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 🙂

One of my dearest friends Jo Stutley has a business called Darlin Dal which to my knowledge is the very first Dal bar in Australia. She creates the most exquisite Dal you’ll ever wrap your mouth around.

“But… What the hell is Dal?” I hear you all ask. 

Well, Dal refers to… “dried, split pulses, including lentils, peas, and beans, that are a staple ingredient in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. The term is also used for various soups prepared from these pulses.”

It’s much more than just lentils believe you me.

Anyway, while I was hanging out with Jo one day I had this idea of a Dal eating experiment similar to what a guy named Jared Fogle had done with Subway. In the experiment, Jared would eat a Subway six inch salad sub every day and track his weight loss progress from just doing that.

(NB: Jared Fogle was later found out to be a child sex predator who was actually using his position as a Subway spokesperson to groom children. He is now currently serving time in prison and this of course had nothing to do with Subway nor the experiment undertaken.)

I thought that if I did a similar thing with Jo’s Dal and documented the health benefits plus the resulting weight loss from it, both Jo and I would benefit by…

  • Jo having an ongoing testimonial demonstrating how good her Dal is
  • Jo having more content for her website and her socials
  • Me getting healthier and losing much needed weight
  • Me being able to help a dear friend grow her business

As mentioned in my previous post, I will be incorporating the Dal as part of my “KetoVore” (a mixture of ketogenic and carnivore diets) eating plan using the OMAD (one meal a day) intermittent fasting protocol.


What I’ll be eating tonight… YUM!

Jo even had a spare chest freezer thrown in as part of the deal 🙂

This should keep me going for a little while


I’ve started today Monday, September 16th with a starting weight of 161.4kgs (yes, I’m now unfortunately heavier than what I was in my last post) so wish me luck and watch this space.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

PS: If you want to try Jo’s Dal yourself the first thing you need to do is go to her website and check out the types of Dal’s that she has available. You won’t regret it.

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 🙂

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 🙂

With regards to the songwriting process, it’s my belief that a “song will take as long as it needs to take to become a finished song.” I believe that this statement captures the very essence of the creative process, emphasising that the journey of songwriting is not bound by a strict timeline.

Each song, like a unique fingerprint, has its own path to completion, dictated by inspiration, development, and refinement.

No matter your songwriting experience, understanding the importance of patience in your songwriting process is crucial.

The act of creating music is deeply personal and often unpredictable, with some songs coming together in a matter of minutes, while others may take months or even years to perfect. The beauty lies in embracing this unpredictability and allowing each song to develop at its own pace.

I want to explore the diverse timelines of songwriting, delving into examples of songs that were completed swiftly and those that took much longer. I’ll also be discussing the individual nature of creativity and offer insights into why patience and persistence are key to producing authentic and impactful music.

It is my hope that you will have a deeper appreciation for the unique journey each song takes and the importance of trusting the creative process.

I. The Nature of Creativity in Songwriting

Songwriting is a creative endeavour that defies rigid structure and predictable outcomes. The nature of creativity itself is fluid and often elusive, making each songwriting journey a unique experience. Creativity, especially in songwriting, is influenced by various factors including inspiration, emotional states, and personal experiences.

A. Definition of Creativity: Creativity in songwriting can be defined as the ability to generate original ideas, melodies, and lyrics that resonate with listeners. It’s about finding new ways to express emotions, tell stories, and connect with an audience through music.

B. Unpredictability of Inspiration: Inspiration can strike at any moment and from any source. It might come from a personal experience, a conversation, a piece of art, or even a random thought. This unpredictability means that songwriters must remain open and receptive to ideas whenever they arise.

C. Organic Development: Forcing creativity can often lead to frustration and subpar work. Instead, allowing ideas to flow naturally and develop organically is crucial. This might mean setting a song aside and revisiting it later with fresh perspectives or allowing oneself the freedom to experiment and explore different directions.

Understanding the fluid nature of creativity helps songwriters appreciate the process and recognise that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to writing songs. Each song’s journey is different, and embracing this variability is key to unlocking one’s full creative potential.

II. Examples of Quickly Written Songs

While many songs require extensive time and effort to perfect, there are remarkable instances where creativity strikes like lightning, resulting in a completed song within a very short period. These examples highlight the magical moments when inspiration aligns perfectly with execution.

