Passion is the fuel to life

Willem Dafoe said once "the worst thing is to get involve with people who aren't passionate about what they're doing."
I could just leave it at that, but I've had two recent experiences with people who weren't passionate about a project I was developing, and it was horrible. This is right on target to me; passion makes mountains move and rain come; lack of passion makes a strong and stable home crumble to the ground and disappear into the cracks of the earth.
It's almost better to have someone disagreeable, annoying, obnoxious, but someone who has PASSION. Especially in the arts, the lack of enthusiasm will kill the project, because you're making something out of nothing, and if you don't believe in it, it will disintegrate before your eyes. And if you have a team of crazy, wild, imaginative, outrageous children believing they're building a new Mount Olympus you will make something good.
I've been guilty of being passion-less many a times, but I aspire to have it every day of my life, and it's really the force I thrive on and which makes me achieve incredible things I could never achieve otherwise. So, listen to Willem's advice and...stay away from those passion-less bastards!
This life is meant to be LIVED!

Standing In The Shadows of Motown (The Funk Brothers)

Do you remember being 11 and dancing and singing in a frenzy in front of the mirror to "Reach out (I'll be there)" or "Dancing in the Street" or "My girl"? Well...uhm.......(oops)I do.
There's something infectious about the beat of these songs, the riffs, the way they flow and make you feel good, feel hopeful and act like the crazy child you are.
I just watched a documentary about the musicians that were responsible for these incredible songs called "Standing in the shadows of Motown". Not the front famed singers but the unrecognized and forgotten foundation that built the house of the Motown home.
To all my music brothers and sisters out there; you've gotta watch this. It will make you sing and jump and cry and laugh again. It's an inspiring story and good history lesson, but also points at the atrocity of how these geniuses, and fathers of Soul, creators of a unique sound, and a unique community amongst them, responsible for making booties shake all around the world, have been long forgotten. Once again the "star maker machinery" forgets the spirit and foundation without which, it wouldn't be possible.
For all of you musicians who put all your time, talent, soul, body, blood, tears, sweat and money to do a GOOD show and many times go unrecognized, not validated, not known, not heard....you'll relate to this. I absolutely love making music and doing it everyday makes me realize how much it takes to keep doing and loving it. Like these guys loved it. And maybe I can aspire to be that good, in my own way one day.
So...go to netflix or vimeo or whatever and watch this indelible piece of history. Love it. Oh! and let me know what you think after you've danced to it ;)

"Detroit, Michigan, 1959. Berry Gordy gathers the best musicians from the city's thriving jazz and blues scene for his new record company: Motown. For the next 14 years these players are the heartbeat on "My Girl," "Baby Love," "Ooo Baby Baby," "Bernadette," "I Was Made To Love Her," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Dancing In The Street," and every other hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, the unheralded group of musicians plays on more Number One hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles combined, making them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They call themselves the Funk Brothers. But no one knows their names...this is their story."



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Kseniya Simonova's Amazing Sand Drawing

A friend posted this on facebook today and I found it extremely beautiful. Impressive, touching and a good history lesson in not forgetting all the horrible things that human beings have made happen. Let's remember and rejoice for today!
Love,
~Me

October

Hello!
I love the Fall. Falling leaves (not so much in LA), the change of light, the cool night breeze, the melancholy of the season...
Been checking Dennis Stock's photog... A collection that includes some of my fave things: James Dean, (old)Hollywood, California, Brother Sun, etc. Go to the site for your daily dose of creative inspiration.
Last night I went to see my friend Lee Anduze at the House of Blues for his Album release partee, and it was incredible, this guy's got a voice that will melt you inside out.
I've also been playing with polaroids, doing a new experiment with my music and preparing for my Album release...ahhhh!!! I am so excited. The Album will be out verrry soon and in the meantime I'm doing all the ground work to assure a successful and super-fun party for your delight. I mean preparing EVERYTHING: web design, rehearsals, venue, invitations, photographer/s, sound, lights, merch, etc.etc.etc.
Incredible!
This is why I'm very impressed with Lee's show last nite, being an indie artist you are accountable for all these pieces to form the perfect puzzle, which usually has nothing to do with music but more to do with event planning, organizational skills and strategy. As many of you know, this is not the artist part of the brain.
I'm not complaining though, just super excited and nervous and hopeful that the "big night" will exceed your expectations. I am grateful and blessed every day for your support and team work, so I wanna kick ass...for you!
Anyway, enough ranting....back to work!
below is a photo of a prune tree blooming last March.