Peter is an alternative rock singer/songwriter powered by espresso. Grab a coffee and add some Switchfoot guitars to U2-like vocals mixed with missions and Mercy Ships NZ.
The new fund-raising record for Mercy Ships is almost out and I’ve started planning a tour but the Mercy Ships Reunion has struck me – the intimacy and connection singing in someone’s lounge has collided with the amazing support from people like you to inspire me to ditch the stage for your sitting room! We can get up close and personal with the new songs while we celebrate the journey of releasing the record together. Just imagine having your best friends and me gathered in one room for a live performance of the record – so close you can reach out and touch the songs and their stories. This beats a ‘normal’ live concert with a powerful feeling of connection, presence and intimacy – the songs and the sound in a candle lit lounge room or a sun-drenched summer porch give the music a chance to breathe, and emotions are free to roam wild. It’s a unique, irreplaceable, once-off, beautifully memorable experience.
It’s actually the easiest thing in the world to host me … well, maybe second easiest, right after breathing. You send me an invitation, we agree on a date when I can make it to where you are (I’ve already got flights to the USA booked plus NZ locations too), you invite some friends around and set up a comfy space in which to enjoy the music. It really is that simple đ
Music is one of the key elements of what makes us human. Once upon a time we gathered around the fire to tell stories and sing songs and a house concert is simply friends and family gathering again to listen to stories told by troubadours whose lives are dedicated to putting to music the deeper journeys we all share as humans. By having me play at your place you are a direct patron of the arts within your community, and you support the creation of authentic, worthwhile art by giving artists like me a sustainable platform from which to share our heart’s songs. The value of this goes far beyond what I have the words to communicate here.
Darth Vader is not my first choice of musical collaborator.
If I needed to destroy a planet, or cut off my arm – believe me – he’d be the first Sith Lord I’d call.
Strangely though after writing “6 Things Darth Vader Would Say About My Album” [below] he showed up at my studio telling me he had always been misunderstood as a performing artist and that his velvet voice was just looking for the right opportunity to break out of his haunting helmet.
I protested but he started saying things like “I am altering the deal, pray I do not alter it any further” so I decided I’d just smile and hit ‘record’.
So …. ladies and gentlemen, Stormtroopers and Sith Lord’s … I give you Darth Vader rocking out my song “I Believe In You”!
To get the REAL version of my song sign up on the right.
6 Things Darth Vader Would Say About My Album
“You are unwise to lower your defenses!”
At this point, just about every musician knows that writing songs and recording them to share with the world is not just some 9 to 5 gig. You need to be prepared for the things that people are going to say about your songs – it’s too loud – it’s too quiet – why didn’t you use ukeleles – what’s with all the guitars …
Although you may feel a strong desire to use The Force to make sure everyone likes what you do (however handy that would be) there are plenty of Midi-chlorian in the sea … umm, did I just confuse two sayings?
Regardless, the Bible guides us to “guard our hearts” “they are the wellspring of life”. So the first step when you’re baring your soul and sharing your creativity with strangers is to understand that people will be disinterested or even down-right rude about it.
But as Mother Teresa put it “Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.”
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
I have to agree with Mr V. on this. It’s taken me over 20 years to get my “a” into “g” and make this recording. For most of those years I’ve settled for the status quo. I haven’t taken a risk and put my money where my mouth is – literally, I didn’t put my (or anyone else’s) hard earned cash on the table to pay for recording.
Let me say that you are, in fact, allowed to think that it really is just too big and too hard to do what God is asking you to do.
But I guess we all come to a point where we ask ourselves if we’re going to believe God or settle for what we can imagine. You’ve got to “gird yourself with the belt of truth” and tell yourself that “courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; the brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all”.
“You don’t know the power of the dark side!”
We all have to deal with doubt. Even during this recording I have had times when I’ve thought “who am I kidding, no one wants these songs”. I’ve wanted to give up and run away. It’s a long hard process and it can feel very lonely.
Life can feel like you’re in a death choke struggling to breathe (queue DV’s laboured breathing).
But when I’ve realised that lies I’m listening to have got me by the throat I’m suddenly let loose.
I’ve reminded myself that so many people have been bugging me for so long to record these songs for them. It’s never a bad time to “put on the helmet of salvation” – the renewed mind – rather than a E-3778Q-1 helmet in gloss black finish.
“Impressive, most impressive.”
If it wasn’t for the amazing group of talented people who have turned this recording from an idea into a reality there would be no songs.
