tag:clintonhoy.com,2005:/blogs/hey?p=6Words about music...2019-08-09T13:03:02+10:00One Proud Monkey Music 2017Everywhere needs a local music scene. Don't have one? Borrow ours!Chats with musos you've never heard of... but soon will!Clinton HoyfalseClinton Hoymusic@clintonhoy.comtag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/58522732019-08-09T13:03:02+10:002019-08-12T09:44:40+10:00I'm retiring... this blog<p>As a child of the 90s I often find it hard to force myself into new situations. Mainly I think because our music was so much better than any other decades (imagine being a child of the 00s… poor things) but sometimes there comes a time to er, move with the times. </p>
<p>It’s been clear for a while that musicians’ personal blogs weren’t the most in demand thing in internet world but I like writing so I kept going. Some of you even read stuff and replied, which made me feel all sorts of great things, so thank you, it was appreciated. </p>
<p>But as life’s spare moments dwindle in number I’m forced to look at what I want to take up my creative time. </p>
<p>I haven’t blogged since my album launch, for those of you who joined that you’ll know there was more than enough text to go around! </p>
<p>I figure that even having a website is a throwback of sorts - I used to love individual artists sites what with the news and blog rolls and lyrics and guitar chords, so much memories! Oh, fun times… </p>
<p>To be honest I read very few myself that aren’t solely album review blogs so it makes less and less sense to continue with mine and in some ways it hurts to let go but it’s not giving up! </p>
<p>Retiring the blog mainly means more time for writing songs and whilever anyone is listening I’ll keep doing that (I include myself listening to myself in the “anyone”). There’s more gigs coming, one (maybe two?) new EPs in the works and a podcast so I won’t struggle for things to do but for now at least, me writing about me, is retired. </p>
<p>So for all the years, thanks for reading. </p>
<p>I’m working on one last piece for the local paper and I’ll throw it up on the website when it comes out - might take a while, this one’s more of a think piece… </p>
<p>Maybe see you at a gig soon?</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/57496642019-05-10T22:09:20+10:002019-05-10T22:09:20+10:005, 4, 3, 2, 1...<p>The blog is going to be a bit quiet while the album launch experience runs... don't wanna overwhelm!</p>
<p>But if you're interested in taking part, click here to get my new album for FREE!</p>
<p><a contents="https://clintonhoy.com/launch" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.com/launch" target="_blank">https://clintonhoy.com/launch</a></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/57395092019-05-08T10:50:00+10:002019-05-08T10:50:16+10:00A droplet in the ocean<p>I read yesterday that there are 40,000 songs being uploaded to Spotify every day! </p>
<p>Which means you have no hope of hearing everything. So now we’ve destroyed that “paralysis of choice” that stops you choosing anything - you can, guilt free, just listen to whatever the hell you want knowing you’re always going to miss out on something - and that’s OK. </p>
<p>Maybe you want to <a contents="hear my new record" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://clintonhoy.com/launch" target="_blank">hear my new record</a>. Maybe you want to <a contents="join the experience" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://clintonhoy.com/launch" target="_blank">join the experience</a>. </p>
<p>In any case<first name="">, if you’ve chosen a song of mine from among the expanding universe of music, thank you for listening </first></p>
<p>Clinton</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/57395072019-05-02T10:47:24+10:002019-05-02T10:47:24+10:00Your invitation to something special<p>Short and sweet this week!</p>
<p>Sure, you're on my email list but I don't want to take anything for granted, so I'm asking people if they want to opt in to my album launch "experience" </p>
<p>It's something different for sure - but I've put so much into this record I feel like it deserves something grand like this. </p>
<p>If you want to take part, sign up here <br><a contents="https://clintonhoy.com/launch" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.com/launch" target="_blank">https://clintonhoy.com/launch</a></p>
<p>Aside from the entire album FOR FREE, you'll get a bunch of other stuff and be the among first in the world to hear the whole thing. </p>
<p>#spoiler - I hired a string quartet and it sounds good. </p>
<p>Hope you come along for the ride! </p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/57394992019-04-24T10:45:00+10:002022-05-11T15:21:30+10:00When I opened by big fat mouth<p>I saw a story in the Sydney Morning Herald a few days back about buskers having to audition for spots and it gave me chills… you know sometimes you get a feeling so strong that it only takes a sentence to bring it back years later. </p>
<p>Well this is 15 years later. </p>
<p>And the feeling is embarrassment. </p>
<p>Once upon a time, when I was living in Sydney, I told someone a story about how I’d just discovered that the council were not allowing music buskers to perform at Darling Harbour. </p>
<p>My outrage, fuelled by their disbelief about the injustice of it all pushed me to action - I contacted Triple J’s Hack program with my story and they lapped it up, as supporters of Australian music I think they saw a cause that needed airing. </p>
<p>The reporter contacted me and we organised to go on a “protest busk” - me, unlicensed, sitting next to the water, case out playing my tunes. I spoke a defiant game. “Great quotes” said the journalist (Rowan someone maybe, I can’t remember) and then for the main act. </p>
<p>I pulled out my guitar and started playing. </p>
<p>About half way through the first song, Mr Triple J and I came to the same conclusion. I was shit. And maybe that’s why music buskers weren’t given licences. Trying to ignore the obvious I pushed on. </p>
<p>After 3 songs and with 5 cents in my case I gave up, I used the “I have to go back to work” excuse (even though I’d taken the day off). </p>
<p>I’m still embarrassed now. I still cower thinking how (if) that story might have been recalled. </p>
<p>That’s one way to learn not to open your mouth unless you can back it up. </p>
<p>I’ve been thinking about doing some busking as promo for the new record, but rest assured. This time I’ve practiced! </p>
<p>Thanks for listening! </p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/57224662019-04-17T15:02:38+10:002019-04-17T15:02:38+10:00Can I tell you a story?<p>Can I tell you a story? </p>
<p>For two and a half years, maybe longer to a select few, I've been talking about puzzle pieces. You could be forgiven for thinking I was obsessed. </p>
<p>It started as a vague desire to collect the songs I'd written for myself or various other projects that were sitting unused, and putting them together somehow. </p>
<p>Getting the first four pieces done came easy, even if I wasn't as pleased with results (something for another post), then after the initial burst of momentum - nothing. And I can't even say why. </p>
<p>At one point in time, when I had the time to be finishing my album, I was deep in drum loops and house/drum & bass beats. And I can't even say why! </p>
<p>Creating something artistic is intrinsically rewarding, usually very much so - something this size is well... I expect it will take some time for me to appreciate it. </p>
<p>Suddenly another burst came and I finished the second part, (the "Corner Pieces" EP) and not long after that "Edge Pieces" was wrapped up (it'll be out soon!). I've spent the last two weeks doing the last tweaks on "Final Pieces" - I even hired a horn section... some crazy ideas here... but what it means is I'll be done soon and I want to celebrate by taking you through this record which is, many ways, the story of my life. </p>
<p>Should be a fun ride - I hope you're ready! </p>
<p>Thanks for listening, <br>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/57139052019-04-03T14:55:00+11:002019-04-10T14:53:08+10:00I can't do it all by myself<p>I can't do it all by myself - it's a powerful realisation for a someone trying to make a solo record, but taking a second more to consider, it becomes stark - this mammoth project I call "Pieces of Different Puzzles" has never been a solo project - my name is on the cover(s) sure, but I don't play every instrument, I only mixed one of the songs, I haven't mastered any of them. I didn't even write all of every song (the lovely verse lyrics of "Atmospherian" belong to Fred Randell of Civil Hands). </p>
<p>Then there's the encouragement of family and friends - yeah sure, that's not ON the album. But it is. You know what I mean. </p>
<p>I've worked with two very talented pianists, a drummer from the US who I've never met, I've had some good friends drop around and record guitar solos, got an ever reliable bandmate contributing bass to some songs... you see in all of this that, in my case at least, it's about as far from a "solo" album as the definition stretches. </p>
<p>And then there is you. The kind and dedicated listener - these posts don't go out to hundreds of people - your interest puts you in a select group. </p>
<p>Three years ago I started this crazy project and I had no idea how much time, energy, patience and goodwill it would devour (mine and other people's) but you are still listening, encouraging and supporting me. </p>
<p>We are nearly there. Truly I am humbled. </p>
<p>Thank you </p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/57048792019-03-27T12:55:00+11:002019-04-03T12:59:50+11:00The Saucepan<p style="text-align: justify;">I always get nervous when it comes to stating an opinion connected with my music. I've been told many times by many people that music and politics do not belong together (leaving aside that some of them are huge fans of Midnight Oil and John Butler Trio). </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As it happens a podcast ended up in my queue the other day talking about this exact subject... </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But I've begun to wonder, and certain life factors have underlined this lately, that if I'm not singing and writing about the things that I care about, am I not being dishonest with my audience? </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I've dabbled of course, suitably cloaked in metaphor, with political writing - One Proud Monkey tracks "Don Draper", "Judgement Day", "Democratik" and to an extent "Meat Tray" come to mind as candidates - but the message has been far from overt. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I've bought into the idea that people don't want to hear what I think or that I'm not qualified to have an opinion or a thousand other excuses - but while I'm not saying anything, there are people who oppose the things I believe in who are being very loud and forceful with theirs. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">And so it bubbles away, a saucepan of guilt barely, bubbles barely contained by the lid. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I can't do it anymore. I can't be disappointed by my own silence. I have to grow up and stand up. I have to be honest. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Thanks for listening, </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56864932019-03-20T18:30:12+11:002019-03-20T18:30:12+11:00Someone asked me<p>Someone asked me the other day, "How do you write a song?" which is a usual partner to "what comes first - the lyrics of the music?"</p>
<p>Truth is I don't know where any of it comes from, I can tell you the mechanics of it but so much of the rest is this kind of magic. How cool is that?</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56782832019-03-13T12:22:24+11:002019-03-13T12:22:24+11:00A week<p>"This time last year feels like a day ago, but Monday to Friday feels like a lifetime" - the opening lyrics to a song that'll be out soon on my new EP. I don't know where the line came from but it seems true most of the time.</p>
<p>The seconds have been flying by lately between recording my EP and helping out some incredibly committed people running our own festival here (Under Western Skies) - but when you're doing stuff you love... well you know what they say about time.</p>
