The studio day is approaching and I'll admit I'm frantically trying to make sure I've got everything in line for the songs. I wish I could say this process was no sweat, I show up with my songs, we play them with the red light flashing, take a few pictures for the art work, stick the music and the pictures in a plastic case, wrap it in the most annoying plastic wrap you've ever touched in your entire life and Boo Yah! New Harley Jay CD! But for some reason it didn't work out hat way for me with the first record and this one isn't too much different.
But you know what is so sweet about this entire process? I'm feel like I can say anything I want. I don't feel like I've really got any need, reason, or excuse to hold back a certain topic. thought, feeling, or sound for that matter. Which also feels really great because it means I can keep my eyes wide open with my head completely cleared and "go, go, go."
The real point to me saying this is not to pat myself on the back and say "way to go Harley for these songs you've beat writers block to the ground, buried it, you're the new high school bully, now let's see who else's ass we can kick!" But for a chance to thank all of you who take time out of your day to read these things, come to the shows, write a thought or feeling on here or anywhere else, pop my CD into your car and blow the windows out listening to "And She Said," sign up for the fan lists, wish me a good day on Facebook, ALL THAT AND MORE because you've given me the hope and spirit to just take a chance and put whatever I'm really thinking about feeling on paper. I always want to put out good music but because of the support you've all put behind me, this second shot at putting out new music seems to be so much more amped and grounded, and I owe that feeling to you.
I'm landing in the studio in three days and will continue to keep my eyes open... wide. To make sure you're getting the real me, the real music, the real experience. What you truly deserve, my 100% best version of myself.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
D-3 Simplicity
Here is a video and a song that I really really enjoy. Why? Because it's incredibly simple, honest, and from the heart. Granted I'm a huge fan of Keith Urban anyway, this song honestly is a song I think I'd like even if I'd never heard of him before.
Only You Can Love Me This Way
But at times I think we can all make our lives a little tougher than it really needs to be. Why we do this I haven't quite figured out but I think maybe I have an idea...
My theory is it's just easier to say how hard something is or how pissed you are about it than it would be to use the brain power to make things better or to think of ideas to fix the situation. I think we can all admit that there has been a time (maybe 20) when if we would have just laid off being so mad about the situation we could have fixed it in a much faster time. I'm not saying that getting pissed from time to time is a horrible thing, that's life, it's a roller coaster so ride that loops, twists, turns, and slopes of your emotions. Sometimes you need to throw your hands up and scream but sometimes you need to throw your hands up with joy! Enjoy the ride and the constant rush of the changing speeds and levels. Most times than not I think when we get in a situation that frustrates us we can't always think straight and then we make or life more difficult than it EVER needed to be. So simplify. Breathe, think, and simplify. It's gonna be ok I promise. Life is here for you to be apart of and enjoy so go out and do something crazy like fall in love or buy that extra half pound of peanut butter m&ms.
..............
......
Sign up for the fan mailing list if you haven't done so yet. I promise I wont bug you with smap and random lame stuff but I'll let you know when gigs are and merch comes out and when I buy a dog I'll send you some pictures... if that ever happens :-)
Only You Can Love Me This Way
But at times I think we can all make our lives a little tougher than it really needs to be. Why we do this I haven't quite figured out but I think maybe I have an idea...
My theory is it's just easier to say how hard something is or how pissed you are about it than it would be to use the brain power to make things better or to think of ideas to fix the situation. I think we can all admit that there has been a time (maybe 20) when if we would have just laid off being so mad about the situation we could have fixed it in a much faster time. I'm not saying that getting pissed from time to time is a horrible thing, that's life, it's a roller coaster so ride that loops, twists, turns, and slopes of your emotions. Sometimes you need to throw your hands up and scream but sometimes you need to throw your hands up with joy! Enjoy the ride and the constant rush of the changing speeds and levels. Most times than not I think when we get in a situation that frustrates us we can't always think straight and then we make or life more difficult than it EVER needed to be. So simplify. Breathe, think, and simplify. It's gonna be ok I promise. Life is here for you to be apart of and enjoy so go out and do something crazy like fall in love or buy that extra half pound of peanut butter m&ms.
