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We've made good headway this year.

In the way of these things, there's aims and then there's ends.

Our ends are whatever comes out organically. Our aims are to honour what we are able to do by doing it.

When we started the greenhouse project a few years ago, we made a conscious curation of the ideas we have had to hand.

Stuff written in the 'now' has still turned up, as it ought to. And given some more resources, I guess we'd do more. But that would once again to be failing to learn the lessons known since the masters started working.

Work with what you got, while you can, and do the best you can.

Philosophising aside, here's where we are at:

1. I have moved on.

Yep. Bored. Haven't even finished the other songs but my head's in more stuff from the greenhouse. I am sure that's completely OK.

I am interpreting it as 'writing part moves on' and that's fine.

Production part would like a word though.

2. Ups and Downs.

Paul S. being sidelined has frozen guitar work. So I can either work with what I got or wait.

We're fortunate that Chris W. is stepping in as a deputy for the next gigs cos omfg.

I know this is all out of our control, but it really has been a number of Yikes moments for several years. Probably sounds familiar to everyone right now..

3. Song Development Update

3.1 Psych Surfer - i cant sing the solo. I tried masking and fudging the fact that there's not a cohesive melody. That's why i haven't released it yet.

I approached the tiktokker i wanted to dance in the clip but no dice yet...

I gotta get it out as a single, cos then it takes a bit for the wheels to turn.

3.2 By Myself Without You - this thing has taken off into work mode, I think I have got it going as far as I can without drums. Now I am second guessing myself.

There are some frequency issues with my sources but you know what? that's the sound cos that's what I got. Lo-Fi is a thing. Mr Wizard doesn't like it but I kinda do. Tobacco (the artist) for example makes some stuff I dig.

I am just not quite sure amount some of the choices I am making and wonder if somehow i need to relearn everything and redo everything.

I think I am starting to realise why they painted so many versions of sunflowers.

Back to the song. In a complete surprise to me, Mr Wizard digs this song and wants me to hustle it out cos it's a 'now' sound. I pointed out that due to the way social media art and culture intersect people may hear the song at any point, so who are we rushing for?

On the other hand, it reaallly helps to git-r-done and unload it so I can...well already have...move on to the next one.

3.3 Other Songs

This is really a fascinating process. I may even do a Producer Video Stream on it.

Broadly, let's look at what we got:

Sturmkeller - liquidator - out as a single, could be part of an ep or album. I've got 4 more suitables for it.

Michael James Band - By myself without you and maybe a couple of the other flowery ones that didn't sit right for a Stormcellar album.

Stormcellar - Instrumental Album - all i gotta do is art, rename the files and submit. dunno why i haven't. It's been ready for months now. I think all the ups and downs have kinda rattled me a little.

Stormcellar - Current release candidates

This is like mixing a flavour profile.

I think I counted 15 in the release folder - those are songs I expect will be available for release on an album.

So far I guess the 'unplugged' stuff becomes an EP, but maybe The Duke goes on the album?

Right now:

the fix is in - (released as a single)

2 week millionaire - (released as a single)

Morning flame - (released as a single) have i mentioned how much i like that freakin recording?

Waiting on a message from bob - - (released as a single) Paul doesn't like the ending. Theo thinks it goes on too long. I expect a trim for album usage.

The Fix is In - (released as a single) - nothing more to do than a videoclip. I think it's sort of a B-side myself but who knows what is what these days.

Ok that's 5.

Then we get into the still-in-production

Psych Surfer - sooo close.
The Yearning - drums done, paul S. gtr done, temp vocals done. Really just needs attention and completion.
Heavens on my shoulder - On the desk, arrangement and ideas sort of fleshed out, but nowhere near cooked. Crunchy Rice. Magic 8 ball says 'cook until soft'.
For the big chorus i wanna go ask the sea shanty lads to sing along. Yeah I haven't shared it yet. Lyrics required.
The Duke - - (released as a video) The boys asked for strings. We got'em. I didn't like'em. Oh well. So could be as is or mixing...likely mixing.
TEMPORARILY TITLED song 1 & 2 - another two that is so close to done but were never finished cos I could never get a handle on it. Now that I am doing the editing and mixing I have different options.
I think these were recorded before I had a handle on the lyric/vocal and melody and so far I have sucked at these ones sp they wait until I work it out. I kind think I have got it though so...
Big Time in Newtown - from the greenhouse, it's really appealing to me right now so it may move rapidly and possibly bump the temp titles.
Other Greenhouse Material - Mr Wizard did a new Robin Trower style epic, but I think I have either found the last song for this album or maybe the keystone for the next.

