You Won’t Get a Second Chance

Delta Ladies, Diana Stones Songs, glass cage, history, music, Musings, other, whatever

Or will you, maybe in a quantum world you get infinite goes in the multiverse or is it just time for my meds again? Could be I guess. I am aware that as time passes I think much more about the why of existence and the further I feel from it having any meaning I can decipher from it.
Perhaps the point is simply that there is no point? Yes but your mama said it’s rude to point didn’t she? Now if I feel the urge to stare into the abyss I reach for the wine. Best I can do really. That and radio 4 on a quiet day when your intrusive thoughts are just a little too intrusive.
its raining and it’s dull and my creative hat is in the wash at present and I am wearing my slightly anxious one instead. As I write this it’s July 4th and my latest release goes live on spotty Amazon and most other streaming services.

Its called “Is It Falling On You”

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/1564328495

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7m1KORirDEpH1IzIKGdQsa

And other streaming services …

https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B0C8M656ZW?marketplaceId=A1F83G8C2ARO7P&musicTerritory=GB&ref=dm_sh_PdvZm4Um6iHLqaMwYznzmG2kE.


Diana Stone Playing My Old Harmony Acoustic
Diana Stone Playing My Old Harmony Acoustic

Its weird, things are OK ish in the main. Musical opportunities’ are increasing but I feel a bit jaded. It’s not logical. A slight air of grumpiness developing today. Not sure why as things are mostly OK at present? Weird how moods just drift in like a sea mist from nowhere? Ok it is a rainy day too, but we need rain so much now.

Am I crazy. possibly by some peoples standards I am. A raddled old hag perhaps with only the ghost of a chance in the frenzied life dance. I have a friend who says the world is going to wrack and ruin but I tend more to think its already got there for some folks in many respects. I am still feeling a bit fragile mentally today to be honest. I roll along feeling ok for a few days then I get hit with a dose of existential dread almost. Weird. Nothing materially changes but the the mood hits out of nowhere. So for me normal. Hoping to will wear off as I am out doing a guest spot at a pub on the eve of writing this. I am slightly dubious about it to be honest and on this occasion would frankly rather not. We have had about 24 hours of rain but it the suns out now finally. I was listening to some of my back catalogue and also that of the Delta Ladies. I was surprised at how “gothic” it sounded and very dark and mournful. I can see why it made an impression. I also listened to a few recordings by other artists from the 60s and 70s and in particular the sound of those albums. Then I came back to listen to some of my own tracks and thought actually not too shabby after all. But I have now formed an idea or two to try something a little different going forward now. I just need the resolve to actually get on and do it. In between the creaking and groaning noises that my body makes like a sailing ship as its timbers swell and then contract again which is now often a part of the soundtrack of my daily life.

Here We All Are Sitting On A what ?

Diana Stones Songs, glass cage

Do you remember the rest of that line. if you do congratulations you are vintage.
Don’t deny it.

The Invisible Folk Club Band - Jon Bickley, Milo Downs, Diana Stone and Bill Nimmo - playing at the Cowper and Newton Museum yesterday as part of Invisible Folk's Grace will lead me home project. Thanks to the Museum and thanks to the Arts Council. Photos by Jean Yarwood.

The Invisible Folk Club Band – Jon Bickley, Milo Downs, Diana Stone and Bill Nimmo – playing at the Cowper and Newton Museum yesterday as part of Invisible Folk’s Grace will lead me home project. Thanks to the Museum and thanks to the Arts Council. Photos by Jean Yarwood.

So I am still keeping sort of busy at the time of writing. We have had a few very hot days which have knocked me out pretty much. I don’t have the resilience I used to sadly. Bouncing back is now more of a leisurely stroll or occasionally a crawl.

I watched Elton John’s farewell show at Glastonbury on the Tv and realised that I had first seen him perform live 50 years ago. Wow, times flies. It was a pretty good effort and 2 hours worth. His voice still distinctive though avoiding some of the high notes and playing up a storm on the Piano. So many good songs too. Echos for me now of a very different part of my life and I guess the same for many others.

Here is a tune from about a year back. it’s got some violin on it. That’s a surprise.

Stuckness, what’s to be done about it?
That feeling that you could fix it if only and you will get right on it tomorrow. Or rather you would but, you know? Stuff. I am not bored at present so I can’t complain too much I guess. My main concern next will be if I can keep my car on the road another year. Mot is at the end of Sept but that could be a problem. But I can only cross that bridge when I come to it. having working out an Elton John style basis for a tune using some of his harmonic tricks. It wont sound like him when its grown up but its a useful trick to plagiarise a bit when not inspired. I am still very tired. I suppose it’s better than being anxious though.
it strikes me that most of my music mates (good bad or genius) play because it still brings them joy and others too at times. The great secret (the holy grail) really is not to overthink it but it takes a long time to learn that if one can at all. Many never do. It’s the doing that’s the important bit I guess.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
Dalai Lama

Don’t forget to love yourself.
Soren Kierkegaard

Sleepy time again

Solstice and more thoughts.

Musings

So its business as usual here. Writing music or attempting to and practicing and eating and sleeping. That seems to fill the days up pretty much. I recently also submitted to get my amazon artist profile for promotion and stuff. Not sure how long that will take though? Wait and see I suppose. As I write it’s likely to thunder or at least threatening so to do. But a its a bit brooding now. we are having a lot of fairly hot weather again, the kind that slows you down to a crawl.

Here’s is a new one for you all.

What Else Is There.

My latest opus.

I have some rehearsals and a few gigs coming up which will keep me occupied for a while (fingers crossed). Apart from that its mostly business as usual in the main. That’s Ok as I am not a big fan of surprises 🙂 The world continues to turn, at least at the time of writing. A few things do cause me concern but most of them are entirely outside any possible filmiest sphere of influence. So I am left to grumble and mumble into my tea.

There is a small plot between our property and the next one which seems not to belong to anyone, and each year it makes vain attempts to burst forth into bloom but it is far too dry and has not any proper soil. It’s a little dessert, and also rather like a bald head with just a few random tuff’s of hair. In the 5 years we have been here its just never quite made the grade. It pluckily trys though. Is there a point where perseverance is pointless? I believe that there is, though I am not sure the little barren patch has reached it. Hope springs infernal as they say.

I have uploaded a couple of things recently to BBC introducing. Well they have been listened too, but I doubt if it will get any further than that. But I might as well keep trying as not. I don’t think I stand much of a chance and my stuff is different from a lot of what I am hearing. Some folks seem to like it, but I fear it’s not going to get past the local radio gatekeepers. A couple of months ago I entered a songwriting competition. Didn’t get anywhere with that either. I listened to some of the runners up. An interesting spread of stuff, but I didn’t even get listed. However I am still going to keep on as what else is there? I would be good to get a sniff once in a blue moon though. At this point I do begin to feel a bit gloomy about it to be honest. Any normal person would have packed it in by now I guess. Maybe keeping trying is just a form of mental illness at my time of life?

Diana Stone on tour. The Ramparts Angouleme

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~ Maya Angelou

It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~ Nelson Mandela

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” ~Buddha

I do find doing rather than thinking tends to help with mood, otherwise if you are anything like me you just tend to go and make a list of everything you are disappointed with or dissatisfied or feel inadequate about and come to the conclusion that you are a massive waste of space. That tends to happen about every 4 days on average with me….
More driving, more playing, more standing up and so forth over a few days does make a difference. I am sure. Certain muscles are getting a lot more use again consistently.

That’s all folks….