He Paints the Room

One year ago today I launched this web site as a tangible display of my commitment to devote myself to my music. Not for the sake of music itself, but with the perspective that music is a gift of healing. That it is.

At this time last year I was beginning to come out of the most devastating time of my life. I was spiritually, emotionally and financially shattered. To be clear, most of the trials I have experienced are ultimately self inflicted. However, by 2006 I had shot myself down to the point of thinking everything was my fault and I deserved what I got. This is vulnerable place to be in.

Suffice it to say that on the heels of a divorce I entered into a relationship that I believed was from God. While in the beginning I thought I had found my true soul mate, I have a different perspective now. I don't have all the answers, and I don't need them. What I do know is that I am supposed to pursue my music. I'll leave it at that.

So last November I had finally gotten enough work to rent a room after spending 6 months sleeping in my car and the occasional couple days at Motel 6. My new rented room was in Aliso Viejo Right down the street from The Neighborhood Cup. One day while at the cup I noticed on the calendar that they regularly had an Open Mic night. Something inside me told me I had to take this opportunity. I don't remember the exact day that was, it is logged somewhere, maybe even on this site, but it was around the same time as the launch of this site.

I started the site with a piece of music called Flickering Light in a post titled  Purpose. It refers to life recovery and the desire to see myself grow through music. My vision is expanding to hope and pray that the songs that came as a gift to me for my healing will be a blessing to others as well.

I also believe that as I am growing through embracing music as a foundational part of who I am, the the music is growing. The first album, Strategic Wanderings, beginning recording in the days ahead, is a very personal album, understandably. I have material that is going in other directions for the next projects.

Most recently is the song Painted Room. This is a Worship/Warfare song. I have written worship songs but this one has something different. The song basically flows with the fact that true worship is warfare. This song was written in an alternate tuning after the first line came to me while I was at a worship service. I felt that the presence of God just seemed to paint the room. It wasn't about what I could see, it was a presence. It was His beautiful peace.

When the song was completed...or so I thought, I felt something was off or incomplete, I couldn't put my finger on it. I prayed, "Lord what is it about this song? Is it too dark? is it not finished? Do I need to change the lyrics? Something is off."

Well, I picked up a guitar in standard tuning a couple days ago to just noodle out some accent lead over the recording I had of the song played in the alternate tuning. The next thing I know, I am writing harmony chords or rewriting the song in standard tuning. As this came together, it became apparent that this is what was missing.

So I now have 3 versions of the song in standard tuning. The next step will be the first multi track recording with the original and the harmony chords played on 2 separate guitar tracks. It sounds really strong together.

Here are the 3 standard versions, the original version in the alternate tuning can be heard in the video from the previous post.

Painted Room 2

Painted Room 3

Painted Room 4

2 New Videos

I got a wild hair and made these 2 videos a couple nights ago. I recorded the audio with the Olympus LS-10 that I use for all the journal recordings. Tried to sync it to the video as close as possible. The video and the audio are at milliseconds of different speeds so it was a challenge to get it as close as it is.

Still

Painted Room

This is something I wrote a couple weeks ago. The first 2 lines came to me at a worship service. It seemed as though God's presence painted the room. The lyrics progress into heartfelt spiritual warfare and back to the lingering Glory of God.

Time Out

Over the past few weeks I have been getting ready for recording. The original plan of going to a studio has changed and I am almost ready to start recording at home. I have spent a lot of time researching what I need to do to upgrade my computer and what else I need to be able to record here. It looks like I will start recording in about a week. More on that soon.

I have several things I want to post including a new song and a live set from a new venue but those will have to wait for a few days.

For now, here are some things I am pretty happy with. The first two are new instrumentals in yet another new tuning, E G# C# F# A E

Time Out

What It Is

And then there is this jem from an after work jam with brother Mike Feliciano.

Whisper to Me (With Mike Feliciano)