Here we are, first week of the new decade under our collective belts and so far the new release, “do they still make lighthouses?” has been selling like hot cakes (at last count i saw that five copies were sold!) Heh, while I’m not making plans on quitting my day job just yet (ehh, that’s not even my plan… more on this later) there are a few things afoot around the SFB headquarters that has everyone (me) abuzz. 

First up is a compilation, being put together by Glidescope, The Echelon Effect’s label. I shall be making a small contribution to that effort which is slated to be released this spring. I’m rather excited about this for a couple of reasons. Primarily because I’m just a huge fan of The Echelon Effect and to be in any way associated with that project is really a bit of an honor by my estimation. Also, equally awesome is the other artists involved. Wow, such a concentrated ball of awesome is almost overwhelming. Yeah we all work in our darkened silos far detached from one another, but even if the “coming together” is purely symbolic, hey I’m good with that, it means something to me. Lastly, it gives me an excuse to invade the studio earlier than I planned. I’m thinking of recording two songs, one exclusive track for this compilation and another for a rainy day (which would most likely show up on the new record, more on that later too.) 

Second, there’s the documentary that’s being shot right now. The soundtrack for said documentary (entitled, “Dear The World,”) will feature music from, “do they still make lighthouses?” There have been a couple behind-the-scenes vidblogs posted that provide little teasers of what’s to come, with some SFB running in the background. This will be my second contribution to a soundtrack, the first being this one (which, the soundtrack, was just released before the holidays.) This is what I really want to be doing with my music. Yeah I love making records, and I always will, but my dream has been to make music for film. Someday I’d love to actually score a film. That to me would be the ultimate challenge, one I’d jump at the chance to undertake. Yeah, it wouldn’t be a traditional score, that’s a given, but oh the fun and ridiculously hard work would be a welcome challenge. 

Third, a new record is indeed in the works. I’ve got a bunch of songs in various states of incompleteness that serve as the “kernel” of this new record. So far things are sounding more ambient with bigger deeper more “intimate” drums, with some loud parts as well. My goal is to be finished writing in March or April and head into the studio around May or June. My objective is to take at least a third LESS time with this record. No, I’m not rushing it, it’s really more a question of being disciplined and maintain a rigor that I lacked on the last record. I’m no stranger to hard work, or discipline. In fact, I’ve been told I live like a monk, my will, when focused, is one of my greatest assets. I just have to point it in the direction I need it. That direction is, make this new record. 

So that’s the near term. There will be twists and turns along the way. I’m not going to make any huge sweeping proclamations about how incredible this year will be, and expound on a misplaced belief that this will be a, “break out” year for sky flying by. Quite frankly there is no way I could ever believe any of that. This year could be a bust. The future has a funny way of making its own plans, so I keep my options open. While I’m cautiously optimistic for this year, I keep a ready eye on the horizon.