amy and i have actually started another weblog ( the eskew’s homesteading weblog ) where we are going to post things that pertain to self-sustainability, recipes, homesteading, etc. we are hoping people will enjoy the information we have to share and that they also share their ideas.

two things that are of the music related sort that i should probably mention. my incredible friend chad blinman started teaching at berklee college of music this semester and i’m very happy for him. he’s a great engineer and an even better human being. good luck, chad and nicole!
also, my friends nate and josh are going to be doing the rpm challenge this year and i wish them luck. i may stop by for a guitar track here and there, but i won’t be involved in the capacity that these two will be. enjoy the process, guys.

that’s it for now. hopefully i’ll be able to post here and at the new blog more often since the chaos of the holiday season is over and ruby is here now.
best…
tate

video-2009-11-07-20-23-20.mpg (5146 KB)

Posted via email from Tate Eskew’s Mini Weblog

• planting grapes, fruit trees and nut trees on the property.
• fixing up nursery.
• not recording music.
• sucking up information at an alarming rate

that sums it up for now.

believe it or not, i’ve started writing new songs when time is available and i’m very happy with what has come about so far. i miss very much having my studio, as it’s a huge part of my writing process, but i’m also excited to see how the new stuff turns out since i don’t have that at my disposal for now. with that said, i’m going to try to finish my album Semiotics by years end (before baby #2 comes). if it’s not finished by then, it may be a while…

thanks for the emails everyone. i still find it hard to believe that people read this crap.

Over a year ago now, we decided to move to a format where I would record bands in the studio and release the songs as “Zero Art Sessions” on the website.  This is a much better way to involve the bands and it also gives people a glimpse into their live sound.  My wife and I moved to a wonderful new house on 5 acres where we planned to build the recording studio.  The problem is, and it’s a very good “problem” to have, we are expecting our second child!  So, the studio and the project associated with are kind of on hold.  Unless, of course, someone wants to donate $30k or $15k and some time spent outdoors to get the studio building up and  going!  Free studio time forever, kids!

With that said, I’ve decided to start posting 5 song podcasts on Zero Art Radio so that I would feel like the site was still doing something constructive.  I really hope everyone enjoys them and finds them worthwhile.  I’ve never done anything 12 years straight, with the exception of my music and Zero Art Radio.  From here on out, I hope to add continuing to be a good father, good husband and good friend to that list.

Enjoy.

ZERO ART RADIO PODCAST

Folks not blessed with the gift of hyper-self-awareness don’t really understand the rush of liquid fear that floods the body. They just think we’re being “kooky.” I have a joke in my act about trying to describe the feeling of a full-blown panic attack: “Imagine being F*CKED in the HEART.”

and

…explains why you want to punch the air or run yourself into a wall like a 28 Days Later chimp. This impulse is left over from our forest dwelling days and is usually reserved for actual life or death situations. Think of it as an evolutionary gift that keeps on giving. And giving.

head over to the blog post and read the rest. it’s a light-hearted look at how crippling that shit can be.

some things that really helped me, two of which he mentions:

• Deep breathing at the onset
• Avoid caffeine
• Get plenty of sleep
• Exercise/Meditation. even if it’s a tiny bit. clears your head and improves breathing
• Don’t be afraid to talk about it. TONS of people deal with this shit and most likely they will say something like “oh, yeah, i know exactly what you mean!”

so, seriously…panic attacks, go suck it.

Since this article addresses issues of interest to performing musicians, I’d like to throw my two cents in for the non-performing composer. There are other reasons for making music than commercial entertainment. Though it’s true that music has always been a social art form, it’s function as a private artistic experience goes back long before Bach, who believed in music as spiritual meditation. The advanced expressive capabilities of modern multi-track work stations and computer recording equipment turn music composition into an art closer to sculpture or painting than to the old collaborative 20th century model. I compose music for no other reason than the inner compulsion to make art. The tech is making this possible, and affordable.

We have long come to terms with poetry as an art of the everyday person, it’s rewards coming in the realm of personal expression or limited public prestige, and poetry flourishes in America. I hope music production evolves into a “folk” art as ubiquitous as nature. The music business will always be with us, but music itself must wake up from its commercialist delusion and become art again. Only artists can make that happen.

you can read the coug’s article, here. some things good, some not so good.

believe it or not, i’m running anywhere from 2-4 miles every morning and enjoying it. i’m seriously thinking about trying a duathlon in june. run 2 miles, bike 9 miles, run 2 miles. a big change from beer, programming, more beer, hacking, a little scotch or bourbon, etc. you see the trend.

take a look at the new bike setup (ride surly!)

tate’s surly cross check

as far as music goes. i’ll be playing with my friends nate dort and josh fuson in the coming months. we’ve decided to get together on occasion and play some music . a downtempo kind of project ala american analog set, LOW, Popol Vuh, etc. we’ll see where it takes us. we are also still working on the zero art project as well. hopefully we will be able to move forward sometime this spring. if anyone is interested in helping, please do not hesitate to go to the site and send me an email.

my semiotics album is on hold until the studio done. the albums is so very close to being done, but time is limited and going to another studio isn’t very convenient. it will get done, but who knows when. i may post some songs that are near completion so you can hear where they are heading.

• identi.ca
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• makezine
• mother earth news
• experimental music
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