Tag Archives: musician

In My Own Time

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:11 — 20.7MB)

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Episode#48: In My Own Time – (Song at 7.38 & 20.35)

Sometimes the cliche of ‘a dark time in a life being the time where seeds can be planted and eventually grow into something new’….happens. 

This is what happened with In My Own Time. 

One dark night long ago, I wrote down exactly the thoughts that came into to my mind- stream of consciousness style. 

The music does reflect the mood of those words. But there’s an underlying sort of uplifting lilt that comes through, almost despite myself. It seems to be an ongoing theme in my at and music – I will generally offer something that is ultimately uplifting. 

But it’s true. The artist’s pain can become something that gives people pleasure, that’s just one of the great things about the arts. 

In this episode, I also include some of the version the band eventually recorded. It’s quite ‘up’. So much so, it became the song we played first at all our gigs for a few years.

Here’s where you can hear the whole song ( and the album ‘This World Offers You) https://petepascoe.bandcamp.com/music

So from the dark night of the soul, something has grown and it has lasted. 

No matter what you’re up to, if you’re on a path, following a passion, never give up. Just keep moving and you’ll get through. 

In this episode, I also play a quick snippet of a song ‘Unwind’. I recorded an instrumental version of it today. You can see the video on YouTube at Pete Pascoe Art and Music 

Any artistic path has its rocky parts. You’ve just got to be determined – and perhaps a little mad – to see it through at times. When I wrote these lyrics, I wasn’t exactly on top of the world….and this week, on Sunday, I painted a picture at the beach. It was a really rough day. Very moody colours, but I had a job just hanging onto my canvas, let alone getting paint in the right places. But I got there! 

I’m loving sharing my songwriting tips, ideas, etc… Each week, I look forward to recording an episode for this podcast. I record my spoken voice the way I rewrite my lyrics: I shoot from the hip, go with instinct and sense of exploration – and I have fun. Actually that’s not a bad recipe to keep in mind when you’re trying to get into the creative zone required to do anything in the arts. 

Ok, I hope you enjoy this episode as much a I enjoyed recording it. 

If you do enjoy it, there’s 40 odd episodes to discover. Please do follow me here..and spread the word! 

See more on petepascoe.wordpress.com. Links to art and music there. 

Enjoy! 

Favourite Time

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:35 — 23.1MB)

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Episode #41: Favourite Time  (Song at 7:50)

Hi there. Welcome to the last podcast episode for 2020.

This time, I’m not only talking about the song Favourite Time ( the 4th song I wrote ), but I’m also focussing on one of my favourite times in my life: whenever I find myself in the act of writing a song. 

It’s like this: It sneaks up on me. One moment I’m just playing on the keys, the next I find something’s come through my finger tips that something… that sounds like a song. It sounds…different somehow. Even though there’s only 7 notes in a scale and only so many chords, the possibilities seem endless. 

As I was recording this episode, sitting at the piano, this is exactly what happened. Over the course of the 30 minutes, the song I started composing keeps playing in my mind. So I pick it up intermittently – in between talking about the song Favourite Time – and eventually I take you through the moments where the chorus and the bridge come… 

It seems a completely fascinating process to me. How can it be that each time it happens it’s a surprise, like somewhere I’ve never been before, when I’ve actually composed about 800 songs, now? 

I think the answer is: it’s the whole ‘feeling like a child’ each time…. The feeling of excitement and mystery is how it feels. 

On that note, we have 2 new kittens. I nearly stepped on them as I walked out the door. Their eyes followed me and I saw their eyes open as they took in the bright colours of the trees and the sky as they watched me through the glass in the door as I walked to my studio to finish work on this episode. Aren’t kittens great – full fun and curiosity – now there’s 2 key words to keep in mind if you’re song writing: have fun, keep an open mind.

Speaking of new beginnings, 2021 is nearly upon us. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for tuning in this year. It’s certainly been a year of upheaval, a tragic year. In amongst all of this, I hope you managed some times of joy. I have, it’s mainly come about with my being so committed to my art and music ( new album out this week! The Roughest Cut, with the band – very excited. Streaming now!!!). You get so lost in the moment, you forget about everything else that’s  going on. 

The other times have been mainly due to my being lucky enough to have family and close friends to help me through and share some laughs with. I hope you’ve managed some of the same. 

All the best for 2021….. See you then.  I hope you enjoy this highly creative episode. 

Oh yeah, the song ? An early relationship was the inspiration…..have a listen and find out more. Welcome, again ….step into the shoes of a composer… Here we go. 

Missed Me

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:00 — 22.0MB)

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Episode #38:  Missed Me   ( Song at 5:21)

Wow! Episode #38 of my ‘song writer speaks’ series. I can’t believe there’s been that many already. It all seems so new and exciting each week when I hit the record button.

