Quarantiner Dreamer Playlist

I organized the first batch of song titles in this playlist to tell a story:

“Public Service Announcement” – signifies the moment that everything changed and we moved to words like “quarantine” and “social distancing.”

“Strange Times” and “The times they are a’ changing” – signify my initial response (and everyone’s too) that the world might be falling to pieces.

“Buggin’ Out” and “Stressed Out” – signify the panic.

“Go it Alone” – of course, the social distancing.

“Say it ain’t So” – Is this really happening?

“Unfuckwittable” – stay six feet away, please.

“Hard Knock Life” – It’s hard out here. Is this the “Upside Down,” Hopper?

“Loser” and “Creep” – I’m all alone. There’s no one here beside me!

“Heart of Glass” and “Hard Times” and “Disaster Tourism” – all pretty self explanatory.

… and then it gets pretty dark and heavy from there in the story. (shrugs) haha

These are Strange Times and the songs listed here (jams in their own right) are a little off center as well.

Small Victories and a Solid Night

Making music is vulnerable. Here’s my heart and soul in a song, do you like it? That’s what we’re asking (through misty eyes) when we, as artists, show you our work.

Years ago, I was admitted to a mental hospital for the first time. Got out and was depressed for a solid year. I was suicidal. My stomach was in knots. I wrote a song about the experience a year later. Played it at open mics for 3 years until my fingers bled each time. Got access to a recording studio. Paid two-hundred dollars that I didn’t have to get a decent recording. Put the song on Soundcloud. 10 people heard it. Played it more at open mics over the course of four more years. A total of a hundred people have listened to it.

It’s hard work … but tonight, I felt a little victory.

I haven’t recorded many songs to date, really. I’ve been trying to piece things together and pay for studio time when I have the money or find friends who will work with me for free. Something switched in me, and now I’m trying to get some solid recordings down almost hurriedly. I released a song to Spotify last week and have been showing people and sending it to them.

Tonight, my friend, Caleb and I went to a bar called ‘Three Spirits Tavern’ in Bellevue, Kentucky and grabbed a few drinks. We shot the shit with the bartender and he made us some whiskey mixed drinks. He asked us what we did for work.

I feel nervous when I hear this question because what I’m doing right now isn’t exactly bringing in the cash. Sometimes, I feel like I should lie. And when I do tell the truth, I question if I should call myself a musician – he who doesn’t know all his scales.

“I’m a musician,” I said nervously. He asked what instrument I played and the kind of songs I wrote. “He’s got a song on Spotify,” Caleb said nudging me to speak up.

After some clarification on spelling, my song was playing in this bar over the speakers. We had been listening to solid music from the moment we walked in. Blackstreet, Alanis Morriset, The Verve Pipe all had been playing and when my song came on … it didn’t kill the mood. It kept pace with these great tracks I had grown up with. It was almost as if it belonged.

I was trying to hide my smile when the bartender said, “Play it again,” the moment it ended. I was one Vieux Carre and a beer deep at this point so, I was feeling pretty toasty.

I want to celebrate the victories right along with all the work I’ve put in. I must admit though, it doesn’t feel like work when it’s something I love this much.

So cool to see my song on Spotify…