this christmas

what's going on

Hi everyone!

My right ear is blocked. My doctor told me told me to put olive oil in my ear and lie on my side for 10 minutes. I’m often lying on my side so this wasn’t the hardest thing in the world, but I also have a cold right now so the sensory experience was a bit much. I’m sensitive about my ears. I’ll block them with my fingers when a firetruck drives past with their siren blaring, and I never go to a show without earplugs. I live on a busy road so I sleep with them in, too. That probably isn’t helping the wax thing.

I haven’t written here in a while. I haven’t written much at all in the past 2 months. I’ve been in a slump of sorts. This tends to happen every now and then but it’s been depressing nonetheless. This year has been probably my most productive and creatively fulfilling year of my life. I’ve written more songs this year than the past few combined. I’ve maybe just run out of energy.

The one thing I did manage to do was finally write a Christmas song! It came out last week but I felt too strange posting about it while people were still celebrating Halloween, and again while everyone was following the election. I honestly just have no idea how to promote music these days, but maybe especially when it’s a Christmas song and it’s only November.

This Christmas / Last Christmas - Spotify / Apple / Youtube / Bandcamp

---

I’m annoyed at myself for not writing one earlier. Christmas is a perfect setting for the kind of song I like to write. Wistful and nostalgic. When submitting songs for release, you’re encouraged to write a small pitch to Spotify/Apple etc to consider for their playlisting. This is what I wrote:

“A song about the unexpected surprise of falling in love, and the joy that the holidays bring when you can share it with someone special. Soft and heartwarming, inspired by watching romantic comedies and fantasising about a perfect Christmas.”

I also covered ‘Last Christmas’ for the b-side because it just made sense to pair the two.

What else is going on? I don’t really have any thoughts on the election. I lived in America when Trump was elected the first time. I’m just glad I don’t live there anymore. We have our own issues to deal with in NZ.

Does new music exist anymore? The last few New Music Friday’s have felt like a non-event. The talk is all about Charli and Chappell, it seems like everything else has faded into oblivion. Do people want to listen to new artists? Are they interested in what’s coming out? Do they even want to go to shows?

I went to Travis Scott’s stadium show here last week. I enjoyed it mostly, even though I’m not a huge fan. The whole time I kept thinking that I wish it was Kanye or Young Thug or Future on stage instead. I don’t really understand what Travis stands for or what he’s trying to do creatively. The show had such a loose theme that was barely adhered to. ‘FE!N’ was fun to experience, and I’m always happy to hear Drake’s voice come out of stadium speakers, but all the more ‘musical’ moments completely fell flat.

It reminded me of the Harry Styles show I saw a few years ago. The business of live music has grown to such a point where these artists can fill stadiums, but they don’t seem to be completely comfortable in that setting.

The thing I’ve listened to most over the last few months has been this recording of Bruce Springsteen in New Jersey in 1985. Not to go full boomer mode here but the show is 3 hours long and so full of life and energy. It’s so dynamic and exciting to listen to. I haven’t felt like that at a big show in a long time.

Anyway….more album stuff very very soon.

I love youuuu

Eddie