..............
......
Sign up for the fan mailing list if you haven't done so yet. I promise I wont bug you with smap and random lame stuff but I'll let you know when gigs are and merch comes out and when I buy a dog I'll send you some pictures... if that ever happens :-)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
D-2 Oldie But A Goodie
Here's a little back ground on a tune on the last record called "Maybe I'm Crazy."
Depending on my mood or maybe the topic of the song or how I'm feeling at the time I'm trying to write or whatever, getting lyrics onto the page come either super fast or take weeks to get out. I've got a few songs I've been trying to get the right lyrics for that at over a year old in fact. I like the melodies a lot and I think the topic I'm going for is groovy but can't figure out the right way to say them so I just have to sit on the song and wait it out until the right thing is said I guess. I never want to put anything out there that I don't feel is completely structured or not quite hitting the right spots so I just have to keep the thoughts going to make it happen on the records to come.
With "Maybe I'm Crazy" the lyrics seemed to come out almost too quickly. I started writing the song and had the first verse spouted out in a few minutes. Then I had another verse and another verse, I think I ended up with close to five full verses I could pick and choose from before ever having the chorus out. That is a thing that regularly happens to me.
When I got into the studio we recorded a version of the song with I think "3 and a half-ish" verses and the song ended up being close to 6 minutes long so I had to bail on half of one verse and ended up writing a different third verse all together in the studio and that's what went down when the record button got pushed. Every song that ended up (and pretty much every song I've ever written except maybe two) I've made a solid effort to make sure the lyrics were mine and mine alone. I know that could come out sounding really awful but I only do it that way because I usually write lyrics with a certain image in my head as if I'm reading a book or seeing a movie and picturing different scenes, and I feel if Im the only one writing the lyrics hopefully I can put the image in my head on paper, then onto the recording and maybe give whoever is listening a shot at having some sort of image or movie in their head as well.
Here are a few shots of how "Maybe I'm Crazy" looked on paper. You'l be able to read one of the verses that didn't make it onto the record but maybe someday at an acoustic show or something I'll play an extended version or something so I can try and sneak it all in... :-) I don't know...
Depending on my mood or maybe the topic of the song or how I'm feeling at the time I'm trying to write or whatever, getting lyrics onto the page come either super fast or take weeks to get out. I've got a few songs I've been trying to get the right lyrics for that at over a year old in fact. I like the melodies a lot and I think the topic I'm going for is groovy but can't figure out the right way to say them so I just have to sit on the song and wait it out until the right thing is said I guess. I never want to put anything out there that I don't feel is completely structured or not quite hitting the right spots so I just have to keep the thoughts going to make it happen on the records to come.
With "Maybe I'm Crazy" the lyrics seemed to come out almost too quickly. I started writing the song and had the first verse spouted out in a few minutes. Then I had another verse and another verse, I think I ended up with close to five full verses I could pick and choose from before ever having the chorus out. That is a thing that regularly happens to me.
When I got into the studio we recorded a version of the song with I think "3 and a half-ish" verses and the song ended up being close to 6 minutes long so I had to bail on half of one verse and ended up writing a different third verse all together in the studio and that's what went down when the record button got pushed. Every song that ended up (and pretty much every song I've ever written except maybe two) I've made a solid effort to make sure the lyrics were mine and mine alone. I know that could come out sounding really awful but I only do it that way because I usually write lyrics with a certain image in my head as if I'm reading a book or seeing a movie and picturing different scenes, and I feel if Im the only one writing the lyrics hopefully I can put the image in my head on paper, then onto the recording and maybe give whoever is listening a shot at having some sort of image or movie in their head as well.
Here are a few shots of how "Maybe I'm Crazy" looked on paper. You'l be able to read one of the verses that didn't make it onto the record but maybe someday at an acoustic show or something I'll play an extended version or something so I can try and sneak it all in... :-) I don't know...
