The New Piano

I have never been one to really sleep all that much growing up. I’m still like that today. I know I’ve touched on this in previous updates, but I am actually extremely behind on sleep ever since shooting the music video for “A Minute More” a few weeks ago. I should probably work on that. Night time is just filled with adventure and creativity. While everyone else is sleeping, I’m up coming up with ideas and running around, making things happen.

The video is going to be really neat, I think. The crew, Kaitlyn, the lead and the fire department were amazing. Everyone worked extremely hard. The past two video shoots, I have felt guilty, sitting in air conditioning, not lifting a finger, while everyone else is running around for me. They deserve all the credit, not me. And to see one of my most honest and hopeful songs come to life is a pretty exciting thought. I look forward to sharing it with you.

My friend’s aunt owned a piano some time ago. She always kept it in tune and on an inside wall of her house. Before she passed away, she paid to have it moved to her nephew’s home, as well as tuned and requested that after she dies, to always make sure it was played, regardless of it’s owner and sit tuned on an inside wall. A few years passed and it became a “catch-all” at my friend’s home. Then one day I received a phone call from them, asking if I wanted a piano. This piano is obviously not brand new, but has so much family sentiment and history behind it, as well as years of care. I was honored to accept it and will gladly honor his aunt’s wishes of keeping it in tune and playing it. It’s such a cool little piano, with a lot of character. I find myself walking by it and just spending a few moments playing it. I look forward to writing some on it.

LIVE LOVE

Laughs and Spell Chek

I may be a little late on this, but it caught my attention well enough to post it on my personal Facebook page and now, here on my blog. Each time I watch this, I laugh hysterically and think about the days where I watched all the movies this soundtrack is in, where they successfully played the score. I am all about encouraging people to work hard. This group of people may need to just work a little extra harder.

And one more thing. I’m one of 48,000 plus people who has re-tweeted this on Twitter or posted this somewhere, but it’s worthy of a tweet and blog post. The County in North Carolina said the mistake was fixed, but I kind of wish they kept it the way it was. It gave that road character, kind of like a mullet, tied-eyed shirts or wearing sweatpants to a funeral does to someone. What do I know though, right? Enjoy!

LIVE LOVE

Let’s Make An Album Together!

Let’s make an album together! Nathan Morris has partnered with Kickstarter to launch his new album project to debut in the Fall/ Winter. For Nathan, music is his passion, and we know you share a common thread of allowing music to entertain us, support us in times of need, inspire us, and help us to escape.

Nathan has been recording and sharing music from the age of 18, with handfuls of like-minded individuals. Now, he wants to join forces with you, the listener.

Kickstarter is a fund raising campaign to launch Nathan’s newest album, and there are 45 left days to go to reach his goal of $5,000.

Here’s how it works, you can pledge as little as $5, and your name will be placed in the album credits. If you pledge $250, then you’ll name and photo plus other great stuff will go into the album…

The funds collected here will be used for the production, mixing, and mastering of a new album prepared to release in the Fall/Winter of 2010. Nathan’s goal is to spread the message of “Live Love,” a concept developed from the Golden Rule, where each of us has the exciting responsibility to share love in all that we do.

We ask you to partner with Nathan Morris in helping him reach his financial goal, and spread the word to your friends. Remember, you become part of the album too!

If you’re ready to pledge, or you need more information, use this link > http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nathanmorris/lets-make-an-album-together

Thank you for all that you do, and your willingness to believe in something bigger than all of us. We look forward to watching this project unfold and come to life with you!

Let’s make an album together!

IndieCharts.com #1 Artist

Please join us in congratulating Nathan Morris for being awarded the 2010 INDIE CHARTS MUSIC AWARD

Nathan has received this award for maintaining the #1 spot on www.IndieCharts.com for over 6 months! The winner was determined by an independent panel of judges and chosen from thousands of unsigned recording artists.

The ranking is based on criteria including lyrics, vocals, musical composition, fashion sense, performance, and many more.

Nathan’s ballad “Broken but Breathing” has been a driving force behind the decision, having spent over 7 months at #1 on the Ambient Rock charts.

The other two tracks included in the rankings are “Vagabond”, which is now playing overhead in Target stores, and “Timmy Went Swimming”. All three songs are featured on Nathan’s debut album “A Gentleman’s Closure”.

Congratulations, Nathan, on this outstanding achievement!

A Gentleman’s Closure Available Now Here:

August…Rush…I mean 17, 20 & 21

This is me excited.  I just witnessed a quick, yet sick storm.  The hard rain. High winds.  I probably shouldn’t have been standing on the roof before that whole thing, with all the lightning, but it made for a good story.  I also got a great photo from it too.