<p>Hope you have something in your life like that!</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56703552019-03-06T13:55:36+11:002019-03-06T13:55:36+11:00I built it myself...<p>Crazy idea. I got a box from an old refrigerator and stuck soundproofing inside. I started recording... then I got in and sang.</p>
<p>If you have a goal and you're serious about it. Let nothing stop you. No matter how dumb it sounds when you explain it!</p>
<p>Thanks for listening,</p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56511002019-02-13T14:30:00+11:002019-02-20T14:26:15+11:00Off to a... start?<p>Time to get back into it huh? Hope your 2019 is off to a good start. </p>
<p>I’ve been forced to spend a bit more time reflecting (don’t worry, I’m not gonna tell you all about it... yet) - while I thought a chest infection might give my voice some kind of Tom Waits quality I neglected to realise that breathing was key to the words actually coming out… </p>
<p>At least, the music for three new puzzle pieces is done. There’s even a few special guest appearances coming but, being that I’m committed to dialling up the connection and ditching the “sell” that I may have inadvertently put out there, I really just want you to see inside what I’m trying to do. </p>
<p>Come by sometime</p>
<p>and thanks for listening!</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56264432018-12-23T18:55:00+11:002019-02-04T18:52:36+11:00Year of Different<p>2017 was a tough year. Personally. Creatively. </p>
<p>I wanted to leave that behind so 2018 was supposed to be "different" - indeed, adopting the philosophy of someone close to me in choosing a word to define a year, "different" was the word I chose. </p>
<p>If you aim high and dream big there will always be areas where things didn't happen as you'd expect, for good & bad... but I want to focus on the smiles. </p>
<p>I wrote some songs I'm really proud of, some you'll hear, some you've heard & some that may remain elusive but in that mix there's a song based on cut up trip hop beats, one written for the Eurovision competition, a couple written for international singers, some composed entirely on software instruments (i.e. synths and plugins). </p>
<p>There's the most heartfelt song I've written, there's the heaviest song I've ever written. There's life and there's lessons. </p>
<p>There was even a solo show with backdrops! </p>
<p>I wanted different and I feel like I got it. And I got a whole heap of support and encouragement for this thing I love doing. </p>
<p>And for that I thank you. </p>
<p>Hope your year has been great and that you'll get to spend some time soon with people closest to you. </p>
<p>Thanks, with the most appreciation text can express, for listening </p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56264422018-12-12T18:55:00+11:002019-02-04T18:51:40+11:00Things to be excited about<p>Things I'm excited about lately <br>*2019 <br>*Game of Thrones return <br>*The new album from the 1975 <br>*Seeing Gang of Youths live a few weeks back <br>*A summer holiday <br>*Finishing my record and getting it to your ears </p>
<p>I'm thankful that with all the things we have going on in the world I still get excited about simple things. </p>
<p>Anything you can add to the list?</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56264412018-12-05T18:50:00+11:002019-02-04T18:54:05+11:00Am I a sell-out?<p>I recently got a mention in the Q&A of this <a contents="CD Baby podcast" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=72f0f8fc265659dd29e704fc6&id=c32bd5b2b6&e=2c82b48502" target="_blank">CD Baby podcast</a> - I was asking a question about a previous episode that talked about cover songs. </p>
<p>I've been called stupid, stubborn and short-sighted for not previously incorporating covers into my shows - maybe it's time for a change. </p>
<p>Is it just smart business? Or am I a sell-out?</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56264402018-11-28T18:50:00+11:002019-02-04T18:49:49+11:00Great Australian Music<p>I’m about to watch the ARIAs (with interest) for the first time in maybe 5 years. I’ve been reading lately all sorts of things about us being in the midst of another wave of great Australian music. </p>
<p>Sounds good to me. Better than living in the past, right?</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/56264392018-11-21T18:50:00+11:002019-02-04T18:54:48+11:00Do You Even Like Music?<p>Well do you? Do you love it? Do you tolerate its place in society quietly fuming while the person in charge of the car entertainment system lets your Audible subscription go to waste? </p>
<p>I’ve been contemplating this a lot as a recent life change brought about the ability (necessity?) to start running again (aiming for 10km but who knows?) and needing a soundtrack. </p>
<p>According the my last.fm profile I’ve listened to more music this year than any other year in the past 12 except for 2006 (desk job, London winter, need I expand?) yet I feel like I’ve bought waaaay less of it. I probably have. I don’t go to as many concerts these days for mainly geographical and ageing reasons, so I don’t buy as much merch either. </p>
<p>Some months it’s probably only the Spotify subscription - so could I even argue that I love music? </p>
<p>I didn’t mean to talk for this long, honest, really I was only going to ask you what music you’re into at the moment? Anything new that excites you? </p>
<p>I’d really like to know. I’d especially like to know about the last time music moved you. Maybe the same song moved me too… and that’s where we re/discover our love? </p>
<p>Thanks for listening! </p>
<p>Clint </p>
<p>P.S. <a contents="If you’re looking for something different why not try&nbsp;this playlist featuring songs from the incredibly talented musicians who have, one one time or another, called my hometown home as well." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://oneproudmonkey.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=72f0f8fc265659dd29e704fc6&id=7257106b11&e=2c82b48502" target="_blank">If you’re looking for something different why not try this playlist featuring songs from the incredibly talented musicians who have, one one time or another, called my hometown home as well.</a></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/54042732018-08-28T20:34:16+10:002018-08-28T20:34:16+10:00No Need To Erase<p>One of the best things about being part of a local music scene is when you get to see a project grow and watch it realise what it could become. </p>
<p>Last Saturday night I was very happy to be taking my seat in a sold out Black Box Theatre for a gig that the new Songwriters and Original Musicians Association (SOMAD) put on for the launch of <a contents="Eraser" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/eraserau" target="_blank">Eraser</a>’s “Epilogue” EP </p>
<p>(<a contents="Listen to the EP here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0zzYWM8KTSdVDLJGiuUczP" target="_blank">Listen to the EP here</a>) </p>
<p>I’ve been fortunate to be involved with these motivated and highly driven artists since the first gig took place in Nolan (Furnell, keyboardist, bassist and all round king of sounds for the band)’s backyard. Granted it’s not your typical debut endeavour for an ambient electronic music project but I don’t think typical appeals to Nolan and Bec! It’s been great to follow their development from that idea and to see them grow with a depth of desire to produce something of quality. I have seen first hand the strategies for promoting the songs, I’ve seen passion for creating music that is the foundation of their sound. </p>
<p>And these are all parts of what makes the original music scene in Dubbo so exciting. Places are known across the world for their music scenes, Seattle is the one that comes to mind for me - but something about what we growing here in my good ol’ home town of Dubbo where there are a variety of fantastic song writers creating amazing songs gets my brain fired up thinking of the possibilities. </p>
<p>(<a contents="More about SOMAD here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lustforlive.com.au/about-us/" target="_blank">More about SOMAD here</a>) </p>
<p>I have no doubt that this effort to bring original music to the fore is a long way from done and may outlast my own music creation but you can’t help but be excited to see what the next 12 months (or 12 years) hold. </p>
<p>Thanks for listening (to us all!) </p>
<p>Check out some tunes from current and former Dubbo residents here - <a contents="This Is Dubbo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/user/1232614479/playlist/0IOiDyOgi4HeoZHpIftAyp" target="_blank">This Is Dubbo</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/226246/518bb2284479bab03744dcf685bec7513251c611/original/eraser-ep.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/53727792018-08-03T10:03:09+10:002018-08-03T10:03:09+10:00Strum along with this Building An Empire chord chart<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/226246/989f3e05028e102641b1b658b41c557d1d65e035/original/empire-chords.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/53570572018-07-22T11:20:22+10:002022-05-10T17:41:52+10:00Building An Empire is out!<p><strong>Building an Empire</strong></p>
<p>A covert mission unfolds, Apparently You’ve been assembling an army, Building an empire, With your King and Queen, He’s gonna topple a population, If you don’t keep an eye on him, Again around the sun we go and you’re, Years speeding by but days moving slow, Building an empire under my nose, King of the cheeky grin, Queen of the Sky blue eyes, You’ll get your subjects, In a willing line, And I’ll be first, To fall on my sword, To see you get, The best of the world, I’m trying to mind your world, I worry that you’ll be ok, But I look at you and laugh, Cause you’re already on your way…</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="sNTQfvl09ws" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/sNTQfvl09ws/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sNTQfvl09ws?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/52880382018-05-30T11:55:00+10:002018-06-11T11:56:26+10:00What Am I Good 4?<p>A few words about 4 on the 4loor and War4Water Concert coming up this weekend... a few apologies though, I didn't fact check - 4 on the 4loor - Orange has been going TWO decades which blows my mind. The day was windy so I used my handsfree but it sounds like it got caught up in my beard sorry... and Orange, I promise... it was only in the bad ol' days that I harboured a dislike, no longer - I promise! PS The captions are auto generated, I left it that way just in case it was hilarious(ly bad)... let's see</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="4ukxbNdNfeo" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/4ukxbNdNfeo/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4ukxbNdNfeo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/52304302018-05-12T18:51:20+10:002018-05-14T13:02:38+10:00Yeah, I'm talking to you...<p>A 2 minute chat :)</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="0KE7g70VCZQ" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/0KE7g70VCZQ/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0KE7g70VCZQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/50908462018-02-21T21:42:03+11:002020-07-31T11:55:30+10:00Choose Your Own Adventure<p>On and off over the past 2 or so years I've been working on a couple of different projects (there's that theme again!) and I thought it'd interesting to get some thoughts, now these are only early stage snippets but things I've had burning in the background. Some new styles & collaborations - maybe you like some, all, none... whatever... let me know & perhaps we can go on the adventure together :) <br><a contents="https://soundcloud.com/clintonhoy/the-year-of-different" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/clintonhoy/the-year-of-different" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/clintonhoy/the-year-of-different</a></p>
<p>What am I trying to achieve? Who knows... one thing I'm becoming more sure of is that these challenges drive creativity, the first sketch may not be a masterpiece but ultimately, exploring the tangents brings the most interesting ideas...</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/226246/79576ae618f23ce953ea3c23e09b765efc6417c9/original/img-6059.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/50530782018-01-31T14:42:37+11:002022-02-01T18:10:33+11:00Finishing<p>I’ve been reading a lot about just getting things done. Perfect doesn’t matter if you never finish it, in fact aiming for that probably means we never start. </p>
