‘You woke up today, so there is nothing but opportunity ahead.’ – Me, 2022.
I’ve waited all week to be home to create, to be, to get the next record done, get this journal written. And I sit at my desk and slowly look around and think ‘I’m kinda tired, I’m kinda just…decompressing. Does this need to happen right now?’
Yes. The answer is yes.
There are so many other things I could be doing at 5 AM. Sleeping it top of that list. I don’t think I have a sleep problem, I just have a drive to be up and experience whatever life has to offer. And if it’s writing music or a journal or whatever, so be it. I’m ready.
My drive is strong, but then there’s that little voice inside of me saying ‘But what exactly are you creating?’ And that part of it is tricky.
I like to get up in the morning and make music. First thing. That doesn’t happen every morning, but I certainly try. And what do I get out of it? For me, it’s two fold: I get my brain moving into some different directions first thing, and then I hope the results are something I am happy enough releasing. Will it make me money? Probably not. Will it make me feel better about the day? Absolutely.
I (try) to wake up really early in the morning to get an hour or so of quiet before little feet hit the staircase in need of Honey Nut Cheerios. I totally see how can athletes get up predawn to train and get serious results. There is something exhilarating about the morning, especially as the air gets cooler. Plus, coffee! C’mon.
The other morning I was firing up my recording software, and listened back to a short passage I wrote. I thought ‘I should take this piece of music here, elevate it there, etc.’ As I started to arrange, I scrolled right, which showed me the whole composition, and it turns out I had already written the changes I had envisioned. Now, was this affirmation that I was doing the right thing, headed in the same direction as before, or is this just carelessness and being forgetful? I’d like to think the former, since my brain was fast tracking exactly where it left off.
This routine is nothing new for me. I made the decision to start finding time to get things done during lockdown, when boredom and Groundhog Day set in, and make small changes. The results have been good; I have something to show for my effort, I’m healthier for it, and I have learned that the quiet is my friend.
Lockdown was interesting. What a study in psychology, huh? Sheesh. We’re still not ‘right’, to be honest. We go about life as if everything is cool, but think about life just 6 or 8 years ago. Did it seem less insane? I dunno.
Have you carried over any different behaviors from lockdown? Are we taking more walks now? Spend less time on screens? Eating better? Or are we back to things we were doing before? Not judging, just curious.
I’ll tell you, there are things I wish were a little different about me. To change them, however, needs the conscious, ‘HEY STEVE’ little voice to get it all going. It’s that late night craving for the Christie’s Cookies on the counter and opting for grapes instead. It’s knowing that I have to get outside and walk when I just want to make music inside. It’s not easy at all.
But with little changes comes big change. Little change brings about little change. So if there is something you don’t like, don’t want, don’t need, change it. Fast. It won’t change itself, and it’s not doing you any good to sit and mope or dwell on it. Just get it done.
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And you don’t think you are strong enough to change, then I have news for you. A lot of people are changing things right now. I am living proof. To be 100% honest, it’s scary as can be. I won’t lie. To wake up and not know what the next step is can be daunting at best. Not as scary as not being able to wake up. That’s the reality. You woke up today, so there is nothing but opportunity ahead.
I will make a bold prediction for you right now: Everything will be fine. Your changes will work and be for the better, no matter what the scale.
And now, the fun work stuff:
This sounds really silly to even talk about, but it’s a crazy cool thing for me. The legendary bass company Ampeg recently asked me to design some Artist Presets for their SVT Suite plug-in software update, which puts me in some pretty amazing company with bass heavyweights. Basically if someone wants a preset, they hit the dropdown menu and see my name and hopefully find something they like. I never take things like this for granted. I’m tickled to death that someone wants to hear something I’ve put together. Kinda cool.
And this news came in just as I was having not the best of days (I know, I’m supposed to be all positive and unflappable), and boom. I’m forever immortalized in 0s and 1s in a bass plugin of all things. Again, affirmation you are right where you are supposed to be at all times.
Keep your head down and keep at it. Or if you are ice skating, keep your head up and keep at it.
See you in the funny papers!
I love you Brotha!!