darren r hill

the creative minimalist

Tag: songwriting

Holiday Season Creative Field Notes

It is that strange time between Christmas and the New Year. It is a time of false starts, of quiet, of planning, of this and that, and of nothing, because everything feels on hiatus. It is a downtime but also pregnant with possibility. The perfect time to stop and reflect on where I am with creative projects.

The Creative Minimalist Blog

I am doing some planning for this blog. I need to give myself some regular deadlines and break the process down into manageable chunks. If I see a task and it is too big I run away from it, procrastinate and wait until it is too late to post.

This Temple Eden Music

I have just completed and shared Music to journal by. This took far longer than I expected. It means there are now even more unfinished songs and soundtracks in various states of disrepair. I am going to finish these. I have a plan formulating that will enable me to, as above, break down the projects into manageable steps.

Fragments is the working title of the current track being finished. I have a page full of draft lyrics… time to edit and shape. Here’s a snippet, or fragment of fragments.

Memories surface as the season turned
chilled reminders of a former tide

pLAnarchy and waoao

Next on the list is thinking about what to do with pLAnarchy and waoao. How much time can or should I spend on freelance work vs other creative projects that could provide some income? I suppose my thinking here is deciding what do I enjoy doing… what would get me up in the morning?

Creative writing

There is also the writing. I seem to have stopped my creative writing. But I would like to get back into the habit. Again, how much time do I have and where does this go on the priority list? I have a pile of unfinished drafts that need attention. There is a pattern emerging with regard to my completing projects I think. So. How can I plan and work productively?

Tools of the trade

I am deciding what journal(s) and planning methods to keep me focussed, know what I should be doing and keep myself accountable.

Things 3 is my digital planner and I write regularly in Day One. I also have a Diary and Spiritual journal that are coming to an end in a few days as the year ends. I think they will be replaced with a simple bullet journal and a long-hand journal, but I am still undecided. I thought writing here might help clarify. Perhaps it has, I’ll post more next week for the first Creative Field Notes of 2023.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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28 December 2022
Imaginary figments Friday field notes

fig 1

An update, or excerpt, on what I have been creating and doing. Keeping myself accountable, even though I have forgotten to update here for a few weeks. Inspired by my imagination, here are some…

Figments

I am composing ‘emerge’. I think this will form part of a collection, the working title of which is currently ‘music to journal by’ – fig 1 is a screenshot of my work in progress. I’ll do a video update on the progress soon.

I am writing again. I have set myself a monthly word count goal. I had a nagging feeling in my soul that I wanted to write. I have plenty of ideas but wasn’t getting around to writing any. So, I set myself a goal, a little more accountability.

The music grimoire my songwriting journal hasn’t seen much action, but I have been working on a collection of songs. I’ll be back in the songwriting journal over the weekend.

I am reading Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. Really enjoying the oral ‘storytelling’ vibe. I always know when I am enjoying a book because I write quotes:

He had done as his dreams had told him, but dreams know more than they reveal, even to the wisest of the gods
Norse mythology by Neil Gaiman

I have been watching Brand New Cherry Flavor on Netflix. It was good, but I didn’t think it was great. There were some really nice ‘horror’ video effects. I quite liked those.

I am thankful for all of you who read and encourage me on my creative path, and as such, I’d best get going and finish a few things.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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27 August 2021
Creative Field Notes 18th — 23rd July 2021

My week has been very creative, although it feels like I haven’t achieved much. I suppose that’s down to not having completed things. These creative field notes are very much concerning works in progress. But that is the idea behind posting this each week.

fig 1

Songs and Music

I’m still working on the tracks that, I hope, will become a new album in the near future. I have a working list of ten tracks in various stages of (de)composition.

There’s also a soundtrack being composed inspired by the word emerge… it’s all butterflies and stuff… what do butterflies sound like, and what is the sound of them emerging from their cocoon? I’m doing a video series about that process, and the first video in the playlist is here.

Art and images

Did an ink splat to tie in with this week’s creative prompt. That’s fig 1 at the top of the page.

Journals and planners

fig 2

Did a little page for my art/thoughts/meme journal, I don’t have a real name for this journal. It is a part image, part word journal, and I am using my Iconic journal.

Words and stories

When it comes to text, blog posts and marketing have been in the work/freelance pile this week. I’d love to spend more time writing fiction… but my desire is obviously not enough at the moment to actually do anything about it.