<p>Last year I had this idea of making <a contents="“Pieces of Different Puzzles”" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/album/pieces-of-different-puzzles">“Pieces of Different Puzzles”</a> a project where I continually added songs, an evolving album I guess – but I’ve recently realised that plays right into my tendency to have a bunch of ideas and work on them for years and never actually finish. So I’m going to change that – you can hear the demos now on my BandCamp page and feel free to see how everything develops, if you decide it’s worth buying all the behind the scenes stuff will be yours forever. At the very least it should be an interesting insight into what it takes to finish something… and move on to the next bright idea. </p>
<p>Thanks for listening </p>
<p>Clint</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/226246/17d51c761ea782e294e2bc3d2593d334adcc013f/original/dsc0049-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/50384422018-01-23T22:24:14+11:002018-01-24T20:32:50+11:00The Learning Curve (Part 1) <p>For 2018 I committed to approaching things differently, in fact, my recent approach has been to choose a word to drive my year - last year it was create, and I did - this year it’s “different” because I’m trying to push myself to explore things that I’ve never considered or may have scared me in the past. </p>
<p>Before you go searching, Part 2 is on the <a contents="One Proud Monkey" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://oneproudmonkey.com/home/blog/the-learning-curve-part-2">One Proud Monkey</a> blog :) </p>
<p>So I find myself in a hotel room in Gunnedah, there’s a pool outside my door which would probably be OK but its current occupants are blasting Alan Jackson and talking about how to “fix” Australia so I’m getting a kryptonitish reaction to the area, despite it being 42 degrees. </p>
<p>So how did I get here 3 weeks into the new year? You may have heard that I won a regional songwriters competition to play at the Tamworth Country Music festival. Now, I’m reliably informed that Tamworth these days is as much country as Bluesfest is blues… i.e. not so much… lucky, cause I don’t play country music… do I? </p>
<p>A lot of my music making life has been based around, and some may say limited by, the constraints I’ve put on myself - early on it was “I can’t sing” even though I loved writing lyrics and trying to make up melodies. I’d researched rock history and found a bunch of great writers who weren’t frontmen for bands… so I was OK with it. For a while. But sometimes you run out of water to douse the flames and the want to sing my own songs got too great. </p>
<p>So I started getting singing lessons. But I didn’t tell anyone ‘cause - well, REAL singers don’t need lessons right? That’s what I told myself… then I saw James Hetfield on a doco talking about HIS singing lessons. OK, so maybe they do. </p>
<p>There was a rough time where I almost put the guitar down for good, it felt like I couldn’t do what I wanted and I was forcing myself into situations that weren’t pleasant for me (or the audience honestly) but a chance meeting and collaboration in London kicked off the dream again (thanks Azza!) </p>
<p>I began writing songs I actually liked playing again, maybe for the first time actually, started playing at open mic nights, played a couple of “joke” songs ‘cause at least if people laughed then I could handle that… better than being ignored… </p>
<p>I listened to someone who told me if I wanted to play music and live in Dubbo I’d have to play covers, “‘cause no one likes songs they don’t know” - fair enough, but I wasn’t good at it. Not ‘cause I COULDN’T do it, because I didn’t want to… it just didn’t fit - like putting unleaded fuel in a diesel car (…and that’s the extent of my knowledge about cars) </p>
<p>When I play a song I wrote I get a buzz. And that’s all I wanted. An expression. An outlet. When I started to think about it I realised the only thing that’s ever really held me back was what I thought I was supposed to be. </p>
<p>So, this week, I’m going to play my songs for some people. Maybe some people will even think they’re country songs, maybe some people will even like them. And having that opportunity is very cool. When you embrace “different” the limitations fall away - it’s a beautiful feeling so I’m gonna go with it and see where I end up! </p>
<p>Thanks for listening </p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/49762222017-12-24T22:55:00+11:002018-01-23T22:52:34+11:00Most listened 2017: #11 - #2<p><a contents="#19-#25(ish) can be found here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.com/blog/blog/most-listened-2017-the-first-few">#19 - #25(ish) can be found here</a></p>
<p><a contents="#12 - #18 can be found here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.com/blog/blog/most-listened-2017-18-17">#12 - #18 can be found here</a></p>
<p><strong>#2 Kingswood — After Hours, Close to Dawn </strong><br>Perhaps a surprising choice, this one didn't get near the love of their first record, possibly for the same reason that I like it so much - they took some chances, experimented with styles. Great front to back listen!</p>
<p><strong>#3 Gang of Youths — Go Farther In Lightness </strong><br>What a band. What a record. Australian rock is in good shape at the moment. I even bought this on CD!</p>
<p><strong>#4 Dan Sultan — Killer </strong><br>Blackbird was a favourite of mine when it came out, but this might be better? Big call? All I know is it's a great record.</p>
<p><strong>#5 The Smith Street Band — More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me </strong><br>I love the lyrics here, but the music is great too... energy, cynicism, honesty... I see many more spins in the future!</p>
<p><strong>#6 Soen — Lykaia </strong><br>I think this turned up one day I was searching Spotify in vain to see if Tool were available yet. I've since listened to far more of these guys.</p>
<p><strong>#7 Caligula's Horse — In Contact </strong><br>From the time I knew there was an album due this year I was counting days and this does not disappoint (except for the spoken word track, skip that one). Ambitious and awesome!</p>
<p><strong>#8 Fractures — Still Here </strong><br>I heard the first single on the radio (yeah, I'm surprised that's still a thing too) - perfect chill out record.</p>
<p><strong>#9 Damien Dempsey — Soulsun </strong><br>Listen to the title track. Enough said.</p>
<p><strong>#10 Cold War Kids — La Divine </strong><br>I've been a casual fan for a while, IMO they've had the occasional standout track... but this record is solid!</p>
<p><strong>#11 At the Drive-In — in•ter a•li•a </strong><br>A nice return from these guys, I took a while to warm to it but in the right mood this one fits in very nicely!</p>
<p> </p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/49680312017-12-08T18:49:16+11:002017-12-12T21:38:35+11:00Most listened 2017: #18 - #12<p><strong>Top 25 of 2017 (based on most listens - updated daily from Nov 30 - Dec 24) </strong></p>
<p><a contents="#25 - #19 can be found here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.com/blog/blog/most-listened-2017-the-first-few">#25 - #19 can be found here</a></p>
<p><strong>#12 Sean Rowe — New Lore</strong> - You know I have absolutely no idea how I came across this fella, I think "Gas Station Rose" was the clip of the week on some website or something... anyway, once I heard it I was hooked. It's the standout but the rest of the record is pretty solid too. The gravity in his voice must be heard, definitely track this down if you're up for a little baroque pop (yeah, I didn't know what it was either before I read his bio)</p>
<p><strong>#13 Rise Against — Wolves</strong> - a favourite since I got the chance to see them live supporting System of a Down. There is definitely a more polished performance, more melodies and less yelling but I don't know that that means necessarily less passion. The soapbox lecturing is still there, although it sounds a little more tired, it's still worth a listen</p>
<p><strong>#14 Mutoid Man — War Moans</strong> - I'm calling it - discovery of the year - thank you Mastodon radio! (yes, another Spotify plug...) I don't even know how to describe this - it's loud but not overly heavy and the songs are catchy as. I'll be spending a lot of time next year exploring this band I think.</p>
<p><strong>#15 Beck — Colors</strong> - it pays to listen to other it seems... I've had a seriously on off thing with Beck, actually, mostly off - something I just couldn't grasp. I never doubted the talent but it rarely got me ("Sea Change" is an exception) but at the urging of a good friend I gave this record a spin. And then I didn't stop for a week. Equal parts dancey joy and pisstake, it's an excellent record.</p>
<p><strong>#16 Leprous — Malina </strong>- I have Spotify's Release Radar to thank for this. I'd never heard of this band until it randomly played me one of their older songs. In that vacuum that is waiting for a new Tool record I find myself drawn to the combination of heavy riffs and soaring vocals. In the past I've found it in bands such as Rishloo and 2017 gave us another great record by the Contortionist as well. If you're liking the names I'm mentioning then cue up Leprous!</p>
<p><strong>#17 Dead Letter Circus — The Endless Mile</strong> - reimagined songs to celebrate the original EP's anniversary. Don't get me wrong, the songs are good and I've listened to it a bunch of times for that reason, however none are better than the originals. Probably my favourite Australian band of the past decade, so I will always listen - but new stuff would be good!</p>
<p><strong>#18 Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit — The Nashville Sound</strong><strong> </strong>- don't tell my Dad ('cause this is a country album essentially) and we've argued for years about the merits of our respective favourite genres... I'm not conceding, simply saying that this a little bit country and I liked it (a little bit). Seriously, the lyrics in "If We Were Vampires" are worth checking out the record alone.</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/49558412017-11-30T21:29:29+11:002017-12-06T17:19:06+11:00Most listened 2017: #25 - #19<p>Check out the playlist on the main blog page as I keep updating this post to reflect the countdown :)</p>
<p><strong>Top 25 of 2017</strong> (based on most listens - updated daily from Nov 30 - Dec 24)</p>
<p><strong>#19 Propagandhi — Victory Lap</strong> - a cracker of an album, with an earlier release date this would have been way higher. These guys are one of those bands that you discover later than everyone else yet they change your perspective on music. Brutal honesty combined with harmony, melody and riffs. Do better, I dare you (I can't btw)</p>
<p><strong>#20 The War on Drugs — A Deeper Understanding</strong> - Another record I only came across by recommendation. I'm sure I've been snobby about this band before thinking it was one of those bands that only the Triple J elite types listened to 'cause no one else did... but I opened my ears and it opened my eyes 'cause these guys are really good, and the songs here... oh man... just have a listen!</p>
<p><strong>#21 Weezer — Pacific Daydream </strong>- Rivers Cuomo has written some of the catchiest songs I've ever heard, he's also written some pretty average ones too. Interestingly on this record he's chosen to work with pop songwriters which can often be anathema to longtime fans (see: Linkin Park) but I don't mind the results here. Some patchiness but if "Weekend Woman" isn't stuck in your mind for days after hearing it there's not much more I can do for you!</p>
<p><strong>#22 Ryan Adams — Prisoner</strong> - Once, way back, when I thought Ryan Adams was a typo, I didn't give a work colleague's recommendation a second thought. Then I heard the album "Gold", if I'm honest it's because I found it at work and was bored with everything else I'd been listening to. Since then has hardly been a dedicated following but I've kept an eye on what Mr Adams has done. The Taylor Swift cover album was an interesting PR experiment and other releases have piqued my interest but <strong>Prisoner</strong>, in my opinion, is his most solid in years. A good listen start to finish, something I've done more than a few times this year.</p>
