Goldfrapp | MySpace

I recently picked up the special edition release of Goldfrapp’s Seventh Tree. Unlike their other albums, Seventh Tree utilizes more organic, gentle instrumentation, a foray from their previous disco synth-pop endeavors. It’s really the perfect blend of wistfulness and ambience. While several tracks are jovial and bouncy, fans of their previous releases may need some getting used to. It’s more Bowie and Beatles than Madonna or Minogue. Anyway, I love it.

One of my favorite tracks, “Happiness,” comes into my life conveniently as I find myself playing psychologist to a few of my friends. I’m brought back to the days when I was sorting my own mental innards… back when I feel I came upon the secret to true happiness.

A few months ago, a good friend of mine asked me to write an essay on happiness for a book she was publishing. I was in Vancouver at the time and had plenty of time to reflect, so I wrote what I felt to be a good summation of the most important lesson I ever learned. I don’t want to give away the whole essay before it’s published, so here’s a key quotation:

I try my best to discard inaccurate visions of the future and exist in the present. No one knows what will happen, after all. All I can do is stay open for anything. I just have a pretty good feeling about things. That’s what happiness is, I think. It’s high hopes and no expectations…

It’s a blue, bright blue Saturday.

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I promised myself I would do whatever it takes this year to achieve all my goals. Most notable is the desire to push Festizio, my band, as far as it can go: more shows, another studio release and networking with as many people as I can. Music was always what I felt most passionately about so I think it’s important to do this while I can. I’m not so naïve as to think we’ll be around forever. People get married, have kids, move away or go to space. It’s expected and should be encouraged for everyone (going into space more so for some people than others). One year… to move as efficiently and expeditiously as I can in the right direction.

I think we’re off to a good start. We already played a big Yelp Elite Event in Oakland at The New Parish, a new venue opened by the owners of The Independent. We also have two radio appearances and two more gigs coming up in the next few months, including a cool performance at the Chabot Space & Science Center (in the Planetarium, no less).

So, I’m more than happy so far. Unemployed but busy as hell. Time waits for no one. Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’. Sweep the leg.

By the way, if you want to help me on this lofty mission, please tell your friends, family and pets about Festizio. And please do follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You don’t have to buy anything or perform any sexual favors (unless you want to), but rather share us with the people in your life… especially if they’re record producers.

What I love most about the guitar is its ability to create something big from relatively little. Unlike literature or painted art, audio physically surrounds the listener. It’s enveloping. And unlike other instruments like the piano, the guitar is unique in that the player has direct manipulation over the strings. New notes and sounds can be achieved via harmonics, slides and bends. You are truthfully the master of the universe that you create.

Rather than selling my soul to the Devil like Steve Vai’s character did in the movie Crossroads, I chose to do it the old-fashioned way like Ralph Macchio. (He is, after all, the Karate Kid.) And while running modal scales proved ultimately useless (I’m pretty sure I’ll never use Lydian), I did pick up a few philosophical lessons on playing and performing that I’ve been re-pondering hours before heading out to load for tonight’s gig at The New Parish.

So, here they are. Five life lessons that can be inferred from the guitar:

1.) Be Light As a Feather | Use the minimal amount of finger pressure while fretting to attain faster playing speed. It’s not how hard you press, it’s how efficiently you move.

2.) Find Your Balance | Relax and focus on what you’re doing now. Keep the future in mind but don’t wander too far or you might get lost.

3.) There Is No Wrong Way | Mistakes are only deviations from your desired path. Push through and don’t let these deviations bring you down or you’ll end up straying more. Don’t sweat the small stuff or you’ll end up drenched.

4.) Be Inspired | When it comes down to it, the goal of pursuing any artistic endeavor is to create something meaningful, expressive and aesthetically profound. Try and hold onto whatever it is that inspires you.

5.) Don’t Forget to Have Fun | Life is short, after all…