August 2025 notes
For the sake of keeping one's word
I came back in here today because I’ve had lots on my mind and want to write it down, but my attention was arrested by my last post (July 2024 notes). I suppose I felt the exact same way last summer—too much on mind, need to write, should start a Substack. How cyclic feelings are!
It’s nice to see the progress from what I put in last summer’s notes. For example:
Make a plan for vocal overdub tracking for the 10 songs on record
The record is done! The current season’s urgent plan is getting the record out into the world.
Perhaps more interesting than plans I completed are the problems—it took the majority of my year to figure some of these out:
Problems
Lots of things slowed down after tracking, so have had to put my energy elsewhere while I wait for updates (e.g., waiting on files from session work, waiting on music video first edit, waiting for collaborators’ free time)
Haven’t been super confident about booking shows because I don’t have go-to bandmates to ask—the show will be better with a band—but I’m getting better at this and just reaching out and trying stuff!
Not exactly sure what I’m supposed to be doing while I’m waiting for things—not exactly spinning my wheels, but I feel like I could take on more (and I’d like to work with other people on different projects more!)
I still don’t have a go-to band, but I’ve learned to book the show and figure it out later. The other two stated problems are about time. Time felt really strange all year, working without a full-time job but spending most days on music—intense patches of productivity, and then long and painful stretches when blocked.
I’ve solved the hangup on time mostly by adding some obligations—working on technology and writing projects with firm deadlines and no shortage of things to do—but I’ve also come to terms with how long music takes to ship, and it’s helped me plan and phase things better. For instance, rather than recording albums back to back, as I thought I’d do last year, I’m recording next month so that I have something to work on over the winter and spring as the previous record finally finds its way into the world. Just allocating for the long stretches, treating it as part of the process, and noticing how useful those stretches can be for the art (some good ideas came while being locked out of the project files, waiting for delivery).
Enough on that, but what a year! Traditional format below.
Progress
Released two music videos.
Released a two-song EP called Islands.
Produced a few songs alone—learning to trust myself and let my own taste make it to the final version. I end up liking it most of the time.
Finished the album! It’s eleven songs, mixed and mastered and ready to go.
Finished art for the first single. (I haven’t finished the art for the full album, which does end up being its own big slowdown and creative project, but I have two plans here that should work fine with the timeline.)
Nailed down a release plan. This was the hardest thing of the year, surprisingly. I heard it would be tough, and it was, but it’s done. (There are many ways to release music, each with tradeoffs and unknowns.)
Tried several different routines/arrangements. Still trying things, not sure I’ve really landed at the final destination, but I have a good plan in place for work and life and getting out of bed in the morning at least through the rest of the year.
Played about one show each month for half the year. Took an intentional break to stop the manic forward momentum and focus on getting the album out, working on it like any other product launch.
Met so many humans. Worked with some of them in different capacities—made some music, made some friends.
Plans
Ship the first single!
Ship the second single, third single, etc., until we ship the album!
Take the next 12 songs from “rough shape” to “every line has meaning”
Track the next record next month—holy shit, so soon!
album art album art album art album art album art
Problems
Personal life—what a roller coaster the last year was. I uprooted myself from all soils and did not replant myself until…well, arguably I am still in the process of replanting. It’s not a problem, but noting that this year was quite tough!
Identity and ego are much more present when I’m working on something I really, really care about. Writing, project management, leading teams, designing things—none of this work activates a personal risk. I might really care about the outcome being good, but failure or rejection—even getting fired—in these kinds of work wouldn’t feel like a blow to my character. But in music, I’m way too close to the work. I keep conflating “not shipping music” and “not doing anything at all in life,” among other things. I don’t know if this is necessarily bad or if I want to work on it. But it’s uncomfortable. Have had more emotional reactions this year than I can ever remember having.
Always worried about money—things cost a lot to do well and fast, and I’m not sure if the speed makes for better or worse music.
Splitting one’s focus across two industries, and doing both at a high level, is extremely difficult! At times, it hasn’t felt sustainable. Feels OK right now. I knew it’d be uncomfortable for a while, but I do think it’s getting less awkward over time. Like adjusting to a physical constraint: just keep going, and eventually you start to increase pace and stop thinking about it.
Play
It’s stone fruit season—that’s kind of fun!
After nearly a year, I bought pots and pans for my apartment and made coffee—early signs of finally emerging from the long unmoored season I’ve had.
Took the skateboard around my neighborhood a few times lately.
Have been watching a lot of Formula 1 and enjoying the tradeoffs, team complexity, and intensity of competition. Sport often provides metaphors for other parts of life.