Writing for Blanko

When I married Joe, I knew I was marrying a man who had already found his first love. That we can share an experience in the creative process that consumes so much space in his world is one of the most enjoyable aspects of our relationship. (Note: this is the least naïve statement in this entire post.)

I was not gifted with a musical talent, but my love for music has been a central part of my life for a long time. I believe that creatives build their communities in ways that are both translucent and panchromatic. This isn’t a contradiction, but rather a description of the complexity I see underlining the essence of art.

I believe artists are naturally drawn to one another. No matter my city of residence, I’ve always found a group of people who inspired me to create. Long before Joe and I dated, a community of musicians in the Triangle took me in and encouraged me to be my most creative self. Whether through photography, curating projects, or lyric-writing, I’ve always found a canvas for my inspiration.

My attachments to this stimulus and productive energy increased my desire to be around people that challenge my own way of looking at the world. Many of the incredible humans responsible for expanding my creative mind are now my closest friends. I choose to surround myself with people who choose to contribute beauty to our world; and, on occasion, I am inspired to make my own offering. My contributions have been acute, miniature really, but the efforts continue to feed my soul.

No purely creative endeavor has ever been more rewarding than writing lyrics with Joe. Stories and sentiments form meaning, inspired by vocal melodies and chord progressions. Our process is simple and collaborative. We started writing together five years ago on the first Blanko record, but Ocean Meets the Animal offered an entirely different opportunity. While I contributed to a spattering of lines across the album, two songs feel like part of me.

Berry represents a deeply personal story for me; and though I know no one will ever hear what I hear when the song is played, I hope the sentiment will seep out and inform the listener’s impression. The foundation of the song, the instrumentation, existed long before the words were written. It was on a hike that Joe and I finished them together. It was the mood and form that created the canvas for the story, which was inspired by a complicated love, the inability to rely on truth, and the desperation for respite in a relationship burdened by loss.

While the lyrics for Berry are written about a specific experience, All We Are was written from a place of reaction to a movement, and the desperate need to be better. We were sitting in a window seat on Main St. eating sandwiches. It was after the election and our hearts were heavy. We discussed the importance of the role of lifting up those who have less access to a platform and amplifying voices not as easily heard, that we both felt we should be embracing as allies. We talked about Black Lives Matter and our privilege, and how we wanted/needed to do better.

It is with a humble and honest hope for reprieve 
Deserving not a moment in this serenity
You were looking for higher ground
We lead you to the sea
In hand with humanity
A gesture incomplete

Break free from our founded form deny immunity
Keep peace in an open forum a silent form of speech
We are looking for higher ground
And there in thought we meet
In hand with humanity
A gesture incomplete

I will continue to write. Even when it’s not very good, I can’t help but put words on a page; most will never make it out of my journals. More than anything, I hope to continue writing with Joe. It is one of my favorite exercises in creative expression.

Favorite Songs of 2010

Favorites Songs of 2010

This may be a little premature, I will likely find songs I love on recently released albums and upcoming releases that should be on this list, but the need to distract myself from more important things has taken over. Here is my Best of 2010 list. 

Best AlbumHigh Violet, The National

Honorable Mentions: The Local Natives: Gorilla Manor, The Walkmen: Lisbon and Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse: Dark Night of the Soul

Favorites Songs: (In no particular order)

“Castles in the Snow” Twin Shadow

Conversation 16” The National

World News” Local Natives

Most Emotional Reaction to a Song in 2010

Volunteers” Megafaun

Top 3 Live Shows

* Sounds of the South: Megafaun, Fight the Big Bull, Sharon Van Etten and Justin Vernon at The Haiti Heritage Center. Attended with David Ostiguy and Ivan Howard.

* Jonsi at The Tabernacle; attended alone, with an empty seat for David Ostiguy.

* Yeasayer at Cat’s Cradle; attended with Andrew Bopes

Favorite Band(s) discovered at a show:

(Tie) Freelance Whales, Peter Wolf Crier

Favorite Lyrics of 2010

“Fall asleep in your branches,

You’re the only thing I ever want any more”

-”Conversation 16” The National

“But oh you caught me sleeping in the power sockets”

-”Ghosting” Freelance Whales

“We compare our hearts to things that fly but cannot land.”

-”We Could Be Friends” Freelance Whales

“You’re blowing Marxism to pieces”

-”Dance Yrself Clean” LCD Soundsystem

2010 Playlist

Carolina” Girls

Shape Shifter” Local Natives

Love More” Sharon Van Etten

Not in Love” Crystal Castles

Truth” Alexander

Bullfighter Jacket” Miniature Tigers

Enchanting Ghost” Sufjan Stevens

Ghosting” Freelance Whales

Juveniles” The Walkmen

“Crutch and Cane” Peter Wolf Crier

Little Girl” Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse feat. Julian Casablancas

“Pedals” The Love Language

Volunteers” Megafaun

Castles in the Snow” Twin Shadow

Swift Coin” Land of Talk

“Tell Em” Sleigh Bells

Tin Man” Future Islands

I have been blessed with amazing friends who just so happen to also be amazing musicians. Thanks Ivan Howard, Sean Thomas Gerard, James Ethan Clark, Mike Blair, Justin Lacy, Andrew Zucchino and the many others who have blessed my ears and my heart in 2010.