I think this is one of the best articulations about where we are right now I have ever read. Thank you. Maybe one day you'll run for office :) I will vote for you!
Hey, you! LOVE it! Two songs immediately come to mind..."I Will Follow Him", and "Stuck In The Middle With You"! You know I will, and am, forever! ;-) Huge congrats, sweetheart! Love you! xoxo
Scott, if you ever get bored of music, try writing. This is a fantastic treatise on the subject and beautifully conveyed. I joined Substack just for you. Thank you.
About 7 years ago my cousin’s son arrived in Melbourne for a 2 week stay from the UK. I had never met or spoken to Nye previously but he stayed in what I call the ‘music room’ in my home as it has my drum kit, piano, pa etc.
Since he could see I loved music this, then 19yo, wanted to introduce me to a different style by an outfit called Postmodern Jukebox. Until then I had been playing non-professionally in pop/rock and some other styles but not jazz. The first video I saw was Burn and I was hooked. I think its still my favourite today. I started to listed to more and more PMJ and then when my band broke up I decided to put together a band to play your arrangements. We called ourselves Vintage Sugar and while we played the odd gig and made no money we had a ball.
Ok, so they weren’t of the same standard but I was so happy to be able to play that music that it stretched my drumming and took it down a different path. I even remember reaching out to the drummer on the video and asking about cymbals.
Little did I know that discovering PMJ would have me go to the first Melbourne concert and meet you and the members for that tour.
I now find myself doing some jazz improv workshops - something I would never have contemplated had it not been for your music. In fact my style of drumming had changed forever after playing PMJ.
So I thought Id share that story about how PMJ influenced my music and playing.
Adventure awaits! Thanks for bringing us along on your adventures. You are a gifted writer just as much as a musician, and I look forward to reading more from you. This post captured so much truth about the state of our current world. As a fellow Xennial feeling caught between the optimism and cynicism born of two different generations, maybe I just found your words relatable, but I'd say it's more than that. There is such thoughtfulness in your writing. Congrats to you and Miss Sunny. 😊 Excited to hear how this next phase unfolds for you and can't wait for all the PRL! fun there is still to be had (obviously 😁)!
No matter where you are, your love of music and your creativity can fill any void. I applaud your courage to change directions in search of peace when you can find it. Funny thing about music, it plays in our mind when we’re not looking for it and explodes when we need a bit of TNT. Enjoy your new digs!
Scott, this is a wonderful essay, and I agree with the commenter who said you might pick up writing, next. The thing in your essay that stood out to me most was the mention of seven years. Do you already know about the theory of the seven year cycles of life? I did a Google search and there are lots of resources about the idea. I myself am a student of the work of Rudolf Steiner, so have learned about them in that context. As for the move to a farm, I applaud you for that! My career in dairy farming lasted only a quarter century, but it shaped everything about who I am today. I started on that path when an early teacher said to me, "There is a spiritual path with has agriculture as its practice called BioDynamics." Hence my interest in Rudolf Steiner's work. BioDynamics is hidden in the film "The Biggest Little Farm." Look also into the work of Allan Savory and Holistic Management to get you going down the path of setting goals and managing to achieve them. Blessings on your Endeavors!
Thank you for always mustering the courage to stand in the temporary discomfort of growth, rather than retreating to a life that is familiar, but you know isn’t good for you! 👍💖🎶
This is one of the best things I have read recently, so insightful and in touch with the pulse of society. You are a blessed young (yes young) man with a rare combination of talent, opportunity, humility and a healthy perspective. Very inspiring 😇
This is all beautifully said, Scott. Your Piano Request Live livestreams helped to get me through those weird lockdown months. It's a friendly Chat community and I think that reflects from you. Looking forward to your next chapter. Congrats on the engagement, you two! Hey Sunny!
I really enjoyed your 1st Musings. Seems as though you are making some really good decisions for your life and we will be here to support you as you grow. p.s. I cannot imagine the surprise for the folks who took piano lessons from you, all of a sudden realizing what you've done since!
I think this is one of the best articulations about where we are right now I have ever read. Thank you. Maybe one day you'll run for office :) I will vote for you!