Inspiration

Currently reading:

The Saints of Salvation by Peter F Hamilton. This is the final book in his recent Salvation Sequence Trilogy. I am thoroughly enjoying these. And my favourite line this week, which also gives a glimpse at what the content is…

We just don’t have the psychology to deal with Armageddon
The Saints of Salvation Peter F Hamilton

Currently listening:

The Moon is blue by Future Islands

From Bills & Aches & Blues (40 years of 4AD). This is a compilation album celebrating 40 years of 4AD. And that makes me feel even older, seeing as I have a few very early 4AD recordings on original vinyl. I love Future Islands and I love Colourbox, who originally recorded The moon is blue. And this is a pretty good cover version.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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23 July 2021
Your touch on Music Monday

Many moons ago I had a song called Your Touch. Having just passed a New Moon, it seems fitting that a new version of Your Touch is nearing completion. The draft lyrics have been written. Now I let them simmer while I mull over them, sing along with them and generally hang out with them. I’ll also record some demo vocals and perhaps record a live version of the song to see how it feels.

Your Touch is part of a collection of songs inspired by recent events. I am hoping to release the songs as soon as I can. So I’d best get on writing and recording. But the picture and my words above should give a little insight into my songwriting process. I’ll explain more in the weeks ahead.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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12 July 2021
Creative accidents Friday Field Notes

fig 1 brilliantly big hope – art journal page

Time for a Friday Field Note report from The Creative Minimalist. It seems I have found some creative inspiration. By some, I mean quite a lot. At times, it has felt like one idea has led to another and then another. I am quite certain that creativity breeds creativity. As I began to note what has been happening this past week or so, I realised that my creative cup was very much overflowing.

But there have been consequences. I don’t want you to think that the week’s creative adventure has been painless.

Injuries

fig 2 coffee injury

Coffee is an essential part of my creative process. However, carrying my French press and cup to the creative studio led to a nasty blister on my little finger. I didn’t realise the cup was so hot until my knuckle began to swell. If you are of a nervous disposition, you might not want to look at the picture on the left… I suppose I should have said this above the picture… sorry.

Songs and music

Seeing my little keyboard in the picture above leads me to report on my music progress. I have four songs that are coming together nicely. The lyrics are almost finished. The latest song is a reworking of a tune from many, many years back (yes, when I had hair). I have been pencilling in and then inking in the lyrics as they begin to work. I will work out how to share some audio snippets for future field note reports, but meanwhile, fig 3 shows you how I work on lyrics in my Music Grimoire journal.

fig 3 your touch lyrics from the music grimoire

ATCs and art journal pages

fig 4 ATCs

fig 1 at the top of this field note report shows a journal page that I created. I am not a painter or fine art artist, I do enjoy playing with mixed media and creating abstract shapes. Recently, I have been inspired by Dianne Fago’s ATCs. So, I pulled out the inks and some good watercolour paper and had a play. So far, the results are interesting, but the main reason for doing them is to learn and have fun. It is so easy for me to forget to play. fig 4 shows a selection of the ATCs I have been working on.

But there have been accidents along the way. In addition to my coffee injury, I had an ink spill. It could have been a lot worse. I am so grateful that it didn’t fall onto any of my electrical equipment.

fig 5 the desktop ink spill

Dianne and Darren Discuss

To finish off, here’s a link to our latest discussion video. In it, we talk about creativity and the process, and you’ll see that we’ve both been quite creative in recent weeks.

https://youtu.be/4QKj_B7HUUQ

I’ll be back with another Friday field note report soon, until then, may you find inspiration and may your creations bring you and others joy.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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9 July 2021
Turning up the heat on Music Monday
This past week, I have been working on several new music tracks. The way they are coming together, and new tracks seem to be wanting to join in, it feels like this could be a new album. I want to avoid committing at the moment, but it is beginning to feel that way. This week’s creative prompt is heat, which is apt as it feels like the creative heat is rising. A new album could be on the way. It’s a long way off, but the muse is beginning to weave her magic.

The current track list is:
- Astral Visions
- The Sun and the Moon
- The Path
- Your Touch (soon)
I know that is only four songs, but a couple of days ago it was only two. At this rate of growth, I might have the album outline by next Monday. And, seeing as Mondays are Music Mondays, I’ll keep you up to date.

Meanwhile, and to tie into the weekly creative prompt, here’s a version of Heat by Soft Cell that I found on that YouTube. Someone has spliced the recorded audio with an old TV recording, enjoy.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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5 July 2021