Watching Andy Mak craft the songs in the studio, or Tez Mercer let loose the lighting during the photo shoot, or Al tweak the album graphics is something amazing to witness.
God has gifted everyone with talents and abilities and to see people bring those together is awe inspiring … we’re not made to go it alone so get together with others and let yourself loose to do your thing!
“Only now at the end do you understand.”
When I finally made the decision to record the album I had no idea how big a task it really was, how it would make me grow, the amazing people I would meet and work with, or the incredible thigns that would happen along the way.
Looking back over this project I can see what God was up to but I’ve got to be frank and say that if I had known what He was going to orchestrate I would probably been too terrified and would have just done what I did for the previous 20 years – nothing.
Now I see the wisdom in a little poem I loved as a young Christian:
My life is but a weaving between my God and me I cannot choose the colours He weaveth steadily Oft times He weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper and I the underside Not ’til the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly Will God unroll the canvas and reveal the reason why.
“As you wish.”
Aka “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” rolls easliy off the tongue …
But once I faced the fact that I hadn’t charged the hyperdrive or got lessons with my lightsabre but had instead spent the years sitting around on Tattoine looking up at the night sky expecting God to change the orbit of the planets to “make it happen” then I found myself reciting the rest of that poem:
The dark threads are as needful in the weaverâs skillful hand As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned He knows, He loves, He cares; nothing this truth can dim. He gives the very best to those who leave the choice to Him.
If God had told me to record these songs all these years and I hadn’t then how could I say I was seeking to do His will with my life? Knowing His choice what was I doing about it?
Swallowing hard that day I could almost hear that cold metallic voice repeating “as You wish …”
Darth Vader has taught me much about making an album – in fact it was his idea to record a quick demo of one of the songs off my album to showcase his velvet voice … c’mon … I know that you’ve been reading through this saying Darth’s lines with your hand cupped over your face so why not have listen to ‘DJ DV’ rocking out my song “I Believe In You” right here and leave your comments below đ
Recording after 20 years of silence I figured I’d bang out some tunes at a local studio. I never expected this crazy ride! In Jan I found myself at Enterprise Studios, North Hollywood. I never planned or paid for studio time. This “crazy chance” became surreal when I read the studio plaque! Here’s my video inside the studios to see why I’m blown away…
Did you see the list of artists who have worked in the studios? Red Hot Chilli Peppers, U2, Aerosmith (going back aways there …), Celine Dion (eek!), Christina Aguilera, Megadeath(?!?!), Korn, Marilyn Manson (maybe that’s not so good), Black Eyed Peas, System of a Down, Beyonce, and Pink … and me đ I worked on the album mixes for you in the very same rooms that this list of artists have worked in!!!
Now I know that’s kinda unbelievable but I’m getting kind of used to crazy “coincidences” occurring as I’ve been working on this album project … and this is the latest in a long line of “coincedences”! So maybe I’m just lucky?!?!?!? Well, here’s one of my favourite sayings – “luck is what a fool calls it when God gives him a break” – and we just got another BIG break :p
So what do you think about that?!?!? Comment beloooooooooow đ
These Terms and Conditions relate to the Contest (Contest).
HOW TO ENTER
There is a Contest:
An Entrant (Entrant) will follow the instructions for the Contest.
Entry to Contest requires the Entrant to take actions as outlined on the Contest page made by Peter Woolston and agree to the Terms and Conditions as shown.
PRIZE DETAILS
There is a defined number prizes to be won during the Contest (each a Prize). The participant who has the maximum scores will be the winner – for multiple prizes the prizes will be awarded to the participants with the highest scores. If the top participant has equal score, winner will randomly be generated by the system.
The winner cannot transfer the prize to other.
The total value of the Prizes is over US$208 which is correct at the time of printing these Terms and Conditions of Entry, but the Organiser accepts no responsibility for any variation in the value of the Prize.
The Prizes are:
1 x Switchfoot Studio XL Hoodie and Peter Woolston autographed Hope On My Horizon CD
1 x Switchfoot Where The Light Shines Through XL t-shirt and Peter Woolston autographed Hope On My Horizon CD
1 x Switchfoot Live at The Ventura Theatre DVD and Peter Woolston autographed Hope On My Horizon CD
1 x Switchfoot The Best Yet Live DVD and Peter Woolston autographed Hope On My Horizon CD
1 x Switchfoot Where The Light Shines Through poster and Peter Woolston Hope On My Horizon download card
1 x Switchfoot button pack and Peter Woolston Hope On My Horizon download card
Entry
Information on How to Enter and Prize details form part of these Terms and Conditions of Entry.
