A Dog Chasing Cars

When I auditioned for The Voice, I read the rules from cover to cover two days before the audition. A word was being used in the reading and the audition itself. That word was "identity". It doesn't matter how talented or decorated you are as an artist. You need to present yourself in a way that defines you. One of my mistakes at the audition is that I didn't quite understand what my musical identity was. For that reason, I have been spending the last little while searching for it. Tonight, I have come to an answer.

It's not "who am I as a musician?" It's "who am I as a person?

Heath Ledger said it best. "I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it. I just do things." I'm not just a musician. There are so many things I'm into. So many things I'm good at. Musician, gamer, writer, movie buff, Sherlockian, hotel representative, brother, son, and more importantly friend. And I do all of this while following my own beliefs and values. Not once in the past five years have I followed anyone's rules but my own. A free spirit if you will. All the qualities of a rockstar.

Normally, one would associate that term with a famous person. More specifically, a musically gifted, famous person. I say that there's no need to be famous. One who lives for the moment and can find happiness doing so could easily be considered one. Therefore, as of this writing, I no longer consider myself just a musician. I am a guy who lives by his own code and listens to his own advice. A guy who favors music but still tinkers in everything that he wants to get his hands on. Above all, I don't need to be famous. I'm just....me.

A not so well known rockstar making his way in the world.

Lessthanthree,
Doug

I Am [Not] The Voice

I've been telling people that New York was an adventure. In all fairness, that's an understatement. Auditioning for network television is overwhelming. At one point I felt like I was being processed for the Hunger Games. 

ID checks. Bag checks. Metal detectors. Contracts. Follow the people in the red shirts. Make sure you use the bathroom before you get called up. And that was the first five minutes of me arriving.

To be honest, I was a lot less scared than I should have been. Even with all of the other applicants singing their hearts out in the waiting room. And trust me, THESE GUYS WERE GREAT! Even the best of them, however, were not selected to advance. There was actually a guy in my group, who after hearing us sing before him, decided to back out. Dad believes he was fed up with the process. I'm more willing to believe our talents combined shook him (which boosted my already inflated ego).

As I said to most of you already, it was the best no I've ever heard. The producer was a cool guy who really knew his stuff and unlike most judges for these shows, he was very encouraging. Would I go back next year and do it again? In a heartbeat.

I did realize two things after being dismissed. For one, I'm alright with being the "indie guy". It allows me to make music at my own pace and let's me develop an identity. If the journey is anything like this past weekend, I'm stoked for where I may go. 

The other thing I realized is maybe the most important thing. I don't have millions of YouTube views and my name isn't in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons. If you can read this, however, I have you. You guys sent me soooooo much love on Saturday. I can't and never will be able to thank you enough for all of your kind words. From here on in, I don't care if I get famous. As long as I have you, I'm the luckiest dude on the planet. A million times, thank you!!

Lessthanthree,

Doug

I Am The Voice?

My audition is Saturday. Counting my call back pieces, I have five songs prepared for it. How am I feeling?

That's the damndest thing really. I don't know know how to feel. You hear about it all the time. People auditioning/in these reality shows. Some are nervous. Some cry. Some have a flat out panic attack. Actually, if I heard right, 50% of them will lose their shit come their audition.

Me? I'm looking at this through different eyes than everyone else is. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. On one hand, I impress the producers enough to go on TV. By doing so I not only gain thousands of fans, but I, for better or worse, will be critiqued by four of the best performers in the country, if not the world. On the other, I don't impress them and I go home to Liverpool, New York. If the latter becomes the case, I will not, under any circumstances, be sad about it. Why? Because I got brave.

It takes true bravery as a musician to put yourself out there in front of the masses, be it fifty or fifty thousand people. This Saturday, I am auditioning for the opportunity to show the world the true talent I have. Whether I make it or not, I will have a confidence that I've never had before. The confidence to stand in front of people and be myself for once and sing my heart out.

I can't promise I'll make it. And if I do, I can't promise I'll win the whole thing. Here's what I can promise. I will be brave. I will do my best. I will make you all proud. And win or lose, I will return to Liverpool, New York a better, more confident musician.

Besides, I've never been to NYC. This audition's a good excuse to go on vacation.

Lessthanthree,
Doug