WhoisLee

Lately I’ve been doing what exactly?  Hmm.  Well, today I am home in bed, as I messed up my leg somehow playing basketball.  I either tore or bruised my calf muscle.  So I’m home with a ton of free time on my hands until I heal.  Which leads me to…

I don’t know if I posted anything after Barack Obama got elected to the presidency.  I’d have to check back.  I don’t know.  I’m really kind of just rambling now to vent a lot of frustration that I have.  I’ve been working with Carol and Mike on her record.  I am hopeful that we can get it done soon.  That’s been in the works.

I finally have an idea of how I want to proceed with the new songs I’ve been working on.  I’m thinking that I will put out an EP.  The tunes that I have will be a part of that which I’ve decided to title The Reprieve.  I’m taking a bit of a break from “saving the world” to just breathe and live for a minute.  After that I will put out another full length.  The delay has been in trying to articulate a lot of the frustrations that I feel lately with the state of the world.

There’s been a lot on my mind regarding society and the government and I haven’t quite figured out how I want to process that information.  But I’ve finally come to an understanding of how I want to approach it.

I’m really struggling with how evil and apathetic the world is.  There seems to be very few people in this world that are dialed in to what is just and moral.  That is weighing heavy on my brain lately and making its way into the creative process for me.  I want to voice a remedy or some solution to the ills of the world in a way that is my true voice.  We may be living in the last days of our civil liberties and freedom.  And with that I should act fast so as to let my voice be heard about the deafening silence of apathy.

The Reprieve and…

Wow.  It was brought to my attention that I haven’t posted in a long time.  I hadn’t thought about it.  I’ve been busy on a lot of fronts.  Personally as well as musically.

With regard to music I’ve been helping Carol with her album.  We’ve been getting together and writing and helping her pull together the pieces of her dream.  It’s allowed me to work closely with Mike again since he’s doing the bulk of the composing.

I’ve also been working on a new solo record for myself.  I have about 8 tunes done.  Well, the music is composed and recorded.  There are a few of those 8 that still need the lyrics to come together.  That is the challenge because I had set out to not make a record with any social or political implications, but that just doesn’t look like it’s going to be the case.  Which leads me to this…

I’ve been following the Occupy Movement here in the US a lot as well as keeping a close eye on the situation in Iran and how the US government is positioning themselves in that regard.  It feels like 2003 for me all over again.  A lot of the same rhetoric and same talking heads as war hawks.  It’s quite disturbing to consider that we’ve not learned anything about war as human beings.

I’ve also been following the situations in Israel, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, etc.  There have been various rebellions and uprisings throughout the Middle East and the world.  It’s a interesting time in society.  So it would be hard to ignore and disallow its existence in any new project that I worked on.  My challenge is to capture my feelings on these issues.  It’s really about conveying my thoughts and articulating them well in musical form.  I’ve always been cautious about the marriage between my social/ political ideas and music.  In short I aim to be very clear.

On a lesser, but still connected note there has been the NBA season and the lockout that occurred.  There has also been the dissolution of friendships that I’ve had over the years.  All of these things are still related to the current social climate in the world.  It’s an interesting time for humanity indeed.  And for me I have to make this a creative time.

Stay tuned…

I had a lot that I wanted to say about friendship and sincerity, but I’ve decided to simply say that I am happy in life with who I am and what it is that I do.  Nothing that anyone EVER does can take away who I am.  And that’s about that.

I’ve had a chance to listen to some really great music over the last few weeks, as I’ve been speaking to a lot of folks that have music up for consideration for this year’s Grammys.  I wish them all the best and I am happy that there is good music in the world.

We’ve been moving forward with Carol’s album and I’m happy, blessed and fortunate to be a part of the process.  I respect her as a talent and love her as a sister and anything that I can do to help her with her record I am happy to do because I respect her as a friend, person and musician.  It’s exciting to see where this album goes for her.  And that’s what’s important to me right now.

Anyway, it’s been a long day so I am off to bed.

Stay tuned…

So tonight we are at the Thalia Cafe’ uptown in Manhattan.  Going to play a shit ton of tunes.  But I’m mostly doing it all laid back.  No worries. 

I think I want to concentrate on this new record/ idea that I have and really dial it in as to how I want to present it when it’s time.  The Reprieve is what I’m thinking it will be called.  It’s a different direction than I’ve taken in the past, but it’s going to be fun. 

Anyway, that’s about it.  I’m about to head into the city now and get to Thalia early. 

Stay tuned…

I rather enjoy playing the Bitter End.  The folks there are always pretty cool with us.  The crowd is really good to us as well and it’s just a comfortable environment.

The band was dope.  I’m listening back to the audio now and getting an idea of how well it went.  Maybe after a few drinks it sounds cooler than it really was.  I don’t know.  I’ll see in a bit.  But it felt good.  A lot of friends came out so that was cool.  Always a pleasure to see some familiar and new faces.

Anyway a few of us hung afterwards and had a great time.  Some team building exercises I guess.  But I enjoy my fam.  And so now I plan on doing some writing today.  Also maybe recording some guitar.  I have to keep myself excited and working on stuff.

