### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Spring has never been my favorite season. This year, I find myself noticing the ways that this season calls to my heart. ## Spritely Spring There have been too many years of hate. I’ve seen friends and family pushed away by people just because of who they are. And worse, the killing and maiming of people because they are seen as “different” has been horrendous. This is no way to live. This kind of hatred defies our common humanity. Inspired by spring, can we be bringers of new life instead? Spring calls us to blooming and awakening Click To Tweet ## Reminders of life The seasons have been plagued by our destruction of nature. Freak storms and upset weather patterns are so common. We may be too late to turn that trend around, but we must end that destruction. Like spring, we can emphasize natural growth and the blooming of the huge varieties of nature. Our care alongside the beauty of life feels like such an easy way to help our world thrive. Imagine a world where humanity and nature gently co-exist Click To Tweet ## Spring alive When I see the blooming trees “dancing” in the wind, I am inspired to dance. And I see this dance as a metaphor for how we human beings can shift. When we dance together, our differences can fade. This spring and for all the seasons left to come, let’s be followers of its lead: Let’s be bringers of life, blooming, growth, and becoming. Then, our hope can be real. Let’s dance. ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * We get so focused on tech, social networks, and the like. Everyday life is all about the stuff that can happen right where we are and any day. ## Holiday Everyday I took a short trip to my old neighborhood. It’s looking surprisingly good and staying just that little bit weird. That’s just the way I like it. One of the things that intrigued me on this trip is the way things sound. There is music everywhere if we just listen. Everyday things make music and make life good. Click To Tweet ## Music Everywhere From the gurgling creeks to the church chimes, I heard music all along the way. None of these everyday sounds need to be taken for granted. They carry a beauty that’s all their own. Of course, I did not have earbuds in my ears nor any other technology pulling my full attention. I was listening. The benefit is that I got to hear and be inspired by this variety of everyday sounds. Listen carefully and you can hear beautiful music in the the everyday sounds of life. Click To Tweet ## Jazz Virtuosos Though I do consider the everyday things I heard in all of those places to be music, I was also glad to hear some great jazz. While in Delaware Water Gap, I had the honor of hearing Zach Brock (violin) and Jim Ridl (piano) at the Deer Head Inn. Wow! What a spectacular performance. Each of these two players created fabulous improvisations and performed several new or recent compositions. The sounds they created together seemed far beyond the sum of two parts. Add to this an incredibly responsive audience and you have some of the reasons that live music is so spectacular. ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * When I first wrote “Wreck-less”, it had one meaning. Today, as you can imagine, it has another. At least for me. ## Imagine Change I had the idea for Wreck-less a few years prior, but the first set of lyrics I wrote in the wake of the first war by the West against Iraq. Several countries — including the USA — attacked after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. I revised those lyrics several times during the next USA-led invasion of Iraq in 2003-2011. War almost always affects me. I go more internal than usual. In order to quell the things I imagine, I often “hide” in creating music. I don’t consider this to be a negative thing; it’s a significant coping mechanism. ## Folk Reckonings Writing and recording a folk song album has influenced me as well. It brings out my softer side (and my usual side is pretty soft already). I did not imagine that it would have this impact. The early version of Wreck-less was inspired by the music of Dolores Mary Eileen and The Cranberries. It was also driven by my anger. By the time I revised it about 20 years later, I was in a different place mentally and emotionally. So, the new revision reflected that. After completing my singer-songwriter album, I returned to Wreck-less again. I made significant changes to the bridge, removing the angry lyrics in favor of more introspective ones. This was the final revision (at least for now). Ironically, I did not save those earlier versions. ## Imagine All The People The new folk version of this song particularly highlights this introspective nature of Wreck-less. Being accompanied by mandolin, guitar, and fiddle changes the way I imagine this song. I hope you will appreciate this song (previewing soon) as much as I have appreciated creating it for you. Listen for the introspection and subtle critique of our times. ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **Apple Music** **YouTube** **Tidal** **BandCamp** **Spotify** **Deezer** **Pandora** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * I was happy to attend Grassroots again this year. Not only was great music there, but the vibe of the people who attended was a great escape from the news headlines. ## GrassRoots Yes, one of my big takeaways this year is that Grassroots is a chance for me to celebrate life with people who care. Now, of course I know that we can’t speak in generalities about a crowd. All I can tell you is that everyone I spoke with or interacted with at the festival were kind hearted and loving people. I heard it in their voices and saw it in their eyes. As always, the Dance Tent was home base. It provides a bit of shelter from the sunshine when our sunscreen is wearing off. Typically, it also offers a bit of a reprieve from rain. That was not the case this year. Grassroots time is happy time Click To Tweet ## No Rain That’s right, we had no rain at all for the entire 4 days of Grassroots. Pretty amazing. My local co-workers were disappointed that they wouldn’t be getting the “Grassroots rain” on their lawns and gardens. All joking aside, the lack of rain was mostly a blessing. We didn’t have to deal with soggy clothes and such. It also meant that the hot days were just plain hot. Overall, the festival was a blast. As always, there was great music, fun (not healthy) food, and the wonderful people. I wasn’t able to see every act I wanted to. But there were hidden gems far beyond the headliners. One of my favorites was on the first day of the Grassroots festival. Sure enough, Road Man peaked my interest. Not only does the lead singer and songwriter, JP (John Petronzio), play a Hammond B3, but he had it hooked up to a genuine Leslie speaker. If that means nothing to you, no worries. Suffice it to say: I was geeking out. ## So Much Music One set can never tell you all you need to know about a band. But the musicians I heard did their finest to put on a show and engage with the audience. Many of the players were impressive. Musical styles at this year’s Grassroots ranged from folk singer-songwriter to full-out rock. Though it could still have been improved in many cases, the sound was better than the year before. In particular, I was impressed by the sound crew in The Cabaret. Their patience in getting sound checks “just so” was wonderful to witness. ## Grassroots Soul Another source of joy this year at Grassroots was the number and excellence of soul and R&B acts. Here are just a few of the awesome acts in or very near to this genre that I heard. Mavis StaplesFlying CloudsFarrow And the main/top photo on this post is Shawn Seals and SMX. What a great set they performed in The Infield! Grassroots got folk, bluegrass, pop, rock, and soul, too Click To Tweet ## Friends and More As always, I hung out with my spouse, friends, and strangers. We danced, laughed, and may have indulged a bit more than usual. But it was definitely worth being there for the joy of community. As I said, this year I was particularly in awe of the laughter and carefreeness I witnessed. In weird times like these, we can all use a little time to enjoy the spark of life at a music festival. If you want more from Grassroots (including the Happiness Parade!), check out my threads on Instagram, BlueSky, Mastodon, and — you guessed it — Threads. > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by Stan Stewart (aka muz4now) (@muz4now) ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

Does generative AI have usefulness? Maybe. Generative In Tech In my technology job, LLM (Large Language Models) and generative AI are all the rage. "This will change the world forever." Really? And will that change be for the better? Initially, I experimented with generative AI1 at that tech job and a single post on this blog. These forays into LLM-land left a bad taste in my soul. I've seen so many tech crazes come and go. I'm wondering if this is yet another one of those. It may seem […]

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Here’s my next track in this trilogy of tunes. First there was “Spoiled 4 Us All“. Now, Crash Landing encourages us to avoid a crash. ## How Not to Crash You understand my theme now: rock music with a message of humanity. We know how not to crash. It’s clear that we live on a fragile planet. Let’s treasure it. I don’t need to use a lot of words. Human beings can care for each other and for the environment we live in. More times than I can count, I have seen it happen. Let’s do that. Listen to CRASH LANDING – from a #RockMusic trilogy Click To Tweet ## Made Up Let me share a little about the song itself. The choir is singing words that I made up. It’s mostly for the effect. But if we were able to translate it, the meaning would be, “Wake up!” The woodwind on this recording is the Chinese Bawu. Like the Armenian duduk in the first track, this is another reed instrument with a clarinet-like tone. I appreciate the mournful nature of its sound. Thanks for listening. And thank you for following along! ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **Apple Music** **YouTube** **Tidal** **BandCamp** **Spotify** **Deezer** **Pandora** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

Previews and song videos for the folksong album "How to Rise and Keep Rising" by Stan Stewart #folksong #Singer-Songwriter #SingerSongwriter #folk #songs #banjo #fiddle #mandolin #guitar #dulcimer

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **Apple Music** **YouTube** **Pandora** **Tidal** **BandCamp** **Spotify** **Deezer** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * I’m truly proud and happy to continue sharing my music release page with you. And thanks who all of you who listen! ## Layout There are two sections of this page: the random, graphical list of 12 releases; and the text listing of all of my albums, suites, and singles. But, of course, there’s more to this. The releases with pictures (usually cover art) at the top is randomly generated each time you open this page. In most browsers, if you refresh the page, you’ll see a new list of twelve. More about the search box at the top in a moment. The text list of titles in the second section is sorted by type. Piano improvisations, singer-songwriter, and composer are the 3 main sections with further separation between albums (multiple tracks) and singles (one track). More about the pull-down menu above this section below. Stan Stewart offers a guide to his music release page Click To Tweet ## Fun Features Some of you will be interested in these fun features of this page. These are intriguing though perhaps not obvious