Notes on Being

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Badass anime

Welcome to my blog. It has a broad range of topics to, I hope, reflect life in the present, with its tempo and its reverberations – the song and dance of being. I’ve long been interested in the theme in the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche that life only has meaning when it is read as a text. In exploring it this way, we can write the narrative of our own true selves, and let go of the script received from others. Through the prism of art and culture is a great way to do this; for me, this has provided a compass to my values and my identity. What’s your passion?

Astronomer & science communicator Carl Sagan

In writing my own life, I present to you my authentic self, my own passions, and my perils. I’m a work in progress (like this blog) but happy with where I am today. An Arts graduate (BA Honours, UNSW) with English and Philosophy majors, and an antipodean progressive thinker; I step forward and a little to the left downunder. A teacher, writer, feminist, activist and lover of nature and beauty, and of all things literary, as well as visual and performing arts, I am also a recovering person on the 12-step program. I grew up in the era of the peace-loving hippie, the 60s and 70s. My greatest loves are music, and writing about music. I like to discover the stories behind the sounds – the histories and the creative process.

Leo Gandelman: Maracatu Atomico (live)

I direct a spotlight as well on politics; animal rights; the environment; spirituality; women and their space in the biosphere; and fashion, design and all things aesthetic. The future of the Earth and the human species concerns me, as I believe it does all of us on some level. I love to collect great ideas and to offer them in a simple lucid form, anticipating the world becoming a better place. I aim to paint colourful pictures with words, to illustrate and illuminate. My personal ethos involves caring and sharing; my inspirations are all those who have supported me, as well as great thinkers, art and, of course, music. Please join me on my trip through the zeitgeist towards becoming, set to music. It is my reading of the experience and understanding of what it means to be alive today, of what it is to be human, and intimately connected to our Mother, this stunning planet we call home. It is a roadmap for emerging as one’s true self – with images and a soundtrack.

Our greatest gift is today and our ultimate end is freedom. Caz

This song came to me as the obvious choice to accompany the intro for my site. The Beatles were the first band I fell in love with – they were the soundtrack of my childhood and adolescence. Their songs expressed the peace and love of hippiedom I felt an affinity for in the 60s and 70s, along with their strong sense of social justice. Love the psychedelia too and this is a nice example. I was heartbroken when they split; by the time I was fifteen Let It Be, their last album, had been released. An era ended and it was a wrench for me – a lesson in the impermanence of all things in life. I moved on to The Moody Blues and discovered hard rock – Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, et al – and expanded my musical horizons with rock fusion in my teens, but the Fab Four have always held a special place in my heart. Today I love them as much as ever. “A Day in the Life”, the final song on Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, was ranked 28th greatest song of all time and greatest Beatles song by Rolling Stone magazine. I will be doing a post on The Beatles some time but it will be limited in scope; there is too much in their work for me to tackle in one essay. Even thinking about this endeavour I suddenly feel my confidence ebb. Oh dear reader, I am unworthy. Oh well, as in most things, I will just have to rise to the occasion. As I told myself before starting this blog, “be brave and do it!” McCartney would approve.

The Beatles: A Day in the Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX3aYsQc3UE

Acknowledgement and thanks to my friend TJ who has, as usual, inspired and encouraged me all through this process. His website http://www.rockruffandrecovery.com is well worth a look. We will be co-writing some pieces from time to time – TJ is an extraordinary musician and songwriter who’s unerring ear for a good tune provides, for me, a source of creativity like none other. You’ll be meeting him very soon. C

More on this blog – music notes

I hope to provide my readers with a little inspiration of their own with some of my posts, particularly the music biz. Feel free to browse and make suggestions – I take requests.

Rodrigo y Gabriela – flamenco/metal fusion duo

I also am building a Youtube channel. It might be helpful to explain my thinking with the channel for anyone unfamiliar with my musical penchants. My preferred genres are hard rock, alt metal, and rock fusions. I’m interested in extremes – pushing boundaries of what a performer can do. I look for excellence – definitive versions of classic songs; outstanding performances and especially love a great vocal. Every clip has special elements in it. I begin with my assessed definitive ACDC classic For Those About to Rock, at Donington in 1991, performed on a glass stage to capture Angus’ onstage antics with the expanse of cameras there. I especially love the clean guitar work and the cannon salutes of course, and they are Aussie rock legends. Then I have Faith No More’s Mike Patton’s extraordinary vocals. Zombie Eaters is such a great song & Mike hurls out one of his famous screams at the bridge which is a particular fave of mine. The next one is really special; it’s Maynard James Keenan’s vocals for Tool in the song Grudge. There’s an 18 second sustained scream at 7:53 that has to be seen and heard to be believed; the guy’s got a powerful chest voice and massive breath support. Masterful AND extreme. The guitar work is also fantastically emotive. There’s probably the best ever live Stones’ classic Gimme Shelter. Everyone on that stage is on fire and Lisa Fischer blows the roof off. There’s Seether’s excellent cover of George Michael’s Careless Whisper, in my opinion the best cover song ever. Shaun Morgan’s empassioned vocal and the band’s innovative alt metal musicianship transforms a slightly cheesy pop song into an edgy classic, and really nails the song – how it should be performed. Primus’ Les Claypool is just plain fun and bass-wise he’s one of the best. There’s a fave Beatles track, Dave Grohl at his very best natch, and Rodrigo y Gabriela in epic metal/flamenco fusion full flight. Some Deftones – they are an all-round extraordinary band; Chino Moreno is one of the world’s truly greatest vocalists also. And a really sexy Queens of the Stone Age track with the especially sexy Josh Homme out front. It’s a work in progress – I’m getting to the excellent Chris Cornell, one of the best ever front men and singers; he holds his own with the greatest everywhere you look. Maybe some Jaco Pastorius, some of the best I found live Led Zeppelin tracks, and of course Jack White, the 21st century’s first nominated immortal and Jimmy Page’s natural successor – there’s so much I want to add.

I haven’t quite figured out how to get the playlists or the channel linked here lol, but soon will. Stay tuned. Please press follow and like and you will be sent email notices of new posts. Thanks!

I am Carol Neilands @ cazelain on Twitter and am on Facebook and Google+. Thank you so much for your support. I will get to your replies individually but currently am unable to do so for some reason. Thank you for your support and your patience.