I'm Writing A Book, To Be Honest! (and other updates)
Well well well, it's been a while since I've been on here, hasn't it.
First things first. I want to send A THOUSAND GRATITUDES to everyone who has continued to support me on here while I've been taking a little break from making music and content. The money I make from here just about covers the rent for my studio, which is where I keep all my instruments and merch and gizmos and props and miscellaneous gubbins. I have truly needed this income from Patreon the last six months, whilst income from other things slows a little, so THANK YOU! You absolutely rock and/or roll.
I know some of you may have been curious about what I've been up to. I love having this space to be candid with you all, and I wanted to give an update!As has probably come across, it's been a weird and frankly Not Very Nice nine months in Emu HQ, with some very sad life changes and relationship redirections, alongside VERY nearly getting a job I've dreamed of doing since I was a very little tiny boy (SNL), and JUST missing out on it. Oh bother! This all added up to a pretty tumultuous and soul-searching wee time for a young feller from downtown Miami. In some ways, I nearly lost my mind! Never mind. I decided to use the Visa I have from the USA tour, and move to NYC for a few months, which is also something I've always wanted to do. So, I did. It's been variously incredibly fun, and a little lonely, and exciting, and funny, and uncanny. I've met many fantastic people, and one horrible one, and someone who sang the whole of Don't You Want Me by the Human League at me on the subway from start to finish. 100% life! Don't mind if I do.
To be honest, I needed a break from making content, to pause and learn what the next step on the Emu journey will be. Hunter and I have filmed a couple of new music videos ahead of the UK tour this autumn (tickets now onsale! winky wink), which were both great fun to make and I think are going to go down so nicely. We had taken a break for a little while, as he's had a beautiful little baby last year, and is crammed with work things. It was really fun to see him again and get back into it, if only briefly. One of the videos in particular is going to look nothing like anything we've done, which I'm really excited about. I'll be premiering it on the UK tour so don't miss that ;)Generally, music-wise, I'm waiting for a bolt of inspiration to guide me onto the next flagstone. On reflection, writing a big breakup album was really good for me emotionally and/or spiritually, and I'm proud of it, but I think it took a lot out of me creatively, and I can really feel I have lost the spark for songwriting for a bit. I guess I'm looking for a musical vessel for Jazz Emu that aligns where I am in my Understandings of It All these days, rather than just repeat the old formulas that aligned so well with the old version of Me, which will drive me to insanity if I keep trying to replicate them. I feel pretty confident something will come my way after the dust of tour has settled. Maybe something aggressively upbeat and silly is throbbing around in the rear halls of my noggin. Maybe? We'll see where the wind blows us!
On that note (and the true reason I'm here)... Whilst in NYC - without all my music equipment, and keen for a creative outlet - I spontaneously decided to write a book. It's a sci-fi comedy novel sort of situation. It's taken me a couple of months so far, and the first draft is still on the way to being finished (I'd guess I'm about 80% of the way there at the moment). It's sort of just spilled out, and in an interesting (to me) way, in that it relates in some way to my life, but only superficially (the events and some characters sort of have a parallel to my experience, I suppose, but without any of the actual details being nearly close to the same). I haven't overplanned it. I just dived in to find out where the story should go. I think I've realised in the process that I wanted to write a book about Looking, and Thinking, amongst a few other things. But mainly it's a goofy cartoon romp through a silly world that I've come up with.I've attached Chapter One below. Caveats!!! It's very much a first draft!!! etc. Indeed, I've never written a book before, or even considered doing so, really. But I like where it's going. I wanted to give you a little teaser of it as it is. I suppose, in some way, to gauge if anyone is interested in this kind of thing. Or what it reminds you of! Or what you think doesn't make sense in it! I don't know, really. We're trying out something new. Send me your thoughts.I've got dozens of these chapters. Forty to fifty maybe, so far! If you like, perhaps I'll drip feed them on here to reignite some Patreon excitement ;)
Finally, take care of yourselves and have wonderful days wherever you are. I appreciate you all a lot. Can you believe I quit my day job four years ago to do this? And here we are still humming along, as far as I can tell. I do love it. Long may it last. Lots of love
JE x