I make music because of the place that it comes from.  The state I am in when I am making it.  That place where time disappears and everything else dissolves.  The place where fierce joy rises up, unbidden, like golden light filling a well.

That is why I make music.

I believe that this state is communicable thru music.  And that the communication of this state is something as vital and important to us as food, or air, or love.

For me, that is the value of great art.

I am still recording every night; from around midnight till maybe 5 in the morning.

This is my favourite part of the day.  It doesn’t feel like I have a deadline; it feels almost indecently pleasurable, like rolling in ice cream.  The music is a distillation of all the greatest moments from this practice.  It is concentrated joy in a bottle.  It is captured lightning.  It is my love.  By the end of this week I should have a useable draft of the album in all it’s crazy, light filled, lo-fi glory.

I did some math and worked out that I have spent well over 1000 hours this year solely working on the record.  It will be the distillation of over 1000 hours, into 1 hour of sound.  My most truthful sketches, the most inspired moments captured with a butterfly net and poured over a hard drive, like honey on your tongue.

There is still work to be done; I know this because I still have time.  I will work on this record up until the day I release it.  I don’t have any days off scheduled in the next 6 weeks.  It is going to be the very best it can be.  I can’t wait to give it to you.

It isn’t going to sound like a super produced pop record.  It is going to sound real; like somebody playing and singing their heart out sometime after midnight.  It is going to sound bare bones, lo fi and gorgeous.  A record made in my home studio, using equipment held together with love and duct tape.  Beautiful,  honest and vulnerable.

It is as close to the truth as I can get.  Soon, soon, soon. ;-)

Did you like this?

If you enjoyed this you may also like: my post about how my blog gained more than 15’000 followers in less than 3 years, my essay concerning the greatest book of advice ever written, or the post which reveals the real (and Taboo) secret behind my success.

I’m Working on some Cool New Stuff.

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Published by James Radcliffe

723 thoughts on “ Why I Make Music… ”

  3. Thank you James for visiting Barefoot Music. I like the way you express yourself through words as well as your music. I can relate. Best of everything on your new album debut next month, I’ll be watching fr it.

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    1. You’re welcome. I like the way you express thru words also. Your writing is very direct, and the snow on your site kinda made me smile ;-) Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for connecting.
      Many wishes to you,
      James

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      1. You are very kind. You made me smile with your comment about the snow. Winter is my favorite time of the year, I am someone who loves snow.
        I love it’s silence.
        And have you ever heard an acoustic guitar accompanied by the snow’s silence? Quite beautiful, snow banks creating acoustics like none other.
        Thanks again for stopping by. :-)

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        1. I actually have never played guitar in the snow, although, now that you mention it, I think it would be beautiful. I will try it, should Edinburgh receive any this year – it is a very warm winter so far. ;-)
          J

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          1. Waking on this morning to snow on my high desert, thought of the beauty of the snow’s silence and the soft strumming & picking of 6 strings. So though I know I risk bringing on the ire of those who do not fancy snow, I am blowing snow flakes your way. ;-) Just long enough to discover the beauty of an acoustic guitar in that kind of quiet.

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            1. I would welcome them gladly. Scotland is very light on snow this winter. A few years ago it was -15 with 2 foot drifts, but at the moment it’s still warm. Blow harder! ;-) Where are you at? Is the picture in your header taken from where you live? If so, you must count yourself as being exceedingly lucky!
              It would be so good to be in a log cabin with an open fire, snow outside and guitar.
              Hope this finds you well.

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              1. Thank you for your kind wishes James.
                I am blowing, wishing, creating visions of snow flakes, and doing a snow dance to send your way. kindred spirits are those who find beauty in the flakes of snow.
                I am in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Oregon’s high desert to be exact. And yes, the two photos are of the mountains that surround my high desert. I live at about 4500ft above sea level. We are having a rather colder winter than the norm albeit snow and freezing temps are always part of our winters. I quite fancy the weather, It is a climate where it can be snowing while the sun still shines with it’s brilliance glow, glancing off each snow flake as it falls creating exquisite prisms of light. that I just see the pure and simple beauty in.
                Take care while thinking snow ~ ;-) Toni

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                1. You are very lucky to live in such beautiful surroundings. It must be incredibly inspirational for you. Thankyou for your snow dance, it made me giggle. If any snow should fall in the ‘Burg, I will let you know.
                  Take care you, J

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                  1. Thank you so much for your kind words about my home. I am completely enamored with where I live and yes, I am blessed to be inspired daily by the beauty here. From what I know about your ‘Burg’ you are also in beautiful surroundings, and with very rich history.
                    I will continue the seasonal snow dance, watch for your new album release, and smile knowing I have a friend in Scotland wishing for snow. Kind of like that.
                    Keep smiling James, it makes people wonder what your secret is. And that’s contagious.in such a cool kind of way ~ toni

