waking up

http://budurl.com/5m2l

Will update soon… been a crazy week.

It has been one year.

One year since In Rainbows came out, putting the exclamation point on my year of artistic inspiration, personal frustrations, and the desire to live a life of more freedom and less fear all coming together in pretty much one night. Nate Chan and I gave the album a good listen on some big speakers in the dark (I had my eyes closed the entire time). Needless to say, I was very moved. Immediately after the initial few minutes of speechlessness, I posted my first band post on Craigslist. At the time I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but somehow I felt like I needed to do this, no matter what the cost, and that in the end, I would find out more of my purpose in life in doing so.

The result of that night was a desire to bring my gifts out more and not be ashamed, guilty, or afraid of what others thought. Believe it or not, but I still struggle with the fact that people want to hear my songs. I usually just feel like whatever I’m doing musically is probably a burden on people’s ears. But it’s not true, and I’m learning to be more and more open with my music gifting. As a result, my life has changed significantly in the past year:

1) I have my own YouTube channel where I teach songs (almost exclusively Radiohead), warrenmusic. I have almost 650 subscribers and over 200,000 views for my 16 videos. Two people have recognized me in public and thanked me. Crazy.
2) I have a band, Phonofield. We just booked our full-band debut for Hotel Utah on Saturday, November 29th. Unbelievable that we got a Saturday for our first show.
3) I have a steadier stream of students than ever… and I am not traveling as much. I have more students in my home, now that I am a bit more established as a local music teacher.

I believe all of these things would not be possible if it were not from the love I receive from my friends, family, and most importantly, through the Gospel of Jesus which sets me more and more free the more I believe. I really don’t deserve any of this, and I think it’s a good opportunity to say that it’s really not about succeeding in any of these endeavors, but that I find that I am more and more free inside. Love is really the higher law.

***

Friday
1) Elton and Sergio, we’re always growing
2) Monopoly’s back at McD’s!
3) Nap
4) Reminder that I need to be more responsible, missed a lesson due to bad nap planning.
5) That I am not a horrible person for missing the lesson.
6) An otherwise great day of lessons.
7) Return of a young student of mine after summer break (7 years old).
8) Band practice! We are close to having 7 songs ready to perform. But the last bit of work it takes to get to excellence is the hardest part.
9) Dan (drummer) being down for a late-night Ocean Harbor Cafe run.
10) Brian Lum being honest with me. I really need to be more careful with how I speak to people (can be condescending still).
11) Hearing Brian Lum’s new stuff… sounds really amazing.

Saturday
1) Band members being flexible.
2) The motivation to cook again, feast style.
3) Nick and Usman liked it. Mapo Tofu and some other stuff.
4) Practice was long, but productive. One more to go, and we should be ready.
5) Nick’s new song idea is amazing too. I am surrounded by great musicians.
6) That I have started to learn that I don’t have to feel guilty for relationships not being so great.
7) Billy and Lisa! ENGAGED!!!!
8) Kevin Nguyen’s crazy finger food.
9) Sergio is a good man.
10) Nate Chan staying over.
11) Nate showing me new Cut Copy stuff… AMAZING
12) Leftovers.

Sunday
1) Barefoot w/Nate
2) Brian Lum finding out the address of the wedding
3) Nate Chan giving me a ride
4) Beautiful day for a wedding, although it was a bit bright (I don’t own sunglasses).
5) Seeing Emmett… Nate and Christina Wong’s baby boy!
6) Quickly’s w/Brian
7) Some good times at the banquet with Brian.
8) The wedding band not being a disaster… we pulled it off pretty well without a soundcheck and only two full rehearsals (for some very tough songs).
9) Didn’t feel lonely at the wedding.
10) Brian giving me a ride back.

Tuesday
1) PB&J, yum (with Milk)
2) Barefooooooot
3) Internet connection at work
4) Students leaving their lesson with inspiration… it feels good to know I connected
5) Some longer breaks in lessons (cancellations), nice once in a while (too often and I won’t get money get paid y’know what I’m sayin’)
6) Students who have a lot of difficulty suddenly getting it!
7) Indian food with K******; not a lot of my friends enjoy Indian food as much as I do
8) Hearing from Hotel Utah… confirming the show on Saturday, Nov. 29th. I am so grateful…
9) Nate Jeung, man with band experience and advice
10) Support from friends and family.

Wednesday
1) Justin being flexible… I need to get a better hold of my schedule
2) Justin’s sincerity
3) Raspberry Nestea is so yum
4) Good lesson w/T***
5) A*** is one of my most earnestly hungry students. Best kind of student.
6) Again, some more cancellations. I could focus on some band stuff.
7) Red Robin w/Nate and Christine… fun
8) A free Mountain Dew @ the movies
9) Eagle Eye with Nate and Junshien (crazy busy roommate made time to just take a break!). The movie was horrible, but if you like a brainless action flick with outlandish plots that ripoff Asimov, predictable character development, and trite storytelling that is really veiled political commentary, then GO FOR IT
10) At least I didn’t pay for the movie (B**** hooked it UPPPPP)

Thursday
1) Got stood up (miscommunication) for a lesson… Thankful because it made me get out of bed hella early and therefore I had a good reason to go to the WAMU across the street and finally setup my business checking account. Oh, and Phonofield also has a band fund now.
2) PB&J with Milk
3) First legit lesson as a Montessori contractor
4) The lesson being fun and going relatively smoothly
5) Seeing one of my old Music Place students… the cute French kid that wrote that hilarious song.
6) Learning that my old headmaster at my Montessori in SF also trained some people in this Montessori, Dr. Ursula Thrush.
7) Barefoot… saw Ted! Poor guy.
8) TNG at my place… didn’t have to go anywhere. Although I did have to clean up.
9) Christine bringing ice cream bars. Yum.
10) That band practice is tomorrow. WOOOOOO