Songwriting Contest Cont’d

It’s done!  Not without some difficulty, I might add.  But I did submit a song to the contest being held via Nashville Arts Magazine for a theme song to the 2012 Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival. 

Did I say difficulty?  Yes!  Actually, the songwriting wasn’t as difficult as I thought it might be for a song “to order,” so-to-speak.  I’m sure that’s partially lucky happenstance due to my own life experience.  You see, I have been to a number of Cherry Blossom Festivals in the Washington, DC area and seen the amazing display of cherry trees in bloom around the tidal basin there.  In addition, I have family in Tennessee and have spent a fair amount of time in and around Nashville.  After doing a little more digging regarding the fairly new Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival, I had a decent well of inspiration from which to draw.

The difficulty came from a) nasty cold germs; and b) technological challenges.  In the first case, I came down suddenly and violently with a nasty cold that left me barely able to speak much less sing for over a week.  Of course, that was just when I had planned on recording the song I’d written for submission.  Not good!!  And then I had to travel — with the cold — on business.  I dragged along my laptop and a mic just in case and was able to get a fairly un-phlegmy version recorded (albeit a poor quality recording) just before the deadline.  And THEN, I couldn’t get online to accomplish the submission.  It was as if I had done something to anger the techno-gods.  Or maybe they were testing my resolve.  In any case, where there is a will ….   

The folks at Nashville Arts Magazine were very helpful and understanding.  They took my payment info by phone so that all I had to focus on was finding a way to get the darned song to them.  Eventually, I did.  It took another day to do, but it was accomplished.

In the end, I think I did a pretty good job on writing the song.  It’s titled “We’ve Got Friends,” and it highlights the importance of friendship and the reflection through the beauty of nature of the good things people can do if they try.  I also threw in some references to Tennessee and Japanese culture.  Do I expect to win?  Well, it is a contest in Nashville, TN – Music City U.S.A – home to one or two professional songwriters.  I have no doubt a few of them have entered.  Probably many of them.  So, I don’t expect to win.   But hope does spring eternal.  And I’m proud of the tune I wrote.  While I’d love to win, I know that I did good work.  And that will keep me writing songs.

Songwriting Contest

Now I know that – in large part – all songwriting contests are designed as income sources for their sponsoring organizations.  But that doesn’t stop thousands of hopefuls, including myself, from entering.  Nor should it.  

Thus, I’ve decided to challenge myself and enter a songwriting contest for a very specific event.  This contest isn’t the general kind where you enter whatever you’ve already written in the appropriate category.  No.  This contest is specifically designed to find the “theme song” for an upcoming event.  It’s for a non-profit organization.  They do good work.  And … it’ll be a tremendous challenge for me as still a fairly new songwriter. 

After all, if you don’t set goals for yourself, you never accomplish anything.  A truism that just happens to be true.  And my songwriting process can – at times – be very lengthy.  But by having this contest before me and committing to composing a song for this very specific topic, I will be forcing myself to be a productive songwriter.

I realize that, in the end, the song I write for this contest may not be an amazing tune.  It may not even be noteworthy.  It might even suck.  But it will be a song.  And it will have been created by me within a specified (and very short, I feel) time period.  And THAT is the goal I am trying to achieve.   Will I “win” and see my song chosen for the theme?  Well … certainly not if I don’t at least give it a go and do my best. 

I’ll share some updates on this process as I move forward.  If nothing else, it’s bound to be interesting.

Free Song For The Holidays

While you’re busy finding the perfect gifts for your friends and family as part of the holiday celebrations, don’t forget to be good to yourself, too.  Take a sec or two, grab the beverage of your choice, sit down, and relax to a good tune.

And I’ve got just the tune for you to enjoy – free.  My song “In The City Lights (single)” is available via my website — www.joepeck.net — gratis.  This is a limited time offer and will end with the release of the imminent CD (titled Joe Peck: In The City Lights) which will be out in the New Year. 

If you’re wondering what kind of music we’re talking about here, I’d describe it as Americana-Rock-Pop.  Is it any good?  Well, my singles are being aired on radio stations in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland.  Oh!  And on a station or two in the U.S.A., as well. 

“In The City Lights (single)” has even been nominated by listeners at Glasgow’s Radio Six for “Record Of The Year.”  If you’re a die-hard sample-before-you-buy consumer (although the song is free), you can listen to it at www.reverbnation.com/joepeck.

DC Downtown Holiday Market

Percussionist Gabin Assouramou, bassist Hess Muse and I had a great time playing at F & 8th Sts, NW as part of the music program for the Downtown Holiday Market in DC.  We spent 2 hours sharing a set of my original tunes along with some carefully selected covers.  We really got some great response, made some new friends, and generally had a good time making music together.  The market is a fun place to grab a gift or two and , of course, hear some nice live music.  Thanks to the DHM staff for making our experience such a good one – especially our sound tech Brad and Donna Fletcher.