Entry into this Contest is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions of Entry.
This Contest is only open to individual participants 18 years of age or older; who are residents of New Zealand, United States of America, United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong, Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South, Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or Ukraine, who are not employees of the Organiser or its related corporations or agencies or of Donators of Prizes and who are not a spouse, de facto spouse, parent, child or sibling (whether natural or by adoption) of such an employee, and anyone else professionally connected with this promotion, whether or not they live in the same household as the person.
No prize includes or necessitates travel, the cost of passports, visas, medical expenses, spending money, airport or hotel transfers, travel or personal insurance, items of a personal nature, meals or beverages, airport or port taxes, government taxes or levies, laundry, telephone calls, or accomodation. The prize is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash. All components of the prize must be taken together.
The Entrant is advised that tax implications may arise from prize winnings and independent financial advice should be sought prior to acceptance of the prize.
Any cost associated with accessing or entering the Contest, or being involved with or participating, or claiming prizes is the individual’s responsibility. Any cost associated with travel, attending and participating in the Contest is the Entrantâs responsibility.
The use of any automated entry software or any other mechanical or electronic means that allows an individual to automatically enter repeatedly is prohibited and may render all entries submitted by that individual invalid.
If, for any reason, this Contest is not capable of running as planned (including but not limited to) infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical issues or failures or any other causes beyond the control of the Organiser which corrupts or deletes or affects the administration security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, the Organiser reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest.
Only one entry per person is allowed per day and multiple entries will result in an entrant being disqualified. Where a winner has been selected and the Organiser discovers or has reasonable grounds to believe the winner has made more than one entry, the Organiser reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Any further entrant will be selected on the same criteria as the original entrant and will be subject to these Terms and Conditions of Entry.
To the full extent permitted by law, the Organiser will not be liable to the winner in respect of any claim for any loss, damage or injury whatsoever (including, without limitation, any consequential, indirect, special, punitive or incidental damages) or for any physical or mental injury suffered by the winner or friend as a result of or in connection with the Contest or by reason of the utilisation or application of any prize won in the Contest.
Judging Process and Prize Draws
At the end of the Contest, the Organiser will judge the Contest entry that meets the eligibility requirements and will select winners randomly at their discretion. The criteria at the discretion of the Organiser and results will be taken into consideration. The winner of one Prize will be ineligible for any other prizes in the Contest.
The Organiser has the right to disqualify any participant for any reason decided by the Organiser.
The contest is valid only till the stipulated time frame and shall not be extended.
Winners will be notified by e-mail and provided an e-mail address to contact the Organiser and claim their Prize. The winners will need to reply to the Organiser within 24 hours following the email notification otherwise the Prize will be re-awarded or withdrawn. You snooze, you lose! If any redraw does occur it will only occur 1 time and then the prizes will no longer be offered.
Any Prizes will be either emailed or sent by unregistered post to the winners within 1 working days (Monday-Friday) after all details have been confirmed. The Organiser is not liable if the prize is damaged or miss-delivered or lost or late.
General
Prizes will be awarded to Eligible Entrants only. No other individual is eligible to claim the Prize.
The Organiserâs decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Prizes are not transferable, exchangeable or negotiable and are not redeemable for cash.
The Organiser reserves the right to substitute a Prize for one of its choosing which has a value the same or greater than the original Prize, in the event of circumstances outside its control. There is no cash alternative to the Prize. The Prizes are subject to availability and change.
If the Organiser thinks you are being a bad sport or cheating, whether through the manipulation of entry, creation or use of software to aid in multiple entries and otherwise fraudulently falsifying data or acting in any way fraudulent, you will be removed from this Contest and damages may be sought.
Except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, the Organiser and any person in connection with this Contest are not liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential loss or damage whatsoever suffered or personal injury suffered or sustained in connection with (i) participation in this promotion; (ii) a Prize or use of a Prize; and (iii) the administration of this Contest and distribution of a Prize.
If for any reason the conduct or operation of the Contest is interfered with or disrupted in any way by a cause outside the reasonable control of the Organiser (including by vandalism, power failures, natural disasters, acts of God, civil unrest, strikes, tampering, computer bugs or viruses or technical issues or failures), the Organiser reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend or recommence the promotion.