4. Multimedia Production

I'm tryna get some new stuff into the live show. Long story there in itself.

5. Videos

Once i get a little less disrupted I'll do some more. Friend of the band Tommy hipped me to another tech to try.

6. Mini tour Dec 14

Last for this year, 2nd for the year. Hope will see more of them.

That's enough for now. Sharing it with you helps me to keep a track of what we're up to. Expect more mixes this week.

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It's been a trying time, I tells ya. Wiser heads prevailed this year and after a host of teeny tiny little papercuts, we've cancelled this years CRAB festival. Big Bummer, but also, very practical.

We are very grateful to our sponsors ROTARY for all their support and look forward to bringing the music together again in 2025.

Sooooo...I came across an idea in the wild, brought it into the greenhouse to see what would happen.

Taken me a while before I opted to share it but this is the sample mix i have sent out today to the boys, so yes that's right, you get it too.

I figured it might be another side project piece, this time 'The Michael James Band'. Why? Cos Mr Wizard doesn't always share my penchant for torch songs LOLOL. I love'em.

Little did I realise that the boys would be into it. Paul S. really produced some excellent guitar ideas and synth parts. Theo wants to add drums, and to my great surprise Paul R loves it. Go figure.

I am aiming to release this as a single, the first for The Michael James Band, my new vehicle for songs Mr Wizard thinks are too...umm....well....not macho. Paul's idea of a singer is Paul Rodgers from Free, making it amusing that he has chosen to partner with me.

Paul Rodgers I ain't :)

Friend of the band and ginormous brain Dion W. explained to me it's not my occasional foray into 'feminine' sounds that bug Paul, but instead, the idea of vulnerability. I guess I have the advantage of being comfortable with vulnerability. Over the years various folks have commented that I don't sing in a way they expect. Heh. Le Oops.

The benefit of having our production in house, and our obscurity, is the opportunity follow the ideas as they come to you. I have ventured into Norwegian eurosynthwave with our mate Tobias in Skypta Vind, 'Liquidator' from STURMKELLER has given us an outlet for a foray into heavier sounds (one I hope to explore further) , so why not an outlet for some...um....whatever this is.

Paul S. shares my interest in Synth, Theo's into it and and even Mr Wizard thinks there's something to it.

What a great time to be making music. What rules are there to follow?

I expect we'll add more stuff to it but I have done as much to it as I can until i get drums done, which might be a few weeks yet. It's possible it might get another section and i'd be up for recording the vox again in the studio.

Lyrics:

By myself without you

As I walk the halls of memory

Where the chiseled past is stone

And the weight upon my shoulders

Pressing me into unknown

I don’t want the pain to tell me

That I need the things I’m shown

All these hand me down emotions

That I still don’t want to know

But I don’t feel the way you feel it

I don’t feel the falling down

I don’t feel the way it used to

And I can’t say it out loud

All the memories now are burning

Leaving me to stop the hurting

Am I by myself without you

You can never leave me now

Don’t wanna hear about it

When it feels like it’s forever

I know only here and now

haul your ship across the ranges

til you learn to put it down

when you wrap your arms around me

I wish I could feel them now

all the times that you are with me

and I’m still alone somehow

but I don’t feel the way you feel it

I don’t feel the falling down

I don’t feel the way you used to

And I can’t say it out loud

To know the lessons aren’t the learning

And the pain is not the hurting

When I’m by myself without you

I can never leave you now

Don’t wanna hear about it

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It has been a time let me tell ya. Paul S. dinged himself, we've had all sorts of ups and downs and I now have done several hundred mixes of Psych Surfer.

So close. So very close.

Meanwhile, I still have a lot on the desk waiting for attention...

Gonna have to hustle to get something out in the 12 month time frame.

Also: where's the bloody instrumental album?? All i gotta do is rename some files...(sigh).

Videos: Want'em. haven't got'em done.

Screenplay: Paul's keen. I still reckon it's a ways off yet.

Touring? mini tour in Dec.

Local shows? just had to cancel one due to injury. bugger.

Plenty to do... We could do with a little good fortune at present :)

Sad to say we're cancelling the gig on Friday at our spiritual home, the townie, after Paul S. dislocated his shoulder. Sending big healing vibes to Paul, hope to be back on deck shortly.