The Challenge Grew, Yep, It Did

It grew, the challenge of working on my music in Mexico and now…..it’s a challenge back in the states!

The last I reported was the problem with my Ovation guitar (that saga contines over the past almost 3 months now in the states) where the bridge had pulled up from the body (now I’m finding out that the surface of the guitar is warped).

Shortly after that while working on a song using a keyboard I purchased in the music department at a local store (local at the time was Mexico) the second A note down from middle C went out!!  Oh, just take it in for repair you may say, but it’s not as simple as driving to the nearest keyboard repair place or shipping it to a repair center. Things have a way of disappearing in Mexico.  Something shipped and arriving is haphazard and done rather irresponsibly.



So, I needed a work around. Midi didn’t work out as the key wasn’t reporting properly.  Then a stroke of luck happened!  My software program that I use for recording allowed me to lower my octaves so that an octive transposition took place! Now, I’m back in business.  So, start working the song from an octave postition and everything is going fine.

NEXT!!!

I’ve already got 4 new songs completed, 3 incomplete and 1 just getting underway.  They’re on my external drive that I used back in the states with my iMac.  Now, I’m excited and ready to do some work.  I plug in the external to access a particular song to continue work on and I can’t access the external hard drive…..ugh.

The Challenge Grew, Yep, It Did

I toyed with the external, do some research on youtube.com and come across a possible solution.  I drive 30 miles to an electronics store (they are not on every block there, they are ‘rare’ as a matter of fact) and they don’t have what I need.

Now I’ve got a few choices here; start the songs in progress all over, or work on something new.  BUT!!!!  But, I’ve got no external hard drive to save them to!  Now I could just save that to my internal hard drive on my MacBook Air and I started to do that, it just takes up so much hard drive space!

So, I just decided ‘no’, I’ll just learn some of the tricks of the software, access my backups on my iMac when I get back in the states.



Still on the table of options was to buy another guitar.  Getting a name brand guitar on the Caribbean coast of Mexico is rather slim.  So, not much effort went into that.

Fast forward to being back in the states, sitting at my iMac to access my backups for my completed and working songs and my iMac tells me that the files cannot be accessed, cannot be found, and files may be corrupted!  Ugh!!

Another idea is to bring my external hard drive to a reputable computer store and have the data accessed.  Here’s the story on that.  If the data can be accesseed, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be in the form it was produced. Hmph!  That’s really no good.



Needless to say, only a cursor attempt was made to to retrieve the data.

Now the ‘new’ challenge is to start over.  Whoopiii!

After listening to the mp3’s (no I can’t use mp3’s in this form to maintain a quality recording) of my songs I realized that there had been some things that I could do to improve the elements and production of my songs.  I’m happy now.  Now, I’ve just got to find the original handwritten copies of the songs with the chords on them…..I’m looking.



Challenges are everywhere and a good attitude makes things happen.

Back to the drawing board, or should I say the recording board.

Peace and love,

John

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It’s what I do. And I do it most all the time.  Of course there are some who say ‘I never listen to them’!  Not never, I’m just listening to other things.  I’m listening now to more and different music.  And I’m curious as to the effect it will have on what I write.

I’m on the Caribbean coast of Mexico!!  I’m not ‘trying’ to fit-in in the sense of forcing myself, but I’m trying to fit-in in a natural sort of way.  Being alive in the moment.  Open to what is happening and taking it in.

Yesterday, I was briefly at a beach in Tulum. Walking….make that trudging along in the sand I pass an outdoor bar at a nearby resort and other than the rows of bottles of liquor enchanting the passerby, me included. Were the authentic sounds of a Caribbean vibe.  This one just grabbed me…..while it had a familiarity about it, there was a distinctive variance.  It caught my attention.  Which, when I’m listening to the sounds around me and seeking out music isn’t hard to find.

I’m out there listening!!!

Realize, there’s such a difference in sound here!  It’s almost as if the sound is designed for a laid back lifestyle that can be transformed to a pulsating frenzy at commanded by a gyrating beat!  Syncopated to the synchronism of life.  I’m not sure if I said something of value, or correctly there, but it is fitting to the surroundings!!

Just to let you know….I’m having fun.

Puerto Morelos

I’ve made the acquaintances of local d.j.’s and resort managers…….introducing me to a new facet of the Caribe Lifestyle.  Can an old dog (me), learn new tricks. That is in play right now.

There’s no new tricks here……it’s music.  It has a beat. I can do this!

It seems to be all in the arrangement…….every song has an arrangement that skillfully (we hope) uses, the beat(s), melody, rhythms, lyrics (if they apply), and a taste of idiosyncrasies that make it unique.  Even to an old time rocker as in me.  Some may say to any who tread in this enchanting landscape that they are doing it wrong…..I beg to differ.  They have made it their own…..unique and authentically theirs.

I’m out there listening!!