A. “Yesterday” by The Beatles:

Paul McCartney famously dreamt the melody for “Yesterday” and quickly transcribed it upon waking. The lyrics and structure followed soon after, making this one of the fastest-written songs in The Beatles’ catalog. This song became an iconic classic, demonstrating how a burst of inspiration can lead to timeless music.

B. “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin:

Bernie Taupin wrote the poignant lyrics for “Candle in the Wind” in just a few hours, and Elton John composed the music shortly thereafter. This swift creation process resulted in a song that has touched the hearts of millions, showing that sometimes, the most moving pieces come together effortlessly.

C. “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones:

Keith Richards wrote the iconic riff for “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in his sleep and recorded it immediately after waking up. Mick Jagger quickly penned the lyrics, and the song was completed within a day. It went on to become one of The Rolling Stones’ biggest hits, illustrating the power of spontaneous creativity.

III. Examples of Songs That Took a Long Time to Complete

While quick bursts of inspiration can yield fantastic results, some songs require a more extended, deliberate process to reach their full potential. These examples show how patience, persistence, and meticulous attention to detail can result in masterpieces.

A. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen:

Freddie Mercury spent years developing “Bohemian Rhapsody,” with the recording process itself taking several weeks. The song’s complex structure and operatic elements required extensive planning and experimentation. The result is a legendary track that showcases the value of taking time to perfect a vision.

B. “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys:

Brian Wilson spent months crafting “Good Vibrations,” experimenting with various sounds and recording techniques. The song’s innovative production and intricate arrangement made it a landmark in pop music, demonstrating how a lengthy creative process can lead to groundbreaking results.

C. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel:

Paul Simon took several months to write “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” refining the lyrics and composition. The recording process also involved extensive work to perfect the sound. The song’s enduring impact underscores the importance of patience and meticulous craftsmanship.

IV. The Personal Nature of Songwriting

Having explored examples of both quickly written and extensively developed songs, it’s clear that the songwriting process is deeply personal and varied. Each songwriter’s journey is unique, influenced by their individual experiences, emotions, and creative methods.

A. Influence of Life Experiences: Personal experiences and emotional states significantly impact the songwriting timeline. A song may flow effortlessly during times of intense emotion, or it may require more time to process and articulate complex feelings.

B. Individual Creative Processes: Each songwriter has their own approach and method. Some may thrive on spontaneous bursts of creativity, while others may need structured time and space to develop their ideas. Recognizing and honoring one’s creative process is essential for authentic expression.

C. Growth and Evolution: As songwriters grow and evolve, so does their work. A song that felt incomplete at one point might resonate more deeply later on, as the songwriter gains new insights and skills. This personal growth can breathe new life into old ideas, leading to the completion of songs that might have been set aside for a while.

V. Embracing the Journey

Understanding that every song has its own unique timeline helps songwriters embrace the journey with patience and persistence. Trusting the creative process and allowing songs to develop naturally can lead to more authentic and impactful music.

A. Patience and Persistence: Patience is a vital virtue in songwriting. Allowing ideas to mature and not rushing the process ensures that the final product is well-developed and resonant. Persistence, on the other hand, helps songwriters push through creative blocks and continue refining their work until it feels complete.

B. Trusting the Process: It’s crucial for songwriters to trust their artistic instincts and give themselves permission to take the time needed to develop their songs. This trust fosters a more fulfilling creative experience and results in music that truly reflects the songwriter’s vision.

C. The Value of Time: Taking the time to perfect a song can lead to more authentic and impactful music. Whether a song comes together in minutes or takes years to complete, the time invested in its creation is invaluable.

Every song’s journey to completion is unique, reflecting the diverse nature of creativity and the personal experiences of the songwriter. Whether a song is written in a matter of minutes or developed over several years, the key is to embrace the process with patience and trust.

By understanding the unique timelines of songwriting, musicians can create more authentic and impactful music.

The importance of being patient in your songwriting process cannot be overstated. It’s about allowing each song to take its natural course, trusting your creative instincts, and enjoying the journey.

So next time you find yourself frustrated with the pace of your songwriting, remember that a song will take as long as it needs to take to become a finished song – and that’s perfectly okay.

