The Spot; A Gathering Place for Songwriters and Musicians

Getting to Know: Gregg Butler-Fells

Just one year ago, the 28 year old Alabama-born acoustic-folk singer-songwriter was wearing a battle dress uniform and scrubs working as an aerospace medical technician, assisting in the successful delivery of nearly 700 infants in his 4 year career in the USAF, but always knew, instinctively, that his path would eventually lead him back to his first-love and his own 'baby'; songwriting and performing his music. " I enlisted shortly after September 11 and although a large part of my reason for doing so was patriotic, I needed the change in my life. I was a razor sharp medic. I didn't think that the USAF would give me an opportunity to cultivate my music and still remain on active duty. In 2005, I was given that opportunity. Traveling to nearly 30 countries and performing in all 50 states with Air Force's premier entertainment troupe, Tops in Blue, I learned a lot about life on the road and part of what it takes to make it as a professional (touring) musician. " Gregg seems to be very aware of what the universal buttons are-and is not afraid to push them. " I write about what affects me, what I fear the most, what enlightens me- what deeply upsets me. As a songwriter, I pull inspiration from everywhere and everything all the time. Sometimes, I have to write so much, to get so little. Although it may take 20 songs to get the 'one', I am restless until I do. I want to create music that does push those buttons because life affects me the same way it does everyone else. I hope the way in which I present it offers hope and inspires others, in spite of the hurt, betrayal, abuse and deep, unfulfilled longing, to keep going." "I grew up surrounded by music. My mother loved to listen to motown and the blues when I was younger. In my early teens, I would lock myself in my room and practice singing harmony to Luther Vandross albums. It wasn't until I started playing guitar at age 14 that I got into music like Jackson Browne, The Band, Bob Dylan, Sting, Tori Amos, Van Morrison, Nick Drake and Dave Matthews. Their music opened a whole new world of musical possibilities for me. I aspire to be an artist that is on someone else's influence list and that I would have that sort of impact on the world."

Gregg is currently working on a series of children's books to promote musical involvement in early childhood.

"I'm very excited about this new project. The material on the debut album was written at various times in my life over the course of about 7 years. This new record (Songs from a Weathered Troubadour) was written in 9 months this year. The subjects are much closer to my heart. I've taken a glance back to the pioneers of songwriting, i.e., Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens and Bruce Springsteen-just to name a few-to find a new way to articulate my thoughts into sound. I anticipate having this record complete by end of February and cannot wait to share it with you."

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The Spot's Book of the Month: The Indie Bible

This truly is a troubadour's guide of biblical proportions! The Indie Bible Crew is at again with, yet again, another amazing compilation of tools and tricks of the trade. This resource guide is an absolute must for any musician who is serious about their career.

The 6th Edition includes:

* 4200 publications that will review your CD!
* 3400 radio stations that will play your songs
* 600 vendors that will help you sell your music
* 330 websites where you can upload your band's MP3 files!
* 500 helpful resources for your band!

Plus: 51 articles that will help your career flourish!

The Essential Guide for Independent Artist!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Gregg Butler's Debut Album, 'Yesteryear"

Writing Your Truth

The title of this article is an adaptation of a phrase one of my vocal coaches during my tour with the USAF's Tops in Blue. Tracy Wright, also a prior Tops in Blue member and now professional vocal coach, used to say this to me all the time: "Sing your truth, Gregg. Sing your truth". When she felt I was just going through the motions and not staying true to the contextual meaning of a piece, she would always stop me and remind me of this. The same is true of songwriting. It's not that I wasn't providing the sound she was looking for, or that I had pitch problems or other issues, in fact it sounded just fine, except there was not that element of truth there that would draw anyone in any closer to listen to what I was singing about-Just pleasant sounding music without conviction. Who wants that? I certainly do not.

So how do we get there? It differs from person to person, but you have to, sometimes, just stomp the little monster under your desk that wants to bite at your ankles the whole time while you're writing. Sometimes, when we know we're tackling a subject that is personal and close to our hearts, there is a physically manifestation in our bodies. Pick a subject that you feel would deeply affect you if you were to write in a song, i.e., the birth of your firstborn child, your first kiss, a near death experience, and you will notice that your shoulders may be a little more tense, your breathing may become shallow or you may be holding your breath all together!

Take a deep breath and really feel the air enter your lungs and expel from your nostrils. Allow your body to completely relax. I prefer to sit at your desk and try to create an atmosphere that is soothing, quiet and free of distractions. Lighting a candle on your desk is also very soothing. These simple things well help so much. Focusing on your own body and remaining calm will allow the words to flow so much easier. There are times when apprehension and tension are appropriate for what you are writing about, but that doesn't mean that you have to feel apprehension and tension in your body while you write.

Let the truth of your life spill into your work. Sometimes, we allow our emotions to build dams that block out creativity-we cannot allow this to happen. If you're writing about one thing and your heart and mind is in a totally different place, go to the place where your pain and apprehension lies and express those emotions first. When you feel a release, go back to what you were originally writing about. After a while, you'll notice you are mindful of this things all the time and your private writing sessions are getting easier and easier. Chris and Carol Beaty, professional vocal coaches and owners of Vocal Coach use this quote frequently in their books and rehearsal CD's: "Muscles have memory". Just like the human voice's ability to remind us of how a certain pitch or note "feels" after careful practice and repetition, we also begin, after becoming more mindful of our own bodies, emotional state and environment, to become better at communicating our own truth.

Try this exercise: Use this line to begin the exercise-"The night we first met..."

