tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:/blogs/latest-newsLatest News2019-03-04T13:14:08-05:00Mike Grutka falsetag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/51346962018-03-18T13:06:11-04:002022-05-27T09:03:29-04:00Nice words on Painting the Silence Vol. 1<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/605f43d08eb196443417281cd49fe3b17de5dbb7/small/mike-grutka-pts-cover-web.jpg" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>So I heard my phone beep this morning at 7:07!!! Who is even awake at that hour let alone on a Sunday? Obviously I ignored it and went back to sleep. Wouldn't you? When I woke up I saw that it was an e-mail which I then read. Because that's what you do. Read e-mails. Right? haha.</p>
<p>Now lately I've been a little down. This happens post release. There is so much going on around the release of a record that my energy is high and focused and the excitement is easy. Then there's the let down period. I try to not focus too much on the 'sales' or 'streams' but end up checking them anyway. I gotta make sure Spotify isn't screwing me out of my $0.0063/play!!! I need coffee after all!</p>
<p>Interrupted sleep aside, I was surprised to find the e-mail was from Chris Wienk who is the Program Director of 97.7 WEXT. He has always been nice to me and played my songs when he liked them. Usually though, our conversations are short and too the point. 'Send me some songs' 'Here they are' 'I'll play song X' and that's it. Which is totally fine. He's a busy guy and gets inundated with music and people begging to be heard on a daily basis. Which also makes his opinion kinda important to me. He hears it all. Local bands. National bands. New. Established. In other words he's pretty up to date on what he likes and or thinks is good to play on his station.</p>
<p>Here's what he said:</p>
<p><strong>"This album (Painting the Silence Vol.1). You've outdone yourself. Each time I go back to it, I feel these are among your best songs. ...this record is consistently great."</strong></p>
<p>Made my day. Month. Year so far. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Big thanks to Chris and WEXT! Oh and they'll be playing a new song off the album soon. Not sure which yet--but I'm excited.</p>
<p>If you haven't gotten yours yet, or just want to give it a listen, well. DO SO!! NOW!!</p>
<p><a contents="Listen/Buy Painting the Silence Vol. 1" data-link-label="Music & Stuff" data-link-type="page" href="/music-stuff" target="_blank">Listen/Buy Painting the Silence Vol. 1</a></p>
<p>more soon</p>
<p>peace</p>
<p>Mike</p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/50150382018-01-09T15:35:42-05:002023-12-10T11:50:07-05:002 Songs from "Painting the Silence Vol. 1" on WEXT Countdown<p>Howdy</p>
<p>I hope everyone had a great holiday season. It's been blistering cold here in Upstate NY. Today is 35 and I feel like I should wear shorts. Heatwave!</p>
<p>I've been laying low and taking a little break but I'm happy to announce that 2 songs from <a contents="'Painting the Silence Vol.1'" data-link-label="" data-link-type="album" href="/album/610603/painting-the-silence-vol-1" target="_blank">'Painting the Silence Vol.1'</a> made the <a contents="WEXT" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.exit977.org" target="_blank">WEXT</a> end of year countdown!! I want to thank Chris Wienk, Andy Gregory and the staff for being so supportive of my music over the years. </p>
<p>You can check out the entire list and maybe find some new favorite songs or artists. I listened to the whole thing and I'm always blown away by the amount of talent that our area has. </p>
<p>I'm keeping this one short but the last piece of news is that I'm nearly finished with the first cover song I've ever recorded. It's one of my all time favorite songs and it will be finished soon! Stay tuned</p>
<p>Happy New Year! I have a feeling I'll be releasing a lot of music this year. </p>
<p>peace </p>
<p>Mike</p>
<p><a contents="WEXT 2017 Countdown Top 60" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/wext/files/Top60Local518_2017.pdf" target="_blank">WEXT 2017 Countdown Top 60</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/f23d5c7dcf94acc9b9ed818214662bf9641ca998/medium/local-518-300-2016.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/49670472017-12-07T14:34:08-05:002022-05-21T13:16:14-04:00Post Album Release Projects--Listen to 'Wake Up'<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/f379614736a033e2d4c9cb20c38a47f021fddcb0/small/img-2039.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>Howdy.</p>
<p>After all the rush and work to get the album out, I promptly got sick. Really sick. It was weird. It was just a cold. But man it took forever to go away. Lasted just over 2 weeks and I was super tired and out of it. Finally feeling back to normal. </p>
<p>I am working on a few things.</p>
<p>First there're tons of songs left over from the new record that I am just starting to re-visit and dig through and listen with fresh ears. I like them. They're all over the place style wise and some are more finished than others. There are probably 20-30 in this group. </p>