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                    1. I am really glad you connected Toni, I smile at every little message ;-)
                      You right about Edinburgh, I travelled around a lot before I landed here. I didn’t think I would stay anywhere for longer than I year or so, but there is something about this place…
                      Definitely continue the snow dance, I love the idea of recording with the snow falling gently outside ;-)
                      Well met, x
                      – James

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                    2. I am pleased that we connected as well James. Music, the most amazing universal language that bridges so many of us together through lyrics and notes. I think that is just magical.
                      I did some brief searching about your ‘Burg…and as I was browsing I was also smiling, because of the natural beauty and the architecture you are surrounded by..
                      I have lived in the Pacific Northwest all my life, spending 10 (long) years living in Seattle instead of my native Oregon. I missed Oregon and counted the days until I was able to come back home. I have been back for almost 10 yrs and I don’t believe I will move away again. I am a 3rd generation Oregonian and am privileged with the honor.
                      One of the aspects of Oregon I especially love is in a days time & a road trip I can be either in the plains, the desert & mountains, (where I live) the valley & it’s rain forest, or the Pacific ocean. I tend to have a real affinity for what is going on outside my windows and I relate a lot of life through nature. I like that I can be in any of those environments without leaving my home state.
                      I see I wrote you shorty story, typical of me. ;-)
                      I thank you so much for making me feel your welcome here in your blog world.
                      Wishing you a sparkling weekend new friend. ~ T

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                    3. You are so welcome here, in my blog world ;-)
                      Edinburgh is really beautiful, it has a great mix of art, culture and history, and it is twenty minutes away from the Highlands. I really love road trips too, and regularly disappear into the wilds. It sounds as if you have definitely found the place that is right for you, I am truly happy for you.
                      much love,
                      -J

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                    4. As this chat thread begins to run into its thin line I just want to say that you have a sincere and genuine energy that is very welcoming. Thank you for that. As I come to know you and your music it becomes obvious that you are a gift to this planet, and to all hearts that beat to a special cadence that brings us all to a common place of bliss.
                      I thank you James for the gift of your friendship.

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                    6. You just a smile maker James. I will be most delighted to stay in touch, So looking forward to becoming acquainteded with you & your music on a soul level. I think you have a lot of positive goodness that is wonderfully contagious.

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  4. It’s good to know there are still real artists out there, mainstream has become such a sell out and it’s sad how the originality and true heart is missing from music that the younger generation is growing up with. I wish you the best of luck!

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    1. Thanks Ginger, that means a lot to me.
      I enjoyed your words, how is the world of internet marketing/blogging treating you?
      I’m very happy you connected, good luck to you too, I wish you the best,
      James

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  6. Dear James, thank you for letting your presence be known on my blog. You seem to have a diverse sound about you, I could only listen to a lick since i’m traveling right now, but it seems promising!

    Cheers, NT

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  7. Love how you described the space of creativity. I think that time of night is precious the world is quiet all the energies are in harmony and it lends to being open. Can’t wait to hear your album.
    Arifah

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    1. Thankyou so much.
      Night is a really beautiful time to be creative. It feels like a womb; or maybe all the energy you have for dreams is available to you. It is a beautiful space. I can’t wait to share my album with you.
      Thankyou for your words, I wish you well,
      James

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  8. Firstly I want to say thank you for popping in and reading Borrowed Heart. Our souls float to music when we write – the emotions, the moods, the complete and utter WOW factor of where musicians can take us . I adored this line that you wrote – the most inspired moments captured with a butterfly net and poured over a hard drive, like honey on your tongue.
    I wish you well ~ smiles. Can’t wait to hear this album – bare bones – like the good old days’ is good ;-)

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    1. Thankyou so much, I liked reading Borrowed heart, and the more we connect, the better it is. And I am flattered that you liked my writing as well as my music. Coming from a fellow writer, this is high praise indeed ;-)
      I wish you well in return, I can’t wait to share my album with you, it is really coming together now,
      Keep writing!
      James

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      1. Thanks James and I appreciate you reading and liking :-)
        I think musicians are writers aren’t they – feeling the words in their notes.
        I shall keep writing and you keep playing :-)
        From the one ‘Down Under’

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  9. Music is beautiful, its therapeutic. I am not a great fan of the perfect sound and records created in studios, but i love real sounds in which you can actually feel the artist pouring in their soul.

    Wish you great success in your effort. Would love to hear it !!

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