Jody Whitesides

Tag: independent artist journey

  • Battling Tech Woes and Health Hiccups to Launch a New Anthem

    Battling Tech Woes and Health Hiccups to Launch a New Anthem

    Another week has come and gone. Holy shit I feel a bit like I haven’t made any progress. Last week I was in process of destroying something because it wasn’t working after weeks of trying. Here’s another week and as I’m writing this, I’m destroying the last try yet again…

    My option is to avoid one particular aspect to the email server. It’s something I never use anyway and I’ve spent weeks attempting to get this one thing I have no intention to use, to fuckin work.

    Hopes were high on this go around. Everything was working great. Then it came down to this one last thing – a webmail interface – and that’s when the hacks began. Each hack slowly ended up killing a working aspect of the server until most of it was broken. ARGH.

    Kinda like the tooth I had fixed this week as well. Last week I had a dental visit and tooth cleaning. In the vigor of the flossing, the hygienist managed to pull a filling out – no pain, but I had a what the fuck is this moment.

    Of course I had to return another day for them to go about replacing the filling and fixing it. Kinda like how this server is going. Though I will now only install the working files I have and not attempt to go for the last bit that doesn’t work. I’ll be done with it and life will be grand.

    Oh, let’s also add to the health storyline…

    Went in to see the knee doc to figure out why my knee was swelling under normal use. X-rays came back clear. The decision was to stick a needle in there and drain the fluid, plus add a little cortisone.

    All lovely 12ccs of liquid came out, not sure how much cortisone they put in. But I was out being athletic within the hour.

    Probably a lot like what pro level basketball players might be like. The knees take a beating with all the running around and jumping on a fairly hard court. I’m sure they see their share of knee issues.

    Which segues into today’s release of Do You Want to Play Rip City Remix. Another version of the sports song for another sports team. I dig their name Rip City Remix. Makes me think I ought to find a remixer to remix this version for them as well… Hmmm…

    Stay tuned for more.

  • Beating Bronchitis in the Studio: An Independent Musician’s Survival Week

    Beating Bronchitis in the Studio: An Independent Musician’s Survival Week

    I’m gonna go right out there and say sore throats suck. I’m pretty sure there’s very few people on this planet that actually like them.

    When

    Right after I pretty much get my digital life back on track, I came down with some mild bronchitis. Maybe its some sort of bodily retaliation for spending so much time on something other than music?!? Eh, no. I don’t believe that. Obviously I came into contact with someone somewhere that probably had it.

    It might have been the trip to California. Namely the plane ride. Recently read that you’re only likely to get ill within a few passenger rows of someone else. Which means it would most likely have been the flight to Los Angeles. As that flight was full. The return flight was probably 10% full, if that. Very light flight.

    Coughing Goo

    Around Thursday of last week I started feeling rather beat when I woke up. Mind you this would have been about a week plus of incubation. I woke up to feeling a little lethargic and coughing profusely and wanting to get something out of my lungs.

    Could I have been singing to hard the several days before that? Tough to say. Yes, I’ve been in the studio working on a few new projects, especially now that my digital life is up and running again. I had been pushing pretty hard on a couple of heavier tunes destined for film/tv worlds. My throat was a little overtaxed, but nothing that a night of sleep wouldn’t cure.

    Instead  I started hacking up bright green goo. I hate sore throats, and shortly after the goo, one kicked in.

    Progress

    As things go, being ill means it progressively gets worse before it gets better. Not the case here. It has remained mild enough that I’m still quite functional. Not 100% full capacity but still functional.

    Despite feeling beat down for the past few days, I’m taking in as much rest as I can – while still attempting to get things done. Which means that today I’ll be opening up to singing again. I’m coughing less, throat is less sore. Will need to keep an eye on it, because pushing too hard means I may fall completely down the illness rabbit hole where I don’t want to be.

    Wish you well and hope you’re in great health, have a great rest of your Monday.

     

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  • The Unexpected Link Between Mountain Biking and Music Production

    The Unexpected Link Between Mountain Biking and Music Production

    Ah yeah, when I’m in the studio and I’m cooped up for too long, I need to get outside. Such was the case while I was in the studio during the recording of Touch. I needed a break and what better break is there than to get outside and do some light grade mountain biking. Here in this video I’m out in the Pacific Palisades area taking a quick ride up the Westridge trail with my good friend Russell Bowman and his dog Tara.

    Mountain Biking

    YouTube player

    Hey it’s Jody, I’m here with my good friend Russell Bowman.

    Hey! Tara. Shhhhh…

    You’re part of this too, but yeah, wait your turn. You need to stop barking right now so I can speak.

    I’m here in the lovely area of (is this West Ridge?) (West Ridge)

    We’re in Westridge this is Russell Bowman and he owns Thunderbolt Spiritual books. He has loaned me his mountain bike.

    Normally I’d be on my own. But, mine is somewhere else in the world at the moment.

    And we’re going mountain biking today. Join us!

    A slow uphill climb up Westridge.

    Need a little seat adjustment. We don’t have the tools.

    So one of the last times I was riding here with Russell I came down into this ditch.

    Right there!

    And face planted. When my bike stopped dead in the ditch.

    Downhill here. Unfortunately, Russell’s seat clamp has broken so we can’t make it up to our goal which is that little silo looking thing up there on the top of the hill.

    We’re going to turn around here in just a moment and go up the single track ‘n’ go back down.

    We are, on our way up the Westridge single trail. Russell has got his helmet on I’m solo without helmet. Silly me for being unprepared. But. That’s what you get when you borrow. See ya on the flip side on the bottom.

    Russell has to walk ’cause his seat don’t work.

    Made it up that. I’m breathing a little bit heavier than I thought I would. But that was exciting.

    Next set of downhill we go.

    Came down that single track in the center.

    Coming back up the hill. Over here Los Angeles covered by clouds. Looks like yesterday when golfing.

    Now back down to the end.

    Russell and Tara up ahead. As they say – never let ’em see ya sweat.

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