August 17th, “A MINUTE MORE” Releases digitally on iTunes and Amazon! On August 20th we are celebrating the release by doing a Live Stream Performance of  ”A Minute More” along with a few other songs.  More information will be announced very soon.

On August 20-21, I’ll be shooting a music video for the single “A Minute More.”  I told you I was busy.  But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

LIVE LOVE

Run-On Sentences & Swimming Cars

Yahoo.com recently posted The Smurfs Movie Teaser Trailer.  The movie releases next Summer.  I don’t know if you watched the cartoon or not, but I sure did.  That was my big brother’s and my cartoon.  The Gummi Bears were mine and my little brother’s bonding time before school.  Either way, I will most certainly be going to see The Smurfs in 3D.  Talk about epic!

Did anyone forget where they put their car? My friend woke up to a car in their pool.  Didn’t know if any of you had misplaced one.

I got some great news the other day.  I was at a cookout with a few friends.  Which, by the way, my friend Tim is all about cooking out.  He loves it.  Tim’s also an amazing cook, which some of it is attributed to his “secret grilling sauce” his grandfather prepares for him.  We were all sitting out back, waiting for our pizza.  Right, pizza.  This night, Tim didn’t want to cook out, so we ordered Papa John’s.  I get a call from my manager Jody, asking for my mailing address to mail me a plaque of some sort.  Come to find out, Indiecharts.com  ranked me as the #1 Independent Ambient/Pop artist in the nation.  On top of that, “Broken But Breathing” was the longest running #1 single on their site, spending over 29 weeks at the top spot.  Talk about exciting.  I was thrilled.  I still am thrilled…and thankful.  I can work as hard as I’d like, but it’s seriously you guys supporting me that makes things like this happen.  So, a huge ‘Thank You’ is in order.  You’re loved very much.  I hope I continue to create music that inspires and encourages you.

My August will probably be the busiest month for me this year.  I’ll elaborate with an extremely awesome run-on sentence! –  ”First, I have my single “A Minute More” releasing August 17th on iTunes and Amazon and until that day arrives, there will be a lot of things to do with press and business stuff, then we have a Listening Party on the 20th, where we will be streaming the event live , alongside my team at Red Rover (details to come soon) and then the 20th and 21st we will be shooting a music video for the song “A Minute More” which we’re looking at 2, 17+ hour days, which is exhausting and then we have a short break before I have a meeting on August 24th.”  Sheesh.  I’m going to read that back as fast as I can now.

I will be performing at an Orphan Walk Fundraiser  for All Blessings International, an adoption agency, July 23rd at 8:00pm at Apollo High School in Owensboro, KY.  If you’d love to come and walk for a bit, donate a few dollars for a wonderful cause and hear some music, do come out.  Here’s the link for the directions. http://ow.ly/2d3R9

A lot of stew is a brewin’. – Insert your favorite metaphorical stew here to get excited. –  I’ll be revealing some neat stuff here in the coming weeks. I’ll leave you with a quote that hit me the other day.  Know you’re loved and appreciated.

“Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.” -Democritus

LIVE LOVE

“A Minute More” Releases

I have some exciting news.  After many requests and trying to be patient, I will finally be releasing “A Minute More” as an iTunes single next month.  I am really thrilled to be able to have it available for you all to purchase.  I wrote the song with my good friend Brent Lain right before he and his wife CJ got married.  It’s about my future lady and how I can’t wait to meet her and share life with her and do the best I possibly can to love her unconditionally every day.  I’ve performed the song at all my shows recently and feel it’s the most intimate and real song I’ve ever done to date, with one of the biggest crowd responses.  There is very little production to it.  It’s extremely raw, with only an acoustic guitar, a piano and my vocal.  I think that’s what makes it so relatable, that it’s so stripped down and touches a topic every single person has experienced or is experiencing.  Below are the lyrics, as well as a first-look of the new cover for it.  A special shout out to my good friend Ryan Holmberg for designing a great cover, depicting the beauty of the song itself.

