Review - "Gold"

Bay Area artist Singing Bear may have grown up in Ohio, but with his conscious style, it comes as no surprise that he has found his audience in California, dense with New Age spirituality. His unabashedly awakened lyrics may prove too far out for some, but given a chance, Singing Bear’s superb musicianship and sensual vocals just may win over new fans and lead to new awakenings. For those already in a similar mindset, his new album Gold is a perfect mix of dance tracks and folk pop.

The title track of Gold quietly shimmers in with pads, acoustic guitar and Singing Bear’s hypnotic voice. Drums and harmony kick in on the line “lift me up” in a wonderful moment of prosody and the song turns danceable. The lyrics advocate reaching for dreams, not allowing anyone to get in the way of his and then promising not to get in anyone else’s way either.

“Believe” keeps the dance vibe going with a funky New Age rap about saying yes, and a soaring melodic chorus about believing and accepting the blessings of day-to-day life. The instrumental solo rocks out with wah-wah electric guitar. “Relax Intuit” begins with a scorching blues harmonica and chronicles the struggles of a seeker’s path, first breaking out of the programmed ideas of the system, and then frustrated with whether or not he is “meditating right”. As Singing Bear continues to find his way, the more he looks, the more he embraces the mystery. The song encourages him to relax, use heart and intuition to guide him through life, because spirit always knows what is for the highest good.

An atmospheric rock intro opens “Again”, which speaks to the hard times of today and the fear of what might come, but asks why be afraid of what we don’t know? The only constant is that everything is going to change again and again. Singing Bear declares he would rather sing out of tune than not sing at all, rather die trying than live a lie and asks us to go deeper into our own hearts. Slowing things down even further, “Beautiful Life” starts with sparse acoustic guitar and pads. Drums, vocal doubling, and harmony on chorus fill out the song to dreamy rock. As the lyrics “It’s a beautiful life, such a beautiful life” repeat, we believe, because Singing Bear acknowledges that doesn’t mean everything is perfect. We all run ourselves in circles and fall down from time to time, but we have each other to remind us to rise up again with gratitude.

The rolling, shuffling, rhythm of “Walking and Dancing” picks up the pace with an infectious dance beat, a head-bobbing bass line and a hot electric guitar solo. Keeping things hot, the sensuous reggae of “Reach Back” with a thick bass line and tight drums, speaks to how we all grow on the same tree, are fruits on the same vine. If we reach back to the moment of creation we all started from the same seed. Smoking horns on the solo section turn the heat up a notch further.

Before burning us up completely, Singing Bear cools it down with “H2O”. The song opens with an American Indian Elder offering a prayer of thanks to water for how it sustains and nourishes all life on the planet. Very atmospheric, watery synth builds below Singing Bear’s almost chant-like continuation of the theme before breaking into a funky love song to the ocean. Following up with the slow, mellow rock of “Earth Song”, Singing Bear claims he didn’t write the song but rather just joined in with what the planet has been singing since the beginning. He elaborates to say we’re all singing Earth’s song whether we know it or not, and because of this there will always be music. Bluesy organ adds an extra layer of soul to the already soulful vocals.

Perhaps wisely, the well crafted track listing of Gold saves the most “out there” songs of the bunch for the end, because by this time you are already a Singing Bear fan, prepared for whatever ride he takes you on. “Molecular Transport” starts out with a red-hot wailing harmonica. A seventies style ska flavored guitar vamps behind a lyrical ride through parallel universes and third eye openings. “Mind Sex”, encouraging mental foreplay, is a super funky throwback to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”. An extremely deep voice both harmonizes and adds sexy commentary throughout, while an ethereal synth line floats over the low funk bass, giving further emphasis to the merging of spirituality and sensuality.

With a tight band that effortlessly moves through a variety of dance genres and a clear, confidant, and mesmerizing voice, Singing Bear is sure to continue building a devoted fan base. Having the musical chops to hold his own playing next to someone like Jason Mraz, some may misguidedly counsel Singing Bear to mold his lyrics into something more commercial, but in an age over-stuffed with commerciality, what the world needs is more Singing Bears.

Review by Heather Miller-Rodriguez

Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)

We are the Wise Ones

The teachers of the world, the spiritual educators, the wisdom keepers, the priests and shaman cannot give me wisdom. Pure wisdom comes only from loss and failure, from mistakes and disappointment, from pain and sorrow and breath and presence. You cannot make this shit up, and shame on you for those who try to. Don't pretend wisdom! How could you do such a disgraceful thing. That is like lying to yourself, denying your true nature, slaying your own blood. You have all the answers you are capable of receiving right now.

