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Here’s a “VIP Behind the Scenes On the Road” view at what I got up to when I travelled from New Zealand all the way over to the West Coast of the USA.

Let’s play “Where’s Wooly?!?!?!” – comment if you recognise someplace I went or something I did when I was supposed to be “on tour” 😀

I have a confession – I don’t really like musical reality TV shows like American Idol and Britain’s Got Talent. It’s not always been like that – I’ve competed in singing and songwriting contests and even won. But I’ve always wanted more than the “instant fame in a bottle” kinda thing and realised that God’s way of getting there was through commitment and hard work rather than on the coattails of a contest. I wanted to write and sing songs that lasted longer than 2 minutes or didn’t end with a jury of judges dissecting my pre-canned performance. I wanted a real relationship with fans, fans like you, that lasted longer than a TV season.

But I’m not signed to a global record conglomerate so it’s hard to find ways to reach out beyond little ol’ New Zealand to people in other places in the world. Sometimes it gets me down trying to be heard above the market noise as it’s just me working on my music (no PR pro, no advertising architect, no social media strategist etc). But I keep reaching out because there’s those special times when one of my songs connects with someone – someone like you – and helps you keep going with your God-given passion to make a difference in your world. In between those times it can get a little discouraging in the global music school yard while the school bully sneers at you and calls out “give up … no one’s listening to you”.

December last year was one of those times. I had finished recording the CD in Australia and was back at my day job suffering from the daily-grind when my co-worker Chris forwarded an email telling me I should enter EMC’s “The Voice” contest. I have to confess I didn’t even really look at his email – I don’t like those contests and getting my music out there was becoming just too hard. But then my boss Arron bugged me about entering and then another workmate Phil chimed in … so I figured maybe I should listen to them instead of my doubts. Sometimes when the School Bully is taunting you it’s smarter to listen to the people who believe in you instead.

“The Voice” was a global EMC contest searching for someone with a song to inspire 15,000 people worldwide. I realised I shouldn’t listen to the discouraging naysayer in my head and instead entered my song “I Believe In You”, off my upcoming CD, for these people all over the world – people I believe in.

It’s amazing how you feel when you align yourself with truth instead of fears – I too often forget that “fear is a liar”. It was both exhilarating and terrifying putting together a video audition in my garage but I realised this was bigger than me – this wasn’t about whether I was liked, or popular, or even a success – this was an opportunity to put an anthem of hope in people’s hearts all over the world – and that’s why I make music.

Sure I had my pride to lose. I had my confidence to lose. And I knew that I was even going to annoy some people – not everyone likes alternative rock, and not everyone likes my rasping voice singing my alternative rock songs. Instead of getting rejected by a few people here was my chance to get rejected by tens of thousands all over the world ….

But because of a few encouraging friends I ended up as a finalist – my wife and I were flown (all expenses paid) from New Zealand to Boston so I could perform in the finals. I sang in the finals and my song was streamed to over 15,000 people worldwide across weeks in January plus countless people have downloaded my song “I Believe In You”. I wish I could say I won first place but that didn’t happen. What I did win was a whole bunch of new friends and fans from all over the world and the inspiration of the workmates who backed me in the first place.

Sometimes winning against the School Bully doesn’t mean coming out the victor … sometimes it just comes down to standing your ground and not giving up – as Ephesians 6:13 puts it “You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.”

Instead of listening to those lies in your head watch my “Behind the Scenes at The Voice” video above where I’m singing my song “I Believe In You” in Boston and then tell me what you think below cos “… you’ve got what it takes – I believe in you!”
Share and comment below …
Pete

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 🙂

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.

So …. when do you want me to come over and play at your house?

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 weaver’s 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 🙂

May the 4th Be With You!

To get the REAL version of my song sign up on the right.

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 🙂 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 🙂

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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)!

It’s a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who supported the RocketHub fundraising project for recording Hope On My Horizon for Mercy Ships!

The great news is the target was US$1,500 but you SMASHED that out of the park hitting a MASSIVE 173% of target!

The bad news is the money is already spent recording in Sydney :p … you expect that right cos you do want the album AND the goodies 🙂

Don’t forget that if you were a RocketHub supporter who selected the “Able Seaman Americano Reward” and above you’ve got access to the Backstage At Hope On My Horizon Project private web page where there’s updates, video, audio and photos that are exclusive for you.

If you didn’t join up you can still see a bunch of stuff that happened by LIKEing my Facebook Page where there’s news and video and photos too 🙂 Go right here and hit LIKE to see all of that 🙂

Thank you once again for making the album a reality – together we’re making music that rocks the world with Mercy Ships.

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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.

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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! You guys rock!

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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 🙂

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!

Pete