Flying Bird.

For the past few days I've been walking you through the creative process of writing a song.  Not every song writes itself the same way, but this is how I arrived at a new one.

The past 2 blogs have been about being prepared and ready to capture creativity as it comes - because there's no way to really schedule inspiriation.

However, rather than continue talking about the new love song that came out of no where, I want to switch gears to another song that, again came out of no where.

In the past week, I've written 3 songs...
1 about the end of the world
1 about falling in love
1 about drones

See the connection?  Exactly...there's not one. 
(except for being prepared to capture creativity)

If I wasn't prepared as a songwriter to capture the inspiration, these new songs may have been lost.

So this newest song (the one about drones), just popped in my head and luckily I was snowed in with pad, acoustic, and iphone.

Here's the lyrics:

Flying Bird

(c) 2013 Ross Christopher

(Verse 1)

Take to the sky

And sell them the lie

That everything is safer now

And life cries goodbye

(Chorus)

Flying bird, won't you go back home

Flying bird, won't you go

Flying bird, won't you go back home

Flying bird, won't you go

(Verse 2)

Driven by joy -

Sticks of death and bombs

And innocent blood

Bombs and blood

(Bridge)

1, 2, birds are flying

3, 4, worlds are dying

5, 6, lies are fueling

Birds to fly again

Peace,
Ross

Be Prepared.

I grew up in Boy Scouts.  I earned Eagle, so I guess I'm an Eagle Scout for life.  Having said that, I'm prepared.  It is the scout motto after all...

As a creative, being prepared is one of the most important lessons I've learned through the years.  I cannot tell you how many times I find random pieces of paper, napkins, business cards, etc lying around with bits and pieces of song ideas scribbled on them.

My iPhone has become invaluable!  I have tones of voice memos with melody or riff ideas, recorded.  Some songs are process.  But in my experience, those are the ones that sound like process - and who likes process?

If not for being prepared and having the tools I need in hand, who knows how much creativity might be lost and forgotten?

Peace,
Ross

Some Things Just Write Themselves.

As a songwriter, lyrics and music hit me at all sorts of random times.  Though 80% of the time I write in a similar fashion, I don't have (or prescribe to) "a system."  Having said that, I was finishing up a new single that I've been working on for about a month, called 'Lonely Earth.' 

As I was working on a mixdown, I all of a sudden got this lyric and melody in my head.  Immediately I had to open up a new project and record what was going on in my head.  In about 10 minutes I had recorded the acoustic guitar part and the lead vocal scratch track. 

I played the song for Kate the next morning and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I can't get it out of my head.  Some things you work on for weeks, and some things just write themselves.  I'm consistently surprised by, and with, the creative process!  I'm excited to share more of this process with you in the coming days.

Peace,
Ross

10 Years Later...

Yesterday was the 10 year anniversary of the Iraq invasion.  How things have changed in 10 years…

I thought it appropriate to ask a handful of questions, to gauge what we've learned, experienced, and how we might move forward.

1. Despite the best of intelligence (remember that the entire globe's intelligence community agreed that Iraq had WMD's); is there ever enough intelligence to warrant a unilateral invasion?

2. What have we learned about soldiers on the ground versus drones in the sky?

3. Do we value life more or less?

4. Do we truly believe and promote in the sanctity of life?

5. Are we more equipped to face future challenges without war?

6. Is American Democracy right for every nation, people group, etc?

7. Is the region more stable?

8. Have we created more allies or enemies?

9. How have we treated our veterans upon their return home?

10. How has the treatment of war changed us? (do we think lightly of it, or do we hate it?)

Peace,
Ross

MARCH 2013 VLOG

CLICK HERE TO GET THE ALBUM AT NOISETRADE.COM

Peace,

Ross

What We Talk About When We Talk About God {VIDEO}

Earlier tonight I tuned into a live speaking engagement from Rob Bell, discussing his newest book, What We Talk About When We Talk About God.  It's brilliant and refreshing and much needed in a faithless landscape, filled with boxes and black and white thought - both inside and outside of anything resembling "church."