I relish the newness, accept the challenge, and look forward to the outcome.

Thanks for tagging along with me……it’s like we’re doing this together!

Peace and Love,

John

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If I haven’t told you before, I’ll tell you now….  I’ve moved.  I’ve taken my creative self on an adventure.  I’m moved to the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Affectionately known as the Riviera Maya.  A new experience!  I’ve traded one piece of paradise for another piece of paradise.

Just to let you know.

But why trade in one piece of paradise for another piece of paradise.  I like paradise?  There’s a difference.  Quite a bit of difference. Starting with the country, its people, culture, cuisine and even the beaches are different.  So, this becomes an adventure.  I write about adventure, I talk about adventure……darn it’s exciting to live an adventure.

So, I’ve been busying myself doing a little exploring.  I’ve hit the beaches first off…..well, no I hit the restaurants first, over the first week.  Yeah, most of them were on the beach or a street or two off the beach.  Visiting the fishing village of Puerto Morelos.

Welcome To Puerto Morelos

I spent to first week here……I rather enjoyed myself too.  The only thing I didn’t like about this little village was the seaweed.  While there isn’t an overabundance of seaweed, it does take away from the experience.

Here I’ve gotten the exposure to some of the music of the Caribbean……unique.  Has me rethinking a sound. Very diversified by my first experience.

It’s a Brazilian guitar of sorts!!!  Great sound.  Naturally I inquired and I want one.  While the name escapes me, it’s in my iPhone.

There were some other troubadours, guitars, harps, and the such…..while I don’t have pictures of all, I did do some videos that are on my Facebook page……https://www.facebook.com/johngaudet333   Stop by for a visit.

I’m hoping the influx of sound will have an effect on my writing…..I’m sure it will. Plus at some of the bars there’s music blaring from the stereo systems and I’m catching that stuff too.

My friend Nolan is a musician. He lives 3 doors down (sounds like a good name for a rock group!) and plays out and about periodically.  I like to catch him when I can…..very good, works his audience really well too.

So, there you go… My update.  Now, back over to www.peaceloveandbeaches.com for my daily post and then back to my music. Don’t forget while you’re here to download your FREE copy of “No More Mondays”!!!!  Did I mention it was FREE!!!!

Peace and Love,

John

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Little by little I’m making a bit of headway.

So far, I’m blogging periodically from here……I’ve also got “No More Mondays” back for a Free download…..next a some new pictures and some places I’ve discovered.

This is going slow…….

But, it’s really about music.

Since getting here (Riviera Maya) I’ve been setting up house and seeing a few of the sites……mostly the beaches, beach bars, bars and eating food, local cuisine only.  Now, it’s time to get back to some music.  One of my present hurdles (and if anyone has any guidance and advice please let me know) is recording software.  Back in the U.S. I used Pro Tools.  So, why not here.  Well, I could only bring certain music stuff with me plus I was limited on space in my SUV……my digi 002 couldn’t make the trip, and I was still on version 8.2 so a substantial upgrade cost wise is what I’m faced with.  I’m looking at Reasons 9 from Propeller Head as what I see to have the broadest reach recording wise and using Focusrite interface.  I’m open to anyone’s advice.

Filipe’

Now I have to go thru a crate with all sorts of writings……and put together a solid project.  I’d like to do a CD with a bit of Caribbean sound…..that interests me.  But at the same time I want to ‘rock’.  Looks like I’ll be doing 2.  Lots of material for my rock CD, and I’ve got a  lot of interesting ideas for some Caribe vibes.  I don’t think I’ll be bored.

This going is slow……

Just from the beautiful distractions!!  And I’m not referring to the ladies.  Although my first visit to the beach near my home, there was a young lady who decided to go topless.  Another distraction.  Well, her muscle bound beau made sure that all voyers eat their distance.  But!!!  Some old dude, considerably older than I, was trying his luck.  But he wasn’t really put out enough effort  for success or an ass whopping.

Being at the beaches and at the bars brings a variety of tastes to the palate.  Only, not enough music right now as it’s the end of the slow season……and the music is mostly done by American’s or Canadian’s trying to make ends meet.  A bit cheesy in paradise.

Still, back to me.  Looking for some inspiration.  Making friends with the locals at a number of restaraunts has been helpful….they don’t know much English and I equally their Espanyol. So, it keeps things interesting.  But, they have been able to introduce me to some of the hispanic sounds.  WOW!!!

The going is slow…..

A biggie to my advantage is I took a fall and cracked a rib.  So, that has slowed me down and my guitar seems more friendly and is no longer jealous.  So, a bit of practice has begun…..getting reacquainted.

Another thing is a neighbor from Canada plays music out in some of the eateries.  I went out this week and lend him an ear, good stuff.  Encouraging to me too.

So, stay tuned and if you have any good advice (my head is full of bad advice) please direct it here or jgaudet777@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Peace and Love,

John

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