I'm a Southern Californian and second-time FAWMer looking to make and perform music. Simple, really.

When I first participated in FAWM back in 2010, I had a concept for my material thought out (a continuing story told over the course of 14 songs). This time, I'm being more open in regards to the subject matter. I'd like to write 14 songs about my son - who was born in the end of November of 2010 - and I've got several ideas for songs going in that direction. But that's a course I may or may not follow. I guess we'll see what I've got at month's end.

If you'd like to hear all of this month's songs in one sitting, check out my FAWM 2012 set on Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/jay-africa/sets/fawm-2012

Listen to some of the songs I composed for FAWM 2010 here: http://soundcloud.com/jay-africa/sets/the-prophet/

Notes
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2/16/12 = Progressing through the month, it's becoming evident to me that I'm drawing much of my inspiration from Stevie Jackson's recently released solo album, "(I Can't Get No) Stevie Jackson" (www.steviejackson.net). Guitarist of Belle & Sebastian and personal hero of mine, his solo album flaunts such a breadth of style and hits such a height of beauty that I can't help but find its presence in much of the songs I'm recording. Sometimes, it's not necessary to go after inspiration with a club. Sometimes, it's given to you by your significant other in the form of sounds pressed into wax. Onwards we go!

2/29/12 = I caught the news earlier today that Davy Jones of the Monkees had passed away. He sang "Daydream Believer," one of my favorite songs. The Monkees have many wonderful songs in their catalogue, but "Daydream Believer" has always been one of the tunes I return to when my spirits need a bit of a lift. The singer who gave voice to that piece of pop bliss has passed on, and that has hit me quite hard.

3/1/12 = At the end of it all: 15 songs, 9 of which were recorded! I was set on having the chronological order of composition be the order of the songs on the album. After listening to the tracks as a whole, though, and seeing them in the list on my profile, I think some shuffling around is in order. "Goodnight, Daydream Believer" is my 1/2 song since it won't be part of the final album. Consider it a b-side. Overall, I'm quite happy with all the songs - definitely with the ones I've recorded, at least. I'm looking forward to laying down the other songs, and to finally getting around to completing the already-recorded ones that still need the odd track here and there.

Updates
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2/1/12 = Wrote, recorded, and uploaded song #1: "0 (Zero)." Wrote song #2: "Day One"
2/2/12 = Wrote song #3: "Little Sebastian"
2/5/12 = Recorded and uploaded "Day One"
2/9/12 = Wrote, recorded, and uploaded song #4: "Erin (Grow Old With Me)
2/10/12 = Wrote song #5: "Let's Go!" Two days behind (gulp!)
2/11/12 = Recorded and uploaded "Little Sebastian"
2/13/12 = Wrote song #6: "All These Things"
2/15/12 = Recorded and uploaded "Let's Go!"
2/16/12 = Recorded and uploaded "All These Things"
2/19/12 = Wrote, recorded, and uploaded song #7: "Restless Sleep"
2/21/12 = Wrote song #8: "Heart of Wax," song #9: "This Life Is Too Short," and song #10: "Piece of the Pie." Into double digits!
2/22/12 = Recorded and uploaded "Heart of Wax"
2/25/12 = Recorded and uploaded "Piece of the Pie," wrote song #11: "Fortune"
2/26/12 = Wrote song #12: "The Last Great Show." Two more to go!
2/28/12 = Wrote song #13: "Look Behind"
2/29/12 = Wrote song #14: "When You Grow Up"
2/29/12 = Wrote song #15: "Goodnight, Daydream Believer"