I’ve had fun today, been out to the beach a couple of times today… (might’ve had a birthday, so I allowed myself sometime out – just a bit). While I was at the beach I painted a picture of the scene. This evening I made a video of ‘step by step’ cartoon pig on a bike (part 2) for YouTube. I’ve written a blog post and started adding photos, etc. Now it’s 1am and I’m listening back to the episode I’ve just recorded as I’m writing this.

I mention all of that because when you’re busy like I am , you’ve just got to grab the moments you have to create. 

That’s where this song came from. Song number 5, out of about 700 songs now… next page….

If I hadn’t recorded a demo of those early efforts, I may never have carried on writing and recording my songs. I’m so pleased I have. 

In this episode, as usual, I talk about where this song came from. I look at the song from a musical view point, the lyrics, etc. In this case it’s an early effort, so looking back I can see my lyric writing style has developed.

This song is about the perspective that can be gained you get some time to yourself.

Be entertained & informed as you join me on a journey of discussion and discovery looking at the song ‘Missed Me’. 

Recorded by myself, Paul Dredge and Earl Pollard (R.I.P), Missed Me finally got recorded (in one take) in a studio in Melbourne quite a number of years later. 

In this episode I also talk about how I got to the point where I started writing lyrics, then got my piano playing up to the point where my hands would just natural flow from one chord to the next confidently, in a musically confident way…and a song took shape.

It’s fun playing the piano in between my talking. I sing and play parts of the song to draw attention to certain aspects of songwriting.

So, ever wondered where a song comes from? It’s really just a bunch of simple steps. Along the way, intuitive decisions are made as it’s moulded into a form. That’s the complicated part, when you analyse the process. But it’s so much fun at the time because it’s all done with a sense of play and exploration – much like podcast episodes!    

Sit back and enjoy.

You can stream my music on your favourite streaming service. Or you can find a dozen albums at :

petepascoe.bandcamp.com …

And see my art at www.petepascoe.com

You can sign up to my email list to hear about new albums, exhibitions, etc.

My weekly blog (magazine style: art & music ) can be found here petepascoe.wordpress.com

And my new YouTube channel (new since March 2020) has 60 odd music and art videos on it now.

Enjoy The Ride

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:10 — 22.8MB)

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Episode #36:  Enjoy the Ride ( Song at 5:50)

A demo like this song is interesting..sometimes you catch a little more emotion than a studio cut, maybe there’s somethings that get edited out… maybe demos are on the way out! In these days of the digital age, a quick sketch in a home studio can become the finished recording. 

Anyway, I’ve got a stack of recordings around. Old and new. This is podcast a great way for me to talk about these songs from a songwriting point of view. 

Equally importantly, you get a slice of life of- yes, the life of a songwriter, but really, I’m just like any other person (we don’t beam in from mars…). I happen to enjoy painting, cartooning, I love writing songs, all sorts. ..

As an artist you can’t help but become an observer. It’s part of the role. You observe and reflect. Actually, I was being observed today. A big kookaburra was eyeballing me from the hand rail of our steps, just outside the window, a beautiful  bold Australian bird.

Todays song , #621 is about the concept of a journey. This week , I’m  going to take you on a ride. As usual, there’s a sense of discovery here, as I completely ‘wing’ what I’m talking about -there is no script. 

The song came about when one of my children was going away on a school camp. I put myself in their shoes and imagined what they were thinking as the bus drove off. That lead me putting my thoughts down, how I was feeling… and this whole somewhat personal scenario lead to a more broader subject, with universal message.. enjoy the ride as I take you through the process.. 

I also take you on the road for a few gigs which I did back in NZ  a while back, when I was on tour with ‘The Sound of the Supremes’. That was fun….

So this is stream of consciousness…where the song came from, what I was feeling, some life observations, all delivered in a laid back manner with a decent dose of humour. 

I hope you’ll find it entertaining and illuminating. Each week there some tips for song writers here -and you get to a song!

Curious? If this sounds like you, sit back and enjoy the ride. 

Pot of Gold

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:37 — 22.4MB)

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Episode #35: Pot of Gold   (Song at 5:38)

Here’s a slice of life, another 30 minute ‘yarn with a songwriter’. 

Once again this week, I’m delivering a song, and lots of chat. In a relaxed manner, as if you’re in a intimate audience and I’m the piano man introducing a song. 

I take it a step further on these episodes, analysing the lyrics, talking about where the song came from, looking at musical aspects…

What makes a song special. 

Pot of Gold is really about some of the big aspects of life. …death for instance! I manage to get these heavier concepts across with a deliberate choice of a gentle ballad, with a swung rhythm. 

The vocal is gentle, yet forthright. There’s a bit of dark humour in there (which never hurts, in my opinion) and above all else, it’s an honest delivery. 