Hey, you! LOVE it! Two songs immediately come to mind..."I Will Follow Him", and "Stuck In The Middle With You"! You know I will, and am, forever! ;-) Huge congrats, sweetheart! Love you! xoxo
Scott, if you ever get bored of music, try writing. This is a fantastic treatise on the subject and beautifully conveyed. I joined Substack just for you. Thank you.
About 7 years ago my cousin’s son arrived in Melbourne for a 2 week stay from the UK. I had never met or spoken to Nye previously but he stayed in what I call the ‘music room’ in my home as it has my drum kit, piano, pa etc.
Since he could see I loved music this, then 19yo, wanted to introduce me to a different style by an outfit called Postmodern Jukebox. Until then I had been playing non-professionally in pop/rock and some other styles but not jazz. The first video I saw was Burn and I was hooked. I think its still my favourite today. I started to listed to more and more PMJ and then when my band broke up I decided to put together a band to play your arrangements. We called ourselves Vintage Sugar and while we played the odd gig and made no money we had a ball.
Ok, so they weren’t of the same standard but I was so happy to be able to play that music that it stretched my drumming and took it down a different path. I even remember reaching out to the drummer on the video and asking about cymbals.
Little did I know that discovering PMJ would have me go to the first Melbourne concert and meet you and the members for that tour.
I now find myself doing some jazz improv workshops - something I would never have contemplated had it not been for your music. In fact my style of drumming had changed forever after playing PMJ.
So I thought Id share that story about how PMJ influenced my music and playing.
Congratulations on starting your new adventure!
Adventure awaits! Thanks for bringing us along on your adventures. You are a gifted writer just as much as a musician, and I look forward to reading more from you. This post captured so much truth about the state of our current world. As a fellow Xennial feeling caught between the optimism and cynicism born of two different generations, maybe I just found your words relatable, but I'd say it's more than that. There is such thoughtfulness in your writing. Congrats to you and Miss Sunny. 😊 Excited to hear how this next phase unfolds for you and can't wait for all the PRL! fun there is still to be had (obviously 😁)!
No matter where you are, your love of music and your creativity can fill any void. I applaud your courage to change directions in search of peace when you can find it. Funny thing about music, it plays in our mind when we’re not looking for it and explodes when we need a bit of TNT. Enjoy your new digs!
Scott, this is a wonderful essay, and I agree with the commenter who said you might pick up writing, next. The thing in your essay that stood out to me most was the mention of seven years. Do you already know about the theory of the seven year cycles of life? I did a Google search and there are lots of resources about the idea. I myself am a student of the work of Rudolf Steiner, so have learned about them in that context. As for the move to a farm, I applaud you for that! My career in dairy farming lasted only a quarter century, but it shaped everything about who I am today. I started on that path when an early teacher said to me, "There is a spiritual path with has agriculture as its practice called BioDynamics." Hence my interest in Rudolf Steiner's work. BioDynamics is hidden in the film "The Biggest Little Farm." Look also into the work of Allan Savory and Holistic Management to get you going down the path of setting goals and managing to achieve them. Blessings on your Endeavors!
Thank you for always mustering the courage to stand in the temporary discomfort of growth, rather than retreating to a life that is familiar, but you know isn’t good for you! 👍💖🎶
I will miss your videos in my feed, but will look forward to what comes from this. Good luck to you.
I enjoyed this read, and hope to hear great writing like it in the future! See you on the next PRL. -RC
This is one of the best things I have read recently, so insightful and in touch with the pulse of society. You are a blessed young (yes young) man with a rare combination of talent, opportunity, humility and a healthy perspective. Very inspiring 😇
Very cool. Enjoy the farm life, hope it embodies the very best of "Green Acres."
I saw you live in New Orleans a few years back. You are a musical genius, but after having read this post, your genius extends far beyond music.
This is all beautifully said, Scott. Your Piano Request Live livestreams helped to get me through those weird lockdown months. It's a friendly Chat community and I think that reflects from you. Looking forward to your next chapter. Congrats on the engagement, you two! Hey Sunny!
I really enjoyed your 1st Musings. Seems as though you are making some really good decisions for your life and we will be here to support you as you grow. p.s. I cannot imagine the surprise for the folks who took piano lessons from you, all of a sudden realizing what you've done since!
Scott follow your heart…life is way to short not to be happy 🙏❤️🙏