Gregg Butler-Fells

Monday, March 10, 2008

The McGill English Dictionary of Rhyme

" I use this program everyday to assist me in bringing forth the best possible lyrics for my music. Mr. McGill and his staff have designed a fantasic product! I highly recommend this product, which is unbelievably, free!" Gregg Butler-Fells

American poet, Bryant H. McGill, has announced the release of a software rhyming dictionary derived from his award-winning McGill English Dictionary of Rhyme, which is used by over one hundred thousand writers, educators, students, aspiring poets, and songwriters from more than 100 countries, and stands as the world's most extensive rhyming reference ever created in the history of the English language.

This essential reference, dedicated by McGill to "fellow poets everywhere," is perfect for poets, songwriters, lyricists, copywriters, advertising agencies, pathologists, speechwriters, advertisers, teachers, students, researchers, linguists, writers, or anyone who enjoys rhyming words. The electronic reference software can even be run from a portable USB thumb/jump drive, which may be carried in the user's pocket, making this reference perfect for students and those on the go."

Our dictionary has been mentioned on the front-page of the prestigious Wall Street Journal newspaper, and by the New York Times! Under development for over 10 years and with thousands of man hours of research and development behind its pages the reference was specifically designed to work with the differing needs of those who use it. The print version is broken into numerous volumes so you can easily buy only the volumes that are needed for your particular project, making it both affordable and practical. With the easiest to use index ever created in a rhyming reference, the words you need are instantly just a fingertip away. The print version is the world's most extensive rhyming reference ever created in the history of the English languageand represents the pinnacle of linguistic achievement of its type.

APPLICATION FEATURES

Designed for Portability / Thumb Drives
Has No Impact on System
Requires no heavy database engines to be installed
Does not harm Windows Performance
Contains no hidden Spy Ware!
Compatibility with Windows
Is 100% FREE with no nags
WHO COULD USE IT?

In many walks of life and professions there is a necessity for the clever manipulation of words and word sounds. The FREE ELECTRONIC VERSION of McGill English Dictionary of Rhyme is a tool for super-creativity and super-productivity. The President's speech writer could use it, CNN news writers, the world's leading news papers and magazines, a fourth grader, college students, the self-employed marketer, internet companies who publish content on the web, teachers, professors, the world's best selling authors, the struggling poet or playwright, advertising agencies, and anyone who is concerned with the rhyming relationships of words, such as: Ad Agencies, Children, College Students, Copywriters, Educators, High School Students, Journalist, Linguist, Lyricist...

Click Below to Download:

This Month's "On the Record": Pete Yorn

From the beginning of his career, singer/songwriter/rocker Pete Yorn has been the topic of numerous critical accolades. Rolling Stone, who picked Pete as one of the magazine's "Ten to Watch in 2001," gave Pete's debut album, musicforthemorningafter, a four-star (****) rating calling the album "…atmospheric, gently lit by sunlight and regret." Pete's debut album was certified RIAA gold as of April 24, 2002.

USA Today observed "The latest last great hope for the ailing singer/songwriter genre may vaguely resemble a young Springsteen….His insinuating melodies and lean…driving graceful arrangements evoke R.E.M.'s early work. It's impossible to pigeonhole Yorn's music…inspired quirkiness makes him, if not the future of rock 'n' roll, at least a promising new disciple."

Pete Yorn was born in New Jersey, his father a dentist, his mother a former concert pianist-turned-schoolteacher. He taught himself to play his older brother's drum kit at the age of nine and was learning the guitar by the time he was 12. Around that time, while vacationing with his family in the Bahamas, a fellow vacationer -- a girl from Pensacola, Florida -- introduced Pete to the music of Morrissey and the Smiths.

Pete started singing, and writing his own material, following a particularly memorable talent show at Montville (New Jersey) High School in 1990. Though he had never sung in public before, he was recruited by his bandmates to croon the Replacements' "Talent Show" from behind his drum-kit. The performance caused such a stir that the members of a different band in the competition cajoled Pete back to the stage to join them in belting out a raucous rendition of Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World." Since that night, he's never looked back.

After graduating from Syracuse University, Pete migrated to Los Angeles, where he began to attract a following with his performances at Cafe Largo. Bradley Thomas (producer of the Farrelly Brothers' "Kingpin" and "There's Something About Mary") caught Yorn's act and asked him to send along some rough demos for inclusion in the Farrellys’ Jim Carrey movie, "Me, Myself and Irene." The Farrellys used "Strange Condition" and "Just Another" in the film, for which Pete also composed the score. "Just Another" was also featured on "Felicity" and the Songs From Dawson's Creek Volume 2 album.

Pete's music has been included in original soundtracks for a number of films, including "Orange County" (2001), "Spider-Man" (2002) and "Shrek 2" (2004).

Pete Yorn has toured actively since the release ofmusicforthemorningafter and has shared bills with the Foo Fighters, Semisonic, Coldplay, REM, and others. He was the headline artist on the inaugural MTV2 Handpicked Tour and played drums on a set of Stooges covers with Iggy Pop, Mike Watt, and the Hives' Mike Vigilante and Pelle Almqvist at the second annual Shortlist Prize for Artistic Achievement at Los Angeles' Henry Fonda Theater.

Day I Forgot, Pete's eagerly-awaited successor tomusicforthemorningafter, was released in April 2003 to widespread critical acclaim and debuted at #18 on the Billboard 200 best-selling album chart.

Pete Yorn's last release, Live from New Jersey, a stunning full-length performance recorded at the Community Theater in Morristown, New Jersey, on October 29, 2003, was released in January 2004. Like Yorn's concerts themselves, his live album was a treasure trove for fans as well as an ideal introduction to the scope of Pete's music.

The Spot; A Gathering Place for Songwriters and Musicians

Getting to Know: Gregg Butler-Fells

Raul Midon, 'Pick Somebody Up'

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The Spot's Book of the Month: The Indie Bible