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Apr 03 2022

TO WHERE I AM NOW

A creative day of collaborations today and a happy realisation that as the clocks have changed everywhere, I can now speak to Arktik Lake Tony in Sydney at midday instead of 10 AM. I wonder if the proverb “the early bird catches the worm” is true of writing songs. I have advised people who have writer’s block to wear something they wouldn’t usually wear to inspire an odd feeling that might shake them out of the creative doldrums, another idea might be to write a song before breakfast. Creative writing is a slippery beast, on one hand sticking to the formula is the answer, familiar surroundings might do the trick, on the other hand, a complete change of scenery might be better served. Whichever you choose, the muse can be elusive or sit right there on your lap.

The fact is, trying everything and not giving up is always a good policy. When it comes to sport, that famous Australian that no one in Australia has ever heard of, Neil Robertson, used the never give up system in the snooker final today, losing 4-9 to John Higgins and winning 10-9. Today Tony and I worked on a new song potentially for the Arktik Lake album and came up with a result between us that we liked. Tony had something of a catchy chord sequence and backing track but it took some digging to catch the melody. The mystery of melodies and where they reside is a fascinating subject. How is it possible that there are so many melodies not mined? At some point in the future, you will hear a melody that you haven’t heard before in a song that you like. Are melodies really infinite?

A later sesh with Space Summit Jed in Minneapolis had me get a feeling for my 12-string Seagull and write an already catchy chord sequence for Jed to add his own melodic magic. Different guitars inspire different ideas. Different sounds, different feels, different tangents. It’s interesting how many bass players there are out there that are the writers. Some of them play rudimentary guitar but their main instrument is the bass and that gives a unique perspective. I love playing the bass and play all the bass on the Space Summit – Life This Way album. I played bass on a few songs in the past too, it gives a different angle to songwriting and then there’s playing with or without a pick? A big red hollow-bodied bass or a heavy solid wood bass with active electronics would have you write two different types of song.

One of the reasons to write every day is because you must. What is more satisfying than filling a blank canvas, turning nothing into something. Philosophically, nothing is also something but all that means is anything is possible from one extreme to the other, what a broad scope of possibilities, how inviting. John Cage anyone? Painting, writing, playing, banging on a box, I wonder how many great ideas out there are lost because a person didn’t bother to create them, didn’t think they could or just got too busy with something else. One of the most satisfying elements of the sessions is to find truly talented people that do create but struggle with finding an outlet for their ideas. I’m not exactly Chris Blackwell but completing a body of work is simply valuable for the soul. Fascinating facts: Chris Blackwell turned down the opportunity to sign Elton John because he considered him too shy to be a successful performer.

Music today has been one of the classic John Martyn albums from the early seventies, Solid Air (1973).

Music Of The Daze

Written by Marty Willson-Piper · Categorized: Blog

Missing

This is my stolen 1965 Rickenbacker 12-string, serial number EB157. If there's any chance of this guitar coming back to me before I go to meet my maker, then that would be wonderful. Please contact me if you have any information.

11209512_1669022976719710_7288437867089763325_n

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Redeyed lad of the lowlands 🎵 📷 @oliviaelek Redeyed lad of the lowlands 🎵

📷 @oliviaelektra 

#danelectro #danelectrobass #redeyerecords #pleasantrylane #pleasantrylanestudio
You usually don’t spend the day in the studio an You usually don’t spend the day in the studio and the night at a gig but if you put the studio next to the gig then there’s a greater chance. So @salimnourallah did just that, he put the gig and the studio next to each other and made it possible for me to spend the day recording and the evening playing live 🎵

📷 @drewliophoto 

#galacticheadquarters #happinessarecordlabel #pleasantrylanestudio #salimnourallah #oliviawillsonpiper
TO WHERE I AM NOW A visit in the studio today fro TO WHERE I AM NOW

A visit in the studio today from old mate Mark Burgess from The Chameleons who has been hanging in Texas recently. I was thinking about the two of us growing up in the northwest of England and all these years later finding ourselves in such an unlikely spot together. We fixed a few issues in the universe and I carried on recording some guitars until Mark had to leave. Mark had played at the Galactic Headquarters next to the studio this year as Olivia and I had four years ago and this reminded me to remind myself to remind everyone to remind their friends that we will be playing there with Salim on Saturday, New Year’s Eve, for the ultimate in intimate performance. You can get tickets here (follow link below).

CONTINUE READING: https://martywillson-piper.com/2022/12/to-where-i-am-now-1045

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📷 @argirgirl 📷 @argirgirl
TO WHERE I AM NOW Sadness manifested in a buildin TO WHERE I AM NOW

Sadness manifested in a building, today we went to visit Paisley Park. Prince built Paisley Park in Chanhassen, about twenty minutes southwest of Minneapolis. It opened in 1987 and he recorded his later albums there. Apart from Prince, REM also recorded and mixed Out Of Time there, recording Kate Pearson’s vocal on Shiny Happy People vocal. Madonna had Prince play guitar on three songs from Like A Prayer and the two co-wrote Love Song, finishing it remotely due to Madonna not being able to stand the cold weather and the rather desolate location of the studio. Of course, there are things around but it’s not in the city and it’s not in the countryside, it’s in a suburb, no distractions, just what Prince wanted.

CONTINUE READING: https://martywillson-piper.com/2022/12/to-where-i-am-now-1032

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📷 @argirgirl 

#paisleypark #prince
Marty & Pablo! 📷 Rod MacQuarrie Marty & Pablo!

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At last, a proper door stop. 📷 @judgeschamber At last, a proper door stop.

📷 @judgeschamber 

#grammysitting 👵
🌵 Texas Acoustic Dates 🌵 31 December - DALL 🌵 Texas Acoustic Dates 🌵

31 December - DALLAS
7 January - CELINA
12 January - HOUSTON
14 January - AUSTIN
15 January - SAN ANTONIO

With @salimnourallah and @joereyesmusic

More info here: https://mailchi.mp/e47ede06acd6/texas-acoustic-dates
Doors & Delays 🎸 @workshop21_guitarclinic #the Doors & Delays 🎸

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Songwriting & Guitar Guidance with Marty Willson-Piper
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"These are awesome sessions that I highly recommend for guitar players of all levels. Very informative, frank discussions on everything related to guitar and music in general. Definitely a must for anyone pursuing songwriting."
(Stephen G., VA, USA)

"Marty knows how to bypass scales and get to the heart of feel and timing. His musical knowledge spans multiple cultures and genres. Perhaps most importantly, Marty is a cool dude. I highly recommend his guitar guidance." (Jed B., MN, USA)

"Ok, so you’re sitting in your home and Marty is across the world but is actually right here teaching you how to play guitar and write songs. He is a delight to talk to and he is your teacher, meaning he wants to see you get something out of his lessons. You know he’s paying attention and wants to steer you in the right direction. I am so grateful and humbled that he offers his time in this manner. This is an amazing opportunity for anyone who admires anything from his enormous body of work. How often do you get to learn from somebody that inspired you in the first place? Amazing." (Ann S., CA, USA)

Missing

This is my stolen 1965 Rickenbacker 12-string, serial number EB157. If there’s any chance of this guitar coming back to me before I go to meet my maker, then that would be wonderful. Please contact me if you have any information.

11209512_1669022976719710_7288437867089763325_n

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