White collar wage theft by companies of employees money is greater than theft.
Over 60% of incarcerated individuals make less than $12,000/year.
Bail reform reduces crime where it’s implemented.
The for-profit bail system incarcerates impoverished people who can’t pay bill, fines, or fees and puts them to work to generate 11.6 billion dollars worth of products/services.
My friend, Rosalie, who collaborated with me on the Patchwork Blue album will be coming into town in October. Be on the look out for more about that! Very excited to have some time to sit down with her and work on some music!
Recently, I’ve ramped up music practice, going to open mics, and compiling the business end of Promo – which meant some minor tech upgrades, and rearranging how I use my devices. Some of this back end stuff requires quiet thinking and planning.
As amazing as it might seem, I’ve been taking some time off here and there to relax and enjoy myself, and I think my art and music is better for it, if only because I am better for it.
Here’s a little glimpse of a new-ish song. I tend to write a new song a week. The second week or sooner, I try to put some music to it. Often will release a really early video of the gist of it on Instagram or in my Facebook music group, and then will spend a few weeks refining it – trying it out at an open mic etc.
This one I played out this week, but it is still being developed, and this is something I have been appreciating about music, and that is the refining process. On YouTube, I took a Truth and a Lie and deconstructed it, analyzed it and put it back together in a way that helps me understand what’s going on in the song better, and it’s the second in a series I’ve started of Songwriting Workbooks.
This is: Will I Be Ready
And this one is a really new one – just a few times through called ‘We Return to the Sea’
Summer breeze is rustling in these trees Whispering of things that cannot be Too hot here to think about it My mind still turns it over
If only I had minded more If only I had been lovelier If only I had given you what you need I’m drowning in these memories Drowning in the summer lands
Oceans in the summer lands Drowning in the lost and lonely If only If only
The tears are sliding down my cheeks My heart grows heavy even in the light of the warmest sun The rains are falling in my spirit As I wonder If I had been more mindful If I had been more humble If I had been more everything you like Would you still be seeking A place beside me Would you still be needing A space next to me Would we still be we and not alone If only If only If only I knew just what to do now If only I could bring you back to you now If only I could mend all that went wrong I would do that
That’s what I’d do
I’d find a way to get somewhere you could love me
Again
I’d find a way to be someone you could love
Again And I wouldn’t be here sitting in this shade under these trees
Swamped by the ocean and drowning in the if only If only If only
These are clips of the song Drummer which I wrote while I was in Milwaukee. I’ve been holding rehearsals with myself, and I had fun with this song because I added in some extemporaneous bits. Still catching up a bit after vacation, but almost caught up. Almost.