First day in the studio

First day in the studio

Current mood: accomplished Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

Saturday morning came in w/rain-much rain and @7am I was just getting into a comfy position..you know how you always do when it's time to get up outta that bed..lol. My bus to take me downtown for the NJ bus was @8am and if I know Septa right, I'd betta be out there 5-10 minutes early.
So I layed down for a lil' more sleep but remembered that a lil' more can turn into hours later and much regret. And so I rose gleefully w/the exciting expectations of the day. Today was gonna be where I shook hands w/my dreams. Bus schedule-check. Carfare-check. Recorder & lyrics-check. Jaz-check.
I rolled out into a rainy day w/giant umbrella in tow. Made sure to wrap up my recorder in a plastic bag and prayed that septa would come. It did and I dug in and got a nice 30minute nap while thinking of what joys today would bring. "This is finally happening", I said to myself. Not just talk of it, but actually doing it. I prayed over my day and asked the Holy Spirit to guide me during the unfamiliar trip to Woodbury, N.J. I had made sure to verify the schedule w/a NJ Transit operator last night and was confident that all would go well. But just in case I allowed a nice space gap between the time I arrived downtown to the time I arrived to board the 401 bus. Years of taking public transportation taught me that.
It was just as well, cause as I neared 6th & Race, I realized that there was no bus stop there. okay. stop Jaz and think..get your bearings and pray. Pay attention to Philly visitor-oriented guide signs. After accessing the situation I noticed the buses turning from a certain corner a couple blocks down and so I walked in that direction. All the while praying and trying not to get upset. I had 40 minutes to spare and was glad I alloted that extra time. After asking 2 people the way-one who had no clue and one that "maybe" knew I finally came upon someone who pointed me the way of N.J. Transit. I was sure I could've found it on my own but time was winding up and I needed to get it cracking. I said to myself, I had not come all this way just to give up.
Walking toward the Greyhound bus terminal I realized w/frustration that I could've been there 40 min. ago and not been rushing now. I flew thru the terminal(immediately being attracted to that NY bus) and asked where to take the bus. "Go to 10th & market" I was told. Great, more walking and I was a lil embarressed to be a Philly native and not know where to board this bus. More brisk walking got me to 10th st and I asked one more person was I standing in the right spot and she confirmed I was. Whew. I made it..now I wondered if I had missed the bus. I swayed side to side on the corner, nervously awaiting this mysterious bus. So after everyone that wasn't mine flew by, I asked the same person who confirmed I was at the right bus, was she waiting for my bus. She was. Whew.. again.
And so we-me and her struck up a conversation about how crazy it was that 6th & race was no stop for the bus and how it's printed on the schedule that it is a stop. I felt more at ease but still prayed that that bus would show up. Worry doesn't go w/prayer, does it?
Here it comes... finally. As I boarded I asked the operator to let me off @Washington and my heart sank as she said "there is no Washington". okayyyyyyyyy. So we-me and operator-agreed to both be on the lookout for my destination. Me and the woman talked almost the whole bus ride, amidst me looking out the window so much that I got dizzy. She told me tales of New York and how she lives in the city and of course that captivated me and I felt waves of hope wash over me that NYC was gonna be my home someday. I truly believe my gifts will take me there...along w/much prayer, determination, persistence, dedication, hard work and the favor of God.
As I neared what I believed was my stop, I yelled out "this is my stop.. please stop the bus". Embarressed, someone "said push the button". What button? I thought..Septa has a line to pull. So I gathered my stuff and flew up the front, continuing to say "this is my stop"..lol...I bid adieu to the woman named Tammy that I eventually exchanged email with and gratefully flew off the bus. Alot of flying , right? lol..It's about time.
I was at my destination and thanked God and was proud of myself for trying and doing. That doesn't always happen. I can talk myself out of some things. But I thought If I have to go through crap everyday going to a job I'm not fond of that has NOTHING to do w/my passions..then I can surely fight like heck to get to something that has everything to do w/my passions.
I tried the door. It was locked. okayy. be calm Jaz. I saw cars in the back and decided to try that door. It was open. My uncle emerged from his office and puzzlingly wondered why I was there. "Cuz didn't tell you?", I asked. Nope. okay again..lol..It's all good. "Cause I didn't come all this way for nothing", I told myself. Adversity builds muscle.
So my uncle and I talked for about an hour while I waited for my cuz. My uncle is awesome. He has so much wisdom. And it's good to get to know him and him-me on the level of adulthood. Just when I decided to go in and warm up my voice(which despite a good convo, I should have been doing)my cuz breezes in. He looks SO sleepy. I greet him and he apologizes for being late and we get right to work. No time to spare shooting the breeze.
We pray first and invite the Holy Spirit into our session and our creative partnership and then get it started. He's on the keys and I'm holding my songs. He's playing some beats and I'm singing into my recorder. We're just rehearing and constructing now and next time we will move into the studio in the next room and record. I like to document all my experiences w/this, so I record everything on my recorder..lol. This is gonna be my history and though it's not the first time I've been in a studio. It's the first time I'm doing me. and just me. This is my project. just Jaz. And that is the best-ever.
The beat he has for my song is sooo hot. It's beautiful and moving and grips me right in the heart. I start singing to it and can't believe this is my stuff. My words on wax. My feelings. My heart. My soul. My spirit. God's spirit working in me and through me. I really can't describe how absolutely blessed and exhilarated I felt. I thought about all the rough roads that led me to this point and I praised Jesus in my heart.
Me and cuz have the same passion for music. He's extremely gifted and we speak the same language. All of this is important for a productive, healthy working relationship. But I still pray. I pray for us to continue to connect. For us to do God's will. For us to come to know one another and build up a great friendship. I pray that we can work thru any difficulties that will arise and that we communicate well. I pray we're always honest w/each other and that I'm never afraid to speak up. Say what I desire and need. I pray the same for him. I pray that I'm teachable and that I will be a great student. Even though I'm gifted to sing..I have much to learn. I pray that this is seen through to the end and that God's dreams for me will come to fruition. That the world will be touched, changed and healed by my music..which came from Jesus's bosom.
In the course of working on my songs, cuz had some beats where he needed some lyrics. I delightfully accepted. I love being a songwriter. So I've got my work cut out for me. We won't be able to meet again until 2 weeks, but I'm glad I responsibly scheduled another session and that I have much to do in between the wait. I've got songs to write and melodies to construct...I got creativity to do. I'm ready. I'm willing. I'm able. I thank the Lord for bringing me here.
I could go on forever w/this blog(it's already so long..lol)..but I'll wrap it up and get to some studying. I finished constructing my song today. The Lord and I filled in the blanks and He gave me ideas and I recorded everything on tape. I will continue to do my homework. I will pray for discipline and to make wise decisions regarding my time and resources. I will not sleep on this..but I will attack this with all of the fire that's in my heart.
As I walked back to my crib, I felt, for the first time in a long time, a great sense of accomplishment. I could've soared at that moment. Thank u Jesus.
My wings have gotten some exercise. They remember that they can fly..
Let's go
luv
Jaz