Monday, September 7, 2009
D-1 Expect a Duet
Welcome back :-)
So I told you some things were going to be different on the new album. Well here's a surpirse to both of us that I never ever saw coming...
I had been working on a song for a few days for a couple of minutes at a time and had an idea for a song but could exactly word what I wanted to talk about the way I wanted to say it. That is until I played it for someone else who's opinion I really admire and who's talent is truely inspiring. I usually don't play half done songs for anyone unless I'm almost positive I can pull it off with some sort of class but in this case I just couldn't help myself.
I pulled out the guitar and started going for it. After talking about it and toying with the tune for about 15 or 20 minutes the idea came about to turn it into a duet... Who saw that coming?!
We stayed up well past 3am (which seems to be the best time for me to have creative energy for some reason) getting the song in order and I have to say it's one of the most favorite songs I've written to date. :-D
I can't exackt say what it will be called just yet but Im excited to get this one laid out with my band so... expect a duet.
Ok day 1 (D-1) in the books... On ward and up ward!
Without wax,
HJ
-- Posted from my iPhone
So I told you some things were going to be different on the new album. Well here's a surpirse to both of us that I never ever saw coming...
I had been working on a song for a few days for a couple of minutes at a time and had an idea for a song but could exactly word what I wanted to talk about the way I wanted to say it. That is until I played it for someone else who's opinion I really admire and who's talent is truely inspiring. I usually don't play half done songs for anyone unless I'm almost positive I can pull it off with some sort of class but in this case I just couldn't help myself.
I pulled out the guitar and started going for it. After talking about it and toying with the tune for about 15 or 20 minutes the idea came about to turn it into a duet... Who saw that coming?!
We stayed up well past 3am (which seems to be the best time for me to have creative energy for some reason) getting the song in order and I have to say it's one of the most favorite songs I've written to date. :-D
I can't exackt say what it will be called just yet but Im excited to get this one laid out with my band so... expect a duet.
Ok day 1 (D-1) in the books... On ward and up ward!
Without wax,
HJ
-- Posted from my iPhone
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Hopefully You Don't Get Sick of Me...
KA BOOM!
POW!
KA BLAM!
BOO YA!!!
I'm excited can you tell?! So here it comes the official announcement...
I'M GOING BACK INTO THE STUDIO ON SEPTEMBER 13TH (A WEEK AND A DAY FROM TODAY) TO START MY SECOND ALBUM.
But things are changing this time. I'm including all of you in the process much much more this time than I ever even thought about last time. If you don't mind, I'd like you all to join me for the entire process.
Here's what I mean...
Starting TODAY I am going to be blogging (which happens to be a word I hate but that's what it's called so I guess I'll get over it) every single day somedays more than once from right this minute until Oct. 1st. What is the point? Why should you care? How does that include you in this whole make CD thing? I'd be happy to answer that for you :-)
I'm going to put up audio clips, new exclusive videos, I'm even going to play a live online show or two for all of you during which I'll be playing acoustic versions of some of the new songs. But I'll be filling you in on those dates and times in the blog. Don't worry I'll still bug the crap out of you on Twitter too but I'll be going a bit more in depth in the blogs.
The real point for the blog is that I want to try and make each day sort of a journal/documentary style of writing for this entire process of how I make an album and how I write songs, why I write what I write and where all these thoughts and ideas are coming from. I luck out with getting asked these types of questions a lot by you guys and I want you all to hopefully be entertained but also feel apart of my true passion, love, desire, source of life, because after all is said and done I can't do any of this without you, so thank you for keeping me not only able to do what I love but sane in a sense. I owe a lot to all of you and I hope you know I'll never take it or any of you for granted.
Thanks to the iPhone I can blog from the studio with video, audio, pictures, all that stuff. So I'll try and keep you as in with me as possible without giving away too much of the entire record at the same time.
I will say this about the record without even being in the studio yet.
- I'm going a slightly different route with it but still keeping it me.
