Therapy

As of late, I don't have a lot to say. This is for a number of different reasons, none of which I feel compelled to publicly divulge in this blog post. I've been seeing less and less of my friends and missing the ones who are far away more and more. I don't like spending time alone with my self all of the time - my mind is a complex mine field anymore. I'll just be nonchalantly contemplating to myself and then BLAM my mind psychologically bombs itself...or something like that. So whatever you do, don't stand in the direct path of my ears, you might catch some shrapnel.

Anywho. Music is my escape, my therapist. It is the only thing I've ever found thats been 100% reliable throughout my life. When everything else fails, I can without a doubt count on music. For that, I'm thankful beyond the bounds of reasonability. I literally would most likely go crazy without it. It's how I start my day, how I end the day, and how I smooth out all the wrinkles in between.

I recently discovered Sol's music on the College Of Music. (Which, if you like hip-hop it's worth checking out from time to time.) I need to get more than just this album Yours Truly, because I love it. He's very honest and expressive and I dig it. Another rapper from Seattle who kicks ass.

Florence + The Machine is also another relatively new artist to me and honestly this woman's vocals blow me away. Accompanied with ridiculously powerful instrumental support, I'm pretty sure this band is going to take over the world. When I work with the truck team in the mornings, I start my 6 a.m. day with Cosmic Love. This is probably the only "love" song I can tolerate at this point in time, and its so bad ass it just wouldn't be right if I didn't start my day with it.

Yes, I know I've already posted this one. Yes, I know you've already watched it once before and read while I raved about it. I don't care. Michael Larsen aka Eyedea has inspired me a great deal in the short time I've been listening to his music. It saddens me that an artist like him is no longer with us. He explores his own painful struggles in his music - schizophrenia, drug addiction, loss. He died young, but sounds wise beyond his years in his music. Eyedea and Abilities produced master pieces. Master pieces that remind listeners every day to see the positive and smile. Darn kids and their hip-hop music.

I have been rocking out to this album since the impressionable age of 14. Say Anything is my Nirvana. The anger, vulgarity, and brutal honesty that comes from Max Bemis's can be matched by very few. Seeing the band grow through all of their albums has been awesome and they only get better. Admit It.. will always be one of my favorites, a song that is to never be skipped.

There ya go. A little taste of my daily regimen.

Shuffle

I, as many other members of the general population, am often plugged into my music via my headphones. More and more I see people of all ages with earbuds or headphones stuck in or on their nogin. Studying, exercising, zoning out, and driving (this is dangerous and illegal folks) are a few things I see members of the public doing whilst their ears are plugged in.

Now when I'm jammin' (cuz that's what I do when my headphones are in) I believe there is no other way to do so than with the playlist on shuffle. I've yelled at friends for disrupting my shuffle with their unknowledgeable, selective-ness.

Last night I put the good ole' 'pod on shuffle and did something a little different for this post. (I also found a brand new reason to love shuffle.)

With clay on my headphones
I listen to Tropicana beats
attempting to cypher
the previous eve's delusions.
Sitting up
scrawling on a notepad;
the beginning lessons of Insomnia 411
are proving to be taxing.
Life is a lot like The Ocean
in the way that it often crashes about, 
jolting calm into confusion.
As Soon As I Wake Up,
be it literally or figuratively,
will I only face greater obstacles?
Frustration is What I Got.
It's noticeable in the scribbles
clawing through something 
simple as My Notes.

To explain a bit, there are six song titles in this little ditty. I am rather proud of this accomplishment. Especially since it encompasses the days that have recently passed quite well. (Mental high five for Tessa.) If you can tell me the artists of ALL the songs hidden in this (it's easy to pick the titles out...they're capitalized) then I'll buy ya a cookie next time I see ya.

Get Up, Stand Up.

"Get up, Stand up." The words of Bob Marley that are reiterated by many as they sing along with their music, I bear on my wrists. Nearly a year ago I had this phrase tattooed into my skin. Split in half, "Get up" on the right wrist and "Stand up" on the left. Many notice this and instantly respond, "Bob Marley, awesome." Or something similar to that. This is all well and good, and don't get me wrong I love Mr. Marley's work as an artist and a musician. I feel his work changed the way thousands of individuals perceive important issues. This is not the only reason I decided to make these words a permanent part of my appearance.

I have always believed that an individual should stand up for themselves. Whether it be in a school's halls, workplace, or the streets of our nation. As a child it became obvious to my peers that I had a giving heart, and in realizing this, my kindness was exploited. This was all the lesson I needed to learn that no one is going to stand up for/or with you unless you possess the strength and initiative to do it yourself. From then on I've always stayed true to myself, my values, and my beliefs. Regardless of the issue, I believe it is the individuals' responsibility to get up and stand up for what it is that is right/what it is they believe in. You can't do that sitting at home griping about the news on the TV. You actually have to get up and do something.

This past Friday, my Constitutional rights were obstructed as I spoke out for something I believe in. Does this make me hesitate when it comes to "standing up" in the future. Absolutely not. This only further motivates and energizes me when I think of getting up and getting out there to fight for what I believe in. I fear no obstacle and you better believe that I will not give up the fight.

Friday's Happenings - this is an article about the occurrence on Friday. Check it out if you like. (I was nearly arrested over this.)

A Man Who Inspires

This music video is the video for the song "Wings" by Macklemore. The video has been waited for by fans for quite sometime now, and in my opinion, it was worth the wait. Watch it, listen to the words and emotion, you'll understand.

I was shown Macklemore's music several months ago. After days that turned into weeks of his music occupying my CD player, or having his albums on repeat on my iPod, I can still listen to all of it without becoming tired of it. The sound, words, feelings, struggles that Ben Haggerty (Macklemore) represents in his music form art that nearly anyone can relate to if the time is taken to listen.

