Music: Where I'm At!

As most of you may know, I am an aspiring singer/songwriter. I have been attempting to find my feet and an avenue to press forward with my Musical ambition, with no real success. However... Over the last few months, life has taken a sudden jolt upwards towards success that has pretty much help drag me through the relentless, boring and mundane 'normal' life I am forced to entertain...

I recently signed to GXR (Global Xzotix Records). An ambitious, new, heavily backed by experience and contacts, Independent Music Label. I have finally been recognised and acknowledged for my talents! So far my experience with them has been great in every way. I have learnt more in the last 3 months than I have in my entire life when it comes to Music and the industry in general. My management are proactive, informative, humble, ambitious, confident and extremely hard working. What more could an artist want? We, as a team, have spent every moment of every waking day since my signing, working towards reaching a point where I can worry about nothing but writing and recording Music to present to my loving, affectionate and motivating supporters that have been pushing me since my first YouTube video, and new audiences a like, with the aim of capturing and securing there attention too.

That moment has arrived! I have been recording and getting songs under my belt now and I'm truly struggling with the concept of holding onto my material and keeping it secret! Being so used to uploading everything I do straight to YouTube is a habit, hard to break! I now have actual goals and real targets to work towards with a supportive team behind me helping orchestrate every move I make in this game of Chess I call.... 'MUSIC'! Life is good!

About two months ago my management got me working with a company called 24XII Productions.... This is where things get REALLY interesting. They are a hard working, INCREDIBLY talented, ambitious hardworking group of studio engineers, technicians, musicians, singers, songwriters and producers that behave like there calling in life is to make me and everyone else they seem to work with, feel like they can achieve anything in studio. The material I have been leaving with sometimes has me questioning if I actually pulled off those rifts, or hit those notes! There ability to draw and cultivate confidence and courage out of an artist is unreal. No matter how insecure I feel about a song, melody or arrangement I have put together when I walk into studio, I leave there feeling like we made the absolute best out of what I laid on the table. That is, in my opinion, KEY to an artists progression. I have had my fair share of experiences, feeling like the wind has been kicked out of me after a less than glamourous or encouraging studio session... Thank goodness those days are over. They really can make you question if what you are doing is worth the disappointment, let downs and struggle it takes to achieve in the industry. Its disheartening at the very least.

So all in all, Musically... The future seems bright for me. Lets keep our fingers crossed shall we...? ;)

Bad Boys: Whats The Appeal?

Bad Boys... Just the title makes me roll my eyes so hard I'm scared they wont return back to their normal position and I'll be left looking like a cross eyed Justin Timberlake... *Sigh*....

I am referring to the stereotypical 'Bad Boys' that many Women tend to run towards like Pigs off a cliff... Ultimately to their own self-destruction. The kind of Man that takes the concept of 'Treat them mean to keep them keen' to a whole new level.  The kind you see walking around with a chip on their shoulders because Daddy didn't stick around long enough to see their testicles drop and say 'Well done Son. You made it'. Or maybe Mummy didn't say 'I love you' enough? Either way, I'm talking about the Men out there that act like the world is SO hard and they have been through SO much, so they have some sort of excuse to act like a moody toddler when they don't get their way in life. Meh... So far I don't see the appeal...

Maybe its the whole 'Rebel' attitude Women are drawn too? Bearing in mind that these Men are not REAL Rebels of course... You know, the kind legends are made of. The type that stood up against oppressive, corrupt, discriminating and racist societies to create better futures for the generations to follow them... No, we are talking about the type of 'Rebel' that refused to go to school every day because he 'dont need english ya get me innit'... Or the type that will not bother getting a job because the Government are going to 'Get to much tax out of me'... So he would rather sit his fat ass at home, getting high and living off everyone else's Tax Contributions... Nice.

Perhaps its the old age attraction to an 'Alpha Male' then? Bearing in mind that these Men are not REAL Alpha Males of course... You know, the type Love songs are made of. The type that take charge when it comes to the well being of those around them. The kind of Men that do everything in their power to make sure the Woman in their life is completely taken care of, emotionally and physically... No, we are talking about the type of 'Alpha Male' that thinks no one else's opinion matters or means anything. The type that thinks getting drunk and punching the nearest person smaller than themselves in the face (Sometimes this 'smaller person' happens to be the girlfriend in the equation)... Somehow reinforces his manhood and makes him feel powerful and in control... Nice.