“A Minute More”

I’m on a highway down the road
I wanna be there right now
I’m in a stranger’s bed in my home
I can’t claim a place I don’t know

And I can’t wait til the day
You walk right in my door
And I can’t wait til the day
You walk right in my door

But I, I wait a minute more

They told me you were here, but now I know
I must’ve missed you some time ago
Lost amidst a crowd of things I’ve fought
No wasted feelings anymore

And I can’t wait til the day
You walk right in my door
And I can’t wait til the day
You walk right in my door

But I, I wait a minute

Crowds now parting
Everything begins to dissipate
Foundations breaking down
Roads get tangled everywhere
But still my hand you take
My hand you take

And I can’t wait til the day
You walk right in my door
And I can’t wait til the day
You walk right in my door

But I, I wait a minute more

We have a lot of buns in the oven.  I always wanted to use that somewhere.  I am excited to share them soon.

I hope to one day shake your hand.  You have my love and support.

LIVE LOVE

My Heart Is Doing Leaps

Here’s a quick, random thought. When I was younger, I wanted to look like my shadow.  It was always so much bigger than me.  It climbed walls, stretched across the streets that I couldn’t ever step foot on and was seemingly flawless.  I thought about that last night when I was dancing and my shadow, caused by a street light close by, was moving along the wall in front of me.

I finished up my brother’s master bedroom today, painting and whatnot and brought some stuff over to the new house, like pictures and a random stool.  Now, I just have to wait on the Go Mini, which is housing all the other furniture and whatnot to be dropped off to the new house.  Moving is happening quickly.  I love seeing progress.  (Hey! Remember that painter guy that I talked about in a recent post? I saw him again today and he was sporting the largest shiner on his eye.  It was a wicked black eye.  I almost asked him what the real story behind it was, but refrained.  I’ll just assume he ended up falling off the 15 foot ladder I saw him carrying around while trying to save a Blue Jay.)

My life changed today. Do you ever feel like your heart is doing leaps and jumping jacks inside your chest?  That’s how I feel right now.  When you turn 18, you feel a little change in how things are going in your life, with high school graduation and break ups and college.  When you turn 21, similar things and thoughts happen.  When you turn 25, you become an adult and more is expected of you with family and society. You either freak out and get a little confused and lost, or you freak out and get a little confused and lost, but continue to move forward in growing and learning more about life and yourself.  I feel like I’m figuring it out…finally!  Maybe you can relate to this. When big things happen in life, whether it be a change or decision or move, you always hit that point.  You either take it head on, or you freak out and lock up.  I’ve been a bit locked up as of late. Heavy maybe.  But today, while driving down the road, after this huge thunderstorm, I felt light and at peace and free.  It’s so neat to be able to notice a blessing as it comes and appreciate it immediately.   If you’re at a place where you’re uncertain or confused, please note that perseverance is what gets you through and capable of defeating those feelings.  Be positive! Cynicism, doubt or negativity gets you nowhere.  Conan O’Brien’s farewell speech from The Tonight Show stated the same thing.  ”I hate cynicism,” he said.  Focus on the important things, like loving people.  Recognize your goals and do everything it takes to make it happen.  Don’t be selfish in your living and efforts.  Believe in yourself!

I still have a ton of paint on me.  I am picking it off like you peel sunburnt skin.  I’m finding it everywhere.  I have no clue how I got it on the bottom of my right foot, since I had shoes on, but it’s cool.  Tomorrow, I’ll wake up and eat cereal, shred some Guitar Hero, read on the roof, drive to Subway for the 3rd day in a row in my car, whose AC decided to mess up again, help mom paint Aaron’s family room and move over more furniture.  This has been the most exciting vacation for me ever.  Productive, relaxing.  I love it.

Who has this in their iTunes and CD collection? I’d love for you to and it’d mean a lot to me.  If so, please share it with your friends.  If not, CLICK THE COVER BELOW to get your copy on iTunes. That too, would make me happy and do flips and stuff.

LIVE LOVE

Mr. Painter Man

I must say a quick “HOORAY” and how excited I am for my big brother Aaron.  He just purchased his first home and will be moving in soon.  I look forward to painting all next week.  Actually, not really at all, but I do look forward to helping out and getting everything squared away.

My mother and I went to Lowes today, in hopes to find some lighting fixtures and other necessities, like mailboxes, for my brother’s home.  I mean, you can’t really find a neat, cool looking mailbox.  It’s a box… that you put mail in.  It doesn’t really get cool or anything.  I do fancy those mailboxes that people turn in to John Deere tractors though.

