Okay. The beginning of this journey happened when the decision was made to record my songs onto a Home Music Studio. Not a grand affair. Just a little essential ‘This will be a basic do-able project being both realistic money wise and recognition that I am a complete technophobe. With those limitations it took a while to choose equipment wisely.

And finally, after a fair few weeks of searching and learning, I believe the technology needs are there and all in place now. All there to get started. Was the GarageBand recording system preferred presently over the Logic Pro system? Well yes! The cost basically. Logic Pro for an Apple Mac is far too much presently for the budget sought. But also, with the difficulties in myself being useless with technology, it is wise to consider a more higher end recording system down the timeline. Although, hit singles have had GarageBand involvement.

Now? I need to take a deep inhale/exhale yogic breath followed by a single heartbeat and then say ‘Right…..Ready or not, here I am’.

As the Buddhist saying goes:

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

And yes, even the longest, most difficult adventures and journeys begin with that first step. It is very nice to have taken it today.

The Akai keyboard is connected and works nicely. Not so much ‘biting the bullet’, but definitely depressing the first piano key to hear a note enter the headphones. It works! A tentative enquiry into about two dozen choice ‘piano’ sounds and percussion choices from GarageBand was placed over an uploaded old XCerts song ‘Cosmic Girl’ from the iPad Shure MOTIV file. I learned how to Airdrop files today! Tick’s the positivity box nicely. Okay….piano key playing was a muck about consisting of out of tune piano playing overlays….. but it was total fun.

What I have realised though is that piano keys set a songwriter’s neural pathways jingling into melodic possibilities. To places I have never really been inspired before. I suppose I can’t help but forever seek a melody or rhythm in anything started. I pegged the washing out this morning, hanging the clothes on the line with a dancing rhythmic grace. Joking? Nope.

And so I thought I would create an additional ‘Page’ for this blog site called THE ‘FRAIL AUTUMN’ PROJECT. It’s up top in the header page bar. In reality it will be holistic. Both band information and GarageBand recording inclusions. A generic ‘under one umbrella’ scenario with lots of related band progression inclusions. Long gone are the XCerts getting back together dreams. Gracefully left back in the late 1970s now. However….I believe a revisit to some of those old songs can be considered and a newer relook at them, to update lyrics and format, would be fun. What is now the aim is to produce FRAIL AUTUMN vibes to new songs. Three people involved still, but two new members, Steve and John, coming at the project with eyes wide open and offering new ideas.

Anyways. I have a journal up and running to collect data as the project starts. And feel more calm that at least microphones, keyboard and the main set up all love each other. Welcomed each other with open arms. Who knew technology has an inherent soul ….dependent upon how you treat and use it.

And so the story goes.

To where?

No one knows.

Borne from self promises.

Not worn out wishes………

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