My Music Addiction – Intro*Spec – Evolutionarie Rebels Show!

Are there any of you that are addicted… addicted to music? Yeah, I knew I wasn’t the only one.  Like many of my fellow musically addicted friends, I have found myself wanting to share my passion, vision and thoughts with others through the medium of music.

In past blogs I have posted about this subject. I even have a musical label and a blog just for music and bands I come across.  Those of you who know me, know that I have dabbled in music (poetry, lyrics, beats, production, etc) for years.

I have had some successes (Producing the Vocals for Emotional Choice); but mostly, I haven’t put myself out there to really do something with it. In fact, the last time I preformed was at a few folk punk shows over 5 years ago.

I have let family, job, school, house, and life be my excuse to not doing my passion. Saying things like “I don’t have time”, “I can’t find anyone who will make me decent beats” and “when I make my own beats I get to OCD and never let them out”  (except this one)…

… In reality, it’s just me; letting my fear of failure get the best of me! I could write a whole blog on this alone, but I wont.

Now is the time to get over my fear. Thanks to my long time partner in music: Preston (aka Fyzyk). He has never given up on me and has been my inspiration all these years. This is the week where I, John Rogers, Intro*Spec (my stage name) gets out of the box!

(Flyer Courtesy of Design By Mimi)

This Friday, I have been invited to be the Master of Ceremonies (MC) and introduce all the groups that are playing (Concert Details). On top of that, I am preforming with our crew (Evolutionarie Rebels) on stage for a group song we recorded a while back.

Baby steps people! Like I said, it has been over 5 years since I was in front of a crowd!

All ready I have met a person (DopeThought) who has taken away my 2 biggest excuses: Not being able to find beats, and not being in the scene enough to know what is going on and get/give support.

So I am using this Friday as the end of the begging. I will start sharing my music and my passion. I will start supporting people locally who are sharing their music through Hip Hop (instead of just supporting out of state crews).  I will stand tall and be willing to fall!

That being said… I am Intro*Spec. I chose the name after going through about 3 identity crises. It sings to my soul. I live my life in constant introspection and I also connect with being a spec in the cosmos that‘s part of something bigger.

(Intro*Spec – Courtesy of Design by Mimi)

I would love if you would come and support me as I MC and join for one song. I would love it if you came and saw some of the most inspiring, passionate, people I have ever met who I am honored to be involved with (Evolutionarie Rebels). I invite you to come support local Hip-hop and people making a difference through music (Dope Thought and Free Speech Syndicate). And come have your mind blown, by one of the most brilliant minds in Hip Hop,   LMNO from the Visionaries!

Hope to see you there!  Stay tuned for some lyrics and music from me / Intro*Spec, and if you know anyone that makes awesome beats and wants to collaborate, send them my way… please!!!

My birthday, The General and… peace?

First off, I intend this to be the shortest blog I have ever written. We shall see…

29 years ago, I was born. It has been quite the roller coaster and this ride has taken me from the some of the brightest places and faces and to some of the darkest and back. I have had the opportunity to see both sides of religion, money, violence, hate, love, scarcity, abundance, and more.

I don’t say this to distinguish myself as having lived more then others, only to explain my come from on my epiphany this morning. Often times in my life I have taken complex people and stripped or judged them down to a sound bite; he is weird, she is boring, religious, drunk, crazy, etc…

Today, as I was showering for work, the above song came on. The band is Dispatch and they are amazing. This song (The General) in particular, is amazing. Here is a part of the song that stood out for me as I was pondering life, my journey and the battles I have chosen to fight:

“He said,
I have seen the others and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting
And I’ve have seen their mothers and I will no other to follow me where I’m going

So, take your shower, shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living
Take your shower, shine your shoes
Well, you got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living
Go now you are forgiven”

(Under the youtube video the full lyrics are written)

In the hustle and chaos of daily life, I often forget that you are a complex person. So, today, on this the day of my birth 29 years ago, I make one more birthday wish. I wish that we all remember, if only for a moment that you were once a child, that he is someone’s brother, that she is someone’s sister, that they have mothers, fathers, dreams, passion, fear, doubts, love… but most of all, “that this fight is not worth fighting!”

–       Peace

P.S. Happy Cinco De Mayo!.. Tequila!!!

Emotional Choice – P.T.R.’s first National recording project!

I love emotions… most of the time. In the past I have been accused of being emotionless and at times I am sure that has been true. However, over the years I have come to believe that the answer to “Why are we here” is to experience the gamut of emotions. In essence, experience the vast depths of life. I believe there is a productive, creative, way to do this and a reactive or subversive way to do this.

There has been an increasing influx of books, movies, etc. out there talking about the Law of Attraction, and the Power of Intention over the past decade. There are many people that believe we have a say on the outcome of our life. Many of these theories talk about the power of having high energy, or remaining positive. The Law of Attraction states that we get what we give. If we are joyful we will receive joy in return.

While I agree with much of this, I have often seen people walking around with fake smiles and crappy jobs hoping for joy and financial abundance and completely closing themselves off to all other emotions for fear that they won’t get what they want if they feel sadness or anger. Is it possible that these people are closing themselves off from a huge part of life in hopes of some spiritual or emotional jackpot.

As I reflect on my life, the memories that have stayed and made the biggest impression, have been the ones where I experienced the most emotion. Whether it was a joyous vacation or a brutal fight, each of the times I let myself experience the depths of emotion my experience was more present, full and memorable.

I am not suggesting that we go around crying when ever we feel tired or jumping for joy at a funny thought during a meeting. Instead, I am suggesting that we become familiar with all of the emotions. That we understand why and when we choose those emotions. That we become in alignment with the results of the emotions that we choose.