I encourage you to take the time and watch this!


Video streaming by Ustream

Peace,
Ross

Tarot Cards, Hope, & Community

We are a people hungry for questions and listening, and people who will simply sit down across from us and have a conversation - especially at our most vulnerable times.

A couple days ago I was at my favorite local cafe doing some writing.  A woman came in and sat down at the table next to mine.  She was carrying an odd shaped box - obviously containing something very special.

A few minutes later a young man came in, looking somewhat hopeless and in need.  The two of them spoke and obviously were there to meet each other.  Was I about to eavesdrop onto a blind date?  Not so much.

Within seconds the mysterious box was opened and the woman placed a handful of mystical tarot cards on the table.  The man's hopelessness did a 180.  You could see the eagerness for answers in his eyes.

She poked and prodded in the most open-ended ways, that anyone might have been able to come to an equal amount of vague, future-conclusions this fortune teller conjured.

The whole meeting probably didn't last more than 20 minutes, but I saw a once fearful and lost man, leave with certainty and hope.

Now I don't believe that anything this fortune teller said or read, had any actual bearing on this man's future.  But what I do believe is that this man was at rock bottom and needed someone's ear.  He had her's (at a decent price tag), and in this act of human interaction, he once again was filled with hope of a future.

Perhaps the truth behind this fortune teller's ability, is her capacity to listen and offer hope (even if she's making a decent profit).  After all it wasn't that long ago that "professional mourner" was an actual thing...

Maybe this world needs more people that will journey with us in hope.  Maybe the woman sitting beside me needs the same, but isn't to the point of conjuring the dead.  Maybe in this age of technology, individualism, and cynicism, all we really need is each other.  We've been given the capacity to love and listen, and extend grace and compassion with limitless restrictions.

Let's try that.

Peace,
Ross

Cardia {a post in creativity & beauty}

This blog exists to talk about creativity and beauty.
Both rise in very different ways,
at different times,
and through different mediums.
I saw this last night and thought it was well worth sharing!

Enjoy!

Cardia (Étude Op. 2) from sougwen on Vimeo.

Peace,
Ross

Lonely Earth

Yesterday I mentioned the new apocalyptic love song I'm recording.  Well, here's the lyrics...

Lonely Earth

(c) 2013 Ross Christopher

(Chorus)

What would you say if I told you

We were the last ones on earth

What would you do if we were as alive

As anyone could ever be

(Verse)

Would you change a thing

Would it mean a thing

Would it make all the difference

Or nothing at all

(Chorus)

What would you say if I told you

We were the last ones on earth

What would you do if we were as alive

As anyone could ever be

(Verse)

Would you see things brighter

Or would it all turn grey

Would life birth new meaning

If it were just you and I

(Chorus)

What would you say if I told you

We were the last ones on earth

What would you do if we were as alive

As anyone could ever be

(Bridge)

Would you look at the sky

Would you stare me in the eyes

Would you dance until you couldn't

Would you stare me in the eyes

(Chorus)

What would you say if I told you

We were the last ones on earth

What would you do if we were as alive

As anyone could ever be

Peace,
Ross

Apocalyptic Love Song...

Hey there y'all-

Just wanted to let you know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...I know, I know, its been WAY TOO LONG since I've posted!  And for that I apologize.

I've been crazy busy in the studio, playing a couple shows, and writing.  Thank you all so very much for picking up the newest EP, VEIL and for coming out to the Kishi Bashi show a couple weeks back!  I'm continually impressed with your support!!

So what am I writing?...an apocalyptic love song.  That's right, I thought it'd be a fun take on a love song, and I'm really excited how its turning out!  I hope to have the new single available to you in a month or so.

Take care 'till next time!

Peace,
Ross