Maybe its the natural nurturing instinct Woman are blessed with (sometimes cursed with)... That makes them want to 'Save' hopeless Men like the ones I am describing and turn them into some sort of productive Human Being. Who knows... I could go on for DAYS addressing every possible reason so many Women choose (I say 'choose' because it IS a CHOICE..)... To subject themselves to emotional disappointment and sometimes physical harm too.

At the end of the day... Only Women with low self esteem and a lack of self confidence and self worth seem to end up with 'Bad Boys'. That is saying something right? No self respecting, strong minded, confident Woman goes for the type of Men I have described in this post, so don't you think if YOU tend to end up with that kind, something isn't quite right?

If you find yourself in the endless cycle of making bad decision after bad decision when it comes to your choice of Men... Here is what you must do...

1. STAY SINGLE... And then do the following...

2. Become an introspective person. Honestly look at yourself from the inside out, instead of the outside in... Figure out what you truly need from a relationship instead of focusing purely on what you want.

3. Look back at your past boyfriends. Figure out what attracted you to them... If you look deeper than just the physical attraction, you should soon see that you have been only going for what you want instead of what you actually need and deserve. For example, you may settle for someone quickly because you WANT to feel wanted and loved now... When really what you NEED to do is wait until someone deserving comes along that can give you more than just temporary satisfaction.

4. Realise that unless you make a concious effort to stay away from bad influences and situations that surround you with 'Bad Boys'... You will continue to leave yourself venerable to repeating the same mistakes.

5. Do things to boost your self esteem. You must take part in activities that will give you a sense of achievement and progress in life, whether that be pursuing higher education, workings towards that job promotion at work, joining some sort of social club or taking up a new hobby. Whatever it is, make sure its positive and time consuming.

Implementing these 5 steps will help you, over time, build up a strong foundation of self worth and by doing so, will help raise your standards. If you value yourself, then people that don't place on you the same value, will become unattractive to you, and at the risk of sounding arrogant... Even beneath you! You will start giving time and affection to Men that warrant it. To Men that wok hard for your love and continue to make you feel like you have finally... Made the RIGHT choice. You at least owe it to yourself to try.

Same Sex Cheating: Is There A Difference?

In the last few weeks I have had quite a few, perhaps to many, conversations regarding cheating. What constitutes 'cheating'? What would be forgiveable and what wouldn't be? Questions like these are pretty common and the answers usually depend on each individuals own ability to cope with different levels of what I would refer to as 'betrayal'. For example, someone may forgive their partner kissing someone else, in fact they may not even think it a big deal, but they would draw the line at full sex, whilst others consider any sort of romantic/sexual interaction with another person, whether physical or mental, as a deal breaker in a relationship.

There does seem to be one particular grey area in the subject of 'Cheating' that perhaps is not discussed enough though... What happens if your partner cheats on you with the same sex? Some, what I would call 'Typical' Men, would be a lot happier knowing their partner has cheated on them with a Woman, over a Man. I think its largely to do with the whole concept of competition. If she cheats with a Woman, at least she didn't cheat because another Man can satisfy her better than you can... She just wants something that you yourself enjoy, a Woman's touch. However, should this effect the way a person deals with being cheated on or diminish the seriousness of infidelity? I'm not too sure...

I personally  believe relationships are healthiest when kept between two people, without any direct interference from people outside the euphoric (sometimes painful), bubble of 'Love'. Emotions are hard to manage regardless of circumstance or how compatible two people are without the added stress and worry that comes with having to share someone. As Human beings, I believe we desire and deserve complete devotion from the ones we love. Not to mention the piece of mind that comes with knowing your sexual health is not put at risk by a sexually, over ambitious partner sleeping with someone else.

All in all, allowing someone to stray, either knowingly or by not setting clear boundaries on what's acceptable and what's not, opens the door to a lot of potential pain and disappointment. I honestly believe those claiming to be happy letting their partner run wild and free around the neighbourhood are worried putting their foot down may put them at risk of loosing the person they cling to so desperately.

You deserve 100% devotion, love, commitment, peace of mind, honesty and loyalty. Never settle for any less...