Here’s some new stuff to say I’m sorry …

VIDEO: “Leavin” produced by Daniel Myers. I hope you enjoy it. Rainer and The Wookie (my van) both make cameos.

TRACK: A little hip-hop collabo with Dutch group, L4.

I met up with their producer and mc, DNA, one night when I was in Holland over Christmas in ‘09 and we worked on this track the following day. A year or so later, L4 released it into the wild. DNA, aka Arturo, is a friend of mine from my high school years over there, and I’m real proud of what he’s accomplished in music. Check out a couple of their music vids sometime. Here’s my fave.

Over the last few months in Austin, I’ve been working as a luthier apprentice at Collings Guitars. I started out making the bridges and pickguards, and am now setting necks into bodies. These guitars — acoustic and electric as well as mandolins and ukeleles — are truly top-of-the-line works of art/craftsmanship… so it’s been real nice having a hand it that. Couldn’t have asked for a better job to get off the ground here.

Same can be said for where I’ve been staying, just south of the city and walking distance from the creek greenbelt, Barton Springs and Zilker Park (home of Austin City Limits Fest). The room I’m renting is in a great old house (with a nice big backyard for Rainer) with a few other cool 20-somethings. Nice wood and tile floors, stonework, and dozens of mirrors (including fully mirrored kitchen cabinets/cupboards… a mirror maze, if you will) have provided a great background aesthetic for the fun times and fires we’ve had in just a few short months. And DJG’s art hanging up all over the place. Got these two in the corner by the sliding door.

Austin has been very good to me.

But I’ve decided to pick up and move again.

In a couple weeks, I’ll be headed to Kansas City to visit friends and then will be caravanning out west with a few others to start an intentional, off-grid community. We’re all excited and envigorated by the prospects and looking forward to beginning that type of life.

What this means for my music is that I’m working to have more freedom to write, play and record. One of the lessons I’ve learned in Austin is that living in/around nature is good for my well-being and creativity. So, I guess that theory will be tested by what I release next. The pressure’s on now!

Here are the lyrics for one I’ve been working on:

You’re taking all my precious time
And leaving me with nothing I can shine
A lease on life will pay my way
Robbed blind by an eye in the interest of another day

This is what it’s coming to

It’s the same thing everyday
A ball and chain gang we live in society
When paper money from a tree
Ain’t much more than the sawdust it used to be

This is what it’s coming to

And I say that it’s not gonna be easy
And you know that it’s never gonna be
But I can’t shake my love for the rush or the feeling
Before I go so low and get high and mighty free

—

It’s Saturday. Time to go play.

Soundtrack for the Day: Into The Wild!

peace to you.

The folks at the KC Chapter of the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) gave it an award for their annual Motion Graphics category. All the credit goes to DJG and PJC — the creative geniuses working under the moniker Mur Mur Man Productions — who let their imaginations run wild (as per) and worked for over a year on it collectively. I just uploaded DJG’s process art for the video to Flickr, so stop by there to get an idea of how it was made! It involved lots of collages, a giant scroll, and unrestrained wonderment. Congrats and another big thanks to both artists for bringing the song to life on screen!

If you haven’t seen it yet, just click on the VIDEO header and see why it’s been called

“one of the coolest things you’ll see all year”! – Present Magazine

Also on the video front, the footage we shot for “Leavin” is being edited down as we speak, so we’ll be premiering that real soon. And I got photos from that shoot on Flickr… behind the scenes! Click the photo below to see the rest.

I’ll be making a half-naked cameo appearance in an ACB’s video in the coming weeks, too. So be on the look out for THAT! And in the meantime, go download their debut single “Be Professional” from their upcoming full length Stona Rosa. It’s free, and you’ll love it, I think.

Single artwork by… none other than… DJG.

1. I’m hoping to shoot a music video for this track one week from today.  Weather and other conditions permitting…  But if it’s meant to happen, it’ll be great.

Listen to “Leavin” and any/all other tracks from It Is What It Is on the MEDIA page.

Dig it?  Download it below.

