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"Jumping In"
2005
2005
| - Triple A Album of the Year, Los Angeles Music Awards - Finalist for the Kerrville New Folk Competition - Billboard Song Contest Honors: 'Swim' and 'Born Again Contradiction' |
| and most other online stores and digital download sites |
"Still Listening"
2004
2004
| - Winner: 2004 Male Singer/Songwrtier of the Year, Los Angeles Music Awards - Billboard Song Contest Honors: ''The Other Side' - Winner: Call to Arts Song Contest for the song 'Better' |
| Discography |
"Spaces"
2007
2007
Albums also available at:
| - Featured on ABC's "Men in Trees" -'07 International Acoustic Music Awards Male Artist of Year Runner up -'07 Songwriter of the Year, Pacific Songwriting Competition |
 |
"Spaces" overview:
As an album, “Spaces” plays on the ideas of several different spaces in our lives. From
the all-important space we find in our own hearts that we must enter into to meet our
purpose, our inspiration, and even our suffering; to the space between people in
relationship, both physical distance between the two, as well as emotional distance, or
closeness, between them. “Spaces” plays on all these spatial ‘ratios’ that are operative in
life, and treats topics such as self, love, God, and society.
As an album, “Spaces” plays on the ideas of several different spaces in our lives. From
the all-important space we find in our own hearts that we must enter into to meet our
purpose, our inspiration, and even our suffering; to the space between people in
relationship, both physical distance between the two, as well as emotional distance, or
closeness, between them. “Spaces” plays on all these spatial ‘ratios’ that are operative in
life, and treats topics such as self, love, God, and society.
Track 1: “Don’t Wake Up”: I’ve always wanted to write a song that was just absolutely
carefree, a song where the lyrics weren’t trying to get at some deeper truth, and just the
music itself made you feel good. I thought of Brazilian jazz and bassa nova songs I had
heard where, when the words are translated, they are so simple, and almost downright
cheesy. This is my ‘cheesy’ song – reveling in just the good feeling of waking up next to
someone you love, sunshine pouring in the window, and just looking at the person, being
thankful for all the beauty. A good positive start to a good, positive album.
carefree, a song where the lyrics weren’t trying to get at some deeper truth, and just the
music itself made you feel good. I thought of Brazilian jazz and bassa nova songs I had
heard where, when the words are translated, they are so simple, and almost downright
cheesy. This is my ‘cheesy’ song – reveling in just the good feeling of waking up next to
someone you love, sunshine pouring in the window, and just looking at the person, being
thankful for all the beauty. A good positive start to a good, positive album.
Track 2 “Same Sky”: Two people who love each other can find themselves in two situations: first, being far away from each other
physically and feeling the pain of separation, and second, being close to each other physically, but emotionally feeling far away from the
other. This song is about that first type of situation – I was on tour in Colorado, driving alone down highway 285 a couple hours
southwest of Denver, through beautiful mountain passes covered with radiant aspen trees changing color. Such beauty also caused a
tinge of pain because I was wishing that my wife could be with me to experience this view with me – I knew she’d appreciate it. Later on
that night as I was gazing out at the stars in the clear mountain sky, I received a text message that Tracy was out on the beach back home
in California, looking up at the stars, wishing I was there with her. We were connected under the Same Sky. “But the need to be alone is
like medicine, so I can fill you up when I come home again – do know what I’m feeling?”
physically and feeling the pain of separation, and second, being close to each other physically, but emotionally feeling far away from the
other. This song is about that first type of situation – I was on tour in Colorado, driving alone down highway 285 a couple hours
southwest of Denver, through beautiful mountain passes covered with radiant aspen trees changing color. Such beauty also caused a
tinge of pain because I was wishing that my wife could be with me to experience this view with me – I knew she’d appreciate it. Later on
that night as I was gazing out at the stars in the clear mountain sky, I received a text message that Tracy was out on the beach back home
in California, looking up at the stars, wishing I was there with her. We were connected under the Same Sky. “But the need to be alone is
like medicine, so I can fill you up when I come home again – do know what I’m feeling?”
Track 3 “Better Life”: Part of being a good songwriter is trying to experience how it would feel to
walk in other people's shoes. This is one of those songs that sort of wrote itself, as I pondered
what it must be like to be a young immigrant worker, trying to make it in our society, trying to fit into
our culture, while also keeping one’s own cultural identity. Before jumping into music full time, I
worked for three years at a small Italian restaurant, where I met some of the best, most quality
human beings I’ve ever met. They weren’t the customers I waited on, they were to dudes in back
who showed up every day on their bikes to work super long hours to keep this restaurant afloat.
