Kotaro Oshio

I recently discovered this wonderful & amazing guitarist, Kotaro Oshio. This song is soooooo gorgeous!

For your enjoyment…

It’s time, I’m ready!!!

It is time… and I am 100% ready!  Everything you’ve heard up to this point has been a demo… practice.  This is the real thing!

What I am referring to is my project… which is to be titled, “Reflection.”  The reason I chose this title is because I believe life is an amazing experience… even the tough times.  It all plays a part in establishing who we are and what we’re about.  My heart’s desire is to breath in every moment… taking time to appreciate each and every experience… and, allow it to become apart of who I am.  In short… taking time to reflect on the gift of each and everyday!  Hence, the title… “Reflection.”

I hope when completed, that “Reflection” will help and aid you in seeing how amazing life is!

The mikes are set up… the guitar is tuned… my heart is full of awe and wonder, it’s time… and I’m ready!

Stay tuned for daily postings as I begin this process… thanks so much!

Seed of change – MP3 Preview

I tend to write songs or at least song ideas and concepts when I am on the road.  As the tires roar and roll between my 2004 Corolla, my mind often wanders… weaving through a myriad of thoughts, dreams, plans and schemes… as well as song ideas.

Recently I was considering the amazing transformation, power of seeds.  I know that’s not a profound thought… it’s actually quite common.  But… for some reason considering how something SO small can become so huge and profound got me all excited.

As I continued on down the road I felt my heart starting to fill with courage.

Sometimes I feel that I’m a no body in this crazy music biz!  Goodness… musician’s are a dime of dozen!!! But… I’ve learned through the years that music has a way touching hearts and lives… even to the point where a life is changed in a wonderfully profound way.

I may be a “never-was” in the music industry… but, what I have to offer is still something of worth… something that may make a difference in someone’s life.  My job is to simply be faithful… plant the seed, water it, care for it… and then watch it become something of great value.

Seed of change - MP3 preview (unmastered)

Forgotten – MP3 Preview

Being a full time musician affords me the opportunity to travel the highways and byways of America.  I log approx. 60,000 miles a year in my 2004 Corolla.  That wonderful car is amazing… but, it’s seen better days! None the less it is a solid, dependable car.

Anyway, you get the message… I drive a lot!!!

Recently I was traveling through western South Dakota and I noticed an old abandoned home.  As I drove past I couldn’t help and wonder ‘how old was that home?  Who lived there?  What stories still reside within those walls?  Why was it abandoned?’

Lastly… it just seemed so sad that this place and the lives that once lived here were seemingly forgotten, yet the house still stands after years of neglect.  A memorial of a life that once was…

Considering this, I felt a sense of urgency to really make my life count. To leave a legacy… something that would stand the test of time.

I don’t know if I’ll ever come close achieving that goal, but as I continued to drive to my next destination I was thankful for the reminder to press on in life… doing my best to be who I was created to be.

Later on that evening… in the quiet of my hotel room I wrote a new song called, “Forgotten.”

Forgotten – MP3 preview (unmastered)

 

While Aubrey Sleeps – MP3 Preview

I was playing round with a double capo set up on my Taylor 512C-NG Guitar, sitting quietly on the couch. It was a COLD, cold morning here in western South Dakota and I had ‘Beau,’ my Dalmatian/German Shepherd to my right and ‘Aubrey’ my Weimaraner sitting to my left. It was warm and cozy with my little ones nearby!

As I quietly played my guitar, Aubrey started to fall asleep and she looked so content and peaceful. It touched my heart to see that because she wasn’t treated very well by her previous owners and there have been times that she would violently shake when she would sleep.

Knowing her past, I prayed for Aubrey. Not with words… but with the notes on my guitar.

I asked God to give her peaceful dreams, but not only dreams of peace, but also dreams of playfully running through fields. She deserves happiness…

Both of my “kids” are gifts from God! But this prayerful tune is for Aubrey…

I hope you enjoy hearing this new offering…

While Aubrey Sleeps (MP3 Preview)

Many Miles Music – Annoucement!

Greetings!

I am excited to announce that I have signed an artist-agreement with Many Miles Music. Here’s a quote from the web-site, “Many Miles Music is an unashamedly guitar-centric instrumental music company founded by musicians, for musicians, and the people who love their music.

Working in the New Age genre, Many Miles Music offers recordings that are soothing, relaxing, spiritually uplifting, and entertaining.

We leverage the latest technology to deliver the very best customer experience possible, from the purchasing transaction to the listening experience.”