<p><strong>#23 Rag'n'Bone Man — Human </strong>- I think I first saw this bloke on the Graham Norton show, colour me guilty of judging a book etc... from the first utterance of his vocal I was blown away. He's on the Bluesfest line-up too and I am keen!</p>
<p><strong>#24 Bernard Fanning — Brutal Dawn </strong>- Funny one this, Powderfinger were such a huge part of my formative music experiences that I really want to like their solo offerings too, so I repeat play them... yet it seems to happen so rarely. There was a great song (Wasting Time) on the companion record "Civil Dusk" but nothing so standout here. His impassioned performance at Inland Sea convinced me to go back for a listen and I might find something yet...</p>
<p><strong>#25 Meg Mac — Low Blows</strong> - an album I really started to appreciate after seeing Meg perform at Bathurst's Inland Sea of Sound. Simple, catchy, melodic songs. Nice work.</p>
<p>Honourable mentions to: Pallbearer - Heartless; Kyle Lionhart - Eleven & Two; Holy Holy - Paint, The Contortionist - Clairvoyant and Busby Marou - Postcards from the Shell House, apologies but you missed out by one single play (according to Last.fm)... good records though!</p>
<p> </p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/49514352017-11-28T13:25:09+11:002017-11-28T13:25:09+11:00Best* of 2017 (an introduction...)<p>Over the next few weeks I'm going to be counting down my favourite records released in 2017 - although the definition is a bit sketchy... I said "best" in the title 'cause it's more catchy but it's more like "most listened to" which has to mean something right?</p>
<p>Anyway, follow along on the blog or at <a contents="facebook.com/clintonhoymusic" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/clintonhoymusic">facebook.com/clintonhoymusic</a></p>
<p>But before we start, a few you won't find in the list, for various reasons:</p>
<ul> <li>Released or discovered too late to play a lot - <strong>Julien Baker — Turn Out the Lights </strong>and <strong>The National — Sleep Well Beast </strong> fit into this category</li> <li>Looked forward to but didn't cut it - <strong>Tim Rogers — An Actor Repairs</strong>, <strong>Steven Wilson — To The Bone</strong>, <strong>Trivium — The Sin And The Sentence </strong>and <strong>Queens of the Stone Age — Villains</strong> all fit into this category</li>
</ul>
<p>I'd be interested to hear yours as well</p>
<p>More soon!</p>
<p> </p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/49318102017-11-14T21:32:16+11:002017-11-14T21:32:53+11:00Slow Down Clint<p>I read something the other day which basically destroyed the way I work. But, it turns out it's a good thing, something I needed to realise.</p>
<p>The record I'm working on at the moment, <a contents='"Pieces of Different Puzzles"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/album/pieces-of-different-puzzles">"Pieces of Different Puzzles"</a>, currently has 6 finished songs and another 12 demos that I've set aside for it... and I'm also doing a songwriting course which thus far has meant I needed to write another 8 new songs. I have ideas for other projects, not to mention songs for <a contents="One Proud Monkey" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://oneproudmonkey.com" target="_blank">One Proud Monkey</a>.</p>
<p>Sometimes though, more isn't better, especially when starting more means finishing less. I want you guys to hear this music, so I'm going to start finishing... Maybe I'll be a little bit quiet for a while, but it'll be for the best, I promise.</p>
<p>Thanks for listening,</p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/48845032017-11-01T12:50:00+11:002017-11-01T12:50:19+11:00How The West Was (Probably Not) Won (This time… but may well be one day) - Part 4<p>What a journey (for us all, I suspect!) - here is Part 4</p>
<hr><p>Gig #4 – Coonamble </p>
<p>Outback Arts did so much work in putting this tour together and have been especially encouraging of my ideas of bringing original music to their slice of NSW it seemed fitting that we’d finish our run at their Outback Archies Awards Night. I was fortunate enough to have played the same night last year and have a lot of fun doing it. </p>
<p>Between Lightning Ridge and Coonamble we made a stop in Walgett so Dale could run a percussion workshop with his trusty Djembe. These workshops were the daytime activities between and at each stop and not being a basically capable percussionist, gave me a chance to play audience member. And I was impressed. When you know people for 86% of your life surprises rarely present themselves but I got a (another?) lesson from D.R. Freeman here. You can know how to play an instrument and be entertaining but knowing its story, where it comes from, how it was woven into the fabric of peoples’ existence and how you can translate that into a new story – that’s what makes you a musician. Our workshop attendees could see that, every day, and they were enthralled. I am taking notes. </p>
<p>Background music as it may have been, playing in an art gallery is its own test. Most of my vocals were performed an octave lower (some felt inaudible!) and you get to play with your own arrangements a little more, I enjoyed the challenge and the crowd mentioned a few nice things – some even remembered me from last year. Or remembered the Cole Clark more precisely. The funniest conversation was with a bloke who was at his first art exhibition and wasn’t sure if it was the correct etiquette to stand and watch the band rather than walk around. I assured him we were fine being the centre of attention. </p>
<p>Lesson #4 </p>
<p>I often run short of words trying to explain how much I live making music. It pumps blood through my veins and air through my lungs. It can be hard work and if you’re not prepared for that you’re cheating your audience, be it the mirror in your bathroom, your family & friends or a packed venue full of strangers. Many of my songs are the stories of my life and I love telling those stories but I’m also starting to realise the power of you connected my songs with your stories too… and that’s incredible. </p>
<p>Thanks to Outback Arts for supporting the tour. Thanks to the publicans who gave original music a place in the west and to Mr Dale Freeman for his lessons (musical and life), insight and talent. </p>
<p>Most of all thanks to everyone who gave me their time listening to songs they’ve never heard, to the people who shared their stories. I’ll be back real soon – if you’ll have me?</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/48845022017-10-25T12:45:00+11:002017-10-25T12:45:17+11:00How The West Was (Probably Not) Won (This time… but may well be one day) - Part 3<p>With 1/16th of a tank of petrol and paying no attention to the fuel gauge the journey continues...</p>
<hr><p>Gig #3 – Lightning Ridge </p>
<p>The forecast was for a 42 degree day. In September. Normally I would veto any suggestion of leaving the car and it’s apathy inducing A/C but en route to “The Ridge” is something worth the stop. In the town of Brewarrina there are built some fish traps. By which I mean: </p>
<p>The Brewarrina Fish Traps are a complex arrangement of stone walls… nearly half a kilometre in length, these fish traps are the largest known in Australia and were an ingenious invention long used by Aboriginal people to catch fish. The age of these fish traps is unknown and they may be one of the oldest human constructions in the world. – Brewarrina Council Website </p>
<p>Believe me, it’s an incredible thing to see and think about. </p>
<p>So anyway, 90kms from Lightning Ridge I realise the tank is empty. Dale isn’t legally allowed to drive and I can’t imagine him being too keen about pushing the van while I do. So I hope. Luckily this combination of hope and petrol gets us to our destination, just. The outdoor stage we were to perform on is painted in a Pink Floyd inspired mural however it is 39 degrees so we opt for an unobtrusive corner of the bar (aka “inside”). </p>
<p>Again, the crowd is appreciative. A family tries to give me $20 for a CD that I’m only talking about releasing – another lesson about tour preparation there – obviously I can’t take the money but the conversation that comes later is just as valuable. No that should be more valuable, it was worth way more than $20… I’m struck for the third time in as many nights by the willingness of people to give music they have never heard a listen. That doesn’t happen everywhere I can guarantee. </p>
<p>Lesson #3 </p>
<p>My friend and tour companion Dale is a gigging musician. This becomes obvious as I begin to struggle with the physical rigours of performing two hours of music for the third night in a row. And that’s nothing, imagine a year-long world tour! There’s a lot of emotion in my songs, in the writing and the performance, they mean a lot to me but while my back and shoulders are aching and my throat is getting a little raspy, Dale is still playing away, a piece of percussion in each hand, more hanging off his leg, sitting on a Cajon and operating the pedals with his feet… and somehow managing to make schooners of beer disappear at the same time! It’s probably called match fitness… or professionalism… truth is I’m playing more gigs this week than I have in some years. I need to put a bit more work in it seems. And it’s not only that. My first thought, after “humourously” rejecting the first Cold Chisel request we’ve had in three towns my thoughts turn to packing up and getting some sleep. Not Mr Freeman, he makes the connection with the willing requester and 10 minutes later knows his story, his reason for being there watching out music on a Wednesday night and eventually becomes his one-man karaoke machine as our new friend belts out “Flame Trees”. I have spent so much energy railing against calls to play covers – I felt, still feel, it comes from a genuine desire to encourage the creation of new music. In some ways it has made me militantly so – I could easily say I’m a product of my local music scene. More than a few people have been actively trying to establish a respected original music scene for the best part of three decades but sometimes, most times I suspect, it’s not about me. Maybe I might be beginning to understand.</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/48844992017-10-18T12:45:00+11:002017-10-18T12:45:17+11:00How The West Was (Probably Not) Won (This time… but may well be one day) - Part 2<p>Part 2 finds our fearless troubadours headed for <a contents="Bourke" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Bourke+NSW+2840/@-30.1913612,145.712553,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6b00671dd4029055:0x40609b4904403e0!8m2!3d-30.090661!4d145.9381941" target="_blank">Bourke</a></p>
<hr><p>Gig #2 – Bourke </p>
<p>I’d never been to Bourke. Heard lots about it, probably only 50% or less of which is true, like anywhere, so I was keen to go. Enthusiasm for the drive was tempered however by the realisation that my carefully curated playlist would be drowned out by the sound of the van… And Dale will back me up, those speakers are in the worst place Toyota, so get your act together and think of the musos. Anyway, as we shouted at each other in partially heard conversation it also became clear that I really should have taken two guitar cases, seeing as I had two guitars, and that the unseen corrugations in the road would punish me for thinking I could lay a Maton on some soft bags and everything would be OK. </p>
<p>It says something about the level of confidence one has in their presentation when you decide to play where the people aren’t so as not to interrupt – but they looked like they were enjoying dinner so it was onto the front verandah of the Port of Bourke Hotel we took ourselves. </p>
<p>I normally don’t like to drink alcohol when I’m playing – I’m not talented enough to overcome the inhibitance – but I also don’t like 35 degree nights without a beer… only one of those two options was palatable. </p>
<p>Lesson #2 </p>
