Change Is The Constant: Deal with It!

Let's catch a glimpse of the faker, shall we?

A few things have changed/are changing this week.

1. The name of my Substack (plus a schedule)

2. The next song I’m releasing

3. What I’m doing with YouTube

4. Occasional Tech

It’s a cause for celebration or the gnashing of teeth - that’s up to you.

First: The name of this newsletter/substack:

It was, The Arrogant Sage. It is now, Matthew Moran: Music & Musings

Why?

Don’t worry, I’m still arrogant and I’m still wise. (in limited domains). I am unsure and foolish in more domains than not… But let’s focus on the positive. Am I right?

The name was unclear to some many. I’ve received a LOT of subscribers due to certain Substack’s referring my Substack. Some of those Substack’s are highly political and the people who subscribe to my Substack naturally believe me to be political as well.

(Did I write the word Substack too many times in the paragraph above? It feels like I did but I don’t exactly see how to change that.)

Some stay and have written to me that they are glad they found me. Others send me a “WTF! Why did you add me to your list?” Relax Jimbo!! I didn’t add you - you and/or Substack did. I wrote about that here.

I keep threatening to share more political ideas. While that may happen (it’s likely) in the future, I’m not looking to become a pundit. I am, more often than not, ambivalent about politics. There are things that I believe should change - quickly - but I have VERY LITTLE faith that they are likely to change - ever!

I am, first and foremost, a writer of words and music. I write about the human condition - specifically, my human condition or where my life intersects with the human condition of others.

I write about things that amuse me or frighten me or excite me or bore me.

(Did I write the word me too many times in the sentence above? It feels like I did but I have no interest in changing that.)

So, in accordance with what I write and want to write, the name of the Substack has been changed to clearly articulate that. Oh.. my music publishing, it is still, Arrogant Sage Music.

Writing Schedule

I’m also committing to a writing/publishing schedule. Twice a week. Once about music and/or creative & tech. The other on the human condition. I don’t know which days, yet. Music Mondays? Wonder Wednesdays? Thoughtful Thursday! Or nothing alliterative. We’ll lock that in this week.

I’ll lose some subscribers over this. But, truth is, they probably weren’t subscribers… they were tolerant. I’m fine with goodbyes. I love hello's and prefer them.. but, you get the picture.

Second: The Next Song I’m Releasing

It was going to be, The Night is Not for Sleeping. It will be, Damn Fool Heart (of Mine).

Why?

I’m still working on The Night… and Good Love. However, due to my lack of practice, those songs will take more work… I’ve made decent progress but…

I’m preparing to play a gig next Sunday, August 20th, and was working through a few songs that I am very comfortable with. I want to be able to perform, not just play, my music next Sunday. Here’s a video I did about performing versus playing music.

I was playing my song, Damn Fool Heart (of Mine). It was so easy and smooth to play it that I setup my recording gear and recorded a quickie/rough version. My unbiased, objective opinion, is that it sounded great!!!

My biased, subjective opinion agreed.

I’ll let you hear that version below.

Third: What I Am Doing With YouTube

I spoke for Songsalive! a couple weeks ago. One of the members, Kip, a guy I’ve known for several years, contacted me and asked how I had recorded, The Coward and The Fool.

He loved the sound of it and wants to get his own music recorded with a better sound.

We spoke on the phone a couple nights ago and I shared some ideas and how I setup my recording. A couple years ago he had attended a workshop I did on using Reaper, my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation - music recording & production software). He has been going through some tutorials on how to use it but he found my explanation to be clearer/better.

I’ve provided a few tutorials on YouTube but I’ve also been resistant to doing that. A couple reasons for this:

1. I don’t want to be the “tutorial guy”.

2. There are other, more accomplished, producers already teaching this.

I love teaching people things - technology, writing, and music. In fact, yesterday I was in a guitar store and a young woman and her friend were looking for her first guitar. They, the guitar store employee, and I discussed things she was hoping to get out of her guitar playing.

I was giving a few ideas and the employee said, “You should be doing this. You are really encouraging.”

Kip had a similar take.

So, I plan to do more encouraging teaching on YouTube. Not from a top-down, “I’m so accomplished, you should want to be like me”, perspective. But hopefully from an, “I’m excited about what I’ve learned, let me share it with you”, perspective.

Fourth: Occasional Tech

Many of my long-time subscribers may recall. I used to do a LOT of technology tutorials and workshops. Last week I did a livestream on LinkedIn - covering Airtable - a cloud-based database. It was fun! I got some great feedback.

I’ve isolated that part of my life from this list for several years.

A few years ago I wrote to Derek Sivers, the founder of CD Baby. He’s an interesting guy. Musician, programmer, entrepreneur, and life-enthusiast. I asked him about isolating my tech work from my music and creative endeavors.

He wrote back. He suggested that I shouldn’t. That it was too much work and that those who enjoy my tech and IT career advice would likely enjoy my music and creative writing.

Or that they would ignore the things they don’t like and enjoy the things they enjoy. Or, they would unsubscribe. That wasn’t for me to decide. It was good advice!

I didn’t take his advice. Why would I? He’s a successful tech entrepreneur and a musician. What the fuck does he know?!? (please make note of the above reference to being foolish at the start of this article).

Note: I’m doing another live video workshop on Airtable on Wednesday at 1:00pm (pdt). Here is the link. What’s Airtable? Go to their website.

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In the meantime, here is the rough mix of Damn Fool Heart (of Mine). I will complete it and release it by next weekend. I’ll also write (and make a video) of how I wrote it. It’s a funny story.

Damn Fool Heart

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Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Matthew Moran
August 14, 2023