Entering your email address signs you up to get updates about stuff like this, shows, etc. moving forward.  I’ve been an absolute bum about sending these emails out to subscribers thus far… my apologies friends.  But at least you can know you won’t be getting a bunch of spam from me all the time, riiiight?  CHECK OUT MY NEW MIXTAPE, SON SON!

2. I’m likely heading out of KC in a couple weeks.  Might not be back for a while… who knows?  I’ll be playing a set at the Gusto Lounge off Broadway + 39th this Tuesday 9:30-10:30.  The bar’s got a chill living room feel with lots of Shlitz decor, so I’m lookin forward to the coziness.  See you there or somewhere else down the road, I hope.

Check it:

And yes… that IS a limited edish, custom cut HI-Stereo tee I’m rockin. Their debut EP is in final mix/mastering stage. Get ready.

Also, working on booking a 2 week (upper) Midwest tour in October… so if you live above the Mason-Dixon line and want me to stop through… let me know, okay?!

OK.

Got some mo’ shirts, designs and all that in the werx to gear up for the tour. I think I’m comin outta hibernation this time for real. We’ll see.

Time, as we know it and as it happens, will tell… yeah?

Thanks for stickin’ with me.

I could go on and on (and they say nice things here), but it’s 14 months in the works already — so without further ado…

Roll that beautiful bean footage:

If you dig it, please rate it and share it with your friends. Thanks for helping this video spread around the four corners.

And, since Frienduary has given way to March Madness, I put together another celebratory package!

For $5, own the full-length album — your choice of CD quality audio or mp3s (if you want smaller files) — the brilliant music video — your choice of high quality 720×540 or iPhone/iPod ready size — and the album art. Like the music? Enjoy it in a CD quality download! It’s the only way to fly (and this is the only place to buy), unless you pick up the physical CD.

Get the debut album + hit music video + album art for $5

I’ll be at SXSW in Austin through the weekend. Blast off tonight at 4am tonight! Gotta pack light, flak right, and stack tight. ‘nahd aye meen? Godspeed!

“It’s gorgeous” — The Pitch

In anticipation of the music video premiere for “Will Ya Be My Friend”, I’m dubbing this month FRIENDuary! With Valentine’s day, it’s already a month of love… And since I’m a wolf pack of one and don’t have anyone to buy a box of chocolates, I want to give you a special package instead!

All month long, you can download my entire album for just $2! Yes, I typed it. A dollar sign with a numeral two after it. AND, with the high-quality mp3’s, you’ll get the album cover image for your iTunes library or wherever else you’re storing your musica. Easy like Sunday morning… Just click the image below! [Update: No longer available]

Or, ain’t got a penny to spend? Download the “Will Ya Be My Friend” single for FREE below. You’ll have the option to get updates and specials from me moving forward, and you’ll be the first to get a heads up when the video premiers! And I’m telling you… the final product is incredible. Mur Mur Man Productions — the creative team of DJG and PJC — put together something really imaginative, unique and engaging. I couldn’t be more thrilled with it or more excited to share it with you next month!

You can help spread the love by clicking the “share” option in the widget. Easily give your friends on Facebook, or Twitter, or Myspace (etc.) the heads up on a free track, so they too can get into the FRIENDuary spirit!

For you KC folk, we’ll be premiering the “Will Ya Be My Friend” music video at The Brick on Friday, March 12. I’ll be playing a set after the premier, and am getting some other talented friends on the bill, too. It’s gonna be a good night here at home before I hit the road for SXSW!

Hope you had great holidaze and that 2010’s off to a good jump. Can’t believe it’s already FRIENDuary… I’ve got lots new stuff coming your way (even before the vid premier!) so keep your ears back and your eyes peeled. If you haven’t heard the album, or heard just a few tracks, the whole thing’s streaming below. And for just $2, it’d be my pleasure to hook you up with a copy!

Thanks for your support!

-Seume

It’s COLD in KC! So cold, my “new” 1982 VW Vanagon — aka The Wookie — refused to start yesterday morning. But hey, I refused to start this morning, too. It’s too warm with the covers pulled up all cozy-like! And speaking of covers, here’s my version of Sam Cooke’s, “A Change Is Gonna Come”. Hope you dig it.

