Corey Stewart

I am a songwriter, musician, producer and blogger from Australia
Songwriting

Why I Think Many Musicians Don’t Write Songs (And What Can Be Done About It)

Posted on by Corey Stewart

As someone who has spent many years writing songs, performing live, (and more recently) producing in the studio, and talking to countless other creatives along the way, I’ve often wondered: Why do so many musicians shy away from writing their own songs?

It’s a question that’s lingered in the back of my mind because I see it all the time. I see musicians who clearly have the talent, the love of music, the ability to play, sing, or produce… but when it comes to creating something original and from themselves, they freeze up or quietly step away.

Over time, I’ve come to realise that there are some very real, very human reasons why many musicians don’t write songs. And it’s not about laziness, or lack of inspiration, or even lack of skill. It goes much deeper than that.

Here are ten of the biggest reasons I’ve identified, both from my own journey and from the conversations I’ve had with fellow musicians over the years.

1. Fear of Not Being Good Enough

This is probably the most common reason of all, and I’ve felt it myself plenty of times. That nagging voice in your head that says, “Mate, this isn’t very good,” or “No one’s going to want to hear this,” or “This doesn’t sound like real music.”

That inner critic can be very brutal. It can stop you from even picking up the pen, noodling on your chosen instrument or pressing record on your DAW.

The truth is, we all compare ourselves to the polished, finished songs we hear on the radio or streaming platforms, and we forget that every great song started out as a rough idea, a scratchy demo, or a badly sung lyric into a phone.

What I’ve learned is that songwriting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, putting something down, and then working with it. You get better by doing. But fear (if left unchecked) will stop you from doing anything at all.

Remember: No one writes masterpieces straight out of the gate. Like any craft, songwriting gets better with use. The fear doesn’t mean you’re not meant to write—it just means you care. And that’s a powerful place to start.

2. Lack of Time or Mental Space

We live in a noisy, busy world. Most musicians I know wear multiple hats—they perform, they teach, they work day jobs, they have families, commitments, deadlines. With all that going on, it can feel almost impossible to create the mental and emotional space to write songs.

Songwriting requires more than just physical time though, it needs a clear head, a calm heart, and a bit of breathing room. If your brain is in ‘survival mode’ or constantly jumping between to-do lists, it’s hard to tap into the reflective and vulnerable place that songwriting often comes from.

That’s why I believe creating routines or rituals around songwriting, no matter how small, can help. Even setting aside ten minutes a day to noodle with a melody or journal a few lyric lines can build momentum over time.

Remember: Start small. Ten minutes a day. One verse. One chord progression. The key isn’t quantity—it’s consistency.

3. Belief That Songwriting Is a Gift, Not a Skill

This one’s a myth that’s done a lot of damage. So many musicians believe songwriting is something you’re either born with or you’re not, that it’s some mystical talent that descends on a lucky few.

But songwriting is a craft. It’s learnable, teachable, and developable. Sure, some people might have a natural knack for it, but like any form of creative expression, it’s ultimately a skill you build through repetition, exploration, and yes, a lot of bad drafts.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just not a songwriter,” I encourage you to challenge that belief. Every great songwriter once felt exactly the same way.

Remember: Songwriting is more muscle than mystery. It’s a skill anyone can learn. All it asks of you is to start.

4. Prioritising Performance Over Creation

I know musicians who are incredible performers. They light up the stage, command an audience, and breathe new life into every song they play. For them, music is about connection in the moment. And that’s powerful.

But for many, this focus on performance becomes the only form of creative output. The idea of sitting down to create something from scratch feels foreign or even unnecessary. After all, if people love the covers, why mess with that?

Here’s the thing: original songs don’t need to replace covers, they can enhance them. Even one or two originals in a set can create a unique identity, a deeper bond with the audience, and a sense that you’re not just echoing someone else’s voice, you’re using your own.

Remember: Even one original song in your set can shift the dynamic because suddenly, the audience is hearing you, not just your voice.

5. Industry Pressure to Play It Safe

Let’s be honest—there’s more money, more bookings, and more immediate crowd reaction in playing familiar songs. Cover bands, tribute acts and DJ’s… these dominate many local scenes and venue rosters.

Far too often, the industry often rewards safety and familiarity over risk and originality.