<p>Second I got my hands on an old Tascam 788! What the hell is that you ask? Well before home recording became super accessible with good programs like Pro-Tools and others, someone like me couldn't afford them. So I did the best I could and bought one of these. I recorded a whole album on it. Put it out. Loved it. But after I got better stuff and learned more about mixing and recording, I always wanted to go back and 'fix' the mixes. Part of the problem was that while the 'inputs' for this recorder were decent (simply where sounds go in through microphones) The 'finishing' parts kinda sucked. Well I take that back--they were limited. And I also didn't really know what I was doing. haha. So the final mixes were always a little, ok a LOT, screwy. So I got this old recorder off ebay since they don't make them anymore. It was the only way for me to go back and get all the parts into my current set up. I have to say-- I realized 2 things: one was that I was pretty good with microphones because the actual sounds are pretty damn good, two- sometimes being limited is better.</p>
<p>Here's what I mean. This is an 8 track recorder. That pretty much means you can't really have more than 8 sounds on a song. (You CAN but that's a whole other discussion that doesn't really matter right now) On my current set up I can basically add as many sounds as I want. It's nearly endless how many I COULD have. Going back through these songs and seeing what I did with just 4-6 total different sounds. It made me kinda happy. I was pretty creative!. I think I might self limit going forward. See how much I can do with LESS. And the songs are full and big and complete sounding. It's kinda neat.</p>
<p>So I'm taking apart these songs and remixing them with my new knowledge and equipment. It's fun. It's cool to go back and rediscover songs I haven't really thought about for awhile. See them anew. </p>
<p>So here's the first one I've finished. 'Wake Up'. I chose this because it's always been one of my favorites and also it's about messed up stuff in the world and hearing it again, well sadly I could've written it today and it still fits. I also always liked how the guitar sounds like an alarm clock at the end. </p>
<p><a contents="Listen to Wake Up" data-link-label="Remix Projects" data-link-type="page" href="/remix-projects" target="_blank">Listen to Wake Up</a></p>
<p>Hope you like it.</p>
<p>More soon</p>
<p>peace </p>
<p>Mike</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/49325862017-11-14T17:41:27-05:002022-04-21T15:22:11-04:00Writing Songs. What happens?<p>So the new album is out and shipping and people have been getting it. You all ROCK. If you want it <a contents="go get it here" data-link-label="Music & Stuff" data-link-type="page" href="/music-stuff" target="_blank">go get it here</a></p>
<p>I've been talking about how 'Painting the Silence' will be continued on the next record. I have so many songs in different stages of being finished. It's a cool 'problem' to have. I have 20 songs that are being considered. Pretty cool.</p>
<p>I know it seems crazy to be talking about this since today is the 'official' release date of the current album. But what can I say? I need to stay busy haha. Also these songs have been being worked on at the same time. Some of them were even still in the running to be on the current album until about 2 months ago when I finally decided on which tracks to use. It's an ongoing process I guess. </p>
<p>Another thing (or 2) I'm working on is very exciting to me. I'm remixing 2 of my older albums. They're pretty great. Over the years though I've gotten a lot better at mixing and recording. I have much better equipment now than I did when they were made. Some of this is simply remixing the sounds that are there. Cleaning them up. Making the mix better. Some of this will be playing all new parts. My album 'Ria' which is available here on the website is one of my favorites. When I made that record I played everything. And that meant drums. Which at the time I couldn't play so well and didn't have a drum kit. So I used drum samples to make the parts. Sure it sounds good. But 'live' drums are so much yummier. So I'm ripping those songs apart and playing drums. I also had a few songs on that and 'February Sessions' that I used keyboard bass instead of a real bass. </p>
<p>Other things are in mix choices, effects I used too much of or incorrectly. Technical things. I've been playing around with them for about a week and the improvement is HUGE!</p>
<p>But the best part of this project is my album 'Reach'. Reach has long been my overall favorite CD. Fans too. Something about it just works. All the songs flow nicely, the songs are great and it has a real raw/emotional feel. However I had the shittiest stuff to record it with!!! Actually I couldn't have changed anything if I wanted to over the last few years because the recorder I used they don't even make anymore and you HAVE to use that to extract the recording. Well I'm happy to say I found one!!! It's supposed to be here tomorrow. I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to take those songs and mix them the right way. Sooooo excited.</p>
