I found my "people" a couple of weeks ago. After years of searching, I have finally found the group that I thought might be here, but I didn't know how to find before. My fellow Hawaiian songwriters. And I couldn't be happier.
I thought that I had quite reached my end of songwriting. Discouraged and feeling quite alone and uneducated about the whole thing, I had determined to just enjoy the music created by others, ignoring the nagging voice inside my head that "I could write something like that". But just when I was 'enjoying' my hiatus, a friend invited me to a weekend songwriter's workshop hosted by the local community college, which has a relatively new music/recording industry degree. To be honest, I had plenty of excuses not to go, but I thought it might be encouraging to my friend if we could go together, so I agreed. Then my friend decided not to go; but I was stuck having already signed up and paid, so I figured there was no harm in going and treating it as some "me time" away from the kids. But what I got was so much more.
Without going into the details about the fabulous speakers who were there, or the unfortunate circumstances that kept me away from the even more fabulous concerts during the evening, I will say that I met some amazing people. But most of all I was inspired because I felt understood. The heart of these people who were there understood pain, frustration, and the unending drive to create. These people knew that the road is not easy, but it is a road that must be taken. Because under all the technical aspects, the musicianship, and the sheer work of the song, lies the jewel that is the feeling that must be expressed. The deep-seated need to be heard, to share what life means to me with another person. To vocalize who I am and what I think and have a person in the audience relate. That is what it means to be a songwriter. I write because I must, because there is something inside me that needs to get out.
So I have made some new friends. And I made friends here (no offense to my online friends, but personal contact is just so powerful) that I can talk to and perhaps collaborate with. Friends who are just as passionate about music as I am, and some who are even persistent enough to have record deals or club gigs or multiple albums under their belt. And I am thinking about music again. I am writing again. And then our main campus programming director comes back from a conference at Willow Creek and says one of the tips she picked up there is to start a church songwriting ministry. So I wonder--does this mean that the timing is finally right for my vision to come to pass? Well, whatever the outcome, I know I will not have to do it alone anymore.
Thank you God, for the MELE Songwriter's Conference--as usual, your timing was perfect! It was just what I needed.
Login
Register
Arcade
Blogs
FAQ
Search
