Just for fun, here are a few variations while trying to come up with a “visual” for The Coastal Service.
Rough sketch of my initial idea, using the Tayasui Sketches app on iPad. The first set was a good start, and I liked the colors.
But I wanted to show some “danger” (a storm) and the light cutting through it. So we have set #2.
Now that I finished up my first solo cover song, I wanted to get it out in the world. As Steve Jobs said, “Real artists ship.” I’ve been working on that mindset for a while now and trying to show my work along the way.
To get my song out there where it can be streamed anywhere – via Siri, on the HomePod, in the car – I needed to pick an “artist” name to use on all the streaming services. It’s always fun to pick a band name, but I had set a rule for myself from experience messing around fruitlessly with friends in the past: first the music, then the name. You have to earn the name.
So I decided to go with The Coastal Service. 🙌 It’s sort of a play on The Postal Service, an amazing band with one of my favorite albums ever. I am not a Postal Service tribute band; their name just inspired an idea.
“The Coastal Service” is meant to invoke a sense of mystery and fog and awe and danger. It’s about meeting the ocean: like life, it’s big and dangerous and beautiful and meant to be explored.
I also like the idea that this fictional “coastal service” is there to serve humanity and is broader and more secretive and than, say, the US Coast Guard. It’s somewhat inspired by a Wes Anderson vibe, especially Moonrise Kingdom.
I also played around with some sketches on the iPad just for fun.
So there you go: The Coastal Service is born.
I still don’t know if I’m a real artist, but I did ship. 🚢
The office 🏢 #office #inside #moderndesign #interiordesign #austin #texas #atx via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/C3RYC-2IUb2/
After vacillating a bit on the final arrangement for my I’m On Fire cover, I finally headed some advice from Teddy Roosevelt and picked a direction.
While I liked the extra guitar part on the previous take, I also felt like it was a bit too much. It sort of changed the song from a “singing” song into a “guitar” song.
After a fresh listen, my buddy Joel had a helpful suggestion.
I’m wondering if you could use the clean version but bring in the guitar at some point under the whistling to add a little depth there.
I tried it out and… bingo. 🎯 This was the best of both worlds. The guitar comes in at the bridge and mixes things up at just the right time. Thanks, Joel.
My kids say the vocals are pretty “echoey”, but I’m hoping that adds to some mysterious ambience. Believe me, you are not ready to hear me singing raw just yet. 😉
Coming soon to a streaming service near you. 😎
Somehow, these kale and collard green plants survived the last polar blast unscathed. They seem like miracle plants. 🪴❄️ #gardening #wintergarden #winter #urbangarden #austin #texas #atx #shotoniphone #polarvortex via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/C25fAqzuPPN/
Mental Break Town 