It’s easy to see how songwriting, in that context, feels like an uphill battle. Why write a song that might not get played, booked, or streamed when you can stick to the hits and keep the calendar full?

I get it. I’ve done the very same thing professionally in the past (and continue to do so to a far lesser extent) but here’s what I’ve come to believe… Writing your own songs is an investment in your future.

It’s not about quick wins, it’s about building a body of work that lasts. I truly and sincerely believe that if you want to build a music career with depth, identity, and meaning, songwriting is the slow-burning fire that makes it possible.

Remember: Writing your own songs is an investment in your brand, your identity, your longevity. It’s not an either/or game… It’s a both/and game.

6. Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Completion

Now, this one’s very personal to me. I’ve got folders full of half-written songs, lyric scraps, voice memos, and concepts. And I know I’m not alone.

Sometimes the problem isn’t that we don’t have ideas, it’s that we have too many and the overwhelm of choosing which one to focus on can lead to what’s called analysis paralysis.

We start something, get distracted by another idea, and never finish anything.

Over time, this creates a backlog of half-finished fragments and a growing sense of frustration. The antidote, I’ve found, is choosing one idea (just one is all you need), and committing to finishing it, no matter how imperfect the result.

Remember: Completion is a discipline, and like any discipline, it gets easier the more you practice it. So create a system. Choose one idea. See it through. Then another. Completion is a habit, and so is leaving things half-done.

7. Lack of Confidence in Voice or Message

It’s one thing to sing someone else’s words but it’s another thing entirely to share your own. Songwriting is deeply personal, and that vulnerability can be confronting to some people.

Many musicians don’t write because they don’t believe their thoughts, feelings, or stories are worth turning into songs.

  • “I’ve got nothing interesting to say.”
  • “Who would relate to this?”
  • “This isn’t deep enough. Or clever enough.”

But here’s what I’ve learned: what feels ordinary to you might be extraordinary to someone else. Your experiences, your heartbreaks, your questions, your perspective—that’s what makes your songs powerful. You don’t need to be profound. You just need to be honest.

Remember: No one else has lived your life. Your truth, told authentically, is your originality. Plus, if you want to really find out why YOU are the greatest miracle that exists today I suggest you read this post.

8. Lack of Understanding About Song Structure

Even seasoned musicians can feel lost when it comes to constructing a song. They might have a great riff or a killer line, but no idea how to build a full verse-chorus-bridge around it.

And that lack of clarity often leads to giving up.

But songwriting doesn’t require encyclopedic knowledge of theory or pop formulas. A basic understanding of structure can go a long way. And once you have a framework, you can start to play within it, break it, and eventually find your own rhythm.

There’s no shame in studying song structure—it’s not about following a rulebook; it’s about learning the building blocks so you can make something that stands on its own.

Remember: Become curious about how songs work and are put together. Just learn the basics. Just a little structure can unlock a world of expression. Templates aren’t cages, they’re launchpads. Use them.

9. Creative Isolation

Songwriting can feel isolating, especially if you’re not surrounded by other writers. Without people to bounce ideas off, give feedback, or even just say, “Hey, that line’s great, keep going,” it’s easy to second-guess everything and shelve ideas prematurely.

Having a creative community, a songwriting group, a mentor, a co-writer, can make all the difference. I’ve found that showing even an unfinished song to someone you trust can shift everything. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation to reignite the spark.

Don’t wait for the perfect environment. Seek out collaborators, accountability partners, or even just other writers you admire. Creativity thrives in connection.

Remeber: Join a songwriting group. Start a co-writing habit. Show your unfinished songs to someone you trust. Creativity thrives in connection. Hell, even hit me up and ask nicely, I’ll be more than happy to collaborate with you.

10. Emotional Blocks

This one’s often invisible but incredibly real. Songwriting opens emotional doors. It stirs up memories, unresolved pain, fears, regrets, grief. For some, that’s therapeutic. For others, it’s terrifying.

It’s not uncommon for musicians to avoid songwriting because deep down, they’re avoiding what might come out. I’ve been there. I know what it feels like to stare down a blank page and feel it staring back.

But I also know that some of the most powerful songs come from leaning into that vulnerability, not away from it. If you’re carrying something heavy, songwriting can be a way to make sense of it, to let it out, and to turn it into something that helps not only you but others too.

