I know I haven’t posted in a long time. My little brother totally called me out when he tweeted “No blog posts in 10 days. Better get on it” at me… five days ago. This coming from a guy that creates a piece of art and posts it on his blog every single day (and it’s really awesome – check it out at kevoniuk.tumblr.com)!
Heres the truth: besides being fantastically distracted by a visit from my love during a 4 day break in Florida (photos to come), every day I have thought to myself that I should write. I honestly haven’t known what to write about though. Ive straight up had writers block. Theres a fine line between complaining and simply saying it how it is. The facts are that our show is the same, the schedule is the same, my routine is the same. My feelings about that are that my life is feeling pretty monotonous. After two and a half months straight, that probably isn’t too much of a surprise. The silver lining though, is that im learning how to generate inspiration for myself.
What fuels me as an artist? What makes me want to create, work harder, say more, or just say something at all? Well, I realized, that for me it’s often the intake of other art. In my dreamy San Francisco existence I get to take in live shows many nights a week. These other musicians that I admire so much ignite something within me. Somehow by hearing what they are saying musically, I feel this need to add my voice to the world of sound. The tour that I’m on is somewhat of an isolated existence. Or schedule makes it pretty impossible for us to go to other shows (aside from NY City Ballet in New York and NY Phil in Amsterdam both on days off), and we’re generally so exhausted that not a whole lot of jamming happens within the band.
So after i pouted for about a week, I decided I was super over feeling anything less than on fire. I was sent away with an army of music documentaries from many genres, which I started devouring like my life depended on it (it actually might). Stevie Wonder. Tom Petty. The Beatles. The Wrecking Crew. Tribe Called Quest. Somehow I forgot that these gods of humans made noise in the world! How could I not be ecstatic? Its an honor to orbit in and around a world with, if nothing else, the same word “music” associated with it.
The legendary guitarist Tommy Tedesco said “There are four reasons to take a gig: for the money, the experience, the connections or the fun”. I believe I took this gig for all of those reasons and it’s time to amp it up. I’m the only one in control!
There is a fine fine line. But writing what is, and such… its really quite an interesting thing. I am enjoying this here blog of yours. I love hearing what you have to say about the world. Check out mine if you can spare a few moments?
http://www.thatoneviolinist.wordpress.com
Yo Shaina…. In case you forgot…. YOU are the inspiration. You gotta lose your space to find your space…. and that my dear is exactly what you are doing! Even your momentary lack of inspiration is inspirational!!!!