I’m almost done!!!

Wow! About a year ago I decided to make an album. I knew it would be difficult, but there is nothing like going through the experience. So many times during the process I’ve wished I could just write a song and then hand it off to someone else to mix. It would’ve been done months ago if that was the case. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. I write the songs, record them, and mix them. I’m going to master them myself, do the artwork myself, and the CD duplication company I co-own is going to make the CD’s. Me, me, me. The concept of this album is collaboration, but the other artists got to come in, do their parts, and be out. On top of my project, this past year I’ve been recording and mixing albums for Akua Naru, Godhead, Black Rose, and Proe One. I’ve also been doing the studio-for-hire thing and recording and producing songs with Mo Walker, Dusky Diana, and Jackie Rios.

Did I bite off more than I can chew? Hells yeah! Now I know, and knowing is half the blah blah blah, but I still have all this stuff to finish. They say computers and cheaper equipment have made the whole independent music thing easier, but what they fail to mention is that its still difficult. While it definitely cheaper and more accessible, if anything its probably more work than it used to be. Once upon a time my main focuses would have been writing the music and then earning money to record it. Now, I have so many options and I’ve ended choosing more than I can handle. I have my cake, I’m eating it, and I’m eating like 5 other cakes too. My stomach hurts. Lesson learned! The focus now is to finish. My mom used to say my dad would start stuff and never finish. I think I inherited that or at least I can understand it now. You can start tons of things, but the more you start, the less likely you are to finish any. The plan for this year is 1) get these other albums out of the way and 2) focus on me. After these albums, I’m going to limit non Ahd Child related things to individual sessions. We can book a studio session, but I can’t commit to big projects that aren’t my own right now. They are too time consuming.

Damn, this wasn’t supposed to be about my workload. See, that whole focus/overload thing was realized a few weeks ago, so its already in the works. Last week I almost committed to something new, then I called Proe One and told him I had to pull out. Now, as I write this, I’m beginning to see the fruits of my focus. Last weekend, I mixed one of the last tracks to my album! I was so happy when I did it, but of course with every step forward there’s a half step back (not two, you damn pessimist!) The absolute last track is the bonus track. The music is written and the lyrics are written…Somewhere. Trying to keep the momentum going, I went to record the bonus track and found out that I lost most of the lyrics. Damn! I considered leaving it out, but it is the perfect bonus track for this album and wouldn’t fit as well anywhere else. I gave in to disappointment for a bit (I was also busy) – I haven’t touched the album all week.

Tonight I spent some time reading magazines in Barnes and Nobles. The best music magazines come from England and they cost $16 per issue here because they’re imports. No problem, I read them in-store and take notes. Tonight I read a bunch of articles on promoting your stuff online. It made me realize that all I need to get this ball rolling is product. My product is almost done. I rushed home with intention of finishing it. I just spent some time on myspace, using some tips from the articles to do some self promotion, now I’m about to rewrite those lost lyrics. In the near future I’m going to redo my website. I need to make it easier to keep updated and I need to incorporate this blog. Updates and blogs are important things for getting popular. People love new content.

I’m off to write. Love peace and nappiness.