Monday, November 28, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
The One, Success, and Becoming an Artist
As a kid I had many fleeting dreams of my future.
Archeologist, Scientist, Animal Trainer, and Philosopher just to name a few.
But the one passion that out shined the rest was playing the drums.
I'm not sure where it came from but I was always tapping out some internal rhythm with my hands and feet.
The groove was inside me and it wanted out.
In my ears and in my imagination I could hear perfectly what I wished to express but my ear to body coordination just didn't jive.
I remember struggling to feel in my body what I felt in my soul but the two never seemed to meet.
Then one day as I was noodling on my crappy little drum set, something clicked.
In fact the expression “Something Clicked” is quite literal in my experience,
What musicians call a “Click Track” meaning the relentless equal pulse of silence and sound seemed to
turn on within me and at that moment my ear and my body were in the groove.
I could feel measures of time pass as I played without having to think about it or verbally count it out.
I felt illuminated.
What was this feeling? Where did it come from? Where does it exist?
The Archeologist in me started to search musical history for evidence of this phenomenon's origins.
The Scientist in me started to analyze and experiment with different formulas of the phenomenon.
The Animal Trainer in me drilled, punished and rewarded the phenomenon into me.
And the Philosopher in me rationalized the realization that I had found the singularity of everything.
I had discovered The One.
The one is everything everywhere all the time. It begins and ends. It's the journey and the return.
It is the cycle of creation. It is creating and the creator.
And it was at this moment that I first felt the intoxication of Success.
In my mind I had arrived. I had made it.
I could have quit right there. I had reached my life's apex. I had done what I set out to do.
As new dreams began to form within me I maintained the presence of the One.
I stood up from behind the drums and picked up the guitar.
Rhythm became Harmony and then Melody.
Melody became Lyric which became Voice.
More dreams were born.
Composing, Arranging, Recording, Mixing, Directing, Producing.
All the while succeeding in maintaining the One.
The One that feels.
The One that creates.
The One that is eternal.
The One is
The Artist.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The Task at Hand - Gratitude
As I make my way to the airport my mind shifts to the task at hand. The opening of Temporary Distortion's 'Newyorkland. The show is bigger, more complex and more controversial than anything we've ever presented before. Last month we were able to give a sample of the show at the
Prelude Theater Festival in New York.
The response was very positive.
Choosing the NYPD as a theatrical subject definately raised a few eyebrows.
Being a New Yorker myself I am very curious how the performance translates in different cities. I am so grateful to have the oportunity to travel with the show and experience the audience first hand. Also being there allows me to mix the sound properly so the audience will hear the score and sound design as it was meant to be.
Gratitude.
Sully
Bootsy Baby!
john sully (@johnsullymusic) has shared a Tweet with you: "Bootsy_Collins: The "Peterson Brothers" are hot on track recording some funky blues for your ear hold. Alex 13 Bass player and... http://t.co/WqEtQf55" --http://twitter.com/Bootsy_Collins/status/133024854688534530
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Intuition and Fall From Grace
To me, the most important quality of any artist is intuition.
By intuition I mean the direct communication of your inner self to your conscious being.
It is pure feeling.
If an artist is able to listen and follow one's own intuition, I believe the true intention of the work will be manifested.
The tricky part of intuition is that many times the mind or personality are in direct opposition with the feeling.
The feeling sometimes seems, impractical or even radical.
It takes a certain amount of courage to follow the feeling that goes against what seems like the obvious logical thing to do.
I experience both sides of this coin.
With music it is very easy for me to communicate with and act on my intuition.
I am able to let go of my thoughts and let pure feeling take over.
The result is a communion with the other players and with the audience to the point where a single consciousness is experienced. The awareness of the passing of time is obliterated and the freedom of true expression is achieved.
For me experiencing intuition in day to day situations is quite different.
I get feelings all the time that I don't acknowledge till after the fact.
All kinds of things get in the way of the feeling. Things like expectations, finances, culture, habits and ambitions. The funny part is, for better or worse, the feeling is always right..
Here's a song I wrote and performed with FLAY OF SOUL.
FALL FROM GRACE by john sully
The mountains and the sea the sun up in the sky
Hear the rhythm in your eardrum open up your eyes
You're a spirit in a body that you can't replace
Get up wake up before you fall from grace
There's a better way to learn about the world we live in
You think you can escape inside a television
It's not a sin to rise above the din party people know you gotta play to win
Let your grow wild loosen up your collar
Time to rock hit the clock though your boss may holler
It's just a job don't let it rob your wealth
You can't forget that you're working for yourself
And good health is a plan and a strategy
Medicare is a lie and a tragedy.
Look at the problem back in the face
Get up wake up before you fall from grace
The street's not a jungle it's a man made prison cell
Join a gang deal the cane pay the man your bail
You wont get out you're held down by the negative
Too unhook you must look up to the positive
As individuals our law is spiritual
Stand on your own become one with the miracle.
All around is a color sound vibration
This is Jah they're the parents of creation
This life is a test based on faith and intuition
Only you have the power of your own purpose and destiny
The interaction and distraction of others is only a reflection of one's own honesty
or inhibitions
By intuition I mean the direct communication of your inner self to your conscious being.
It is pure feeling.
If an artist is able to listen and follow one's own intuition, I believe the true intention of the work will be manifested.
