August was unusual on a few fronts. Weather was up and down, work was quiet then very busy. I started the month with the chaos and buzz of releasing new music, then the vacuum that follows it.
Some reflections on the music release. I should begin by saying that I have no desire to want to make a career or living out of music. The necessary pushing and marketing is tiresome. Bluntly, I don’t have the talent to ‘make it’. That said, I do think it is important to share creative stuff and contribute to creative communities rather than just consume it. My frustration is that it is hard to reach many people outside of friends and family without excessive promotion. There is so much noise that it is difficult to cut through. I set myself three modest objectives: sell something, increase Youtube subscriptions and increase Spotify followers. I am happy to report that I did the first two successfully. The Spotify followers increased by two, which is disappointing, but more tellingly, barely 9% of existing followers actually listened to the album. Big data is a blessing and a curse for creatives! I’ve yet to decide on whether or not this is a reflection on the fickle nature of following (I’m also guilty of ‘liking’ bands on Spotify but missing their releases) or my own personal weakness with how I’ve released the project. Inevitably, a bit of both I imagine. I’m not worried either way, I am happy with the album.
In terms of new music, I have been busy writing new songs and lyrics and have around 20 tracks to work with in the coming months. I think I am going to try recording it on my old Tascam 4 track, just for the hell of it. The theme is around hobbies, and it will be a sort of antithesis on An Unreachable Peak. Whether it changes in the execution of it, who knows.
Elsewhere, I presented a paper at the Royal Geographical Society at the end of the month. I bumped into Allan Watson, which was a pleasure from the days at Staffs Uni. That was a lovely surprise. My family are all in Bournemouth for the airshow, so hopefully we’ll get to spend some nice time together.
READ: Brighton Rock – Graham Greene, Bournemouth Through Time – John Christopher, Farce – Jessica Milner Davis, Tragicomedy – David Hirst, The Quiet American – Graham Greene
WATCHED: A Woman Under The Influence, It Came From Connemara, The Trials of Oppenheimer, Mark Rappaport: The TV Spin Off, 2001: The Making of a Myth, Mile Deep Hollow, Mank, Creed 3, Marwencol, Strays, Air, Tommy Jessop Goes To Hollywood, Licorice Pizza, Meeting Gorbachev, Can’t Stand Losing You, Moonage Daydream, Waking Ned, The Beach Boys: An American Band
