Hey, Hey, I Wanna be a Rock Star -- Jay

I’ve found my release!

For the past several months, I’ve been seeking a new hobby to occasionally distract myself from thinking about books. I have a habit of getting a tad obsessive, whether it’s about writing a new book or promoting my last book. And while that obsessive quality can be good, it also makes my brain feel like it’s been tossed into a blender at Jamba Juice. (Anyone for a Jay Jubilee with a wheatgrass shot and an Immunity Boost?)

Problem was, I only considered hobbies I could do by myself. But when I tried those, my mind never fully focused on that new hobby.

Solution? A group hobby!

As you may remember, last week my wife and I headed into a studio to begin recording a dozen of her original songs. And for three-and-a-half hours, my mind never wandered from that studio.

It was awesome!

It was the first time since high school that I played guitar with a live drummer. The energy created by a living, breathing, pulse-pounding metronome is un-frickin’-believable. On that first night, we recorded drum tracks to four of my wife’s songs: Stranger, In This World, Sunshine, and What About Me?

The drummer played in a soundproof room all by himself, communicating with us through microphones and a large window. In our room was the sound engineer, my wife, and me. My wife played her dumbek (a handheld drum) and sang, while I played the guitar. The drummer could’ve recorded his tracks without us, but you get a much more powerful and emotional sound when musicians feed off each other.

In fact, it’s a lot like writing. Anyone can write alone, but when you…

Wait! Does anyone else hear the whir of a high-speed blender?

Okay, back to the music…

Solo

Duo

Drumroll (through the window)
** two points if you can spot a copy of Thirteen Reasons Why **

- Jay