A minimum number of entries as decided by the Organiser is required for the contest to operate otherwise the Organiser can cancel, terminate, modify or suspend or recommence the Contest.
In the event that any entrant is disqualified from the Competition, the Organiser in its sole discretion may decide whether a replacement should be selected. In this event, any further entrant will be selected on the same criteria as the original entrant and will be subject to these Terms and Conditions of Entry.
Any Entrant to the Contest consents to the Organiser using your name, likeness, image and/or voice (including photograph, film and/or recording of the same) in any media for an unlimited period without remuneration for the purpose of promoting this Contest (including any outcome), and promoting any products manufactured, distributed and/or supplied by the Organiser.
The Entrants biographical details and names and photographs and audiovisual recordings of the Entrants may be used for publicity purposes in all media by the Organiser and Entrants agree that they must make themselves available for this purpose.
You consent that you will, if requested by the Organiser, appear in a “trailer” or other advertisement designed to promote Peter Woolston.
Entry is consent to be added to the Peter Woolston email and postal mail mailing lists for the Contest promotion and for future promotions or emails.
All personal information provided by winners will be held by the Organiser at the below address, or such other place as is notified to the Eligible Entrant on request. Under the Privacy Act 1993, Eligible Entrants have the right to access and correct their personal information. The Organiser will continue to store and use all details of entrants for marketing and promotional purposes once the Contest closes and all entrants agree to this.
The Organiser reserves the right to request a winner to provide proof of age, identity and residency at the nominated prize delivery address prior to awarding a Prize. Identification considered suitable for verification is at the discretion of the Organiser. In the event that a winner cannot provide suitable proof as required by the Organiser, the winner will forfeit his/her Prize and no substitute will be offered. In this event, the Prize will be awarded to the next best entry as judged by the Organiser in accordance with the criteria set out in these Terms and Conditions of Entry.
The Organiser reserves its right to modify these Terms and Conditions of Entry at any time for any reason.
For further assistance or queries regarding this Contest please contact The Organiser.
The Organiser is Peter Woolston, with the address:Â . Entries should not be sent to these addresses.
This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, or any other persons or organisations other than the Organiser. Entrants understand that they are providing their information to the Organiser. The information entrants provide will only be used in accordance with these Terms and Conditions of Entry. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding this Contest must be directed to the Organiser and not to any other organisation or persons.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO ANY WEBSITE OR THE INFORMATION ON ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CONTEST OR TO OTHERWISE UNDERMINE THE FAIR AND LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. THE ORGANISER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW IN THE EVENT THAT ANY SUCH ATTEMPT IS MADE, WHETHER OR NOT THAT ATTEMPT RESULTS IN ANY SUCH DAMAGE, INTERFERENCE OR UNDERMINING.
I’ve had my ears glued to my studio monitors, car stereo, headphones, iPhone & laptop speakers since my last post as I’ve been listening to and reviewing the amazing mixes Josh has been doing – this is an incredible privilege to have Andy and Josh in this project – they’re making world-class music for you guys. How world class?
The songs aren’t even finished but already a radio station in Paris has picked up Dead Man Walking and put it on air! Imagine, together, where we’re gonna take this music when the tracks are finished!
I bet you never thought the process of recording and releasing took this much work huh?!?!?!?! If only a global record company came along and signed me up and did it all for me while I sat in a Parisian cafe drinking espresso … and was BORED! I’m having so much fun doing this for all you guys all over the world – you are my precious musical family and I can’t wait to get the songs and more out to you!
Stay tuned (in comedian circles that’s referred to a call-back to the previous news about the Paris radio station … and you thought my lame jokes didn’t even have any thought to them :p)!
10/15/13: It’s been a BIG 24 hours! We had a whole bunch more people jump on board and we sailed past the $2,000 mark and are now past $2,100 too! All because of Phil Larsen, Olivia Jacob (who funded for a 2nd time in the campaign), Clint and Mark Smith.
10/14/13: It’s great to have a bunch of support from Dawn King, Steven Black, Lisa Lehr Khuraibet and Arron Patterson all packed in to a single day! Youguys rock!
10/11/13: It’s my birthday on Oct 22 while I’m in the studio recording this project so instead of getting gifts I’m adding more rewards! Have a look below and grab them before time is UP!
I’m going to randomly select TWO people (below the Breve Boatswain Reward level) to each get a bag of my favourite coffee, personally selected by me, from Altura – New Zealand’s award winning coffee roaster – it’s the ONLY coffee I love to drink!