Remember: The very thing you’re avoiding might be the thing your best songs are waiting for.

My Final Thoughts

So if you’re a musician who hasn’t been writing songs, know that you’re not failing. You’re not blocked because you’re broken. The reasons behind it are real, nuanced, and deeply human.

But they’re also not permanent.

Every reason not to write a song can be met with a response, from within yourself or from those around you. And when you start, even if it’s awkward or messy or raw, something incredible happens. You begin to find your voice. You build a relationship with your own creative truth.

So here’s my invitation to you: let’s write. Not perfectly, not professionally, not even publicly. Just honestly. Consistently. Courageously. Let me know how you go with all of this.

Because the world doesn’t need more polished performers, it needs more real ones. And writing your own songs is one of the most powerful steps you can take in becoming that.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Life

Authenticity Is the New Buzzword in Town – But What Does It Really Mean?

Posted on by Corey Stewart

You’ve probably noticed it too, everywhere you look these days, people are talking about authenticity. It’s the new buzzword being thrown around in music circles, branding meetings, marketing webinars, and content creation workshops. But like any term that gets overused.

I think it’s important to take a step back and unpack what authenticity actually is, why it matters now more than ever, and how we can truly live it, not just talk about it.

Why Is Authenticity Having a Moment?

We’re living in a world completely saturated with curated content, algorithm-driven trends, and carefully edited personas. Everything we consume has been polished and filtered to the point where it can feel hard to tell what’s real anymore. And when that happens, people naturally start looking for the opposite. They want something that feels raw. Human. Honest.

That’s where authenticity steps in. It’s not just another marketing trend—it’s the antidote to artificiality.

Add to that the growing distrust in brands, social platforms, and even influencers who once seemed untouchable, and you’ve got a cultural climate where being real is not only refreshing… it’s essential.

What Does Authenticity Actually Mean?

So what does being authentic actually look like? For me, it comes down to a few key things:

  • Saying what you mean and meaning what you say.
  • Being open about the flaws, the failures, the not-so-polished bits of your story.
  • Staying aligned with your values even when it’s hard.
  • Having a unique voice and not copying the crowd just to stay relevant.

Authenticity isn’t about trying to appear real. That defeats the purpose. It’s about actually being real and staying that way, consistently.

How Authenticity Shapes My Music and Creativity

In my world as a songwriter, musician, and blogger, authenticity is everything. Audiences can smell it when you’re faking it. They know when you’re chasing trends instead of telling your truth. But when the music comes from an honest place, when the lyrics are lived-in and the performance comes from deep within, people connect. You don’t need gimmicks or formulas when you’re creating from a place of honesty.

Think about artists like Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain, Billie Eilish, or Noah Kahan. They don’t connect with people because they’re perfect. They connect because they’re real. Their stories, their pain, their perspectives, it all feels human, raw, and relatable.

Why Brands and Businesses Need to Get Real Too

And this doesn’t just apply to music. If you’re running a business, building a brand, or trying to make an impact online, authenticity matters just as much.

People don’t want to be sold to, they want to feel something.

They want to know who you are, what you stand for, and whether you walk your talk. Brands that are transparent, human, and value-driven tend to build deeper, more lasting relationships with their audience. They’re not focused on the quick sale; they’re building trust.

The Rise of Authenticity in Social Media and Content Creation

The same thing goes for social media and content creation. The days of perfectly curated feeds and flawless influencer aesthetics are slowly giving way to a more honest, unfiltered vibe. People are gravitating toward creators who let them see the mess, the behind-the-scenes, the real-life ups and downs.

But here’s the tricky part: because authenticity has become such a valuable currency, some people try to manufacture it. That’s where things can get murky. The carefully curated “imperfections,” the staged vulnerability, the influencer crying into the camera between sponsored posts… it can all start to feel performative if it’s not coming from a genuine place.

Authenticity Isn’t a Strategy—It’s a Way of Life

The line between being authentically vulnerable and using vulnerability as a strategy is razor thin—and let’s face it, most people can tell the difference.

In the end, authenticity isn’t a strategy. It’s a way of being. You don’t dip into it for a post or two—you live it. You show up, you share your truth, and you do it consistently. Over time, that builds something far more powerful than a viral moment: it builds trust, connection, and longevity.