<p>All of this got me thinking about songwriting and how it happens. A lot of my friends ask me about it. What do songs mean? How did you come up with that? Things along those lines. Truth is--most of the time I don't know. I rarely sit down with an 'idea' either musically or lyrically. Songs just kinda--happen to me. This doesn't mean the songs don't mean anything. It just means I discover what they're about as they're being worked on. Sometimes much later. My song 'Lifetime (Ria)' is a perfect example. I wrote and finished it. Put it on 'Ria'. This will sound funny, but it took me about 2 years of listening to it until I knew what it meant to me. That's not to say that's the only way to take the song. My brother thinks it's a big anthem that pumps him up for the day. He loves it. Now it is big and anthemic. But to me it's not a 'pump me up' song. We both love the song but we both have a completely different take on it. Which is cool. Songs should be like that.</p>
<p>I was cleaning out my studio the other day and I came across the notebook I used when working on that album. I have to say, for the new one I got away from writing things by hand as much as I used to. I miss it. I'm going to do that from now on. Anyway, it was cool to look through the notebook because I have everything from writing down what I hear in the very first mumbles to the final draft of a song. It's interesting to see what stuck from the mumbles all the way through to the end. Sometimes I get lucky and have really good lines come out. Sometimes its a train wreck. haha. </p>
<p>So here are some shots of different versions of what would become <a contents="'Lifetime (Ria)'." data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/1071144/lifetime-ria" target="_blank">'Lifetime (Ria)'.</a> It was fun going back for me. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/e52196edfe60cd54f28b01f02edc44e2e9251116/medium/img-1880.jpg?1510698924" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/4312343e9482effcd35214aa2f2d9b8d6e44c488/medium/img-1881.jpg?1510699012" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/8c19e775539fc924f17e74377d7415e76ecf5716/medium/img-1883.jpg?1510699141" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/a47c6ebd238f3069cb3ed48f24755fbac616e186/medium/img-1884.jpg?1510699085" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/f461fdac74386fa064e86e7299c0f4a5f0e6be8b/medium/img-1885.jpg?1510699227" class="size_m justify_center border_" />more soon</p>
<p>peace</p>
<p>mike</p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/49274782017-11-10T13:18:47-05:002022-04-21T15:22:00-04:00WEXT Interview Monday 11/13/17<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/e3ca584f84de330847d2e51f4da287be82bfcf05/original/22788889-10155758523855561-8022270061468548518-n.jpg?1510337895" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>howdy</p>
<p>I got to go into <a contents="WEXT " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.exit977.org" target="_blank">WEXT </a>and record an interview with Chris Wienk about the new album. It's always sooooo much fun when I get to go visit.</p>
<p>I was actually there for over 2 hours. It's been awhile since I released anything and Chris and Dave Michaels and I got talking. One of the best things about WEXT besides the fact they play my music, is that they are ALL music fans. Huge music fans. So we always get chatting about music stuff. Like music geeks do haha</p>
<p>Here's a sneak peak at one of the songs I played. This is Dream of You.</p>
<p>You can listen Monday between 7-8PM EST at 97.7FM in the Capital District or <a contents="click here to listen to their stream everywhere else in the world" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://exit977.org/playlist#stream/0" target="_blank">click here to listen to their stream everywhere else in the world</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>P.S. as an added treat you can download the song for your very own! </p>
<p> </p>3:19Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/49215282017-11-06T17:43:33-05:002022-04-21T15:21:49-04:00The CD's are here!! Pre-order today : )<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/cc8783677d732e534e9a70856983ab011cbe1c18/original/img-1836.jpg?1510007885" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Howdy</p>
<p>So I love getting surprised. When I ordered the CD's the duplicator told me they wouldn't be shipped until at least the 8th. Guess what? They showed up today!!! YAY!!!!</p>
<p>So if you ordered one, it will be on it's way this week! How exciting!! If you haven't well, why not? Go get it!</p>
<p>Vinyl Pre-orders are still going. I've never made a record before and there are a few things I learned about the process. First, you have to mix and 'master' it slightly differently than for a CD or download. This took a little time but man. It sounds GOOD! The CD's and downloads sound good as well, this is just--different. I guess you have to get one to see the changes but I like it. A lot!</p>
<p>The second thing is that you have limited time on each side. So the order of the songs matters. Therefore there will be a slightly different running order for the Vinyl. At first I was kind of upset because song order really matters to me. After a few tries though I got the songs in an order that will 1- fit on the record the corect way and 2- I really really like the song order changes. Who knows it may even be better haha.</p>
<p>So I'm still waiting for those to be made. Order yours now to get in on the first shipment!</p>