<p>People won’t care about your music unless you give them a reason to. And “because they should” is not that reason. It’s hard to plan because attention these days is so split. Please don’t take this as a complaint, I love <a contents="making music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">making music</a> but if you’re hoping to do something with your music it’s so much more than that these days. An independent musician has to be a promoter, marketer, distributor and businessman among other things and, 100%, I am not as good at any of those things as I am at actually writing the songs. The Bourke audience were very receptive, more than I can honestly say I would be if someone were treating me to a two hour performance of songs I had no reason to care for, perhaps a bigger lesson is starting to emerge...</p>
<p>Part 3 next week!</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/48844972017-10-11T12:40:00+11:002017-10-16T22:04:24+11:00How The West Was (Probably Not) Won (This time… but may well be one day) - Part 1<p>Welcome to "How The West Was (Probably Not) Won (This time… but may well be one day)" - my multi-part recounting of the adventures I had with a good friend on a recent tour of Western NSW... hope you like light reading!</p>
<hr><p>I’d been thinking for a while that there was a need, maybe for my own curiosity or perhaps an overblown sense of faux-altruism, to take my music in the opposite direction to what most people aim. </p>
<p>No, I don’t mean to the bottom of the charts, although one could occasionally be forgiven for thinking that was my aim, instead I refer to west, rather than east. To the outback, rather than the capital cities. </p>
<p>A regular rant of mine comes up when bands announce “regional” tours, then hug the coastline – and I can’t argue definition, I’m sure the tours fulfil the definition of “regional” but I’m talking about the spirit here. </p>
<p>Midnight Oil, INXS, Cold Chisel and countless other acts whose music I’m regularly asked to play instead of my own have made the trip, so why aren’t we, as regional musicians ourselves, looking at the opportunities in that direction? </p>
<p>Kangaroos could be one reason. Or Goats. Both are regular obstacles on any long drive west and let’s be honest, you’re not getting anywhere in western NSW without a series of long drives. </p>
<p>With all this in mind I set off on a Monday with a friend of some 33 years to take some music on a little western circuit – Cobar, Bourke, Lightning Ridge and Coonamble – a taster for a bigger idea in 2018. </p>
<p>My travel companion, Mr Dale Freeman (of <a contents="Civil Hands, another cool Dubbo rock band" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.civilhands.com.au" target="_blank">Civil Hands, another cool Dubbo rock band</a>) was armed with enough hand drums to conduct some workshops of his own and enough podcasts to drown out my self-righteous proselytising regarding how playing my own songs was something something important for blah blah… ooh look – red dirt! </p>
<p><strong>Gig #1 – Cobar </strong></p>
<p>At times I didn’t think this gig was going to happen. Only because the venue was worried we’d be playing to an empty club. It was Monday night after all. In Cobar. “Don’t worry”, I assured them, “I’ve played to nobody plenty of times”. Maybe not the best elevator pitch I’ve ever employed but anyway… I could say the crowd was many times bigger than expected but they expected zero and as we all know many times zero is zero and there was definitely more than zero there. Two people tapping along, some nice encouragement from another and two free beers bought by some kind soul for us starving musicians because he enjoyed the tunes but couldn’t hang around. All in all quite a successful night, based on expectations. </p>
<p><strong>Lesson #1 </strong></p>
<p>Despite the vision for me doing being that this was taking <strong>my</strong> songs on tour, it’s not all about <strong>my</strong> songs. Or any songs even. It’s about the stories and the connections. Why would anyone who is not quite familiar with the layout of my hometown care about the “<a contents="Streets of Dubbo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/album/the-dubbo-ep" target="_blank">Streets of Dubbo</a>”? I can only think it’s the same reason I had REM’s “Leaving New York” on repeat despite never having visited New York. I could feel something in what Michael Stipe was singing. I’m not there yet, but if I can connect you all to my songs with the stories behind them then I’m on my way.</p>
<p>To be continued...</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/48388302017-09-06T18:40:00+10:002017-09-06T18:40:18+10:00The Pieces Are Falling Into Place<p>To do list:</p>
<ul> <li>Before we get to everything I want to say, I have to recommend the new Gang of Youths album - <a contents="Go Farther In Lightness" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.gangofyouths.com/music" target="_blank">Go Farther In Lightness</a>, seriously, go listen now, it's that good - Australian music is in a really good place right now.</li> <li>Send me a hello <a contents="https://m.me/clintonhoymusic" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://m.me/clintonhoymusic" target="_blank">https://m.me/clintonhoymusic</a> and I'll send you my new track "Stare at the Clouds" and you can be among the first in the world to hear it! (at the time of writing perhaps 12 people have heard this, so not first, but still pretty good.</li>
</ul>
<hr><p>So the pieces are falling into place, or so it seems. I'm in the midst of setting up a little adventure for those who want to take part and the first piece has dropped. You may have heard the song "We Are All Just Animals" when I sent out private links to mailing list people - well it's live for everyone now - <a contents="right here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/album/pieces-of-different-puzzles" target="_blank">right here</a>.</p>
<p>At this stage this release is only available on BandCamp, so I can add new tracks as they are finished and "discovered" - intrigued? I hope you are. I've been working really hard to find different ways of making you part of this experience of making music. Sadly, gone are the days (mostly) when we found time to buy new music, sit down with the headphones on and sing along with liner notes in hand. I read over and over and so closely that I have favourite producers! I guess I could google it now but it's just not the same.</p>
<p>If I close my eyes I can still remember the feeling of sitting on my bed, with the (then) new Stone Temple Pilots album "Purple" blaring out of the speakers. I'm reading the lyrics in the liner notes, honestly a little confused about what they meant... some fairly abstract stuff there Mr Weiland... but it's just a memory cemented, a great one too.</p>
<p>I want to get back to that, I want people to be excited, I want people to feel a part of all of this. There's a lot of new thought out there about how to do it in this fast paced tech based world but I'm gonna try and I think it'll be fun... and if you occasionally get some strange auto message that went out before I meant it too I apologise... but it'll all be worth it in the end!</p>
<p>Thanks for listening</p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/48202792017-08-22T20:20:00+10:002017-08-22T20:20:19+10:00Local Music Scene Episode 2: Simon Allen<p>Anyone who's been part of a music scene knows you can't do it alone - thankfully in Dubbo, we don't have to and periodically I'll have a chat to other local musos and share them with all of you! </p>
<p>In Episode #2 I have a chat to Simon Allen who plays around the area solo and with the <a contents="Simon Allen Trio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/simonallentrio/" target="_blank">Simon Allen Trio</a>, head on over to Facebook and give 'em a like!</p>9:39Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/48145382017-08-16T12:10:00+10:002017-08-16T12:10:17+10:00Want a Backstage Pass?<p>Of all the questions that keep me awake at night a big one is, as a musician, what can I give people (that they want!) - I'm starting to believe that the age of the free download for an email address is done. They're like toasters for wedding presents. There's never been a time where we have more direct access to the artists we like, yet many artists are stuck with the old ways. The "if you build it they will come" mentality. Thing is, so many people are building, and music fans only have so much time... so without taking too much more of yours, why not reply or comment on this and tell me - what can I give you?</p>
<p>I like experimenting with new ideas - <a contents="maybe you missed this Facebook post" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/clintonhoymusic/posts/1862644660730527" target="_blank">maybe you missed this Facebook post</a> - go on try it out - <a contents="a virtual backstage pass" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/clintonhoymusic/posts/1862644660730527" target="_blank">a virtual backstage pass</a> :)</p>
<p>Then put on your favourite song and remember why it is...</p>
<p>Thanks for listening,</p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/48078082017-08-09T17:29:56+10:002017-08-09T17:29:56+10:00Streets of Dubbo<p>There was going to be something else this week - but life happens right? Instead I did this, I hope you like it</p>
<p>LISTEN: <a contents="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/track/streets-of-dubbo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/track/streets-of-dubbo" target="_blank">https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/track/streets-of-dubbo</a></p>
<p>I used to think that waiting for this place to change <br>Was like sitting at Sandy Beach, waiting for a wave <br>Or my the chance of my return would be akin <br>To having my filmclip premiere up Bourke Hill at the old drive in </p>
<p>Streets of Dubbo are quiet <br>It’s only Wednesday night <br>And I’m resigned to staying here <br>Longer than I thought I might <br>Tomorrow morning I’ll be lined up <br>With everybody else at Fitzroy St roundabout <br>Until I find myself another way out </p>
<p>I had to come back but the motivation <br>Is as empty as the pool on a winter’s day <br>Why can’t I just go to the park <br>commandeer that rocket ship and fly away </p>
<p>Streets of Dubbo are quiet <br>Even though it’s Friday night <br>Looks like I’m staying <br>Longer than I thought I might <br>But I’m beginning to see the good <br>In having old friends close by <br>Maybe I’ll give this hometown thing another try </p>
<p>Can no longer see out of town <br>From the back oval of the old playground <br>Of all of the things we've left to say <br>Seems we’ve both grown up while I was away </p>
<p>The streets of Dubbo are quiet <br>On a Monday afternoon <br>I don’t see a chance that I’ll be leaving soon </p>
<p>We’ve come to an understanding <br>For all the years it took <br>Funny how you always find what you need <br>In the last place you think to look</p>
<p> </p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47892432017-07-23T17:54:41+10:002017-07-31T14:00:43+10:00Local Music Scene Episode 1: Fred Randell<p>Anyone who's been part of a music scene knows you can't do it alone - thankfully in Dubbo, we don't have to and periodically I'll have a chat to other local musos and share them with all of you!</p>
<p>First up is Fred Randell from Civil Hands (with some bonus live audio at the end!)</p>
<p> </p>12:25Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47843632017-07-19T17:35:00+10:002017-07-19T17:35:25+10:002017's Best Albums (so far)<p>...according to me </p>
<p>Mastodon - Emperor of Sand </p>
<p>Rag 'n' Bone Man - Human </p>
<p>Dead Letter Circus - The Endless Mile </p>
<p>Kingswood - After Hours, Close to Dawn </p>
<p>Fractures - Still Here </p>
<p>Rise Against - Wolves </p>
<p>The Smith Street Band - More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me </p>
<p>Sean Rowe - New Lore </p>
<p>Father John Misty - Pure Comedy </p>
<p>Damien Dempsey - Soulsun </p>
<p>At The Drive In - in.ter a.li.a </p>
<p>Busby Marou - Postcards from the Shell House </p>
<p>Anything I'm missing?</p>
<p>Love to hear your list too!</p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47758632017-07-12T17:30:00+10:002017-07-13T11:20:05+10:00Scared In The Studio<p>I find writing songs easy. Relatively easy, compared to other things I've tried. Writing good songs is a completely other matter...</p>
<p>Over the past few years, coming up with the ideas hasn't been the problem but finishing them? I don't do it on purpose, perhaps it's a subconscious thing, as in don't release anything and the rejections never come.</p>
