FAWM: Crap And Diamonds

Do yourself a favor. If you've ever said, "I want to write a novel" or "I want to write a song" or maybe "I want to learn how to play (insert instrument here)" then this is for you.

If you've ever said any of these things, it's time to get busy and stop talking and start rockin'. Join FAWM (February Album Writing Month) and take a stab at writing 14 songs in 28 days. You've never even written a song before? Cool! Then you're welcome at FAWM. Don't think you can write all 14? Who cares! If you write even ONE song, you'll have one more song than you had before.

You can write instrumentals. You could just write lyrics. It's up to you. There's no pressure (except the pressure you put on yourself) and the community is extremely supportive.

It's time to dive in and get workin'!

This may sound very "infomercially", but it worked for me. Two years ago John and I started this blog. We wrote a song or two a month. It wasn't easy, but we DID it. It was all about knowing that someone else was there to check on us and see how we were doing. It was about having a deadline. It helped us create by having some set goals. FAWM is just like that. By setting a goal (write a song every two days) you have a real deadline that helps focus your energies.

Last year I was able to do this by dropping a lot of unnecessary things from my life (TV, extra web surfing, sleep, meals) and I wrote down and pursued almost ANY idea that came to mind. Were all the songs good? Uh...no. Some were total crap. But, in the piles of crap were several diamonds that were well worth slogging through the other crap to find.

Friends, it's time to make some crap. And diamonds.

See you there!

Peace,

Steve

Vampire Weekend, 70+ New Songs, Summer's End, the Silver Jews

keyboard picture by


Forgive me bloggers, it's been weeks since my last post.

But, in my defense, I wrote 50 songs for this year's 50/90 challenge hosted by the fine folks over at fawm.org. I've got an album that's about 80% finished.
I've met a few songwriting goals. This February I wrote a little over 20 in 29 days. That puts my year song count at 70+. Dang. I've never written that many songs in one year's time, but then again, I've never tried until now. Granted, many of the songs will never, ever be on an album, but many will be coming soon to a theater near you.

I've discovered a band that reminds me of an indie rock ska band fronted by Paul Simon. I must have had my head under a rock and missed them. Surely you've heard their hit single? And the band name is just awesome: Vampire Weekend. C'mon! What DO vampires do on weekends?

In other news, the lead singer of the Silver Jews gave quite an interesting interview on the process of writing songs for his album. His a complex and interesting man. And he had an eye transplant too.

It's with a little sadness that I bid farewell to summer. I have quite a bit of freedom to work on music during the summer months, one of the reasons I originally became a teacher. Now I enjoy teaching AND playing music. Any chance I get to do both at the same time, I jump. If you haven't had a chance to catch some of my songwriting tutorials on youtube, you can find the whole lot of them here. The teacher in me had fun.

Write Fifty Songs In Ninety Days?!

No. I'm not even considering it. But I thought about it and I think I've found a good middle line.

15/90.

From the people who brought you February's FAWM Challenge (14 songs in 28 days) comes their newest challenge: 50 Songs In 90 Days.

Fifteen songs in ninety days. That might be possible. Yes?
It begins July 4th.

Here's the official website.

Wish You Were In My Space

Here's the latest from one of our contributors (and a fellow FAWMER), Billy Sea.



I have a basic chorus in my head but haven't recorded it yet. (if you remember my music from FAWM, it was mostly country/folk. This is no different, lol) When I lay it down with music it will probably need a little tweaking.

Song - Wish You Were In My Space

v1
That computer seems to take up all your time
I can remember when your attention was only mine
But now it feels like you've drifted away
And you seem more distant every day

v2
I used to love the way you'd smile at me
Now I only hear your laughter at something on that screen
I'm afraid I'm losing us, I'm afraid that it is true
So I'm praying that my music can still get to you

There's nothing else I know how to do

Chorus
I wish you were in my space
I wish you were with me
I wish that I could break the spell
And I could finally set you free
It's hard living without you here
Together in this place
I wish you were beside me
Wish you were in my space

v3
If my words don't get through to you this time
I'll try again with different phrases, different rhymes
I love you too much to ever give up on you
And I'll just keep at it, hoping one day to break through

There's nothing else I know how to do

Chorus
I wish you were in my space
I wish you were with me
I wish that I could break the spell
And I could finally set you free
It's hard living without you here
Together in this place
I wish you were beside me
Wish you were in my space

(c) 2008 William Crowe

LOL, that was fun, Hope it isn't too terrible :)

Billy Sea (Bill Crowe)