New Album Coming in April 2022
In July 2021, I spent a few days away by myself in the Barossa Valley. The aim was to start writing material for a brand new album of music. I had an overall theme in mind but nothing else to begin with. That retreat produced the beginnings of 11 songs; some were only a few lines or a few bars while others were almost complete. On my return home, I added two more songs.
Since mid-September, I've been working almost non-stop to turn these fragments into a new album. 12 songs have survived the journey and the album is almost finished.
So, why would a 60 (almost) year old retiree want to spend time pushing himself to create new music? And more importantly, why would he bother sharing the results with the outside world?
The first question is easier to answer. Music has always been my preferred form of self-expression and creativity. At times, it's also been a form of therapy. I finished my last album back in 2018 and last year it felt like it was time to get back into the studio. And, being retired, time was no longer a constraint.
I think the overwhelming motivation was to create a new body of work that I could feel proud of; both technically and creatively. Every single song I've produced over the years has been a progression and I get an immense amount of satisfaction from seeing my personal growth as a song writer, musician, producer and engineer. It's something to feel good about. With this album, I have learnt so much. I’ve acquired new skills and employed new tools and techniques. I’m not sure if it will be apparent to anyone else, but it is to me.
But why bother sharing the album with the outside world? With this album, I’m not pushing any musical boundaries and I’m definitely not riding any musical trends. But I feel it is a competent, heartfelt and honest suite of songs. Still, why share a body of work that will expose my weaknesses and limitations as much as it may demonstrate any artistry or musical growth? These are questions that I’ve really struggled with as the album has neared completion.
I don’t see myself as an entertainer and definitely not as a performer, but as an artist. And, in some respects, a work of art might not be considered truly complete until it has been unveiled. So, that’s how I’m approaching the impending completion of this album. It’s not really going to have a “release”, but rather an “unveiling”.
Of course, I hope that others will find something in these songs; I’d be disingenuous if I pretended otherwise. But over the years, I’ve learnt that it’s far more important for me to feel proud of my work. And I do.
If everything goes to plan, the album should be finished in about a month. I’d love to be able to unveil it on 29 March, but I’m not going to compromise anything to meet a self-imposed deadline. So, I’m conservatively saying it will be finished in April 2022.
Lastly, as a little teaser, the album will probably be titled “The Alchemy of Hindsight” and here is what I expect to be the final track listing:
One Day
Learning Curve
Don’t Turn Your Back
The Boy Who Feels Too Much
They Won’t Remember
No Words to Say
The Yearning Years
You Want to Believe
Novice Philosopher
You’re Weird
Waiting for the Fog to Lift
The Will