<p>But the time came - and with more than enough new songs for the <a contents="One Proud Monkey album" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://oneproudmonkey.com" target="_blank">One Proud Monkey album</a> I wanted to turn some of the other ideas into songs as well (they're not rejects mind you, I'm not giving you the scraps that the band didn't want, they're just... different... take that as you will)</p>
<p>Thing is, the band have become a bit of a security blanket for me, I've got people to bounce ideas off who are also invested in the result, so honesty abounds. But yesterday, standing in a proper studio working on a proper solo project I felt... well in a non Matchbox 20 song way, alone and a bit scared.</p>
<p>What if the songs are total shite? What if the lyrics are terrible? When did I lose a sense of what makes a good song? What if this is all unfounded paranoia?</p>
<p>This is what happens when you try and create something, the hours, days, even years that go into making something that goes for 3 minutes...</p>
<p>What I realised is there's only one way to find the answers and that's finish something and put it out. So here goes... </p>
<p>Thanks for listening,</p>
<p>Clint</p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/226246/f15c7a7131c83753b09c26f395f06850e8e1dc95/large/img-6056.jpg?1499833019" class="size_l justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/226246/b6b878145b26f156f9434c4481366b0955e21b72/large/img-6063.jpg?1499833019" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47672742017-07-05T14:57:04+10:002017-07-05T14:57:04+10:00A Live Recording<p>I'm on holidays as I write this so forgive my brevity (or perhaps welcome it?). I had hoped to have a high quality recording of my set from last weekend's Lust for Live show to share however it seems I'm still to learn the "save file before disconnecting" lesson, so that recording only contains one song.</p>
<p>Instead I'm sharing the audio from the Periscope recording that went out live on Twitter (156 people tuned in so that was reasonable!) so as long as you're not expecting pristine high fidelity you may still enjoy it :)</p>
<p><a contents="http://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/album/lust-for-live-july-2017-bootleg-recording" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/album/lust-for-live-july-2017-bootleg-recording" target="_blank">http://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/album/lust-for-live-july-2017-bootleg-recording</a></p>
<p>Feel free to let me know your thoughts about the performance, positive or not!</p>
<p>Thanks for listening!</p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47595802017-06-28T13:03:04+10:002017-06-28T13:03:04+10:00Getting stuff done<p>One reason I picked the word "create" to sum up my year is I wanted to drive towards not only coming up with ideas but actually finishing projects. It probably sounds like I keep saying there's something new around the corner and you're never actually going to hear new music, but there is, and I promise you will. </p>
<p>A big part of the first 6 months of 2017 has been moving the pieces into the right place, setting up the board if you want a chess analogy (and who doesn't?) One Proud Monkey has taken up a chunk of my creative time (you know there's a <a contents="website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://oneproudmonkey.com" target="_blank">website</a> for the band too, right?) and we're expecting half an album's worth of mixes back any day now, but I get heaps of crazy ideas all the time - in fact my iPhone memos are filled with scratches of ideas and half finished songs. </p>
<p>I've offered to write songs for people this year but time isn't infinite - thankfully, or procrastination would be epidemic I fear - and I've also been exploring ideas outside of my usual pop/rock/acoustic fare. </p>
<p>In a way I'm putting all this out there in the hope that it'll keep me honest but if I meet my expectations you'll get a One Proud Monkey album, a solo album and EP, an electro-pop experiment, something heavier and something lighter, some co-writes with some really great local performers and some off the cuff stuff I'm trying to organise around weekend recording sessions, honestly I'm excited just writing this. </p>
<p>I had the chance to sit down with a local film maker last week, he's doing a documentary on the local scene and he asked me what could be done to improve things around here and I said something along the lines of that local artists need to start releasing the amazing music they are making. Not saying that I think everything I make is amazing per se but I really want to lead this by doing, so I'm spending the next 6 months ticking off every project I've just promised. </p>
<p>Also, if you're on that edge I want to help pull you across the line - I'd love to see as many people in the area write and release their own music, if you feel like you need a shove, get in touch - I feel like there's a wave breaking around original music in these surrounds so jump on the board! </p>
<p>Thanks for listening, </p>
<p>Clint </p>
<p>PS If you do want an early listen to the new One Proud Monkey stuff, please check out the website. All my projects will be released through here, my newsletters and <a contents="clintonhoy.bandcamp.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">clintonhoy.bandcamp.com</a></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47522042017-06-21T19:35:42+10:002017-06-21T19:35:42+10:00My Favourite Songs - Episode 01<p>Something a little different with this post - 'cause not everything is about me (reasonably sure...)</p>
<p>People who know me will attest that, next to music, one of my favourite activities is talking - so talking about music makes a hell of a lot of sense.</p>
<p>A little while back I talked with a very good friend about his favourite band, Pearl Jam (just so happens they're mine too)</p>
<p>My guest for this little tangent was Will North, journalist extraordinaire and Pearl Jam fanatic, and Will's almost insurmountable task was to cull the giant PJ catalogue to his favourite 10 songs - listen in to our conversation here - <a contents="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vRbJBHtHzE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vRbJBHtHzE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vRbJBHtHzE</a></p>
<p>I've got a few more episodes lined up but if you're reading this and thinking it sounds like something you'd like to be a part of - get in touch!</p>
<p>Enjoy the countdown!</p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47442662017-06-14T18:55:00+10:002017-06-14T18:55:23+10:00Why You Haven’t Heard Any New Music In A While And What I’m Doing About It<p>I had plans… closing in on my 39th birthday I’d set a few creative goals and… well is it possible to half tick a box? </p>
<p>The thing about creating something is that sometimes it doesn’t come out as you imagine. Take drawing for instance, I’m a horrible drawer, like utterly unrecognisably terrible. </p>
<p>I tried drawing a push lawnmower in Year 6 (I’m sure there was a good reason for it) and I got in huge trouble for being obscene (just think about it a sec… yep, there you go) </p>
<p>Don’t get me started on my sculpture story either… proudly on display for 14 years because my Mum didn’t have the heart to tell me nobody knew what it was… </p>
<p>Music has at times been the same but more because I heard other sounds, strings, piano etc that I couldn’t produce so the songs never came out how they were embellished in my imagination anyway. </p>
<p>I’ve been working on and off all year on a group of songs, two I’ve played live (Stare at the Clouds and Autumn Leaves) and a few others… but they’re just not sounding as good as I know they can be - so I don’t want to share them yet… </p>
<p>BUT… in the interests of mixing things up I’ve booked some studio time for myself, so I can concentrate on my jobs and let someone else do the rest. That’s in early July so if you can hold tight a little longer… </p>
<p>I think it’ll be worth it… </p>
<p>There’s also a bunch of other stuff I want to send you soon - if you can’t wait check out <a contents="http://backstage.clintonhoy.com/AAA" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://backstage.clintonhoy.com/AAA" target="_blank">http://backstage.clintonhoy.com/AAA</a> and you’ll get in first :) </p>
<p>Thanks for listening, </p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47362712017-06-07T16:53:12+10:002017-06-07T18:06:09+10:00Am I An Idiot?<p>Am I an idiot? No it’s not supposed to be a rhetorical question… let me explain… </p>
<p>I got some good news today, there was a song competition that I entered recently, covers and originals were allowed so naturally I entered one of my songs “<a contents="Midnight in the Afternoon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/track/midnight-in-the-afternoon-2" target="_blank">Midnight in the Afternoon</a>” and I was quite happy to be chosen to go through to the final 8 and perform at the final in Sydney. </p>
<p>Oh, did I mention that the first prize was $3,000? - not too shabby… </p>
<p>So they just needed to give me a few details. The final would consist of the 8 finalists playing one song and having scores created from judging and audience reaction. </p>
<p>The only real rule was that I MUST play a cover in the final </p>
<p>[record scratch] </p>
<p>Hold up… what? I made the final on the strength of my original but I have to play a cover in said final? </p>
<p>All within in my power of course, I am capable of playing a cover, I don’t know that it would be any good… I’ve tried once or twice for local radio and the results have been mixed at best… the truth is, for better or worse, it’s not where my strengths lie. </p>
<p>I told the person who had originally given me the good news that I would give a much better performance of one of my songs and that I haven’t seriously performed covers in 15 years (busking on a Newcastle street as I remember). </p>
<p>Still, I was told, it wasn’t allowed. End of. Anyway, if I didn’t want the spot there was a waitlist. </p>
<p>So I gave up my spot in the finals, it’d serve someone who is serious about covers better anyway, and as such gave up my 1 in 8 chance of winning $3,000… but it’s not about the money, it’s about being true to what I’m trying to do. </p>
<p>Maybe I’m too stubborn for my own good? Maybe I truly am an idiot to pass up such an opportunity… maybe I just want to create, which is after all what 2017 is supposed to be about. </p>
<p>I love making original music and helping others do the same and in the end, that’s more than enough for me. </p>
<p>Thank you, for listening, and supporting my music </p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47281492017-05-31T18:10:22+10:002017-05-31T18:10:22+10:00Say What You Mean<p>Say What You Mean </p>
<p>I was playing a new song idea for my wife the other day (which I occasionally do in the middle of her favourite TV show) and she made an astute observation (which she is quite good at, one of her many fine qualities)… </p>
<p>“It’s funny”, she said, “that you’re often more outspoken about things in your songs than in your everyday life.” </p>
<p>That hit me like a runaway horse cart… I had always held myself as someone who stood up for what they believed in and wore my heart on my sleeve, I have many friends who (unfortunately for them sometimes) have found that I’m rarely short of an opinion… but upon reflection maybe how I've viewed myself isn’t the case? </p>
<p>The song in question, tentatively titled “Just Animals” is a quite blatant call to arms around taking care of the planet, something I’m very concerned with, but how would you know? </p>
<p>I’ve probably erred on the side of playing it down the middle, thinking that if I offend anyone that I’ll lose a music fan… but what does that leave you with besides the empty feeling that comes with simply getting into line… </p>
<p>It’s come up occasionally - I wore a shirt once on stage that said “Stop The Abbotts”, I thought it was clever, except my guitar covered it up. I’ve written no CSG on my arm but didn’t mention a word about it. I’ve written songs expressing displeasure about our government’s poor treatment of refugees and its discriminatory approach to same sex marriage (in <a contents="One Proud Monkey’s Don Draper" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://oneproudmonkey.bandcamp.com/track/don-draper" target="_blank">One Proud Monkey’s Don Draper</a>) and the apathy we have that allows the elected to get away with almost anything (Judgement Day and Democratik) but you may have missed those… and that’s my fault… </p>