The tricky part of intuition is that many times the mind or personality are in direct opposition with the feeling.
The feeling sometimes seems, impractical or even radical.
It takes a certain amount of courage to follow the feeling that goes against what seems like the obvious logical thing to do.
I experience both sides of this coin.
With music it is very easy for me to communicate with and act on my intuition.
I am able to let go of my thoughts and let pure feeling take over.
The result is a communion with the other players and with the audience to the point where a single consciousness is experienced. The awareness of the passing of time is obliterated and the freedom of true expression is achieved.
For me experiencing intuition in day to day situations is quite different.
I get feelings all the time that I don't acknowledge till after the fact.
All kinds of things get in the way of the feeling. Things like expectations, finances, culture, habits and ambitions. The funny part is, for better or worse, the feeling is always right..
Here's a song I wrote and performed with FLAY OF SOUL.
FALL FROM GRACE by john sully
The mountains and the sea the sun up in the sky
Hear the rhythm in your eardrum open up your eyes
You're a spirit in a body that you can't replace
Get up wake up before you fall from grace
There's a better way to learn about the world we live in
You think you can escape inside a television
It's not a sin to rise above the din party people know you gotta play to win
Let your grow wild loosen up your collar
Time to rock hit the clock though your boss may holler
It's just a job don't let it rob your wealth
You can't forget that you're working for yourself
And good health is a plan and a strategy
Medicare is a lie and a tragedy.
Look at the problem back in the face
Get up wake up before you fall from grace
The street's not a jungle it's a man made prison cell
Join a gang deal the cane pay the man your bail
You wont get out you're held down by the negative
Too unhook you must look up to the positive
As individuals our law is spiritual
Stand on your own become one with the miracle.
All around is a color sound vibration
This is Jah they're the parents of creation
This life is a test based on faith and intuition
Only you have the power of your own purpose and destiny
The interaction and distraction of others is only a reflection of one's own honesty
or inhibitions
Look at the problem back in the face
And get up wake up before you fall from grace
Peace
sully
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tai Chi by john sully
Chi is experienced.
It is felt.
It is balance.
It balances.
It breaths and is the breath at the same time.
Chi is everywhere.
It is in the dance.
It is in the stillness.
And inbetween.
Chi is either chosen or forgoten.
Chi is either the first thought or the last.
Tai Chi is the form of the formless.
It is the flame from the spark.
It is the union of will and surrender.
It is the passion of the self to be one with the selfless.
It is the relentless sun rise and set.
It is a revolution.
Tai Chi is Chi occupying the body mind and soul.
Tai Chi is now and forever.
Peace and Love
Sully
It is felt.
It is balance.
It balances.
It breaths and is the breath at the same time.
Chi is everywhere.
It is in the dance.
It is in the stillness.
And inbetween.
Chi is either chosen or forgoten.
Chi is either the first thought or the last.
Tai Chi is the form of the formless.
It is the flame from the spark.
It is the union of will and surrender.
It is the passion of the self to be one with the selfless.
It is the relentless sun rise and set.
It is a revolution.
Tai Chi is Chi occupying the body mind and soul.
Tai Chi is now and forever.
Peace and Love
Sully
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Text, Blogs and Rock and Roll
Sex,Drugs and Rock and Roll has become Text, Blogs and URLs.
As I prepare to go on the road with the Temporary Distortion show 'Newyorkland', I find myself spending hours on the computer, getting the word out about the show's opening at Theatre Junction GRAND in Calgary. I feel like I'm on a Bender.
I'm not complaining,,,well maybe a little,,,but this social networking has drug like qualities to it. Like, last night I stayed up till 530AM posting and then got up at 9AM to continue where I'd left off.
Plus the reactions have been great, so you get a little high from the positive responses and then you crash a little when there's dead air for an hour.
But most of all, I've been inspired to write a little song.
TEXT BLOGS N ROCK N ROLL
I don't eat I don't sleep
Help me God I just Tweet
I don't listen I don't look
I don't care I'm on Facebook
I don't pray I don't sin
I don't go out cause I'm LinkedIn
I'm not shy I'm not rude
I'm just busy posting on YouTube
I feel lost and out of place
Until I log into MySpace
I don't need truth or faith or God
Just please like me friend me and share my Blog
Sully out
As I prepare to go on the road with the Temporary Distortion show 'Newyorkland', I find myself spending hours on the computer, getting the word out about the show's opening at Theatre Junction GRAND in Calgary. I feel like I'm on a Bender.
I'm not complaining,,,well maybe a little,,,but this social networking has drug like qualities to it. Like, last night I stayed up till 530AM posting and then got up at 9AM to continue where I'd left off.
Plus the reactions have been great, so you get a little high from the positive responses and then you crash a little when there's dead air for an hour.
But most of all, I've been inspired to write a little song.
TEXT BLOGS N ROCK N ROLL
I don't eat I don't sleep
Help me God I just Tweet
I don't listen I don't look
I don't care I'm on Facebook
I don't pray I don't sin
I don't go out cause I'm LinkedIn
I'm not shy I'm not rude
I'm just busy posting on YouTube
I feel lost and out of place
Until I log into MySpace
I don't need truth or faith or God
Just please like me friend me and share my Blog
Sully out
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