Today I co-wrote with JC Smith of Ole Publishing. We came up with a very pretty song called "My Happy Place". Don't let the title fool you, we both feel it's quite a gem. I look forward to working with JC more in the future as we happen to be neighbours :)
I just got word that I received yet another FACTOR Demo Award. This means I can start the recording process again with a few more tunes. Stay tuned for details.
As a result of the FACTOR demo award I received in May 2008, I have completed 2 new songs which are now on MYSPACE. They were both produced by Ron Lopata at KEEN Music and written and arranged by yours truly. Hope you like.
One of my songs "Bloodshed In Our Streets" won the Rhythm of the Future Talent Contest last year and the full prize has finally come to fruition. I have received about 250 CD's containing "We Wanna Be Free" plus "Bloodshed In Our Streets", "Year of The Gun" and "Time Waits For No Man".
I am pleased to announce that FACTOR has approved an application of mine for funding. Basically this agency which is funded by the Government is giving me money to record music. I don't have to pay it back. It is a grant that is given to support the creation of music.
This weekend's workshop spawned 3 new songs with a variety of other writers, overseen by professional writers John Capek and Stan Meissner (seen above). The titles are as follows.
"She's No You" written with Adrienne Leopold and Steven Demetrious
"Gotta Be #1" written with Denis Chadbourne and Sonya Lapensee
"Little White Lies" written with Tara Shannon and George Axon
It was an enjoyable weekend in which lots was learned and I had a chance to practice the art of cowriting not to mention patience and humility :)
I was pleasantly surprised today when I recieved an email from SOCAN stating that I had received a payment to my chequing account for royalties on a song I didnt even know was getting airplay. "Time Waits For No Man" somehow made its way onto CIXX - London 106.9 FM which is Fanshawe College's radio station. Big props to them for spinning my tune and I plan to send them a CD with more material tomorrow :)
I had the pleasure of working with Douglas last year on a few tunes (didnt get the photo until now). He produced the demo for "Bloodshed In Our Streets" which has won various awards. He also co-wrote "Year of the Gun" and "Magic Carpet".
Douglas currently has a song in the Top 15 in the International Songwriting Contest and another in the Top 10 for the regional finals of the Mix 99.9 Canadian Radiostar Songwriting Competition. He is a producer/composer who is currently working on an album for Ann Vriend.
As part of the songwriting competition that "Bloodshed In Our Streets"; won last year, I had an interview today with Paul Martin and Aisha Wickham. It will be included on the CD/DVD compilation that 91.5 FM The Beat Kitchener is putting together for distribution to the industry. Stay tuned for a link to the interview and master of the tune "We Wanna Be Free".