-Here's what I mean-
I've been listening to A LOT of older types of rock n roll the past year and it has really influenced the way I write, the things I think about and the things I put down on paper. Bands like Aerosmith, Journey, Jude Cole, Def Leppard, Kenny Loggins, Scorpions, Zepplin, Van Halen, The Who, that sort of thing. But I'm always going to love the rock/pop kats of country like Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, the list keeps going so this next record is going to be a bit more of a rock n roll take on my stuff. I'm really pushing for Keith Urban meets Kenny Loggins with a pinch of old school rock. Don't worry I'll leave out the "key-tars" and fancy synth sounds but all the bands I mentioned are guitar and voice driven which is right where I would like to belong. Big vocals, great guitar lines, tons of energy, just letting loose and that's what I want to put out for you guys.
This is a lot of information at once but I want to get it all out there right from the start to put all of us (including myself) on the same page.
I'll jot down a few tunes that have really stuck with me to give you an idea of what I'm talking about... Check them out when you get a free minute and enjoy the ride.
- Van Halen - Finish What Ya Started
- Jude Cole - Baby, It's Tonight
- Def Leppard - Photograph
- Keith Urban - If Ever I Could Love
- Kenny Loggins I'm Free (Heaven Helps a Man)
That should get you started on the listening station front :-)
There's more sorry...
I'm trying to get an email list going so I can send out contest info, show updates, record info. pictures, news, that sort of thing to make sure everyone is always included so I thought I'd get that set up this way.
If you have a free minute or two and would like to be on the list fill out this short little form and submit it. That will stick you on the list and I promise I'll never spam you or ask for things like money or for Christmas presents but I'll make sure you know whats going on with shows whether they are online or in you city. You'll also be caught up with contests, other online type videos or prizes and pictures, that sort of thing.
Here's the little Q&A thanks for your help...
Thanks for the LOVE!! Gosh you're awesome.
Ok I'm leaving you with this...
Thank You from the bottom of my heart, I said this before but I couldn't do ANY of this without you. It just wouldn't be possible so thank you so much for sticking with me for the past year 2 years month, week, or the past 15 minutes. I'm a blessed and incredibly lucky guy and I can't tell you all enough how honored I am that you would not only be apart of my life but include me in yours.
POW!
KA BLAM!
BOO YA!!!
I'm excited can you tell?! So here it comes the official announcement...
I'M GOING BACK INTO THE STUDIO ON SEPTEMBER 13TH (A WEEK AND A DAY FROM TODAY) TO START MY SECOND ALBUM.
But things are changing this time. I'm including all of you in the process much much more this time than I ever even thought about last time. If you don't mind, I'd like you all to join me for the entire process.
Here's what I mean...
Starting TODAY I am going to be blogging (which happens to be a word I hate but that's what it's called so I guess I'll get over it) every single day somedays more than once from right this minute until Oct. 1st. What is the point? Why should you care? How does that include you in this whole make CD thing? I'd be happy to answer that for you :-)
I'm going to put up audio clips, new exclusive videos, I'm even going to play a live online show or two for all of you during which I'll be playing acoustic versions of some of the new songs. But I'll be filling you in on those dates and times in the blog. Don't worry I'll still bug the crap out of you on Twitter too but I'll be going a bit more in depth in the blogs.
The real point for the blog is that I want to try and make each day sort of a journal/documentary style of writing for this entire process of how I make an album and how I write songs, why I write what I write and where all these thoughts and ideas are coming from. I luck out with getting asked these types of questions a lot by you guys and I want you all to hopefully be entertained but also feel apart of my true passion, love, desire, source of life, because after all is said and done I can't do any of this without you, so thank you for keeping me not only able to do what I love but sane in a sense. I owe a lot to all of you and I hope you know I'll never take it or any of you for granted.
Thanks to the iPhone I can blog from the studio with video, audio, pictures, all that stuff. So I'll try and keep you as in with me as possible without giving away too much of the entire record at the same time.
I will say this about the record without even being in the studio yet.
- I'm going a slightly different route with it but still keeping it me.