Now go and finish that song… No matter how long it will take.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Well, as of yesterday (Sunday, July 7th 2024) the ceiling of the studio is now totally covered with acoustic foam and what a difference it has made to the overall sound of both the main recording space and the control room.

Over the past three weeks my nephew Cooper, his mate Jake and myself have been working on covering all of the ceiling with more soundproofing material mainly to stop outside noise from getting inside the studio especially from the Corella’s which are fast becoming SongMachine’s public enemy #1 (see featured image).

This coming Wednesday Sandy and Darryl (the sparky) are coming down to hopefully finish off the wiring up of the essential hardware in the control room. Once that’s done all that will be left to do would be…

  • Making the double doors for the control room
  • Installing the glass for control room window
  • Total clean up of both sections of the studio
  • Laying down of carpet tiles throughout
  • Putting up theatre drape/curtain around recording room

We’re almost there now but I do breathe a huge sigh of relief that the acoustic foam is now on the ceiling rather than taking up room out on the back patio

Not long now…

Peace,

Corey 🙂

For me, meditation has created a path to a more meaningful, happy and relaxed life. A slower, steadier, silent and a more simpler kind of life.

This is because meditating is an extremely effective way to achieve a deeper understanding of myself. It teaches me better ways of dealing with my problems and issues on a daily basis.

Through meditation I become a more calm, happy and balanced person who is on his way to achieve whatever it is I want to achieve in my life.

I’m sure that everyone at least once in their life, has experienced a moment in which they’ve found themselves in a situation of deep relaxation, satisfaction and consciousness.

A situation where all your daily worries had disappeared and your mind was clear and focussed with a feeling of being at one with the present, with the moment.

THAT is the essence of meditation

By regularly practising meditation, I am learning how to return to that same condition time and time again, whenever I need to and by being able to do this, I don’t have to depend on external stimuli to experience such moments of happiness.

I can find it inside myself.

Meditation also allows me to learn to relax quickly and effectively, to improve focus and concentration. It is also an exceptionally effective technique to balance the personal and professional life to a deeper level.

Meditation techniques are successfully used by millions of people every day to:

  • Relax the mind and body
  • Relieve stress and tension
  • Improve physical, mental and spiritual health
  • Increase focus and concentration
  • Harness self-awareness and personal growth
  • Improve your focus and creativity

I have found that when I’ve started to regularly practise meditation and in turn, study the philosophy behind it, I suffer less from unnecessary, unpleasant and frustrating negative trains of thought.

I start to live more in the NOW.

As a result of this I become more in tune with my feelings and will have more confidence that I will make the right choices and do what it is that we really want to do.

I become more authentic and true to myself.

Through a consistent meditation practise I’ve become mentally healthier because I’m not expending my energies on useless and trivial things.

become more successful at our work because I feel better in and about my work. I go about my day to day with greater focus and in turn creativity flows much more easily.

become a more pleasant and a more peaceful person because I feel better inside and out plus, I have some control over my emotions and streams of thought more effectively.

As I get to know more myself more through our meditation practise, I begin to realise that it’s me who is solely responsible for my own happiness and therefore am no longer the victims of the circumstances in which I find myself in.

Finally, I’d like to think that all of these changes would be noticed by the people around me and this will greatly enhance your relationships and your social life. This is of course not the aim of a regular meditation practise but it’s nice to have your efforts recognised from time to time.

If I was impart any final words on meditation, it would be that regular meditation practise means different things to different people but, you won’t know what meditation will mean for you if you don’t start so consider meditation as an essential part of your day-to day living.

Like me, you’ll be glad that you did.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

A business savvy DJ based in Colchester has introduced a price list for overplayed song requests, with The Killers’ Mr. Brightside set to cost you a whopping £1,000.

All too often cover bands in Adelaide all perform songs from some sort of unseen and unwritten “Adelaide Cover Band Songbook” which makes the live music experience all sound the same after a while.

I wonder what the Adelaide cover band version of this would be? Read the article and let me know what you think…


Source: This DJ has a price list for song requests, and Mr Brightside will cost you £1,000

The above piece of advice, often shared among songwriters, displays a truth about the creative process. Striving for perfection can be paralysing, especially in the world of music where creativity and expression are paramount.

Here’s why embracing imperfection and spontaneity can lead to more authentic and impactful songwriting.