Oh, and I’m thinking about starting a new band/ project called “Frank Fleet and His Electronic Sex Machine”.

Stay tuned…

I know it seems like I haven’t been that active lately.  I guess that I haven’t really.  At least not here with updates.  But things are going well.  I’m just soaking in the current climate of the world.  Gauging where we are headed next as a people.  But life is good.

Still working on the new record and getting tunes together.  I have a show later at the Bitter End in New York.  I’m cruising along and all is well on this end.

Hurricanes, memorials, basketball tournaments, NBA lockout, wars (invasions) and all the rest.  Still Lee.

Stay tuned…

In Common’s song 6th Sense from his album Like Water For Chocolate he says the lyrics “My music, you either fight, fuck, or dream to it”. That’s a real lyric to me as an artist. I just think that music should evoke some sort of deep reaction. By that I mean that it should touch in some primal way.

I realize that not everyone likes the same type of music or listens to the same stuff. Folks have different tastes to be sure. And I realize that my music isn’t for everyone. But as a fan of music I just can’t get into cliches and music I find to be simply “boring”. I don’t want to hear one more “crooner” that lacks passion. I don’t care about the tongue in cheek lyrics or whether the person thinks they have a clever play with words. I really don’t care if you can sing or if you studied with someone at the New School of Amazing Singers or wherever. I need to hear passion in your music. If you are singing about going to the grocery store let me know how the fuck that trip was. Some people can sing about doing laundry and take me there and bring me into the experience. I need that from the singer or their music. Bring it.

Having said that, there’s a lot of fucking boring music out today. It all fits into this neat little category of sleep-inducing melodies. (Forgive me for rambling.)

I read reviews. Someone emails me something. So I go check it out. I am hopeful that I will hear something that at least makes me smile. But artists nowadays are mad conservative. Not many are taking chances. And they pat each other on the back with their boredom and keep on being boring.

R&B should not stand for Recycled & Boring.

I don’t “make love” to music. I fuck. Anyone that has good sex knows the difference. If you are still “making love” then you need a new partner. Trust me on this one. I haven’t EVER “made love” and I am grateful for having been with passionate partners in my life that even my one night stands weren’t “love making”. And if you say that you are married and “making love” then I suggest you get a divorce. Don’t play dumb.

I don’t want my music to be a stroll in the park either. It should be a stroll that hints at where the night is going. And hopefully that night will end with a whole lotta screaming and yelling and saying “Jesus!” A warm look into someone’s eyes is a knowing look. It’s a suggestive glance that even in a crowded room of strangers lets you know it’s gonna be going down later.

And I know what it’s like in the club. I’ve been there. So paint me a picture of something else in the world. Make me dream. Take me to another place. Tap into something new for me. And maybe I’m not living it up in the club like you are. It’s a recession so there’s a good chance that you aren’t either. So let’s build on something. You’re the architect. Take me to a new place like Inception.

And yes, I get it. She has a “big ol’ ass”. Now what. You love women. You love group sex or whatever. And?

And yes, I get it. You are so in love with him/ her. They make your heart light up. Those are the lyrics from our youth. Now what. We are adults. Where’s the passion in your lives? Help me to connect with your experience by sharing it with me. I may find some connection in that story. I want to live vicariously through your words and be transformed or transported.

Life is real, people. Our art and music should be as well. Let’s find that place. Demand more. No more “flowers and butterflies”. I already did that. I’m onto something else. I’m searching for it. Come along with me and let’s try to find it in this crazy ass world.

Stay tuned…

Years ago in one of my earliest visits to NYC I was introduced to Nuyorican Poets Cafe – I had also heard of it before I came here.  I had always romanticized about New York and the Lower East Side, as that’s where the burgeoning artist scene in New York was legendary.  So years later to get a chance to play there was a dream come true.

There isn’t much to say about it really.  I was just happy to have experienced it.  It was an intimate gathering of a few friends, but it was still a lot of fun.  What I am impressed by lately more than anything is just doing my music.  I don’t really care if anyone gets it or comes out or whatever.  I figure folks are happier listening to Weezy or whatever they see on YouTube that someone told them was cool.  So I just do what I do and am more concerned with the folks that actually come out and care about the music rather than those that are there for a social hang.  This is what we do.  This is our heart and soul so when we share it’s ideal that we share with open ears and open hearts.

Stay tuned…

So tomorrow we’re playing at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. I’m a bit of a nerd, as I’m really excited about it. Growing up in Florida I’d always heard about the talented performers that were featured there. So I’m excited to have a chance to showcase there.

I did a rehearsal with the girls today. Antonia is away on tour so my friend Alicia is good enough to fill in. She sounded good and the show should be fun.

Stay tuned…

3 shows in a week.  Seems like old times.  Good stuff.

Just got back from Thalia Cafe’.  Had a quick bite to eat afterwards with Andrew and Devon.  Good stuff.

The more we play the tighter we get and that is certainly remnant of the early days with The Square Egg when we gig 5 to 6 nights a week.  Good stuff.  I really enjoy the lineup that we have and the band is getting tighter the more we play.  Lot’s of fun.

Thanks to everyone that came out and thanks to the folks at Symphony Space.

Stay tuned…

Enjoy Yourself