i must have told the universe good and proper, because there can be no doubt it heard me loud and clear.
i won’t keep you in suspense, i’ll tell you the pinnacle of my news now and then if you want, you can just go about your business basking in the glow of a happy story or read on and get the nuts and bolts of said story and then go about your business basking in the glow of the details of a happy story.
FOLKS, I HAVE A RECORDING DATE!!!
i begin recording my first ever solo album in all earnest, on november the 10th.
check your astrological calendars and tell me if it is a portentious date, but i don’t think even moon could stop me now (although it had a damn good crack at pulverising me this weekend just passed, anyone else get that?).
last week, i sent out a request to all my musician/studio friends on this side of the hemisphere. it was a wish-list containing all the possible pieces of equipment we’d like to use, in an ideal world. it took me about two months to get the balls to ask my dear friends and sweet acquaintances if they owned anything they from this list, would they be willing to loan it to me or could i hire it for mates rates. we all know i have not a red cent. it was riddled with apologies, disclaimers and never minds.
the next day, my inbox was flooded with offers of gear, time, support, whatever my heart desired and things it had not dared ask. if you have ever owned a guitar or a rare amplifier, something unique and irreplaceable, you will know how generous it would be to let anything like that out of your sight for even a minute and into the hands of someone else, no matter how much you love that someone else.
i feel so supported and blessed by my wonderful community of friends here. it was unanimous, the message that they just want to see me realise my dream and help in any way they can.
floating on a cloud of acceptance and love, i drifted slowly into a predictable but slyly seductive comedown.
the reality of jumping one of the biggest hurdles in this race without a means to take advantage of the blessed outcome was too much for my optimism to support. so i had gear, but i still had no money to fly justyn out to record with it, no money for a studio to put it in, money for accomodation, to pay musicians to play them, really i had a yo-yo with no string.
thursday i may have had a few drinks, friday a got a little drunker than i planned for, saturday i sang an interesting set at the east brunswick, sunday saw me in bed no earlier than 5 or 6 in the morning. did a smoke any cigarettes? i’m not going to lie to you and say i didn’t. monday i stayed in bed all day. it was a full moon and i did have some serious pms, but i know it just felt futile to me to have my record so close and still so far.
today i arose with a new resolve. no point in destroying yourself to get away from something you can’t help, no matter which way you look at it.
so, i had my morning earl grey, hopped online and began writing some more letters, answering some and generally carrying on with what exists in the creating of this record.
my mobile phone buzzed, alerting me i had a text message. it was justyn with the news that he was coming to australia in nov and could we get started by the 10th.
our engineer, dan rejmer will also miraculously be in melbourne at the same time.
my friend, tim, has an enormous warehouse space we can use.
my band will play for nothing up front.
i still need some money to actualise this, but as you can see, it looks very possible.
i am forging on ahead with this date in good faith. it’s just screaming to be respected, so i cannot deny it with doubts.
i owe it to myself, my loyal friends and to all of you to respect this opportunity. we’re too close to stop now.
thank you.
ang x