That’s what makes this demo stand out to me. All the boxes are ticked. The song rings true. 

It has already appeared on my album ‘Don’t Miss the Bus’ – which is a collection of my songs, in a piano / vocal style – very stripped back arrangement style.

I would like to a range this song with other instruments. But it’s got a nice feeling, just the way it is. 

So, ready for a half yarn with a songwriter? Sit back and have a listen, I’ll tell you a bit about my week, random thoughts that pop into my head. , plus there song writing tips. ..on that note, I’m not going to tell you how to write a song, but I am going to tell you how I write a song. 

I hope you enjoy today’s episode. 

(There Will Always Be) Another Day

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:13 — 22.1MB)

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Episode #34: (There’ll Always Be) Another Day – (Song at 9:10)

Hi there, welcome! How would you like to sit back and have a listen to a songwriter speak? Now’s your opportunity. I’m sitting at my piano – which I noodle away on – sometimes a little absently, as I speak. I also use the piano to demonstrate aspects of what I’m talking about. 

And what I’m talking about this week Is song #584: Another day.. Where did it come from? Neil the lead guitarist in our band suggested it: “Pete, there’s so many songs about winning… What about one about …losing.  I think it’d be a winner!” Ha. He’s got a dry sense of humour, has Neil. 

I also talk about the idea of participation being the important thing. Success is.. what it is.. along the way.  

I like to turn things around to the positive, best I can, so I couldn’t help myself: I gave it an uplifting twist at the end. Perhaps I failed at writing a song about failure! 

The demo itself has a good feeling about it. The band have had a dabble with this song here. It hasn’t made it on an album yet, but I think it will not far away.

It’s been another episode of exploration, opening up… As an artist, you can come across as sounding a bit .. Vulnerable. And I think that’s important. You’re honest about your feelings, you’re inviting the listener in. 

Which is precisely what I’m doing here. Tune in now, hear some new music… ( I’m loving sharing my music this way and talking about it ).

I hope you enjoy this week’s episode… And if you do, there’s another 30 odd episodes here..that means 30 odd new songs.. Please leave a favourable comment / tell your friends / share this far and wide –  thank you in advance!

Enjoy. 

By the way, If you’d like to find out more about my art and music, there’s quite a bit online, including: 

www.petepascoe.com website 

Blog www.petepascoe.wordpress.com ( creations in music and art) – not a bad place to start-  it’s a weekly blog (which you can sign up to). You’ll hear about a new music, videos, recordings, a how to draw a Cartoon video, a Seascape painting ( I paint one each week) … Plus lots more….

Game Plan

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:27 — 21.6MB)

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Episode #30: Game Plan – (Song at 2.58)

We all have Rough days. The cat in the first line of the song in this episode was having a rough day…a cat left out in the rain can look so abandoned and bereft. 

When I wrote these lyrics, that was exactly how I felt. What I thought was starting to look like a very promising romantic relationship suddenly took a sudden turn for the worse, from my point of view…. Lost and lonely alright… Oh well, at least these sorts of feelings can be the reason a song like this one can come to be. 

On this episode, I interview the fellow that wrote the music to this one, Mr Paul Dredge, from New Zealand. Paul talks about how he came up with the music, the process, etc. So on this episode you get to hear about it from another songwriter. 

There’s also a couple of funny yarns in there…

It’s a joy to write lyrics and music. It’s also a joy when you find someone you can trust – someone you get on well with, musically, to do the job together. 

This is one of many songs Paul and I have co-written. 

I hope you enjoy this episode. And If you’re having a rough kind of day, like that cat in the rain, maybe this will cheer you up. 

There’s lots of songwriting tips here, again, if that’s what you’re tuning in for. If you’re back because you just like hearing someone having a chat., with a song thrown in as well, you’ve come to the right place. So, Welcome / Welcome back …here we go…

Enjoy.

Breathe and Realise

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:28 — 24.4MB)

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Episode #29: Breathe and Realise – ( Song at 10:04)

This week in my blog and this podcast, Im drawing attention to – and celebrating – the sense of freedom that can be found by going out for a walk in nature. 

Song number 442 from 1998, Breathe and Realise is about taking that Moment to realise how free we really are. 

In Melbourne, the lockdown has been slightly changed – I’m now allowed to go….

Fishing. And fishing is my way of letting go of my worries, particularly when I do a cast with my rod. I cast my worries away to the horizon. I love just being beside the water. Catching a fish – or not – is completely by the way. This week I take you down to my local beach a couple of times, and to another local beach here in where I painted a plein air picture today. 

I mention my buddy and co-songwriter on this episode again, this time as a poet. You can read his poems at paulspoeticramblings.wordpress.com 

I picked up his book this week and really enjoyed it. 