Above all, I suggest that emotions become a choice, an emotional choice. That we live a life of creation, one in which we acknowledge the emotions that come unannounced, we dive into them and explore their reason for emerging and then we choose whether or not they serve us going forward.

Recently I found out that I am not the only one who looks at emotions as a choice. I was blessed with the opportunity to assist in the creation of a powerful tool that uses technology, binaural beats, music and vocal guidance to aid in experiencing, understanding and choosing our emotions.

Aptly named, the tool is called Emotional Choice and was created using the amazing musical talents of J. S. Epperson and the calm, clear vocals of Lori McDonald.

I was fortunate enough to be able to record and edit the vocals in my studio (Phantom Tollbooth Records) and was amazed at the amount of thought and power put into Emotional Choice. Even as I was editing it I found myself changed by the concepts and gained a deeper understanding of my emotions. That combined with the binaural beats have created a powerful tool that can give the listener the ability to create and live life while experiencing the depths of emotion.

If you would like to experience or just check out what Emotional Choice is all about, click below:

Emotional Choice

P. S. I feel that being able to work on Emotional Choice as P.T.R. has assisted me in getting out there with my musical talents and I am excited to keep moving forward with them!!! – John Rogers

To here a sample of Emotional Choice click Here!

AdVenture – By Intro*Spec (ODeasy) (Hip Hop, Industrial, Cartoons and randomness in between)

Song: AdVenture By: Intro*Spec (Formally know as O.D.easy)

AdVenture was created in May of 2010 at Phantom Tollbooth Records in SLC.

To Listen to the Song and to hear about the cartoon and sounds that inspiried it click here:

http://phantomtollboothrecords.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/adventure-by-odeasy-hip-hop-industrial-cartoons-and-randomness-in-between/

The Mr. Rogers meets ODeasy – The beginning

I was going to post some Poetry/Lyrics I recently wrote today. But I figured that before I did I would start at the beginning with Preston, Imbibe, my A.K.A. and its evolution and why I write.

For full article click here:

http://phantomtollboothrecords.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/the-mr-rogers-meets-odeasy-–-the-beginning/

Phantom Tollbooth Records

Dear friends and family,

Today is a very special day for me. It is the day that I put actions behind my words. I have talked about sharing music and poetry with you and I have also talked about my passion for bringing communities together to share the messages we all have inside.

On that note… I give you Phantom Tollbooth Records

Please take a moment and check it out!

I also extend the invitation for you to join me in creating more awareness for the art and music that is created by you and our friends and family. If you have a peace of art, music, poetry, lyrics, songs, etc. that you would like to put on P.T.R. then email it, along with its description/story, to: phantomtollboothrecords@gmail.com

New blog post at Phantom Tollbooth Records:

http://phantomtollboothrecords.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/phantom-tollbooth-records/

Music… and switching up the game

I wouldn’t quite say I have had a spell of writers block, but pretty close. It isn’t that I don’t have a ton of things to write about. Instead, I have so many things that I want to write about that are such sizable topics that I have been putting off starting.

So in an effort to start smaller, I am going to start writing random thoughts, poetry/lyrics, some of the music I have been working on and a little bit about a day in the life of The Mr. Rogers…

… Starting now:

Today I am inspired to write about music. Do you like music? Do you love music? Do you eat, drink, sleep and think music? If you selected ‘D’ (all of the above) then we have something in common!

I love music! I love the way it sounds, the way it looks (even down to a wave form), the way it creates emotions and the way it can bring people together and push people away.

I LOVE ALL STYLES OF MUSIC!

Disclaimer: I do not like whiny music. Some examples of whiny music are: most of modern country (and yes I said most, not all), the indie emo movement (bands like linkin park, alkaline trio, etc), and I am sure I could name others but you get the point.

While I love all styles of music, I also, dislike 90% of what is played on the radio. I can’t help it… I don’t do it because I want to be different or because I am fighting the main stream. I do it because it drives me nuts!!

Yes, part of the reason is because a lot of the music on the radio is whiny but even more so, it often seems fake, cookie cuter, or straight out screams marketing ploy (while I like marketing, I like to keep it out of my music).

I am sure there a few others out there, who, like me, feel the same… maybe…  (If you could, please comment as such so I know I am not the only one J).

That being said, I often get a “really” when I tell people what some of my favorites types are. Here is a list:

Hip Hop

80’s Pop

Punk

Industrial

Instrumentals

Now, I now that there are purists (I ran into it a lot growing up), that believe a person who truly listens to 88 Fingers Louie (Punk), doesn’t listen to Nine Inch Nails (Industrial). However, I have never paid much attention to them as I was listening to all of the above, even when it wasn’t cool in high school.

On a different note, one of the things I like most about music is when it builds upon itself (crescendo) and therefore, builds the emotion. This is the same reason I listen and liken gospel songs to industrial; while the message and medium is different the build is similar.  (My apologies, to those of you who don’t like the Mo Tab choir likened to Fear Factory)

Another thing that I love about music is its ability to bring people together. There are very few experiences that rival the energy created by being in a sea of people, at a concert, where everyone knows the words and is singing with their whole soul. (Some examples: Tool concerts, Mo Tab Concerts when they have the audience sing, Wrong Around playing at the Stumble Inn, etc).

There are a ton of other things I love about music but I am only going to mention one more. I love music when it is shared! I love hearing new music from friends and family, they joy of hearing a new band and wondering how I lived with out that artist in my collection, the discussions about what the song meant, when a car full of people quiets down to imbibe a song, and the memories that each song holds.

In closing, I dedicate this post to those of you who have music coursing through your veins; to the music makers and the music listeners!

Now that I have shared some of my musical tastes (or the lack there of), you will see me posting some of the Lyrics, music, etc, I have been working on, in future blogs. I will also share how I make the music I make, my inspirations, my equipment, and the collaborators.