Soon you’ll be able to purchase my CD’s and download music from the Many Miles Music site located at: www.manymilesmusic.com

I am so blessed to be apart of this new label based out of Seattle and I want to encourage you to not only support my music there, but also get to know some of the other artists at Many Miles Music. If you love instrumental acoustic guitar music, I know you won’t be disappointed!

Thanks for allowing me to share my excitement with you! Stay tuned for more information on my upcoming instrumental releases on Many Miles Music!

Climbing the charts

It’s so nice to see that “Drifting into the sublime” is climbing the charts at Soundclick.  As of this morning… out of nearly 20,000 songs listed as “acoustic guitar” songs, “Drifting….” is sitting at the number 31 spot!

Seeing that really encourages me!

For more info… click here!

Drifting into the Sublime – MP3 Preview

One of my ALL time favorite CD’s is a recording by Will Ackerman called “Sound of Wind Driven Rain.” The guitar sound on that recording has haunted from the moment I heard it! It’s something I have tried to emulate for years and today I think I may have made a small step towards achieving that goal.

Around 11 am this morning I started to step up the mics in my studio. I carefully placed them in a recording pattern that I discovered from an internet article and proceeded to record “Drifting into the Sublime.”

As I began to make my first pass through the song… I noticed that I hadn’t made any mistakes. Well… that was the WRONG thing to think as I was nearing the end of the song. Sure enough… I panicked and goofed up the ending of the song. I shook it off and told myself that I had another ‘take’ in me and tried again. Well… by the 15th or 16th pass, I decided to take a break and listen back to the track. I’m glad I did because I noticed that I needed to make some minor alterations to my mic placement.

I made a quick lunch and then watched the news as a way to get my mind off of the recording.

Around 1 pm I walked back into my studio and slowly repositioned my mics and sat down to try and record my song again. It didn’t take long to get what I wanted. I think it was the 3rd take after lunch and as listened back I was not only listening for performance… but, I was also hoping to get something that triggered an emotional response. All things considered… I felt good about what I was hearing.

I mixed the recording down and then began to master the song. By 5 pm this evening… I was done.

I hope you enjoy hearing it!

Drifting into the Sublime – MP3 Preview

 

No rules!

Last night I performed for the very first time my new song… “Drifting into the sublime.” I think I did a pretty good job with the song and I was quite please that it was well received. Or… it felt like it was well-received. I was smiling as I wrote that last line because I played before a home town crowd who were gracious and encouraging all evening! What a blessing that was!!!

Getting back to the song…

The piece is very simplistic… and who knows, for a hard core finger-stylist maybe too simplistic? But recently I’ve decided to approach my writing with a ‘no rules’ attitude. In other words… it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks! As long as I make an emotional connection with the song I am writing… then I am happy!

Drifting into the sublime completely does that for me. It takes me back to that initial feeling (and inspiration) when I started to play those first few notes that became this gentle expression of my heart and life.

I like this new approach to writing & composition! It’s so free and liberating!!!

Why as an artist and musician did it take so long to get to this point in my life? Oh well… no matter, I am here now and my BEST days are ahead!!!

Drifting into the sublime

Greetings… this is the very first post on my new blog which will feature the process of writing and recording my next instrumental release on Wind & Wheat Music… presently titled, “Reflection.”

You may be wondering about the title of this blog? I took it from a song I am working on… one that I chose to call “Drifting into the sublime.”

I am of Eskimo decent… on my mom’s side of the family. Of course “Verheecke” isn’t eskimo… it’s Belgian, which is my dad’s side of the family. Anyway… from what I understand, my Mother’s childhood was pretty tragic. So tragic that she often avoided talking about that time in her life. It was too painful! As a result… I’ve never known much about that side of my family. My mother passed away on September 30th, 1993. Losing her has been one of the most difficult things I have ever had to deal with. I miss her dearly! Interestingly a couple weeks before she past away… she started to share about Alaska. She noted that she lived in several places in Alaska and her favorite was Sitka. She shared that it is the most beautiful place in all the world!

Through the years that has stuck with me…

Recently I began to day-dream of taking a kayak from Seattle to Sitka… drifting through the inland passageway to this place that my mom said was the most beautiful place in all the world.

It’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever make it to Sitka on a kayak… but I can dream and use my imagination. Along with my imagination… I started to compose an impressionistic piece on my acoustic guitar. It’s pretty simple… not technically challenging, but… whenever I play it, I can hear to soft and consistent pulse of the ocean beating along the shoreline of the inland passageway. Through the mist of the early morning hours… I drift into the sublime.