News and updates on a private web page with the latest milestones, progress and step-by-step âgoings onâ during the recording, manufacture, design and release of the EP
A personal handwritten âthank youâ postcard sent out by mail ⌠old school I know!
Watch over my shoulder as I pen the words that finally became the EP songs! Youâll seeing me crafting or killing all my crazy lyric ideas â youâll watch a time-lapse development of the EP songs – the death of the words that didnât make the cut and those that made it!
During the evening of one of the days recording at The Grove Studios in Sydney join me for âfireside chat sessionâ with YOU â the supporters of the project â we can âchatâ online about whatâs been happening in the studio, whoâs been laying down the tracks, the challenges weâve had, the success, behind the scenes stories and how good the coffee is [very very important!] plus anything else you want to talk about while Iâm at the studios â this is your chance to do an online real-time interview during an ongoing recording project
Iâll give you a Private Concert â in person anywhere within 300km of Auckland OR online streamed to you anywhere in the world. Grab your friends at your place, or have me show up at your church, or put on your own gig â itâs your choice – this reward is available for this level only or Mocha Maritime Pilot level or above
Get the rewards before it’s too late – only 6 days left! ___________________________________________________________________
10/11/13: With Donna backing this we’re almost at $1700 … will YOU push us over? ___________________________________________________________________
10/10/13: It’s fantastic having Simon and Matt – a couple of Wellington boys – pushing us on and showing us how it’s done … so who’s gonna put us past $1700 – will it be the Wellingtonian’s who show the rest of the world how to rock the boat? ___________________________________________________________________
10/01/13: There’s a couple more videos for you to watch: See what happens when Mercy Ships NZ sails into West Africa – it’s mercy in action and where my song “Hope On My Horizon” gets some of its inspiration from
[insert MS video here]
And there’s the “who’s who” of contributors in a video update of our journey so far
09/15/13: We’ve undocked and the first person on-board is Graeme! Thanks so much for going on this voyage with me and Mercy Ships Graeme! You Rock this Boat!
I was SCARED of doing this project! I don’t mean the songwriting and recording and supporting Mercy Ships part – I love all of that.
I was afraid of running this online RocketHub fund. The EP project is actually costing tens of thousands of dollars but I just couldn’t bring myself to load a RocketHub ‘target’ with the actual cost … so I chickened out and low-balled it at USD$1500.
What was I thinking! I should have known better when so many amazing people have supported me … and so here we are! We’ve hit the RocketHub ‘target’ which is more than USD$12,500 away from the real costs of making this EP.
The show will go on regardless of where we end up so don’t worry – I’m booked into the studio in Sydney 21 Oct and you’ll get all your goodies đ
I want to say a huge thank you for all the support so far but DON’T QUIT NOW!
We’ll sail together helping Mercy Ships help the forgotten poor – let’s rock this boat!
This Recording Project is not about prancing around in a studio recording some songs. If you climb on board you’ll also help those who are sick and suffering in West Africa through my partnership with Mercy Ships NZ. The song I wrote for Mercy Ships NZ “Hope On My Horizon” kick-started this whole project and Mercy Ships NZ will not only get to use the song for free but they’ll also get 50% of profits of the sale of the song too!
So all you need to do is select the “Rock the Boat Reward” you’d like and you’ll not only help power this RocketHub project but you’ll bring hope and healing to West Africa.
OK I admit it! I’ve got loads of embarrassing old photos cos I’ve been making music for over 30 years!!! But I still remember my early days … my mint Stubbies and parachute pants, my pink grandpa tee and reel-to-reel tapes – and my kids are sooooo embarrassed. Because we can’t take ourselves too seriously click here to watch some of that old footage and have a laugh – but please make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel while you’re there đ The video shows me recording 25 years ago and it’s taken me 25 years to do it again! In October 2013 I fly to Sydney, Australia to spend a week in The Grove Studios with Andy Mak. This time it’s different as there’s a worldwide audience like you who are on the journey with me – I want you to know how much I appreciate you and your support. So to bring you into Grove Studios with me I’m streaming a Youtube Live Event … but there’s a catch – I need enough YouTube Subscribers before YouTube will enable the feature! So watch the video and hit “Subscribe” on my YouTube channel and you can help me stream from the studio to you … while you guffaw and giggle at my pink t-shirt … along with my kids :p