Vale Chris Bailey…

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You might have noticed I’ve been a little quiet lately and the reason is that I was honoured to be playing bass for GANGgajang at the “Adelaide Salutes Chris Bailey” concert at the Thebarton Thestre last night.

Because of this I’ve been head down and bum up learning the songs over the past three weeks or so to ensure that I do justice to Chris Bailey’s bass lines.

Well last night went off and all of the homework had paid off.

The Thebby was packed to the brim, and GANGgajang and the rest of the who’s who of the Australian Live Music Industry played to an inch of their lives for Chris who was the bass player for The Angels and GANGgajang and a much loved human being.

GANGgajang

(I’m on the right)

Even though I’ve never met Chris personally I got a glimpse into the type of person and musician Chris was through studying his bass lines, listening to how his bandmates and his friends speak of him plus, the physical feeling of all the love from the audience at the show.

On waking up this morning I noticed that last night’s experience has changed me in a way that I can’t explain as yet but I know I’ve proven to myself that through sheer persistence and determination, I can work my ass off, rise up to a challenge and kick it.

My job last night was to honour Chris Bailey’s memory and uphold his bass playing legacy and from all the feedback I got last night, the job was done.

Vale Chris Bailey, you will be forever missed.

Peace,

Corey :)

“What Is Music?” According To Tony Levin

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Now that Mad March and of course Easter are out of the way, I can get back to doing what I love… Songwriting and Blogging.

I just love this video of my favourite bass player Tony Levin explaining in his own way, what music is and what it means to him.

He mentions that music communicates to all of us in ways that words don’t and that it fill up the gaps left in our vocabulary. It’s a beautifully eloquent tribute to the power of music and something that us musicians need to remind ourselves from time to time.

This is one of the reasons why I do what I do.

Peace,

Corey :)

I’m Now President Of SCALA

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Since 1992 I’ve been a member of a global songwriting organisation based in Adelaide called SCALA (which stands for Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association). Its goal since its incorporation in 1987 has been to “encourage original music of any style and genre no matter where you are in the world.”

Now, with the retirement of SCALA’s founder and inaugural President Robert Childs OAM on March 15th the path has been made clear for me to take over the role of leading a songwriting organisation that has been so very instrumental in the shaping of the performing songwriter and professional musician that I am today.

Since I was made President-elect on January 31st I’ve been working very closely with Robert to ensure that the transition from one President to another hasn’t drastically affected the day to day business of running a songwriting organisation that has been a labour of love for Robert for the last 25 years.

Now that I’ve taken the reins fully, I’m very mindful that I’ve essentially been put in charge of Robert’s legacy and because of that, I’ll be doing my very best to make sure that the essence of SCALA, being a grassroots songwriting organisation remains intact while at the same time, have a hand in guiding SCALA into the 21st century and growing its relevance within the general songwriting and music business communities locally, nationally and globally.

This is a role in which I’m extremely humbled and at the same time very proud to be undertaking. I’m deadly serious about making SCALA work and the potential for the organisation to make a difference in the lives of all of it’s members is staggering.

I’ve got some big shoes to fill. Wish me luck and watch this space.

Peace,

Corey :)

Silly, Silly Me…

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I went and almost sliced off the top of my thumb off while cutting up some sweet potato for dinner couple of days ago.

A visit to RAH Emergency and four stitches later, it’s feeling pretty sore but healing the way it should.

csthumb1

csthumb2

csthumb3

Hmmm, I’ve got a Fringe show with the Synchronicity Police boys coming up this Saturday night. I’m pretty sure I can manage playing bass as I sliced the opposite side of my thumb that I would use.

Holding a plectrum maybe a little challenging but not impossible. I’ve learnt pretty quickly that there’s nothing that good painkillers can’t fix.

Silly, silly me…

Peace,

Corey :)

FAWM 2013: Song #3 – “Fall In Love With Me”

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Here is song three in my attempt to write 14 songs in 28 days for the FAWM online songwriting challenge.