Joe Peck Holiday Al Fresco

Joined by excellent percussionist Gabin Assouramou and bassist Hess Muse, I’ll be sharing a set of my original tunes along with some carefully selected covers (including, of course, a few holiday classics) at the DC Downtown Holiday Market on Friday 12/16/11 from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.    Come out, do some Xmas shopping, and enjoy the music.  The market is located at 8th & F Sts, NW on the south side of the National Portrait Gallery and just half a block away from the Verizon Center and Gallery Place metro station.  There are also plenty of places to grab lunch before swinging by or to stop for a nice warm beverage after.  It’s a very festive experience.  Make the market and the music part of your holiday plans.

Singer/Songwriters at the Hard Rock DC

Last night a bunch of talented singer/songwriters — host Margot MacDonald, Renee McCullough, Karter Jaymes, Mike Corrado, and Joe Peck (aka me) with Gabin Assouramou on percussion — played the Hard Rock Cafe DC   for a BMI Songwriters Showcase benefit.  It was a super night of great original tunes.  BMI Senior VP Fred Cannon joined us at the Hard Rock as we all enjoyed the music for a good cause – Musicians on Call.  The DC chapter of Musicians on Call takes the gift of live music – in the form of  real live singer/songwriters – to the men and women who are receiving care at Walter Reed Hospital.  As always, Margot MacDonald – a very talented singer/songwriter/recording artist – put together and led a wonderful evening of entertainment.

Many thanks to all my friends who showed up.  I have to give a special  ”shout out” to Patrick, Heather, Nancy, Alyona & Scott, Peri & John, Mercedes, Matt, Andy, Joy & Carl, Tosia, Barb and Dan.  Big, big thanks to Gabin Assouramou who did an amazing job on percussion.

“In The City Lights” Nominated By Radio Six Listeners

My single – In The City Lights – has been nominated for “Record of the Year” by listeners of the reknown Glasgow internet/terrestrial station Radio Six.  I can’t tell you what an honor (and, honestly, an amazing surprise) it is to be nominated.  Radio Six is not only rebroadcast terrestrially in the UK, it is heard online in over 100 countries worldwide.  So it means a lot to me that listeners of the station liked “In The City Lights” well enough to give it their support.  If you haven’t already heard the song, you can find it HERE. 

Like the song?  Your support would be greatly appreciated because the winner for “Record of the Year” is decided by votes.  To give “In The City Lights” your thumbs up, just send an email to votes@radiosix.com .  Put Vote in the subject field, give your name, full postal address, and then “In The City Lights – Joe Peck”.

Thanks for listening.  And thanks for the votes!

Musicians On Call at Hard Rock Cafe DC 12/8

I’ll be joining Margot MacDonald, Renee McCullough, Karter Jaymes, and Mike Corrado at the Hard Rock Cafe DC tonight at 8 p.m. for a BMI Songwriters Showcase benefiting Musicians On Call.  Come out, listen to some great original tunes, and party with us!  Hard Rock is conveniently located a couple of blocks from the metro at the corner of 10th & E Sts, NW in DC. 

No cover.  But they will be passing the hat to help get live music to the servicemen & women receiving care at Walter Reed Hospital.  If you can, please give generously.

Mercedes Mill Debut CD

This past weekend, I attended the CD Release performance and party for Mercedes Mill’s debut album titled “Incantation At The Golden Hour.” 

First, let me say that Mercedes is one of the nicest people you’d ever wish to meet – really a genuinely great person who also just happens to be a very talented singer/songwriter.  Her album – a multi-year herculean effort – has a full complement of 14 great songs for your enjoyment.  Her voice is very expressive and brings a lot of feeling to her well-penned lyrics.  In my personal opinion, I’d say her music sits squarely in the pop/folk singer-songwriter space, and her voice has a twinge of the bluegrass stylings of killer female vocalists like Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton.  You can give it a listen HERE.

The release party on December 2 was jammed with friends, fans, and music lovers.  There were even CD fairies (complete with glitter and wings) who roamed the SRO crowd with Mercedes’ album for sale.  It was a fun party and performance.   And Area 121 in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC is a nice spot for listening to live music.

Is It Soup Yet?

Sorry, this post has nothing to do with soup.  It’s a brief rant about how long it takes to finish a CD, and how sometimes people you work with in the process aren’t the best judges of the prospective timeline.

Why do I say this?  Because when I started this project, I had an initial thought that we could be finished by July.  That was at the beginning of 2011.  And, I suppose, we “could” have been done in July if I had pushed through the project and booked day after day in the studio.  But since this is my first CD,it became clear that rushing wasn’t  a good idea.

Next I thought we’d be done by October.  Well … then maybe November.  Surely we would be finished by November.  Um, maybe not!  LOL  I’ve stopped giving potential finish dates.  When we’re done, we’re done.  I have HOPES of being done by/in December.  I promise to make a big announcement here and everywhere I can when the album IS done.  In the meantime, we’re going to make the best darned CD we can.

BTW, over the past year, I’ve heard other talk of spending 1, 2, even 3 years finishing an album.  So, I will be glad to have my CD when I have my CD.