Hi Steve,
I'm trying to transfer Farlans music from tape to CD. Quite a job for me, since, as I said, I know nothing about music technology or technical things in general. Actually getting the music into the computer in the first place was a major achievement, and the result of a great deal of head banging. My brain seems to have been much maligned in this area, but by taking on the technical side of Farlans music, I've been able to discover why I have these difficulties. Partly school, partly other negative experiences that I didn't remember, but by re-experiencing the obstacles I was able to remembered how they got there and to some extent free myself from them. This doesn't make me a technical wizz, but it does free me up to experiment and play around without anxiety, and if I can get the odd explanation or someone to point me in a direction, as John did with EQ, I'll go and play till something does or doesn't click.
It was nice of John to take the time to listen and offer advice, especially when he must have been busy.
I think many people experience similar difficulties to mine in at least one area of their lives. Inhibition and confusion to an extent that they can't approach a subject that they'd like. It's often in the creative arena where people have been squashed or sat on. I remember watching a programme about famous musicians and their other interests, one was Charlie Watts and his interest in astronomy, no problem there. But there was another heavy metal singer. They showed him performing, wild, crazy, extrovert, over the top, a stranger to inhibition - or so you'd have thought. His other interest was painting. he brought out a small painting he'd done, he showed it to the camera with a shy, timid, please don't hurt me look. It was easy to see where his major malevolations had taken place, and perhaps what he should have been doing with his life.
Farlan was the opposite. Painting was easy for him, his big struggles were with the music. He knew that he wanted to do music for about three years before he could even admit it. And that was just the start, he battled huge obstacles, and to get from the level of restriction and inhibition that he had at the beginning to the level of freedom and expressiveness he achieved at the end was very impressive. And that personal victory is part of the spiritual content of his music and is probably one of the reasons why listening to Farlan sing gives me great heart and hope.
How does your music rate in your life. Does it come easy or have you had to struggle to get there? I visited songsparrow and listened to all of your songs. Your lyrics have a leaning towards the sad and sorrowful side of life - clearly you've not found life entirely plain sailing and you sing these songs with great feeling. I like the ballads best, the gentle songs and some of the instrumentals have a great sweetness. One thing that struck me particularly was your poem "So bright the day" It is tranquil and peaceful. You seem very at home with the theme of nature. Was this ever set to music?
Arifah