They were guys from Mexico, Columbia, Nicaragua who had all arrived through many trials at our
little teeny restaurant in Solana Beach. I helped them do basic things – open bank accounts,
understand different laws, and I even had to get one guy out of jail. This song is a fictional murder
ballad based on their collective experience: A young immigrant worker and a waitress fall in love,
but when a love note is discovered by the waitress’ brother, much trouble ensues. This could’ve
been one of the plot lines for a Law and Order episode….”
walk in other people's shoes. This is one of those songs that sort of wrote itself, as I pondered
what it must be like to be a young immigrant worker, trying to make it in our society, trying to fit into
our culture, while also keeping one’s own cultural identity. Before jumping into music full time, I
worked for three years at a small Italian restaurant, where I met some of the best, most quality
human beings I’ve ever met. They weren’t the customers I waited on, they were to dudes in back
who showed up every day on their bikes to work super long hours to keep this restaurant afloat.
They were guys from Mexico, Columbia, Nicaragua who had all arrived through many trials at our
little teeny restaurant in Solana Beach. I helped them do basic things – open bank accounts,
understand different laws, and I even had to get one guy out of jail. This song is a fictional murder
ballad based on their collective experience: A young immigrant worker and a waitress fall in love,
but when a love note is discovered by the waitress’ brother, much trouble ensues. This could’ve
been one of the plot lines for a Law and Order episode….”
Track 4 “I’m Ready”: Sitting out underneath the stars on the roof of my hermitage at a monastery
in the Southern Colorado desert, I had a tune repeating through my head. Over and over it went, no
words, just a melody. More just a feeling of gratitude, being struck by natural beauty, and a sense
that I was being prepared to do some big work, this song started on that rooftop. I felt a sense of
courage and openness to whatever next stage of my life was ready to unfold. When I went to bed
later that night, I quickly fell asleep. I woke up shortly after, and the words were there – I’m Ready.
in the Southern Colorado desert, I had a tune repeating through my head. Over and over it went, no
words, just a melody. More just a feeling of gratitude, being struck by natural beauty, and a sense
that I was being prepared to do some big work, this song started on that rooftop. I felt a sense of
courage and openness to whatever next stage of my life was ready to unfold. When I went to bed
later that night, I quickly fell asleep. I woke up shortly after, and the words were there – I’m Ready.
Track 5 “So Cruel” – A further play on the Spaces theme, being physically close to someone but feeling so far away. This song tries to
penetrate the reasons why people in relationships fight – why are we so cruel to each other sometimes?? Relationships, at some point,
after all the goo-goo ga-ga’ing over each other, inevitably lead us to the point where we retreat back into our own ego’s, into protection
mode – into that mode where the ‘other’ is perceived as somehow threatening to our independence, or threatening to discovering the
secrets we keep. Many times, this is a good and necessary thing – that’s what relationships are for: healing and bringing things into the
light! I find that most arguments stem from insecurity and the self-projection of our own fears onto the other person. Our egos feel
threatened by commitment, and so we lash out! But hey, WHY we gotta be so cruel?? “We push and we shove with our own ego, but
what is love if we can’t let these go?”
penetrate the reasons why people in relationships fight – why are we so cruel to each other sometimes?? Relationships, at some point,
after all the goo-goo ga-ga’ing over each other, inevitably lead us to the point where we retreat back into our own ego’s, into protection
mode – into that mode where the ‘other’ is perceived as somehow threatening to our independence, or threatening to discovering the
secrets we keep. Many times, this is a good and necessary thing – that’s what relationships are for: healing and bringing things into the
light! I find that most arguments stem from insecurity and the self-projection of our own fears onto the other person. Our egos feel
threatened by commitment, and so we lash out! But hey, WHY we gotta be so cruel?? “We push and we shove with our own ego, but
what is love if we can’t let these go?”
Track 6 "Distractions" When I lived in Italy 10 years ago, I always laughed at the couples who were out on a date at some chic café in a
beautiful piazza in Rome, and both were engaged in their own separate cell phone conversations, backs to each other. That was before I
had a cell phone. Cell phones, TV, Instant Messages, Internet, Advertising, Celebrity Gossip, News – there are so many things shouting
for our attention, money, and time. This is a humorous song about trying to complete the simple act of going out on a date and trying to
remain focused on the other person without the numerous every day bombardments of disruptive technology - technology that was
supposedly designed to make our lives ‘simpler’! Have we become 'tools of our tools'?
beautiful piazza in Rome, and both were engaged in their own separate cell phone conversations, backs to each other. That was before I
had a cell phone. Cell phones, TV, Instant Messages, Internet, Advertising, Celebrity Gossip, News – there are so many things shouting
for our attention, money, and time. This is a humorous song about trying to complete the simple act of going out on a date and trying to
remain focused on the other person without the numerous every day bombardments of disruptive technology - technology that was
supposedly designed to make our lives ‘simpler’! Have we become 'tools of our tools'?
