Make The Internet Global

Well, my day was almost half way over when I started this blog It was 12.15pm. I got out of bed just after 6am. and almost like a robot, went into the recording studio, the same studio that was more like a cool store. I was able to record a lead guitar track (in two takes) then had my customary cigarette and coffee outside on the (covered in) veranda.

As I sat there pondering all sorts of menial things the rain was deafening on the fibreglass roof I got to thinking what I was going to do for the rest of the day.

I then remembered a blog entry that I was going to do on behalf of Stuart Reeman; an artist and close friend. “Great!” I thought. This sentiment soon changed to “Shit!” when I discovered that the email he had sent with a required attachment contained the exact same wording as was used in a previous post that I did on his behalf.

I emailed him back pointing this out and am currently waiting on a response. I’ve told him that it doesn’t need to be much for me to run with as I am intending only to do mini-blogs on each of his works featured on his website.

So….I’ve put that behind me for the time being and of all things to do, I felt like doing an entry for this ‘lazy blog.’ As I am writing, I’m thinking what I’ll be doing for the rest of the day….and I think I have the answer. Lyrics. Lyrics to the 2/3 completed song that I started working on recently as I can ‘feel’ it taking shape.

I’m also waiting on replies regarding one of my two online newspapers. My first, “Tasmania Today” is easy. I just check a customized list on Twitter, re-post, re-tweet and use appropriate hashtags in order to get my stories of choice featured.

“Music And Arts In Tasmania” is a different thing altogether.Whilst waiting for replies from relevant artists and so forth, I went through various Tasmanian artists and found that they have a very low web presence. Musicians, for example, seem to think that ReverbNation and MySpace are sufficient from what I can deduce. The few bios. and photos that I have received are great, most notably from Tasmanian musician Rod Fritz.

Further investigations that I have carried out, mainly blog statistics, show that the U.S.A. is light years ahead of any other country with regards to following a link. Australia is waaaay behind on this front. It could be that Australian readers view a story or tweet prima facie without getting their teeth into the full story. It seems to mw that Americans were born with a laptop and twittering #mybirth while the rest of us are still trying to work out where to plug the damn thing in.

Whatever the reason, I urge Australian artists to focus on the States. Until the Australian public ( most other countries....Canada excluded) begin using the internet to its’ full potential, then we’re ‘playing to an empty room,’ so to speak.

A Change At Last

Over the last several months I have done nothing musically with the exception of promoting my older material. I have no idea why this has occured; nor do I have any idea why this changed yesterday when I just took to the studio and laid down a bass track and two rhythm tracks.

I was in the studio for approximately three hours as the tracks were already crystal clear....and had been for some time....so the actual playing of them was quite simple. I spent approximately an hour mixing what I had just recorded. No doubt this mixing will be tampered with over and over again as time progresses.

Waking up this morning full of beans and ready to get back into the recording business again I had a touch of bad luck. The weather here is 5 degrees Celcius then seconds after plugging in the only heater available there became a 'dangerous' smell emanating from it....if that makes sense. I can only assume that it's the actual heater as everything else in the studio is working fine and the studio has three-phase electricity wired in.

Despite the months away from the recording business I have a truckload of track 'upstairs.' I have no doubt that I'll be left with the pleasant dilemma of having to cut down the number of tracks on the next album.

Having broadcasted my upcoming album, I have no idea when it will be released. I have released the E.P. "Dollys Mixtures." It is a small collection of lesser-known tracks that I hope people will enjoy.

New Song Release "Teach Me"

My latest musical offering has been some time in the making but I think it's worth the wait. "Teach Me" is something of a diversion lyrically as it enters the realm of certain undertakings  of consenting adults involving an array of "accessories" and so forth in a tongue-in-cheek manner. 


The song is a raunchy number but draws short of out-and-out bad taste; infact the overall feel of the lyrics are intended to be light-hearted with no coarse language. It is this frame of mind that I entered my home recording studio.


The song begins with a rather smooth, rolling rhythm which carries on through each chorus, including the instrumental break where I use a light wah-wah effect on the guitar to add a little more colour.

The verses in the song are a definite and deliberate counterpoint to the flowing choruses. The verse tempo is almost military in nature and inspired by 'The Shape I'm In' by "The Band." It is also during the verses where the lyrical 'action' happens.


You will note that the single has a 'weird' price. There are two reasons for this. Firstly I have never delved into this realm and cannot foresee me doing it again. Secondly, the track will not feature on any upcoming albums.


As mentioned above, "Teach Me" is intended as a light-hearted jaunt and not intend to offend anyone in any way. The songwriting process in this song was particularly enjoyable. I hope that you too enjoy the track and find it worthy of a place in your digital library. You can download "Teach Me" directly below this entry.


On that note, I'll leave the rest to your imagination. 

Why A Blog?

