I woke up 2 hours earlier than I had planned and was about to go back to sleep when I noticed a notification as I checked the time.
My song had released on streaming platforms.
This release is a little different from all the rest. This sounds like the music I dreamed of making when I started.
Not on the way. Not halfway there. I finally made it.
It’s not an album or even an EP, it’s just a single song. Still, it marks a new era for me. I finally feel like an artist and not just someone trying at being an artist.
Have a listen:
I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea because it definitely doesn’t fit cleanly into one genre, but it’s the kind of music I always wanted to make.
I don’t know if I feel proud because I don’t know if I really understand this emotion.
Is “Yeah!!!” Proud? Then maybe I am proud.
It just feels like excitement to me. Excitement that I’ve finally arrived at the door of the life I always wanted.
It’s a little hard to take a victory lap when there are 8 more songs to mix, one of which looks like it will be a nightmare. But I am super excited.
Despite all that, things feel oddly quiet.
I haven’t received a whole lot of feedback other than simple compliments which I’m never sure whether or not people mean, but the 3 friends who had something more to say seemed very impressed.
It makes sense. People often need time to digest, especially when it’s something unfamiliar to them. Many people probably put listening on the back burner because of work or play. I know when a friend sends me something there is a good chance I won’t check it for a day or two or sometimes more.
Something else has changed too. People’s opinions don’t change how I feel about the song one bit. Their approval or disapproval only signals one thing to me: how much further I can take this and how soon.
How long will it be before I can take off work to tour and have it be logistically sound? How long until I can organize slightly bigger events with 100 people instead of 20-30? How long before I can spend time overseas?
And so in order to achieve all that, I hope people like it.
But all I can do is present the song for people to listen to. How they take it is up to them.
I have a very good feeling though. I feel like it won’t be long before I can just let everything unfold without any strategizing at all, just a clear head to say yes or no to the opportunities that come my way.
An Australian band messaged me yesterday, friends of a friend, and asked if I’d like to organize a show when they are in Japan. Hell yes, their music is fun and they seem cool, so why the hell not!
Over the past year I’ve made friends with more and more musicians from Australia which makes a tour over there seem not too far fetched. That would be a dream. A tour anywhere….everywhere, especially a slow paced one with time to rest and meet people and absorb the place…it’s exactly what I want. Maybe we will even be able to make some money out of it although just to be able to pay for the plane tickets would be exciting enough.
If you are using any streaming platform, please save “Speaking Leaves” by I+everything ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🌞🌞🌞
