Recording

Writing music is one of my favorite things to do, I’ll admit. Taking a raw moment, thought or feeling and turning it into sound that conveys into honest emotion; it’s really an amazing thing. Recording that music you’ve created can be somewhat of a scary thing though. When I write I often hit record and spill my guts. Everyone has their own method, but for me what functions best is for my heart to speak in the moment instead of my mind putting the pieces together. Recording sometimes feels like taking that raw, instantaneous moment and trying to reinvent it and package it into a permanent form. In some ways it’s kind of like getting a tattoo.. I don’t have any at the moment, but there is one I’ve been thinking about for the last 10 years. The only problem is when I really start considering getting it done, I have a hard time parting with my skin. The idea that I’ll never see that spot again. Once the ink is in that’s it- You’ve eternally locked in that moment. Whatever was going on in your life at the time is forever sealed in your skin. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just scares me to not be able to grow or change. In terms of music, it’s the same way. Once you lay that track down and release it, that’s pretty much it. What if you want to change something later? Or after a few years of touring that song you discover something new about it. I guess you can re-release something, but for the most part, that’s it. It’s done. A permanent representation of where you were at that moment, never to be changed. Maybe that’s a little overdramatic, but I take my music very personally. I realize at the same time that I can’t play live shows in your living room on command whenever you want to hear something (as much as I’d like that to be true) but I do appreciate the newness of every live moment with a song even though it may be 10+ years old.

None-the-less, I’m currently in the studio now. Hopeful to have a true and honest expression that can be heard and felt (on command in your living room). I want to create music that changes, and challenges me; and hopefully it will do the same for you.

Here’s to recording. I can’t wait to share it with you, and hopefully I’ll be in your town before we know it and we can share that honest, raw, and new experience of a live show.
Cheers!





All rights reserved by Jake Clemons © 2010

Fall In Love

I don’t mean this to sound prideful or arrogant in any unhealthy way, but I really love myself. I don’t know when that understanding came about, as I don’t think I was born or grew up feeling that way; but I’ve had a few discussions as of late on the topic and it seems a lot of people don’t care for who they are. I get the feeling that they just don’t really see the full picture, and I gotta be honest, this makes me really sad. I think we can all stop and recognize God’s mastery in in creation, but I fully believe that there’s something to be said about recognizing and realizing God’s mastery in his creation of YOU. That the same breath that spoke the universe into existence, spoke life into you as well. Can’t we celebrate that fact. I see all kinds of people and in everyone I see something different that sets them apart from others. Someone may have a more beautiful smile than anyone else, or their hands may carry a strength that is unique, or their cheek line could be staggering, or they could even have the most gentle and honest brow. Recognizing the beauty in those around you makes life that much more romantic and lovely, but I don’t think you can do that until you recognize the beauty in yourself. God made you. If the beautiful things we create are merely a reflection of God’s creative nature, then how much more beautiful is God’s creation? We as mankind are capable of tearing things apart, and destroying what is beautiful. I guess my point in all this is- STOP. Take an honest look around you. There’s a lot of things that we screw up, but if you can look past that to what was originally created, and the purpose behind it, you can see some really amazing things. See the complexities of that bamboo plant in your living room, or the tomato in your fridge, or those amazing eyes that you see in the mirror. You were created beautifully! Know that and maybe you’ll start to fall in love. We have a wonderful maker, you can count on the fact that he made you wonderful. Find some peace. And fall in love.