<p>Finally the album is up for pre-order on the iTunes STORE only. What this means is it's not in Apple Music. So this link I'm going to give you you MAY have to open on a desktop otherwise your phone or whatever will take you to Apple Music and it'll say unavailable. I don't know why they do this. It sucks. Alternately just go to the iTunes Store app and search 'Mike Grutka' and it will take you to my page.</p>
<p><a contents="Order CD's/Vinyl/Bundles or download today" data-link-label="Music & Stuff" data-link-type="page" href="/music-stuff" target="_blank">Order CD's/Vinyl/Bundles or download today</a></p>
<p><a contents="iTunes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/painting-the-silence-vol-1/1300964452?app=itunes" target="_blank">iTunes</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>cool beans</p>
<p>peace</p>
<p>mike</p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/49136332017-10-31T15:20:13-04:002018-09-11T12:55:16-04:00Pre-Order the new Album Today!!!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/497f01fe8ab0535cc93c1c8d8486f04b1e150ba9/original/img-1780.jpg?1509477600" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Howdy</p>
<p>Whew it's been a crazy few weeks. Also it's finally fall-like here in NY after 75 degrees up until 2 days ago. Weird how fast it all changes....</p>
<p>Anyway---</p>
<p>The album is done and you can get it in 2 places. Right here on this fancy way cool awesome coolest website you've ever seen OR as a Pre-Order in the iTunes Store. Choices Choices.</p>
<p>So if you order here, you get an immediate download link sent to you. Also, these are higher quality files--the same as you'd hear on a CD, so why wouldn't you? Through me you can also pre-order a CD and get an immediate download, a record--like a REAL vinyl record (which is way way cool) with a download, OR a bundle of Vinyl, CD and download which also gets you 2 unreleased songs sent to you!!</p>
<p>Pick your favorite. Get it. Listen. It's good. You'll be happy.</p>
<p><a contents="DOWNLOAD/PRE-ORDER CD, VINYL BUNDLES BY CLICKING HERE" data-link-label="Music & Stuff" data-link-type="page" href="/music-stuff" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD/PRE-ORDER CD, VINYL BUNDLES BY CLICKING HERE</a></p>
<p><a contents="iTunes click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/painting-the-silence-vol-1/id1300964452" target="_blank">iTunes click here</a></p>
<p>Buy. Listen. Share. Tell a friend. I'll love you forever.</p>
<p>more soon</p>
<p>peace</p>
<p>Mike</p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/48928652017-10-16T11:35:02-04:002022-04-21T15:21:36-04:00The album is done. Everything you've heard is crap!!!<p>Weird headline.</p>
<p>So yes! The album is FINISHED!!! Woo Hoo! Fist bump! Moondance!!!</p>
<p>It's been quite the journey this time, but well worth the wait in my opinion. This one is pretty damn good.</p>
<p>Oddly enough this is the longest time between records and also most challenging release I've done for me personally. And yet--it's my shortest album! Ha. Part of that is due to the fact that as I've been saying this is Volume 1 with more to come (soon I pormise) and part of that is that I have always wanted to make a record. Like an actual record. On vinyl. That you play on a record player. The thing about that is there are time constraints and 15-20 minutes per side is the cut off without making a double disc set. So this one is timing in at 41 minutes. Pretty good for vinyl.</p>
<p>Starting off the album will be available here on the website for download, CD pre-order and some special bundles. So check back often. Better yet---join the email list!!! <a contents="Join" data-link-label="Contact" data-link-type="page" href="/contact" target="_blank">Join</a></p>
<p>So why did I say everything you've heard is crap? Well--in a way it is.</p>
<p>There are very few people I share 'progress' mixes with along the way. Most of them are not musicians and have never recorded. I always hear the same things. I give them the first version of a mix. "This sounds GREAT!" they tell me. And for the most part they're right! I have good equipment and sort of know what I'm doing in the studio so the sounds are good. The mix is good. But it's not done. </p>
<p>After about the 17,000th version I give them they start to 'get it'. There are many steps in mixing. Getting the levels right. Making all the sounds 'sit' in the mix the right way. Making sure the vocals are present. And the list goes on.</p>
<p>I have been posting a few songs here and there to this page as well as Facebook. So people could hear what I've been working on. And they were good versions. However they have all been fixed up dressed up waxed polished and spit shined! They're all sparkly and new with new car smell haha.</p>
<p>So apologies to all of you for putting out sub par work. It's better now I promise.</p>
<p>Now that everything is done, I will be posting the new versions here for you to listen to. Soon I will have an album 'pre-order' and you'll have the chance to save $$ AND get the record before it's out to the general public.</p>
<p>To keep up with the new song posting, recording and release diary, videos and treats simply go <a contents="here" data-link-label="Painting the Silence" data-link-type="page" href="/painting-the-silence" target="_blank">here</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm very proud of these songs. I hope you will love them as well.</p>
