180 Downloads and Counting

"The Gift"

It is good to see that many of you have taken advantage of the free download of my new CD, "Buried Thoughts". 180 donwloads so far.  Being a part-time musician has its challenges as it pertains to pushing ahead musical endeavours, but my goal really is to get as many as possible listening and enjoying and hopefully being moved by what I am able to create.

 

Seth Godin in his book Linchpin talks about the need to ship, in other words create something worth delivering, putting out there, and do it, on time and on budget. To that end I want to commit to shipping something to you all soon. By June 2010, I will be shipping a three more brand new songs, so look for that, it should be a very intriguing little project.

 

"The Studio"

I had a major break-through this week and finished the electrical in the new office/studio in my basement. I think I have to come up with a name for it. Any suggestions? The plan is to finish (ship) the studio and get it on production by May, giving me 6 weeks to produce the three aforementioned songs. They may end up being piano and vocal only, but that has been a common request of late from many of you.

 

"The Tour Phase Two"

I am trying to start putting together part two of the "Buried Thoughts" tour. If you would like to have me come out to your church, piano bar, coffee pub, let me know and we will set it up.

 

 

Fly Me To The Moon

Most of us would recognize this phrase a the classic jazz standard title, which by the way you can hear me sing on my website, www.cliffcline.com. It is the last song on the flash player on the front page.

 

Songs can take us to a happy place as it were. They can uplift us and make us feel happier, convicted, well the whole range of emotions. I have been watching videos and listening to, it feels like, too many people "preach" on the value of doing what you love. The concept underlying it all is satisfaction in life. If you are doing what you love, then surely you will be more content. It might cost you something, but it is worth it.

 

I don't know about you, but this is a massive struggle for me. I love music and singing, writing music, playing music, producing music, the whole deal, but for whatever reason,  the charges I have made to further this love never turn into a full-time gig. But that is life isn't it? Some make the NHL, others don't. Please note, I realize that part of the reason for my lack of success might be my talent level, but people keep buying my music and coming to the few concerts I put together....so I am lost in quasi "success".

 

The flip side is your stage of life. I am married with four kids, and they are my priority. I personally don't think I am making an excuse, I am trying to give them as good a life as I can. Moreover, I work for a charity that helps children in Canada and around the world. I am trying to do the best I can in balance.

 

The argument against me, I think, is that I am a bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none. In Gladwellian terms, I am not focused enough to put in my 10,000 hours. So where does this leave you or me. Right now, somewhere in the middle. I am building "proper" studio in my basement, and will return to producing soon. I have a newish CD with lots of legs left in it, (which I am gifting in download version should you want it http://www.cliffcline.com/2010/03/cliff-cline-new-cd-free-download), and I am trying to stay true to a vision of music I have had since I was 16.

 

Over the past year I have struggled with giving up music because I have not attained the success that I had always dreamed of, but I am renewed in a saying a friend gives me credit for, although I am sure I did not come up with it. "It isn't art until it moves someone". Why am I giving away my latest CD. I hope to move a dream in some one else. I hope to share my faith with someone else. I hope to share my struggles and loves with as many as I can, and move someone: towards God; towards loving their wife or husband more; towards good deeds; or living better and giving more. If I can do that, and continue to do that, I will be living my dream, in fact I may fly over the moon!!

 

 

 

 

 

[re]boot the church

Cliche with all of the post-modern chatter of the last few years?....maybe, but what if you viewed it like a real computer reboot. (Yes mac users it happens to you too, just less often.....I work on mac and PC, I know).

 

Think about rebooting your computer, it is stuck, or lagging, what have you, so you do the dreaded hard reboot. What happens? It completely shuts down, powers off momentarily, and then restarts fresh and new. The code or process that had stalled or slowed production rectified. The programs are still there, the files (except perhaps the recent unsaved ones) and operating system again operating. It is different than refreshing an Internet browser, which sounds more pleasant, because you actually power off. It is different than a force quit as well, which is more like a refresh - only completely powering off will do. But the fact remains, what is not there is the problem, and what is there is what you were looking for in the first place, a working computer.

 

A reboot is only useful, however, if there was nothing inherently wrong with your peripherals, or your machines code. If there is and you don't change anything, you will crash again.

 

So how do you reboot a church. Well, I dare say carefully, with alot of humility, and with the full knowledge that if you are a part of the church, whether you lead the charge or follow the leader, the only person who does not shut down during the reboot is the person pressing the button. And no offense to any of us, if we can't complete the analogy with that person being God (meaning we all "power down"), then it isn't a reboot.

Intellectual Dishonesty

All of us are intellectually dishonest sometimes. Sometimes it comes through necessary compromise (which hurts), or unnecessary self justification (which is self-serving), or just plain denial. The problem that has developed in society is there are very few willing to confront this dishonesty, because they know they are themselves caught in some level of the same pragmatic hypocrisy. This creates a cycle of never truly pursuing better ideas or thoughts (of a moral nature) because to do so calls those ideas of less superior merit into question, which is by default fraught with peril, due to the unfaltering criticism of those who dare to challenge - well, anyone or thing.

 

What then shall we do? The hope I suppose is that at varying levels, we see a few brave souls willing to take the criticism of the masses on to propagate better thoughts, better ways, for a better world. Those that will not only tackle the big problems of today like hunger and poverty, but also the "seemingly smaller ones" like poor parenting, lying and a general lack of respect and love.

Infusing Higher Creativity into Worship Music

Yesterday I led worship at the Well with my friend's worship band. When I have the opportunity to play with new players I like them to influence the sound. We ended up using an arrangement on "Here I Am to Worship" which included a significant lick from a Switchfoot song. Pretty out there really, but effective, why?

 

There are many reasons why creating unique arrangements are effective. Here are three:

1. When we have a body of music that is familiar enough to sing, then it can become predictable. Infusing a familiar song with an unfamiliar line rejuvenates our conscious and subconscious and has the effect of making the sentiment new, improving our focus on God.
2. The musicians themselves are challenged and re-inspired, making their leadership and example more impassioned and effective.
3. It is impressive or impressing. Whether we are musical enough to know it or not does not matter. Hearing something difficult played well and musically impacts us positively.

In the end, your average musician can't accomplish this kind of feat, one of the main reasons my time at the Well is so inspiring to me is that I get to play with such great players. To read more on my opinions on excellence in church music go to this post.

 

A friend of mine in ministry commented to me about the gait of Sunday. "Sundays", he said, "keep coming relentlessly." He really did not mean it negatively. He meant , I think , that the work of getting ready for Sunday is a non negotiable discipline. When we are able to bring something new, something different, something beautiful to bear every Sunday, then we please God and inspire others to do the same.

Cliff Cline New CD Free Download

Sorry for the delay, but here it is, my gift to you. (http://cliffcline.com/btcd.html)

 

As I have mused, I am not sure where it all leads from here. I love creating music, and if I have any frustration, it is that I would like to share it with more people. One of the potential barriers to that is commerce. It is not a gift if I charge you for it, and I really want many to hear and enjoy it, so no commerce means, well a gift.

 

Do pass it on if you like it, FaceBook it, Twitter it, and let me know your favourite song or songs.

 

I am working to finish off my new creative space, and hope to be back writing a new CD by spring. I will keep you posted.