Is there anyone OUT THERE

Sometimes inspiration for music comes in the strangest of places and times. I had just finished my last record (Sees the Light) and didn't plan on creating another one for at least a couple months. In my previous posts about songwriting, I mentioned that you can get sparks of inspiration from anywhere. Most of my inspirations comes from watching people interact, feelings, listening to other artists songs, and experiences. Feelings is by far the most powerful inspiration of my creativity.

A couple of months ago an event gave a jump start to my feelings. A family member was diagnosed with cancer. Luckily, this family member didn't have to go through this alone, but had the strength of his family with him. A lot of the times when this happens we always think of the individual it is happening to, but often forget the people closest to them going through the tragedy also. The biggest strength came from his wife of many, many years. I couldn't begin to imagine the feelings she had when we found out this tragic news. She lived most of her life with this individual, but then it seemed like in an instant everything changed. Many years of laughter and fun, had now turned into many days and months of tears and heartache.

The positive in all of this story was the love that they had between one another. The love that they had prior to the diagnosis. The love that they shared while going through this event. Finally, the love that was still strong once he passed. I believe that love never dies. I believe that when we truly love someone, nothing can ever break that bond not even death. This is where the start of OUT THERE began.

One day I was just picking at the guitar and came up with a little progression that started to evoke a feeling.

Much like the other times when I get a progression that I want to continue further, I recorded it. A day later I played it back and the phrase "I'll see you on the other side" came to the forefront. I knew I had to continue this because when we pass, it's not a goodbye, it's a I'll see you again someday. Not on this earth, but wherever we spend eternity afterwards. There's great hope in this statement. From this we get that death is not final. That's when I knew that this little project would not be about death in a negative light, but a positive light. When I started recording the vocals for this track once I had the music complete, out of spontaneity I added the phrase "is there anybody out there". I initially wanted it to be a whisper to close out the song, but at the last minute I had an urge to belt it out. It kind of resembles the frustration of when you begin to question everything that happens when someone dies.

The next track I set out on was the one called Sunrise. This was a different one for me in the sense it started out with just a loop in my recording software. Normally, all of my songs starts with me strumming around on the guitar or picking at the piano. If you ever listened to my songs, you know the style I create would not be considered "hip-hop", "techno", or anything rather than just folkish really. But when I came across this look, I wanted to stretch my abilities and try something new.During the process, the song went through a couple variations, but the beat always stayed the same. The theme of the song started when I was playing back the music and the melody of the word "sunrise" came about. I decided to run with it because to me sunrises are all about hope. The hope of a brand new day. When I pondered on everything happening with my family members, I was wishing for a sunrise, or hope that good news will come about. To me, I always try to stay positive or a cup half full kind of guy. It's not always easy, but this song is my best at trying to convey that we always need to have hope.

While recording I always tinker around with different ideas that come about. One day I was toying around with the digital instruments and effects in my software library. I came across this sound called "crystal caverns" and liked the sound of it. It reminded me of Coldplays opening track Life in Technicolor from their album Viva la Vida which I've thought sounded interesting. I came up with a little melody and called it Intro and put it off to the side. With all of my albums I try to have an introduction track and like the sound of this one to start it off. It has an upbeat type of melody and a simple progression. Later in the recording process I was playing around with vocals and came up with the phrase "dance with me". At that moment I knew it would be a good start to this story. It tells of the good times before a bad prognoses.

The final song that I recorded for this project was called Shooting Stars. It was the easiest, but also the hardest one to write/produce for this project. It was the easiest because I've had MOST of the song progression for a couple years. The only new part that was added was the bridge. In that sense, the musical writing was fast. The other two parts that took the longest was the lyrics and the drums. The lyrics started when I come up with the phrase "when I look up at the stars". At first I didn't know which direction I would take the song. It could've have been "when I look up at the stars I wonder why it happened", or it could have been "when I look up at the stars I wonder is there more out there then what we face on earth". The last one would've been a little wordy, but it was a start of the concept of could the stars be more. I came across an old Inuit proverb that says "Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy." BINGO, I found the conclusion of my story. A conclusion in the sense of looking up to the stars and then seeing a shooting star to let the person know who they are mourning is happy and at peace. People always say after someone passes "well at least they are not in pain anymore". That's a peace that can bring comfort to anyone because we never want to see loved ones (or anyone) in pain. The drumming part of the song took the longest too because I don't consider myself a drummer. I can keep a steady beat and have played the snare and cymbals on some of my other songs, but only recorded them in pieces. This time I knew I wanted a full drum sound to this song. So I set up my entire drum kit and started practicing away and tried to find the right "groove" to go along with the song. After it seemed like a thousand takes and after many yells out in frustration I had what I wanted! Plus it always helps knowing the editing process can make it a touch better.

More than anything with this album, I want people to be able to relate to the story of this project and always end with hope. This is not to say I want to tell people don't be sad, because that's a natural process. Instead, have a hope that you'll see that person again someday. Hope that by looking up at the stars, you can have a peace to bring comfort knowing he/she is in a better place. This life we have on earth is hard in many ways. I believe it's only temporary and one day we will see our loved ones again and when we do there will be no more pain, no more tears, and no more fears, but instead our love will remain.