Click for PDF (sorry I don't have one that says 2012 yet)
Dear bands, singer-songwriters & musicians alike,
Perhaps you have recently been mired in the drudgery of slogging through everyday life – work, bills, various and sundry other burdens. I understand. And I propose a solution. A moratorium on burdens, of sorts. I suggest that you join me in going to http://www.rpmchallenge.com and signing up for the RPM Challenge. The goal? To record an album in the month of February.
What’s that? You couldn’t possibly complete an album amid the many obligatory tasks on your plate? Trust me, you can. There is time. There is a way. Remember, it doesn’t have to be THE album, just AN album. An expression of you the artist, rather than you the worker bee. A chance to hit ‘Record’ and let the tape (hard drive?) roll until you have 10 songs or 35 minutes of previously unrealized musical genius ready and waiting to be shown to the world.
I know that recording an album in 28 days seems like a new burden, but I can assure that it is not. Instead, it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to let go for an hour or two (or eight or twelve – you have sick days, don’t you?) a day, to dive back into the essence of creation and to meet some equally crazy awesome (and often inspiring) people along the way. Write a blog entry, post in the forums, message people and beg for their assistance. Basically, do all the things you’ve been telling yourself you wish you had time to do. 28 days is just long enough.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,500 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 42 trips to carry that many people.
Mystie Chamberlin (aka “Just Another Folk Singer”) “The Musician (Mama Says)” scratch demo recorded 10.21.11 @ Lucky Ray’s Studio, NYC by Mark Suall.Vox and acoustic guitar by Mystie Chamberlin.Played Jumbo Butterfly Bubinga Daisy Rock electric acoustic.
There’s something in the water. by Jeremiah Birnbaum. Read, like, and share his post! I don’t know how I managed to miss this when it was originally posted in March, but he touches on so many relevant issues dealing with struggling artists, musicians, and general concerns today. After I read it, I was reminded of a song of his called “Heart.”
Jeremiah Birnbaum and Mystie Chamberlin (Just Another Folk Singer) performing cover of Jesse Malin's "Brooklyn" @ "Jeremiah's Off-the-Wagon Showcase," 04.20.10 @ Banjo Jim's (700 E. 9th St. @ Ave. C, NYC). iPhone Hipstamatic Print by David Jordan (Lens: Lucifer VI, Film: Ina's 1969). Performance # 127.
I started a blog because I wanted one place to anchor all of my endeavors. In 2009, when I decided I wanted to write songs and learn how to play guitar, having a web log seemed like a logical idea to chronicle my efforts. It was, and still is, one of my favorite projects. At first I mainly wrote because I was still learning and did not have much else to contribute. As 2009 became 2010, and I diligently worked up to playing 100 shows, my written posts decreased, and more footage (images and video) of my live attempts we posted. By that May, I even had my first official recording, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
From Team WordPress.com: The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Minty-Fresh™.
Crunchy numbers
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has 296 steps to reach the top. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2010. If those were steps, it would have climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa 4 times
In 2010, there were 70 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 81 posts. There were 81 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 30mb. That’s about 2 pictures per week.
"Absolut coffee" snapshot @ brunch, 05.30.10 @ Uptown Lounge (1576 3rd Ave. b/t 88th and 89th St., NYC). Hipstamatic iPhone print by Mystie Chamberlin (Lens: Kaimal Mark II Film: Blanko),
Over the past four and a half years, I have accepted that my body thrives on stress. It’s as though my body realizes I will have an extended weekend away from traditional responsibility and decides that this an acceptable time to become sick. Since paid time off is scarce, I find this physical decision thoroughly unagreeable. Although my diet consists mainly of stress and caffeine, I’ve managed to find a few ways to regulate (well, regulate the stress anyway…I’ll work on the coffee next year).
Writing in my journal and composing songs are my two favorite ways to relax. I appreciate my writing workshops and my writing peers. I eagerly anticipate our sporadic assemblages, fueled with words and wine, when and where we are all driven by the desire of wondering if we have anything worthwhile or interesting to impart. Once a story or song is transcribed from my mind to the paper or the computer (or communicator, ie. phone), I obsess over the editing process. I cherish when a word I initially chose for simplicity’s sake is replaced by something suitably descriptive. I celebrate each word and it’s sound.
Together with composing song lyrics, I unwind by playing guitar (pun intended). Twisting the chrome tuning keys and pressing down on the bronze strings is more cathartic than punching holes in my head. The misery of sometimes not having the fine motor muscle memory needed in order to craft what I auralize frustratingly, yet determinately, drives me to excel.
I still get goose bumps when I strike a string and from the sound that emanates, even when it is discordant (sometimes, especially when it is discordant). I even enjoy practicing scales; challenging my fingers to move faster or slower is satisfying. Some people might say I’m easily amused. Continue reading →
Just Another Folk Singer Online is a personal web-log. The opinions expressed herein represent my (Mystie Chamberlin's) flights of fancy. Likewise, the thoughts and ideas expressed within, express the person I was the moment I chronicled them, and may not accurately express the person I am at the present time. I retain any and all rights to change mind and opinion, however these views were/are my own and do not reflect on an past/present employers, fellow artists, and/or acquaintances.
Any mistakes/misunderstandings are completely unintended. You are encouraged to have an open mind and your own opinion, but I retain the right to delete any comment for any reason.
To quoth Bob Dylan: "All I can be is me, whoever that is."
Just Another Folk Singer Online Blog content and all material therein is copyrighted by Mystie Chamberlin and Just Another Folk Singer Online unless otherwise noted.
Unapproved use/duplication of components without express written consent from Just Another Folk Singer Online's author/owner is strictly forbidden.
Excerpts and links may be used for personal and promotional purposes, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mystie Chamberlin and Just Another Folk Singer Online with proper and accurate direction to the original material.
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