Track 7 "I Was Wrong" This song is about making mistakes. In fact, this song was a
mistake. I was in the studio with my buddy’s Stratocaster, waiting to record a guitar part
for one of the other songs on this disc, and I was just fooling around with this guitar lick
I had made up. I had messed around with it before and I had already written a verse
and a chorus. Little did I know that Sven, my friend and producer, was recording me as
I was messing around, and said, “This song is going to be on the album”. “But I don’t
have any more verses!”, I replied. “Write them now”, he said. I kept jammin’, one
microphone in the room, and the rest of the song is history. A happy mistake which
turned out to be one of my favorite songs. The song is about my experience with
making up elaborate excuses as to why I messed up and hurt someone. Its easy to
find and make excuses – weakness, religion, philosophical underpinnings and
psychological conditionings – but more often than not, its just because I was plain
wrong! And, o, the catharsis when you can just admit and shout out, “I Was Wrong!”
mistake. I was in the studio with my buddy’s Stratocaster, waiting to record a guitar part
for one of the other songs on this disc, and I was just fooling around with this guitar lick
I had made up. I had messed around with it before and I had already written a verse
and a chorus. Little did I know that Sven, my friend and producer, was recording me as
I was messing around, and said, “This song is going to be on the album”. “But I don’t
have any more verses!”, I replied. “Write them now”, he said. I kept jammin’, one
microphone in the room, and the rest of the song is history. A happy mistake which
turned out to be one of my favorite songs. The song is about my experience with
making up elaborate excuses as to why I messed up and hurt someone. Its easy to
find and make excuses – weakness, religion, philosophical underpinnings and
psychological conditionings – but more often than not, its just because I was plain
wrong! And, o, the catharsis when you can just admit and shout out, “I Was Wrong!”
Track 8 "Spaces" This song was a gift. I don’t even remember writing it! One day I was cleaning files on this little digital recorder I have
that I use to record song ideas. The memory was almost full, and I was erasing everything that didn’t have a name. I decided for some
reason to open up this one file, file #21. I sat back and listened to what came out – it was this song, almost in its entirety, written a few
months before. I hadn’t remembered recording it. But it was like the voice of an old friend giving me advice, because what the song was
talking about applied directly to what I was experiencing at the moment, a very difficult impasse in my relationship. It’s a song that talks
about the realization that no matter how much two people love each other, the can’t ‘fix’ each other. Each of us has a very intimate space
inside of us where no one else can enter, and is not meant to enter. When we realize that we can’t fix another person, or be fixed by
another, we just have to be present to the other person, and open to new ways of growth that we didn’t see or expect.
that I use to record song ideas. The memory was almost full, and I was erasing everything that didn’t have a name. I decided for some
reason to open up this one file, file #21. I sat back and listened to what came out – it was this song, almost in its entirety, written a few
months before. I hadn’t remembered recording it. But it was like the voice of an old friend giving me advice, because what the song was
talking about applied directly to what I was experiencing at the moment, a very difficult impasse in my relationship. It’s a song that talks
about the realization that no matter how much two people love each other, the can’t ‘fix’ each other. Each of us has a very intimate space
inside of us where no one else can enter, and is not meant to enter. When we realize that we can’t fix another person, or be fixed by
another, we just have to be present to the other person, and open to new ways of growth that we didn’t see or expect.
Track 9 "You Hide" This was one of those song ideas that came directly from reading a book that resonated with my own thoughts and
experience. I was reading Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” when this song came about. Campbell was one of
the most profound and amazing thinkers, teachers, and authors of the last century. The way he synthesized religious traditions,
spirituality, myth, and psychology gave voice to many of my own less-enunciated ideas that I had gained through my own study of such
subjects. God is found in everything, as beautiful or ugly as a thing may appear. Our hero’s journey is to recognize this love in each
aspect of the world around us and in ourselves, and become that love in action.
experience. I was reading Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” when this song came about. Campbell was one of
the most profound and amazing thinkers, teachers, and authors of the last century. The way he synthesized religious traditions,
spirituality, myth, and psychology gave voice to many of my own less-enunciated ideas that I had gained through my own study of such
subjects. God is found in everything, as beautiful or ugly as a thing may appear. Our hero’s journey is to recognize this love in each
aspect of the world around us and in ourselves, and become that love in action.
