You Are Not Called To Be An Artist

May 31, 2016Creativity

Not primarily. I think your primary calling is to love the world and those to whom you’re given. Art may be the way you go about doing that. But that may also change. Here’s why I think this is important to grasp: I’ve seen wonderful, gifted women and men run out of steam in one … Read More

Stop Signs And The Truths We Get To Tell

May 26, 2016Creativity

This is a true story: Boyfriend rolls through a stop sign. His girlfriend, in the passenger seat, says “Hey! you just ran that stop!” He tells her that, after 5pm, stop signs with white borders should be treated like “Yield” signs. She’d never heard that before. “Oh, yeah,” he tells her, “I learned it from a cop buddy of mine.” A … Read More

Think Long Term

May 19, 2016Creativity

When Frank Tate signed me to a record deal with Five Minute Walk, way back in 1998, he was abundantly clear it wasn’t because I was the best, most marketable artist he’d ever met. In fact, what he said was “The songs are pretty bad, actually. But I believe in you and I think that … Read More

@ Sea Podcast #2: busbee

May 17, 2016At Sea, Podcast

The @ Sea Podcast #2, featuring songwriter/producer busbee, is at iTunes now.  Mike Busbee (busbee) is a songwriter and producer working in Los Angeles and Nashville. If you’ve listened to pop music at all in the past few years, it’s very likely you’ve heard and enjoyed busbee’s work, as performed by Pink, Rascal Flats, Kelly Clarkson, Garth … Read More

How Hard Is Making Art?

May 12, 2016Creativity

It’s tough. I won’t lie. It’s not easy to be a full-time artist. But it’s not like being a Marine. And it’s not like tarring highways or roofing houses. And it’s not like being a Mom. (not even close) My best friend is the father of 4 kids and is a fireman. His station gets … Read More

Where Do You Find Material?

May 10, 2016Creativity, Reviews

I used to look high and low for material. I would search hard to ideas upon which to build songs or stores. I don’t fight as hard anymore. Now I stand still more often, watching and listening. Franz Kafka (pictured above) wrote it like this: “You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at … Read More