<p>more soon</p>
<p>peace</p>
<p>Mike</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/85fa23794e643e915fdd347188d26415b4573b7c/original/img-1652.jpg?1508168075" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/48772772017-10-04T15:47:13-04:002022-05-21T11:28:00-04:00Hole EEEE SHIT Guys<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/df21cc01fa49b48b896d4cd1059ff97e094233de/medium/img-1578.jpg?1507146352" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>So ever since my last blog post I took my own advice. JUST. LET. IT. BE. WHAT. IT. IS.</p>
<p>In the last 3-4 days I've gotten more done than I have in the last year. Well, not totally true. But for a concentrated effort---Can't beat me last couple days. Try. I dare you!!</p>
<p>Any way.</p>
<p>I</p>
<p>think</p>
<p>I'm DONE!!!!!</p>
<p>I'm leaving right now, like as soon as I post this, to go for a ride to listen to the disc I just burned to check mixes etc.</p>
<p>But</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>Shit</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think it's DONE!!!!</p>
<p>peace</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mike</p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/48681392017-09-27T20:51:09-04:002017-09-27T20:51:09-04:00Seasons. Vinyl. Perfection.<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/e1460bf435ae3f0365f6409718c5004764d9d1de/original/img-1095.jpg?1506559790" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Howdy.</p>
<p>If you live in the Northeast it's been HOT!!! (I guess even if you don't live in the northeast it's been hot here...)</p>
<p>93 yesterday. Whew. Part of me wants to complain cause, well, 93 is hot no matter what. Another part of me has tried to spend as much time outside as possible since it IS the end of September and cooler weather is coming soon. I personally don't mind it so much unless its humid. I hate humidity. Yesterday was humid. So you see my conflict haha.</p>
<p>Humidity makes me sluggish. I just don't feel like doing anything. However, I'm wearing shorts late at night at the end of September. Trade offs.</p>
<p>There's always a trade off. No matter what you do in life. If you decide to work late, you didn't get to maybe make it to the gym. If you spend all night watching Walking Dead you don't read a book. You get where I'm going. What is your point Mike you ask...</p>
<p>I'm at the trade off part of the record. All my musician friends will get this--I'm sure you will too.</p>
<p>You have to stop mixing. You have to just pick which songs make it. You have to just make a running order. You just have to. Or it'll never end. You'll never finish. You'll keep trying for 'perfect' or 'hey maybe if I just boost the guitars here it'll make all the difference....etc</p>
<p>I've heard over the years that you need to have everything perfect. After all these days you're 'competing' with Taylor Swift. Do you think she doesn't have people obsess over every single beat? Every note? Making sure each and every sound is lined up and perfectly in sync and in tune? (she does) Other people say-- you have the tools to perfect the rhythm, the tuning--DO IT! Or, 'Everyone is doing it now so you should cause you can'.</p>
<p>Sure. I have all the tools right here. At my finger tips. I could tune every single vocal. Every violin part. I could line up every drum beat that's a micro second wrong. I could polish it up like a shiny diamond. Make it 'perfect'.</p>
<p>Outside of the actual sound things, there is song choice. I've written, well, a ton of songs in the past few years. I have about 30-40 that are 'ready enough' to be considered for the record. Or at least to be worked on. And yes, every once in a while they pop up on my ipod (I put all my in progress songs in there so I can listen and think about them) and one or two that I've left behind will grab my attention. What if THIS is the better one? What if I leave this out for another and this could've been THE SONG. You know. The ONE. The HIT.....</p>
<p>Arrrgh. What do I know? Really. Every single time I've released an album I have my personal favorites. Or the ones I'm sure will be loved by more people. I've been lucky enough to have toured all over. I've been lucky enough to have gotten airplay nationally. I've been wrong. Every. Single. Time. About which songs get picked, or reviewed. Or singled out for praise by people. Every. Single. Time. Haha.</p>
<p>After the car accident, which I wrote about last time, I thought a lot about time and being alive. Don't worry I'm not getting all sappy on you. But. It focused me. I'm not going to pretend I had some huge epiphany or life changing realization. Just-- there's a saying that 'version done is better than perfect'.</p>
<p>The great thing about music, at least to me, is it's NOT perfect. And, it's never really done. (There's the recorded version, the acoustic version, the version without a piano, the live version--you get my point.) Over the last couple years I started collecting records-actual vinyl records-again. (Say what you will but they DO sound better. Scratches and all.) There's something about putting the album on the player. Hearing the needle land. The first few seconds of silence that aren't really silent since you hear the hum of the needle. And having to get up after 15-20 minutes to turn it over. It connects you more I think to the music. And records get messy. They get dusty. Scratched. I think that's why I like them so much. They actually 'live'. Also they never sound exactly the same. The act of playing them wears them out. I think that's cool.</p>
