their skills. Sharing a deep passion for original music, co-chairs musicians Mike Stroup and Brian Kalinec, philanthropist Tom McDaniel and Lane Gosnay of the Bugle Boy in La Grange, founded the Songwriter Serenade to create a valuable career stepping-stone for songwriters and a memorable listening experience for the audience.
Past Winners:
Gina Chavez - 2015
Allie Farris - 2014
Frank Gilligan - 2013
Phoebe Hunt – 2012
Jean Synodinos – 2011
Jessica Graves – 2010
Bill Pasalacqua – 2009
Abi Tapia – 2008
Brian Kalinec – 2007
For more information about this event and a short video with highlights of prior competitions, please visit www.songwriterserenade.
The Songwriter Serenade is part of the Moravia Fest (facebook.com/
Media Contact: Heidi Labensart, 512.698.2621; heidi@
Monday, December 14, 2015
"Heart to Heart" Music Video on VIDEO NATION
I wanted to share with you some cool news that's come my way this holiday season. Before the band I worked with Man & the Mountain had decided to do other things, we recorded a music video of "Heart to Heart". The guys graciously agreed to let me use the video if opportunity arose. And I'm excited to say that opportunity arose!
An organization called Video Invasion is creating a show dedicated to music videos from Indie musicians, and the "Heart to Heart" video was picked to be a part of it! Video Nation has partnered with hotel companies such as Wyndham, Sheraton, Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, and others to broadcast the show to over 600,000 motel rooms across the US. They're also working with online services such as SmartMed Plus to show streaming videos while people wait to see the doctor. The shows will be available to most smart tv's including Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. So, you can see that it's a great opportunity.
I have to say a really huge thank you to Jeff Swafford who took on this project as director/producer and made all of this possible. I also wanted to give a shout out to the guys from Man & the Mountain. This video is a reminder to me of how much fun we had playing together.
And now if you're wanting to see the video, there's more good news.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Hard at Work
Quick update:
These past couple of weeks have been exciting ones. Music in general is great, but some moments that are more gratifying than others. I've been experiencing one of those peaks these past couple of weeks watching these songs that I've written come alive with the arrangement and polished sound design that Dean and I have been laying down. It's kind of like finally seeing a idea that you've scratched out on a napkin turn into a full fledged painting. You think..."that's what I really was creating!" So we've been hard at work in the studio making it happen. We've only got one more session for mastering, and then the songs are ready to go! It's hard to believe the moment has finally arrived.
Also, with every project comes artwork. I'm excited to say that I'm working with Jacob Hansel again for the album artwork. He was the artist who created the Man & the Mountain artwork for the Songbird EP, and we loved it. This album is different, but the artwork is shaping up to be equally as awesome. I'm very excited about this whole project from cover to cover....literally. :) Here's a preview using a scratch idea that was later fleshed out for what will be the some of the album art. Keep in mind this is a scratch pencil idea...I can't show you everything and ruin the surprise!
So very soon, you'll see the finished version of everything up and ready for you to experience. I'm counting down the days!
Sunday, August 16, 2015
EP COMING!!!
Big News!!! I'm so excited to tell you that my solo EP is happening! I've worked hard writing material, getting the right producer, and everything else that goes into making an EP. And now it's ready to track. This is a huge step for this process, and it means that this is going to be ready to roll out very soon.
I'm working with producer and songwriter Dean Payla, Jr. for the tracking, recording, and mastering of this project. He's a great songwriter as well as producer, and I really believe he's going to help complete the vision I have for these songs. Here's a video of Dean doing a cover if you're curious about this guy:
Also, I encourage you to go check out his web page
http://deanpalyajr.com
If you're not following me on FB and/or Twitter, I encourage you to do so to get more updates on day to day activities of this process.
Again, I am super excited that the ball is really rolling. I can't wait to share it with you.
I'm working with producer and songwriter Dean Payla, Jr. for the tracking, recording, and mastering of this project. He's a great songwriter as well as producer, and I really believe he's going to help complete the vision I have for these songs. Here's a video of Dean doing a cover if you're curious about this guy:
Also, I encourage you to go check out his web page
http://deanpalyajr.com
If you're not following me on FB and/or Twitter, I encourage you to do so to get more updates on day to day activities of this process.
Again, I am super excited that the ball is really rolling. I can't wait to share it with you.
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