Holidays, a break, and a new lease on life!

Hola Heroes!

It's been a while! I thought about apologizing for that, but it's been a good break for me. I've been weeding out the unnecessary and figuring out what is important in my life and career. Yep, just like the year, out with the old and in with the new.

It's a great thing to take a long hard look at our own actions and agendas sometimes. To question our intentions. To make sure that we haven't bitten off too much or if, just maybe, we're being too cautious. To make sure that our plans still reflect that burning belief that formed them in the first place.

Are you spitting your truth, or are you playing a game? Are you living your dream or are you playing pretend? Life gives us little hurtles and road blocks sometimes as a reminder to check our course and make the needed adjustments. To get us back on task so that we can accomplish what it is we've set out to do, and friends, I'm back on course.

How about you?

I know that I've talked about this idea of self diagnostics before, but I can't help but be a firm believer. To borrow a phrase from Russell Simmons, make 2010 the year that you "Do You!"

Later,

To Thyself Be True!

You know, I've been struck recently by how samey so many bands are these days. Well, it may not just be "These Days". It's been like that for as long as I can remember. One group starts to get a bit of a following or has a decent radio hit and then there are 10 Million clone bands the next day.

It's kind of like there's some mass production mold somewhere on the Labels lot where they take a stock 4 guys who can hold their instruments in a proper Rock Star pose and stuff them in the sausage grinder of current trend. They come out the other end with the current hipster hairdo and a stock, trendy sound.

Maybe we should thank the Labels for doing this. It makes it easier for someone with their own ideas, sound, and image to stand out in the crowd. But, keep in mind, this is easy to do to yourselves too. It's easy to over rely on your influences when creating your sound. It's even Super Easy to rely on too few of your influences when creating your sound. You don't want all of your songs to sound like Billy Corgan covering Tool do you?

Be well rounded. Don't listen too much to one thing. Create a healthy relationship with genres outside what you play. Network with other Indies from other markets and scenes. Be yourself and put your personality into your music, and you can't help but stand out. Unless, of course, you don't have a personality. ; )

In the immortal words of Russell Simmons: Do YOU!

Have a Happy and Productive week. Oh, and feel free to stop by http://www.seriousvanity.com/12SongsOfChristmas for some free Holiday tunes! While you're there sign up on the mailing list and see if you can beat Simon!

Later,