Being Real Takes Courage

And yeah, being authentic can be scary. It means being seen. Really seen. It means risking judgment and letting go of the idea that we always need to look like we’ve got it all together. But that’s also where the magic happens.

To quote Brené Brown—because she nails this concept beautifully:

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”

That’s what I’m choosing, both in my music and in how I show up online. Because I’ve found that when I lean into who I really am—flaws, quirks, and all—that’s when the right people connect, the right doors open, and the work feels most meaningful.

And in a world that’s craving something real… being yourself might just be the most powerful move you can make.

Life

The Best Time to Start Living Your Life Is Right Now

Posted on by Corey Stewart

This simple phrase has been bouncing around in my head for a while now: “The best time to start living your life is right now.” At first glance, it sounds like something you’d see on a motivational poster or an Instagram caption, but the more I sit with it, the more I realise how deeply true and powerful it really is.

We’re all guilty of playing the “someday” game (I know I am).

  • Someday I’ll travel.
  • Someday I’ll chase that dream.
  • Someday I’ll slow down and enjoy the moment.

But the truth is, “someday” is a moving target. It’s a concept that keeps us comfortably stuck in the status quo, always just out of reach. And if we’re not careful, it becomes the default setting for our lives.

The thing is, life doesn’t wait. It’s happening right now—not in the past, not in some imagined future, but in this very moment. And I’ve come to realise that if I’m not actively choosing to live it now, I’m simply existing on autopilot.

Living my life right now doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind or abandoning my responsibilities. It means being present. It means making intentional choices, leaning into what truly matters, and taking small steps every day that align with the kind of life I want to build.

It’s about not living my life like I’m on auto-pilot.

I’ve noticed that the hardest part is always the beginning. That first step. Starting something new, making a change, speaking a truth, it all takes courage. But momentum is a powerful thing. Once I start moving, even in the smallest of ways, things begin to shift.

The biggest regrets don’t usually come from things we’ve done—they come from the things we didn’t do. The words left unsaid. The dreams never pursued. The life not fully lived.

I read once about a palliative care nurse who asked her patients what they regretted most near the end of their lives. The most common answer was this: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” That hit me like a ton of bricks.

So, I’ve started asking myself: Am I living in a way that’s true to who I am? Not in some grand, perfect, Instagram-worthy way, but in the daily stuff. The little choices. The quiet moments. Am I choosing authenticity? Am I making time for the people and the things that matter most?

For me, living my life now means writing music that matters to me. Spending time with people I love. Being okay with not having all the answers. Creating, sharing, risking, failing, learning, and growing.

It also means simplifying. Cutting away the noise. Saying no to what drains me and yes to what fills me up, even if it’s uncomfortable.

If there’s one thing I’d say to anyone reading this, it’s this: You don’t need a perfect plan. You don’t need permission. You don’t need to wait until you’re ready. The best time to start living your life is right now. This moment is enough.

Because one day, we’ll all look back. And I’d rather say, “I gave it everything I had” than “I wish I had.”

Let’s live our lives, truly live them, starting from right now.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Music BusinessPhilosophy

Here Are The Two Most Important Videos I’ve Seen In A Long Time…

Posted on by Corey Stewart

I am a long-time subscriber of Rick Beato on YouTube and today I came across Rick’s interview with Jazz pianist, music writer and futurist Ted Gioia today and it completely blew my mind.

Here are two guys, very knowledgeable in their chosen fields, waxing lyrical about a swathe of topics ranging from “AI and it’s role in music and culture” through to “the impact of streaming platforms and formulas”

I was glued to the screen hanging on every word spoken. The best part was that the video was part 2 of an earlier interview Rick did with Ted about 2 years ago.

Below is the video of the interview and a couple of the major takeaways that I got from the interview were…

  1. Cultural Stagnation and the Need for Renewal
  • Simplicity Over Innovation: Music has become increasingly formulaic, with fewer chord progressions and a reliance on large songwriting teams. This diminishes creative spontaneity and originality.
  • Historical Cycles of Creativity: Gioia outlines recurring cultural cycles where creativity emerges as a response to periods of stagnation, suggesting a new renaissance in music and culture may be on the horizon.
  1. The Future of Creative Industries
  • Tech-Driven Change: AI, algorithms, and virtual reality are reshaping culture, often prioritizing passive consumption. Gioia warns that this trend risks reducing the humanistic and creative essence of culture.
  • The Role of Independent Artists: Independent creators are well-positioned to lead this cultural revival by prioritizing originality, risk-taking, and audience connection.