-Here's what I mean-
I've been listening to A LOT of older types of rock n roll the past year and it has really influenced the way I write, the things I think about and the things I put down on paper. Bands like Aerosmith, Journey, Jude Cole, Def Leppard, Kenny Loggins, Scorpions, Zepplin, Van Halen, The Who, that sort of thing. But I'm always going to love the rock/pop kats of country like Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, the list keeps going so this next record is going to be a bit more of a rock n roll take on my stuff. I'm really pushing for Keith Urban meets Kenny Loggins with a pinch of old school rock. Don't worry I'll leave out the "key-tars" and fancy synth sounds but all the bands I mentioned are guitar and voice driven which is right where I would like to belong. Big vocals, great guitar lines, tons of energy, just letting loose and that's what I want to put out for you guys.
This is a lot of information at once but I want to get it all out there right from the start to put all of us (including myself) on the same page.
I'll jot down a few tunes that have really stuck with me to give you an idea of what I'm talking about... Check them out when you get a free minute and enjoy the ride.
- Van Halen - Finish What Ya Started
- Jude Cole - Baby, It's Tonight
- Def Leppard - Photograph
- Keith Urban - If Ever I Could Love
- Kenny Loggins I'm Free (Heaven Helps a Man)
That should get you started on the listening station front :-)
There's more sorry...
I'm trying to get an email list going so I can send out contest info, show updates, record info. pictures, news, that sort of thing to make sure everyone is always included so I thought I'd get that set up this way.
If you have a free minute or two and would like to be on the list fill out this short little form and submit it. That will stick you on the list and I promise I'll never spam you or ask for things like money or for Christmas presents but I'll make sure you know whats going on with shows whether they are online or in you city. You'll also be caught up with contests, other online type videos or prizes and pictures, that sort of thing.
Here's the little Q&A thanks for your help...
Thanks for the LOVE!! Gosh you're awesome.
Ok I'm leaving you with this...
Thank You from the bottom of my heart, I said this before but I couldn't do ANY of this without you. It just wouldn't be possible so thank you so much for sticking with me for the past year 2 years month, week, or the past 15 minutes. I'm a blessed and incredibly lucky guy and I can't tell you all enough how honored I am that you would not only be apart of my life but include me in yours.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Attack of the Snickerdoodle Cookies....
I started eating these little gems (Snickerdoodle Cookies) a few nights ago. Then i had a few more the next night and last night topped it off with 5 in a row. (These cookies are not small) this morning I woke up and had 4 more. Needless to say I might be all Snickerdoodled out for a day or two. But I realized that's the super cool part about being an adult. I can eat these bad boys anytime I want and as much as I want and no one can really tell me I can't! That being said my mom was always happy if I ate anything at all so she usually was the one passing me another cookie to begin with. My moms a bad ass by the way!
I'm finally back on stage! I hadn't been apart of a stage show since the days of New York City and the Rent cast and finally the time has come where I got back up there! I'm doing Schoolhouse Rock Live Too! I boycotted it at first I'll admit... But this thing is awesome! The cast is awesome, the show is awesome, my director is awesome, the experience is awesome...
And I've realized thats what life should be about, being apart of something awesome. Making something awesome, learning because of something awesome!
The show is playing at Greenway Court Theater in Los Angeles and not to pat myself or the cast/show on the back but we have been honored as "Critics Choice" in the LA Times! Hard work pays off ladies and gentlemen :-)
Do you Twitter cause I'm addicted...
www.Twitter.com/Harley_Jay
Thank you all for the incredibly nice things you've said about my new photos. I'm not a fan of getting pictures taken because I feel like I usually stand awkward and look out of place so thank you for the very encouraging words and sweet comments, gosh I've got good friends.
Wanna hang out on FaceBook? Become a Fan at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harley-Jay/9679298927
This was a super scattered little message but I didn't want you all to think I forgot about you. I do want to fill you in though that even if for some reason I don't do something like this for 5 years straight I'll never forget about you! Thank you so much for sticking with me! Let's grow old together :-)
Without Wax,
Harley Jay
I'm finally back on stage! I hadn't been apart of a stage show since the days of New York City and the Rent cast and finally the time has come where I got back up there! I'm doing Schoolhouse Rock Live Too! I boycotted it at first I'll admit... But this thing is awesome! The cast is awesome, the show is awesome, my director is awesome, the experience is awesome...