A young gentleman came to help us pick out some door knobs.  He didn’t know anything about the product and was respectful in admitting the fact.  The worker asked another co-worker, an older man to come and assist.  As soon as he walked up, my mother kindly asked him if the door knob we were interested in, came in a combo pack and if we were to purchase the three combo packs, would one key be able to open all doors.  He answered, ” these are good door knobs. I have these in my house.” Umm?? That wasn’t the question, buddy.  So I kindly restated the question, to which he stared for a bit at the merchandise and said, ” I don’t guess so.”  I guess if I learned anything from this gentleman today, it was that I too, know nothing about door knobs.  And that if I were going to purchase the door knobs, that I’d own the same as that Lowes worker has in his home. After the little giggle that Mr. Lowes man gave me, we left empty handed.

I was walking from my friend’s family’s business this afternoon and ran in to a painter whom they hired to paint their business’ building.  It was scorching hot, he was climbing up and down ladders with gallons of paint in hand and still took the time to say hello to me, introduce himself and smile the entire time.   As I walked off, he told workers he was managing tasks to accomplish with kindness, excitement and respect.  If I were in the heat, climbing 15 feet, getting really dirty painting things, I’d have a harder time staying positive and peppy.  Mister Painter Man, you made my day better just by going out of your way to say hi and wish me a good day.  There’s a lesson for me here.  It’s amazing what a simple, encouraging word will do for someone.  Thank you, Mr. Painter Man.

My afternoon will simply consist of watching “Alice In Wonderland” and doing Plyometrics.  Mom might call me to help her strip wallpaper at the new house.  I don’t know though. I just took my shoes off and am now quite comfortable.

This knight is scary.
LIVE LOVE

The Big Black Box

There’s a big black box that I absolutely love to see.  It’s a box that is very important to my family and I.  The box is where many of my family members have worked back in the day and actually continue to work to this day.  It’s a box that my older brother Aaron, when younger, would pass while riding with my mother in the car and say, “Mommy, I want to work there one day.” His dreams came true after all.  He does works there.  The box is a building that a company runs out of.  I get to see that big black box tomorrow.  It’ll take me nine long hours to drive home, but once I get in to town, it’s a mere right off of the 60 bypass on to Frederica Street, through a few stop lights, then a left. That box will be on my left and that’ll mean a short two minutes until I’m home.  HOME!  There is nothing like it. 

When I was little, the same streets I’ll be driving my car down were the ones I’d ride my Dyno Air down with Chad and Nick.  The same trees I’ll pass were the trees I once climbed and fell from.  There will not only be open arms waiting for my arrival, but some hot stew or dish as well, I just know it.  If my level of excitement could be measured and felt by you, just take Christmas Eve night, after your belly is full and the Christmas music has turned down  and the only light in the room, being the dim lit Christmas tree in the corner, is what’s making your eyes get a little heavy and you know that when you wake up in the morning, you’ll have presents and an amazing breakfast and wonderful family over to share it all with… that’s the excitement I feel. 

My grandparents are both in their 80’s.  Grandfather will tell me amazing tales of his father’s work on the railroad and Grandmother will cook the best breakfast and won’t even touch her Sunday brunch until I have everything on my plate twice.  The lady is an amazing driver too.  The whole “old person behind the wheel” stigma doesn’t apply to her.  She also finds the most amazing little treasures at garage sales.  I might go with her on a little trip to one, who knows.  Uncle Ron will probably insist on cooking me an amazing burger at some point in the week on his manly grill and Miss Anette will kindly wait on my brothers and I at the neighborhood Applebee’s.  Mom will call me daily just to say hi, check in, tell me she loves me and see what I’m doing. I don’t think our phone calls ever last more than a minute or two, but it’s still very much appreciated.

I’ll more than likely do my normal rounds and visit Dale and his wife, along with their 5 kids, see Cliff and Father John, call Mikey and have him bring over a handfull of movies to watch until the wee hours of the morning and drop by Jake and Schae’s to play with their little boy Master Peirce.  We’ll watch Baby Einstein together.  Which, by the way, had to be the most boring job for a camera operator to do. All it is are stationary and panning shots of the shiniest, quickest spinning plastic toys over and over.  The kid loves it!  I will take a dip in the pool with Megan and John at her house and watch her dogs Max and Charlie float around on the floats like little divos. I’ll take a few long night drives out in Philpot with the windows down and my hand sticking out of my opened sunroof, pondering.  That is what being home is about to me.  Just think, some of you have no idea where Owensboro, Kentucky is, while to me, it’s the best place on earth.  I’m sure you can relate in your town.  Maybe you can’t and can’t wait to get out of the current place you’re in.  Trust me though. One day you’ll want to be back, I know it.

I can’t wait to see you, black box.  You mark a place that, to me, nothing can replace.  Not money, or a status, or anything else.  I hope that you have a place you can retreat to and feel loved and safe. 

LIVE LOVE