<p>But music isn't perfect either. It <em>can</em> be. Especially today where anyone can open up garageband and have perfectly recorded sounds be perfectly timed together by pushing some keys. Hell with some programs you don't even have to even play a keyboard (meaning one that looks like a piano) you can just drag and drop pre made sounds. Some people like that I guess. And yes there is a skill to that and it can be catchy and good. That's not what I'm saying. </p>
<p>But music, real live musicians playing music, isn't perfect. I grew up playing in orchestras. They suck hard at first like when you're in 3rd grade. It's painful! Even when I got to college and everyone was a really really good player, it's like 30 or more people playing notes. All at the same time. Think there aren't mistakes? There are. But the whole thing all together sounds glorious. </p>
<p>I know a lot of these things are probably just something a musician would worry about. There are mistakes I'll hear that no one will ever point out. Because it's mine. I know all of them because I played them. Does it ruin anything? Nope. Would me 'fixing' these things make it better? I'm not sure. I don't think so. Like I said, I like the clicks and pops on records. So what do I know?</p>
<p>What I DO know is that I'm almost done. And all those extra songs? I'm not worried about them. They'll have a home soon. I think I said this before, but the new album is really a Volume 1. So if I haven't said it, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 'Painting the Silence' will be TWO albums long. Vol 1 and Vol 2. Cause that's how you name them so people know the difference. I'm excited because even though all the songs were written during the same time, the 2 parts of the album will feel different. The songs on each volume will be what makes them different. Different moods. Sounds. Lyric ideas. </p>
<p>Just like this week felt like summer even though it's the first week of autumn. By tomorrow autumn weather will be here. And it will feel like fall.</p>
<p>See you soon</p>
<p> </p>
<p>peace</p>
<p>Mike</p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/44702922016-11-16T19:42:01-05:002022-04-21T15:22:26-04:00Humming along. New Songs. Radio<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/59d34b8924efde1dcdf02d68fa8a2ddfb72288aa/original/dsc-0052.jpg?1479341701" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>Howdy.<br><br>Psst.... c'mere. Closer. <em>CLOSER I gots a secret</em><br><br>I HAVE SONGS DONE I HAVE SONGS DONE I HAVE SONGS DONE!!!<br><br>Shh. It's a secret. Remember? <br><br>Ok so, guess writing in all caps at the beginning of a public blog isn't exactly the best way to keep a secret. So screw it. It's NOT a secret. Hey- I have songs. A funny thing happened to me in the last few weeks. Know all those songs I talked about in the last couple entries? NO? Well, go read them. Scroll. I'll be here. Anyway-I actually turned shit on, turned it up, made things move, played a couple things. Typed lyrics. Sang. Mixed. And you know what? A lot of those songs were WAY closer to being finished than I had originally thought. Funny how we can fool ourselves into thinking things. That aren't really true. I've been telling myself for oh I don't know--almost 6 years, that I was NOWHERE near finished. That I'd wasted all this time. All. This. Time. I'm happy to say...WRONG!!!!<br> </p><!-- more -->
<p><br><br>I remember reading an interview with Thom Yorke years ago. He was talking about having writers block. This was after Kid A and Amnesiac came out and he felt stuck. Like he'd never complete another song. In the article he says that what actually happened was very different. He was writing all the time. Too much writing. He couldn't make any sense out of it. Yet he was being productive. There's actually a term for it which I'm not going to look up and bore you with, and I'm not comparing myself to Radiohead. Ok I am. I'm almost as great. And I also wouldn't say I got all obsessive about it which is how he spoke about it in the answers he gave. My point is that we can be working- very hard- towards a goal and still feel like nothing is happening. That's kinda what had happened to me. I was really coming up with a lot of ideas and recording or working on a large number of new songs. It just didn't feel like it. So for the last month or so I've made a conscious effort to go through what I do have and finish the damn things.