And I've realized thats what life should be about, being apart of something awesome. Making something awesome, learning because of something awesome!
The show is playing at Greenway Court Theater in Los Angeles and not to pat myself or the cast/show on the back but we have been honored as "Critics Choice" in the LA Times! Hard work pays off ladies and gentlemen :-)
Do you Twitter cause I'm addicted...
www.Twitter.com/Harley_Jay
Thank you all for the incredibly nice things you've said about my new photos. I'm not a fan of getting pictures taken because I feel like I usually stand awkward and look out of place so thank you for the very encouraging words and sweet comments, gosh I've got good friends.
Wanna hang out on FaceBook? Become a Fan at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harley-Jay/9679298927
This was a super scattered little message but I didn't want you all to think I forgot about you. I do want to fill you in though that even if for some reason I don't do something like this for 5 years straight I'll never forget about you! Thank you so much for sticking with me! Let's grow old together :-)
Without Wax,
Harley Jay
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Behind My Eyes #1
So if you're here today because I told you I'd have a new song up you-re a sweetheart and i love you to death. That being said don't hate me because I'm having technical difficulties putting the darn thing on the site. But I can promise you I have something new for you to hear and something I hope you like and something kind of different from what I usually put out. Anyway... I'm going to keep working on this little problem I'm having and hopefully get it up in an hour or two. If it doesn't happen today I promise it will be there by the end of tomorrow because I move on to a different computer to get it all uploaded and all that jazz.
Sorry for the late arrival but I will stick something up within 24 hours I promise :-)
Sorry for the late arrival but I will stick something up within 24 hours I promise :-)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
It's Just You and Me...
So this week begins the first week of the "music sharing game" maybe we'll call it MSG... Even though MSG is usually a bad thing hopefully we'll come up with something brilliant and it will give a new meaning for the acronym... But what ever the letters are, or whatever you want to call this little experiment check in NEXT Sunday and I'll have posted a new tune for you all to critique the snot out of :-)
On another music front, I did a radio interview back in February and the Azrizona music Cafe was cool enough to post the interview (actually the entire show) online for all to listen to incase you missed it. Click the link to go straight to the interview. I'm about 3/4 of the way thru the interview... I use up about the last 15 or 20 minutes... :-)
Set List:
Stuff Packed Up
The Boy Next Door
The Moment You Get Back
HarleyJay Interview
Also there are photos of the interview and other fun stuff on the site so go here to check all of that out:
AzMusicCafe
Also during that time I did an interview on Channel 3 Good Morning Arizona. It was crazy, crazy, waaaay too early but I had a great time playing the show. I'll post that up on YouTube today and add the video in another post tonight so check back again later tonight before you hit the sack and that should be up and running.
Lastly, you guys are great and wonderful and thank you ALL so much for making my birthday the best ever. I was flooded with love and best wishes and it was all because of you so thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Without Wax,
HJ
On another music front, I did a radio interview back in February and the Azrizona music Cafe was cool enough to post the interview (actually the entire show) online for all to listen to incase you missed it. Click the link to go straight to the interview. I'm about 3/4 of the way thru the interview... I use up about the last 15 or 20 minutes... :-)
Set List:
Stuff Packed Up
The Boy Next Door
The Moment You Get Back
HarleyJay Interview
Also there are photos of the interview and other fun stuff on the site so go here to check all of that out:
AzMusicCafe
Also during that time I did an interview on Channel 3 Good Morning Arizona. It was crazy, crazy, waaaay too early but I had a great time playing the show. I'll post that up on YouTube today and add the video in another post tonight so check back again later tonight before you hit the sack and that should be up and running.
Lastly, you guys are great and wonderful and thank you ALL so much for making my birthday the best ever. I was flooded with love and best wishes and it was all because of you so thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Without Wax,
HJ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
