The following is an essay written by John Payne. I came across it rather serendipitously, a chance head-turn to the left, that pointed me towards the box of leaflets containing his writings, outside his school. Funnily enough, this was after a meeting with a colleague during which we both found ourselves often getting caught in exactly the trap John writes about.
The piece touched me as not only does it speak to my past experience and ongoing journey forward as a musician, but I feel it contains in it, via metaphor, a seed of wisdom on how I, and possibly we all, might approach our lives, as times they change so quickly these days, and the things that once might have given us structure and validation no longer seem quite as relevant. Please enjoy this eloquent (yes, eloquent; it is not a dirty word ) piece that speaks from the heart: FEATURING VALERIE LARSEN ("MICHELLE") And then there are those projects you really take your time with…
I guiltfully sat down to do a proper mix on this song, remembering full well that I had intended to post it to the blogstream sometime in late 2011… no, wait, 2011? Something about that doesn’t seem right… Oh, because I had meant to post this song sometime in LATE 2010! Erk! And this rediscovery only when I opened the ProTools file, and saw that it read “Be Right Here DEMO 2010-10-23”. Very embarrassing, though props from me to me for having an organized labeling system In any case, here it is. I opted for a more raw approach than I was going for originally, which I feel allows Val’s natural expressivity to shine through more clearly (So, you see, it was good that I waited so long *snigger*)… more on this below. Welcome to 2012. Where on earth did January go? The thought that this year might move even quicker than 2011 did fills me with a mild sense of panic. Something for me to keep in mind: how to stay grounded and calm, or else learn to surrender to the roller-coaster that life seems to have become. I have to be honest with you all. I really hate blogging. I’m actually painfully shy when it comes down to it, unless of course you really get to know me better, in which case, I’m only somewhat shy. So this whole culture of sharing every single thing that happens to you is a big challenge for me to even participate in, even on a professional level. I tell myself that if I structure the blog entries down to the word, and plan their releases down to the second, I’ll be able to control or tame my emotional response to creating them. No such luck, I’m afraid. Every entry last year was produced with no small amount of terror. And now, as irony would have it, I find myself going through the same process while creating this blog entry. It feels a bit like that scene from “Throw Mama From the Train”, where Larry (Billy Crystal) just can’t get past “The night was...” – it’s absurd, and also a little frustrating, though in this moment I’ve decided I’m just going to accept that it’s happening. A good first step perhaps. But still I have to ask myself, why do it? What’s the point? Why put yourself through all that pressure of trying to participate in a process that seems so stressful? Happy Holidays 2011
I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all the comments, posts, and messages in support of this season's releases! It was a blast of a time, fully beset with challenges and growing edges, putting these three songs together this past fall, and there will be more musical goodness to come in the new year. Four more songs are in the works -- we wrapped up tracking in November -- with more amazing work by brilliant musicians once again with whom it is my utmost privilege to work. I've set an intention for the upcoming year to write some reflections about the process of working together with these wonderful and talented people. I am much humbled and inspired by their light and the beautiful musical constructs they channel so intuitively. A number of other ideas have started percolating up in the old noggin' as well, ideas that haven't been part of my consciousness for months, years, and in one case over a decade. It seems to me in some way to be par for the season this year, that as the light started to fade more and more into darkness, those old dreams and visions began to appear more clearly; I suppose rather like stars in a clear, moonless night sky. They are all quite nascent right now, so I'll hold off on further spoilers, but watch this space, with once again more to come in the new year. Thank you for joining me on this creative journey. Wishing all of you much light and joy this holiday season. Hey everyone, hope all is well wherever you are… my latest single -- Never Tired of You -- is now available for download!
For now it’s exclusively available via bandcamp. A couple of neat things about this service include being able to listen to the entire track before purchasing, as well as there being a wide variety of file formats from which to choose. Check it out! I’m eager to hear any and all of your feedback; either via the facebook wall, or else the email forms on the contact page. Friends and listeners from Malaysia especially — definitely let me know if this service works… still doing my best to find a way to get the music over there! Enjoy! And if you like what you hear, spread the word! Travel safe and talk soon. -AF Adam Farouk’s latest release, NEVER TIRED OF YOU, goes on sale December 13th 2011! Check out the teaser clip below… If you like what you hear, become a fan on facebook, and spread the word! (Check out our new sharing options above, thanks to sharethis.com)
Hey folks! It's out and ready to roll. 2011's second release - These Games We Play - has landed. I know I haven't mentioned too much about this track, I'm actually really excited about it's arrival, and the process of it coming into being definitely had some cool twists and turns that I'll share soon in a reflection.
For now, you can listen to it (and, if you like what you hear, purchase your very own copy!) at my bandcamp site; it's also available at many of the usual suspects (iTunes etc.)… check out the new store widgets on the song's info page, deftly added to the site just last week, by web maestro Kevin Leary. Happy listening. Really hope you all enjoy this one. Stay warm out there, winter's a comin' this weekend. Travel safe and talk soon. -AF Adam Farouk’s upcoming release, THESE GAMES WE PLAY, goes on sale November 8th 2011! Check out the new clip format… I’m using soundcloud; you can post timed-based comments about the clip you’re hearing (mouse over the grey bar below the waveform), as well as share the link on facebook, twitter, and a number of other social media platforms. Don’t forget to become a fan on facebook, and spread the word! |
at a glanceAdam Farouk (born April 6, 1978) is a Malaysian musician, producer, writer, and entrepreneur, currently based in the United States. He is known for his integrative approach to the creative arts, and frequently infuses his works with unlikely combinations of style, influence, and genre.
Learn more about Adam's other creative projects at bluedorian.com!
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