Another Year Draws to A Close!

As the dust settles....

2015 - What a year it has been here in the US~ .... Mixed emotions I'm afraid!  2015 was supposed to be the year that the attorneys in the music business worked tirelessly to have the laws match the technology so the artists would once again see music royalties!  They said there would be opportunity if we would just allow streaming from providers like "Spotify" to run the media streaming business and everyone would get rich!  We have seen in fact,  the exact opposite!   Slow down of physical product sales, tireless streaming but with minimal residual to the artists creating the content.   Things in the business of entertainment slow down significantly when there is no extra cash in the tills for entertainment.   The focus then becomes food and essentials rather than thought of being entertained.

The decline of demand coupled with the excess of supply created a perfect market for less for all.

2016 shows promise in the wake of entertainment mediocrity in the land of opportunity lye the appeal of once again feeling as though things are optimistic here is the good old "U.S. of A." - 

The upside of the down is the opportunity for growth in the area of songwriting.   The sheer wealth of amazing and not so amazing things to write about... Things that tugs on the heart strings, the loss of loved ones,  The decline of western civilization, Greed, Poverty, Life, Love, Heartbreak and all things in between.   So many things to write about from an unlimited emotional landscape has produced some of the most amazing melodies and lyrics Bret and I have ever written in our lives and music careers.   This is what we were put on this earth to do... This record is the reason for all of it!

2016 from first glance, promises to lend itself to the uptick in the business and the advancement in the ever creative process from the intricate inter-workings of  the mad men of Walking Tall.  Songs of Life,  Melody, Music, Emotion that all tell the stories of life and the spirit of living.  The songs have been a gift of our own healing processes as well as the observations we have been a part of while on our journeys of life!   "Life Happens Here" will either be a shining star that bears witness to the heartfelt stories of these two songwriters lives or it will fade into oblivion?  Time will tell!

  So that bears the question.... With all of the uncertainty in the world and unsettling things going on in this world, why care about a CD or record by an artists?   The question remains consistent - why is it relevant in this landscape for anyone to care about what we are doing or singing about?   Its pretty simple... Music makes you feel.  Music is sounds of emotion and the melody holds a story of that when combined with the human spirit creates magic.   I think this is the record that both Bret and I have wanted to make our whole lives and the songs and words have real meaning and emotion.

The year will close with family gatherings, prayers, hopes and a sense of wonder that all things are possible for everyone.   We are survivors of less than prosperous years but also thankful for the fruit that this particular venture bares for those of us who are open to actually feeling alive through song!

All things considered... 2016 looks to be a much better year for all!  Dare I even say that? - JT