<br><br>I found songs that were, well, <em>totally</em> ready to be mixed and sent out into the world. I found songs that only needed a few lyrical tweaks. I found songs that only needed a good vocal. I worked. I listened. I tweaked. Voila! I have 4 songs that are pretty much finished. Not album ready finished, but done and mixed with the final polish all that's needed. Another cool thing? Once I got one, another was done. Then another. I got on a roll. I'm still on a roll. It became FUN again. For the first time in a long time. Any musicians out there reading this will understand. For the rest of you--yes, I get to play music. I get to do what I love. BUT-- this is a very very tough business. And after chasing my rock star dream for years non-stop I got fried. I couldn't face another booking call. Another drive to a gig for 10 people. Another person telling me to just give away the songs. Or play for 'exposure'. Another show where someone would buy a CD to 'burn for all their friends'. The business part of what you have to do as an independent musician had caught up to me. There were stretches of 4, 6, 8 months I wouldn't even play guitar. Or sing in the car. I had lost my spark.<br><br>Even then however, the songs were coming. I took time to capture the ideas. Some I recorded to a complete arrangement. Then I'd be jazzed up for a week and my mind would start fucking with me and I'd, the best way to put it is that I got afraid of finishing. All I could think of at that point was ugh. Ugh I would have to make an album. Promote it. Play. E-mails/phone calls/follow up/not hearing back/reviews....... So I'd leave the song almost done. Almost. That was safe right?<br><br>I guess this might sound weird. Why not just finish right? Yeah I hear ya. But sometimes in life, no matter what we're doing or aspiring to, I think there comes a moment when you just kinda--had it. Maybe it's something like a job. A relationship. A hobby or something that always brought you joy. These are all great things. Sometimes it IS good to move on and spread your wings elsewhere. But if something really calls to you, really moves you, well losing that....that feeling is terrible. I lost that for awhile. Then I woke up and realized that the things I thought we're so bad and such a struggle were right in front of me the whole time. <br><br>Oh and the coolest thing? I sent some songs to the wonderful <a contents="WEXT" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.exit977.org" target="_blank">WEXT</a> and they chose not one but TWO of them to play. On real live radio! (Albany, NY area 97.7FM everywhere else<a contents=" exit977.org " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.exit977.org/playlist" target="_blank"> exit977.org </a>to stream)<br><br>So hey listen--you made it this far. If you are NOT currently a member of the e-mail list, go to the box to the right of the page <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="Home" data-link-type="page" href="/home" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Sign up. You'll get a FREE song. A brand new one. One that's gonna be on the new album. Sign up. Get it. As I said earlier, I'm basically as great as Radiohead so what have you got to lose? Did I say it's free? It's FREE!<br><br>peace<br><br>Mike</p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/44310222016-10-21T16:32:53-04:002023-12-10T11:33:06-05:00October Update<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/ce6ab23f07ebaa60293616286b5c5137fa2ae6f0/original/img-1439.jpg?1477081958" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p>There's an inspiring post title. October update. You're on the edge of your seat. Probably breathing heavy. Heart rate is up. Maybe breaking out in a sweat. "This, you think, THIS is what I've been waiting for! <em><strong>The October Update!!!"</strong></em><br><br>Man time gets away from us sometimes. Today is 70 ish but rainy. The leaves are coming down with a vengeance. Tomorrow is only supposed to be in the 40's and then, well it's November. Summer was awesome but went too fast. But-- this weather is always great for locking myself away and working on music. So hey, let's talk about that.<br><br>I have 27---27! songs in 'almost done' form. That's a lot. That's not all though. I have been recording song ideas/sketches into my phone for the past couple of years too. There are over 150 MORE ideas there. Kinda makes me wonder why I haven't put out 17 albums. Then again, none of them are all the way finished either so...there's that.<br><br>I took a ride today and listened to the 27 that are the most 'done'. For the past couple of weeks I have been writing lyrics and once that is done (that always comes last for me) all that's really left is singing. It's that close. It's that close. On the ride I also realized that 4-5 of these really are done. I don't know why I thought I had so much left to do with a few of them. Sometimes distance is needed I guess. Space. Time away to make you realize what you have. Or just to hear with fresh ears. <br> </p><!-- more -->
<p><br><br>This may sound stupid but one of the coolest things for me the last couple weeks is rediscovering some of these songs. I hadn't exactly forgotten about them, I just either got it in my head that 'this one doesn't fit' or 'that one is not as good' or 'i don't know what to do with this' so certain ones I haven't exactly had at the front of my brain whenever I'd get to work on them. Now I think they're great. Probably world changing if I'm being honest. Yeah. This album is world changing! It's going to be the biggest all time seller in the history of music. So, there's that. <br><br>Funny too to realize that I can get too focused on an idea. What I mean by that is initially this was going to be a very very acoustic/stripped down album. The first batch of songs were approached that way and that is one of the reasons some of these songs got left behind so to speak. When I would come up with a more electric/rock/fast/electronic type song I'd immediately dismiss it because damn it Mike didn't you hear yourself this is the <em>acoustic</em> record! By being so set on that idea I left or ignored GOOD songs. And they are. They're good. World changing has been mentioned in reference to these songs.