Having written numerous blogs, the majority of which are music related and more succinctly related to the independent music scene, I have recently received more than a few requests from people to write a blog about myself. To be perfectly honest, as much as I truly enjoy writing, I don't know where to start so I'm doing this by the seat of my pants....as I tend to.


I was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland in 1967 and emigrated to Tasmania in 1979. I currently live in Stanley, a small village of less than 500 people on Tasmanias far North-West coast. Serenity reigns supreme....usually.


I took to playing the guitar after seeing The Rolling Stones perform "Start Me Up" on T.V. For the next 3 years, night after night, hour after hour I would painstakingly work on my guitar playing. I have played in several bands since the age of 16. I quit the band scene in 1995 due to family commitments. I did, however, play occasional acoustic gigs and began recording late in 1998.


I seemed to have a bit of a knack for music recording....probably because I was recording myself and was playing all instruments, thus knowing my limits on all fronts. I had several years away from recording altogether due to a very serious alcohol, namely vodka, problem. I'll spare you the gory details; I think I've put them in print elsewhere and I make no secret of it.

In late April 2007, my abuse reached crisis point. Long story short....I returned to recording purely as a form of therapy. I then discovered a multitude of free music sites where one can upload their songs. Initially, I was over the moon with this and had a friend start my own website. Slowly but surely I started noticing the seedier side on online music for the independent musician....namely money. It seemed that if one paid for this, that or the other 'privilege' in the online music industry, then the better one would fare. This is not necessarily the case. Far from it.


Over the last 12 months I have sat back and watched more and more 'paid upgrades' and 'pay for distribution' sites emerge.

Earlier this year a colleague put me onto Bandcamp. The site is a no-frills, no-fees, high-quality sound-file options and fan discounts. If you look at the player to your left, you can press 'play' and listen to the album in its' entirety as often as you wish. Individual tracks can be downloaded. If you wish to download the entire album, enter the word thistle at checkout to view the hefty discount. Even at this point, you are under no obligation to make a purchase.


Earlier this year I released my first book, "Online Music Traps." The book, which can be downloaded is a comprehensive overview of the internet and providing advice to independent musicians on how to minimize cash outlay where it isn't needed. I am currently working on a second book.


As it stands at the moment, between writing my second book, having recently commenced recording my next album, blogging and family commitments, I'm keeping myself busy. I mention this because boredom is perhaps the biggest trap for the recovering alcoholic.


So....the next time I have a few minutes on my hands and have something informative and hopefully humorous I'll post another entry.

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Having written numerous blogs, the majority of which are music related and more succinctly related to the independent music scene, I have recently received more than a few requests from people to write a blog about myself. To be perfectly honest, as much as I truly enjoy writing, I don't know where to start so I'm doing this by the seat of my pants....as I tend to.


I was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland in 1967 and emigrated to Tasmania in 1979. I currently live in Stanley, a small village of less than 500 people on Tasmanias far North-West coast. Serenity reigns supreme....usually.


I took to playing the guitar after seeing The Rolling Stones perform "Start Me Up" on T.V. For the next 3 years, night after night, hour after hour I would painstakingly work on my guitar playing. I have played in several bands since the age of 16. I quit the band scene in 1995 due to family commitments. I did, however, play occasional acoustic gigs and began recording late in 1998.


I seemed to have a bit of a knack for music recording....probably because I was recording myself and was playing all instruments, thus knowing my limits on all fronts. I had several years away from recording altogether due to a very serious alcohol, namely vodka, problem. I'll spare you the gory details; I think I've put them in print elsewhere and I make no secret of it.

In late April 2007, my abuse reached crisis point. Long story short....I returned to recording purely as a form of therapy. I then discovered a multitude of free music sites where one can upload their songs. Initially, I was over the moon with this and had a friend start my own website. Slowly but surely I started noticing the seedier side on online music for the independent musician....namely money. It seemed that if one paid for this, that or the other 'privilege' in the online music industry, then the better one would fare. This is not necessarily the case. Far from it.


Over the last 12 months I have sat back and watched more and more 'paid upgrades' and 'pay for distribution' sites emerge.

Earlier this year a colleague put me onto Bandcamp. The site is a no-frills, no-fees, high-quality sound-file options and fan discounts. If you look at the player to your left, you can press 'play' and listen to the album in its' entirety as often as you wish. Individual tracks can be downloaded. If you wish to download the entire album, enter the word thistle at checkout to view the hefty discount. Even at this point, you are under no obligation to make a purchase.


Earlier this year I released my first book, "Online Music Traps." The book, which can be downloaded is a comprehensive overview of the internet and providing advice to independent musicians on how to minimize cash outlay where it isn't needed. I am currently working on a second book.


As it stands at the moment, between writing my second book, having recently commenced recording my next album, blogging and family commitments, I'm keeping myself busy. I mention this because boredom is perhaps the biggest trap for the recovering alcoholic.


So....the next time I have a few minutes on my hands and have something informative and hopefully humorous I'll post another entry.

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