February, February

Greetings,

Welcome to Black History Month, the month of commercial love, and the month of MANIFEST: The No Ordinary Love Poetry Show! This Saturday, we’ll be rocking out in the name of love at The Camp House (1427 Williams St). Bring yourselves, someone you care about, someone you plan to mack on, etc. and have some fun with us. We’re going to art you so HARD! Admission is $8, but $3 for college students with valid IDs. Also, if you attended last Friday’s Wide Open Floor and say so at the door, I’ll knock a little somethin’ somethin’ off the cover.

In other news, I mentioned before that I’m working on a poetry EP. It really feels like a first impression of sorts because this project will involve all the different aspects of me. I’ve produced, written, and arranged all of the music, all of the poems are original (and the lion’s share are new babies), etc.

 

This past Sunday, I met with a wonderful photographer named Nicole Vickers. She is the force behind Phyllo Photography, and I highly recommend her. I took her to this abandoned church to shoot a few shots for the cover and interior of the EP. The experience was so surreal. I initially just thought that we’d get some outdoor shots, but when we explored around the buildings, we noticed that a lot of the glass had been busted out and that the doors were all open. Horror movie scenario, anyone?

We journeyed inside the chapel, and there were so many cool/creep things. It really looked like everyone just took off from the church and left everything behind. The organ is still up, there are a number of new things that never got installed, etc.

I can’t wait to see the pictures. I’m anticipating having them in my Dropbox within the next week, so after I get to peruse, they will be up on all of the things Christian J. Collier-related.

 

What’s been interesting about working on this project is that it’s been a very organic process. Last summer, I started making a number of tracks with the idea of producing a full length featuring some of my poetic brothers and sisters. However, things didn’t line up and I moved on to some other projects.

At the end of last year, I started listening back to some of the clips I’d made, and decided to flesh some of them out. Shortly thereafter, it kind of hit me to see what I could do with about 5 or 6 of them poetically, and if I was satisfied, to commit to making an EP. Needless to say, things have turned out pretty well in my humble opinion.

So far, the feedback has been REALLY positive. I’m very fortunate to have been able to play a few things here and there for friends and my mother (none of them are yes people, so their feedback is brutally honest and EXACTLY what I want).

 

So, dear friends, if things bode well, I’ll wrap up laying vocals within the next week. I’m really trying to get this thing done and out EVERYWHERE by April, so we shall see. If things aren’t right though, I have no problem taking the time to iron out what needs to be saped up. You only get one chance to make a first impression, right?

Well, stay cool, listen to the new Pillowfight self-titled record, and I’ll see you guys on Saturday night!!! Muah, muah, muah!

Blessings