Next is the video of Part 1 of the Ted Gioia interview which happened 2 years ago and in this video Ted chats to Rick about…

  • The decline of depth in media and music
  • The power of music creating a trance-like state
  • Cultural stagnation and likening the music industry to the movie “Groundhog Day.”

Below is Part 1…

Now, the videos are not all doom and gloom for the music industry and society at large.

Yes we’re facing some tough challenges at the moment but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that light will be carried by the creatives of the world.

How is this the case? Well, you’re just going to have to watch the videos.

They can be a bit on the long side but they are certainly not boring so grab a cuppa, sit back and allow your mind to be blown too.

Let me know what you think because there will be some pretty amazing conversations that can be started from these videos.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

2025

Happy New Year 2025

Posted on by Corey Stewart

May 2025 be the year that we all find the external peace that the world so desperately needs right now and the internal peace inside ourselves that will allow us all to be the change that we want to see in the world.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Studio Build

SongMachine Studio Build Update #10 – The FINAL One!

Posted on by Corey Stewart

Well, its finally happened. SongMachine is now finished and (technically) ready to take on clients.

The finishing touches were made today but a lot of work was poured into the week trying to get SongMachine ready for our first client who starts her recording project in two days time on Monday, November 18th, 2024.

One of the things we needed to do was to do a test recording or two just to see if all of the connecting up of the hardware was done correctly. This was done last Wednesday.

Thankfully it was and here’s a picture of the three mic setup for acoustic guitar and voice.

We also did a sound frequency test for the recording area once the curtains were up and a basic covering of the concrete floor with carpet tiles and the room passed the test with flying colours.

Both the recording area and the control room are flat in terms of sound response but with a little bit of life in them to give the recorded sound some character. 

Now, I’m not up with the technical specs of the sound frequency tests and what it all means but Sandy was happy with the results and that’s all that matters.

What we did today was essentially a general clean up, final laying of the carpet tiles (with glue) and putting a frame around the recording room side window as you can see from the following pictures.

Now that everything is pretty much ready to go I wanted to extend my final thank you’s to the following people…

  • Mum and Dad – Absolute legends and huge supporters of the project from the very beginning
  • Sandy Mathewson – Came down every Wednesday to help me with building the studio. He is now going to take on his role as head engineer come Monday.
  • Cooper Lindsay – My nephew, budding musician/producer and a handy person to have around. He’s tall and walks around in stilts
  • Darryl Puckridge – Our sparky who made sure that power was delivered to SongMachine
  • Henry Sweet – Our chippy who did all of the wall and ceiling frameworks at the beginning of the build
  • TLC Concrete – Built the new shed and poured the concrete slab marking the beginning of the SongMachine studio build project.
  • TMW Earthworks – These guys removed the old slab and created the foundation for the new shed to be built

That’s it… All done and dusted. I know that there will be finishing touches here and there, little tweaks along the way and both split system AC will need to be installed at some point but a recording studio like us mere mortals are works in progress.

I’ll be taking Sunday off in readiness to start work on Monday November 18th. Wish me luck.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

5090 ChallengeSong DemoSongwriting

“Maybe It’s Time…” And Other Musings

Posted on by Corey Stewart

One of the things that has kept me sane throughout the last 3 months of the studio build has been my participation in this years 50/90 Songwriting Challenge.

For those of you that don’t know… The 50/90 Songwriting Challenge runs from July 4th until October 1st and the goal is to write “50 songs in 90 days.”

This year I wrote (and collaborated on) 59 songs.

Now, some of these songs that came from the challenge are crackers, some of them are okay and some of them are just shit but that’s the whole point of 50/90, it’s an opportunity to give the inner critic a holiday and just embrace the sheer fun of creation.

No matter how it turns out in the end.

It’s a great opportunity to tune into a bunch of songwriters, lyricists and producers all around the world who are all of like mind and who are all up for networking and collaboration.

