Last week for the first time in I don’t know how long I actually managed to sit down and write some stuff on Reason. Its been a really long time coming and was incredibly exciting and fun to do. Working with synth stuff has a slightly different creative process to picking up a guitar and writing a song - yes some elements are similar, but its so much about layering well. So here is a short clip of me working away, along with a sample of what I came up with.

reason being creative from naomilippett on Vimeo.

Click here feb_27_sample to play what I was messing around with.

Last week weekend went into Vancouver to experience some of the Olympic vibes - was so much fun despite the pouring rain. We managed to catch some of the free music at one of the stages and it was the first time that I had seen Wilco perform live. They were incredible.

I know that I shouldn’t have been surprised by the fact that three of the main band members were in their late 40s/early 50s, but I was. I haven’t listened to a lot of Wilco, so the thing that struck me the most about them aside from their great lyrics, excellent musicianship, tight synergy and inspiring creativity, was their ability to create tension in their music.

A piece of music often manages to represent so much of my journey through life. One strong pattern that my ear picks up in music is this pattern of equilibrium, tension and release - that idea of some note or chord becoming unresolved (loosing its equilibrium), creating tension that needs to be released or resolved. A life application of this would be its seven in the morning - you are deep in a dream - the alarm goes off, and your head explodes - after much desperate fumbling, you manage to get your sleepy hand on the right button - a tension is resolved. This pattern is all around us in our lives whether it be waiting for traffic lights to change, to nerves before a job interview to the relief of getting the job etc.

Western music does this a lot. There is a story of one of the great composers (Mozart, Beethoven or Bach) who was up in bed and heard someone play an unresolved dominant chord on a piano, all as a ploy to get the composer up and about. Sure enough, the composer got out of bed, came downstairs, played the tonic chord resolution on the piano and then returned to bed.

Wilco did this so masterfully in their performance of ‘Mis-understood’ last Saturday as they held onto repeating the word ‘Nothing’ for a good 3 min!!! it was insane - the crowd was going crazy! I found myself getting so wound up at times longing for them to resolve the tension they were building - sometimes that resolve happened and at other times they just left you hanging there. Man it messes with your emotions, feelings and just shows how powerful the medium of music is.

equilibrium - tension - release

An observation that I don’t need to unpack - you go figure . . . .

How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don’t know
This weakness I feel I must finally show

Lend me your hand and we’ll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I’ll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep, totally free
Har har, har har, har har, har har

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life

Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul
You were made to meet your maker
Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul
You were made to meet your maker
You were made to meet your make

U2, Album: All That You Can’t Leave Behind

Heaven on Earth, we need it now
I'm sick of all of this hanging around
Sick of sorrow, sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing again and again
That there's gonna be peace on Earth 

Where I grew up there weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies
They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you 

And it's already gone too far
Who said that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt? 

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
No whos or whys
No one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth
She never got to say goodbye
To see the color in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
Peace on Earth 

They're reading names out over the radio
All the folks the rest of us won't get to know
Sean and Julia, Gareth and Ann and Breda
Their lives are bigger than any big idea 

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
Jesus sing a song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth
This peace on Earth 

Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth

Imago: Jason Carter - Finlandia from Bill Kinnon on Vimeo.

Imago: Jason Carter & John Franklin in Conversation from Bill Kinnon on Vimeo.

This weekend is action packed with some really great events going on in Walnut Grove namely the Transcendence | Immanence opening happening Saturday night at the Water Shed (7.30-9.30pm). Things are really coming together for this one, with the visual art already adorning the walls of the Water Shed. The opening night will also have performances from local wordsmiths and musicians - very very exciting.

On the same day there is another opening happening at the Fort Gallery - the Open Studio Exhibition. This event is happening Saturday daytime from 12-5pm and I’ve already had a sneak preview of the art - its incredible! I’ll be playing a couple of sets throughout the afternoon with a new friend called Jay (an excellent jazz guitar jammer), who has been attending the Songwriters Open Studio I have been facilitating.

If you are around in the Grove this weekend, then come and check these two events out! Both are FREEEE!

This is a huge value and one that wears many guises. It will take a lifetime of receiving and giving not just with those who look like me, but also ‘the least’ - my enemies, the credit card poor, the physically needy, the ones who make me uncomfortable and drain my energies, the ones who have no monetary worth and who can not give back.

Jean Vanier has written a good book called ‘Becoming Human’. In it he had many great paragraphs that hit me right across the face (read some of his books as he describes his journey of loving the least in this world). For example,

“To be free is to put justice, truth and service to others over and above our own personal gain or our need for recognition, power, honor and success. “

He goes on to quote a guy called Martin Buber,

“with each person who comes into the world, there is something new that has never existed before, something totally new and unique . . . . It is this unique and exceptional quality that each person is called to develop”

For me this is one of the guises that love wears - telling one another what that unique and beautiful thing placed within us is - the good in us - the reflection - the image bearer. And that unique quality is even within the least of those around us.

These open studio times will be a safe and challenging environment where songs can be shared, skills honed, connections built and passions stirred. Topics to write about will be set and at the end of the sessions an opportunity to perform them in some unique settings (not just a coffee shop!).

I get the privilege of living amongst some great artists who are writing lots. Here is what I’ve been spoiling my ears with over the last couple of months.

Here is what is. I think these guys are incredible! Of course I am slightly biased because my little and beautiful friend Jess Park is in this band. They formed with the intent of recording an EP, going on tour and then splitting up, each going their own ways. Its sad but makes sense  . . . . their EP is incredible though and hasn’t stopped playing in my car all summer.

Zaac Pick. Here is another that writes strong songs and comes from the local area. He released his EP a couple of weeks ago and this is another awesome download - amazing arrangements and beautiful song-writing. Zaac is playing at the Water Shed in October.

Daniel Huscroft. Daniel played at Zaac’s EP launch and he blew many of us away with his musicality, stage presence and 3 piece string quartet. Over the next couple of months he’ll be releasing his EP which I can’t wait to hear. He’s playing at the Water Shed in a couple of weeks so don’t miss it!

Rene Thomas. I’ve loved getting to know Rene over the last couple of months - inspiring heart and writes catchy songs with melodies that get stuck in your head so that you end up singing them as soon as you wake up in the morning (thanks Rene!!!!!). Check out his A-list where he sticks up his loose arrangements of songs.

Holli Durost. I met Holli whilst I was in New Brunswick doing an arts course - we were roomies. As roomies do, over the week we got to know one another and she shared her great great gift. Blown away by her ability to write songs full of narrative and melody, I’ve loved it that I can now listen to her stuff at her new myspace. I’m excited to see what happens with my old roomie!!

there are more . . . . save that for next time . . . .