Many argue that you must have faith, but I think faith is for wimps. Faith is an invisible hope that something that you will never experience is real after all. I say, develop trust. Build it like a sculpture, or a house. Grow it like a garden or a forest. Trust is an agreement between souls, an acknowledgment of the existence of a consciousness. Simply look back and see how your life and the event of your life have effortlessly guided you towards this present state and now you are reading this.

This writing, like all the other reflections in your life, is a sign that you have arrived even here, to this present moment, and that you are ready to receive this message. Now you can trust that there is a force both within you and around you, call it God or love or the river of life, that is guiding you towards your own inner wisdom. You can trust that you are on the right path, that you are growing and changing, expanding and becoming stronger and more aware.

Some people struggle in the darkness for their whole lives and never feel any solid object, and semblance of constancy, of love, of trust. They are also guided by these same forces. And though it may seem utterly hopeless to them, there are always signs along their path beckoning them to embrace their inner wisdom, if only they could see them.

The signs are here all the time, in every moment of every day. It is as if God has his hands stretched out in ever moment to guide us onward if only we are to trust and reach for it. Even the pain and sorrow, even the difficulty and struggle, pushes us to dig deeper for those things that matter the most.

Do you notice how loving people get after there is a crisis? How environmental people get after there is an oil spill? How spiritual people become after there is an idiot criminal president? Do you notice how filled with love and surrender people become when they know that they are dying?

These moments of hardship are the most potent sign posts of all. These tribulations are our priests and shaman. Look deeply into the eyes of your fear, of your pain, and their lies your wisdom. There lies your knowing, your truth, what is most important to you. When we strip back the layers of this existence and just allow ourselves to be who we are without judgment and fear. When we trust that we are gifts to the universe, that we are special and unique like each individual star in the multitude of stars, then we see that we are the wise ones.

I did not learn this from some book. In fact, I don't even read spiritual books, and self help texts. I did not learn this from someone else. This was written from my own experience, from my own observation, our of my own pain and suffering and love and trust. I am allowing myself to hear myself.

I did not write this for you. I wrote this for me.

This is my experience, my life, my journey. I wanted to hear myself say it, I wanted to see the words on paper for myself so that I could trust in my own wisdom. I wanted to hold them, embrace them, cherish them like my own blood, like my family. This is how I will become a father. This is how I will be strong for my friends in my community. This is how I will enter the kingdom of heaven right here on earth.

No one can tell you how to live your life. It is not a question of morals or virtue. It is a quest for inner knowing. It is a quest for personal truth. Your truth is not my truth. Let it be known that whatever happens with the world, with the economy, with the environment, with war, and grief, and solitude, and destruction, that we are wealthy in wisdom, that we each bear bountiful truths, that we are brilliant little stars.

And through these dark times, may we find trust in ourselves and the forces of nature and spirit the strength and inner knowing. Like a moth that struggles to free itself from the cocoon, we will find that all of our struggle was only strengthening us for flight.

Poetry is Dying ...

What ever happened to the language of love?
Rumi and Yeats have transformed into Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas.
Where are the mysterious eyes and the warm words?
Where are the flowers? Why hasn't anyone tried to uncover my truth?
Why hasn't anyone slowed down to hear my heart beat?
Don't they know that I am naked and waiting for the stars to shower their light through these eyes and press wisdom through these lips?
Texting is more common. Drinking is easy. Sex is simple.
But genuine, true connection is going out of style.
I don't want to stand by and watch poetry die.
I will be the hopeful romantic in the age of chaos.
I will continue to sing in cafes and bars and on your screen, just to keep poetry alive.
My skin is waiting through these cloudy days for a touch from our sun.
These, my days of waiting, will no longer be consumed with emptiness.
I will fill each precious moment with the language of love.
This way, we humans will survive this genocide of the mind, this destruction of intimacy.
And as we sing and listen to these songs, we will celebrate a new beginning of genuine connection, creative communication, and true love.

The Law Of The Garbage Truck.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were
driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a
parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his
brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of
the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My
taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really
friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost
ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the
Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around
full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of
disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it
and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just
smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and
spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The
bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take
over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with garbage,
spend the day with garbage and go to bed with garbage...so,

Love the people who treat you right.

Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it...

and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a blessed, garbage-free day!

Polarity, Symmetry, Dichotomy

She is so beautiful, two sides equal one, like a butterfly.
She reflects herself perfectly and yet is the same on both sides.
What about the sun and moon, the night and day, the yes and no?
So often we find her, our love, our truth, our joy and happiness and everything,
Only to run in fear from her embrace.
Why do we push and pull?
Why do we grab her and then drop her?
If I embrace her beauty, can I then also embrace her ugliness?
Sometimes it is easier to deal with her ugliness because that way I can accept my own.
I can bask effortlessly in my own ugliness using it as a scapegoat for all my misgivings.
Yes but ...
Its OK because that's just my luck ...
Yeah Well ...
Enough!
May I simply reflect the light and the darkness?
May I be in equal parts whole and empty?
May I walk the treacherous in between?
I am laughing and crying, silently shouting, letting go of letting go.