The Paradox of Perfection

Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it drives individuals to strive for excellence. On the other, it can create a mental block, stifling creativity and preventing progress.

When a songwriter fixates on crafting the “perfect” song, they might become overly critical of their work, leading to self-doubt and procrastination. This pursuit of an unattainable standard can transform the joy of creation into a source of stress and frustration.

The Power of Authenticity

Authenticity is at the heart of memorable music. Songs that resonate deeply with listeners often stem from genuine emotion and experience.

When songwriters allow themselves to write freely, without the constraints of perfection, they open the door to authenticity. The raw, unfiltered expression of their thoughts and feelings can lead to songs that are more relatable and emotionally impactful.

Embracing the Creative Process

Songwriting is an iterative process. The initial draft of a song is rarely the final product. By allowing oneself to write without the pressure of perfection, songwriters can generate a wealth of ideas that can be refined over time.

This approach encourages experimentation and exploration, which are crucial for artistic growth. Mistakes and imperfections are not failures; they are stepping stones to discovering unique sounds and lyrical ideas.

Overcoming the Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is a common obstacle in the creative process. When the goal is perfection, the fear of not measuring up can be paralyzing. By shifting the focus from perfection to simply writing and seeing what happens, songwriters can mitigate this fear.

This mindset fosters a more relaxed and open creative environment, where the emphasis is on progress rather than perfection. It’s about enjoying the journey rather than fixating on the destination.

The Joy of Discovery

One of the most rewarding aspects of songwriting is the element of discovery. When songwriters allow themselves to write freely, they often stumble upon unexpected melodies, harmonies, and lyrical themes.

These serendipitous moments can lead to some of the most innovative and original work. The joy of discovering something new and exciting can reignite a songwriter’s passion and drive.

Practical Tips for Embracing Imperfection

  1. Set a Timer: Give yourself a limited amount of time to write without editing. This can help you overcome the urge to perfect every line as you go.
  2. Free Writing: Start with a free writing exercise where you jot down whatever comes to mind. This can help kickstart the creative process and generate new ideas.
  3. Accept Imperfection: Remind yourself that the first draft is not the final product. Embrace the imperfections as part of the creative journey. Always remember… “Great songs are always rewritten.”
  4. Collaborate: Working with other musicians can provide fresh perspectives and help you see the value in ideas you might have dismissed.
  5. Take Breaks: Sometimes stepping away from a song can provide clarity and allow you to return with a fresh perspective.

Remember, striving for perfection can hinder the creative process and stifle authenticity so, by allowing yourself to write freely and seeing what happens, you can overcome the fear of failure, embrace the joy of discovery, and create music that truly resonates with both you and your listeners.

So, the next time you feel the need to write a song, let go of that need for perfection, and see where your creativity takes you.

“WTF is this guy on about?” I hear you ask.

Well, last week I got my hardback copy of “The Creative Act: A Way Of Being” by Rick Rubin sent through to me via Amazon and I couldn’t be more pleased.

I had known of Rubin through him being one of the founders of seminal Hip Hop label Def Jam as well as his music production exploits with artists such as Run DMC, LL Cool J, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys.

However, it was when he produced the Johnny Cash version of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails for Cash’s last album, that I really started to take notice of the genius that is Rick Rubin.

This song never fails in reducing me to tears

In terms of sheer inventiveness and depth of musical vision I put Rubin up in my top three producers alongside Trevor Horn and Brian Eno.

Anyways, I found a lot of videos on YouTube singing praises about Rubin’s book that I just had to check out and in doing so I discovered two things that astounded me…

First of all he’s practised meditation since he was 14 years old and secondly (and most importantly) his views on creativity and the process that surrounds it is very similar to my views and it’s because of this that I just had to acquire his book.

Many years ago I purchased “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron and really gravitated towards her concept of the morning pages which is writing (at least) three A4 sized pages of stream of consciousness thinking every morning.

This eventually morphed into my daily journal writing ritual.

For me, The Artist’s Way was a big influence on my life at the time and I know that The Creative Act: A Way Of Being will become just as influential or even more so. I can’t wait to get my highlighter pen out and really start getting into the pages.

I’ll be sharing with all of you what I learn and discover through this blog so watch this space.

Peace,

Corey 🙂