So much to update on here! My posting hiatus was somewhat unplanned . . .
My lack of free-time was mainly due to the completion of my MBA in Nonprofit Management, and in the full-swing of the busiest busy season ever. This is all good for my future, good for business, good for opportunity, but bad for my creativity and and bad for blogging.
The MBA was a lot like having a second job, only I worked remotely from my desk after working an 8 to 9 hour day at my place of work. In a cubicle, staring into a computer screen, reading/writing about everything nonprofit and everything business. These were 60 to 70 hour weeks continuously for the past 15 months.
So many mornings I told myself: "OK, tonight you are going to work on music, tonight you are going to reconnect with friends and family, tonight you are not going to just eat dinner and fall asleep watching TV in your chair."
I rarely was able to follow through with those promises, but still I think they kept me going. They kept me from falling asleep during my commute home - which was a very real and challenging obstacle each night. And sometimes I would try, picking up my guitar and going through songs and potential new material. But often I would fall asleep in the middle of playing - waking-up still holding my guitar.
That said . . . I've been on a big acoustic kick lately. And really, this is good for my songwriting process. I remember years ago talking to my Mom (who is an amazing classical pianist, seasoned piano/music teacher, and the source of my "musical genes") about songwriting and wondering how others go about it. I was thinking about how I always started/wrote songs on acoustic guitar, while singing along (for melody, harmony, and self-expression). I guess that's the traditional folk and folk-rock roots that influence me - think Neil Young, think Bob Dylan - but it's also "what I know."
My Mom validated that process and tendency, explaining how most songwriters have a "primary instrument" that is there go-to in the writing/creation process. This is not to say that challenging yourself to step out of your comfort zone, and create songs on other instruments is not a good thing - I think it can really stir-up the creative inertia for a songwriter. But there is something to be said for that familiarity that a long-term history on one instrument can provide, like an old typewriter or laptop for a writer.
Serendipitously, "Hallelujah" (the Jeff Buckley version) - a cover that I am currently collaborating with my Mom on - is playing in the background while I type this in my friend Molly's cafe. I love those kinds of coincidences. My Mom has already done her part, playing two alternate versions of Hallelujah beautifully, with great expression, and both in two flawless takes. I was blown away, and would have been even if she wasn't my Mom. I told her she could easily be a studio musician for piano. I'm lucky to have her on my side musically. Stay tuned for our collaborative Hallelujah cover, once I finish my vocals, and possibly some guitar overdubs.
Oh, and to celebrate finishing the MBA two weeks ago, I have treated myself to catching-up with friends & family, as well as buying my dream acoustic/electric guitar (Gibson Hummingbird - Songwriter Deluxe) - which plays like, well, a dream. And I am happy to report, my creative energy has returned, and songwriting has commenced.
--Kristian Hochreiter, MBA (Nonprofit Management)