Some of the participants have turned into really good friends.

Out of all the songs that have come out of the challenge, the one that really resonates with me is a piece called “Maybe It’s Time” a song about the fact that maybe it’s time for me to let go and move on.

In my most recent health update I had mentioned me hitting rock bottom and subsequently needing the help of antidepressants to lift me out of the hole I found myself in.

Once I got out of the hole I instinctively stopped taking the antidepressants and from that moment on I have been getting better and better and just writing a song like “Maybe It’s Time” is proof to me that I am now back on the path whilst making the grief that I have been experiencing for the last 3 years or so my friend rather than my enemy.

Anyways, without the 50/90 Songwriting Challenge a song like this would not have been written. Here’s the demo of the song for you all to check out.

Enjoy…

Maybe It’s Time
© 2024 C. Stewart

Maybe it’s time to finally let go
Of a past that’s kept me cowering in the dark
Maybe it’s time to let the light back in
Coz all it takes to start a fire is a spark

Maybe it’s time for me to say goodbye
To the darkness over me that’s become my friend
Maybe it’s time for me to believe
That this road that I am on is about to end

Maybe it’s time to feel alive again
And embrace my life in any way I can
Maybe it’s time for me to dream once more
Coz I’ve only got one life to live

Maybe it’s time for me to find my way
And to trust that all my paths will lead to home
Maybe it’s time for me to find my strength
And to vanquish all the fears of the unknown

Maybe it’s time to feel alive again
And embrace my life in any way I can
Maybe it’s time for me to dream once more
Coz I’ve only got one life to live

Maybe it’s time for me to start again
And to unlock all the shackles around my heart
Maybe it’s time for me to realise
That grief’s the price you pay for falling in love…

Once the studio is ready I will be doing another collection of songs for release and a re-recorded version of “Maybe It’s Time” will be there in all its glory.

What do you guys think?

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Health

NOW Is The Time To Revisit My Physical Health

Posted on by Corey Stewart

As you would be aware from my recent posts, I have been converting a 6m x 9m shed out the back of my house into a recording studio and a multi-modal content creation space. 

Now, this is one of the many changes that I have implemented in my life where I am attempting to reinvent and transform myself from where I was just after Mara’s passing to where I want to be in the near future

I mean, after living with Mum and Dad in Goolwa for nine months I finally ended up in Yankalilla which for me is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Adelaide but not too far away to stay connected with the parts of my life that I still want to be connected with. 

I’ve manufactured a life where I can work from home and give myself the best chance to create and maintain the work/life balance that I have been craving for and the soon to be completed studio/content creation space will become another integral part of this manufactured life.

But right now I am about to embark on the latest and probably the hardest and most painful part of my transformation. I’m finally addressing the “elephant in the room…” My physical health.

Pretty soon it will be four years since Mara passed away and in that time I have been doing all of the necessary steps to navigate the grief, pain, anger and other associated feelings that come with a circumstance such as this.

With the exception of taking antidepressants for about nine months due to me hitting rock bottom and needing the extra headspace to sort my shit out, I think I’ve done pretty well considering (I’ve been off the antidepressants for about four months now).

All lf this change has been essential for my mental well-being so all that is left now is my physical health and let me tell you… It needs a lot of work.

I weighed myself this morning and the scales said 160.3kgs. 

160.3kgs… I was not surprised by the fact that I had put on weight, I could feel it in my overall body and this is what time on antidepressants will do to you but 160.3kgs.

WTF!

This is the heaviest I’ve ever been and straight away I felt that insidious blanket of shame cover me. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a man who was the result of taking care of everything else in one’s life except for the most important thing. Himself. 

This has got to change.

“Man, I have really let myself go” I said to the mirror knowing full well that the only person that can make any real changes in my life is ME. 

I know exactly what I need to do, it’s just a matter of taking action and doing what I know I should do. I have made these positive changes about my health in the past and I’m currently making positive changes with every other aspect of my life so why not my physical health NOW? 

I suppose how I got to this stage involves the most deeply ingrained habits that I participate in. These habits go to the very heart of my relationship with food and the reasons I consume what I consume and in the quantities I consume it and as the old saying goes…

“Old habits are hard to break.”