at first. * Using the **search box** at the top limits the featured releases in the graphical top section. (Unfortunately, I have not found a way to limit this to my release pages, so you may find a poem or a technical review mixed in occasionally.) The more specific you get with the search the better the results. (OK, that’s not a surprise.) * Below the top section with the pictures is the text listing. At the top of this section is a **pull-down menu**. It’s the exact same list, just another way to get to a release for those who like pull-down menus. * Naturally, you may also use the built-in features of **your browser** to search this page. (On Windows, this is usually the control key plus the letter “f”. On a Mac, this will be the command (⌘) key plus “f”. Type in the title or key words you want to search for and press enter.) Simple – designed to help you find the music releases of Stan Stewart Click To Tweet ## Click-through And Listen That’s all. The point is to help you find my music releases _and listen to them_. Most of the pages that open from the release page include major streaming platforms like Apple Music, Tidal, and Pandora. (There’s another one whose name I can never remember.) Nearly all of these individual pages will also list Bandcamp where you can download tracks or whole albums and subscribe to my channel there. I appreciate you. Thanks for listening! The photo at the top of this post is by Jeremy de Blok and obtained via pexels. ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Does generative AI have usefulness? Maybe. ## Generative In Tech In my technology job, LLM (Large Language Models) and generative AI are all the rage. “This will change the world forever.” Really? And will that change be for the better? Initially, I experimented with generative AI1 at that tech job and a single post on this blog. These forays into LLM-land left a bad taste in my soul. I’ve seen so many tech crazes come and go. I’m wondering if this is yet another one of those. It may seem exciting for people who work in certain fields, but I question its value every time people talk about it. ## Generative in the Arts Recently, I’ve been approached by several musicians about this offer or that. They claim to have an “easy way” to create a music video or even a song. When I ask if it involves AI, every one of them has to admit that it does. I can imagine the attraction of making money by using generative AI based tools. But the “costs” outweigh the potential benefits for me. In fact, I see significant danger from generative AI in the arts. LLM has already stolen so much content from real, human artists. And now, it threatens to be a fake maker of art, competing with people who create. Whether writing, graphic arts, music, or whatever, the human element is crucial to the art we make. ## Mixed Up Another trend I’ve noticed is artists who alternate between their own human-generated art and generative AI output. This makes me very uncomfortable. And my discomfort makes it tempting to discredit all of their output because the AI has tainted the human art forms. So tell me: what do you think about mixing AI with art? Is that just fine with you? Or is art truly a human endeavor? Leave a comment below or reach out to me on social networks. The images in this post are by Pixabay via Pexels. 1. I’ve used some music plugins that claim to use AI on tracks or settings that I later replaced. But when I’ve investigated, these plugins are not generating “new” content from the data gathered. Nor do they require live connections to an online LLM database. ↩︎ ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

Poet and visual artist Daniela Naomi Molnar discusses writing through the difficult things in life, the transformation from saying yes to saying no, and how delegating leaves more room for art

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Minimal Velocity – This is my 90th release since I started recording music. Thanks for being someone who listens! Typically, when I compose music, the sky is the limit. I don’t set limited time or instruments. But this time, I did. ## Minimal Strategy I started by deciding I could only use five (or less) instruments on each song. Usually, I keep building more instruments until I have to strip a few away. This time, the challenge of minimizing was to start with few and stay there. Additionally, each song had to be completed in one day. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean 24 hours. It means however many hours I had to work in the recording studio on that particular day which can often be fewer than 3 hours. Minimalism in art does not mean that it goes nowhere Click To Tweet In the end, six of the tracks had only four instruments, but the rest had five. My temptation was always to add “just one more”. Yet somehow, I kept myself limited. ## Preaching To The Choir Minimalist music has been around since 1958. While I would not categorize most of the instrumental pieces on _Minimal Velocity_ as minimalist, I would say that they come closer than most of my compositions and songs. What is minimalism in music and does it really mean the result is limited? Click To Tweet Minimalism typically means that the melody or melodies are limited in range and rhythm and often couple this with slow repetitions. The instrumentation is often full from start to finish, tempos or changes may be slow, and layering may involve the same chords or patterns moving between instruments. ## Minimalism Met Where these pieces match minimalism is with slow tempos and limited rhythm. What’s more striking is how _Minimal Velocity_ does **not** match that musical style. See if you agree. Hear the album MINIMAL VELOCITY wherever you listen to music Click To Tweet My melodies tend to be intricate and changing over time — even if there is a refrain or other repeated element. Instrumentation tends to shift throughout pieces including building and then dropping instruments. Each instrument also tends to have its own part rather than mimicking patterns from other instruments. I’m surprised how much I managed to defy the limited palate I gave myself. You tell me what you hear, please! I still hear thick arrangements with plenty of motion (in spite of slow tempos). I look forward to hearing from you. ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **Apple Music** **YouTube** **Pandora** **Tidal** **BandCamp** **Spotify** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Peter Gabriel in concert: I am so pleased that I was able to attend the Pittsburgh show in the i/o tour. It inspired me. It made me reflect on the huge impact this musician and human being have had on me. I invite you to view my web-story about how PG has influenced me. Live music from the big concert halls to the smallest jazz club can be so inspiring Click To Tweet ## More Than This In case you don’t get to the web-story (link above and preview below), I’ll give you a few highlights. PG’s new album is named “i/o”, so that’s what he named this tour as well. In the web-story, I share the setlists where he includes many of these new songs. He also includes about the same number of songs from previous albums. These live versions were really inspiring to me. Violin, cello, trumpet, French horn, and wonderful voices added so much to the more usual bass, guitar, keyboards, and drums. There were new and long-time bandmates: Tony Levin on bass has toured with Peter Gabriel for 47 years. That’s pretty amazing! Every member of the band brought a lot to the performances. In particular, Ayanna Witter-Johnson was impressive on both vocals and cello. Her rendition of the middle verse on “Don’t Give Up” is my favorite one ever. As you can hear in the video clip below, the rest of the audience appreciated it, too. ## The songs influenced by Peter Gabriel Among Peter’s songs, I note his influence on me. I share my songs where that impact was particularly strong along the way. I was really surprised about how much he has inspired me and my songwriting. Here are the streaming links for the songs mentioned in this web-story. Peter Gabriel deeply inspired some aspect of each one of these: * Yet * Snow Story * Drink In * Mountain Rose * beatcity And a video playlist with all five songs… Musicians can inspire each other Click To Tweet ## The Peter Gabriel influence web-story One more thing about Peter: he mentioned every single member of his band by name several times during the concert. He also collaborated with and acknowledged the visual artists involved with the sets and videos. I think that this kind of recognition is so important. Perhaps this is another way that Mr. Gabriel has influenced me. From Peter Gabriel to Edie Carey, I’ve been influenced by other musicians Click To Tweet ## The posts These are the blog posts I linked from the web-story. Again, these are my songs on which Peter Gabriel had an impact. Music ### 7th song: “Drink In” singing thinking dreams Music ### An ode to beauty and love – Mountain Rose (song 8) Creative InsightsPoetry and More ### Fear and Openness Music ### Snow Story – song 9 – help a child Music ### We All Have Our Own Dreams – beatcity 4th song release Thank you for reading and listening. I look forward to continuing the conversation with you. Huge thanks to our family who gave my spouse and I tickets to this concert. You chose this birthday gift well. Remember to say thank you Click To Tweet ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **Apple Music** **YouTube** **Tidal** **BandCamp** **Spotify** **Deezer** **Amazon Music** **Pandora** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Ready to listen. In all the ways that can mean. ## Ready or Not A few days ago, I released a new piano improvisation single. You may listen to it wherever you like. Or click the play button below. As you see, the title of this piece is “U Better B Read E”. Obviously, this is a play on words about being ready. In these times, we must be ready to protect the people we love and even help the stranger in need. There are so many who need this protection with the greedy, hate-mongers in power. ## And Now the Geeky Stuff The piano in our dining room is a Kawai. In addition to being a wonderful digital piano, it also has some great technical features. One of those features is an app that loads on my phone or pad called PianoRemote. And now, you can begin to imagine what it does. There’s a bluetooth connection between the piano and the app that allows for many kinds of tweaking. While the ability to tweak the sound of the piano is interesting, there’s another feature that has served me well. ## Ready to Transfer On the Kawai digital piano, I play the improvisation while “recording” it into PianoRemote. Just press the record button and improvise. Stop the recording when I’m done and it prompts me to name the piece. There are several things I can do with the saved pieces. All I have to do is select the triple-dot menu. From there, I can play them back on the digital piano (which is pretty magical); save them to cloud storage (DropBox, etc.); or transfer them to the computer where my DAW recording studio lives. These saves or transfers of the improvisation are in MIDI format, so they are quite small. Once I load these into my DAW, it’s just a few hours of work to get them ready for release. How fun is that? _The screenshots ofPianoRemote are the intellectual property of Kawai Musical Instruments Mfg. Co., Ltd. They are used here only for illustration purposes and no copyright violation is intended. This website and its owner are not affiliated with Kawai in any way and receive nothing for sharing this information._ ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe