Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Local as a Mother...
In a recent interview with GQ, Devendra Banhart was talking about recording in Woodstock and how important he found it to move on after recording "I need to move on or I'll be singing the same shit." He then quoted Miles Davis; "People who don't change will find themselves like folk musicians, playing in museums and local as a motherfucker."
I think I understand how they felt. I have live in Houston almost my entire life. This is all I know. While I have moved to different sides of the city and even way out on the outskirts, it is still Houston. I am still the same person. It's not like I hold the belief that you can become a new person if you move to another city. When I went to New York City last year, I felt different. I felt so creative and inspired. I felt comfortable yet driven. I was still me. I didn't loose any insecurity or look different. What changed was my motivation.
When I wrote, which was often, I wrote from a new perspective. My emotions pushed me in a new direction. My point of view was the same, but it was like I had been given glasses and was suddenly aware of details previously unseen. Subtlety of life became my muse.
We have to change things to remain fresh. For you it may be having a baby and starting a family. Or you may change careers and go down an unknown path. For me, for now, it seems like moving to New York City is an obvious progression. How long it will take to get there is a different story, but the knowledge of what is out there waiting for me provides patience and excitement.
Having returned to my local same shit different day way of life, I write much less and have to pull the words out from deep inside instead of the hard to keep up with flow I momentarily experienced. This doesn't lessen my motivation it provides a boost. I realize one has to work hard to get ahead. The journey defines the destination. What I go through to get there will make me stronger and more appreciative of what live has to offer.
I think I understand how they felt. I have live in Houston almost my entire life. This is all I know. While I have moved to different sides of the city and even way out on the outskirts, it is still Houston. I am still the same person. It's not like I hold the belief that you can become a new person if you move to another city. When I went to New York City last year, I felt different. I felt so creative and inspired. I felt comfortable yet driven. I was still me. I didn't loose any insecurity or look different. What changed was my motivation.
When I wrote, which was often, I wrote from a new perspective. My emotions pushed me in a new direction. My point of view was the same, but it was like I had been given glasses and was suddenly aware of details previously unseen. Subtlety of life became my muse.
We have to change things to remain fresh. For you it may be having a baby and starting a family. Or you may change careers and go down an unknown path. For me, for now, it seems like moving to New York City is an obvious progression. How long it will take to get there is a different story, but the knowledge of what is out there waiting for me provides patience and excitement.
Having returned to my local same shit different day way of life, I write much less and have to pull the words out from deep inside instead of the hard to keep up with flow I momentarily experienced. This doesn't lessen my motivation it provides a boost. I realize one has to work hard to get ahead. The journey defines the destination. What I go through to get there will make me stronger and more appreciative of what live has to offer.
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