The stop animation video for “Will Ya Be My Friend” is in its final stage, so look for a premier shortly after the New Year. Working on new T-Shirts, stickers, and other ideas (Vinyls, USB drives w/ album downloads…) to roll out in the next couple months, too. Trying to take advantage of being ushered inside by the weather!

And just making some changes. Growing during the winter on the inside light.

I’m smellin a year-in-review pot roast cookin. Needs to stew in the crock for a couple more weeks to really soak up all that flavor! I’m gettin hungry… Might have to hook up a little meal at the local grocery deli. $4.99 for an entree, 2 sides, bread, AND a drink! And after this one, the punch card says the next one’s FREE.99! Get outta heeeya.

I leave you with an intimate photo from last Saturday @ The Brick. DJG’s 7th annual art exhibition went off really well… great to be surrounded by his artwork on the walls. And the spread of munchies was nothin to shake a fist at either.

Rub yo tummy.
-Seume

I just wanted to you to be the first to know that there are only 50 CDs left from the first 1000 printed. I’m not mentioning this to talk about my sales… au contraire, mon frere… many of these first prints were given away to promote the album. Part of the process, really.

I AM letting you know because this first batch is special, and not just because it is the first run of the first album (both pretty good reasons for specialness, yeah?). It’s also unique because the next batch will have different track start/end times for “Something You May Wanna Know” and “Will Ya Be My Friend”. (The locusts at the beginning of the latter will be moved to the end of the former. Got that? Haha!)

The track time change is to prep for “Will Ya”’s release as a single, in the coming months. We got a stop animation video brewing for it and everything! Check out the progress here.

So, that’s a small variation, yes. But, it’s just another reason why, if you want to buy a CD, getting it from this first batch is the way to go! Otherwise, they’ll soon be going to radio stations, press outlets, etc… And they won’t appreciate the significance like you.

It really comes down to this. I think this first print is special — I’m biased, I know! — but I thought you might agree and would appreciate the “heads up!”. Especially since it doesn’t come with getting hit in the face by a flying object! Though, you might get your face slapped if your friends find out you didn’t give them the low down too, eh?

The album is packaged in a tri-fold digipak with original artwork by Liverpool design group, Smiling Wolf (album cover photo shot by Alexandra Wolkowicz, of Arctic Monkeys album fame). The insert has all the song lyrics, credits, and a photo of yours truly (uh-oh… fold out!) shot by Chicago photographer, James Exley. All that’s to say, it’s wrapped up pretty.

You can pick up your CD at the Grassland Records Store (store.grassland-records.com). Your support, as always, is much appreciated.

Thanks for listening.

-Seume

P.S. Great show coming up with another great poster, courtesy of the one-and-only DJG.

I’m not gonna doooo, what you think I’m gonna doooo, and try to write a long catch up post. Oh no, mi amigo, forgetting what is behind, I press on for the prize. This is all mustard. But I will say this: My summer was good. I stayed cool. Thanks for the yearbook advice!

It’s turning into fall here in America’s Heartland. The changing seasons stir up obvious inspiration. And the fire pit on PJ’s property is getting stoked. Kumbaya, my Lord…….. kumbaya.

And now, a scene from Wayne’s World:

She will be mine… oh yes… she will be mine!

I took my Telecaster down to Midwestern Musical Co. in the KC Crossroads a few days ago with the mind to trade her out. It’s gonna be a tough breakup and I wish I didn’t have to do it. It’s me… really. She’s permanently left her mark on It Is What It Is , so I’ll always love her. But it’s time for a change, and all I got is change. I’ve never understood it, but apparently you really can’t have your cake and eat it too.

I’m spending the weekend with an Epiphone, and we’re already taking pictures together. Yeah… It’s like that.

She’s got what I want — a beautiful body and a heart of gold. Golden tuners, anyway. But for real, for real… I really like this guitar. Haven’t finalized the trade yet and it’s only Friday, but come Monday, it’s done dada!

Ooookay…. I just got really tired. Goodnight — star light, star bright.

David Seume @ The Brick 9/5/09 from Gnarly Enterprises on Vimeo.

Show Poster by DJGDESIGN.COM