Which all leads me to this point in the post where I now publicly re-commit myself to four major activities…

  1. Recommence Intermittent Fasting

I have written about this concept before but essentially Intermittent Fasting gives you a window of time in a 24 hour period where you eat your allotted caloric intake and for the rest of the time you don’t eat but you can drink black tea/coffee (no milk or sugar/honey) and water.

A typical Intermittent Fasting protocol would consist of an eating window of eight hours and a fasting window of sixteen hours. This is called the 16:8 protocol but the protocol that I am going to be following is something called…

  1. OMAD Protocol

OMAD stands for One Meal A Day and it’s a little bit more of an extreme Intermittent Fasting protocol where my eating window is restricted to the time it takes to eat one meal which is typically between 1 and 2 hours meaning my fasting window is between 22 and 23 hours. 

I will allow myself to vary the eating window depending on the circumstance (out for dinner, at a gig etc) however, if I’m at home, I’ll be pretty strict with this.

  1. Recommence Ketogenic/Carnivore Diet

Essentially I will be adhering to a high protein and low (to no) carb eating regimen but in doing this the biggest thing I’m going to have to conquer is my massive sweet tooth especially ice cream which is one of my biggest downfalls.

Incorporating into this eating regimen is my side experiment of eating Dal (sourced and created by my great friend Jo Stutley and her “Darlin Dal” business) into every meal that I consume. 

How I came to the decision to embark on this Dal eating experiment will be the source for another post in the near future but it’s safe to say that doing this will make the task of sticking to OMAD much, much easier.

  1. Daily Exercise

Yes, this is the most important part of my reinvention/transformation but it’s the part that I will try to resist and make excuses for not doing the most… EXERCISE!

The initial activity will be walking and using a recumbent bike that is sitting out the back doing nothing. I’m going to start off slow and small so I can gradually build up my activity and hopefully the momentum will enable me to develop a habit that I’ll integrate into my daily routine.

Well, there you go, the next phase in my transformation or reinvention. I’m not going to go overboard and give everyone a blow by blow account of “my journey” but I’ll check in with you from time to time as it’s a good way for me to be accountable for my actions.

My main reason for this revisit however is that with Spring arriving, it was about time that I took some stock of what I have already achieved and to get real about the aspects of my life that I conveniently distracted myself from managing (neglect would be the better word) for the sake of other less important parts of my life.

Anyways, i’ll stop beating myself up now and put down the stick to get on with the task at hand. Finally sorting out my mental and physical shit.

Wish me luck and watch this space.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Studio Build

SongMachine Studio Build Update #8.5

Posted on by Corey Stewart

It’s been two months since the last update and yes, things have been a little quiet on the SongMachine Studio front but still, there has been activity, just the progress has been very, very slow.

After the ceiling was completed the only things left to do were the construction of all the doors which were four in total (two for the control room and one each for the front and side entrances) as the spaces left as doorways in the floating wall framework were not of standard size plus the installation of two panes of glass for the control room window.

At this very moment, one of the panes of glass has been installed and the two control doors have been constructed and put into place but in doing so we came across some bad news.

The door frames for the control room wall are not perfectly square meaning that fitting two opposing doors which are meant to seal together was and still is going to be more of a challenge than first anticipated.

Add to that the fact that both Sandy and I can only get together once a week (on a Wednesday) to work on the studio build in which Sandy was sick for the last two weeks.

Well, things have ground slowly to a halt for the time being.

Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that once Sandy is well again (he is on the mend and should be back by next Wednesday September 11th) we’ll recommence the studio build and (fingers crossed) have everything done by the end of September.

I can see the switch that I need to flick to get everything working but I just can’t reach it. It’s so very frustrating but I’m looking at this as an opportunity to practise my tolerance, patience and humility.

There are a number of people who are waiting very patiently for SongMachine to be finished and my message to them is “We’re almost there, not long to go now”

I guarantee you that I am not going to be beaten by four doors and a window pane. As soon as it’s all systems go you’ll all be the first to know. In the meantime I am going to use this time to practise my patience and tolerance to unforeseen circumstances which will only benefit my development as a human being.

At the moment it’s certainly the gift that keeps on giving.

As always, watch this space…

Peace,

Corey 🙂