<p>I’ve been watching <a contents="The War on Waste on the ABC" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/war-on-waste/" target="_blank">The War on Waste on the ABC</a> lately, mostly with my mouth agape, and listening to a <a contents="podcast by The Minimalists" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.theminimalists.com/" target="_blank">podcast by The Minimalists</a> plus I've read some great books, <a contents="Happy, by Derren Brown" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30142270-happy" target="_blank">Happy, by Derren Brown</a> and <a contents="Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23692271-sapiens" target="_blank">Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari</a>. It’s all information and education. It’s motivating. So from now on, I promise, I’m going to say what I mean… and maybe a little bit louder than before.</p>
<p>Thanks for listening </p>
<p>Clint</p>
<p><a contents="http://www.twitter.com/clintonhoymusic" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.twitter.com/clintonhoymusic" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/clintonhoymusic</a></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47197562017-05-24T09:01:25+10:002017-05-24T10:11:51+10:00Manchester<p>I’m writing with hesitant hands… because there’s something I want to say and I don’t know how to put it so that it gets the intended meaning across. Sometimes I use songs when all other communication channels fail me but that’s not appropriate this time. </p>
<p>I was going to write about Chris Cornell, how much he influenced me as a songwriter and how his music had saved me from another life path with a really shitty soundtrack but then some coward decides to murder a bunch of innocent, young music fans. It makes me feel sick and everything else pales in comparison. </p>
<p>Maybe you don’t care what I think, that’s okay, I don’t mind. I don’t have any qualifications or anything... I once lived in a city when it was attacked but that's all. I think what gets me is that people won’t feel safe attending music events anymore and that’s one place we should all feel euphoric – few things compare to seeing your favourite artist sing your favourite songs in person… but those feelings suddenly seem too far away. I almost feel like I should stop because whatever comes next will sound cliche or insincere – it’s absolutely not, but the written word sometimes isn’t sufficient in inexperienced hands – my belief is that incidents like this should not change us or harden us to the world... but I’ve never lost any one this way… really I’m just sorry this happened at all, I feel sorry that something is broken and I don’t know how to fix it. I’ve always used music for those situations but I don’t know if that’s going to work anymore. I think it’s up to love.</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47104552017-05-16T21:16:05+10:002017-05-16T21:16:05+10:00More Than Words<p>In my songwriting it has been very rare for me to write music without lyrics to go along with it, even way back before I had any inkling that I’d one day end up singing (trust me when I say if you told the 18 year old me I’d be singing in a band 20 years later he’d still be laughing now… and have his fingers in his ears in preparation). </p>
<p>I’ve written lyrics in a couple of ways. Once I copied the syllabic rhythm of a Smashing Pumpkins song and replaced the words with random words of my own (I don’t know why - it was during a Year 11 Chemistry exam and it seemed a better use of my time). </p>
<p>Another time I was convinced that story writing was the go, except in truth I hadn’t lived enough life to be telling stories just yet. </p>
<p>The lyrics for Ozone, a song on One Proud Monkey’s first EP, were written driving to and from work in Wellington, NSW, with the song’s music playing on repeat while I sang gibberish (initially, though you may think similar of the end product) </p>
<p>But somewhere along the line I stumbled across the writing of Pat Pattison, a lyric writer and coach, and I started exploring this idea of sense-bound writing and I was hooked. </p>
<p>Sights, smells, sounds and more infiltrated my lyrics, the songs became metaphor heavy and I started to realise the depth you can explore when writing songs. </p>
<p><a contents="In The Morning (another One Proud Monkey song)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/5hEQh9plODIci9pb3t3XJG" target="_blank">In The Morning (another One Proud Monkey song)</a> actually started as a simple writing exercise from one of Pat’s books and turned into (perhaps, maybe) my favourite of my own writing. </p>
<p>On <a contents="my last solo EP “Bones”" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/20id4i2ZWy7cM7CcepuHJi" target="_blank">my last solo EP “Bones”</a> I tried really hard to conjure imagery with the lyrics and connect to feelings that everyone has, hopefully I went someway to succeeding but there’s always something else to learn and explore. And create. And that’s why we keep going, looking for that next song. </p>
<p>Thanks for listening, </p>
<p>Clint </p>
<p>Oh! I promised you an example of an exercise last week didn’t I? Here’s a nice simple one to try - give yourself 5 minutes, I want you to think of “The Sky” - write down what you hear, see, smell and feel… I’d love to see what you come up with!</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/47016532017-05-09T18:31:00+10:002017-05-09T18:31:00+10:00I Only Read It For The Lyrics (Part 1)<p>One thing that the digital consumption of music has done is change the way I've engaged with music. It used to be a favourite activity of mine to sit with a new record and read through the lyrics. In fact there was a specific disappointment reserved for setting everything up and finding only photos in the cover. </p>
<p>What about you? Are you a lyrics person? If there's a good tune does it matter what the song is about? </p>
<p>Unless it was a prescribed task at school, I've always enjoyed writing as a creative pursuit, I think having Banjo Paterson poems as my bedtime stories contributed a lot to this but I've always focused on lyrics and wanting to understand what a song was "about". </p>
<p>Some of my favourites… </p>
<p>“No matter how cold the winter, there’s a springtime ahead” - Eddie Vedder (<em>Pearl Jam - Thumbing My Way</em>) </p>
<p>“When the hills of Los Angeles are burnin’, Palm trees are candles in the murder wind” - Greg Graffin (<em>Bad Religion - Los Angeles Is Burning</em>) </p>
<p>and more recently… and locally </p>
<p>“About the only thing time will tell, Is you to go f**k yourself” - Paul Dempsey (<em>Paul Dempsey - Nobody’s Trying To Tell Me Something</em>) </p>
<p>“Staying in a hotel full of pilots I can't believe that they are smoking, If you’d mastered the art of flight why would you spend half your time choking” - Wil Wagner (<em>Smith Street Band - Death To The Lads</em>) </p>
<p>Very honourable mentions in my book also go to Eminem, Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Tim McIlrath (Rise Against), Tim Rogers (You Am I) and Zack De La Rocha (Rage Against The Machine)… I’m sure I’m forgetting some… anyway </p>
<p>Two new releases of the past week have an interesting take on lyrics. At The Drive-In (who I'm incredibly happy to hear new music by) have always confused me, I find the lyrics near nonsensical but somehow capable of conveying intense emotion. Then there's the Icelandic artist Ásgeir, whose Dad writes his lyrics... both of these albums are a good listen, check 'em out if you're inclined.</p>
<p>But I'm interested, how important are lyrics to you in this age of streaming consumption? Who are your favourites? </p>
<p>Next week I'll take a look at the lyric writing process and it'd be great to hear from you as part of that. </p>
<p>Thanks for listening! </p>
<p>Clint<br><br>Spotify Playlist - <a contents="https://open.spotify.com/user/1232614479/playlist/08GhggryvRYNvc9kFW0K8P" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/user/1232614479/playlist/08GhggryvRYNvc9kFW0K8P">https://open.spotify.com/user/1232614479/playlist/08GhggryvRYNvc9kFW0K8P</a></p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/46946702017-05-03T17:12:09+10:002017-05-03T17:12:09+10:00Oh dear, an idea<p>I've always liked coming up with new things, keeps the creative process interesting... but over the years I've come to value an important part of the process - the idea filter. </p>
<p>Many years ago I recorded my very first EP. Despite the great efforts I went to bury every copy under tonnes of landfill at the Dubbo tip, some copies still exist. You should not seek these out. I mean really don't (it's not reverse psychology I swear on my Pearl Jam t-shirt). </p>
<p>It was from an interesting time in my life where I felt I couldn't really bounce ideas off people, I was expecting that if I was going to write songs I had to be good enough to do it alone (this same period also produced such ill-fated ideas as my comedy thrash metal project Dustcougher and a couple of hip hop tracks under the moniker Rizpekt so you can see what kind of trouble I was in) </p>
<p>The positive in all of these endeavours was that I learned to value honest feedback and while from time to time I still rush through projects and wish later for a time machine, I'm really appreciative of the time people have taken to listen to my music and tell me, honestly, what they thought. </p>
<p>Without the reliable filters I now have I could be neck deep in an experimental hip hop/country project and not realise people had stopped talking to me years ago... </p>
<p>Having said that, there are 5 things I’m working on to live up to my year’s motto of CREATE and I’ll be sharing real soon so keep an eye on the website </p>
<p>Thanks for listening! </p>
<p>PS I'm very interested to know what sort of stuff you like to get from the artists you follow - free stuff, personal stories, some kind of VIP access (send me an email and let me know)</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/46850952017-04-26T16:25:00+10:002017-04-26T16:25:24+10:00Old friends<p>I went to see a favourite band of mine last Friday (the Tea Party) with a friend of many, many years. As these trips can often go we spent a lot of time talking about the past (also spent a lot of time talking about the future lest you think we were "good old days"-ing). </p>
<p>At one point in the reminiscence I started talking about this concert I helped put on with another couple of good mates way back in 1998. </p>
<p>Being the idealistic young gents we were and seeing the lack of an original music scene in Dubbo we thought we could, should, do something about it... and being the idealistic young gents we were we gave ourselves a month... and you know it worked out pretty well - 6 bands, 100 something people... it continued for 3 more years and grew to have 3 stages, 50+ acts and more than 12 hours of music. I'm still immensely proud of "Back to the Grind", </p>
<p>...but more about that another time... </p>
<p>I mention BTTG because I was talking to my friend about the band of mine that played, Lemin Yellow Sun, and how I'd recently reconnected with the old lead singer and we talked about recording the old songs and maybe some new ones... I was saying how excited I was about the project and how good reconnecting felt, then I moved on to another of my latest rants (as I tend to...) </p>
<p>So anyway, we pulled up at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel for a pre gig ale, having to go to the second level to find a solitary empty table. I take my seat and hear "Clint! Hey Clint" - 400km I'd travelled, sitting at the only available table at a randomly selected establishment only to find myself next to Steve, the aforementioned singer of Lemin Yellow Sun. </p>
<p>Sounds like universal forces want some more Lemin Yellow Sun music too and how can I argue with that.</p>