It’s called “Fall In Love With Me” and it’s about two people finding each other for the first time and the awkwardness that goes along with it.

I must say that FAWM has really made me look at my songwriting process and to take stock of all of the songwriting information I’ve amassed over the years. It’s also made have a look at my songwriting blog All About Songwriting in a different light.

I’m finally taking my own advice.

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Fall In Love With Me 
© C. Stewart 4/2/2013

I am looking your way, so careful not to be seen
But to my surprise you’re smiling back at me
This wasn’t part of my plan, this can’t be happening to me
Because this smile of yours has complicated things

I just don’t know what to do at this moment
Oh, can someone tell me please
How can I get this woman fall in love with me

Towards each other we move, you’re eyes are fixed upon mine
I got swept up in the moment, I feel like I could fly
But as you came a little closer, gliding across the floor
I can see you’re more beautiful, than I ever thought you were

I still don’t know what to do at this moment
Oh, can someone tell me please
How can I get this woman fall in love with me

Instrumental

I stand in front of you and you stand in front of me
The silence between us seems like eternity
I hold out my hand and you place yours in mine
There’s no need for words, the stars have all aligned

I now know what to do at this moment
You can now stop telling me
How I have made this woman fall in love with me

Three down, eleven more songs to go…

Peace,

Corey :)

FAWM 2013: Song #2 – “Don’t Ever Waste Another Minute”

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Here is song number two for the FAWM 2013 Songwriting Challenge and it’s a number inspired a little bit by Ben Folds called “Don’t Ever Waste Another Minute.”

The song is about embracing the life you have no matter where it takes you.

Here it is in all its glory…

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Don’t Ever Waste Another Minute
© C. Stewart 3/2/2013

I wake up in the morning and wonder
How the hell that I didn’t go under
I’m still alive, I have survived the night before
I know there’s things I don’t remember
It’s just as well coz it could be horrendous
It would explain why I’m black and blue and feeling sore

Ooh, ooh, the only way to live your life is to live it
Ooh, ooh, don’t ever wish your life away
You only get it if you’re willing to give it

Don’t ever waste another minute
Don’t ever waste another minute

There’s gonna be some times of pleasure
And then some pain thrown in for good measure
You’ve got to be prepared to take the good as well as the bad
The clock it ticks towards disaster
The more you watch it, it never gets faster
Today you’re gonna have the best time that you ever had

Ooh, ooh, the only way to live your life is to live it
Ooh, ooh, don’t ever wish your life away
You only get it if you’re willing to give it

Don’t ever waste another minute
Don’t ever waste another minute
So many times, you stood and watched, your life just passing you by
Before you know, it will be over in a blink of an eye

Imagine if the world was your oyster
You’d throw away regret and all the assumptions
To concentrate on being the very best that you could ever be
Embracing this world around you
You’ll inspire everyone by your actions
You’ll be remembered by every person that you meet

Ooh, ooh, the only way to live your life is to live it
Ooh, ooh, don’t ever wish your life away
You only get it if you’re willing to give it

Don’t ever waste another minute
Don’t ever waste another minute
Don’t ever waste another minute
Don’t ever waste another minute

I’m really enjoying my time with my home recording setup. I’m learning more and more every time that I use it which will be a lot thanks to FAWM.

Peace,

Corey :)

FAWM 2013: Song #1 – “Alright Now”

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Here is my first song for the FAWM 2013 Song Challenge. It’s called “Alright Now” and the song is about how everything in your life will turn out okay even though it may not seem that way at the time.