The Independent Musician

Today - the music industry has gone completely insane. There is so much music being made in this country that nowadays, there are companies that make money off of artists that want to make a living. Everyone's trying to make it big, and companies like A&R Select, GoDIY Records, Sonicbids, uPlaya Radio, and Jango are now making their relatively good income off of artists themselves who are looking to make it big. Look out! These are huge money vultures that just want to suck you dry and only in the end help the occasional artist succeed momentarily, mostly so that they can put that artist on their list of "success stories."

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of meeting Jason Mraz and he gave me some advice which I think every independent musician in the world, especially songwriters like myself, needs to hear. He said, "One day about ten years ago I packed everything in my car and decided that I would do nothing else but music. Since then, I have felt like a success."

It is really a desicion that we make as individuals. It is what really selects the artists from the overwhelming industry music crap out there! If you are truly an artist of music, if you truly love your music with all your heart, if you truly believe that you can mak a living off of your music, then you are ready to make that commitment.

I decided about a year ago that I would make that commitment. Now only a year later, I have already had the opportunity to play at some large festivals, sharing the stage with awesome bands, and even played at a Jason Mraz concert in Austin, Texas. The more I put my music out there, the more I receive abundance of energy, love, creativity, and money. If you or someone you know is willing to make that commitment, I intend to write a series here that can help them with online marketing tools.

Let's begin with the basics:

WEBSITE - Get your own domain name right away that is the closest thing to your musician or band name. If the name alone is taken, consider adding music t the end of the name. I strongly recommend getting a .com site as many times people forget if your site is .net or .org or .info or something like that.

DESIGNING THE WEBSITE - This can be easier than most people think. I designed my webpage with wordpress. There are thousands of themes to choose from and plugins that will help you play and sell your music on your site. With a little perserverance and determination, anyone can learn how to build a site on the wordpress page just checking out how it is done in all the help menus and readme files. If you feel totally not computer savy, there is also the option of using the CDBaby.net sites which are geared specifically for musicians. These sites are very easy to design and are hosted by CDBaby and even include an email list service and other helpful tools. The downside is that this service can cost almost $30 a month. I only really recommend working with CDBaby if you already have an album or two to sell that is fully printed and packaged with a barcode.

MYSPACE - EVERY MUSICIAN NEEDS A MYSPACE PAGE - This is really no longer an option these days. Everyone from venue to fan to major record label is looking at you myspace page if they are interested in you. Look into pimpmyprofile.com or some similar site to give your myspace page unique flair. This is pretty crucial as you really want to make this page look awesome. Also, get into the habit of writing blogs as often as possible, posting all your calendar dates, new songs, new pictures, and news updates there.Keep this page active and alive. Also you can use a program like SPYDER to help you maintain your contacts and import new potential friends, etc. This is a great tool which costs a little extra - a onetime $30 - but it is worth it.

FACEBOOK - Facebook is exploding - get in now - get a good name. Use iLike.com or ReverbNation.com or both to integrate your music into facebook. There is information on both of those sites to help you figure out how to do it. iLike is an especially cool online software system because it allows you to link up a song to any message that you send on facebook. I try to get into the habit of attaching a song to most every message I send. Its really a great tool.

That is only the beginning - there are hundreds of websites, online magazines, and platforms to sell your music to choose from. In upcoming issues I will tell you which ones to work with and which ones to avoid.

For more info and resources check out my online free resource and open forum for independent musicians at alwaysbemusic.com also Singing Bear is at singingbearmusic.com

Through the Journey

I do not take this thing lightly, although maybe I should. I guess I'm a little hard on myself, but I feel like I am supposed to be doing so much better. Then again, I guess I am married to the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen and living in Maui. I don't have very much room to complain. But, nonetheless, I think I am developing an ulcer with my anxiety and stress. I suppose most of it is built on the fear of money, or rather lack of money. I am doing my best, at least in my mind, to harness the funds that I need to support a family and live my dreams, but I always feel like I am not enough, or that I do not have enough to give. Man, I am such an oxymoron. I mean, all the answers to my questions are already written inside my own songs, and still I am searching. Why do I block myself from accepting my own treasure. If I can't see it as a treasure, then I suppose it will be overlooked by the rest of the world as well.
So I suppose the only stress is not saying yes.
I suppose the only loss is not to notice.
I suppose the only lacking is not to receive it.
It is here, I am here, She is here. . .
"Where do I have to go? What do I have to do? Nothing more important than being right here with you."