<p>PS I'm not the world's best promoter (contrary to appearances) and sometimes I forget to tell people what I'm doing, if you're interested follow me on Spotify <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0aMLSkPsLTxPBncrV9ePHZ">here</a> and/or YouTube <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2tVrvlKOoPRwT0K0pf2kPw">here</a> and/or BandCamp <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://clintonhoy.bandcamp.com/">here</a> and/or Twitter <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/clintonhoymusic">here</a>... that should just about cover it!<br><br>I'm not around Facebook at the moment as part of a 100 day charity challenge - details <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://give.everydayhero.com/au/clint-s-centurion-challenge-2017#/?_k=j6bbii">here</a> - and there'll be some musical developments around that too hopefully!</p>
<p>Thanks for listening!</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/46759312017-04-19T09:49:47+10:002017-04-19T09:49:47+10:00The Other Day... 21 years ago...<p>I was reading the other day that it had been 21 years since Rage Against The Machine released “Evil Empire” - I got to thinking about when I was 17 and how much fun it was playing the opening riff to Bulls on Parade over and over and over again (in truth that’s the only part I was good enough to play) </p>
<p>It’s still a killer riff… but anyway… after that I was hit by this realisation… Twenty One Years… that’s a long time, man I feel old… </p>
<p>It’s always good to remember where you came from I guess… </p>
<p>Even better though is finding a new favourite, just when you thought all the good songs had been written. I’ve always tried to seek out new music and I hope you do to, otherwise you might miss the next thing that’ll change your life. </p>
<p>I get it, sometimes it’s hard, sometimes you just wanna sing along to what you know but remember how it felt when you first heard those songs… that can happen again… </p>
<p>Not much to talk about when it comes to my music this week, so I thought I’d share some of my discoveries of the past year or so, maybe if you haven’t heard these artists your new favourite will be in this list? </p>
<p>Mastodon </p>
<p>Sean Rowe </p>
<p>The Smith Street Band </p>
<p>Rag’n’Bone Man </p>
<p>Kingswood </p>
<p>Frightened Rabbit </p>
<p>Circa Waves </p>
<p>Fractures </p>
<p>Glen Hansard </p>
<p>Pete Yorn </p>
<p>Charlie Simpson </p>
<p>Soen </p>
<p>Paper Arms </p>
<p>Caligula’s Horse </p>
<p>Opeth </p>
<p>By the way… while I’m recording on my new projects there’ll be some “behind the curtain” stuff being made available, keep an eye on <a contents="clintonhoy.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://clintonhoy.com" target="_blank">clintonhoy.com</a> for details</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/46660762017-04-11T18:50:00+10:002017-04-11T18:51:09+10:00The First Song I Ever Wrote<p>So the first song I ever wrote, at least the one I can remember writing, came about in unlikely circumstances. The only thing more unlikely is that you’ll ever hear it. I mean I don’t really remember how it went any more… I can only recall the following scant details. </p>
<p>I was 11, I was at my Nan and Pop’s house and I was playing outside. Instrument of choice? Well that would be a fencepost, held like a guitar of course, though I could still feel the energy in those big pretend strums. </p>
<p>It was called “Monstrosity” and was written mainly about the thistles in the paddock we were standing in. All of this sounds very metal but that was light years away from what I was listening to at the time (which ranged from Naughty by Nature to Boyz II Men - which I’ve told plenty of lies about but if there’s a place to come clean it’s on a blog entry right?) </p>
<p>I wouldn’t write another song for around 5/6 years, this time with a good mate in his lounge room, using his Mum’s very nice sounding 12 string guitar. </p>
<p>As you’ve probably surmised, “Sixpence” was a much better song than “Monstrosity” (IMHO) but the former may not have existed were it not for the latter. Perhaps. </p>
<p>A lot of time has been spent since writing songs that are (probably) better than either of those two but sometimes I wonder what path I would have chosen if not music. I’d probably be richer having not spent every spare cent on musical equipment but I’d be nowhere near as content. </p>
<p>Clint </p>
<p>PS I’m looking to take the songs I’m playing at the moment on a bit of a tour of the smaller places in regional Australia. If you know someone that might know a place I should go, send ‘em my way!</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/46571942017-04-04T20:36:58+10:002017-04-04T20:36:58+10:00Old Selfish Me<p>I was asked a very hard question last week. Why should people care about my music? As with all hard questions I danced around the subject, dodge, dip, duck, dive and dodge as Patches might say. </p>
<p>But I had to think, it had never occurred to me that I should give people a reason outside of trying to be a good person who happened to write songs. There are plenty of good people writing good songs who I haven’t even heard of let alone hold close to my heart, so it appears I’ve been selfish - expecting that people would like what I put out into the world simply because of what I knew I put into it. Sorry about that. </p>
<p>I’ve been shouting from the social media rooftops without the slightest inclination to ask if you wanted more, listening, after all, is such an important skill for musicians. </p>
<p>The thing is I have to do this, every minute I’m doing something else I’m thinking about the song I should have finished (started?). I want to write music and I want to release it into the world and see what it grows up to be, hopefully you’ll want to hear it. It’ll be good to have some friends on this ride. </p>
<p>Thanks for listening, </p>
<p>Clint </p>
<p>PS A little snippet of something I’m working on, a brand new version of a song titled Autumn Leaves ...<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Km1tgCouD2I" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Km1tgCouD2I/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Km1tgCouD2I?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br> </p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/46481622017-03-28T15:44:33+11:002017-03-28T15:44:33+11:00Slow and steady, if at all<p>The year is proving a learning curve – specifically around the lesson of taking on too much means nothing gets done. At the start of the year I was talking to a family member who mentioned that she picks one word to sum up each year – no resolutions, just one word. The word I chose was create. </p>
<p>Thing is, I haven’t. Well not completely. I’ve been demoing ideas on and off, working out parts for One Proud Monkey songs and coming up with thoughts around other projects with the (supposedly) simple aim of making more music. </p>
<p>I did write one song for another local singer and I’ve been working on sketches for other projects. Maybe all the pieces will align soon, maybe I just need to finish one. </p>
<p>I’m going to try and share more of what I’m up to on this page – hopefully you’ll enjoy reading about the progress. Hopefully there’ll be progress. </p>
<p>In the meantime I’m listening to a bunch of new music for inspiration and motivation – this week I’ve been spinning the new Minus The Bear and Circa Waves albums. Enjoying so far. Throw a few comments down below and let’s have a chat. </p>
<p>Clint</p>Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/46130472017-03-02T17:50:09+11:002017-03-02T17:50:09+11:00Not saving face (book)Hey... it has been a while... during the last month I decided to take a break of sorts from Facebook, in preparation for a charity challenge in a month or so's time, and almost immediately I started realising things, things that I wasn't so happy about and reasons why I wasn't so happy about them.<br><br>I've been paying close attention to a few people lately who know a lot more about the music industry than me and I've realised that I've too easily fallen into the trap of shouting things at people (in a social media sense) and not stopping to let said people take part in the conversation, basically I'd forgotten how important it was to have someone else in the conversation.<br><br>Facebook for me had gotten to a point where all I saw was "this is pissing me off" or "buy this" but not a lot from the perspective of positivity and it's easy to get sucked into it all. Step one, removing the app from my phone, resulted in an almost immediate lift to my mood, mainly 'cause I was using my phone to listen to music, audiobooks and podcasts rather than playing unwilling psychologist.<br><br>The fact that I'm talking about giving up Facebook in the same terms as someone might speak of giving up cigarettes (and making a BIG deal out it) shows that it can be as addictive as the latter - and that's not what I want.<br><br>I want you guys to be part of the conversation, I want you to hear the music I've put my heart into and like it - and if you don't I want you to be able to say that too (in a nice way!) as long as we're talking. Make no mistake, I make music for myself foremost - it's my creative outlet, sanity giver and many other things - but if you guys weren't listening, coming to the shows or supporting me in the other ways that you do then it'd only be an iota of the fun that it is at the moment.<br><br>I'm working on new stuff and I'll share it soon but I want you to come and join me in the process and share the fun I'm having... it'll be nice to have you all here :)Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/44212842016-10-16T19:02:41+11:002016-10-16T19:02:41+11:00The Wave Will BreakWhat started out as an experiment ended up as one of my favourite songs from the EP... One of those songs that you don't think is about anything, until it's finished. I really wanted to play with some vocal effects - I'd been listening to a lot of Bon Iver (that's probably fairly obvious) and originally I started playing a progression on the Baritone and singing nothing/nonsense over the top. Then I came across this word - petrichor - which seems to be a word made up by an Australian environmental agency but the definition they'd ascribed was "a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather" and being that that smell is one of my favourite in the world I was struck by this idea to write a song about the most sensory things I could find.<br><br>Words like alpenglow and melliflous came courtesy of a Word of the Day app on my phone and it pushed me towards the smell/taste of the salt that comes off the ocean at the beach, which in turn took me towards the wave metaphor and the idea that if you keep on pushing forward and you've got good people in your life that, eventually, you will overcome.<br><br>The vocal effect was pretty simply created using a harmony engine. I recorded the harmonies individually at first but found that I liked the robotic sounding voice effects instead, which seems in direct opposition to the sensory nature of the lyrics... but that's how songwriting goes sometimes!Clinton Hoytag:clintonhoy.com,2005:Post/44136392016-10-11T21:05:59+11:002016-10-12T20:30:44+11:00Midnight in the AfternoonOctober 11, 2016<br><br>Sometimes you're lucky enough to visit a place that leaves a permanent imprint of happiness on your memory. Reyjavik is such a place. The song <em>Midnight in the Afternoon</em> from the <strong>Bones EP</strong> is my attempt to translate feeling into music and words.<br><br>There's not a lot of metaphor in this song, more a retelling of the three days I spent in the city and the feeling I had of wanting to spend it with my wife (lucky herself to be in South America at the time). The same density of clouds in a London sky would have been depressing but from the moment the plane touched down (a rough flight by the way, that stayed with me for a few years...) I was overtaken by a feeling of wonder, not least the infatuation I had with the almost permanent sunlight - I'd always wanted to visit a place where the sun didn't go down - it was amazing in a draining kind of way...<br><br>The kick drum that I heard and followed came echoing down the street at around 11pm (in broad daylight!). At the end of that sonic rainbow was a local metal gig, just usual for a Wednesday I suspect, and they let me in 'cause the last band was on stage. It was such a sensory shock walking from full sunlight into pitch blackness and having it soundtracked by an Icelandic growl and downtuned riffs... still I couldn't help but smile... something I do every time I play this song.Clinton Hoy