Track 10 "Changing All the Time" I was worried about a friend who couldn’t seem to settle on one thing for too long – whether it was one
relationship, one belief, or one job. I thought about how confusing it is to grow up in our society and ever believe in any one thing being
true, especially if your beliefs have been shattered over and over. Sometimes our constant need for change and ‘newness’ reflects a
deeper psychological scar where we don’t really ever know ourselves for who we are and what we’re meant for. It took me years to ever
really make a committed decision. This song is about that easily-made mistake of thinking happiness lies “out there”, rather than the
simple truth that it really lies “in here”, inside each person. The work is interior, not necessarily exterior.
relationship, one belief, or one job. I thought about how confusing it is to grow up in our society and ever believe in any one thing being
true, especially if your beliefs have been shattered over and over. Sometimes our constant need for change and ‘newness’ reflects a
deeper psychological scar where we don’t really ever know ourselves for who we are and what we’re meant for. It took me years to ever
really make a committed decision. This song is about that easily-made mistake of thinking happiness lies “out there”, rather than the
simple truth that it really lies “in here”, inside each person. The work is interior, not necessarily exterior.
Track 11: Love and Commitment: The song tells the story of me being stuck in
traffic, trying to get to a gig. On a larger scale, it reflects on the meaning of sacrificing
comfort in order to reach a higher goal, or to live out a passion. Yes, I frequently drive
long distances in abysmal traffic to get to a gig that lasts 20 minutes long. Yes,
sometimes people don’t want to hear ‘your music’. Yes, sometimes following
dreams is not ‘practical’. But “when you love something, this simple life takes wing,
to rise above the petty things”. This song is about knowing your purpose, not getting
stuck on the small annoying details, and being present in each moment of life that I
have, knowing who I am.
traffic, trying to get to a gig. On a larger scale, it reflects on the meaning of sacrificing
comfort in order to reach a higher goal, or to live out a passion. Yes, I frequently drive
long distances in abysmal traffic to get to a gig that lasts 20 minutes long. Yes,
sometimes people don’t want to hear ‘your music’. Yes, sometimes following
dreams is not ‘practical’. But “when you love something, this simple life takes wing,
to rise above the petty things”. This song is about knowing your purpose, not getting
stuck on the small annoying details, and being present in each moment of life that I
have, knowing who I am.
Track 12 "Sleeeping...." I’ve made it a habit to include at least one, lesser known
cover song on my albums from a songwriter I really admire and respect. This song
is by Billy Jonas, whom I met at a David Wilcox concert some years ago, and later,
we also played at the same festival in Texas. This song seemed to sum up the
whole interplay on my album of entering different spaces in relationships. It is an
amazingly tender, simple, and awe-inspiring study in human closeness, summed
up in the two words “sleeping together”, from childhood, adulthood, through old-age.
A definite inspiring tear-jerker.
cover song on my albums from a songwriter I really admire and respect. This song
is by Billy Jonas, whom I met at a David Wilcox concert some years ago, and later,
we also played at the same festival in Texas. This song seemed to sum up the
whole interplay on my album of entering different spaces in relationships. It is an
amazingly tender, simple, and awe-inspiring study in human closeness, summed
up in the two words “sleeping together”, from childhood, adulthood, through old-age.
A definite inspiring tear-jerker.
Hidden Track: "The Fruit Song" OK, so the album has quite the variety of musical
genres on it – from beach rock to bassa nova, soul to country and bluegrass – but
none of them were as goofy and strange as this song – thus, we made it a nice little
surprise at the end of the album. It’s at once totally goofy, yet is a sincerely revealing
take on the virtue of patience. My wife and I live in a sweet little house that my
grandparents built in the 50’s up on a hill above the Pacific Ocean. As a child, I used
to spend a lot of time down here with my family. The chorus from the song, “don’t
pluck the fruit too soon, boy”, was taken from a memory of my grandma telling me not
to grab the oranges off the tree before they were ready. This provided a nice little
metaphor for other realities of life as a boy grows into a man. Throw that in with a
super rowdy, fun blues-rock song, and you have “The Fruit Song”.
genres on it – from beach rock to bassa nova, soul to country and bluegrass – but
none of them were as goofy and strange as this song – thus, we made it a nice little
surprise at the end of the album. It’s at once totally goofy, yet is a sincerely revealing
take on the virtue of patience. My wife and I live in a sweet little house that my
grandparents built in the 50’s up on a hill above the Pacific Ocean. As a child, I used
to spend a lot of time down here with my family. The chorus from the song, “don’t
pluck the fruit too soon, boy”, was taken from a memory of my grandma telling me not
to grab the oranges off the tree before they were ready. This provided a nice little
metaphor for other realities of life as a boy grows into a man. Throw that in with a
super rowdy, fun blues-rock song, and you have “The Fruit Song”.
| **"Spaces" T-Shirts are available HERE. |
