Canadia Beats

One of the rules for NaSoAlMo is that one of your songs can be a cover, as the Ramones had a cover on their first album (the gold standard for our purposes). So I opted to include a cover to finish the month off, my only exception, ‘The Only Exception’ by Paramore.

I’m majorly in love with Paramore’s brand new eyes. Just waiting for my one-of-5000 copies of the album on vinyl to arrive in the mail. They’re playing in Auckland next year. Sometimes things just work out.

And just like that NaSoAlMo is over. Kind of an Endless Sky clocked in at 32:51, meaning a win for me on the last day, and a bunch of tracks for you to listen to. The whole thing is up at Bandcamp to download for free. I’ve even worked out a track order.

‘The only exception’ [Bandcamp]

A few times this month I deviated from the plan I’d made and started writing a song before working out where it fit in. This was one of those, and possibly doesn’t fit its intended topic at all. The good news is it’s exactly the kind of song I might have written at the time it’s supposed to be about, so yay.

‘Put the stars in line’ [Bancdcamp]

Having just released Beg Steal and Burrow I was looking for my next challenge, so I decided I’d give National Solo Album Month (NaSoAlMo) a go. All I have to do is write and record a solo album of at least 29:09 in length during November. That couldn’t be too hard, right?

I had the best of intentions last year, but only ended up writing three or four songs. What I did do was write a 50,000 word novel. It’s possibly I was trying to do too much.

Follow my NaSoAlMo efforts at Kul Wahad.

And I’m resurrecting this website for the sake of announcing a gig tomorrow night. The patented Canadia gig-getting method has come true once again, in the form of someone I know saying “hey, man, wanna play a gig this week?” People know they can count on me, that’s what this is all about. Until that time the Canadia abides.

Tomorrow night, Wednesday 11th February, 2009, is go time, people. From 8pm Canadia, Bear Cat and Darren Hanlon will be shaking out some jams at the Wine Cellar, St Kevins Arcade, in Auckland. You know: the place where Canadia gets called in for gigs without much warning. It’s like a fun lounge, or maybe the living area at a camp site. Or a Scout Lodge.

For those of you following my progress during NaSoAlMo last November, I’ll have an update for you soon. I just have to check in with Holly and see if she found any of the stuff Eunice was working on before she disappeared.

Decided I really needed to get my Movember mo’ on the web today, and also this new song. It’s called ‘Let Me Know’, and is played in my bedroom. It was written just last week for NaSoAlMo, and now it’s all yours.

November is back, elections are up and electing things in my country and others, and a small bird today stood there rather then flying away. It had its eyes closed, so I took a photo.

But more importantly, it’s National Solo Album Month (NaSoAlMo, and I am going to make it so. “Write some songs, Ashley!” the voices keep telling me, and I must not anger the voices. Recording me, and you, a solo album of at least 29:09, written this month. It’s not too late to join in this superb event, which forces you to silence your critic/editor and make som stuff. I’m glad it’s not too late, cause I’ve only finished two songs.

Also this month is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which I’m also undertaking. Feel free to track my progress, and note that I’m actually doing a lot better at novel writing than songwriting right now, in terms of quantity. November is all about quantity. So I should dicking around here, right?

Wrong!

Because quanutity loves distraction. They go together like bees and bears. See you at the finish line.