friend in me

A little fun in my free time here at UT, dedicated to the good friends I have in Houston and elsewhere.

returning to normal

Houston was fantastic. I really felt like a Rice student again for a little while. It was amazingly fun and great to share good conversation with old friends all over again, and thanks to all who shared time in their busy schedules to spend time with me. I'm exhausted though, and glad somewhat to be back in Austin where it's definitely a bit more relaxed =P

Random tangent - as a musician and wannabe singer, I am immensely jealous of the singing talent and songwriting prowess of these 3 artists. Check out their videos if you have time - they're fantastic.

Anoop Desai (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRunoqV-IQA)
Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUO0gd7cr9o&feature=channel)
The Way I Am (Live) by Ingrid Michaelson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCFRnPKlxPo&feature=related)

Christmas song

Hi guys, here's a song I wrote for the Christmas season inspired by a good read =) hope you enjoy it. I'm still learning how to sing jazz, so it's kinda weird at times, but I hope you all like it

Our Christmas

Staying outside in the cold
Has never felt
So comfortable before
We're trying to keep warm
With arms intertwined
And my hands in yours

Huddled with two in one coat
The warmth of your laughter
On my frozen nose
And I could swear that you glow
The way that your eyes smile
As I hold you close

Snowflakes drift down to the bench where we sit
In the park by your house where we spent our first Christmas with
Cold cheeks and cold fingertips
And only the faint warmth
Of breath from your lips

On mine, your head turns towards mine
Searching for me through the hair
That covers your eyes
It's strange, I'm being drawn in
And I can't resist,
Or I don't want to try

Too late, no time to think twice
Now that your lips have somehow come
So close to mine
So I breathe in and close my eyes
Knowing you've closed them too
On this cold winter night

If you want to hear the rough recording, it's on youtube now under Our Christmas. Quality is terrible for some reason, so I put an mp3 up on my old site. An extra update as well - I re-recorded Things About You. Unfortunately, in both recordings, the room I recorded in was very reverby and didn't give very professional vocal sounds.

I have developed a whole new level of respect for Christian music because of this

safe

I find I'm writing songs again. They're much different than the ones I used to write. In retrospect, I think those old songs were meant most of all to elicit a certain type of reaction and response (from girls), and to have them think I was a certain type of guy. Granted, I believed that was who I was, but I think I tried extra hard to show everyone else I was the shy, romantic, slightly nerdy, super enthusiastic type of guy.

These new ones seem different. When I wrote my old songs, I wrote them in a lighter mood that could be described as daydreaming, imagining scenarios that I would base a song off of. These new ones seem a heavier; maybe just a little less light. For example, I wrote about a first kiss - a little less creative than my previous songs about girls, but probably a little more mature in content as well.

I also started writing a song "Safe" - the words just sort of came out on their own, and I never imagined writing a song like this about being safe due to distance in my relationships with others. I never used to be scared of meeting people, of new relationships, and while I don't think I'm opposed to them now, I definitely have found myself more reserved and careful. Part of this is leaving college, I think; part of it is a change in my own personality. I feel more reserved, more cautious, and I don't think it's as easy for me to just be vulnerable and open with just anyone anymore.

Like the comic says, right? Love grants someone else power over you, and we never trust anyone as easily as we do the first time.

Anberlin!!!

Has a new album coming soon!!! "New Surrender" apparently comes out in 5 days...and the songs aren't bad at all. A few are up on youtube

A small excerpt from the album, a live performance of a new song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMp4D6D0qac&feature=related

Has anyone noticed something different in that video? Like...Stephen Christian's live voice has gotten a LOT more refined and controlled?