Hope you enjoy it…

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Alright Now
© C. Stewart 2/2/2013

When dreams of silence keep you up at night
And insecurities are too strong to fight
You close your eyes and hope to make it right
Coz baby it’s alright now

When every day is turning out the same
And passion disappears but memories remain
You know that there is no one else to blame
But baby it’s alright now

All you’ve got to do
Is let me see right through
This facade you’ve built around the painful truth
Let me in I want to let you know
That baby it’s alright now

When you’re trying to escape your past
You build a new world, hope to make it last
But you realise your life’s a house of cards
But baby it’s alright now

When life is trying to get the best of you
And you feel you’ve lost the power to choose
You know exactly what it is you must do
Coz baby it’s alright now

All you’ve got to do
Is let me see right through
This facade you’ve built around the painful truth
Let me in I want to let you know
That baby it’s alright now

Baby it’s alright now
Baby it’s alright now

One song down, thirteen more to go…

Peace,

Corey :)

My Juice Fasting Experiment – Day 4 Of 30

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After recently seeing a video called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead about an Aussie named Joe Cross who attempted a 60 day “juice fast” while doing a road-trip across the US to cure himself from his self inflicted maladies, I was inspired to finally take my health into my own hands and try this juice fasting thing for myself.

For the uninitiated, a juice fast is where you simply drink nothing but fresh fruit and vegetable juice (straight from the juicer, not from the shop) as well as drinking water for a set period of days.

The theory behind a juice fast is that the energy conserved by giving your digestion system a well earned rest will be used to detox and therefore “fix” the body from the inside.

As an experiment I started a 10 day juice fast a day after my birthday (January 8th) and to my amazement found it quite easy to do even though days 2 through to 4 was one constant migraine headache due to my body going through its detoxing process.

After about 2 weeks back on solid foods I decided on January 29th to fully take the plunge and start a 30 day juice fast in an attempt to detox, reboot and rejuvenate my body, mind and spirit completely.

Well that’s the theory.

I have taken a long time to get to this point because I have done a lot of research but now I’m left with the only option of just diving head first into it and seeing what happens.

I’ll keep you posted as to my progress and I promise I won’t get all new age about it. The only thing that’s changing in me is my health, my waistline and my focus.

Peace,

Corey :)

February = A Busy Month For Writing Songs

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Two well known online songwriting challenges, February Album Writing Month (FAWM) and the RPM Challenge are both kicking off tomorrow and I’m going to be part of it.

The goals are to write, record and upload 14 songs (FAWM) and/or 10 songs (RPM Challenge) all in the month of February.

It’s a challenge I’ve found impossible to complete in the past but now I feel that I have everything set up now to take these challenges head on.

My recording studio is ready, my collaborators are ready and my refined songwriting process is ready to tackle the extra workload needed complete the task at hand.

I’m looking forward to experimenting with my home recording setup on a wider scale and I’m using these songwriting challenges to prepare me for future Corey Stewart releases which I’ll be doing in-house from now on in true DIY fashion.

But talk about jumping right in the deep end… I’ve created accounts on both websites and therefore I’ll be a busy little songwriting beaver this month. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Wish me luck, I may need it.

Peace,

Corey :)

“Synchronicity” The Australian Police Show – Adelaide Fringe 2013

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This year for the 2013 Adelaide Fringe I dust off the vocal chords for another round of performing the classic songs of The Police as part of “Synchronicity” The Australian Police Show.

TSP-Poster 2013

As mentioned on the “Synchronicity” Fringe Festival page…

“SYNCHRONICITY” return to this years fringe with a new 90 minute show packed full of power house POLICE hits. This show takes you on a POLICE album journey which will satisfy even the most avid POLICE fan.

Not just a show but a concert event not to be missed!”

It’s going to be HUGE. One show only.

The show is at The Cavern Club located at Station Arcade, North Terrace in the City starting at 8:30pm and the tickets are $28. You can order them online through the Synchronicity Fringe Festival page.

We’re just about to start rehearsals for this show which promises to be better than all our other shows combined. We’ve been out of the loop for a while but we are champing at the bit to get back on stage and channel the greatest band in the world… The Police.

Hope to see you there,

Peace,

Corey :)