A Lack of Depth
Sometimes I suffer from the expectations I put on myself. For example, setting the standard of posting here every day was perhaps a bit too ambitious, so I end up forcing myself from time to time to shit something out for this and it hurts the quality of the blog. I don’t explore the idea enough, I don’t do any research, I rarely edit myself. My point is it could be better.
That’s why we’re going to transition to a new form next year. I have to keep trying to improve. That being said, I’ll leave you with this idea, which I’ll expand on at a later date.
Snacking will be the death of me.
-J.P.
Don’t Sweat It
So… the middle is a lot longer than I expected. Who would’ve thought? Wait. What if the middle is like, really long? Now that I think about it, I don’t remember the beginning. As far back as I remember, I was already in the middle. On top of that, I don’t think we really get to know the ending either? Are we always the middle? Is the middle forever? How do you cope?
That’s the question isn’t it? That’s life. Just one long middle. I think maybe you just try to find your way to enjoy the ride. It’s harder for some to do, myself included, but I’m not sure there’s any other option. Like my mom says, it will all work out. I just don’t know how, exactly. But that’s ok. Zoom in, the sun is shining, the dog is healthy, we’ve got enough food for dinner. Work will come. Things will work out. You’ll be ok.
-J.P.
I Guess It Could Be Worse
I think I’ve hit another wall. We’ve got three songs left to finish for our 2023 release schedule. Truthfully, they should already be done but I’ve found it easier to stay away from the studio and think about next year lately. I think that’s a symptom of wanting to be further along than we are. It’s very conflicting to put a song out feeling like it won’t go the distance you want it to. Especially because I can only blame myself for that. I’ve not done enough to expand our reach. I’m still here, eleven months later trying to break through the same wall I’ve been chipping away at all year.
I can’t help but think “why do I keep doing this?” The answer is simple. Because I feel like I have to. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t. I’d just be in the same position, except I couldn’t say that I tried, and that would be harder to live with. It’s very frustrating, but I guess it could be worse.
I don’t have much else to say today.
-J.P.
Control Yourself!
That’s what I’ve been saying all day. Understanding’s sister sent surprise donuts to our house yesterday. It takes literally everything in me not to eat all of the donuts in one sitting. Every time I walk by the table I see the box of Krispy Kreme’s calling my name. The crazy thing is I don’t even really like Krispy Kreme like that. They’re definitely not my favorite donuts, but sweets are my weakness. I had one at breakfast this morning. Very out of character. I’m determined not to let them get the best of me again. At least not for another 24 hours.
What’s happening here? The idea here was to chronicle the life journey of our business as Beautiful Idiots. Lately it’s just me talking to the void, about how badly I want a donut. Is that business? Keeping your focus on the things you need, and resisting temptation at every turn? Can I always turn a random moment into a learning lesson?
I think I can. I think I can do anything. Are you keeping up? We’re moving fast because the world moves fast. Time waits for no person, they say. Discipline will take you where you need to go, don’t give in to the donut. The reward will be worth it. It might even been worth two donuts. That’s a nice return on your investment. Business.
-J.P.
I Slept On It…
…And I woke up feeling exactly the same! That happens sometimes. Most of the time people just want their money. That’s all.
-J.P.
I Was Watching TV
Daisy Jones and the Six is a C+ show at best. That’s just my opinion. I don’t see it. Writing is my least favorite part, I don’t like the acting either. Or the story. Or anything about it really. C+ at best. I’m just saying. I love shows about music stories, don’t get me wrong. Just not this one.
Also, local blackouts are dumb, too. Probably shouldn’t use also and too in the same sentence. It’s redundant and it’s kind of saying the same thing twice. See what I did there? I’m just saying, I feel like if I live in LA and the Lakers are playing the Clippers on national television I should be able to watch that game just like the rest of the country. Just because I live close by I have to get a local network? So lame. Everything’s a money grab these days am I right or am I right?
Anyway, I’m trying to think of something I can sell. I’ll keep you updated.
-J.P.
Manifestations 10/31
Happy Halloween! Hope you get some good candy, maybe some good scares if that’s what you want. Morpheus got a bath today and Bryana did laundry and Understanding and I reset our whiteboard for 2024. Yikes. The future is coming. Here are some things I’d like for the future of Beautiful Idiots.
A creative studio with a concrete floor and a garage door.
NY and LA headquarters
Our names on a building. Idk what kind of building but that would be cool
25 employees
Ten million dollars net profit
Now how do we make all that happen? Aye, there’s the rub.
-J.P.
Stuck
A new song from Roe’s Garden was released on Friday. It’s called “Stuck”. I hope you enjoy it!
This song is a product of a deep deep love of 2000s R&B. It has Understanding written all over it. He really took the helm on this one in terms of lyrics and chords, which was fun because I would say I’m usually the one to begin the idea and Understanding rounds things out and adds some flavor. For this I got to be a little more of a producer and arranger - just listen to a lot of Usher and try to emulate some the feel of those tracks. As always, Erica’s vocal elevates the song. It really is a special gift she has, and it’s funny to me how I can listen to a demo I’ve made for so long and feel like I just don’t know what to do with it, until she comes and sings. Sometimes a different voice is more than just a different voice. It changes the tone of the record, it can change the message of the lyrics, how you feel when you hear it… all kinds of things. It also helps to be able to take yourself out of something you’ve made to see if it feels legit. For me, there’s always a little bit of a feeling like it’s not a “real song” when I hear myself. It’s probably become my favorite part of writing songs for other artists - hearing a good performance of a lyric I’ve written.
You’d have to ask Understanding if you had a specific question about the lyric, but I think the concept of the song is pretty familiar. Often times, in love, we find ourselves stuck to someone that we can’t pull away from, for better or worse. You keep going back, sometimes you subconsciously put yourself into a cycle because when you’re in it it feels great.
This makes 10 tracks from Roe’s Garden in 2023. We’ve two more coming, as promised, and they’re all about love in some way or another. Will we ever learn? I guess we’re stuck in the groove.
See what I did there?
-J.P.
Scary Movies and Vegan Food
We’re having some friends over tonight to watch some scary movies in the backyard in the spirit of Halloween. I don’t watch scary movies very often. It’s not really my speed. However, I do. appreciate that scary movies are often unapologetically true to their genre. They lean into the tropes, they play the archetypes of the characters and you get what you get. They’re not trying to dress up as a drama or convince you they’re actually something else. They’re just scary movies and they’re there to scare you. That’s cool with me. Be yourself.
Yesterday we went to Vegandale, a Vegan food festival in Downtown LA. I adhered to a vegetarian diet for about five or six years up until about 2022, so I’m not a stranger to vegan food, but I do occasionally eat meat these days. We had some really good Mac & cheese bites, I got a delicious açaí bowl, and we enjoyed some very impressive plant-based sushi. Here’s the one thing that bugs me about Vegan food though. They often try to replicate meat dishes, which I assume is in some kind of attempt to get people who are used to eating meat to feel more comfortable trying their fare. I think that’s a huge misstep, personally. People that eat vegan have specifically chosen not to eat meat. Why would they want to turn around and eat a meat substitute that’s meant to look, taste and feel like the meat they just gave up? Just be you!! Make some delicious shit out of plants and stop trying to sell me plants dressed up as meat!
My point is the the people who make scary movies and the people who make vegan food should have a sit down so the scary movie people can tell the vegan people to stop trying to pretend to be something they’re not. I think everyone would be better off for it.
-J.P.