<br><br>So it's getting cold, no reason to do anything but lock the door, hang with the puppies and work on these. It's almost done. And after so much time it feels really good to realize I've gotten more done than I thought and that I'm as close as I am to being done. <br><br>And, if you're good, there may be a teaser up soon. <br><br>Hug somebody<br><br>peace<br><br>Mike</p>Mike Grutka tag:mikegrutkamusic.com,2005:Post/43204262016-08-11T14:26:54-04:002017-01-12T20:37:27-05:00The Long and Winding RoadCheesy to use a Beatles title? Maybe. But hey- I'm writing something. It's been awhile. Way too long actually. I'm typing and really realizing how long it's been. 6 years since I've done-well anything here. So what the hell happened?<br><br>I guess if I go back it's just--life. Life happens. I released 2 records 6 months apart in 2009/2010. Toured. Bought a house. Got 3 new dogs. One dog passed away. Still have 6 somehow. How does that even happen? Got into the fitness business. Opened a gym. Closed this year in March because you know if you're going to pick a tough business besides music choose fitness-there's NO competition. At all. (I kid) Plus--I've never been a morning person and yet woke up at 4:30AM everyday for 2 1/2 years. So where was I? Closed in March. Back to the house and all the projects I needed to do. Built a deck. Brick patio. Staining/painting, wood floors--the list is never ending it seems. Moved my studio from the basement into the coolest room in the house. Learned drums and mandolin. Oh- and yes kept writing songs.<br><br>The whole plan was to come out with another record within a year, year and a half. Went to a studio to do acoustic guitar and drum tracks. Some bass lines as well. Had a guitar player come lay down some leads. The record was going to be a back to basics acoustic stripped down affair. No studio tricks. No fake instruments. All real players. Simple. But as is want to do, other things sneak in. I find cool sounds. Cool ideas. And well, time just kept going. So what seemed like a really fresh idea gets convoluted. New ideas spring up. New songs. The songs never stopped coming. Sketches here, more finished versions there. Harder tracks, floaty acoustic things here. Lots of electric guitar. None. Piano, violin.....<br><br>You can trick yourself into thinking you're stuck. How many times did I tell myself that I had nothing? That I was possibly unable to finish a song anymore? Not true. My phone is FULL of song ideas. My 'demo playlist' has 32 mostly finished songs in it. Somehow I told myself it was all shit and I was going no where fast. I hadn't been doing anything towards finishing. About a month ago I decided to get off my ass and just turn on the recorder. I realized that I had been meaning to do this, but found some excuse to not do it. Weird. I revamped the website as you can see. I posted some teaser video on the Facebook page--go look if you haven't. Mostly though I've been picking up whatever instrument is closest at the moment and just playing. Just playing and having fun which is something I haven't done in a loooong time<br><br>One thing that's been great this summer is that I've been working outside almost every day. I have my ipod hooked up to my PA speaker and I've been blasting music. And I mean blasting. It's been awesome. I've heard songs pop up I forgot I even owned. Then in the last couple of weeks a funny thing has happened. No matter when I'm listening, my songs have shown up at an amazing pace. Stuff from all the old albums. Songs from the 'demo' list. All the iphone snippets. I told a friend last week that I guess I better get to work before the universe kills me because obviously this was happening for a reason. I realized that I HAVE been doing work. And guess what? It's pretty damn good. The old songs too. They fit in so well with everything else playing on my speaker. Best thing about it is that I've got the itch again. The spark to work on these orphans. To finish them. It's amazing and fun and...GOOD again. The feeling I thought I'd lost. The drive to create. Plus I've realized that in all the unfinished songs most are a lot closer than I had told myself. A tweak here, a vocal there and I'll be...done. <br><br>I really love the songs that have floated to the top for consideration for the album. I'm actually thinking of a split release--almost like a double album. Probably put up a bunch of digital only songs as well. For now I'm working on the most complete ones just to finish them. Then I'll be whittling down the list. I've been putting together snippets that I hope to post here soon as a 'preview' for the new record. Look for that soon.<br><br>So now your'e all caught up. So am I. Onward.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/25102/64dd2af4a45cd23d53e050d0be170bedc55eecfc/original/13886408-10153890740837476-1042937193309522744-n.jpg?1470939996" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br><br><br> Mike Grutka