He refuses to be overtaken by the materialistic main-stream that the general public flocks to in ignorance. He speaks honestly of his own hardships and does not portray his life as something it's not. A number of his songs get me choked up and teary-eyed while I listen to them. Not because they're sad, but because there is a genuine quality about his music, his words bring about feelings and emotions that only art of high quality can bring about.

I had the opportunity to witness this performance art firsthand. I traveled to the great state of Colorado, spent some time with friends, and went to a Macklemore show at the Fox Theatre in Boulder. Before the show, Sam and I were walking the Pearl Street Mall when I looked ahead to the crosswalk and said, "Sam, do you know who's in front of us right now?" About eight feet ahead of us at the crosswalk stood Macklemore and his trumpet player (who's name I cannot remember for the life of me). Within seconds I was standing in between Sam and Macklemore. We were shocked. Star struck. Not about to miss this opportunity I said whatsup and stretched my arm toward him for a handshake. We made small talk about the day and the show for a few minutes, and then the walk light turned on. In complete awe we continued through the mall. Even though he is a growing artist, and one who's success is also growing right along with him, he was not too good to chat with some fans about his day. He did not appear inconvenienced by any part of us approaching him. He was just Ben out for a walk on the mall. I will never forget this. His show was at the very least memorable. I shouted through the entire set, jumping, fist pumping, and having some high quality fun.

I hope that I get the opportunity to see him perform again in the future. His music is brilliant, his performance and demeanor, however, are inspiring. I only hope that if I ever become a successful designer/artist I can remain as humble and true as he has.

Music Exploration

If you all haven't yet noticed, I'm a bit obsessed with music. I genuinely believe that music can serve as an equivalent to medicine. It has healing properties that prescription drugs cannot offer. It's a great place to heal and a safe place to feel. (Stole that line from Mr. Shad) We are able to relate to music in so many different ways and find so many different things within the bars of a song. Sharing music with one another is a way we share parts of ourselves, our points of view, maybe even what's important to us.

It is because of this infatuation with music that I find myself constantly on the hunt for new music. My library grows every time I come home to my lappytop. But I struggle to find "new" music that is worth listening to using itunes and such. I don't know if any of you use StumbleUpon, but I love it. StumbleUpon is a site that you can visit and register with. After registering an account you select your interests then begin stumbling. The site directs you through the web taking you to places that it believes you will find interesting or entertaining. I was stumbling one afternoon and I came across something that may just be the cure to my moody blues (60's music reference anyone?).

This brilliant innovation is TuneGlue. This is site that allows you to type in an artist in the search bar, then as that artist appears in the screen you can "expand" and it will display related artists. You can also expand upon those artists until you've got yourself a musical family tree of sorts.

I've been using this site for a week or two now and I am throughly excited with the exploration of music that the future holds. So, of course I had to share it with all of you. Just follow the link above and find some new music to love, sing to, dance to, rock out to - whatever it is you do while you listen to music.

Typography, debate, and music for the soul

Nothing gets my brain going at 9 o'clock in the morning, sometimes earlier, than some typography.  Now I say typography and you think...letters...wow....cool.  But this  is about so much more than letters. This is about letterform.  There's just something about those ascenders, descenders, eyes, crotches, loops, and links that I can't get over.  Letter form presents such a challenge.  Especially in the typographical realm.  A challenge?  You may find yourself pondering that this very second.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  The challenge is in problem solving.  Its in taking letterform and abstracting it, or organizing it, or presenting it in a manner that speaks to the viewer.  Whether as a font specimen, an event poster, or simply a work of art its a challenge to take a predetermined form or several of them and create a strong, interesting composition.

The two pieces above were completed for my typography class.  The goal of the assignment was to first take a singular letterform (bottom) and a letter and a number (top) and abstract them or arrange them in such a manner that you created an artistic composition.  The one on the bottom is on of my favorites.  The second I saw the leg on that k, I had to have it.  And the top one, it reminds me of the Bauhaus which happens to be one of my favorite artistic movements/schools.  I feel as though I was rather successful in solving the problem, as were a number of my classmates.  Its great to see so many succeeding and developing as artists.  Its the best part of wakin up.

So I know that I'm long winded in the blogs, but I like to talk and I have a lot to say. Deal.  On that note, let's make a transition into debate.  So currently I'm preparing for some hardcore Lincoln-Douglas debate at the national meet in a week and a half.  Connecticut here I come, hope I'm ready.  The topic deals with provisions the USFG provides for the chronically mentally ill.  Let me tell you something about this, it makes me want to break things sometimes.  Not really, it just frustrates me.  Today, however, after a great run through and series of revelations with my POI, Jessica Hurless and I dove into some intense discussion on the topic and a case I've begun work on.  Notice intense is bold......that's because it got heated, almost.  Not like angry heated, but our voices were definitely above what one would normally expect to hear during a meeting between an instructor and student.  This has been some of the most helpful discussion I've had, and after getting over being slightly agitated about it.  The revelations kept coming.  I'll take a good argument any day, thank you for that Jessica.

I know I don't have to tell you this, but damn can life get stressful or what?  Sheesh, some days I can just feel like I may fall apart into tears for no reason and others I bite everyones head off.  (This is not PMS, it is stress.  I promise.)  It those days that I have addict like cravings.  But not for any sort of drug.  For music.  Ahhhhhhhhh music.  I've always found something calming about music.  Not just calming though.  Music can be motivating, soothing, comforting, empowering and so many other things.  I suppose its unfair to say that I only crave music on certain days.  It really is every day.  I truly is my belief that music and medicine are indeed one and the same.

With that I would just like to clarify one thing.  Its not just music that's for the soul, at least not for me.  This is easy to see through these passages.  Typography, debate, and music are all food for my soul.