On my blog, petepascoe.wordpress.com,  I have a link to poem he wrote ‘the fisherman’ . There’s a photo of me fishing which Paul took while he was writing the poem. In it, Paul really catches what my whole theme is about this week on both my blog post and this podcast. 

Getting out and being free. Fishing may not be your thing. Perhaps you just like walking, sitting on the beach – all good. 

You’ll get a few tips on songwriting again on this episode. Both the words and music. 

It’s something I really love. The act of composing really sets me free, just about the same way it feels when I walk by the water. 

I painted a seascape today, on the spot. Had another walk by the ocean later on, made a how to draw a duck playing piano video tonight and 5 other small duck cartoons… You can see the painting on my blog and the ducks on YouTube now. 

I’m really enjoying how my weekly online content is all tying together. eg, Paul the poet played on the song this week. 

Ok I hope you’re experiencing some sort of freedom and peace of mind. If you’d like some more of that, sit back and I’ll let you know how I found that freedom this week. 

Enjoy. 

www.petepascoe.com  Website

www.petepascoe.wordpress.com (creations in Music and Art ) Blog   

Hazy line (memoirs of a Piano Man)Blog

My Picture

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:04 — 24.8MB)

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Episode #28: My Picture – (Song at 9:22)

Welcome to another episode. Time is whizzing by in lockdown, here in Melbourne, it’s been about 28 weeks (with a brief respite mid way). 

And it’s been about 24 years since I wrote the song ‘My Picture’. 

This song is about a breath you take as you go within and allow room for some self reflection. 

Speaking of stopping, the world used to stop for me whenever Elton John came on the radio. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were a huge influence on my music – and my life, as it turns out . 

I wrote a poem about the first time I wrote a song, here it is.  

The Christmas Present – Peace Pesto

Elton gets a mention in that poem. On this episode, as I’m talking about Elton, my hands wander on the keys of my piano and I start a song, unintentionally. 

I then analyse what I was up to, what I was thinking about, some of the theory, etc…. so that was a nice unexpected  detour. 

And that’s what this podcast is about …going with the moment. It makes it interesting, keeps it creative, keeps me in the flow. You get to hear about how it is to be a songwriter. 

Back to the song Page number 364 of you song books, Ladies and Gentlemen.I wrote it the year before I left NZ to come and live in Melbourne. Again, taking a breath before the next big adventure. 

And it’s been a brilliant adventure of many chapters, in the years since. 

Ok, want some music? You get that – a piano/ vocal demo. Want some chat? You’ve come to the right place..  Eg: There a was a fellow that came into the bar/restaurant where I was playing piano. This chap demanded Cold Chisel….anyhow…   Sit back, grab a cuppa and let me entertain and hopefully inform you..

More (related) music and art here ;

petepascoe.wordpress.com weekly blog

Pete Pascoe Art and Music Youtube channel  (link)

www.petepascoe.com

In The Scheme Of Things

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:27 — 21.6MB)

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Episode #27: In The Scheme Of Things – (Song at 7:35)

Welcome back again to another episode. I’m going to endeavour to give you an insight into how it feels to write a song, the sort of thoughts a songwriter has.

It was peaceful this morning, here in Melbourne –  just little light drizzle, no wind. I found I’d woken in quite reflective state of mind. This particular song came to me as I thought about my place in the scheme of things.

This time last year I was on the Pohangina river in the Manawatu in New Zealand ( beautiful language, isn’t it – the way Maori words roll off the tongue – I do my best).

I took a photo of a pool on the river that day – place that has so many memories for me. 

You can see the photo in my blog post this week. petepascoe.wordpress.com The lyrics are there too each week, by the way – in case you’re like me and you like to read along while the song is playing.

It’s a beautiful river, a very gentle paced flow. Not fast, not sluggish. Just right for a relaxed walk /wade

A bit later on, back in Melbourne, at the school where I teach piano, the first bit of melody came with a whistle as I walked between students.. I got the melody first. 

Then back in my piano room,  I flicked open my iPad, came across the photo of the river and the words just started to come to me. So I sat at the piano, played quietly stopping now and then to write down each line as it came in. It’s such a great feeling. It’s something I never take for granted. 

It’s great to have this platform to share the process. There’s something here for everyone..perhaps you’re a lyricist, maybe looking to pick up an idea or two, or a songwriter? Or  ‘just’ someone – it could be you-  curious to see what goes on.

You’ll get a heartfelt song into the bargain, plus some life observations and humour. Also I’ll take you with me back in time for a peaceful walk on the river..

If you like my music, there’s plenty more we this came from. You can stream it, view videos, I’m also a seascape painter and cartoonist.

www.petepascoe.com  website

Youtube Channel: Pete Pascoe Art and Music ( link this to):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrHYCpWbGGaBQr8ukxASVnw

petepascoe.bandcamp.com 12 albums here.

Enjoy.